Deadwood-Mickelson Trail Marathon - Race Reviews

The course is **very** challenging. While the first mile is downhill the next 13 are an unrelenting uphill climb. But, the bike path (that the course runs on) is very scenic. As a bonus the aid stations are well run and the volunteers quite friendly. As you would expect given the race is on a rails-to-trail course, there are no spectators to speak of. The one negative is the misleading race communication. Based on the web pages my friend and I thought we had until 7:15 to catch the last bus to the start. Turns out it was 7:00! We were lucky to have made it, since we were trying to get out early. Also, the RD put out a very ambiguous email that left people wondering if cups would be available at the water stops. The note's wording made it seem like you would have to bring your own bottle and refill it yourself at the aid stations. Fortunately, no. But, you could not get a straight answer to this at the Expo information table. There you were told to find the RD to get a definitive answer. I was not the only one confused by that email since I overheard several others asking whether cups of water would be available on course. What a mess!

I loved running on the Mickelson railtrail through the forests and meadows, alongside streams, and even through a tunnel where a friendly volunteer offered that she had 'chased out the bears'. There aren't many spectators because of the remote railtrail, and I really loved running in the quiet. The race director is extremely responsive to questions and everything went as advertised.

Top 10 Reasons to Run Deadwood 10 - The course - the most beautiful I've run & mountain streams, forests, alpine meadows 9 - Southwest South Dakota - so much to see before and after the run (Badlands, Wall Drug, Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Custer State Park, Deadwood) 8 - Late start - the negative side is the late start exposes the runners to more heat, but the positive side is that you get to sleep in longer 7 - Water stations - there weren't enough but when you reached one, the water was refreshingly cold 6 - The trail - running on crushed dirt surface seems easier on legs than a road race 5 - The elevation profile - although the first 14 miles are a gradual, but unrelenting uphill; almost all of the second half of the race is a gradual downhill 4 - A difficult race - knowing that as you cross the Finish Line, you have conquered one of the most difficult marathons & the hardest that I've done. 3 - The finisher's medal - with the Deadman's poker hand displayed - aces and eights! 2 - The smell of the pine trees 1 - The sound of the streams

This was my 10th marathon and my 1st DMTM. All I can say is BEAUTIFUL! Very peaceful run. I opted to go without headphones so I could just take it all in. The 14 mile incline is very slow and steady where you hardly notice it, but it definitely did take a toll on me. So much so that I couldn't even take advantage of the 12 miles of downhill after that. This was my slowest race but definitely the most scenic. It was the hottest day of 2017 for that area, so the locals didn't fair too well. I'm from South Texas, so while it wasn't ideal running temperatures, it was better than 95 degrees. Plenty of aid stations, very few spectators simply because it's not easy to get to. Loved the medal and shirt, overall it was a great race. If you're looking for something with a Rock 'n Roll atmosphere, running with 20 thousand people with thousands of spectators, this isn't the race for you.

Really enjoyed the race. stayed at the host hotel and bus service was great. Elevation and going uphill for first 14 miles will not give you a new record but it is very pretty and a great way to see the Black Hills.

This was a beautiful and challenging course, made more challenging by the fact I had a minor injury going in. The race was well organized and the bus transportation at the start and finish were very timely. Spectators are scarce for large portions of the course but the ones there are enthusiastic. Near perfect weather this year, though waiting for the start was pretty chilly. Recommendation to organizers; hot cider would be great at the start line for those cold mornings. I have family in the area so I will probably do this race again. If you're looking for a SD race, this is a good one.

Wear gaiters (even if Expo people say you don't need them)  not critical but I got several small stones in my shoes during the race. First Gold Hotel is right across the road from where the buses take you to Start. Bring a water bottle  very dry heat, and I drank 10 oz. in between aid stations especially in second half when it got quite warm (and it's dry heat). Layer for waiting at start  36 degrees, even though weather app said 50 for Deadwood. You wait a LONG time if you take an early bus; a later bus means LONG party-potty line. To get sun while waiting for start, walk a little ways down the road where the sun will heat you up a little. Altitude and long steady incline make it a tough first half. Very, very scenic course (no spectators whatsoever).

The course is the thing...it's a tough first half...4000 to 6300 ft. Then the second half & down back to Deadwood at 4400 ft elevation. I was really challenged to go slow enough to enjoy the second half and passed many tired out runners but ran mostly by my self. 460 started out but less than 400 finished and I won't forget it and must go back!!

What a great race! The course profile shows that it's no joke (uphill for the first 14 miles or so) but the gorgeous scenery of the black hills and a river by you most of the way ease the pain. :-) There were only about 350 marathoners so it was never terribly crowded and you got to know the folks around you. Water stops were roughly every 2 miles, which wasnt quite enough given the temps (70s) - next time I would carry my own water just in case. Aid stations had m&ms, orange and banana slices as well as water and electrolyte drink. Because the course is on the trail there werent a ton of spectators other than at the relay stations, but it was actually great as you could enjoy the scenery and noises of nature. I DID step over a tiny garter snake, so there's that. The half-marathoners start at the halfway point of the course at the same time as the marathoners, and I was surprised how many walkers I caught up with. Generally it wasnt a congestion problem until the last couple miles. However, most were very supportive and cheerful as you ran by them. I placed 3rd in my AG and the award was a railway tie painted bronze. Very quaint! In the evening we went out in town to the old saloon and ate in a restaurant owned by Kevin Costner decorated with memorabilia from some of his movies. What a fun trip! In my quest to complete 50 states, I'm not sure I can take the time to come back to Deadwood, but I'd recommend it for others!

The Mickelson Trail is a beautiful, well maintained former rail road track. The course is challenging however particularly is you are used to running at sea level. The first 14 miles are a steady uphill with an elevation gain of 1,000 feet. My mile splits were very slow particularly towards miles 10-14, but then I had a huge negative split coming down in the second half. My one critique of the race is that there were not enough water stops. The air in the Black Hills felt very dry to me (perhaps it was the result of elevation?) and water was only available every 2-2.5 miles. I would suggest bringing your own water to supplement. Also, be fore warned that there are very few spectators (likely due to the nature of the course).

Most of what I have to say about this race has been said in other reviews. I will make my list of pros and cons but first let me say that this was one of the most beautiful of my 33 marathons. Second only to Pikes Peak, and I am not even sure it's second to that. It was my first visit to South Dakota and I must say it is a stunningly beautiful place. It was a tough marathon but I know that while the memory of suffering will quickly fade, the memory of this scenery will NEVER fade. That said, here's my pros and cons: PROS: 1) the scenery. See above. Add to the above the fact that you're running along next to running water almost the whole way. 2) nice medal 3) almost everything from Mile 14 on is downhill (though some is steep downhill) 4) lots of places to stay in Deadwood 5) tons of tourist things to do in the area 6) easy packet pick up 7) adequate post-race food (they don't set out a buffet like some marathons have lately, but they've got all the essentials including chocolate milk, so I was happy). 8) really nice running surface - crushed limestone and gravel = smooth like butter. Not a technical trail at all so don't think you need trail shoes just because the marathon has the word 'trail' in it. CONS: 1) first 14 miles of 'gentle uphill' - yes it was gentle, but I definitely felt it. It really wore me down after a while. 2) lots of exposed areas with heavy sun (though shady areas always came up eventually). I was very dehydrated despite drinking at every aid station (which I never do). 8:00 a.m. start time is too late for a sunny summer race, even at elevation where it's not supposed to be THAT hot. 3) hardly any spectators other than at the relay exchange points and during the last couple miles into town 4) long shuttle ride resulting in long wait at start line. It wasn't really cold but if it had been 10 degrees colder I would have been really miserable. I should point out that all of those cons are minor compared to the pros. This is a fantastic race, a must-do for 50-staters and really for everyone else who loves mountain scenery and history (Deadwood is awash in history) and who doesn't need big cheering crowds to stay motivated.

A lovely small trail race showcasing the natural beauty of the Black Hills of South Dakota! Pros: Beautiful scenery Well organized Easy packet picket Friendly volunteers and great water stops Did I mention beautiful scenery? Cons Elevation and 14 miles of elevation gain (albeit at a low grade) can take a lot out of we low landers - pace yourself accordingly! Point to point, so start is in a rural town 20 plus miles from your hotel and the buses for the race start left very early. (We had someone drop us at the start - a great decision - we got there only 30 minutes before the start and had no issues getting to the start) If you like big races with lots of crowd support, this race is not for you. If you want a race immersed in a beautiful area and a great spot for a vacation, don't miss this race!

Excellent course and race organization. I have run 79 marathons and with respect to scenery I would rate this as one of the best. I am glad I didn't run with music so I could hear the stream which was along the course most of the race.

No pounding the pavement through the city with this race, pure Black Hills beauty. All but the first mile and a half are on the trail. I loved the crushed stone surface, the ponderosa pines, the aspen trees and the peacefulness of the course. Plenty of water stops with fruit and spectators were present at the trail head entries only. Yes it is a gentle uphill for the first 13 miles but I was able to handle it even though I train at sea level. Another hill heading up to 19 but the rest was easy. We stayed at the Deadwood Mountain Grand since the Lodge was full. Trollies picked us up near the hotel & took us to the shuttle buses. We could walk from the finish line back to our hotel. Best dinner all week was at the Deadwood Lodge. Really enjoyed the Mt Rushmore bus tour the day before offered by the race, all runners and spouses on our trip. Drove back to Crazy Horse after the race to see more ( about 1 hour). On Monday we drove to Devils Tower in Wyoming ( about 1 hour 15). Loved the area & loved the Race.

The Mickelson Trail has beautiful scenery. Anyone who likes to run on trails or in natural settings will enjoy this marathon. My positives: - The Trail! Soft underfoot and a very scenic setting, running through woods and meadows. - The downhills (M14-18 and M20-finish) are a blast, you can take off the handbrake and speed all the way home from mile 20. It was the easiest finish to a marathon I've ever experienced. - The shirt. It's a good'un. My not-so-positives: - The wait for the start. Unless someone can drop you off at the start in Rochford, you have to take the race bus that gets you there around 6:45-7:00. Then everyone stands around for an hour, trying to keep warm. I think it would be better either to get folks there at 7:15-7:30 or to have a 7:30 start. - The altitude. The vertical gain over M1-14 and 18-20 should be quite comfortable if you've done your hill training: maximum 3% grade. But the combination of vertical gain and altitude, which peaks on this course at approx. 6,500 feet, slowed me down a lot. - The food and drink at the finish were disappointing. Even though I was an early marathon finisher, the chocolate milk had already run out - there was only enough for (most of) the half-marathoners. That left water, gatorade, bananas, orange slices, bagels and pretzels - just the basics and quite underwhelming. Other things to keep in mind if you're thinking about this race: - For accommodation, there are plenty of camping options in the Black Hills and Spearfish. - In 2014, there was a drenching downpour in the fourth hour of the race. At that time of year (May-June), sporadic showers and thunderstorms are typical for the Black Hills.

I have run 162 marathons and this is now my favourite. A truly beautiful trail event, with meadows and streams and forests all around. The surface was good, and the gradual climb and the low pass (around 6300') was not a factor. i did a negative split and was very happy with the support, the transport etc.. Most of my runs have been in New Zealand, and while there are a lot of good courses in New Zealand, Deadwood has them beat.

This was a great marathon. It was reasonably priced, and the website and emails leading up to the event were helpful. There are plenty of hotel rooms in Deadwood because of its tourism status, but I would still try to book in advance. The host hotel was full so I ended up staying at a cheaper place (which was fine), but I did hear the clerk tell someone on the night before the race that every hotel in town was full. The expo was tiny but about what you'd expect from an event with so few runners (300 or so in the full marathon). I did find it funny that the 4 or 5 venders had all been squeezed into one side of a large conference room. If the organizers had spread the venders out, then people would've had more room to browse. The shirt was nice; a technical short-sleeve. The one real drawback of this event is getting people to the start. Ask someone - plead, if necessary - to drop you off at the start. Otherwise you may be sitting in the cold for an hour or more. If you stay at a non-host hotel, like I did, your other option is to get on a trolley at 5:15 that will take you to the bus pickup site. This means getting up 2 hours earlier than you need to. Even so, I met some runners on the trolley and bus and was able to grab a bagel and some water and use the port-o-potty at the start pre-race. The real reason to do this race is for the beauty of the course. The entire 26 miles follows a rail-trail through the Black Hills National Forest. There are hills, streams, wildlife - very beautiful. Run the race for the scenery because you will not get a PR here unless you're a mountain goat. Just accept that the pace will be slower and enjoy the ride. After a brief downhill start, you climb steadily for about 13 miles. It's never brutal, but it's a grind. After that, you get about 5 miles of downhill, which feels great, but the hill around mile 20 is challenging. After that, more downhill to the finish, some of it steep, some muddy, while dodging the half-marathon walkers. There aren't really any crowds, but that's to be expected when it's a small race on a trail that's difficult to access at times. The fans I did see were extremely supportive. The volunteers were also awesome. The aid stations were plentiful, the finish area was well planned out, and the race director even shakes your hand when you finish. It did get a little too warm for me in the final few miles, so I would advise hydrating really well before this one. The finisher medal was nice. If you need a South Dakota marathon or just want to run one for fun in a beautiful location, I would highly recommend this event.

Definitely. It's a rail-to-trail surface perfect for running, and an uphill rail-to-trail 1-4% grade perfect for head-shaking disbelief...and then a rail-to-trail 1-4% downhill well, most of the rest of the way. Black Hills meadows and forest, trail completely separate from vehicular competition. Well supported, great volunteers, a fine focus for a Black Hills/Badlands long weekend. Suggestions: more Expo, this one was sparse. Arrows at all of the course junctions with other dirt options. PLEASE, a propane warmup fire at the start: 36 degrees for an hour of waiting started us off stiff and cold even with my warmup clothes. A 7:30 start would be nice, because it gets hot by mid-finisher time. Thanks for a great run!

The course is cut through the Black Hills. You do not see the 3% grade with your eyes, but I saw it with my splits. A babbling brook keeps you company after you crest at 13.5 miles. You'll notice the surprising uphill mile 19 and the steep downturn at mile 20. Conditions were perfect and my sons and I loved the race. The trail was in fantastic condition in spite of all the rain Deadwood had just prior to the race.

Love the race. The course is absolutely beautiful. Also, organization is top notch. Only recommendation for improvement is to have more food options at the end of the race.

Course- I was concerned about the 1st half uphill;but, it was gradual enough to be comfortable. Also concerned about altitude-it probably increased my time;but, I didn't feel it's effect-I live at 600 feet altitude. Whole course was scenic and I enjoyed the mountain landscape and views. Organization- After race-stood waiting for bus-no place to sit except parking lot asphalt-eventually a nice couple offered me a ride. With a 5(+) hour marathon finish I had a different experience then my friend at 4 hours for refreshments-I got a water bottle. Pasta dinner tasted great but was a planning disaster with waits exceeding 45 minutes after ordering food-I arrived within first few minutes of it opening-others said the wait got worse. Because the course was on a trail, spectators were sparse as expected;but, finish was planned in-town and this allowed for majority of spectators at the finish, aid stations were great. I LOVED THE SCENERY AND WOULD RUN MARATHON AGAIN. HALF MARATHON IS TOO CROWDED TO ENJOY.

Beautiful course on an old rail trail. I forgot my iPod, & was so pleased to hear the bubbling Brooks & birds. I would do this again in skinny minute.

Had trouble finding the expo Had trouble finding the bus for the full marathon Found nowhere to take a shower after the marathon (organizers pointed us to a rec center but it is closed on Sundays!) Food on course and at end was uncreative (dry bagels??) We thought it was pretty expensive for what we got. The last thing we need is another tee shirt covered with gambling cards and sponsor's logos No I was not super happy with this event; I've seen a lot better.

Deadwood was my 4th marathon and by far it was my favorite. The race planners and all of the volunteers were wonderful! The course was pretty tough for me. The 13 mile uphill was unforgiving but I loved the challenge. I seemed that the altitude played a big part in my cardio as well. Being from Iowa we have no hills or altitude to compare. Everything was great, the views on the trail were the best. I took many pictures on the trail as were many others. One thing I would recommend is Gaiters. I had no idea about these but soon learned that they are a must. They keep the rocks out of your shoes. I had to stop many times to empty my shoes on the downhill side. Overall I had so much fun, I plan on this being a yearly event. So much to see and the air is so fresh in South Dakota! Love it! Love it! Love It!

Most beautiful course, but be prepared for the altitude. First 14 miles go from 5200 ft to 6300 ft. Last 12 are primarily downhill, at times at moderately steep grade. For someone, like me, who trains close to sea level, this course is a challenge. In spite of the above, this marathon should be on everyone's list because of the awesome beauty of the Black Hills course. Just dial back your goals.

I have nothing but kind words to say about this race. Everything about it was awesome. The organization was superb with no glitches. Nice tech shirt, great finish medal, enthusiastic volunteers. This is the most scenic and peaceful marathon I've ever run. Running on the rail trail, surrounded by the Black Hills beauty, running by babbling brooks, over wooden bridges, pine trees, on a nice dirt path. It is uphill the first half, then downhill the second half, occasionally steep. Aid stations also very well stocked with water, Powerade, oranges, bananas, bagels, and MnMs. All around great race, a 'must do' event in my opinion. My only suggestion, I wish this started at 7 am instead of 8 am. The sun rises about 515 am, and given the potential for heat, seems smart to start earlier rather than later. Great finish line too. Spectators are light in this one, but the ones that were there were a lot of fun.

The 2011 Deadwood-Mickelson Trail Marathon was my first ever attempt at the 26.2 mile distance after numerous halves. First off, the only reason 'trail' is in the title is because the majority of the race is run on the Mickelson Trail - an old railroad bed named in honor of a late SD governor. The Mick is a wide trail of crushed gravel and in no way resembles an actual trail run... so don't worry about trail shoes or anything like that. The race climbs for the first 13 miles to an elevation close to a mile up, before dropping over the final 13 miles. Both incline and decline are extremely gradual, but the first 13 definitely take some energy out of the legs. Thankfully, the crushed gravel is a very forgiving surface. The 2011 race got very hot, but typically early June is a little cooler in the Black Hills - especially at elevation. The water stations were plentiful and well stocked. The packed pick-up and expo was well organized and good sized for a smaller event (the marathon is much smaller than the half). One neat thing is that it is a point to point course and the half marathon starts at the halfway mark of the full marathon at the same time (8am) so if any full marathoners do catch up to the tail end of the half pack, they are very spread out by then and there is plenty of room to pass. Hard to explain just how beautiful the Black Hills are. If you have not been there, you need to plan a trip with a few extra days to take in the sights. There are few things I enjoy more than a run through the rolling hills and fresh pine tree scented air of the Black Hills. Spectators are rather scarce, although there are quite a few supporters at the relay exchange points as well as the last mile towards the finish line. All of the spectators were very vocal and supportive. If you want to run fast, make sure you have some strong mileage logged, and don't run the first half too fast!

For being my first marathon, I had a great day running the full marathon. Volunteers were friendly and helpful.

Could not have been better! Had a rough start with the altitude, but I adjusted after 4-5 miles! It was so beautiful and peaceful! Greatest fluid stops ever! Very nice people! Want to go back! Keep up the good work! Of course, the weather cooperated and that helped!

This is an excellent marathon in a beautiful place. Everything about the race went well. Buses to the start went smoothly, the weather was nice with an overcast sky keeping the sun away, great water stops with tons of food, and an outstanding trail through lovely scenery. The trail is wide, in great condition, and paved with crushed stone. No trail shoes needed but I saw several people with gaiters that would have been useful to keep small rocks out of the shoes. The race starts with a downhill run on the road to get to the trail. Then, about 1.5 miles in, you start up, and I don't think it ever leveled off. The grade is not steep, but climbing from 5,200 to 6,200 feet, I was feeling the altitude. At about 13.8 you start down and I was able to pick up my pace. There is another uphill from 18.5 to 20 - not too bad but mentally tough after a few miles of cruising downhill. At 20 there is a sudden drop, followed by more downhill to the finish. I had my first negative split with the assist of the slow uphill first half and the downhill second half. As is the case at many races, the half marathon is much larger than the marathon (1,400 vs 350), but since there are separate buses that drop the other runners at the halfway point, most marathoners don't even see the halfers. I guess the fastest runners caught the back of the half pack before the finish, but I assume everyone is so spread out at that point that it shouldn't be a problem. I think the half would be great because it is almost all downhill. Take time to see the area. Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Custer State Park, Devil's Tower, beautiful canyon drives, and a shoot-out on Main Street make Deadwood a great place to visit.

This is one of the best marathons I've eve run and I've done over 200. It's a very scenic course with soft footing. The spectator (my wife) was wonderful, so I'm rating fans a 5. Put it on your to-do list!

This was my 39th marathon and the most beautiful, yet. Organization was tops. Hydration and good nutrition every two miles. Pleasant trail. Even though the first half or the race featured a net climb, it was gentle and doable. Trout streams were adjacent to the trail the whole way. The race director cares for the runners. I recommend this race to anyone.

I read the review of R.M. from New Jersey who ran this in 2009. R.M. saved me much typing because my experience of the race was virtually identical, even down to the same guy showing up about 5 times. Since you'll likely not be doing a PR here, take a small camera for picture-taking. The minute or two you lose will be worth the permanent memories. The altitude map on the website is incorrect. The course peaks about 13.6 miles and is all downhill from there, except for about a half-mile during mile 19-20. Access to Mt. Rushmore, Sturgis, Motorcycle Museum, Spearfish Scenic Trail, Sylvan Lake, Needles Highway Trail, Custer State Park Wildlife Trail, Crazy Horse, Wall Drug and Badlands make this TOTALLY worth the trek to South Dakota. Book early, as hotel rooms fill up fast. The "Lodge" is expensive but seems beautiful.

This race did not disappoint. The Mickelson Trail is a great running venue and the logistical support of the race was excellent - from pre-race expo through post-race activities. The weather cooperated with cool, overcast skies, almost no wind and good humidity. The trail is an excellent running surface and with the start spread out and the number of runners capped, the width of the trail really wasn't an issue. (If I had one suggestion for the race it would be to have the busses leave for the start - especially for the half-marathon - about 30 minutes later. There really wasn't an urgent need to get all the runners into the start area a full hour or more before race start.) The trip from Utah was well worth it. Very satisfying race - and overall a fast, half-marathon course, despite the elevation.

I really enjoyed running the Deadwood Mickelson Trail Marathon, even though it was the most difficult of my 11 marathons. This is by far the highest altitude that I've run at, although I didn't particularly notice it. My time was about 15-20 minutes off my usual marathon time, but I suspect that more due to the hills than to the altitude. Everybody knows that the first half goes uphill and the second half goes down. What I didn't know was that the first half hill was just one long continuous hill. I was expecting at least a little bit of a break where the terrain would even off for a minute or two so I could catch my breath. But no, it just kept on climbing and climbing. Wow. The second half downhill was very welcomed, but it was hard to enjoy it after working so hard in the first half. And the little uphill thrown in at Mile 19.5 was a bit of a jolt to the system as well. Still, the course was beautiful. I will agree with others that the hour and half wait in the cold at the start was unpleasant. (And this is what prevents me from giving 5 stars for Organization). Thank goodness the rain stayed away for the most part. A little shelter, plus some liquid (hot or cold) would have been nice. Spectators were sparse. I saw one guy about 5 times along the course. The person he was there to see must have been right behind me, and he kept driving up to the next suitable viewing spot. If it weren't for repeats like him, there'd be almost nobody out there. The spectators who were there cheered loudly. But don't do this race if you need a lot of crowd support. Personally, that doesn't matter too much to me; I do all my training runs without any crowd support, so I'm used to it. So in a nutshell: Beautiful but difficult course. Friendly people in a friendly town. Nice shirt and medal. Decent post-race food. Deadwood is a fun place to spend a couple days, and it's very close to Mt. Rushmore and Crazy Horse, so you can get your tourist fix. For anyone who needs a marathon in South Dakota, this is a great choice.

My wife and I flew out from Connecticut to run this race. As a 50-stater, it has been on my wish-list for years and I am glad to report that it lived up to its reputation and then some. Jerry and his great team of volunteers do a terrific job in organization, and the course is simply beautiful. As others have cautioned, beware of the impact that the climb will have on you at 5,000-6,000-foot altitude. As a guy who loves oranges when I run, major kudos to DMTM for having them at every aid station! It kept me going.... The tech shirts and finisher's medals are first-rate. There is plenty to see and do, so plan a couple of extra days, and see some of the sights. We drove out to Devil's Tower the day before the race and down to Crazy Horse and Mt. Rushmore afterward. I highly recommend this race!

This race was definitely one of the most beautiful races I have completed. The trail was wide, and even after pouring down rain all night, the packed gravel was easy to run on without trail shoes. I would recommend this for a beginner looking to do a trail marathon. I don't usually need food support throughout a race but for some reason I did this time, and I was thankful that they had support every 2 miles, as promised, even early on. It was cold and the 1.5-hour wait after the buses dropped us off at the start line was quite difficult. My only thought would be that maybe we don't need to get there so early? I never quite warmed up, even though I had a drop bag to help. If I were to do it again, unless they offered later buses, I would have had my family drop me off closer to the start time. I know they like you to use the buses for a lot of trail races, but please consider the elements!