The Bismarck Marathon

If you are a 50 stater and you need ND, then this is the one to do. Decent flatter course although sections get a little cramped (on concrete sidewalks), the rest is better laid out. Nice start and finish at the capitol, which you must visit while there, and particularly do not miss the adjacent state museum. It is top notch. Good packet pick up, course marking, timing water stations, etc., no issues. LOVE my AG award, a blanket with the capitol building on it!!! The hoodie, instead of a shirt - FABULOUS too!!

My experience was similar to what was described for 2018 in other comments, although I don't recall any unpaved sections. Most of this course is on local, paved trails with connections made on quiet streets or on sidewalks. Traffic was not an issue except for in one local neighborhood where I witnessed a Corvette driver cut off the runner in front of me. The race director can't direct the weather, and it was wet. Pouring rain in the first half. The course itself is level but I think most suffered a slowdown due to sloshy shoes. Temps were mild (low 60's?) and winds were minimal so no chilling. Prizes in the top 3 for each age group were commemorative blankets. Unique and useful prizes are always nice! Bonus points for two separate announcers who pronounced my name correctly and with no pause beforehand. Crowds were sparse, partly a function of the course being on trails, but special thanks for those folks out in the pouring rain who cheered us on.