2024 Sioux Falls Marathon - Race Reviews

Much of the first 15 miles are on concrete roads and sidewalks which were pretty torn up. The last 11 miles were on asphalt bike paths. Good volunteer help directing traffic where necessary. Very convenient race, only 2 miles from the airport. Several aid stations ran out of water, slower runners and walkers should carry their own water. Powerade tasted terrible. Expo was small, held in a different sports complex about three miles from the Sheraton host hotel. Temperatures are typically 80 degrees on race day in late August.

Ran the 2018. COURSE: Pretty especially going through Falls Park, Didn't anticipate so many hills and probably exhausted myself too early. START and END: Wonderful to be inside a building. Plenty of food and volunteers. Timing clock was a little confusing but corrected. VOLUNTEERS: Plenty of them. But more needed along the route as some places were confusing. CROWDS: Quiet, and few, even passing through neighborhoods. Would be great if there were more. Many college students cheering. Cheering crowds help us runners, and help the event too. THANK YOU! SIGNS: Not enough BIG signs to direct runners. Since this is a small marathon, it was a little confusing when running through the baseball fields with hundreds of baseball players and spectators, and it was not that clear where to go. The sign after the bridge was also missing (maybe blown away), and it wasn't clear whether to turn right or turn left. Would be great to either have good BIG signs or volunteers to direct runners. SHIRT: This is one of the best looking shirt I have seen. Very pleased with it. Much better than the Twin Cities Marathon 2018 shirt. PHOTOS: Excellent especially at Falls Park. Clear photos of runners and not fuzzy like some marathons. Probably because it is a smaller marathon. Also liked the ability to take a photo with your chip time clearly displayed when you are done. MOTEL: Stayed at Sleep Inn, which was affordable, walking distance, late check-out, breakfast included and they went out of their way to get it ready at 4:30 am in the morning, no need to stay for two nights. Highly recommend this motel. OVERALL: Really enjoyed this marathon. I would recommend to others for sure. Also Sioux Falls organizers may want to attend Twin Cities Marathon weekend to promote the run more. It is only a short drive from the Twin Cities.

I chose Sioux Falls as it fit into my schedule and was a manageable 7 hour drive from home. I highly recommend staying at the Sheraton (which is attached to the Denny Sanford Premier Center). I was able to leave my hotel room at 6:16, make one, final pit stop at one of the numerous bathrooms along the way and still get to the start area with plenty of time. The start/finish area inside the arena is nice. No need for a drop bag or throw-away shirt. There aren't a ton of spectators, but the ones out there were great. Numerous volunteers at numerous water stops and all of them seemed genuinely happy to be there. I enjoyed the course. Had a couple mile stretch along Skunk Creek that had a headwind, but you're running in the Plains, so what do you expect. Plentiful amounts of post-race beverages and food. Overall, a great marathon and one I would highly suggest.

After a somewhat restless night of sleep (kind of a norm before a marathon), I downed a couple of granola bars infused with some peanut butter and chocolate and a can of beet root juice given to runners at the expo ready to take on the challenge of this marathon. The beet juice was new to my diet and most runners know not to try anything new before a marathon - but I did. I was a little worried it would upset my stomach - but, surprisingly, it didn't. The alarm sounded at 0530, early enough to get myself together and out the door by 0600 for the 0630 start. Let's do this - its game time! For the second time in the race's history, the start and finish venue took place at the Denny Sanford Premier Center, a large multi-use arena designed for large scale concerts and sporting events. With a capacity of over 10,000, it was the perfect place for a marathon start and finish. Early morning thunderstorms swept over Sioux Falls and flashes of lightning contrasted against the dark morning sky with intermittent trickles of rain. Because of the danger electrical storms can inflict, the organizers delayed the start times for all races by fifteen minutes. It wasn't the flattest or the hilliest course around, but the looped course undoubtedly offered an interesting assortment of parks, downtown landmarks, historic neighborhoods and, of course, Falls Park that made Sioux Falls famous, and likely the highlight of the marathon visuals. I recommend going back after the marathon to read the historical inscriptions. The hills presented themselves mostly during the first half of the run with very few in the second half. I believe the event organizers threw them in just to make the course interesting, yet challenging enough to test ones fitness. The second half is mostly flat and through residential areas and city parks paralleling the Big Sioux River. The weather was somewhat cool and overcast for most of the morning, but became sunny, hot and humid later in the morning. I prefer cool temperatures when I run, so when the sun broke from the cloudy skies, I began to suffer for the last few miles. Most of the spectators lined the streets of downtown, seeing things like the various sculptures adorning the streets, construction projects, historical buildings and a few landmarks. Through the parks, spectators were few and far between. If you need spectators to get you through 26 miles, consider your options. Post-race food! I was dying for food. That's what I had on my mind closing in on the finish line. I was more than happy to partake in some of the post-race refreshments provided to the runners. Where? All the food, beer, refreshments were gone, eaten by mostly half marathoners, 5K runners and the faster full marathoners. All I managed to muster up was a bottle of water. Fortunately, my wife saved a bag of goodies containing chocolate milk (which I quickly consumed), bananas and other extravagances. Needless to say, I was not a happy camper and was profoundly disenchanted. I even voiced my discontent with the race director who acknowledged that miscalculation. I had nothing to revitalize my day except for my finisher's medal (at least they had enough for all the participants). I even scored an extra three-quarter zip event tech shirt from the multitudes of left-over shirts as we left the arena vestibule. As for the race itself, I can assertively say I really enjoyed the first twenty miles. Most of the looped course was run on paved pedestrian/bike trails through the many parks in Sioux Falls. For Fifty Staters, or anyone else for that fact, wanting to run South Dakota, to put it mildly, just prepare yourself for the final six miles atop of a flood control levee. The long and drawn-out drudgery of the levee trail could have an affinity to grate on ones nerves and could conceivably confound ones appetite for long distance running. I just tried to enjoy myself the best I could and the gusty gale-like southwesterly late morning winds delivered a delightful tailwind to assist with anyone struggling to survive. Sometimes, playing mind games to divert attention from such toil is an essential element. I found the virtually spectatorless segment of the course was a perfect way to engage my mind with some of the engineering design components of the flood control levee - such as the weir structures, bridges, levee embankment construction and the various channel flow regimes. Happy running!

It's pretty much what everyone else said below. My personal take was that the course was tougher than advertised, especially the first 15 or so miles. Tons of rolling hills with little flat in between. The last 8 or so miles were flat like pancake, but with zero protection from the sun and wind. The scenery was pretty boring too, with a golf course on the right and a stream on the left. The expo was fairly lame with no official race merchandise. Only a few local vendors no one really cares about. There was plenty of water, Powerade and Gue stations along the course, so kudos for that. Spectators were pretty much non-existent. If you're doing the 50 States, you really don't have much choice, otherwise, you can probably skip this one.

As a home town marathoner, this is the only one I have done more than once. This was the first time I have run the new course and it has more hills than in the past, but is still relatively flat. Expo and spectator support are still low key but decent. For any 50 staters this is really your best option for SD.

This is one of those small town gem marathons that I'll choose any day over the chaotic big city events. We stayed at The Sheraton which was located next door to the start and finish. Super convenient to walk over at 6 AM for the 6:30 start. The course was an interesting mix of downtown, the famous Falls, neighborhoods and (mostly) green, shady parkways. Though the sun was out and the wind kicked up, I wasn't stressed by either. It seemed that the gustiest winds were at my back, so that was a plus. For such a small marathon, I was quite impressed with the number of volunteers and spectators along the course. There was a nice energy there. Personal thanks to 'Sean from Sanford' who gave me two Tylenol at Mile 20. (My tiny pack mysteriously vaporized.) I enjoyed finishing inside the Arena; that was a first. The tri-tip mini burger was a delicious post-run treat. Overall, the organization was outstanding and the race directors were clearly proud of their event. One of them took quite a bit of time showing me that it would be difficult to get lost on the course. (With only 300 marathoners, it can happen!) Finally, the town of Sioux Falls is absolutely worth a visit. We enjoyed several local restaurants (Parker's Bistro, Hackett's Deli and Spezia's for pre-race pasta), the scenic Falls, the USS South Dakota, the sculpture walk and the Great Plains Zoo. If you're a 50 Stater, this one is a no-brainer for South Dakota.

A low stress race with easy logistics especially if you stay at the host hotel. The race start and finish and the expo are all held in the civic center adjacent to the Sioux Falls Sheraton. As we stayed there it could not have been easier. A small expo which was pretty underwhelming. No need to schedule time for perusing vendors because there weren't many. I really liked the indoor staging and starting line which doubles as the finish line. Nice supply of food and drink post race. The half marathon started 30:00 after, so it was easy to get into a pace right from the start. Congestion was never a problem. The course was pretty scenic except for the last miles run along a canal which became monotonous. Some hills in the beginning but flat for the last 10. Not many spectators but the few that were out and the volunteers were enthusiastic. Nice shirt and hat and a great medal. Overall I liked it a lot. Sioux Falls as a city was a pleasant surprise. Make time before or after the race to visit the 4 micro breweries within a few blocks downtown. I especially liked Fernson on 8th and Wood Grain.

TL;DR - Convenient expo and start/finish, flat course, few spectators and aid stations. The Sioux Falls Marathon changed the marathon route to eliminate the need for shuttles, and it starts and finishes in the same place - inside the Sioux Falls Arena. This provides a warm, dry place to wait before the race starts, and provides indoor bathrooms as well. My one complaint about the indoor start is that no ones GPS watches would connect while inside. It didn't throw off my distance too much, as my watch connected shortly after exiting the arena. The course exits the arena and makes its way through neighborhood streets. There are many turns in the first few miles, and one of the few significant uphills. Runners make their way downtown before heading up to Falls Park. This was the highlight of the race for me. The sun was coming up and the falls looked amazing. I wish I could stop and take a photo, but I was trying to stay with my pace group. After that, the course follows the river for a few miles, before turning off and winding through a handful or residential streets. Eventually you make your way back to the river, and other than a few short jogs off track, you mostly stay along the river the rest of the way. It's a nice, isolated path along the river. The race organization was fine. The expo and start/finish area were very easy to get to and park. The expo was very small, and it left me a little disappointed. I had planned on getting a race singlet and some energy gels for the race at the expo, but there were no booths with energy gels, and no booths with mens running wear. I made my way downtown to 605 Running Company later in the day to remedy this situation, a local running store I would recommend. Water stations were well staffed, with one coming up just about every other mile. My only complaint here is that later in the race when runners are in most need of aid, there were still significant stretches of trail with little or no aid. I saw a few runnings in dire need of water begging spectators for water, and we were still about a mile away from the next aid station. I would suggest having an aid station every mile for the last 6 miles. The course well marked well enough, with cones and signs. There were a few areas where it could get confusing, and there tended to be a race official or a group of spectators at that spot telling you where to go. The finish area was well stocked with food for the marathoners, despite having thousands of half marathoners cross the finish line before us. Overall, the race organization was good, but could be improved upon. The spectators, while very small in number, were great. This being by far the smallest marathon I've ever run, I was surprised at how few spectators there were. The middle miles of the race - in the downtown area, at Falls Park, in the residential sections, and towards the beginning of the river trail - were the hot spots for spectators. My complaint here would be that there were really no spectators in the last 6 miles, until you're about half a mile from the finish line. Again...when runners need aid and support the most, you are left utterly alone. Other than the aid stations between mile 20 and 25, I could count the number of spectators on one hand. Perhaps this was due to the course being along the trail and not on streets, it's hard to say. Spectators were much better as you rounded the last few turns and headed back into the arena, but at this point in the race you are so close to finishing your adrenaline carries you.

Lots of impressive improvements to the half course this year (2016)! Loved the start and finish in the Arena. Crowd support was better than ever this year. Course was challenging, but not difficult and really showcases the best parts of Sioux Falls! Race directors have done a great job making this race one to add to the runner's bucket list!

Sioux Falls made many changes over the past two years in an attempt to make this a premiere Midwest race. They've succeeded. The course hi-lights the beauty of this great town and the scenery of downtown, the iconic falls, along the river, and through numerous parks helps you forget you are running 26 miles. The race starts before sunrise and the sun emerges as you run through downtown - truly a spectacular site. The few hills in this course are moderate at worst and are all during the first 16 miles. The last 10 miles is very flat. The last five miles does get a bit boring (on an asphalt trail atop a flood dike), but occasional flyovers of F-16 jets and running past the back of the zoo (hello Bison, hello Rhinoceros) keep you from going crazy. Crowds are thin, but very enthusiastic. Frequent water stops, an indoor start and finish with lots of restrooms (use the restrooms behind the arena seats - they were virtual empty), and some of the nicest people you'll ever meet make this a race easy to recommend. Of nine races run, I'd put this in the top two or three (Behind Fargo, but on par with Green Bay).

Have skirted Sioux Falls many times en route to in-laws' house in Wyoming, so it was nice to actually see the city. And this route gives you a lot to see. Nice neighborhoods, a great downtown and beautiful parks, highlighted by the run past the falls. There are hills, but they're certainly not killers (though a bit of a strain for this flatlander whose training was woefully lacking anyhow and whose hill training was nonexistent). Finish on the football stadium track was neat. Few spectators, but those that were there gave us a boost, as did the many volunteers at water stops. One of the best things was the convenience. Parking is steps away from start and finish. There are (indoor!) bathrooms at the stadium. And shower facilities in the locker room afterward, though it's pushing it to describe the water as even lukewarm. I sorta like the medal. It mirrored the shirt, which I give a thumbs down. Pedestrian at best. Post-race fare was OK, nothing out of the ordinary. As is often the case with a midpack marathoner in a race that also has a half, they were out of chocolate milk (insert sad face). But overall, I'd recommend Sioux Falls. I had my third-worst time ever (as in duration), but I great time (as in enjoying myself).

Great directions up to the last mile. once we turned the last corner there were no volunteers to get us to the stadium gate and to tell where the finish line was exactly. Granted we are very tired at this point and need extra guidance. Overall it was a great day and experience! Thanks from Iowa!

The course was planned out well, with wide open roads at the beginning and rolling hills that were so gradual that I never struggled (and this is coming from a Chicagoan who has not completed ANY hill workouts yet this year). I appreciated how they planned out the course so we encountered the falls toward the end; that was a huge boost. I'd recommend waiting to see the falls in person until you run through the park. True, they are not Niagara Falls, but I still got chills from them...this is not something one sees everyday. Many of the volunteers said thank you for running the race which was touching. The locals exuded a genuine warmth and appreciation to all of the out of towners in my group. We stayed at the HQ hotel which was so convenient that you don't need a rental car because their shuttle took us to all the major places (downtown, airport). The expo was a total breeze. The pasta dinner was yummy. The shuttles back to the start line were prompt and plentiful.

Sioux Falls and this marathon course were far more beautiful than I expected. This is a very scenic course with big sky expanses, a lovely old-timey downtown, and some top-notch parks and paved trails. The course is not flat but rolling hills with some long flat sections. Each up has a corresponding down and I felt like there were a few times I got to descend without having to climb. There are enough turns so that you never have to run a long straight line. Very difficult course to mark and marshall but both of those jobs were done EXTREMELY well - there may have been more volunteers than runners, and some of the volunteers even thanked me for running the race! A small race but as a mid-packer I was never alone. Not very many spectators but the volunteer cheering sections more than made up for that. Shuttles at the finish leave every 15 minutes to take you back to the start. Starting line was on a track with plenty of flush toilets and real sinks - nice bonus. The expo was teeny, the race shirts are great, and the medal if you're into that is really nice. Two criticisms: First, the race numbers had a 'drink ticket' attached but there were no adult beverages at the finish - no big deal except that the ticket made me expect it. Second, the decidedly Christian prayer at the start was unneccessary and served to remind non-Christians like myself that we are outsiders in a place like Sioux Falls. Overall small price to pay in small-town USA for an otherwise great event!

This is a good quality race that delivers on all the things you would expect and want from a marathon. I left feeling satisfied and glad I chose Sioux Falls to check South Dakota off my list. The marathon and half have separate start times, which is great because the start is on a track. The first half has some gradual ups and downs, but in general is pretty fast. A nice long downhill between mis. 7 and 9 takes you to the Big Sioux River bike trail. The river trail is peaceful and scenic, but your totally exposed to wind if there is any. Around Mile 15 is a screaming fast downhill into downtown Sioux Falls, if you ran a smart first half this downhill into town should be a nice boost into the second half (I was not that wise, however). After downtown is breathtaking Falls Park, a prehistoric waterfall you get to run right by (and over the water) on a bridge. After the waterfall its back to the bike trail, which takes you the final 7 miles to the finishing stretch. The crowd support is really enthusiastic in the second half of the race especially, there were multiple big groups of cheering high school kids, some in costume. One cheering section in the last few miles of bike trail was a high school marching band, which was a huge boost to a tired and weary soul. The finish line staging area was well organized, results are posted quickly, theres access to plenty of food and drink and the finishers medal is unique and first rate. Sertoma Park, which borders the final quarter mile of the course and finish line area, and Falls Park (mis. 17-18) are both worth enjoying if you have the time/leg-energy left outside of all the race action. This race sells itself on being a flat and fast course, and it IS fast and free of any bad hill climbs or intense rolling terrain. That said, (to be very obvious) it IS still a 26 mile 385 yard footrace, so don't get excited by first half speed and end up cramping or burning out early. Learn from my blunder! Even though I learned the hard way how going out fast can thwart a big PR, I left Sioux Falls basking in the memories of this great marathon. The friendly people, the scenic course and optimal time of year made this a much above average marathon destination. Plan on the SFM for your South Dakota race or fall getaway and you will enjoy!

Lesson learned: Though I may think there will be time after the race to return to the hotel to shower, change, check out late and make my airport connection, it would have been best to fully pack and be ready to scoot to the airport immediately following the race. I waited more than an hour for the second shuttle bus on account of my own poor planning and shuttle bus organization/misinformation. If I were living in Sioux Falls I'd run the race again so long as I could arrange for a friend to collect me from the finish line area to take me back to my car parked near the start line. But I don't think I would recommend traveling in for the event. There are many other races featuring better organization and less nerves frazzled. All other Sioux Falls race features and amenities were average, middle of the road. And as for course grade and difficulty, I'd say this one is flat, not hilly. Mississippi Blues, Louisiana and Tyler Rose marathons feature more hills than Sioux Falls, for example.

This was my 5th marathon, and taking over from Missoula, my favorite. In chronological order, more or less. 1) Logistics: very good. The race hotel was the same as packet pick-up, and it offered late checkouts for runners, and free shuttles to and from the airport. We did not rent a car and did not need to. Yes, the shuttles / buses from the race to the hotel after the race was a bit of a mess, but in the organizer's defense, the half-marathon had a record field and the marathon finishers numbered twice as many as last year. And within 24 hours the RD emailed us apologizing, which is nice. Overall, though, I'm telling you, this is a well-thought-out race 2) Course. Definitely fast. The first 6 miles have a good 4 or 5 rollers in them, so you best start off slow. All these rollers are up-and-down, so you have a chance to make up time on the way down immediately. The middle (7-15) is pancake flat, and I mean pancake. This was a great place to find some rhythm and speed and open up a little bit. Downtown was next and that was full of spectators, and after some neighborhood time and a few more hills, you were on an awesome, shaded, curvy, bike path. Very nice way to finish. And you run right in front of the falls which was cool. 3) Aid stations. Spread out in the beginning, then more dense towards the end, which I thought was great. Good crowds, offered water & Powerade and some Hammer gels at 3 or 4 of them. 4) Finish area. Great finish line separating the marathoners and halfers. Lots of people and support, plenty of chairs and shade and food and water. Big fan of this race and recommend it to all.

Highlights - Marathon started at 6:45 a.m. and the half about an hour later. I wish more marathon/half marathon races were arranged this way. The volunteers were awesome as were the people running the event. The few spectators who came out were fantastic. It was very hot this year with 90% humidity and they had lots of water, some sprinklers, ice and cool cloths at the finish. We also got to run past the falls (pretty) and the dog park (entertaining) which I think everyone enjoyed. Downsides - the course was weird and at times hard to follow. Much of it was in the middle of nowhere, wide open with no shade or wind protection and of course no spectators. We ran on road construction gravel when there was a paved street a block away. We were diverted off the bike path to run through grass only to run on the bike path immediately. I couldn't understand why we would have to take the grass when the bike path was continuous and less than 20 feet off the grass path. It don't mind running on grass but it made it a little confusing and congested. It was also a little annoying to encounter families going for a leisurely bike ride on the course in several spots, including mile 25 when volunteers could have asked them simply to head away from the course on the bike path. There is really no post race celebration to speak of. Kind of anti-climactic. And the BIG let down was there was only one shuttle bus to return runners to the starting area. They promised shuttles leaving every 15 minutes. Some people waited over an hour and a half. Many people called cabs for a ride. The sole bus driver was nice and very apologetic, but it clearly was not his fault. Id give these guys a few more years to work out the kinks before recommending it.

Don't be fooled by the advertisement of a 'flat' and fast course; fast, perhaps (based on you as a runner), but certainly not 'flat.' There were flat areas along the course, but I would never describe this course as flat (I've completed over 25 marathons). Could be a nice Boston Qualifer, just hope for good weather, which was something the Running Gods did not supply in 2013. VERY hot, humid and windy, with little to no shelter from the variables (until after mile 20). This shouldn't deter you from this marathon, as all courses have challenging factors, just be aware if this is the course you choose for a BQ. Nice scenery changes and volunteers were amazing! Nice medals. Only complaint: we were provided a site where friends/family could pay $2.00 and get live updates/tracking of their runner. Well, that didn't work. My boyfriend paid for the service, but was unable to track me. Not sure if that was a glitch on his part, but didn't think so, seeing he is in IT. Anyway, a nice marathon to run, but not as 'flat' as advertised.

I ran this year's race (today) and there were many things the organizers did well. First, the packet pickup was in a convenient location. However, I would recommend adding parking instructions and inform runners when there are events being played at the adjacent stadium, which made parking somewhat tricky. Second, the start area with the bag drop was really convenient. Third, from mile 20 on they had water stations about every 1/2 mile. And on a hot day like today that was great. Fourth the volunteers were great! All along the course they were supportive, friendly and willing to go the extra mile (e.g., I needed Vaseline, b/c I was chafing and I asked a volunteer at mile 17 if they had any. They didn't, but the volunteer found some and when I passed by her again at 19 miles she had some for me. THANK YOU!) There are a few things I would recommend that they improve. First, there were no marked first aid stations along the course. In today's heat and humidity, as I mentioned above, I was one of many people severely chafing. It would have been nice to see first aid tents about every 4-5 miles staffed along the course. Second, while there were plenty of water stations from 20 to the finish, there weren't enough leading up to that. There was one station roughly every 2 miles. In heat like today, they should have been every mile to mile and a half. Lastly, the shuttle service at the finish back to the start was inexcusable. I won't belabor the point, b/c I believe they are aware of the issue. The suggestion would be to have 3-4 shuttles running continuously. What I think makes this a race worth running and returning to are the people of Sioux Falls, the volunteers and many of the spectators who were willing to help someone who was wilting in the heat.

SF Marathon was all I expected from reading reviews. Wanted a course with cool temps to BQ. This mostly flat course is that. The price was right starting at $70. Volunteers were friendly and plentiful. A well put together race. I would prefer paper cups to plastic at aid stations, but that was only complaint. Sheraton was right by start and walking there was so much nicer than having to rush in traffic. Packet Pickup was at Scheels Sporting Goods. It was easy and the volunteers there were helpful. Overall, Sioux Falls puts on a good event. I would run this again and bring my family along to enjoy what the town has to offer.

The marathon was well organized and the water stations were plentiful. I also enjoyed the city of Sioux Falls. The downtown area was very clean with great bars and restaurants.

The folks who organized the Sioux Falls Marathon did a great job. Great organization, wonderful volunteers and the spectators were outstanding cheerleaders...a first class marathon in a first class city!

As a home town runner, I must say this is nice marathon with just a few hills to negotiate over the first half of the course. Keep in mind that there is minimal crowd support during much of the race, but what is lacking in numbers is more than made up in enthusiasm. If they revert back to the mult-purpose trails that have been detoured because of construction between miles 19-23 the last several years, the last portion will be shaded and much cooler.

I have nothing but good things to say about this race. The organization was exceptional. Great to stay in the Sheraton and walk to a very nice stadium starting line. Truly enjoyed a course that varied from wide open spaces to parks to downtown to a nicely shaded path. Volunteers were numerous and enthusiastic. Results were posted almost immediately. A great marathon experience.

Sioux Falls is a nice small city and the people are very friendly. I would highly recommend this race - well organized, easy transportation, nice people, decent shirt & medal, and flat course. The second half got really hot, but much of the run was along a shaded path, which really helped a lot.

the registartion was easy in and out, the start was nice location, the course was rolling hills to mile 9ish then flat around the airport full sun, scenic run by the falls park, last few miles were on a well shaded but uneven trail, finish medal was a medium size and patiotic for the 9/11date, aid was good with many supporters every where.

The sun was just coming over the horizon as the race started at 6:45. It was a lovely course with mostly gentle ups & downs. A nice variety of open fields, city centre, Falls park and then into the shaded area of riverside parks. It was well marked. The volunteers were great although the last two water stations were really tight spots. It was hard for the runners to get through the area. Some improvement needs to happen to change the problem. Water cups could be larger as well. The officers did a great job of keeping the traffic out of our pathway. They even took the time to encourage me along the way! Not my fastest race but a great one anyway!

A well coordinated small event (358 runners for the full marathon). I liked the separate start times for full and half marathoners. Also the course was designed in a way that there were few half marathoners still on the shared portion of the course. Down sides of the course - (1) long open portions with no protection from wind or sun (2) loose gravel on section of street that could have been swept up. Aid stations were adequately spaced. The little plastic cups though were not easily squishable on the top so one could drink while still running. Recommend organizers use paper cups in future. Cheer stations were few but some were great. I really enjoyed the hawaii theme kids group and the patriotic group with a band and American flag waving. Runners need more of these dynamic kids along the course. Website could use a course profile. One was promised but never appeared. I wrote organizers for one and never heard back from them. At the end of the race, I was handed a bottle of water and a bottle of 'gatorade' from two separate volunteers. Some how the gatorade bottle fell but the volunteer made no effort to pick it up for me (bending not an easy task after running 26.2 miles). Sheraton was very convenient to stay. Walked to the start 15 minutes before gun time. Overall I recommend Sioux Falls for anyone needing to check South Dakota off their list.

I've run in 7 previous marathons of various sizes including Twin Cities, Little Rock, Oklahoma City, Charlotte, and El Paso. I'm generally not a huge fan of small races because I finish typically around the 4:45 mark and that leaves me running alone a lot of the time. But this race was a great experience despite the small size. Had I put in a little more mileage before the race, it would've even been a PR. Here's a breakdown of my opinions about the various aspects of the race: Registration/website - this was the first year of the full marathon, but the website is still "siouxfallshalfmarathon." This somewhat confused me at first but otherwise the website was easy to navigate. I couldn't get the course maps to print correctly though. Pre-race Communications - I received periodic emails in the weeks leading up to the race. They were generally helpful and I had no additional questions. Packet Pickup - there was no expo, just packet pickup at a Scheel's store. Took fewer than 5 minutes to get my packet. They will want to change the location in the future if the race expands. Printed course maps would have been nice too. Host Hotel (Sheraton) - very nice hotel, great price, right across the street from the start! The marathon starts early (6:45) so I was even able to sneak back into the hotel and shower even though I didn't get there early enough to get on the late check-out list. Course - it is billed as relatively flat and I think that was mostly accurate. I think I was actually expecting something more flat. There were no dramatic changes in elevation but there were slight uphills and downhills. I think that is a good thing though (good for the quads). Compared to the other South Dakota marathon options out west in the hills, this is about as flat as you'll get. The second half of the marathon course was more scenic than the first half. The first half included a boring stretch along a levee, and running past both the airport and a prison. The second half was unexpectedly lovely though - we ran through downtown and several parks including a beautiful area with waterfalls. Volunteers/water stops - the volunteers were phenomenal. Pretty sure they had every high school student in the city of Sioux Falls volunteering at this race! And they all clapped and cheered as we ran by every water stop and the major intersections. As another reviewer mentioned, there was a group of very enthusiastic guys at the 20-mile mark and that was a lot of fun. Even though the spectators were sparse, the volunteers more than made up for it. There were water stops approximately every 2 to 2.5 miles with both water and Gatorade at each. No gels that I noticed. Post-race amenities - the finish line actually had a good number of spectators. The food wasn't anything amazing. I think there were bagels, bananas, cookies, water and PowerAde. They had computers to look up your finish time. One of the best parts of the finish was the race is small enough that spectators can park literally right next to the finish line. The finish is not within walking distance of the start. They had shuttles but I didn't use them because I had people meet me at the finish. Swag - for the marathon, we received a gray short-sleeved shirt. Pretty plain, but on the bright side, it wasn't cotton. The finish medal was nice... but it doesn't have the date (year) on it! The weather was absolutely perfect but obviously the weather isn't something you can count on year-to-year. Overall, this was a great race and a good pick for South Dakota if you're looking for a relatively flat course. They could make a few improvements as I've noted above, but I think you'll be very satisfied if you choose to run this race. A big "thank you" to the volunteers for making this a very nice experience!

For the first running of the Sioux Falls Marathon, the committee did an outstanding job in setting up the course and coordinating support. Sioux Falls is a beautiful and vibrant city. This race is only going to get better with time. The course has a few rolling hills, but for the most part is flat, providing a fast track for anyone looking for an opportunity to set a PR.

I ran the half, and overall, this is a nice race, provided that you understand it is a relatively small event. The course is advertised as "relatively flat," and that is an accurate description because there are a few minor inclines that can surprise you if you are looking for a totally flat course. There were a couple of areas where we had to run on the wet grass, but thankfully, those areas were short in distance. I especially thought that running through the various parks (Falls Park and Spencer Park) added a nice touch and provided great scenery. The weather couldn't have been better, with temperatures starting out in the low 50's without a cloud in the sky. As for the spectators, this race had quite a few and they were all very enthusiastic, especially a group of teens who banged on barrels and cans as we passed by and provided a huge lift. All of the volunteers were very nice and the baggage claim was easy to get to at the start and finish. The post-race food could have been much better though. I stayed at the Sheraton, which was a block from the start line. They provided free airport shuttle but it is not near anything else, like restaurants, shopping, etc. It is, however, near a bus stop, and you can take the bus to the packet pickup and a shopping district for only $1. As long as you understand from the beginning that this is not a huge event (no expo, no pasta dinner, no large city with a lot to do), you will be pleased. If you need a race to fulfill your South Dakota requirement, this is a good one to pick.