ALL 2008 EVENT PERMITS HAVE BEEN APPROVED

COURSE INFO:  Participants will have a choice between starting at either Mt Rushmore or Crazy Horse Memorial for BOTH the Marathon and Half Marathon. Both courses will merge at around 10 miles.  The last 3 miles of the half marathon courses and the last 16 miles ot the marathon courses will be the same.   Both marathon and half marathon courses will finish at the 1880 Train Staion in Downtown Hill City. 

PRIZE MONEY, AGE GROUP AWARDS, MEDALS, & EVENT SHIRTS:  Both marathon and half marathon courses will receive finisher medals, event shirts, and age group awards.   Prize money will alternate between courses every year.   This year the prize money will be paid to these races: Crazy Horse Marathon, Crazy Horse Marathon Relay, and Mt Rushmore Half Marathon.   This means if you are the overall winner of the Mt. Rushmore Marathon or Crazy Horse Half Marathon you will not receive prize money.For details click on  Prize Money & Awards

VIEWING POINTS:  Pre-designated Viewing Points will be established for friends, family, fans, and the general public along the course.   Viewing Points will include Mt Rushmore, Palmer Gulch Lodge, Crooked Creek Resort, Mangy Moose, Downtown Hill City, High Country Ranch, Rafter J Bar Ranch and Crazy Horse Memorial.

COURSE CERTIFICATION:  All Marathon and Half Marathon courses will be certified. 

AVERAGE TEMPERATURE:  Fall in the Black Hills is beautiful as the leaves begin to change color.  The weather is temperate with monthly high/low averages in September 74/46 and October 62/35. 

EVENT DAY TRANSPORTATION:  Shuttles will be provided between the Start/Finish areas and the Host Hotels for all participants. Review the Shuttle Schedule for details. 

CHIP TIMING & CLOCKS:  Champion Chip Timing powered by AllSportCentral will be provided.  Splits will be provided at each relay exchange point for all events.  Timing clocks will be located at the Finish Line on for each start.

The marathon course will close after 6 hours and the half marathon course after 5 hours.   If you plan on walking or you are not sure that you will be able to finish within the 6 hour limit, you may want to consider participating in the half marathon.  Course lengths:  Marathon 26.2 miles, Half-Marathon 13.1 miles, and Marathon Relay 26.2 miles ( 4 legs each 4-8 miles in length).  Participants will have a choice between the Marathon, Half Marathon, Marathon Relay, 5K, and Kids Run.  All courses will be primarily roads and on the Mickelson Trail and finish at the 1880 Train in Hill City.  Click on map below for interactive course tour

Mt Rushmore Marathon and Half Marathon

MT RUSHMORE MARATHON COURSE (26.2 Miles):  The Mt Rushmore Marathon course will start at Mt Rushmore and proceed down Highway 244, thru Palmer Gulch, to the Highway 385 intersection then get onto the Mickelson Trail and head North into Hill City.  The course will countine through Hill City on Main Street and head North on Deerfield Road 2.8 miles to Burnt Fork Road to a loop above High Country Ranch on Forest Service Roads then get onto the Mickelson Trail and return to Hill City for the big finish.  AllSportCentral will provide Champion Chip timing, splits, chip time, and gun time for each participant.  The course will be certified and a Boston Qualifier. 

MT RUSHMORE HALF MARATHON COURSE (13.1 Miles):  The Mt Rushmore Half Marathon course will start at Mt Rushmore and proceed down Highway 244, thru Palmer Gulch, to the Highway 385 intersection then get onto the Mickelson Trail and head North into Hill City.  AllSportCentral will provide Champion Chip timing, splits, chip time, and gun time for each participant.  The course will be certified.

MT RUSHMORE MARATHON COURSE ELEVATION:  MILE 0 - Mt Rushmore Marathon Start (elev. 5308 ft), MILE 6 - Palmer Gulch (elev 5054 ft), MILE 13.1 - Hill City (elev. 5026 ft), MILE 20 - Turnaround (elev. 5475), MILE 26.2 - Hill City (elev. 5026 ft)

MT RUSHMORE HALF MARATHON COURSE ELEVATION:  MILE 0 - Mt Rushmore Marathon Start (elev. 5308 ft), MILE 6 - Palmer Gulch (elev 5054 ft), MILE 13.1 - Hill City (elev. 5026 ft)

MT RUSHMORE MARATHON AND HALF MARATHON COURSE  AIDE STATIONS

AIDE STATIONS:  Aide stations will be provided approx. every three (3) miles during the first half marathon and approx. every two (2) mile over the final half marathon.   Water will be available at every aide station.   Energy drinks and foods will also be available at predetermined aide stations.  Aide station locations and contents will be posted here as they are finalized.

AIDE STATION 1:  M0.0 - Mt Rushmore Parking Lot Lower Level IV -  Start, Water, Ultima, Medical, Communications, Toilets, & Viewing Point

AIDE STATION 2:  M2.5 - Horsethief Lake Campground- Water & Ultima

AIDE STATION 3:  M6.0 & M7.0 - Palmer Gulch (Front Entrance/Exit) - Water, Ultima, Medical, Communications, Toilet, Relay Exchange Point, & Viewing Point

AIDE STATION 4:  M10 - Crooked Creek Resort on Mickelson Trail Near HW244/HW385 Intersection - Water, Ultima, & Medical

AIDE STATION 5:  M12 - Near Mangy Moose on Mickelson Trail - Water & Ultima

AIDE STATION 6 & 14:  M13.1 & M26.2 - Downtown Hill City (Half Finish & Marathon Halfway Point) - Water, Ultima, Medical, Communications, Toilets, Medical, & Relay Exchange Point

AIDE STATION 7 & 13:  M14.5 & M24.5 - Songbird Road/Deerfield Road Intersection - Water, Ultima, & Communications

AIDE STATION 8 & 12:  M16 & M23.5 - Burnt Fork Road, Mickelson Trail & Deerfield Road Intersection Near Bridge (Inbound/Outbound) - Water, Ultima, & Communications

AIDE STATION 9 :  M18 - NFS Road 3891A and 3891I  intersection - Water, Ultima, & Communications

AIDE STATION 10:  M20 - 3891A and Mickelson Trail Intersection - Water, Ultima, Toilet, Communications, Medical, & Relay Exchange Point

AIDE STATION 11   M22  - High Country Ranch (Inbound) - Water, Ultima, & Communications  

AIDE STATION 12 & 8:  M23.5 & M16 - Burnt Fork Road, Mickelson Trail & Deerfield Road Intersection Near Bridge (Inbound/Outbound) - Water, Ultima, & Communications

AIDE STATION 13 & 7:  M24.5 & M14.5 - Songbird Road/Deerfield Road Intersection (Inbound/Outbound) - Water, Ultima, & Communications

AIDE STATION 14 & 6:  M26.2 & M13.1 - Downtown Hill City (Marathon Finish, Half Marathon Finish & Marathon Halfway Point) - Water, Ultima, Medical, Toilets, Communications, & Medical

Crazy Horse Marathon, Half Marathon and Marathon Relay

CRAZY HORSE MARATHON COURSE (26.2 Miles):  The Crazy Horse Marathon course will start at Crazy Horse Memorial on School House Road by the toll gates.  Participants will run out towards the monument under the outstreched arm of Chief Crazy Horse to the turn around point.  After navigating the turn-around, participants will head back past the Visitor's Center and towards the Crazy Horse Memorial Entrance on Highway 385 to get on the Mickelson Trail and head North into Hill City.  The course will countine through Hill City on Main Street and head North on Deerfield Road 2.8 miles to Burnt Fork Road to a loop above High Country Ranch on Forest Service Roads then get onto the Mickelson Trail and return to Hill City for the big finish.   AllSportCentral will provide Champion Chip timing, splits, chip time, and gun time for each participant.  The course will be certified and a Boston Qualifier. 

CRAZY HORSE HALF MARATHON COURSE (13.1 Miles):  The Crazy Horse Marathon course will start at Crazy Horse Memorial on School House Raod near the toll gates.  Participants will then run out towards the monument under the outstreched arm of Chief Crazy Horse to the turn around point.  After navigating the turn-around, participants will head back past the Visitor's Center and towards the Crazy Horse Memorial Entrance on Highway 385 to get on the Mickelson Trail and head North into Hill City.   AllSportCentral will provide Champion Chip timing, chip time, and gun time for each participant.  The course will be certified.

MARATHON RELAY COURSE:    The Marathon Relay will alternate courses every year between the Mt Rushmore and Crazy Horse Memorial starts.  In the 2008 the Marathon Relay will start at Crazy Horse Memorial.   AllSportCentral will provide Champion Chip timing, splits, chip time, and gun time for each participant.   AllSportCentral will provide Champion Chip timing and splits for each relay leg.  Relay exchange points will be as follows:  

LEG 1:  Crazy Horse Memorial to Oriville Station (6.5 Miles)

LEG 2:  Orville Station to Downtown Hill City (6.5 Miles)

LEG 3: Downtown Hill CIty to Mystic Road/Mickelson Trail Intersection (7 Miles)

LEG 4: Mystic Road/Mickelson Trail intersection to 1880 Train Station (6 Miles)

ELEVATIONSCRAZY HORSE MARATHON COURSE ELEVATION:  MILE 0 - Crazy Horse (elev. 5885 ft), MILE 6 - Oreville (elev. 5575),  MILE 13.1 - Hill City (elev. 5026 ft), MILE 20 - turnaround (elev. 5475), MILE 26.2 - Hill City (elev. 5026 ft)

CRAZY HORSE HALF MARATHON COURSE ELEVATION:  MILE 0 - Crazy Horse (elev. 5885 ft), MILE 6 - Oreville (elev. 5575),  MILE 13.1 - Hill City (elev. 5026 ft)

MARATHON RELAY COURSE ELEVATION:  MILE 0 - CRAZY HORSE Marathon Start (elev. 5308 ft), MILE 6 - Palmer Gulch (elev 5054 ft), MILE 13.1 - Hill City (elev. 5026 ft), MILE 20 - Turnaround (elev. 5475), MILE 26.2 - Hill City (elev. 5026 ft)

CRAZY HORSE MARATHON & HALF MARATHON

COURSE AIDE STATIONS

AIDE STATIONS:  Aide stations will be provided approx. every three (3) miles during the first half marathon and approx. every two (2) mile over the final half marathon.   Water will be available at every aide station.   Energy drinks and foods will also be available at predetermined aide stations.  Aide station locations and contents will be posted here as they are finalized.

AIDE STATION 1:  M0 & M2 - Crazy Horse Memorial Parking Lot Near Visitor Center  - Start, Water, Ultima, Medical, Communications, Toilets, and Viewing Point

AIDE STATION 2:  M3 - Crazy Horse Memorial Entrance/Exit Near Mickelson Trail Entrance - Water & Ultima

AIDE STATION 3:  M6.5 - Oreville Station (on Mickelson Trail) - Water, Ultima, Toilet, Medical, & Communications

AIDE STATION 4:  M10 - Crooked Creek Resort on Mickelson Trail Near HW244/HW385 Intersection - Water, Ultima, & Medical

AIDE STATION 5:  M12 - Near Mangy Moose on Mickelson Trail - Water & Ultima

AIDE STATION 6 & 14:  M13.1 & M26.2 - Downtown Hill City (Half Finish & Marathon Halfway Point) - Water, Ultima, Medical, Communications, Toilets, Medical, & Relay Exchange Point

AIDE STATION 7 & 13:  M14.5 & M24.5 - Songbird Road/Deerfield Road Intersection (Inbound/Outbound) - Water, Ultima, & Communications

AIDE STATION 8 & 12:  M16 & M23.5 - Burnt Fork Road, Mickelson Trail & Deerfield Road Intersection Near Bridge (Inbound/Outbound) - Water, Ultima, & Communications

AIDE STATION 9 :  M18 - NFS Road 3891A and 3891I  intersection - Water, Ultima, & Communications

AIDE STATION 10:  M20 - 3891A and Mickelson Trail Intersection - Water, Ultima, Toilet, Communications, Medical, & Relay Exchange Point

AIDE STATION 11   M22  - High Country Ranch (Inbound) - Water, Ultima, & Communications  

AIDE STATION 12 & 8:  M23.5 & M16 - Burnt Fork Road, Mickelson Trail & Deerfield Road Intersection Near Bridge (Inbound/Outbound) - Water, Ultima, & Communications

AIDE STATION 13 & 7:  M24.5 & M14.5 - Songbird Road/Deerfield Road Intersection (Inbound/Outbound) - Water, Ultima, & Communications

AIDE STATION 14 & 6:  M26.2 & M13.1 - Downtown Hill City (Marathon Finish, Half Marathon Finish & Marathon Halfway Point) - Water, Ultima, Medical, Toilets, Communications, & Medical

5K Run/Walk

5K RUN/WALK (3.1 Miles):    The 5K course will be a point to point downhill on the Mickelson Trail from Burnt Fork Road to finish at the 1880 Trail Station in Hill CIty.  The shuttle bus to the start of the 5K will leave the 1880 Train Station in Hill City at 8 am.