Sandhills Marathon

I have run 10 marathons but this was my first in a decade. The Sandhills Marathon is the antithesis of a big-city marathon and you'll love it as long as you don't go into it with big-city expectations. It's not a Boston qualifier. Cows are the only spectators. There is no race expo. The finisher's medal is a spur. The scenery and the people you meet are second to none. I wrote about my experience at https://www.preprunningnerd.com/post/sandhillsmarathon.

This race was unique in that it runs through the beautiful open range lands in the verdant Sandhills of northern Nebraska. This is an out and back course. Your spectators are yearling calves, red winged blackbirds, deer, turtles, turkeys, and the occasional lizard. You are running on a one lane blacktop road that has very little traffic and is in great condition. You will cross a few cattle guards. This is a perfect race for those who want a totally unique run that has been put together by dedicated organizers. The finishing medal, an engraved spur, is the best medal I have received. And after this race planning a float trip down the Niobrara will cap your visit to the area. Great race for those who like adventure!

I was so lucky to have the opportunity to run this race in 2021!! This was my first time in Nebraska and I have to say that the sandhills are absolutely STUNNING! The course takes you down a rancher's road in the middle of the sandhills, where you have the unique opportunity to see a beautiful Nebraskan sunrise, plenty of Red-winged blackbirds all around, cattle calling out (never heard cattle call like that before lol!), and beautiful green scenery for miles!! Like others said, this is a challenging course with the heat (especially after 9:30am) and this race was difficult for me because I didn't prepare with my jet lag. However, there are SO many gems with this race and all the organizers and runners were super friendly and welcoming! This is a small race with a great community behind it. You can tell that a lot of folks come back again every year and that everyone is out there supporting one another on the course (every runner was super encouraging to me as they were heading back). Also, the finisher prize is by far the coolest one I have gotten so far! Overall, I highly recommend this race to anyone looking for an amazing marathon experience! It will make you fall in love with the natural beauty of Nebraska! <3 P.S. ~ I recommend staying at the Niobrara Lodge (this is where the check-in is), as well as visiting Smith Falls (absolutely gorgeous)!