Leading Ladies & Dakota Spirit Marathon & Half Marathon
Spearfish, SD
- Marathon, Marathon Relay, Half Marathon, 10K, 5K
- Road (Paved), Trail (Unpaved)
- Official race website
What started out as a Women’s Marathon is now open to all but let’s face it; the women are still in charge! Picture this: a perfect place, a perfect pace, a perfect race… knowing a downhill marathon is about speed, and that it’s going to be a fast run, take … MORE
Local Historical Weather (Aug 23):
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |
| H (°F) | 72 | 88 | 88 | 82 | 91 |
| L (°F) | 50 | 64 | 65 | 64 | 50 |
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This race was a meditation
I ran this race on August 17, 2025, and this was State #23 for me on my quest to run a half in all 50 states. I flew into Rapid … MORE
I ran this race on August 17, 2025, and this was State #23 for me on my quest to run a half in all 50 states. I flew into Rapid City and drove to Spearfish, the location of the race start and finish. Renting a car is recommended to take advantage of all of the wonderful things to see in the area, to include the Crazy Horse Monument and Mount Rushmore. For one of the smaller races I’ve run thus far, this was by a landslide one of the most organized. Staying at the Holiday Inn in Spearfish was convenient for guaranteeing I made it to the start, as the race organizers ensured we had buses to take us to the start that departed from the hotel. The expo was fairly small but a breeze to pick up our packets.
When we stepped outside on race morning, I was relieved that it seemed like we would have the perfect racing weather. At 5:00 A.M., it was 61°F with no wind, and I was optimistic that the current humidity of 89% wouldn’t stick around and would hopefully dissipate as we got going. Based on my assessment of the elevation chart and course maps, I went into this race believing I wouldn’t be worrying about the Three Horsemen of the Apocalypse: Heat, Hills, and Humidity. The temperature was already perfect, and it looked as if it wouldn’t warm up until long after we’d crossed the finish line. This course is advertised as not just net downhill, but a true downhill course.
Our start line was approximately 1/4 of a mile north of Savoy, and we would run all the way down the canyon, staying on Spearfish Canyon Highway the entire race until we reached Spearfish City Park. The race kicked off precisely at 6:30 A.M., and I started out extremely strong. The first 7 miles were truly an absolute joy to race, and I couldn’t help but feel this wasn’t a race at all, but a meditation. With the rush of Spearfish Creek on our right, and the beautiful shale and limestone canyon walls on our left, this was by far one of the most gorgeous courses I’ve experienced.
While winding through the canyon, the cool canyon walls and towering pine trees provided us with shade, until we got to the latter half of the course.
There were aid stations every 2 miles with encouraging volunteers, and along the way we passed the historic 1912 hydro plant, and Bridal Veil Falls. There were some flat sections on the course and a few gentle inclines throughout, and it was mostly downhill, as expected.
Unfortunately, Mile 9 was a gradual uphill, which I was actually not expecting, and I began to slow down quite a bit as the incline of Mile 9 corresponded with an increase in temperature. By the time we got to the lower elevation later in the morning, it was a balmy 77° F, which was kind of brutal. There was also no shade the last few miles, and I began to struggle a bit. I went from being certain in the beginning of the race that I wouldn’t run into the Three Horsemen of the Apocalypse, to experiencing all three within the span of a few miles.
Overall this was a wonderful experience, and Spearfish is a charming little historic town that I would call a foodie’s paradise. Visit for the race, and stay for the food, good vibes, and close proximity to all of the tourist attractions in the area.
Natural Beauty
State #30 I love the area - the natural beauty is hard to beat. This is a small, well produced race. I did packet pick up at the local running … MORE
State #30
I love the area – the natural beauty is hard to beat.
This is a small, well produced race. I did packet pick up at the local running store – an in and out affair. Stayed in Spearfish and caught 5he bus at 4:00 (so early) to the start. I think they could push this back by 30 minutes at least.
Course starts at a golf course without much fanfare. Make sure to bring warm clothes to wear while you wait and bring something to sit on. First couple of miles are tough, as it includes a fair amount of climbing and it’s at altitude. After that, you settle in for a nice run down the canyon which is peaceful and beautiful. Aid stations were good with eager and friendly volunteers. Finishes at the city park in Sundance, and this too was a simple affair. Medal was nice. Post-race food was very minimal.
Overall, a nice race on a fast course. I had my second fastest marathon finishing time. Would recommend to anyone looking for a fast course or those 50 state hopefuls.
Mighty Canyon
The half marathon was very fast and scenic. What makes this a bit more challenging is doing the Mighty Canyon. Run the 5K the day before and then the half … MORE
The half marathon was very fast and scenic. What makes this a bit more challenging is doing the Mighty Canyon. Run the 5K the day before and then the half (which I did), or the marathon the next day. I’ve been enjoying the multi-race productions and this was no disappointment. Worth doing again.
One of the best marathons in the world
I have run 22 marathons, including 5 Majors and this Spearfish Canyon marathon course is at the top of the list. Absolutely incredible scenery. Energetic and kind volunteers. A good … MORE
I have run 22 marathons, including 5 Majors and this Spearfish Canyon marathon course is at the top of the list. Absolutely incredible scenery. Energetic and kind volunteers. A good mix of packed gravel and well maintained roads. Gentle downhill slope overall. Great place for a PR and/or a memorable visit with family to the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota.
Fast and beautiful course
Loved the downhill course. At 57, I don't get many chances to break 20 minutes for a 5K, but this one gave me a little help. The views were amazing … MORE
Loved the downhill course. At 57, I don’t get many chances to break 20 minutes for a 5K, but this one gave me a little help. The views were amazing and if SD is on your list, I would say this is one to do. I would do this one again. The people running the race were fantastic as well. All in all, a great experience
Scenery all the way!
This was a well-run race! The course is mostly downhill and you have shade until about the halfway mark and then it is mostly sun with some shady spots. Most … MORE
This was a well-run race! The course is mostly downhill and you have shade until about the halfway mark and then it is mostly sun with some shady spots. Most of it is running on the side of the highway but there isn’t a ton of traffic and the scenery is so amazing that I didn’t mind. Water stations every two miles and super friendly volunteers. The medal was gorgeous and we were all given fresh flowers at the finish too, very nice touch! Very small race, under 100 women this year. The men start 15 minutes after the women which is also a unique thing about this event. I highly recommend it! Only neg is that the road slopes and the slant was a bit challenging for my legs.
While in the area, plan to stay a few days and see Mt Rushmore, The Black Hills National Park, Custer National Park, Sturgis and Deadwood. Rapid City also has a darling downtown square.
Beautiful way run with sunrise
Beautiful scenery. Running thru a canyon. Early morning race. This 1 started at 630am thexhakf and full marathons started at 5am. The coordinator was very helpful and polite and professional. … MORE
Beautiful scenery. Running thru a canyon.
Early morning race. This 1 started at 630am thexhakf and full marathons started at 5am.
The coordinator was very helpful and polite and professional. I will do this race again maybe even try the half
Come for the scenery, stay for the PR
Downhill almost all the way. If you're looking to PR in a gorgeous location, this is it. Small race, small production, but suitable for the size. The biggest challenge is … MORE
Downhill almost all the way. If you’re looking to PR in a gorgeous location, this is it. Small race, small production, but suitable for the size. The biggest challenge is the slope of the road. Race difficulty would be a 1 if it wasn’t for that. You run on the shoulder in the canyon while traffic continues, but traffic is minimal and people are really considerate of runners. The slant can be hard on the feet though and I had some pretty painful blisters to show for it. Race swag is a t-shirt (cotton) and medal is small, but this is not a race you run for swag. It truly is the beauty of Spearfish Canyon and the surrounding communities that make this an exceptional race.
Very beautiful race!
This was a very beautiful and scenic race! The weather was absolutely PERFECT! I wish I had a better performance because everything was there for me to PR (I had … MORE
This was a very beautiful and scenic race! The weather was absolutely PERFECT! I wish I had a better performance because everything was there for me to PR (I had bad stomach issues in the beginning sadly). This is a small town race, so there are zero spectators and the expo was tiny (it was just 2 tables in a hotel conference room). At least there was a free drink token for a nearby bar.
I would recommend this course if you want to PR and have a relaxing race!
Small, well run race
This is a great, small marathon. The hotel affiliated with the race hosted a small expo which was nice. The bus to the start picked us up at the hotel … MORE
This is a great, small marathon. The hotel affiliated with the race hosted a small expo which was nice. The bus to the start picked us up at the hotel too. Course is pretty and all volunteers at the water stops were friendly. Volunteers also kept driving up next to me to make sure all was good which was nice. Weather ended up being great, thankfully! Only two cons. 1) Bus leaves at 4 AM to get to start so we were there an hour and 15 minutes early. Could have bus leave later. 2) Medal was just ok. Overall though, would definitely recommend this race.
Fast scenic downhill race.
Packet pick up easy and uneventful. Race day logistics were great. Weather was wonderful considering it was 100 the day before. Course was very beautiful and scenic, and almost completely … MORE
Packet pick up easy and uneventful. Race day logistics were great. Weather was wonderful considering it was 100 the day before. Course was very beautiful and scenic, and almost completely downhill. The aid stations were good. This was a very small race so no spectators. Swag was the only thing that was a little disappointing. Shirt was cotton and medal was just ok. I recommend doing this race because it was just gorgeous and was so fast.
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Perfect course/Stunning Scenery
This course is absolutely stunning the entire way. I signed up for this one as a training run, as I venture through returning from a back injury. We were extremely … MORE
This course is absolutely stunning the entire way. I signed up for this one as a training run, as I venture through returning from a back injury. We were extremely lucky to get such great weather as they said 2 days ago it was 100 degrees. The overcast skies and the gentle downhill was absolute perfection for anyone racing. With a injury it was easy to just coast along on that fabulous course. The race directors were extremely supportive and drove along frequently asking if everyone was ok or needed anything. Super impressive with the whole production besides being bused up well over an hour before the race started, as I would have preferred to sleep a bit longer after traveling and driving 13 hours straight through the night to get there. No biggie, just too much waiting around before the race. They do let you stay on the buses to keep warm as it’s a bit chilly at the top where the start is. I would definitely love to do this one again, as it was gorgeous and has top notch race directors!
Gorgeous, gorgeous race
This is a stunningly beautiful course starting in Lead, SD and running down the Spearfish Canyon. The first 2 miles of the course are (in the words of the race … MORE
This is a stunningly beautiful course starting in Lead, SD and running down the Spearfish Canyon. The first 2 miles of the course are (in the words of the race staff) “just awful”. You start out going up 2 big hills at 6,000 ft elevation. If you live at sea level, this is a huge struggle. After that, there is a steep downhill followed by gentle downhill with a few rolling hills until the halfway point. After that, it is all downhill until the last mile which is flat. I had an 8-minute negative split! People I met who struggled in the second half went out too fast; start slow on this course and you’ll find the second half to just float by. The second half of the course is on a scenic highway but the shoulder is wide and I had no issues with cars getting close.
The race production is minimal. The swag is a cheap cotton t-shirt with a tiny race logo and a list of sponsors. The race packet contained no real goodies, just some coupons for a couple local businesses. The finish line area was okay with chocolate milk and Gatorade to drink and bananas and cups of candy for snacks. The race started at 6am but they had us get on the bus to the start at 4am even though it was only a 40-minute drive. That was the biggest negative, but hopefully they’ll change that in the future. There are plenty of water stops and bathrooms.
While this can be a very fast course on the right day, the weather is super unpredictable. 48 hours before the race, it was 106 degrees. On race morning, it was 52 and windy. The weather also changes a lot as the race goes on. Also, this is not a walker-friendly race. There is a firm 6-hour cutoff from the time the men’s race starts and you will get pulled off the course if you’re not on pace to finish under the cutoff.
Favorite Race
Second year running this, still love it!!! It's all pretty much downhill. The scenery is perfect. Pray for a cooler day because it can get super hot in August in … MORE
Second year running this, still love it!!! It’s all pretty much downhill. The scenery is perfect. Pray for a cooler day because it can get super hot in August in SD.
If you love running down hill...
You'll love this race!! It's all pretty much downhill. It runs through the beautiful Spearfish Canyon. It's my favorite place to train, bike, and hike, so I'm a bit biased. … MORE
You’ll love this race!! It’s all pretty much downhill. It runs through the beautiful Spearfish Canyon. It’s my favorite place to train, bike, and hike, so I’m a bit biased. The views are beautiful and the road is winding with only a couple long straight stretches so it makes it easy to focus on the next curve to keep going.
Meh
Race start and end were very disappointing; started with just an air horn and someone on a megaphone, end was through a garden arch with three balloons on it. Seven … MORE
Race start and end were very disappointing; started with just an air horn and someone on a megaphone, end was through a garden arch with three balloons on it. Seven hour time limit but the photographer (who only took finish photos and didn’t organize them via number on website) was long gone by then. Running on the side of an asphalt road so you were at an angle most of the time. Swag bag had tshirt, a tiny tub of sunflower butter and an advertisement card for a PT place. That’s it.
Aid stations were great; every 2 1/2 miles. Scenery was phenomenal.
Just a beautiful event!
I ran Leading Ladies Marathon for my South Dakota race and it was well worth the travel hassle! It's not easy to get to Spearfish, SD from Virginia. It was … MORE
I ran Leading Ladies Marathon for my South Dakota race and it was well worth the travel hassle! It’s not easy to get to Spearfish, SD from Virginia. It was expensive to fly to Rapid City, so I flew to Bismarck, ND and drove almost five hours to Spearfish. It was a pretty drive, which helped. I stayed at the host hotel, Holiday Inn and Convention Center, which was convenient and quiet. Nothing fancy, but there was a discounted rate and the shuttle picked up/dropped off from there. The restaurant actually has a very good burger too (post-race)!
Packet pickup was also at the Holiday Inn. I was apparently number 33 to get my bib, which made me bib #33, which was awesome because it was my 33rd state. Quite a coincidence! It was fast and efficient with a few vendors present as well.
Race morning: probably my only “complaint,” and it’s minor, is that the bus picked us up at 4:00am. The race didn’t start until 6:00am, which meant we had over an hour at the start area. Luckily the bus stayed so we could stay warm, and it was pleasant chatting with the other runners, and convenient as the portajohns (or trees) were right there. I just would have appreciated another 30-45 minutes of sleep. Not that big a deal though, and they might have their reasons for doing it this way.
The race started right on time and it lived up to the hype of being primarily downhill. There is one kind of large hill around mile 11 or 12 on an out-and-back. The whole course was absolutely beautiful. The route is mostly paved road/path and runs through Spearfish Canyon. Waterfalls, cliffs, lovely homes, rivers and rapids…just gorgeous! I wish I’d had my phone to take pictures. There were aid stations at about every 2-3 miles after the first 3.5 miles of the course. I would have liked a couple more water stops in the last five or six miles, as that’s when it started getting a little warmer.
The weather was lovely – cool start, warming up at the finish, but with a 6am start and a fast course, I was done by about 9:40am which was awesome. The days before and after were significantly warmer, so we lucked out.
The medal was nice, and the shirt was good quality and nice navy blue color. You also get a long stem red rose and a scented, cool towel at the finish. There was cold water and a few food options, plus a shuttle to take us back the mile or two to the hotel.
Overall I’d put this race near the top of my list of favorite marathons. It was all women, small, and well organized. The swag was good and the course was spectacular. I don’t know what other options there are for South Dakota marathons but this one is a must-do in my opinion. Oh, and go see some of the sights, like Mt Rushmore, while you’re there!
-Side note: I originally registered for this race in 2015 but had to cancel due to a wedding the same weekend. The RD was VERY generous and accommodating, allowing me to rollover my entry to this year without any fee or hassle. One of the benefits of smaller events is the personal touch. Great people!!
Great fast course!
Course was all downhill, with beautiful scenery the entire way. The only negative was that having to be shuttled to the start, and then having to wait an hour+ for … MORE
Course was all downhill, with beautiful scenery the entire way.
The only negative was that having to be shuttled to the start, and then having to wait an hour+ for the start. But once the race starts, you quickly forget about that. Great race overall.