Logistics: Deadwood is a cool little town. Parking at the rodeo grounds to catch the shuttle buses was easy. However, there are a few hotels directly across the street from … MORE
Logistics: Deadwood is a cool little town. Parking at the rodeo grounds to catch the shuttle buses was easy. However, there are a few hotels directly across the street from marathon parking (rodeo grounds), so it would be easy to walk to the shuttle buses, if you prefer.
Races: Except for the first 1.5 miles of the full marathon (on the roads), the entire course is point-to-point on a crushed gravel rail-trail. The Half marathon is WAY more popular than the full marathon. The biggest benefit of the half is that it’s the downhill half of the course! The marathon goes uphill for the first 14 miles, then goes down for the remaining 12. As expected, I had a significant negative split (about 10 minutes). However, even being conservative, the first 14 miles definitely took a lot out of me. This is a beautiful course, but it’s not a place to set a PR.
Swag: Medals and short-sleeve t-shirts are very nice. Free race photos are also a nice bonus. If it’s important to you, the shirts and medals are not race specific (even the 5K runners got the same shirt)
Finish line: Having the race director in a tuxedo to high-five you is an awesome touch! I also enjoyed the chocolate milk and beef jerky. Shuttle buses back to the parking lot were prompt and efficient. Overall, a very well organized event.
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What goes up must come down!
Logistics: Deadwood is a cool little town. Parking at the rodeo grounds to catch the shuttle buses was easy. However, there are a few hotels directly across the street from … MORE
Logistics: Deadwood is a cool little town. Parking at the rodeo grounds to catch the shuttle buses was easy. However, there are a few hotels directly across the street from marathon parking (rodeo grounds), so it would be easy to walk to the shuttle buses, if you prefer.
Races: Except for the first 1.5 miles of the full marathon (on the roads), the entire course is point-to-point on a crushed gravel rail-trail. The Half marathon is WAY more popular than the full marathon. The biggest benefit of the half is that it’s the downhill half of the course! The marathon goes uphill for the first 14 miles, then goes down for the remaining 12. As expected, I had a significant negative split (about 10 minutes). However, even being conservative, the first 14 miles definitely took a lot out of me. This is a beautiful course, but it’s not a place to set a PR.
Swag: Medals and short-sleeve t-shirts are very nice. Free race photos are also a nice bonus. If it’s important to you, the shirts and medals are not race specific (even the 5K runners got the same shirt)
Finish line: Having the race director in a tuxedo to high-five you is an awesome touch! I also enjoyed the chocolate milk and beef jerky. Shuttle buses back to the parking lot were prompt and efficient. Overall, a very well organized event.
Beautiful Downhill Race
This was a wonderful race. The course was downhill and beautiful. It was in the 50s as well which was very nice. Don't let "trail race" scare you most of … MORE
This was a wonderful race. The course was downhill and beautiful. It was in the 50s as well which was very nice. Don’t let “trail race” scare you most of the course is well packed and cleared trail. There is one small down hill section that gets a little rockier, but only for a short time.
The swag was really just the t-shirt and medal which are nice, just no extras. There is great food and water at the finish line and then a fun after (with beer) part in town when the marathon finished.
If you are looking for a fun South Dakota race this is a good choice!
Great race!
This was my first half marathon and it helped me realize my love for running! The course was beautiful and was a nice course for a first-timer. There was a … MORE
This was my first half marathon and it helped me realize my love for running! The course was beautiful and was a nice course for a first-timer. There was a lot of community support and the after race celebration was great.
Stunning scenery!
The thing the surprised me the most was how fast the 2nd half went. The descent downhill after mile 14 is noticeable and really makes it easy to run negative … MORE
The thing the surprised me the most was how fast the 2nd half went. The descent downhill after mile 14 is noticeable and really makes it easy to run negative splits. The first half going uphill is also noticeable, but nearly as much. The area is remote and sometimes it felt like things could have been marked a little better, but that was part of the charm I suppose. I would also have liked to have seen different shirts and medals for the marathoners vs half marathoners, but thats ok. Both are nice enough. The real reason to run this race is the Hills themselves and they do not disappoint. The first two mile section on the road has a great view that I was not expecting. Another stunner around mile 20. The whole course was really great though. I would absolutely recommend!
Beautiful views of the black hills.
You follow the train route the Burlington Northern took through the Hills. Many creeks , wild flowers, old homesteads, mines and gorgeous outcropping of rock. MORE
You follow the train route the Burlington Northern took through the Hills. Many creeks , wild flowers, old homesteads, mines and gorgeous outcropping of rock.
Starts WAY too late.
Truly stunning scenery. Possibly the prettiest marathon I've run and I highly recommend this as a destination race. But the race started at 8 am. With blue skies and rising … MORE
Truly stunning scenery. Possibly the prettiest marathon I’ve run and I highly recommend this as a destination race.
But the race started at 8 am. With blue skies and rising heat, we lost focus on the scenery and battled the heat up the 14-mile grade.
Kudos for having volunteers on bicycles to offer assistance like the water I needed at mile 19.
Awesome race, too late of start!!
I love this race. The downhill is great, but it’s not too aggressive like a Revel. It has a pretty good hill around mile 6 that’s helps break up the … MORE
I love this race. The downhill is great, but it’s not too aggressive like a Revel. It has a pretty good hill around mile 6 that’s helps break up the downhill terrain! The most difficult part of this race for me, and from what I’ve heard others say, is the late 8AM start. We got to the start line at 7 and waited for an hour. At that time it started heating up significantly. Around mile 5 I had to take off my tank top and run in my sports bra bc I began overheating. I felt really badly for the full marathoners that had to start at 8AM and run in the heat. Overall, I recommend this course but I wish they would start it a lot earlier!
A Destination Race
Good logistics with shuttles from hotels to buses that took everybody to start of race. Absolutely loved running this course: point to point on gentle incline first half followed by … MORE
Good logistics with shuttles from hotels to buses that took everybody to start of race. Absolutely loved running this course: point to point on gentle incline first half followed by gentle decline second. All I heard the first half of the run was my feet on the trail and a babbling creek in the distance. Scenery is amazing and this is among most scenic courses I have run. Plenty or tourist stuff to do in and around Deadwood as well with Badlands and Wind Cave NP, Crazy Horse Monument, Mt. Rushmore and Custer State Park nearby. Did rock climbing in Custer State Park with my kids as a bonus. Amazing beauty, amazing race.
Run the Black Hills!
I continued my quest to run a marathon in every state by checking off South Dakota. Who would have thought I would finish both Dakotas before even starting the Carolinas? … MORE
I continued my quest to run a marathon in every state by checking off South Dakota. Who would have thought I would finish both Dakotas before even starting the Carolinas? The weather was warm. The course was one climb over the first fourteen miles then downhill to the finish. It was well supported and gorgeous.
Best scenery
Beautiful run great course. Friendly runners, great area to visit. Lots to see. Great courses. A must for runners of all levels I would highly recommend it for everyone. I … MORE
Beautiful run great course. Friendly runners, great area to visit. Lots to see. Great courses. A must for runners of all levels I would highly recommend it for everyone. I will run my first marathon on this course
Challenging, beautiful
Such a beautiful course! Challenging with the gradual uphill for about the first half. Pleasantly surprised around mile 20 at a fairly steep downhill but I got a second wind … MORE
Such a beautiful course! Challenging with the gradual uphill for about the first half. Pleasantly surprised around mile 20 at a fairly steep downhill but I got a second wind after that! I would do this race again. Early June and weather was nice. Enjoyed the point to point course.
Beautiful course; disappointing swag
The course is stunning. The production is seamless. Disappointed in the shirts this year as they're just a cotton tshirt vs athletic shirts of previous years. Also, the only thing … MORE
The course is stunning. The production is seamless. Disappointed in the shirts this year as they’re just a cotton tshirt vs athletic shirts of previous years. Also, the only thing you get is a tshirt in your race bag. Kind of a let down.
Best scenic race!
I loved this race! It is mostly downhill (half marathon) with an almost mile long uphill starting around 5.5 miles. This was a well organized race. The aid stations all … MORE
I loved this race! It is mostly downhill (half marathon) with an almost mile long uphill starting around 5.5 miles. This was a well organized race. The aid stations all had water, powerade, oranges, pretzels and one had m&ms. This was my fastest half to date. I would do this again just for the scenery.
My first Marathon
My wife and I picked a doozy for our first ever marathon - as a trail race, i found the well groomed flat trail fairly easy, except for the uphill … MORE
My wife and I picked a doozy for our first ever marathon – as a trail race, i found the well groomed flat trail fairly easy, except for the uphill for 14 miles at altitude. Beautiful part of the country I had never seen, well run and a blast.
Great event in a cool town!
This race is securely in my Top 10 favorites. The course is a near perfect pyramid. The first half is a gradual incline (barely noticeable honestly), the second half is … MORE
This race is securely in my Top 10 favorites. The course is a near perfect pyramid. The first half is a gradual incline (barely noticeable honestly), the second half is a gradual decline. Beautiful scenery and very well organized. Buses take you out to the start and you run back to Deadwood.
This race is small enough for middle of the packers to win age group awards. (They mailed the awards – a buff and a deck of playing cards with the race logo. Pretty cool)
This is one I would definitely return to!
Beautiful Race - Fun Town
The scenery for this race is just beautiful. A trail through the Black Hills of South Dakota has you immersed in tall trees, wildlife, and peaceful streams; yet not an … MORE
The scenery for this race is just beautiful. A trail through the Black Hills of South Dakota has you immersed in tall trees, wildlife, and peaceful streams; yet not an overly challenging course. A bus takes you to the starting line and it’s mostly downhill from there.
There are plenty of Port-A-Potties at the start as well as the bag drop. Time gates are used but since it is a gravel/rock trail for most part, it is a little congested at the beginning but it doesn’t take long for everyone to spread out. It’s almost entirely down hill with the exception of one pretty good incline about mile 7. On this day in 2016, it was hot, but they had cold watermelon (awesome!) as well as all the standard fruit and bagels at the finish line. This is a very well organized race. Deadwood is a great town with several entertainment and eating options. If you want a destination race in South Dakota, this is a great one.
Tough course - top notch scenary!
Pre-race: Newsletters were sent out at regular intervals, which I really enjoyed. Packet pick-up: The location had plenty of parking and was easy to find. I wasn't totally impressed with … MORE
Pre-race: Newsletters were sent out at regular intervals, which I really enjoyed.
Packet pick-up: The location had plenty of parking and was easy to find. I wasn’t totally impressed with the expo but I also wasn’t disappointed. My husband and I walked around for a bit but didn’t buy anything. Finding my bib number was a breeze and the volunteers were quick to get my bag and shirt.
Race morning: The worst part about the race is the pre-race. The hotel where I stayed did not offer a shuttle but I was just across the street from the bus pick up location, so I just walked over and it wasn’t a big deal. There were volunteers directing folks to the correct buses and there seemed to be plenty of buses for all the participants. The miserable part starts once the bus drops you off at the start line. The sun isn’t fully up and it’s chilly, with nowhere to huddle to warm up. Thankfully, this wasn’t my first marathon, so I came prepared with warm clothes. I saw some people who were not prepared…. So, moral of the story, be prepared with hat/gloves/sweatpants and a drop bag.
Race course: B-E-A-UTIFUL!! The course is amazing. The majority of the course are wooded and very peaceful. The “trail” is not very technical and the crushed limestone is a breeze to run on. I was worried about getting rocks in my shoes, but I didn’t have any trouble with that at all. At one point, you run through an old mine tunnel and it was soooo cool. The 14 miles of uphill was difficult, for sure, but it wasn’t totally unbearable. The hardest part was running downhill on tired legs. My legs started to feel the burn at about mile 19, where there is a big hill that I was not expecting. I walked up the entire thing and was able to catch my second wind after that. The heat wasn’t an issue until the last hour (~5 miles) of the run – when you start running in more open scenery with less shade and it’s getting closer to noon – thank goodness we were still running through beautiful scenery distract my brain from the pain. For the last mile or so, you get off the trail and start running on an asphalt bike path. The finish line was nice because there was plenty of room for spectators.
Post race/swag: My one very minor complaint about this race was the t-shirt. Who gives a long-sleeved shirt for a marathon in June? I was hoping for a short sleeved t-shirt. That aside, the shirt is a quality material and it fits really nice. The medals are super cool too.
I would definitely recommend this marathon for the scenery and as an introduction to trail running. I would NOT recommend this marathon for someone hoping to get a personal best due to the elevation gain/hills.
Swag:
Hot and Hilly, but Beautiful trail run
Located in Deadwood, South Dakota, this marathon is run for the most part on the famous Mickelson trail system. The expo was fairly small, (yes!) and therefore you have the … MORE
Located in Deadwood, South Dakota, this marathon is run for the most part on the famous Mickelson trail system.
The expo was fairly small, (yes!) and therefore you have the ability to walk through leisurely and not feel pressed to get in and out quickly. There were about 350 marathoners and 1500 half marathon runners. The races started at the same time, so the marathon runners only saw a handful of half runners in the last couple miles of the race. The first 13 miles of the marathon was a net climb, and though the elevation climb is substantial, it occurs slowly over miles 4-13. I never felt crowded on the course, yet there was almost always someone around to visit with while running. The course was absolutely beautiful, with trees along the course that helped with the heat, although it was unfortunate that the temps were close to 70 by the start, so very warm. It is a trail run, so I had to stop a couple times to empty debris from my shoes. This was fine for me, as I had no intention of running fast. In fact, I was here to purge a demon from my past. The only marathon I have ever entered and failed to finish was on this course in 2012. I made it past the 20 mile mark, but dropped out. My primary goal in this marathon was to finish, and to enjoy the scenery. I accomplished both goals, and therefore this race was a major success.
Most all hotels in Deadwood are very close to the finish line, and if you still do not want to walk back to your hotel after the marathon, shuttles are free on race day, so you can jump on, and jump off all day long.
Beautiful course, in a nice western town. If you like to gamble, this is your race as there are casinos everywhere in Deadwood. Just do not expect to PR.
Great SD Event
It's downhill and on gravel. While normally such a downhill route would be super fast, the gravel acts as an equalizer. Also, this much downhill is going to wreck your … MORE
It’s downhill and on gravel. While normally such a downhill route would be super fast, the gravel acts as an equalizer. Also, this much downhill is going to wreck your quads.
My First Half!
I loved this race. I wasn't sure what to expect, which was ok because everything far exceeded any expectations I did have. The race was well organized, the scenery amazing, … MORE
I loved this race. I wasn’t sure what to expect, which was ok because everything far exceeded any expectations I did have. The race was well organized, the scenery amazing, the people fun and my time was even better than I was hoping for.
Deadwood is a great town, good food and beverage options. I’d do this race again in a heart beat.