Deadwood Mickelson Trail Marathon

Registration is open to all runners on a first-come basis. Pricing is tiered: $95 from July through January 2, $105 from January 2 through March 15, and $110 from March 15 through the May 28 close. The marathon is capped at 400 participants, so registering early saves money and secures your spot.

Yes, the course is USATF certified and qualifies for Boston entry. The net downhill profile makes it a legitimate time-chase race, though the high-altitude start means you'll need to pace the first few miles conservatively to take advantage of the descent.

The course starts near Rochford at around 6,200 feet and runs point-to-point to the finish near Deadwood. It loses close to 1,950 feet in total while gaining about 1,160, for a net drop of roughly 790 feet. The grade is gentle throughout, thanks to the converted rail-trail surface.

The time limit is 7 hours.

Runners stay in Deadwood and take a complimentary trolley to bus shuttles that transport you to the start in Rochford. Rapid City Regional Airport (RAP) is about 65 km away and is the closest major airport.

The entire course runs on the Mickelson Trail, a converted rail bed surfaced with crushed limestone. It's firm and runnable but not pavement, so trail or hybrid shoes are a reasonable choice over road-only flats.

Expect a cool start in the low-to-mid 50s and a finish closer to the low 70s. Some sections of the trail are exposed to sun and wind, so sunscreen and a throwaway layer for the start are both practical choices.