May 7, 2024
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☰
Mt. Rushmore Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Mt. Rushmore Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.2 
Organization 3.9 
Spectators 2.8
Number of comments: 62 [displaying comments 41 to 51]
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J. K. from A sofa, In my living room
(10/21/2003)
 "A tough downhill but FUN! " (about: 2003)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 Many thanks to the race organizers in Rapid City! The downhill course proved to be a bit difficult and very scenic. I enjoyed the cows in the pasture at the starting line & horses running around in the wide open spaces. The course support was great, the aid stations great and the volunteers did a wonderful job. I recommend this one to anyone seeking a small, fun and scenic marathon. | |
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D. H. from Rochester, MN
(10/20/2003)
"Down, down, down, down the hills you run" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 Very pleasant, organized run, with lots of friendly runners. Pasta feed and after the run treats, were well structured. Appreciate the organization at the start. To run this race well you must prepare for the downhills; when you have figured out how to do that please let me know. Ha! Overall would recommend this race do to the pleasant scenery, and efficient organization. | |
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D. H. from Regina, Saskatchewan
(10/17/2003)
 "Great race to end the season!" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 The Mt. Rushmore course is spectacularly beautiful! The downhills make it a little tough on the quads, but still the easiest marathon I've ever run! The aid stations were good, if a bit stingy with the water. Rapid City and surrounding area is a great place to bring your family. There are tons of things for them to do while you run the race. Bring your running club to this one. A surefire qualifier if I've ever run one! | |
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J. S. from Mobridge, South Dakota
(10/16/2003)
"Beautiful scenery" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 This is the second year I have run this marathon. The weather was again spectacular. I feel the course is more difficult than advertised. Plenty of aid stations. If you want a small marathon and a great place to spend a couple days visiting, this is an excellant choice. Not a lot of fan support, but the people that were there were very nice and friendly. | |
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Tuong-Vi Tran from Ocala, FL
(10/16/2003)
"Do as a fun run so you can enjoy the views!" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 Overall, this is a race of a lifetime. Small crowd, but breathtaking views and lots of character. The first 6 miles are rolling hills, with one of two major hills approaching 6. I did not like the banking of the roads as we winded down the mountain from miles 1-10. Approaching mile 17 is another hill and then 18-22 you decline over 1,100 feet with some declines at a 10% grade. Then cruise into the finish with the last four miles. There is a stream at the finish area, where you can soak your feet and legs after the race. My highlight of the race were the kids from Rimrock Church (btw. miles 15 & 16). They were awesome! Also, while in Rapid City, if you are in the mood for delicious Asian cuisine, check out the Saigon Vietnamese & Chinese Restaurant (on East North St). This is a must-do marathon! | |
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C. H. from California
(10/14/2003)
 "Don't expect to walk the next day..." (about: 2003)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 South Dakota isn't kidding when they say this is a downhill marathon. It is the hardest race yet on the legs simply because of how much stress you put on them during the race. It was one hill after another -downhill, that is. It sounds better than it feels. Aside from that, the race was extremely peaceful. Beautiful sights, clean (and thin) air, quiet, and yes, very fast. I expected more of a small, hometown feel to the race, and I didn't really get this. I think it was lacking the support from the city as a whole. I'm comparing it to Grandma's Marathon, so maybe I'm not being fair. But I thought it would resemble that sort of enthusiasm from the city in which the race took place. The pasta dinner at Mt. Rushmore was a great way to see the monument and meet some of the other runners, but the speaker at the dinner was simply awful. She didn't inspire the runners at all, rather she talked about how wonderful she, herself, was for completing each of the 25 Mt. Rushmore Marathons. She needs to find a new forum to talk about how incredible she thinks she is. All in all, it was another fun marathon though, as every marathon should be. The few supporters on the course made a world of a difference and I thank them from the bottom of my heart. Without volunteers, none of these marathons would be possible. | |
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Mike Schwartz from Sacramento, CA
(6/10/2003)
 "Downhill equals PR!" (about: 1999)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I ran the Mt. Rushmore Marathon in '99 only 2 weeks after running a marathon in Colorado, and still got a PR here! I loved the carbo-load at the monument, the perfect weather, the Black Hills scenery, and the downhill course. This race may seem out-of-the-way, but it's worth it! | |
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Jeff Levitt from Chicago, IL
(4/5/2003)
"Very picturesque" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This was a PR for me and the first race I've done outside of a major city. I also like the intimacy of the race. It had about 350 people, a far cry from 30,000 that you find in Chicago, NYC, etc. I liked that a lot. No hassles with the crowds, and you start on the start line. There's an aid station every mile after mile ten. The course is challenging, especially with the steep downhill legs. And it is very pretty, much more so than looking at tall buildings. Clean air, beautiful views, plentiful aid stations and a buffalo burger barbeque at the finish. You won't get that kind of food in Chicago! | |
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R. F. from Texas
(1/24/2003)
"Great Place To Run" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 What a wonderful marathon! Be sure to go a few days early and see all the sights like Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse. Rapid City is a great small town and they put on a very nice marathon. I was worried about the weather as the day I arrived the wind was blowing and it was sleeting but the weather turned out to be perfect. Sure there are several tough spots on the course but who cares. Have fun! This is a beautiful place for a marathon. Be sure to sign up for the pasta dinner at the base of Mount Rushmore. | |
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A Runner from Iowa
(11/5/2002)
"Good race, but demanding course" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I've run this race before. The 2002 race was absolutely delightful. The weather was great, the organization was fine, they started close to on-time, and the course was better than I'd remembered. I particularly appreciated the re-paved roads during the middle part of the course that actually had shoulders on them. Given the nature of the course, there was plenty of crowd support at different nodes along the way. They bill it as a downhill and fast course, but it's hilly and darned tough in spots. The long grade at the end tears up quads and toenails unless you do it right, leaving a lot of folks limping into the finish. By the time I got to the end, the end-of-race snacks were pretty lean, but the picnic was great. I'll be back again next year. |
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