Marathon Details - River Rat Marathon

North America Marathons > USA > SD > Yankton > River Rat Marathon

River Rat Marathon & Half Marathon, 5K, Relay

Yankton, SD USA

April 22, 2017

http://www.riverratmarathon.com

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Results:	2017 \| 2016 \| 2015 \| 2014 \| 2013 \| 2012 \| 2011 \| 2010 Top 3 Finishers by Year

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Address:	Yankton River Rat Marathon Box 325 Yankton, SD 57078
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Reviews

Course 4.4

Organization 4.6

Spectators 2.3

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Number of comments: 12 [displaying comments 1 to 11]

More Comments: [ < 1 2 > ]

T. B. from Presho, SD (4/22/2017) "Time Well Spent" (about: 2017) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 River Rat Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 We drove 8 hours round trip to try the River Rat as 1st timers. Good experience. The course was scenic and pleasant to run. The event was well-organized and coordinated. The volunteers did an excellent job. The fans were not as sparse as other past reviews indicated, and those who came out were very enthusiastic. Weather was simply perfect. We enjoyed our time in Yankton and hope to return next year.
Eric Schneider from Los Angeles (5/2/2016) "Everything a small marathon should be." (about: 2016) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 River Rat Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 I was stunned at how well organized this race was given that the marathon had all of 61 starters. The water stations were spaced reasonably and well staffed. The course was very well marked. I had been concerned about heat because the high was forecast to be 78. As it turns out, it got up to 82 with high humidity, but those conditions did not develop until well after the race concluded. While the temperature was moderate, the 25-30 winds added a degree of difficulty. The course featured rolling hills, not quite as flat as the rest of the neighboring counties.
B. P. from Roswell, GA (4/30/2015) "Volunteers make this marathon great" (about: 2015) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 River Rat Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 A shortage of information from race organizers caused me to worry about this race needlessly so, as top-notch organization on race day took care of all of my concerns. Well marked route and numerous volunteers kept me on the route. Ample aid stations and toilet availability, and a better than expected selection of goodies after the race. The course itself is tougher than expected. 99% of the route is on paved paths or sidewalks. Significant headwinds for the return part of the out and back course, and lots of brief, steep up and down in the final 4 miles (the route follows an urban trail that repeatedly jumps between creek level to street level.) Spectators gets but one star because there weren't any save for the numerous volunteers. One quibble is that the marathon and half- get the exact same race bling, but in a race this small (just 40 marathon finishers), it just may not be practical to differentiate the hardware.
Ron Steinhilber from El Mirage, AZ (4/29/2014) "Excellent small race" (about: 2014) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 River Rat Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 I really enjoyed this event. This was number 22 for me and was the smallest marathon so far. Packet pickup was simple and organized at a local sporting goods store. The course was nice, I especially enjoyed running through the pathways that wind through town. It kept it interesting when many marathons use up the best parts of the course in the beginning. Spectators? I'm not sure I saw any, other than the volunteers working the event. That's OK for me since I enjoy the solace of running by myself. There was ample food at the end (pizza, bagels, bananas, cookies). And a great big thank you to all the volunteers who were at every turn of the well marked course to let us runners know where to go. I think there were twice as many volunteers as marathoners. I really appreciated your efforts, especially standing out there in the high winds.
Running Thom from Colorado Springs (4/28/2014) "Great Small Race" (about: 2014) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 River Rat Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 I don't do reviews offten, but let me tell you, I had a blast. This course is flat and can be fast! One hill, but is nothing more than a little challenge. 2014s wind gusts of 40mph were the real challenge. Organization is SUPERIOR and smooth. All the stuff you would expect; chip timing, plenty of hydration stations, all sorts of food at the finish (beagles, pizza, muffins, water&) and a nice finisher medal to boot. All this for $55-70 (depending on when you register). Nice!!! You should know going into a small race like this spectators will be far and few between and you may find yourself running alone. Well done Yankton.
C. C. from Booneville, MS (4/27/2014) "wonderful little marathon" (about: 2014) 50+ previous marathons \| 2 River Rat Marathons COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 This is a wonderful little marathon. The only catch was the wind this year. IT was really brutal this year, but it is not something controllable. Organization is great. The people seem to really appreciate your coming. This is my second time for this run and I'll be back!
Dave Graves from Volga, SD (4/29/2013) "Great run to connect with nature" (about: 2013) 11-50 previous marathons \| 2 River Rat Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 The fan rating on this one could have been zero, although the volunteers were nice. Rather than the roar of spectators there was the pounding of woodpeckers, the squawking of gulls and the quiet lapping of the water to the shore. Can't get that at a big city marathon. The course starts and finishes by the Missouri River, and about 10 miles of it is run at Lewis & Clark State Park. Most of the in-town miles are on paved or concrete trails, so there little concern about traffic. There is even a long hill from about mile 19.5 to 20.5 to develop a little character. It's a small race, so it's easy for a runner's own fans to find you as many times as they wish. The runners do get spaced far and few between, so one could get lost and a few more signs in the state park would be good. But the peaceful solitude is enjoyable. There's no pressure to stay with a pack because there is no pack. Just you and nature. It seems to be a marathon on the rise.
R. B. from Bellevue, Nebraska (5/4/2012) "Excellent" (about: 2012) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 River Rat Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Well run small marathon with scenic views. Finishers medal was small but with a small entry fee that's expected. Food before and after the run were excellent, pizza from Pizza Ranch along with bananas, bagels, cookies, oranges and other goodies. Of the 11 marathons I've run this one was in the top 2 and didn't have a $140 entry fee like Las Vegas or $125 at Chicago. I was tired of big races anyway. Hill at mile 19-20 was about a half mile long but manageable. Most of the rest was pretty flat except same hill going down between mile 2-3. Good race to add SD to my states.
C. R. from Yankton, South Dakota (4/29/2012) "Scenic small race" (about: 2012) 4-5 previous marathons \| 2 River Rat Marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I ran the RiverRat 1/2 for the second consecutive year. This was the third year for the marathon and half. The races have become bigger and more well-organized each year. The majority of the 1/2 course is on a asphalt and includes one large hill on the out & back course. Weather in SD can vary quite a bit in April, but it this was a perfect morning to run - cool temps in the 40's and nearly zero wind. The course is almost completely outside of town along the Missouri River and through state parks. Everything is very well run and organized to be easy and accessible but if you are in need of numerous spectators to be motivated, then this is not your race. All the volunteers and the few spectators on the course are very friendly and helpful however, as are the other competitors. Aid stations were present on the course every 2 miles with a full supply of bananas, orange slices, sports drink, and water. There was also a plentiful supply of pizza, bagels, bananas, cookies, and water for all participants following the race.
C. E. from Lincoln, NE (4/25/2011) "Great Rural Marathon" (about: 2011) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 River Rat Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 Scenic run, great views, and beautiful parks, all on a well supported course. If you want thousands of cheering fans or a band every mile, you need to bring your own, but everything else is here to make your marathon experience really rewarding. Would like to see a slightly nicer finishing medal, but that is a small detail, and as this event evolves, I am guessing that is a future upgrade.

More Comments: [ < 1 2 > ]

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T. B. from Presho, SD (4/22/2017) "Time Well Spent" (about: 2017) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 River Rat Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 We drove 8 hours round trip to try the River Rat as 1st timers. Good experience. The course was scenic and pleasant to run. The event was well-organized and coordinated. The volunteers did an excellent job. The fans were not as sparse as other past reviews indicated, and those who came out were very enthusiastic. Weather was simply perfect. We enjoyed our time in Yankton and hope to return next year.
Eric Schneider from Los Angeles (5/2/2016) "Everything a small marathon should be." (about: 2016) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 River Rat Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 I was stunned at how well organized this race was given that the marathon had all of 61 starters. The water stations were spaced reasonably and well staffed. The course was very well marked. I had been concerned about heat because the high was forecast to be 78. As it turns out, it got up to 82 with high humidity, but those conditions did not develop until well after the race concluded. While the temperature was moderate, the 25-30 winds added a degree of difficulty. The course featured rolling hills, not quite as flat as the rest of the neighboring counties.
B. P. from Roswell, GA (4/30/2015) "Volunteers make this marathon great" (about: 2015) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 River Rat Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 A shortage of information from race organizers caused me to worry about this race needlessly so, as top-notch organization on race day took care of all of my concerns. Well marked route and numerous volunteers kept me on the route. Ample aid stations and toilet availability, and a better than expected selection of goodies after the race. The course itself is tougher than expected. 99% of the route is on paved paths or sidewalks. Significant headwinds for the return part of the out and back course, and lots of brief, steep up and down in the final 4 miles (the route follows an urban trail that repeatedly jumps between creek level to street level.) Spectators gets but one star because there weren't any save for the numerous volunteers. One quibble is that the marathon and half- get the exact same race bling, but in a race this small (just 40 marathon finishers), it just may not be practical to differentiate the hardware.
Ron Steinhilber from El Mirage, AZ (4/29/2014) "Excellent small race" (about: 2014) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 River Rat Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 I really enjoyed this event. This was number 22 for me and was the smallest marathon so far. Packet pickup was simple and organized at a local sporting goods store. The course was nice, I especially enjoyed running through the pathways that wind through town. It kept it interesting when many marathons use up the best parts of the course in the beginning. Spectators? I'm not sure I saw any, other than the volunteers working the event. That's OK for me since I enjoy the solace of running by myself. There was ample food at the end (pizza, bagels, bananas, cookies). And a great big thank you to all the volunteers who were at every turn of the well marked course to let us runners know where to go. I think there were twice as many volunteers as marathoners. I really appreciated your efforts, especially standing out there in the high winds.
Running Thom from Colorado Springs (4/28/2014) "Great Small Race" (about: 2014) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 River Rat Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 I don't do reviews offten, but let me tell you, I had a blast. This course is flat and can be fast! One hill, but is nothing more than a little challenge. 2014s wind gusts of 40mph were the real challenge. Organization is SUPERIOR and smooth. All the stuff you would expect; chip timing, plenty of hydration stations, all sorts of food at the finish (beagles, pizza, muffins, water&) and a nice finisher medal to boot. All this for $55-70 (depending on when you register). Nice!!! You should know going into a small race like this spectators will be far and few between and you may find yourself running alone. Well done Yankton.
C. C. from Booneville, MS (4/27/2014) "wonderful little marathon" (about: 2014) 50+ previous marathons \| 2 River Rat Marathons COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 This is a wonderful little marathon. The only catch was the wind this year. IT was really brutal this year, but it is not something controllable. Organization is great. The people seem to really appreciate your coming. This is my second time for this run and I'll be back!
Dave Graves from Volga, SD (4/29/2013) "Great run to connect with nature" (about: 2013) 11-50 previous marathons \| 2 River Rat Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 The fan rating on this one could have been zero, although the volunteers were nice. Rather than the roar of spectators there was the pounding of woodpeckers, the squawking of gulls and the quiet lapping of the water to the shore. Can't get that at a big city marathon. The course starts and finishes by the Missouri River, and about 10 miles of it is run at Lewis & Clark State Park. Most of the in-town miles are on paved or concrete trails, so there little concern about traffic. There is even a long hill from about mile 19.5 to 20.5 to develop a little character. It's a small race, so it's easy for a runner's own fans to find you as many times as they wish. The runners do get spaced far and few between, so one could get lost and a few more signs in the state park would be good. But the peaceful solitude is enjoyable. There's no pressure to stay with a pack because there is no pack. Just you and nature. It seems to be a marathon on the rise.
R. B. from Bellevue, Nebraska (5/4/2012) "Excellent" (about: 2012) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 River Rat Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Well run small marathon with scenic views. Finishers medal was small but with a small entry fee that's expected. Food before and after the run were excellent, pizza from Pizza Ranch along with bananas, bagels, cookies, oranges and other goodies. Of the 11 marathons I've run this one was in the top 2 and didn't have a $140 entry fee like Las Vegas or $125 at Chicago. I was tired of big races anyway. Hill at mile 19-20 was about a half mile long but manageable. Most of the rest was pretty flat except same hill going down between mile 2-3. Good race to add SD to my states.
C. R. from Yankton, South Dakota (4/29/2012) "Scenic small race" (about: 2012) 4-5 previous marathons \| 2 River Rat Marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I ran the RiverRat 1/2 for the second consecutive year. This was the third year for the marathon and half. The races have become bigger and more well-organized each year. The majority of the 1/2 course is on a asphalt and includes one large hill on the out & back course. Weather in SD can vary quite a bit in April, but it this was a perfect morning to run - cool temps in the 40's and nearly zero wind. The course is almost completely outside of town along the Missouri River and through state parks. Everything is very well run and organized to be easy and accessible but if you are in need of numerous spectators to be motivated, then this is not your race. All the volunteers and the few spectators on the course are very friendly and helpful however, as are the other competitors. Aid stations were present on the course every 2 miles with a full supply of bananas, orange slices, sports drink, and water. There was also a plentiful supply of pizza, bagels, bananas, cookies, and water for all participants following the race.
C. E. from Lincoln, NE (4/25/2011) "Great Rural Marathon" (about: 2011) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 River Rat Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 Scenic run, great views, and beautiful parks, all on a well supported course. If you want thousands of cheering fans or a band every mile, you need to bring your own, but everything else is here to make your marathon experience really rewarding. Would like to see a slightly nicer finishing medal, but that is a small detail, and as this event evolves, I am guessing that is a future upgrade.

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Marathon Details - River Rat Marathon