This is a beautiful course, which takes your mind off of the distance. The organization was great and the volunteers were very friendly and deserve credit for making this such a pleasent experience. If you are a fifty-stater, this is one you want to do. What really blew my socks off was the race director Jerry Dunn waiting at the finish line, greeting everyone. This is one I will do again.

I'm from Brooklyn; who knew South Dakota was so exciting??? Beautiful course, very scenic. Excellent support at the water stops. The finisher's medal was original and interesting. This is truly a 5-star event. My strong recommendation to fellow runners is to take additional time to see the sites (Mt. Rushmore, Badlands National Park, Devil's Tower, Custer State Park).

After hearing about the race from a running friend who ran the marathon in 2004, I decided to plan my 2006 vacation around the DMTM. I stayed in Deadwood, and agree with the earlier comment about Deadwood restaurants, which made marathon-eve carbo-loading a bit of a challenge. I would recommend paying extra for the pre-race pasta dinner.

As far as the race itself, unless you live and train at 4000 ft. or greater elevation, expect to be at least 30-45 sec. per mile slower than your typical marathon (I was). And the first half of the marathon with its nearly-constant 3% climb requires much patience.

The Black Hills scenery is beautiful, and there are enough turns in the rail-trail course to keep it interesting. The aid stations were good (except for the HEED energy drink - YUCK) and reasonably spaced. There were a surprising number of very supportive spectators, grouped mostly at the accessible parts of the course.

Only a couple complaints: some of the mile markers seemed to be off, possibly due to the course change for 2006, and I was rather disappointed at the food selection at the finish area.

All in all, it is a wonderful race, worth it just for the scenery.

Jerry and his team put on a fantastic race. Everyone was super friendly at the expo, pasta party, during and after the race. The race director was at the finish line to shake everybody's hand as they crossed the line.

My wife and I went over to South Dakota a few days early to do some sightseeing: Mt Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Jewel Cave, Badlands, Gold Mine Tours, Deadwood... There's plenty to do.

The race itself on the trail was excellent. With such a small field and few trailheads, there weren't many spectators. That's not a problem as it gives you a chance to look round at the beautiful scenery.

If you're looking for a great vacation getaway and a marathon to go with it, I'd definitely recommend this one.

This is a great event in every possible way - from something as small as the plastic-coated safety pins for the bib numbers to the awesome creation of the Black Hills.
The lush, green mountain meadows, pine-clad slopes, twisting creeks and beaver ponds help you realize that there are things more important than hitting every mile split on time.
The race organization is outstanding. Jerry Dunn sets the standard. It was great to be able to listen to marathon trainer Jeff Galloway at a free clinic and relax for a while at the vendor fair the day before the run.
The race itself is not easy - 13.5 miles uphill at 3 percent grade. But nearly all of the second half is downhill, and almost all of the race is on a crushed gravel bike path.
This isn't a race that draws spectators, but who needs spectators when you can enjoy the beauty of a wilderness run. The race is big enough that there are plenty of family fans at various spectator junctions.
The miles are well marked, and the aid stations are well stocked with water always on one side of the trail and energy drink on the other.

I love this course. Its beauty can't be topped. I ran the race last year and was excited to do it again, however, I feel the quality of the race was diminished.

First, the finish line was moved from downtown to a parking lot. THis made for a miserable mile 25. Instead of finishing on the unique, brick streets of Historic Deadwood, we ran past a trailer park into a parking lot that used pen gates as barriers. I don't know if the finish line downtown wasn't a possibility for whatever reason, but it certainly was more memorable than a dusty, ugly hotel parking lot.

Second, the aid stations weren't nearly as well stocked as last year. Especially in the second half, when we really needed it. And I had trouble finding the water at the finish, which was frustrating.

Third, I know the company was a sponsor, but the sports drink was undrinkable. I don't know if it was mixed wrong or not, but it tasted quite bad and I would have done anything for a Gatorade or Powerade as the morning heated up. I heard many a fellow racer complaining about this.

The fans were great, the volunteers stellar and again, the course is lovely. I do hope they can pull together a better finish line for next year.

This is my ninth marathon and first DMTM. Last year I ran the half which was equally great. Plenty of aid stations and pretty well stocked, even for us slower runners. The aid station volunteers were great and are the only spectators you will see. This race is all about the scenery of the Black Hills. The race was changed this year to a different finish which was not as fun as finishing on Deadwood's main street. Still, a wonderful marathon and I would encourage everyone to consider this race for the future.

The slideshow of this trail does not begin to reveal the beauty of this trek through the Black Hills. The principal drawback to the marathon is that the town of Deadwood, while historically restored, is packed with cigarette smoking gamblers (3% of their money goes to historical restoration grants in South Dakota). There are a couple of decent restaurants; otherwise, most eateries are burger/blue plate types simply to feed the gamblers. The bus tour of Deadwood was decent. The town's instantaneous creation and population explosion upon the discovery of gold is well documented in photographs which are on display around the town. Costner's Native American/Buffalo exhibit is only 5 miles away and is fascinating. Very nice site, and powerful sculpture of Native American's 'cliffing' Buffalos (harvesting them by running them off a cliff). The gold rush resulted in the population of Deadwood going from 0 to 10,000 in about 6 months despite this being forbidden Native American territory under then-existing treaties. Deadwood is a real chapter in how the West was 'won' from the Native Americans. Costner's exhibit demonstrates that it was not the Army that defeated the Indians but the subsequent slaughtering of Buffalos for their hides. No army (of Native Americans) could survive or move without a food base, and once the Buffalos were wiped out, their culture was wiped out. I stayed at the Bullock with my wife and two small children. Aside from the lobby being gambling-based like all of them here, it is a nice hotel. All in all, despite the cigarette smoke, the beauty of the trail the surrounding history makes this trip a 5/5 in my opinion.

I ran the half-marathon, and the mostly gentle downhill course made the race a relatively easy experience. I took pictures of the beautiful scenery along the way, so I didn't end up with a PR for the course. Most of the trails are isolated and don't allow for many spectators; water stops are spaced farther apart than you would see at most urban races.

Overall, I was very pleased with the race course and organization. I may come back next year for the full 26.2.

To me, this is what marathoning is all about. From the race director (Jerry Dunn), to the fantastic volunteers and most gracious residents of Rochford and Deadwood, this is a first-class event all the way. The course is challenging and extremely scenic; there is natural beauty everwhere you look. The spectators, while relatively few in number, are extremely enthusiastic and helpful. Jerry's staff is great; it was wonderful to spend some time speaking with both him and his wife Elaine at the expo.

I'm looking forward to returning for my 3rd visit to Deadwood for the 5th anniversary of this marathon on June 4, 2006. I'm also looking forward to a reunion with my friend Charlie who is also returning this year for the 5th anniversary.

Needless to say, come join us for what will be a most memorable experience!