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Marathon Details - Sandhills Marathon

North America Marathons > USA > NE > Valentine > Sandhills Marathon

Sandhills Marathon

Sandhills Marathon & Half Marathon

Valentine, NE USA

June 1, 2024

http://www.facebook.com/groups/sandhillsmarathon

Marathon Results

By Year:

2019 2018 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 Top 3 Finishers

Race Details

A remote marathon in the beautiful Nebraska Sandhills

Contact Information

Name:	Andy Pollock
Address:	1448 Pioneers Rd Pleasant Dale
Phone Number:	402.480.0058
Email:	Email the organizers

Runner Reviews (20)

Course 4.8

Organization 4.8

Spectators 3.8

Write a review

Number of comments: 20 [displaying comments 1 to 11]

More Comments: [ < 1 2 > ]

Jay Slagle from Omaha, Nebraska (6/7/2024) "Incredible marathon - truly a gem" (about: 2024) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Sandhills Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I have run 10 marathons but this was my first in a decade. The Sandhills Marathon is the antithesis of a big-city marathon and you'll love it as long as you don't go into it with big-city expectations. It's not a Boston qualifier. Cows are the only spectators. There is no race expo. The finisher's medal is a spur. The scenery and the people you meet are second to none. I wrote about my experience at https://www.preprunningnerd.com/post/sandhillsmarathon.
J. D. from Iowa (6/4/2023) "Scenic, serene, unique, you'll remember this one" (about: 2023) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Sandhills Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 This race was unique in that it runs through the beautiful open range lands in the verdant Sandhills of northern Nebraska. This is an out and back course. Your spectators are yearling calves, red winged blackbirds, deer, turtles, turkeys, and the occasional lizard. You are running on a one lane blacktop road that has very little traffic and is in great condition. You will cross a few cattle guards. This is a perfect race for those who want a totally unique run that has been put together by dedicated organizers. The finishing medal, an engraved spur, is the best medal I have received. And after this race planning a float trip down the Niobrara will cap your visit to the area. Great race for those who like adventure!
M. N. from Waialua, HI (6/9/2021) "This race will make you fall in love with Nebraska" (about: 2021) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Sandhills Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I was so lucky to have the opportunity to run this race in 2021!! This was my first time in Nebraska and I have to say that the sandhills are absolutely STUNNING! The course takes you down a rancher's road in the middle of the sandhills, where you have the unique opportunity to see a beautiful Nebraskan sunrise, plenty of Red-winged blackbirds all around, cattle calling out (never heard cattle call like that before lol!), and beautiful green scenery for miles!! Like others said, this is a challenging course with the heat (especially after 9:30am) and this race was difficult for me because I didn't prepare with my jet lag. However, there are SO many gems with this race and all the organizers and runners were super friendly and welcoming! This is a small race with a great community behind it. You can tell that a lot of folks come back again every year and that everyone is out there supporting one another on the course (every runner was super encouraging to me as they were heading back). Also, the finisher prize is by far the coolest one I have gotten so far! Overall, I highly recommend this race to anyone looking for an amazing marathon experience! It will make you fall in love with the natural beauty of Nebraska! <3 P.S. ~ I recommend staying at the Niobrara Lodge (this is where the check-in is), as well as visiting Smith Falls (absolutely gorgeous)!
M. N. from Fargo, SD (6/22/2019) "Disappointing" (about: 2019) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Sandhills Marathon COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 3 There is a lot of positive hype about this race, but I didn't see the appeal at all. First, at $111 for the half-marathon, it was WAY overpriced. Second, the half- marathon entry fee was the same as the full marathon fee, and that is ridiculous. If the money went to a good cause, that certainly was not publicized. I believe the profits went into the pocket of the race director who was pretty rude - publicly shaming people who asked for a refund after the course had to be changed due to flooding. The pasta dinner the night before at Bolo Beer Co. was poorly planned. The venue was way too small and crowded for the event, and runners had to mingle with smokers. Every volunteer I encountered was pretty clueless, and some were even kind of rude. There was no Gatorade at the finish, and the cooler of water was empty before any marathoners even got done. It was announced that awards would take place at 10 am, but there never were any awards. In fact, this race did not even do age group awards. The finisher's 'medal' for the half was a horseshoe with engraving so TINY you can't even read it. The last minute alternate course was an out and back on the Cowboy Trail rail trail. The race director described it as flat, but with over 600 feet elevation gain, that was very inaccurate. Overall, this race offered disappointment around every corner, and I would not recommend it to anyone.
S. S. from Iowa (6/5/2018) "Fantastic small race" (about: 2018) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Sandhills Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 The Sandhills Marathon is a fantastic race! The course runs through the beautiful, gently rolling hills of the Nebraska Sandhills where there will be more cows than spectators - a very welcomed change from 'big city' runs. The volunteers were very attentive and helpful and its apparent that everyone associated with the race is eager to share the 'Nebraska Nice' hospitality. I'd love to run this one again.
C. S. from Seattle (6/28/2016) "Perfect Marathon Course" (about: 2016) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Sandhills Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This marathon in Nebraska was state number 45 for me and this course ranks as one of the best that I have run in the country. It is point-to-point on a quiet one lane county road that feels more like a wide bike path than a road. Except for a couple of hills, it is completely flat and runs through the beautiful Sandhills area of Nebraska. The race is well organized and very small, which I like. You can drive right to the start (or take a shuttle) and park right at the finish with no problem. It is an early start, but then you have most of the day ahead of you when you finish. I would highly recommend it for your Nebraska marathon, if just to experience this unique area.
p. e. from New York (6/16/2016) "Great race and one of the most scenic I've done" (about: 2016) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Sandhills Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This race is now one of my favorites. Beautiful,serene course is a net downhill (small hill at 1.5 and a real one at 9), with very little traffic but enthusiastic volunteers. Not one to go if you need spectators. The tech shirt is nice and the Stainless Spur is priceless. Fits the race to a tee. if you can swing it 50 staters, worth the drive. The logistics keeps the marathon to just the right size. Free pasta diner for runners in school cafeteria the night prior to the race was a nice freebie. Would love to do again.
T. W. from Charlotte, N.C. (6/22/2015) "Unique and memorable" (about: 2015) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Sandhills Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 This was my 40th marathon or ultra and my 35th state and it was one of the most memorable. Let me get this out of the way first: there are a few reasons why Sandhills may not be the best choice for a first-time marathoner: _ Travel. The nearest commercial air service is to North Platte, which is 2 hours from Valentine and served by only one carrier with relatively expensive flights. Sioux Falls, SD, (where we flew into) is the second choice and is a 4-hour (!) drive from Valentine. _ The race itself finishes about 45 miles south of Valentine, so our alarm was set for 3:30 a.m. local time to allow us to get to the finish line by 5 a.m. for the shuttle to the 6 a.m. start. _ No crowds, no spectators (except for the mooing cows), no bands; water stations are spaced every 3 miles. That being said, if you're beyond your first-race jitters and are looking for something more than just another mid-sized city marathon, Sandhills is an awesome adventure. The course, through rolling green ranchland, is drop dead gorgeous, particularly as the sun rises at the start of the race. There are enough hills to keep you honest, a small detour at 20 miles through the settlement of Brownlee (population 20!) and a supportive and enthusiastic group of volunteers who man a series of aid stations that leapfrog the runners (including truly portable portajons that are towed from aid station to aid station so they can be re-used). RD Andy Pollock is a native of this area of Nebraska and his love of his home comes through in his efforts to keep the race field small and minimize its impact on the landscape. And the swag is some of the best I've ever received a great T-shirt and a unique spur trophy that took the place of yet another finisher's medal. I will echo some of the other commenters in saying that Valentine's hoteliers don't seem to really get the whole marathon thing the owner of the Raine Motel refused to even discuss a late checkout, so my traveling companion and I ended up driving back to Sioux Falls before we were able to get a post-race shower. We were also lucky in that we had near ideal conditions in 2015 mid-50s at the start, rising to high 60s/low 70s at the finish. On a hot day, this would have been a very challenging course given the lack of shade.
K. Y. from Oklahoma (1/13/2015) "FANTASTIC RACE FOR RUNNERS!" (about: 2014) 3 previous marathons \| 1 Sandhills Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I selected this race because it had excellent reviews and I wanted to do something different than your typical RnR event with 10,000 people and 10,000 distractions. I also had been through the Nebraska Sandhills a few times and the scenery is beautiful. I can't say enough good things about the course. We started right as the sun was coming up headed SE towards the sunrise. The road is a single lane blacktop barely wider than a bicycle path. There is beautiful prairie scenery throughout the course. It is a net downhill with the only major hill around mile 10. There is a slight incline around 21 that I only noticed because of the point at which it occurs. Overall a very favorable course. The organization was outstanding. Packet pickup was quick and easy at a western clothing store in Valentine. Buses were prompt at the finish line to take us to the start line. The volunteers were very encouraging and the moving porta-johns on trailers were awesome. A very well done race. There aren't many spectators but those that you do run into that are most likely doubling as volunteers are very supportive. The only CON I had was related to the Valentine Niobrara Lodge. They were the host hotel and didn't allow for a late checkout and were not really accommodating at all. I rode to the course with 2 ladies that were staying at another, smaller hotel and they were very happy with their choice. Lodging is limited in Valentine but if you can stay somewhere other than the Niobrara Lodge I would. Overall this a fantastic race if you are looking for something different from what most other marathons are becoming. I highly recommend it.
K. M. from NH (1/2/2014) "OUTSTAINDING!!!!" (about: 2013) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Sandhills Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I LOVE the spur! I will be back to get another. My only minimal complaint is the start is tough to find if you do not travel with the group. I highly recommend taking the bus to the start. Otherwise it was perfect from start to finish. It began to rain rather heavily at the end so I did not spend much time at the finish but the course was beautiful with some rolling hills and NO traffic. Most of the course was run on a dirt road with pastures on the side. The weather was cool. The race crew terrific and very encouraging. I loved the rolling portapotties along the course. The marathoners ran through the half marathon start and it began after I ran through to avoid the bottleneck we so often see. This is a wonderful race I highly recommend.

More Comments: [ < 1 2 > ]



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Jay Slagle from Omaha, Nebraska (6/7/2024) "Incredible marathon - truly a gem" (about: 2024) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Sandhills Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I have run 10 marathons but this was my first in a decade. The Sandhills Marathon is the antithesis of a big-city marathon and you'll love it as long as you don't go into it with big-city expectations. It's not a Boston qualifier. Cows are the only spectators. There is no race expo. The finisher's medal is a spur. The scenery and the people you meet are second to none. I wrote about my experience at https://www.preprunningnerd.com/post/sandhillsmarathon.
J. D. from Iowa (6/4/2023) "Scenic, serene, unique, you'll remember this one" (about: 2023) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Sandhills Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 This race was unique in that it runs through the beautiful open range lands in the verdant Sandhills of northern Nebraska. This is an out and back course. Your spectators are yearling calves, red winged blackbirds, deer, turtles, turkeys, and the occasional lizard. You are running on a one lane blacktop road that has very little traffic and is in great condition. You will cross a few cattle guards. This is a perfect race for those who want a totally unique run that has been put together by dedicated organizers. The finishing medal, an engraved spur, is the best medal I have received. And after this race planning a float trip down the Niobrara will cap your visit to the area. Great race for those who like adventure!
M. N. from Waialua, HI (6/9/2021) "This race will make you fall in love with Nebraska" (about: 2021) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Sandhills Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I was so lucky to have the opportunity to run this race in 2021!! This was my first time in Nebraska and I have to say that the sandhills are absolutely STUNNING! The course takes you down a rancher's road in the middle of the sandhills, where you have the unique opportunity to see a beautiful Nebraskan sunrise, plenty of Red-winged blackbirds all around, cattle calling out (never heard cattle call like that before lol!), and beautiful green scenery for miles!! Like others said, this is a challenging course with the heat (especially after 9:30am) and this race was difficult for me because I didn't prepare with my jet lag. However, there are SO many gems with this race and all the organizers and runners were super friendly and welcoming! This is a small race with a great community behind it. You can tell that a lot of folks come back again every year and that everyone is out there supporting one another on the course (every runner was super encouraging to me as they were heading back). Also, the finisher prize is by far the coolest one I have gotten so far! Overall, I highly recommend this race to anyone looking for an amazing marathon experience! It will make you fall in love with the natural beauty of Nebraska! <3 P.S. ~ I recommend staying at the Niobrara Lodge (this is where the check-in is), as well as visiting Smith Falls (absolutely gorgeous)!
M. N. from Fargo, SD (6/22/2019) "Disappointing" (about: 2019) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Sandhills Marathon COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 3 There is a lot of positive hype about this race, but I didn't see the appeal at all. First, at $111 for the half-marathon, it was WAY overpriced. Second, the half- marathon entry fee was the same as the full marathon fee, and that is ridiculous. If the money went to a good cause, that certainly was not publicized. I believe the profits went into the pocket of the race director who was pretty rude - publicly shaming people who asked for a refund after the course had to be changed due to flooding. The pasta dinner the night before at Bolo Beer Co. was poorly planned. The venue was way too small and crowded for the event, and runners had to mingle with smokers. Every volunteer I encountered was pretty clueless, and some were even kind of rude. There was no Gatorade at the finish, and the cooler of water was empty before any marathoners even got done. It was announced that awards would take place at 10 am, but there never were any awards. In fact, this race did not even do age group awards. The finisher's 'medal' for the half was a horseshoe with engraving so TINY you can't even read it. The last minute alternate course was an out and back on the Cowboy Trail rail trail. The race director described it as flat, but with over 600 feet elevation gain, that was very inaccurate. Overall, this race offered disappointment around every corner, and I would not recommend it to anyone.
S. S. from Iowa (6/5/2018) "Fantastic small race" (about: 2018) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Sandhills Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 The Sandhills Marathon is a fantastic race! The course runs through the beautiful, gently rolling hills of the Nebraska Sandhills where there will be more cows than spectators - a very welcomed change from 'big city' runs. The volunteers were very attentive and helpful and its apparent that everyone associated with the race is eager to share the 'Nebraska Nice' hospitality. I'd love to run this one again.
C. S. from Seattle (6/28/2016) "Perfect Marathon Course" (about: 2016) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Sandhills Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This marathon in Nebraska was state number 45 for me and this course ranks as one of the best that I have run in the country. It is point-to-point on a quiet one lane county road that feels more like a wide bike path than a road. Except for a couple of hills, it is completely flat and runs through the beautiful Sandhills area of Nebraska. The race is well organized and very small, which I like. You can drive right to the start (or take a shuttle) and park right at the finish with no problem. It is an early start, but then you have most of the day ahead of you when you finish. I would highly recommend it for your Nebraska marathon, if just to experience this unique area.
p. e. from New York (6/16/2016) "Great race and one of the most scenic I've done" (about: 2016) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Sandhills Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This race is now one of my favorites. Beautiful,serene course is a net downhill (small hill at 1.5 and a real one at 9), with very little traffic but enthusiastic volunteers. Not one to go if you need spectators. The tech shirt is nice and the Stainless Spur is priceless. Fits the race to a tee. if you can swing it 50 staters, worth the drive. The logistics keeps the marathon to just the right size. Free pasta diner for runners in school cafeteria the night prior to the race was a nice freebie. Would love to do again.
T. W. from Charlotte, N.C. (6/22/2015) "Unique and memorable" (about: 2015) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Sandhills Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 This was my 40th marathon or ultra and my 35th state and it was one of the most memorable. Let me get this out of the way first: there are a few reasons why Sandhills may not be the best choice for a first-time marathoner: _ Travel. The nearest commercial air service is to North Platte, which is 2 hours from Valentine and served by only one carrier with relatively expensive flights. Sioux Falls, SD, (where we flew into) is the second choice and is a 4-hour (!) drive from Valentine. _ The race itself finishes about 45 miles south of Valentine, so our alarm was set for 3:30 a.m. local time to allow us to get to the finish line by 5 a.m. for the shuttle to the 6 a.m. start. _ No crowds, no spectators (except for the mooing cows), no bands; water stations are spaced every 3 miles. That being said, if you're beyond your first-race jitters and are looking for something more than just another mid-sized city marathon, Sandhills is an awesome adventure. The course, through rolling green ranchland, is drop dead gorgeous, particularly as the sun rises at the start of the race. There are enough hills to keep you honest, a small detour at 20 miles through the settlement of Brownlee (population 20!) and a supportive and enthusiastic group of volunteers who man a series of aid stations that leapfrog the runners (including truly portable portajons that are towed from aid station to aid station so they can be re-used). RD Andy Pollock is a native of this area of Nebraska and his love of his home comes through in his efforts to keep the race field small and minimize its impact on the landscape. And the swag is some of the best I've ever received a great T-shirt and a unique spur trophy that took the place of yet another finisher's medal. I will echo some of the other commenters in saying that Valentine's hoteliers don't seem to really get the whole marathon thing the owner of the Raine Motel refused to even discuss a late checkout, so my traveling companion and I ended up driving back to Sioux Falls before we were able to get a post-race shower. We were also lucky in that we had near ideal conditions in 2015 mid-50s at the start, rising to high 60s/low 70s at the finish. On a hot day, this would have been a very challenging course given the lack of shade.
K. Y. from Oklahoma (1/13/2015) "FANTASTIC RACE FOR RUNNERS!" (about: 2014) 3 previous marathons \| 1 Sandhills Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I selected this race because it had excellent reviews and I wanted to do something different than your typical RnR event with 10,000 people and 10,000 distractions. I also had been through the Nebraska Sandhills a few times and the scenery is beautiful. I can't say enough good things about the course. We started right as the sun was coming up headed SE towards the sunrise. The road is a single lane blacktop barely wider than a bicycle path. There is beautiful prairie scenery throughout the course. It is a net downhill with the only major hill around mile 10. There is a slight incline around 21 that I only noticed because of the point at which it occurs. Overall a very favorable course. The organization was outstanding. Packet pickup was quick and easy at a western clothing store in Valentine. Buses were prompt at the finish line to take us to the start line. The volunteers were very encouraging and the moving porta-johns on trailers were awesome. A very well done race. There aren't many spectators but those that you do run into that are most likely doubling as volunteers are very supportive. The only CON I had was related to the Valentine Niobrara Lodge. They were the host hotel and didn't allow for a late checkout and were not really accommodating at all. I rode to the course with 2 ladies that were staying at another, smaller hotel and they were very happy with their choice. Lodging is limited in Valentine but if you can stay somewhere other than the Niobrara Lodge I would. Overall this a fantastic race if you are looking for something different from what most other marathons are becoming. I highly recommend it.
K. M. from NH (1/2/2014) "OUTSTAINDING!!!!" (about: 2013) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Sandhills Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I LOVE the spur! I will be back to get another. My only minimal complaint is the start is tough to find if you do not travel with the group. I highly recommend taking the bus to the start. Otherwise it was perfect from start to finish. It began to rain rather heavily at the end so I did not spend much time at the finish but the course was beautiful with some rolling hills and NO traffic. Most of the course was run on a dirt road with pastures on the side. The weather was cool. The race crew terrific and very encouraging. I loved the rolling portapotties along the course. The marathoners ran through the half marathon start and it began after I ran through to avoid the bottleneck we so often see. This is a wonderful race I highly recommend.

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Marathon Details - Sandhills Marathon