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Marathon Details - Mt. Rushmore Marathon

North America Marathons > USA > SD > Rapid City > Mt. Rushmore Marathon

Mt. Rushmore Marathon

Relay, Half-Marathon, 5K Mt. Rushmore Marathon

Rapid City, SD USA

October 4, 2008

http://www.mountrushmoremarathon.com

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2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 Top 3 Finishers

Contact Information

Name:	Stacey Sharpe
Address:	Rapid City Convention & Visitors Bureau PO Box 747 Rapid City, SD 57709
Phone Number:	(605)343-1744
Fax Number:	(605)348-9217
Email:	Email the organizers

Runner Reviews (62)

Course 4.2

Organization 3.9

Spectators 2.8

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Number of comments: 62 [displaying comments 1 to 11]

More Comments: [ < 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 > ]

B. B. from Hill City, SD (10/30/2008) "great scenery, brutal course, lousy organization" (about: 2008) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Mt. Rushmore Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 1 I only ran the race because I got a free entry for my June '08 Michelson Trail Marathon. Instead of putting me in the Crazy Horse Marathon, where the competition and money were, they screwed up and had me in the Mt. Rushmore Marathon instead. I ran a 2:58 and won my race by 19 minutes. But they messed up the results and didn't even have me listed in results. A car almost hit me during the race, even though the lane was supposed to be closed down. None of the "help" on the course knew which way to go. I think one of the gaps between water stops was close to 4 miles (way too far on tough hilly course). The Black Hills are beautiful and I call them my home, but if you want to do a marathon out here, the Deadwood Michelson Trail in June is the only way to go. - Bob Bolton
W. B. from Texas (10/24/2008) "My Write Up" (about: 2008) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Mt. Rushmore Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 What a thrill it was to be starting at the entrance to Mt. Rushmore. Considering the size of this race, the spectators and support crowd were great. As expected, the hills and elevation made for a "leg beating" experience. (It was fun trying to walk up stairs after this one.) The Aspen trees along the trail were wonderful, as their golden leaves floated down on you as you ran along. The only surprise was the difficulty of the running terrain in the second half of the marathon. The jagged rocks (slate) sticking up out of the trail, and the numerous "wash outs," winding downhills, and larger-sized rocks on the path made for a true ultra marathon running experience. I only wish that I had known to wear ultra shoes, as my running shoes soles were ripped up. Overall, many folks did quite a bit of walking throughout the marathon. I would do this one again, as the air was fresh and the scenery wonderful.
C. D. from NE (10/14/2008) "Certainly a "Monumental" Challenge" (about: 2008) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Mt. Rushmore Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Quite the marathon! The starting line was at Mt. Rushmore (plenty of parking and shelter in the parking garage). The course to Hill City was, of course, hilly, and on the highway/Mickelson Trail. At mile 10, it was really cool to join up with the Crazy Horse runners! After Hill City, the terrain and steep inclines were very tough! I ended up walking up the minimum maintenance roads/trails. Around mile 20 it was great to rejoin the Mickelson Trail again and go downhill to the end. The weather was perfect (50's/sunny). My boys ran the 1K. The shirts and medals were a great touch! The start wasn't marked and wasn't really organized, but the kids got to finish through the main chute, which was cool to them. PROS: Scenery (seeing Mt. Rushmore!!!), kids' run, shirt (long-sleeve tech), finisher's medal (AWESOME!), volunteers, Super 8 (close to finish), Hill City (though tourist season ended and many shops were closed, the ones remaining open were not crowded and had good deals). CONS: Post-race food (NO fruit, bagels, cookies), trying to find spaghetti in Hill City beforehand, awards ceremony ran later than listed and then the award I was supposed to get was given to someone else (still waiting for them to correct it). As a family, we enjoyed the weekend. I hope to maybe try one of the half-marathons next year. A great race, but it could still use a little improving. Almost felt like they really tried hard, but maybe they bit off more than they could chew. Organizing two marathons, two half's, a 5K, a 1K kids' run and the three different relays was a monumental challenge in itself!
Monica Headlee from Minnesota (10/6/2008) "AWESOME, yet needing improvement" (about: 2008) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Mt. Rushmore Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 People, I'm a Hills native, so I have to put in my two cents. Race = AWESOME! Where else can you start at a national monument? If you have never done this marathon, YOU MUST DO IT. Beautiful (although tough) course and a beautiful time of the year. I thought the race itself was well organized (although they seemed to ignore the relay runners; give us some love, too!), and they seemed to have cleared up some of the problems from years past. However, they do need to improve the cooperation of the host hotel (HEY! GIVE PALMER GULCH LODGE MAPS AND SHUTTLE SCHEDULES!!! HEY, PALMER GULCH LODGE! TRY STAFFING YOUR CAMPGROUND DURING THE WEEKEND!), the location of the expo/spaghetti feed (all the events seem too spread out), the quality of the expo (where are the local businesses???) , and the hospitality at the end of the race (FOOD, PLEASE!!!). Even with all of this, I've got to give the race a thumbs up. I emailed the race director some suggestions, and if they get addressed, there is no reason why this couldn't be a premier Midwest event.
H. V. from Florida (10/6/2008) "Hilly, but beautiful, course" (about: 2008) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Mt. Rushmore Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 Of course you would expect a race at Mt. Rushmore to be hilly, and it was. Be prepared and ready for that. Runners had a choice between the Mt. Rushmore and Crazy Horse races, and the two races merged at about mile 10. Beautiful scenery. It was a small enough race that the race director knew many runners by name. Finish line area was nice. The only "downside" to this race, if you want to call it that, is that you really have to drive a long way to get to anything. The host hotel and packet pickup were a 20-30 minute drive from each other; most restaurants in Hill City (where the races start, and where the host hotel was) were closed for the season, so you had to drive quite a ways into Rapid City to find a carbo-loading dinner. Actually packet pickup was closer to Rapid City than it was to Palmer Gulch resort, so maybe the host hotels in the future should be in Rapid City. However, big KUDOS to Palmer Gulch for having breakfast out early for runners the day of the race. Aside from breakfast, they had candy and crackers and trail mix, etc. Packet pickup was just that - pick up your packet. No expo. to speak of, but it was quick and easy. Love that! Overall, this was a challenging, no-frills race in a quiet, peaceful setting.
A. R. from Kansas City, KS (10/10/2007) "Terrible organization, but a pretty course" (about: 2007) 3 previous marathons \| 1 Mt. Rushmore Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 2 The only good thing about this race was the course, and, because that's the main part of any race, I'll give the 2007 Monumental Challenge Half Marathon a passing grade. The disorganization truly tried my patience though, and I won't be back anytime soon. All of my long training runs with my running group have been more organized than this race. - Website needs to be improved to be more straightforward and informative. I eventually emailed the race director asking where the packet pickup would be, the best way to get to the start and other everyone-needs-to-know questions. There are good marathon websites out there, the directors shouldn't be afraid to use those as examples of what out-of-town runners need to know. - Host hotels: Get the other hotels in town involved. Palmer Gulch filled up (plus it was way outside town and didn't have a working online registration) and most out-of-towners I talked to were staying at the Best Western, Holiday Inn Express, etc. anyway. - No place to carbo-load in Hill City. The race-sponsored pasta supper was in Rapid City, but we were staying in Hill City (that's where the race was). Many of the restaurants were closed because tourist season was over. We finally found pizza at the gas station. Wouldn't it be great if one of the Hill City restaurants or churches hosted the past feed right in Hill City? It could be a great fund-raiser for the cross-country team and the possibilities are endless. - Shuttles, oh the shuttles. I ran the half marathon (originally the Crazy Horse road race, changed to the Monumental Challenge trail race 10 days before the event). I got to the pickup location in plenty of time, then waited (with LOTS of other people) for an hour in the near-freezing drizzle for a bus to come. We were dropped off at the half drop-off point about an hour AFTER the race was supposed to have started. A volunteer said to hike up that big hill there, leave your warm-ups with the guy in the truck and then walk 8/10s of a mile that way to the start. That 8/10s of a mile was on the trail against traffic as we faced the marathoners and half marathoners that had started earlier. It was a chip start, so our times weren't affected, but it was weird to start whenever you're ready. That long wait in the cold rain not only made us all shivery and stiff, but I had already burned through my puny pre-race breakfast before I got to the start and ran most of the race hungry. - ...which leads to the post-race food. There weren't any bagels, bread or bananas! I had an orange slice, and I could have purchased a bowl of chili, a beer or a bottle of PowerAde, but that's all they had. Fortunately, my hubby had brought along my own private stash of granola bars and Gatorade. What did our registration fees go toward when there was no expo, no police to close streets (because it turned out to be all trail), minimal volunteers and no food at the end? The course was beautiful though. If I had known from the start that this was going to be a no-frills trail run, I probably would have taken it better. As it was, I signed up for (and expected) a fully-organized race that started at a Crazy Horse and was run on the road. The bait-and-switch rubbed me the wrong way, and the disorganization made it a Monumental Challenge to enjoy this race.
C. S. from Belle Fourche, SD (10/10/2007) "Great course, not-so-great organization" (about: 2007) 6-10 previous marathons \| 2 Mt. Rushmore Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 They made a rather drastic change to this year's course due to some permit problems. As a result, Crazy Horse and Mt. Rushmore were no longer part of the event and instead the race was run almost exclusively on the Mickelson Trail from Rochford to Hill City. This is perhaps the most beautiful part of the Mickelson and overall is a much easier course than either of the old courses. The trail used to be a railroad line, so none of the grades are greater than 2%. The first 10 miles are generally downhill followed by 8 miles of gradual but constant uphill and then 8 miles of gradual, constant downhill to the finish. The uphill slows you down some for sure, but it's not enough to totally ruin your day. The trail itself is great to run on, much gentler on the legs than asphalt or pavement. I, for one, sincerely hope they decide to abandon the old courses and stick with this new one into the future. Of the seven marathons I've run, this is easily my favorite course. As great as the course was, the organization left something to be desired, particularly concerning the shuttles to the start lines for the full and half. I got on the first bus to the full start, so I got there in plenty of time, but the bus driver informed us that it was a two hour round trip from Hill City to Rochford and back and he was expected to make it in one hour. Indeed, it took us a full hour to make the drive to Rochford. Consequently, busses were late getting to the start lines, which delayed the start by about 15 minutes (for the full, not sure about the half) and resulted in some runners starting whenever they happened to get there. The race is chip timed, so it's not a huge deal, but is something that can, and should, be remedied. Also, for some reason we were dropped off at the full start about a half mile from the start itself and had to walk there even though there was a perfectly good parking area right next to the start line. From what I've heard, some half-marathoners had to walk up to a mile from their dropoff point to the start. It also appeared (to me at least) that the mile markers were slightly off throughout the course, because the last 0.2 miles took a LONG time and not just because I was getting tired. I'm not saying the course was long, just that the markers weren't in the exactly correct position. Spectators were fairly sparse, but that's to be expected when running along the Mickelson because there are limited access points. Where there was access, there were a fair number of spectators and they were all very supportive. There were also a decent number of spectators in Hill City along the homestretch, which was nice considering the cold, drizzly conditions. The race shirts were once again very nice. It's good to see that the organizers have found a designer who can put together a decent looking race shirt. The medal was much improved over last year's, which just looked cheap. Post race amenities were good also, including a heated tent, which was very welcome after running for 3.5 hours in the cold (40 degrees) and on and off drizzle/rain. Given that they totally redesigned this event with just three weeks to go, everything went surprisingly smoothly and I ended up enjoying it much more than when I ran the Mt. Rushmore course last year. A few kinks need to be worked out, but they should be easy to fix. Again, I really hope that this new course gets adopted for good.
S. F. from Washington, DC (10/10/2007) "Beautiful Course, Poor Organization" (about: 2007) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Mt. Rushmore Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 3 Probably the prettiest course I have ever ran in the US. Running through the Black Hills was incredible. Even though the course was changed three weeks prior to the race, I thought the organizations could have done a much better job. First, the bus drivers did not know where they were going and tried to drop us off at the wrong point on the course. Second, there were not enough volunteers near the finished line so that runners were confused as they were crossing the street at the end. Only meat stew was offered at the finishers tent. First, not every one eats meat (like me!) and second, it's not necessarily a sound post-race choice.
J. G. from Colorado Springs, CO (10/9/2007) "Go with the flow & get carried along neat course!" (about: 2007) 6-10 previous marathons \| 4-5 Mt. Rushmore Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 3 While this run faced chilling rain and last-minute re-organization hiccups; the higher-profile Chicago Marathon, held the same day, encountered a shortage of water and cups, and faced an early closure due to unbearable heat. This is important to keep in mind because no matter how well-organized a race can be, circumstances can occur beyond anyone's control. We all have to travel whatever road is laid before us. Before getting into the pluses, minuses, and suggestions, I will say that the thrill of the run though the majestic Black Hills, and the optimistic attitude of the coordinators helped make this a nice day after all. Considering that this course was part of a contingency plan when denial of permits prevented the race to be held where advertised, the coordination to change course should be applauded. The Pluses: Virtually the entire marathon was on an unpaved, well-graded trail, free from asphalt and motorists. Albeit this type of run isn't conducive to spectator applause, the intimate seclusion among the golden aspen leaves and whispering pines was enough to keep one company! Contrary to my fears of sparsely-spaced water stations, they proved to be relatively ample. These stations were thankfully stocked with both water and sports drink. It was a great idea to have a warm party tent after the run! On such a cold day, this proved to be a major benefit! ________________________________________ Minuses: These are likely similar comments as others, and I'm sure the coordinators are already aware of the problems. The first issue was the lack of restroom facilities at the start line. It is baffling why the portable restrooms for both the full and half marathon starts were placed a half mile from the start line. The baggage pickup location was also stationed in that area. I realize the course was a last-minute situation; but not having restroom facilities at the start is inexcusable. Because of this snafu, a lot of runners weren't prepared to start at gun-time. Coordination and communication between the volunteers severely lacked. The moment that the bus that shuttled the runners pulled up to the start line, a coordinator should have made an announcement about restroom location, and start time adjustments. Instead, everyone was playing follow-the-leader while random people whose authority was unknown walked by providing questionable instructions. One person advised runners that there was a 15-minute delay. Moments later, another person announced the marathon start was imminent! There was a cattle guard early-on. Though a volunteer was cautioning people, how difficult would it have been to arrange for a piece of plywood to be placed over it? Volunteers at the water station just past mile 16 were inattentive and weren't handing out cups. They were engaged in their own conversation. Little things like this disrupt a runner's momentum. Though the party tent was nice and warm, I question the choice of food. Bbq and hot dogs were served when most would be happy with plain muffins, bagels and yogurt! (Fruit slices were offered at the finish-line, however.) Also, it appeared that any liquid besides water cost money. Not everyone is going to have cash with them after running! I lost money signing up for Time Tracker cell-phone messaging. It didn't appear to work for me. The website alludes a discount at the host hotel, but upon entering the discount code at the host hotel's website, no such code was recognized. ________________________________________ Suggestions: This event underwent new management in 2005 with the intent to make it bigger and better. These implementations have included a choice of starting locations that incorporate the Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse monuments, and the addition of multiple pre and post race events. While this is exciting, some basic aspects of the marathon itself have suffered while trying to beef up the non-race related amenities. I, for one, would rather know that there is going to be adequate transportation to and from the event for both myself and guests than have a specific choice in the course. The singular host hotel provided affordable accommodations, but if this is the only place from where transportation is offered, it will be hard to expand the run. An economic impact study was done for the area forecasting an increase in runners and guests alike in the upcoming years. This cannot happen with transportation provided from only one hotel. Coordinating bus transportation can be costly and complicated; and it also involves coordination of multiple lodging destinations. Therefore, I suggest that the websites online forum section be expanded to encourage participants to offer/find rides to and from the event from other runners staying at respective lodging establishments. The website section could be called Ride 'n' Run. This would be an opportunity to mingle with fellow participants! If possible, a follow-up fan bus for spectators could be provided so that fans can watch runners at points along the trail. Not everyone is planning on making a weekend out of the event, so why not the make the marathon itself an event? The water stations could have different themes for each year there can be one theme and each station would have to compete with one another for who has the best portrayal. In conclusion, I applaud the coordinators for pulling off this event. The run came together due to the dedication to make it spectacular. I do think that some of these kinks could be minimized or eliminated if the weekend was kept a tad simpler and communication among the volunteers was emphasized throughout the process. In the meantime, going with the flow and running on the road laid ahead of you can be a rewarding, adventurous experience!
A. M. from New York (1/20/2007) "Such a beautiful course!" (about: 2006) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Mt. Rushmore Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 Oh, what a beautiful course, and a great small marathon! Yes, it is quite hilly, but still it is so enjoyable. It is definitely a small-scale marathon, so don't expect a large expo or many spectators other than terrific volunteers. I have done all the major marathons in the world with lots of cheering spectators, but sometimes running on a trail in the woods and being "cheered" only by wild turkeys is priceless. I loved the Mt. Rushmore Marathon! I want to thank (one more time) the organizers and volunteers, who were great - and especially the medical director and his lovely family that my wife, who ran the half-marathon, had a chance to get to know much closer than we ever expected. Thank you for your kindness!

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B. B. from Hill City, SD (10/30/2008) "great scenery, brutal course, lousy organization" (about: 2008) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Mt. Rushmore Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 1 I only ran the race because I got a free entry for my June '08 Michelson Trail Marathon. Instead of putting me in the Crazy Horse Marathon, where the competition and money were, they screwed up and had me in the Mt. Rushmore Marathon instead. I ran a 2:58 and won my race by 19 minutes. But they messed up the results and didn't even have me listed in results. A car almost hit me during the race, even though the lane was supposed to be closed down. None of the "help" on the course knew which way to go. I think one of the gaps between water stops was close to 4 miles (way too far on tough hilly course). The Black Hills are beautiful and I call them my home, but if you want to do a marathon out here, the Deadwood Michelson Trail in June is the only way to go. - Bob Bolton
W. B. from Texas (10/24/2008) "My Write Up" (about: 2008) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Mt. Rushmore Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 What a thrill it was to be starting at the entrance to Mt. Rushmore. Considering the size of this race, the spectators and support crowd were great. As expected, the hills and elevation made for a "leg beating" experience. (It was fun trying to walk up stairs after this one.) The Aspen trees along the trail were wonderful, as their golden leaves floated down on you as you ran along. The only surprise was the difficulty of the running terrain in the second half of the marathon. The jagged rocks (slate) sticking up out of the trail, and the numerous "wash outs," winding downhills, and larger-sized rocks on the path made for a true ultra marathon running experience. I only wish that I had known to wear ultra shoes, as my running shoes soles were ripped up. Overall, many folks did quite a bit of walking throughout the marathon. I would do this one again, as the air was fresh and the scenery wonderful.
C. D. from NE (10/14/2008) "Certainly a "Monumental" Challenge" (about: 2008) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Mt. Rushmore Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Quite the marathon! The starting line was at Mt. Rushmore (plenty of parking and shelter in the parking garage). The course to Hill City was, of course, hilly, and on the highway/Mickelson Trail. At mile 10, it was really cool to join up with the Crazy Horse runners! After Hill City, the terrain and steep inclines were very tough! I ended up walking up the minimum maintenance roads/trails. Around mile 20 it was great to rejoin the Mickelson Trail again and go downhill to the end. The weather was perfect (50's/sunny). My boys ran the 1K. The shirts and medals were a great touch! The start wasn't marked and wasn't really organized, but the kids got to finish through the main chute, which was cool to them. PROS: Scenery (seeing Mt. Rushmore!!!), kids' run, shirt (long-sleeve tech), finisher's medal (AWESOME!), volunteers, Super 8 (close to finish), Hill City (though tourist season ended and many shops were closed, the ones remaining open were not crowded and had good deals). CONS: Post-race food (NO fruit, bagels, cookies), trying to find spaghetti in Hill City beforehand, awards ceremony ran later than listed and then the award I was supposed to get was given to someone else (still waiting for them to correct it). As a family, we enjoyed the weekend. I hope to maybe try one of the half-marathons next year. A great race, but it could still use a little improving. Almost felt like they really tried hard, but maybe they bit off more than they could chew. Organizing two marathons, two half's, a 5K, a 1K kids' run and the three different relays was a monumental challenge in itself!
Monica Headlee from Minnesota (10/6/2008) "AWESOME, yet needing improvement" (about: 2008) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Mt. Rushmore Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 People, I'm a Hills native, so I have to put in my two cents. Race = AWESOME! Where else can you start at a national monument? If you have never done this marathon, YOU MUST DO IT. Beautiful (although tough) course and a beautiful time of the year. I thought the race itself was well organized (although they seemed to ignore the relay runners; give us some love, too!), and they seemed to have cleared up some of the problems from years past. However, they do need to improve the cooperation of the host hotel (HEY! GIVE PALMER GULCH LODGE MAPS AND SHUTTLE SCHEDULES!!! HEY, PALMER GULCH LODGE! TRY STAFFING YOUR CAMPGROUND DURING THE WEEKEND!), the location of the expo/spaghetti feed (all the events seem too spread out), the quality of the expo (where are the local businesses???) , and the hospitality at the end of the race (FOOD, PLEASE!!!). Even with all of this, I've got to give the race a thumbs up. I emailed the race director some suggestions, and if they get addressed, there is no reason why this couldn't be a premier Midwest event.
H. V. from Florida (10/6/2008) "Hilly, but beautiful, course" (about: 2008) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Mt. Rushmore Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 Of course you would expect a race at Mt. Rushmore to be hilly, and it was. Be prepared and ready for that. Runners had a choice between the Mt. Rushmore and Crazy Horse races, and the two races merged at about mile 10. Beautiful scenery. It was a small enough race that the race director knew many runners by name. Finish line area was nice. The only "downside" to this race, if you want to call it that, is that you really have to drive a long way to get to anything. The host hotel and packet pickup were a 20-30 minute drive from each other; most restaurants in Hill City (where the races start, and where the host hotel was) were closed for the season, so you had to drive quite a ways into Rapid City to find a carbo-loading dinner. Actually packet pickup was closer to Rapid City than it was to Palmer Gulch resort, so maybe the host hotels in the future should be in Rapid City. However, big KUDOS to Palmer Gulch for having breakfast out early for runners the day of the race. Aside from breakfast, they had candy and crackers and trail mix, etc. Packet pickup was just that - pick up your packet. No expo. to speak of, but it was quick and easy. Love that! Overall, this was a challenging, no-frills race in a quiet, peaceful setting.
A. R. from Kansas City, KS (10/10/2007) "Terrible organization, but a pretty course" (about: 2007) 3 previous marathons \| 1 Mt. Rushmore Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 2 The only good thing about this race was the course, and, because that's the main part of any race, I'll give the 2007 Monumental Challenge Half Marathon a passing grade. The disorganization truly tried my patience though, and I won't be back anytime soon. All of my long training runs with my running group have been more organized than this race. - Website needs to be improved to be more straightforward and informative. I eventually emailed the race director asking where the packet pickup would be, the best way to get to the start and other everyone-needs-to-know questions. There are good marathon websites out there, the directors shouldn't be afraid to use those as examples of what out-of-town runners need to know. - Host hotels: Get the other hotels in town involved. Palmer Gulch filled up (plus it was way outside town and didn't have a working online registration) and most out-of-towners I talked to were staying at the Best Western, Holiday Inn Express, etc. anyway. - No place to carbo-load in Hill City. The race-sponsored pasta supper was in Rapid City, but we were staying in Hill City (that's where the race was). Many of the restaurants were closed because tourist season was over. We finally found pizza at the gas station. Wouldn't it be great if one of the Hill City restaurants or churches hosted the past feed right in Hill City? It could be a great fund-raiser for the cross-country team and the possibilities are endless. - Shuttles, oh the shuttles. I ran the half marathon (originally the Crazy Horse road race, changed to the Monumental Challenge trail race 10 days before the event). I got to the pickup location in plenty of time, then waited (with LOTS of other people) for an hour in the near-freezing drizzle for a bus to come. We were dropped off at the half drop-off point about an hour AFTER the race was supposed to have started. A volunteer said to hike up that big hill there, leave your warm-ups with the guy in the truck and then walk 8/10s of a mile that way to the start. That 8/10s of a mile was on the trail against traffic as we faced the marathoners and half marathoners that had started earlier. It was a chip start, so our times weren't affected, but it was weird to start whenever you're ready. That long wait in the cold rain not only made us all shivery and stiff, but I had already burned through my puny pre-race breakfast before I got to the start and ran most of the race hungry. - ...which leads to the post-race food. There weren't any bagels, bread or bananas! I had an orange slice, and I could have purchased a bowl of chili, a beer or a bottle of PowerAde, but that's all they had. Fortunately, my hubby had brought along my own private stash of granola bars and Gatorade. What did our registration fees go toward when there was no expo, no police to close streets (because it turned out to be all trail), minimal volunteers and no food at the end? The course was beautiful though. If I had known from the start that this was going to be a no-frills trail run, I probably would have taken it better. As it was, I signed up for (and expected) a fully-organized race that started at a Crazy Horse and was run on the road. The bait-and-switch rubbed me the wrong way, and the disorganization made it a Monumental Challenge to enjoy this race.
C. S. from Belle Fourche, SD (10/10/2007) "Great course, not-so-great organization" (about: 2007) 6-10 previous marathons \| 2 Mt. Rushmore Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 They made a rather drastic change to this year's course due to some permit problems. As a result, Crazy Horse and Mt. Rushmore were no longer part of the event and instead the race was run almost exclusively on the Mickelson Trail from Rochford to Hill City. This is perhaps the most beautiful part of the Mickelson and overall is a much easier course than either of the old courses. The trail used to be a railroad line, so none of the grades are greater than 2%. The first 10 miles are generally downhill followed by 8 miles of gradual but constant uphill and then 8 miles of gradual, constant downhill to the finish. The uphill slows you down some for sure, but it's not enough to totally ruin your day. The trail itself is great to run on, much gentler on the legs than asphalt or pavement. I, for one, sincerely hope they decide to abandon the old courses and stick with this new one into the future. Of the seven marathons I've run, this is easily my favorite course. As great as the course was, the organization left something to be desired, particularly concerning the shuttles to the start lines for the full and half. I got on the first bus to the full start, so I got there in plenty of time, but the bus driver informed us that it was a two hour round trip from Hill City to Rochford and back and he was expected to make it in one hour. Indeed, it took us a full hour to make the drive to Rochford. Consequently, busses were late getting to the start lines, which delayed the start by about 15 minutes (for the full, not sure about the half) and resulted in some runners starting whenever they happened to get there. The race is chip timed, so it's not a huge deal, but is something that can, and should, be remedied. Also, for some reason we were dropped off at the full start about a half mile from the start itself and had to walk there even though there was a perfectly good parking area right next to the start line. From what I've heard, some half-marathoners had to walk up to a mile from their dropoff point to the start. It also appeared (to me at least) that the mile markers were slightly off throughout the course, because the last 0.2 miles took a LONG time and not just because I was getting tired. I'm not saying the course was long, just that the markers weren't in the exactly correct position. Spectators were fairly sparse, but that's to be expected when running along the Mickelson because there are limited access points. Where there was access, there were a fair number of spectators and they were all very supportive. There were also a decent number of spectators in Hill City along the homestretch, which was nice considering the cold, drizzly conditions. The race shirts were once again very nice. It's good to see that the organizers have found a designer who can put together a decent looking race shirt. The medal was much improved over last year's, which just looked cheap. Post race amenities were good also, including a heated tent, which was very welcome after running for 3.5 hours in the cold (40 degrees) and on and off drizzle/rain. Given that they totally redesigned this event with just three weeks to go, everything went surprisingly smoothly and I ended up enjoying it much more than when I ran the Mt. Rushmore course last year. A few kinks need to be worked out, but they should be easy to fix. Again, I really hope that this new course gets adopted for good.
S. F. from Washington, DC (10/10/2007) "Beautiful Course, Poor Organization" (about: 2007) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Mt. Rushmore Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 3 Probably the prettiest course I have ever ran in the US. Running through the Black Hills was incredible. Even though the course was changed three weeks prior to the race, I thought the organizations could have done a much better job. First, the bus drivers did not know where they were going and tried to drop us off at the wrong point on the course. Second, there were not enough volunteers near the finished line so that runners were confused as they were crossing the street at the end. Only meat stew was offered at the finishers tent. First, not every one eats meat (like me!) and second, it's not necessarily a sound post-race choice.
J. G. from Colorado Springs, CO (10/9/2007) "Go with the flow & get carried along neat course!" (about: 2007) 6-10 previous marathons \| 4-5 Mt. Rushmore Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 3 While this run faced chilling rain and last-minute re-organization hiccups; the higher-profile Chicago Marathon, held the same day, encountered a shortage of water and cups, and faced an early closure due to unbearable heat. This is important to keep in mind because no matter how well-organized a race can be, circumstances can occur beyond anyone's control. We all have to travel whatever road is laid before us. Before getting into the pluses, minuses, and suggestions, I will say that the thrill of the run though the majestic Black Hills, and the optimistic attitude of the coordinators helped make this a nice day after all. Considering that this course was part of a contingency plan when denial of permits prevented the race to be held where advertised, the coordination to change course should be applauded. The Pluses: Virtually the entire marathon was on an unpaved, well-graded trail, free from asphalt and motorists. Albeit this type of run isn't conducive to spectator applause, the intimate seclusion among the golden aspen leaves and whispering pines was enough to keep one company! Contrary to my fears of sparsely-spaced water stations, they proved to be relatively ample. These stations were thankfully stocked with both water and sports drink. It was a great idea to have a warm party tent after the run! On such a cold day, this proved to be a major benefit! ________________________________________ Minuses: These are likely similar comments as others, and I'm sure the coordinators are already aware of the problems. The first issue was the lack of restroom facilities at the start line. It is baffling why the portable restrooms for both the full and half marathon starts were placed a half mile from the start line. The baggage pickup location was also stationed in that area. I realize the course was a last-minute situation; but not having restroom facilities at the start is inexcusable. Because of this snafu, a lot of runners weren't prepared to start at gun-time. Coordination and communication between the volunteers severely lacked. The moment that the bus that shuttled the runners pulled up to the start line, a coordinator should have made an announcement about restroom location, and start time adjustments. Instead, everyone was playing follow-the-leader while random people whose authority was unknown walked by providing questionable instructions. One person advised runners that there was a 15-minute delay. Moments later, another person announced the marathon start was imminent! There was a cattle guard early-on. Though a volunteer was cautioning people, how difficult would it have been to arrange for a piece of plywood to be placed over it? Volunteers at the water station just past mile 16 were inattentive and weren't handing out cups. They were engaged in their own conversation. Little things like this disrupt a runner's momentum. Though the party tent was nice and warm, I question the choice of food. Bbq and hot dogs were served when most would be happy with plain muffins, bagels and yogurt! (Fruit slices were offered at the finish-line, however.) Also, it appeared that any liquid besides water cost money. Not everyone is going to have cash with them after running! I lost money signing up for Time Tracker cell-phone messaging. It didn't appear to work for me. The website alludes a discount at the host hotel, but upon entering the discount code at the host hotel's website, no such code was recognized. ________________________________________ Suggestions: This event underwent new management in 2005 with the intent to make it bigger and better. These implementations have included a choice of starting locations that incorporate the Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse monuments, and the addition of multiple pre and post race events. While this is exciting, some basic aspects of the marathon itself have suffered while trying to beef up the non-race related amenities. I, for one, would rather know that there is going to be adequate transportation to and from the event for both myself and guests than have a specific choice in the course. The singular host hotel provided affordable accommodations, but if this is the only place from where transportation is offered, it will be hard to expand the run. An economic impact study was done for the area forecasting an increase in runners and guests alike in the upcoming years. This cannot happen with transportation provided from only one hotel. Coordinating bus transportation can be costly and complicated; and it also involves coordination of multiple lodging destinations. Therefore, I suggest that the websites online forum section be expanded to encourage participants to offer/find rides to and from the event from other runners staying at respective lodging establishments. The website section could be called Ride 'n' Run. This would be an opportunity to mingle with fellow participants! If possible, a follow-up fan bus for spectators could be provided so that fans can watch runners at points along the trail. Not everyone is planning on making a weekend out of the event, so why not the make the marathon itself an event? The water stations could have different themes for each year there can be one theme and each station would have to compete with one another for who has the best portrayal. In conclusion, I applaud the coordinators for pulling off this event. The run came together due to the dedication to make it spectacular. I do think that some of these kinks could be minimized or eliminated if the weekend was kept a tad simpler and communication among the volunteers was emphasized throughout the process. In the meantime, going with the flow and running on the road laid ahead of you can be a rewarding, adventurous experience!
A. M. from New York (1/20/2007) "Such a beautiful course!" (about: 2006) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Mt. Rushmore Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 Oh, what a beautiful course, and a great small marathon! Yes, it is quite hilly, but still it is so enjoyable. It is definitely a small-scale marathon, so don't expect a large expo or many spectators other than terrific volunteers. I have done all the major marathons in the world with lots of cheering spectators, but sometimes running on a trail in the woods and being "cheered" only by wild turkeys is priceless. I loved the Mt. Rushmore Marathon! I want to thank (one more time) the organizers and volunteers, who were great - and especially the medical director and his lovely family that my wife, who ran the half-marathon, had a chance to get to know much closer than we ever expected. Thank you for your kindness!

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Marathon Details - Mt. Rushmore Marathon