This race was formerly known as the Newton Hills Ultra. I ran the 30K again this year with a fellow co-worker. The weather was much warmer this year, with lows … MORE
This race was formerly known as the Newton Hills Ultra. I ran the 30K again this year with a fellow co-worker. The weather was much warmer this year, with lows in the 40’s and a high in the 60’s. The one downside of the nicer weather was that there were some spots where the trail was pretty rutted and muddy. The course starts out with a two-mile lolly-pop loop that returns to the start/finish area where there is a fully supplied aid station. The aid station was much bigger this year, covered with a large tent, and had a wider selection of food and drinks. There is then another 4-mile loop in the opposite direction that has 3 pretty long and steep hills. I was passed by some of the faster runners just before one of these hills, and even the leaders were walking up them, although they could be run if you were a good hill runner. Most of the course is single-track dirt, except for a short section at the beginning of the second loop that is gravel road. Podium finishers were given gift certificates at least two deep in each age group, and the overall winners were given a gift certificate for a free pair of Altra running shoes. I believe this race was taken over by a different race management group, and I could see that some improvements were made. Now they just need to advertise a little more to get the word out so that more runners take advantage of this local event.
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Challenging course in the flatland
This race was formerly known as the Newton Hills Ultra. I ran the 30K again this year with a fellow co-worker. The weather was much warmer this year, with lows … MORE
This race was formerly known as the Newton Hills Ultra. I ran the 30K again this year with a fellow co-worker. The weather was much warmer this year, with lows in the 40’s and a high in the 60’s. The one downside of the nicer weather was that there were some spots where the trail was pretty rutted and muddy. The course starts out with a two-mile lolly-pop loop that returns to the start/finish area where there is a fully supplied aid station. The aid station was much bigger this year, covered with a large tent, and had a wider selection of food and drinks. There is then another 4-mile loop in the opposite direction that has 3 pretty long and steep hills. I was passed by some of the faster runners just before one of these hills, and even the leaders were walking up them, although they could be run if you were a good hill runner. Most of the course is single-track dirt, except for a short section at the beginning of the second loop that is gravel road. Podium finishers were given gift certificates at least two deep in each age group, and the overall winners were given a gift certificate for a free pair of Altra running shoes. I believe this race was taken over by a different race management group, and I could see that some improvements were made. Now they just need to advertise a little more to get the word out so that more runners take advantage of this local event.
You'll love this if you like hills
Newton Hills is a hilly oasis in an otherwise mundane agricultural region with thick deciduous trees and steep hills along Sergeant Creek that cuts through this portion of the Couteau … MORE
Newton Hills is a hilly oasis in an otherwise mundane agricultural region with thick deciduous trees and steep hills along Sergeant Creek that cuts through this portion of the Couteau des Prairie region. The Newton Hills Ultra races are small, inexpensive, no-frills trail runs. Currently they have 20K, 30K, and 50K distances. Registrants are given a cotton t-shirt and a swag bag, but there is no finisher award, except for the top 3 at each distance. All distances are run on a hilly 10K loop, so the 20K runs it twice, the 30K three times, and so on. I ran the 30K this year with a co-worker, and my Garmin watch showed that there was approximately 2850 feet of elevation gain for the 18 miles, which would come out to 4,750 feet for the 50K. There was just one aid station at the start/finish line, which was well stocked, but there was no hot meal served after the finish, which is becoming a tradition at many ultras. The 50K runners started at 6 a.m., so had to run in the dark for the first two hours. The 30K started at 7 a.m., so we ran the first loop in the dark, so be sure to bring a headlamp if you run this race. Most of the leaves have fallen off of the many oak trees by this time of the year, but it is still a picturesque park and a nice diversion from the usual monotony of southeastern South Dakota.