Monument Marathon - Race Reviews

From the mass variety of scenery you encounter on the course, top notch organization, to the genuine passion the volunteers have. This race is incredible.

I have run this race every single year since 2012. It is challenging, beautiful, and full of many inspiring people year after year. I had the chance to meet many great people who traveled to do the race in 2023 and I love hearing about their backgrounds, triumphs and sharing my own experience with the course. The volunteers are friendly, and knowledgable, cheering you on at every corner. This race has an amazing energy that keeps me coming back. If you think Nebraska is just flat, come and check out this beautiful hidden gem in the western end of the state. You won't be disappointed in the course, the organization, the people or the views. It's the whole package and then some.

I can't say enough good things about Race Director, Jennifer and her team of volunteers - they all did an amazing job in putting on a super marathon weekend. The pre-race communication was thorough and timely, there was great swag at the Expo, and the volunteers were among the friendliest I've met at a marathon. Everything was so well organized, and there were many fun surprises (ie.a college basketball team at the start enthusiastically greeting the runners exiting the shuttle bus, a Barbie-themed Aid Station at a remote location on the course, drummers 'beating' runners up a hill towards the end of the course) So many volunteers along the course, and plentiful Aid Stations. The first half the marathon is an easy down-hill, the second half was beautiful but challenging. The post-race party at Flyover Brewery was a great way to end the day. Jennifer could give lessons to other Race Directors on how to run an excellent marathon! PS My husband loved the 5K race too!

This is small-town Nebraska - the America I love -and the locals put a lot of care and effort into the event. Although the course is tough - I saw three of the leaders start walking and three pulled out - there is great scenery and plenty of aid along the way (although we had a foggy morning conceal the views). Plus, the prize packet is immense for such a small field. Having only about 100 runners in the full marathon meant no lines for real bathrooms! What a luxury. Thank you to the organizers. Everything went smoothly, and I could just focus on tearing into the hilly, sandy second half. Keep in mind, the first half is point-to-point downhill, so you will almost certainly run positive splits.

I ran the half marathon course. I was surprised how expansive the views were. Truly scenic in every mile. Volunteers were extremely cheerful. Organization from media, expo, course, and finish were top notch. Out of 101 half marathons I have run, they are among the top. Highly suggest for a moderately challenging but beautiful race day!

This was the 2nd time to run this event. They have a GREAT swag bag. The marathon staff and volunteers are SUPER friendly, it rubs off on the runners which makes for a fun run. The 5 miles of dirt towards the end is kind on your legs and feet, happy it wasn't muddy like the 1st time I ran it. Lots of 50 state runners. I would do this race again!

Course was beautiful, water stations were amazing. I will say not having a cheer station for 8 miles was tough but also a great challenge to push through.

I finished my 20th marathon last Saturday and it is a challenging but fun course. The race is set up very well and is very nicely organized. It was such a smooth transition from getting on a bus for a short ride to the hills to start and through to the finish. The volunteers were amazing and encouraging. I got to engage the crowd and they laughed with me and cheered us all on. We felt like we were very important, and all our needs were cared for. I took a Honey Stinger energy gel every 3 miles. They had lots of flavors to choose from which helped! Lots of water and Gatorade and I had no stomach issues. I got a nice shirt and finisher metal. We had lots of food at the end. Pizza and many other great snacks and drinks! I live here in town, and I have run the half or full the last 11 years. This race has a half marathon relay and 5K also. They do an amazing job and I have run Boston, Denver x3, Phoenix, Twin Cities x2, Deadwood x2, Omaha, Lincoln x2, Brookings, Pikes Peak, Estes Park, Leadville, and Wyoming Marathon. This is one of my favorites and have run this full 3 times. Weather was very good this year!

I jumped into this race at the last minute on a bib transfer (TY for making it easy) because my sister could not go. It was so well organized and I was so thrilled to be able to run a real (not virtual) race, and cross Nebraska off my 50-state quest of Half Marathons. I loved the volunteers and the whole town that supported this event. The scenery was gorgeous and even though the altitude was a challenge for this sea-level Floridian, I still loved the course - well mostly. The soft sand on the trail part was awful when the 30 mph wind kicked up. But the race team was awesome and I would recommend this race.

Sometimes courses can be brutal simply because of a lack of organization or unintentionality in the route. This course was set up to challenge the athlete, but the runner scarcely feels like they've been thrown out on their own and left to trudge through it by themselves. A unique aspect of this race is that many of the volunteers and organizers expressed gratefulness simply that I was there participating. I'm not going to lie, the course challenged my body in unimaginable ways, and I barely made it to the finish without needing to crawl, and I spent nearly an hour in the medical tent recovering from cramps and dead legs. In spite of this, I never felt alone on the course. There was a constant stream of fans, volunteers, and personnel going up and down the course, and it gave me the resolve I needed to finish.

As a senior runner, I knew that this marathon would require as much training as possible which the pandemic work from home schedule did allow. So I was fit, unraced of course and not naturally powerful athletically. This should have been adequate. The simple first twelve miles or so were sharply downhill early then flat. Near mile twelve, we made a left turn onto the Old Oregon Trail Road. This was the beginning of a 380 foot incline. Fine. We turned into a 30 mph headwind. I was not prepared for this at all. The runner in front of me walked. I shuffled and considered the situation. My race pace was stuffed here. So I shuffled and walked to mile 14.4, the crest of the hill. This felt like a prolonged mugging. From mile fourteen to the finish, I saw no one running on the course. Alone in Scottsbluff Park beyond mile seventeen, I shuffled or strode or walked on utterly alone except for the hydration stations. The wonder of this wilderness and the constantly winding, dirt road held my attention completely. We met another long uphill along with the same heavy headwind beyond the park. The sight and feeling of this made me laugh out loud. I had nothing to offer it athletically. The finish was like completing a personal tour rather than a marathon. I enjoyed the whole experience including being humiliated by the wind. The point of athletics is to learn what you are capable of and what strength you are willing to invest under duress. This is so for any age or personal disposition

Wow, That wind though? Course is point to point so you get bussed to the start line. The course is down hill the first 8 miles, we started heading into the wind at 10 and at 11 start up a hill. I think the course can be fast but the wind about killed me. Aid stations are about 3 miles apart, well stocked with great volunteers. Shirt and medal are great if that helps you decide on where to run... and it's in a part of Nebraska that is not all corn fields.

I enjoy smaller races and Monument Marathon was an excellent choice for Nebraska. I came to the start line injured and under trained. I knew I needed to take my time and ran nearly an hour slower than my usual marathon time. No need to worry; there was plenty of water, Gatorade, gels, and fruit available on the course. In addition, there were several people on bikes checking on the runners. When I finished, there was a lot of food available. I've run several races where the back of the pack doesn't get as much support. Not the case with the Monument Marathon!

If you need crowds of spectators cheering, this race is not for you. But if you are okay with small pockets of overly enthusiastic people and the best volunteers in the world, this is the race for you. I must admit my bias: I grew up in Nebraska. However, I have lived out of state for nearly 20 years but I keep going back to Nebraska for marathons. Why? The people. They are simply the nicest, most helpful, most friendly, etc. My every need was taken care of. Case in point: I tossed a shirt at a mile marker and didn't expect to get it back, but I thought it wouldn't hurt to look in the lost and found to see if it showed up. A volunteer took down my name and address and said they would mail it to me. How many races do that? The course has great variety. My favorite part is running through the Scotts Bluff National Monument--you get to run right on the Oregon Trail. Then you get to run through the 'back' side of the monument that is not open to the public. The NPS rangers were out cheering and running an aid station. The start line is often a cold place, but it starts at the Wild Cat Hills, so there is a warm building to duct inside immediately after getting off the bus to the start line. Skip the big city marathons and try some small town Nebraska charm!

Great race. Organization second to none. Packet pick up easy and good pasta feed. Good pre-race communications. All volunteers were very helpful and polite. Wildcat Hills Nature Center was great place to stay warm at the start. Don't let the downhill start fool you. There are plenty of hills to come. Scottsbluff Monument is worth seeing--spend some time before or after race to explore. Only complaint is the Hampton Inn; supposedly a race sponsor but would not allow a late check out even for a Hilton Diamond member. Stay somewhere else. Overall an excellent race and a nice break from the flat boring out and backs.

This was one of the most amazing races I've ever ran. It was scenic from beginning to end, it was very well organized, there were several volunteers at every turn on the course, each were very enthusiastic, aid stations were fully stocked with fruit, gels, water, and Gatorade by very helpful people who were extremely encouraging. Even though I was by myself the majority of the race, I never felt alone because there were so many volunteers and course marshalls on bicycles checking in on me. I was a back-of-the-pack runner for quite some time until I fell into last place in the final couple of miles. Due to a sprained ankle, plus lack of training because of the sprained ankle, I was in agony and moving much slower than usual, but I traveled two-thirds of the way across the country to do this marathon and I was determined to keep going for as long as I could. I can't believe how amazing the course marshalls and volunteers were! Even though I was last, and still going quite slow, they made me feel welcomed to be there and fine about taking my time. The finish line blew me away. I'm the absolute last person to cross and I received a reception of several cheering people holding finish tape beneath the inflated finish line arch. If that weren't good enough, there was still a full box of pizza, plenty of water, and many other people still at the finish line cheering when I crossed. This is the first time I ever came in last place, and it felt like I finished first place! I can't say how grateful I am for the caliber of volunteers and the incredible coordination of the race director at this marathon. It didn't matter if I was in the lead or in the back, I felt valued and appreciated for being there and I was cheered on every step of the way as if every person there knew me first hand. Not to mention, the stunning beauty of the course, which highlights the specular bluffs that are iconic to the Oregon Trail and settlement of the west. This marathon will forever stand out in my mind as one of the best I have ever ran.

I chose this race as my Nebraska marathon and I don't think I could have made a better choice. It's obvious that the organizers are focused on making this an excellent experience for the runners. The course is challenging - definitely not a PR course. With this being a small marathon, there were a few stretches where there were no spectators or volunteers. Having said that though, the spectators and volunteers that were on the course were great. I would definitely recommend this race.

This is a great race. Well organized, great volunteers/spectators, scenic but challenging course, great finish line.

I picked this race because it is relatively close to the highest point in Nebraska and I am both a 50 state marathoner and a high pointer. When I read the glowing reviews on this site I was sold. My wife, who ran the half, and I both had a wonderful experience with the race, the support, and our fellow runners. I would run this race every year if I lived west of the Mississippi.

I can't add much more to the previous comments, and can't think of anything to criticize. The organization and support was beyond what I had expected for a small marathon. Having run small marathons and ultras, I came prepared to deal with necessities that might be missing. Not so with this race. There is ample support, aid stations, medical, porta potties, crossing guards, directional support, and bike riders checking on runners all along the course. Race morning found the busses at the wrong pickup spot, and I was amazed at how fast the race director dealt with it by rounding up drivers to shuttle runners to the start, even offering free parking passes and getting the runner's vehicles back to the finish area. The course was beautiful and offered a nice mix of scenery and terrain. If you are looking to mark Nebraska off your list, this is the one to run!!

I am a 50-stater with this being my 47th state. I have to give this race rave reviews for its organization, its friendliness, the quality and diversity of the course, and the execution on race day. The location may be problematic for some, as Scottsbluff/Gering are a little out of the way. You can fly into Denver and drive; or, you can pay a little extra and fly right into Scottsbluff through Denver. Once you get here, the Scottsbluff National Monument is well worth seeing, so there is something for family to do other than cheer you on. The race is very diverse. Big downhill the first six miles. Then 3 x 2-mile section roads, with mile 12 starting the climb up into the Monument. Peaking out at about mile 14, you descend to mile 17 where you pick up a beautiful trail running along a canal on the north side of the monument - best part of the course. Then, a few neighborhoods, bike path, cemetery, and done. Nice finishing area with just the right stuff: pizza, chocolate milk, massages. Highly recommended for your Nebraska race. Stay at the Monument Inn and Suites. Very nice rooms and convenient.

This marathon is one of the top small marathons no question about it. When you run a small marathon you don't expect large crowds and at times with so few participants, you may be running on your own. Often times this means there will be less volunteers, less course markings and more chance for a bad race experience (getting lost, dehydrated or forgotten). Not the case with this race. The course was well marked with volunteers and traffic control at every important part of the course. Traffic cones to keep the runners safe and a beautiful course. Even prerace snacks and a shelter for warm up. Kudos to the race director. This was also an easy trip from Denver airport where I was able to get an inexpensive plane ticket and rental car and park right at the start/ finish line. If you love to run in a place you may never see otherwise, this marathon is well worth the trip especially for 50 staters looking to add Nebraska.

This was marathon #57 for me and I couldn't have been more impressed. As with most small races, don't plan to be energized by endless, high volume crowds. The RD, staff and volunteers delivered a well organized and supported race with a true personal touch. Pre-race marathon shuttles take runners from the finish area (lots of free parking) to the start. Runners could stay warm on the buses or in an enclosed structure. The course winds up and down with awesome views as you pass by historic Oregon Trail points, cornfields, and neighborhoods. The aid stations were well spaced, well stocked and manned by enthusiastic volunteers. There never seemed to be a line at the numerous porta potties. The nice short sleeve shirt, post-race food tent spread and massages made it a perfect experience. They don't need to change a thing.

I can't say enough good things about this race. I have nothing bad to say about it at all other than that it is not the easiest to get to if you're not from the area, but who cares? It's worth the drive (3 hours from Denver Airport). People are friendly, organization is impeccable, lots of affordable places to stay in the area, course  WOW, amazingly beautiful, great medal, awards  really nice, cash for overall 1st/2nd/3rd and really nice age group awards too (and small race, so even if you don't usually place, you have a good shot here). Maybe there weren't really enough spectators to get a 4-star rating but it's just hard for me to rate this one anything but tops on everything, I loved it so much. I am a 50-stater and am so glad I passed on Lincoln and Omaha to do this one instead.

I would like to give a shout out to this most incredible, first class marathon, but, I don't know where to start. Maybe at the beginning of our Nebraska stay and the extremely welcoming Hampton Inn Host hotel. I was completely surprised walking in my room to have such a thoughtful, runners gift basket. Thank you for the well stocked lobby full of bananas, gatorade, water, peanut butter, and nutty snacks (and of course the famous HI cookies!) You were all so kind and accommodating. Thank you to the expo for providing a really nice Pasta Feed and Horse Drawn Carriage ride, which was definitely the highlight of my kids trip and SO unexpected. Thank you to the sponsors for the swag bags and volunteers for putting them together! (hands down best swag from any marathon I have done!) My true shout out goes out to the AMAZING course volunteers and their cups of ice!! Thank you! Ice has never tasted so good. (and I am sorry about the cups that did not quite make it into the trash bins.) Thank you for standing out there in the heat and cheering us all on!! Thank you for having the results and a FINISHERS CERTIFICATE emailed out so quickly. And finally, Jennifer, Monument Marathon for being SO INCREDIBLY gracious, well organized, SO WELL communicative, welcoming, responsive, and calm in the midst of such an undertaking (even without sleep) You were there for me within minutes of my first email to crossing the finish line! I am amazed by you and your marathon yesterday! Thank you all!!

My first marathon, and I couldn't have asked for a better experience: great organization, fabulous volunteers, awesome aid stations and beautiful scenery! We, the runners, were treated like royalty - just well cared for throughout the whole race and after the race. This area of western Nebraska is a very warm, welcoming community, too!

I've run over 50 races from 5k to 135 miles, and this race is the best run race I have ran. The race director does an amazing job adding a personal touch to each runner's experience. There are lots of great local sponsors and volunteers, so you get a lot for your entry. The course is beautiful (just google Scottsbluff, NE), with some soft dirt/gravel road mixed in during the second half. Not particularly fast and flat, but not overly challenging either. There is a lot to see in the area as well, including the Monument and Chimney Rock. Scottsbluff also has tons of great Mexican restaurants. I don't think anyone regrets doing this race.

You might think that Nebraska is all corn fields and miles of boring plains, but Scottsbluff is definitely different. I was pleasantly surprised by the natural beauty of the area. This is a small marathon but the race organizers really roll out the red carpet for you. The expo / packet pickup was an easy in and easy out. The swag bag was absolutely packed with goodies and coupons for the area. The t-shirt was a nice design but I would've preferred a tech shirt. The cotton one is high-quality but tech is in these days. Transportation to the race site went off flawlessly. The course was well marked and supported throughout. Being that it was a hot day, the organizers did have a few extra support stops. The crews manning the stops knew what they were doing and were enthusiastic in their support. Most stops had sports drink, water, gels and sometimes fruit. The first few miles of the course are very scenic as you make your way into town. I was snapping a lot of pictures. Miles 4 - 11 were sort of ho-hum as you wander around the farm country. However, the payoff comes when you get to run around the Scottsbluff National Monument. It was challenging as the course is mostly uphill at this point. Also the course is run partially on trail as well There isn't a lot of shade on the course, so be prepared for the sun. I would hope that the organizers make at least the marathon start at 7 AM. I really wilted in the heat late morning heat and sun. The finisher's medal was definitely a work of art and high-quality. After the race they had cookies, chips, water, Gatorade, and pizza. Most people had already left by the time I finished the marathon, but there was still stuff to eat. I would run this race again. The race was organized extremely well and you can tell that the people who put on the race really care about it. There was fairly strong community support as well and I really felt welcomed there. If you are looking to run in Nebraska, this marathon is well worth the time and investment.

Incredible countryside, organization and a super runner friendly race. Best marathon in Nebraska and one of the best mid-American marathons. You can't go wrong running this one.

The race organizers and volunteers go way behind the norm in putting on a high quality event. I received the heaviest goody bag ever, filled with all kinds of promotional items and discounts. The pasta dinner was a lot of fun with great food and music. Every volunteer I encountered was friendly, helpful, enthusiastic about the race and the town, and thanked me for being there. The scenery is gorgeous, and running over and around Scotts Bluff gave me a renewed appreciation for what the travelers on the Oregon trail endured. The post-race food, volunteers, and awards were outstanding. I love small races in general, and this one is my favorite.

This was my third-ever marathon and it's my favorite so far. The course is absolutely spectacular- you are bused south of town up to another bluff, and then you run 13 miles into town (with Scottsbluff visible ahead of you most of the time). At the halfway point you pass the area where finish line is, and the remainder of the race is a closed loop that passes between the two bluffs in Scottsbluff monument. Most of the race is on paved roads but parts of the last quarter are on soft, dusty gravel roads. It's a little hilly but not too bad. The weather this year was pretty good - a bit chilly, windy and overcast for the first couple of hours, but warming up later in the morning. My favorite aspect of the race is the way it feels like the entire town is supporting you in some way. There are a lot of enthusiastic volunteers and plenty of spectators cheering you on. It feels like this is a big event for the town and everyone is thrilled for you to be there. One other thing I appreciated was that the race organizers worked out a deal with the YMCA so you could go shower immediately afterwards. The race is only about 3 hours' drive from Denver, so I definitely recommend it if you're anywhere nearby!

This is an extremely well-organized race with some of the best volunteers and community support I have experienced (16 marathons). The marathon begins on the bluffs outside of town following the highways down into the cornfield outside of town, eventually working it's way between some impressive formations in the Scotts Bluff National Monument. I would give the race a 4.5 for scenery. The volunteers from packet pickup to the many well-stocked aid/fueling stations were amazing. This is a small town with a small race so if you don't want to have some peace and quiet from 16-23 then choose another. But this is exactly the sort of race I'm looking for so it gets my highest recommendations. Nice technical SS shirt and medal, both say 'marathon' which is always appreciated. Decent food at the finish and was well-provisioned. suggestions: consider starting the full marathon an hour earlier. The lovely Nebraska sunshine isn't so appreciated by 11am.

This is a great race. The scenery is beautiful. The run is extremely well organized. The entire race crew is welcoming and enthusiastic. The entire community is very welcoming and supportive and you get the sense that they really do want you to finish the race and have fun at the same time. I would highly recommend this marathon.

This was my very first marathon that I have ran. I was a bit nervous the previous week because 13.1 miles seems like an extreme distance when you are a first timer. When I first arrived to the time I left, I was nothing but pleased with my fellow runners and the entire organization! Everyone was supportive from beginning to end! I don't think it would have been near as much fun as it was with out the inspiration from the spectators on the sidelines throughout the race! I encourage anyone who is thinking of participating in the Monument Marathon to sign up. I'm definitely going to do it next year just to experience the fantastic views and healthy environment again!

If you like a small-town marathon, do this one! The setting in Scotts Bluff National Monument is phenomenal. Even better is the organization. The 2014 race was in HOT conditions and the race staff got additional water stations out between each of its already-planned every 3-mile fully stocked aid stations. They also had cyclists and cart drivers going back and forth on the course continually checking in with each and every runner. Amazing! And the volunteers! To a person, enthusiastic, supportive, and performing their tasks with aplomb. GREAT EVENT!!!!

This was my 31st marathon and one of the best marathon experiences that I have ever had. Everyone was so friendly and helpful from the packet pick-up to the awards cermony and evey step in between. The high point of the organization is that the race committee knew ahead of time that it was going to be a hot day and they added extra water stations along the course. It says a lot about this community that they could get extra volunteers at the last minute to man extra water stations! They also had people riding bikes along the course to make sure all of the runners were okay. The enthusiasm of the volunteers and other crowd at the aid stations was fantastic! The course is very nice. It starts out by the Wildcat Hills State Recreation Area, which is a scenic start. The first two miles are serious downhill, then some more gradual downhill for the next 4 miles. I'm not sure much can be done about the effect of those first two miles on the legs in the second half of the race. It makes for a fast start, that's for certain! The run through the National Monument in the second half is absolutely beautiful! They have beer and pizza at the finish which is always good. The age group awards are paintings and photographs by local artists, some of the nicest awards that I have seen! I highly recommend this race to anyone who does not need the 40,000 runner big city marathons. And if you've never run a smaller race this is the perfect one try.

This was number 46 in my 50-state quest, and one of my favorites. Awesome scenery, a revelation for somebody who has never been to Nebraska. The organization was superb, including late addition of extra water stops due to warm temperature. The volunteers could not have been more welcoming & supportive. This one will grow with word of mouth.