Come to South Dakota and you can check off two things from your bucket list: running a marathon and visiting Mount Rushmore. Keep on reading to find out which races Runner’s rate as the best marathons in South Dakota.
Brookings Marathon
With only 300 marathon entrants, the Brookings Marathon is perfect for runners who prefer a smaller race. All finishers receive the usual swag including a quarter zip shirt, commemorative race bag, and custom finisher’s medal. But unlike other races, the Brookings Marathon provides free race photos. Learn more about the event here.
The Course
This is a flat and fast marathon course that is an excellent choice for a Boston Qualifier. The event organizers describe the race as follows:
“The course is flat, with a gentle grade thrown in here and there to keep things interesting. With the exception of Larson Hill (a 35′ high hill that you could walk up and down in a minute) the entire course stays between 1595 and 1680 feet of elevation and never changes more than 40 feet over a single mile.”
Image Source: Brookings Marathon
Reviews
“A great little marathon on a flat course. Organization is top-notch. Aid stations were well-supplied, even for us toward the back of the pack. Volunteers were friendly and the free hamburgers were a great touch. It looked like spring arrived just before the marathon; flowering apple and crap apple trees and lilacs were everywhere.” — Dave Graves, Marathonguide.com Review
“After having just run a very large marathon 2 weeks prior, Brookings was a true breath of fresh air. Very different, and absolutely fun, charming, scenic, and challenging. I give 5 stars for everything, including spectators. Not that the streets were lined with them, but the ones who were there were awesome. So friendly, encouraging, and engaged. I’ve never seen a whole town so invested. Every yard was well manicured…every park groomed perfectly.. all the volunteers were smiling and so helpful. I came up to Brookings to get a MarathonManiac qualifying race..but I left with a grand experience in a wonderfully small package. This is a MUST-do marathon. Don’t miss it.” — Susan Collins, Marathonguide.com Review
Deadwood Mickelson Trail Marathon
Scenery, scenery, scenery. That’s all you’ll be talking about once you complete the Deadwood Mickelson Marathon. Nestled in the Black Hills of South Dakota, this rails-to-trail course offers views that very few will get to experience in their lifetime. Click here to see event photos.
The Course
Let’s get one thing clear – this course is tough, but the rewards are worth the effort. The first half is a constant climb, taking you from 5200 ft to 6200 ft for a total elevation gain of 1000 ft. In contrast, the second half is mostly downhill, with one section causing event organizer to warn you “to be careful not to become a ‘runaway’.”
Image Source: Deadwood Mickelson Trail Marathon
Reviews
“Excellent course and race organization. I have run 79 marathons and with respect to scenery I would rate this as one of the best. I am glad I didn’t run with music so I could hear the stream which was along the course most of the race.” — L.K., Marathonguide.com Review
“I have run 162 marathons and this is now my favourite. A truly beautiful trail event, with meadows and streams and forests all around. The surface was good, and the gradual climb and the low pass (around 6300′) was not a factor. I did a negative split and was very happy with the support, the transport etc.. Most of my runs have been in New Zealand, and while there are a lot of good courses in New Zealand, Deadwood has them beat.” — Bill Hodge, Marathonguide.com Review
Sioux Falls Marathon
Despite Sioux Falls being the largest city in South Dakota, the Sioux Falls Marathon has stayed relatively small. This is great if you enjoy smaller races but prefer the amenities of a bigger city. Click here for registration dates and details.
The Course
The event is often praised for the beauty of its course. The loop takes runners through a number of scenic parks including Falls Park, where you will learn how the city got its name. The course is not completely flat however, so take that into consideration if you are looking to set a PR or qualify for the Boston Marathon.
Image Source: Sioux Falls Marathon
Reviews
“The course was planned out well, with wide open roads at the beginning and rolling hills that were so gradual that I never struggled (and this is coming from a Chicagoan who has not completed ANY hill workouts yet this year). I appreciated how they planned out the course so we encountered the falls toward the end; that was a huge boost. I’d recommend waiting to see the falls in person until you run through the park. True, they are not Niagara Falls, but I still got chills from them…this is not something one sees everyday.” — Y.F., Marathonguide.com Review
“Don’t be fooled by the advertisement of a ‘flat’ and fast course; fast, perhaps (based on you as a runner), but certainly not ‘flat.’ There were flat areas along the course, but I would never describe this course as flat (I’ve completed over 25 marathons). Could be a nice Boston Qualifer, just hope for good weather, which was something the Running Gods did not supply in 2013. VERY hot, humid and windy, with little to no shelter from the variables (until after mile 20). This shouldn’t deter you from this marathon, as all courses have challenging factors, just be aware if this is the course you choose for a BQ. Nice scenery changes and volunteers were amazing! Nice medals.” — L.T., Marathonguide.com Review