
Saturday August 22nd & Sunday August 23rd, 2026
Lead - Spearfish, SD

Race Starts in:
Leading Ladies Marathon
Lead - Spearfish, SD
What started out as a Women’s Marathon is now open to all but let’s face it; the women, in my opinion, are still in charge!
Picture this: a perfect place, a perfect pace, a perfect race…Knowing a downhill marathon is about speed, and that it’s going to be a fast run, I still encourage you to take the time to look around and savor the unique beauty only a Black Hills of South Dakota Marathon can provide.
This course has proven a spiritual journey for me and I hope when you cross that finish line you feel the same way!

Lead Country Club - START
Spearfish, SD - FINISH
Come run the distance of your choice:
|
|
Jan 1-Apr 29 |
Apr 30-Jul 29 |
Jul 30-Aug 19 |
|
Mini Canyon (5K+10K) |
$70.00 |
$80.00 |
$95.00 |
|
Mighty Canyon (5K+1/2 marathon) |
$100.00 |
$115.00 |
$125.00 |
|
Mega Canyon (Ladies) (5K+marathon) |
$150.00 |
$165.00 |
$185.00 |
|
Mega Canyon (Men) (5K+marathon) |
$150.00 |
$165.00 |
$185.00 |
|
Leading Ladies Marathon (Ladies) |
$125.00 |
$140.00 |
$160.00 |
|
Dakota Spirit Marathon (Men) |
$125.00 |
$140.00 |
$160.00 |
|
Dakota Spirit Half Marathon (All Welcome) |
$75.00 |
$90.00 |
$100.00 |
|
Dakota Spirit 10K (All Welcome) |
$45.00 |
$55.00 |
$70.00 |
|
Dakota Spirit 5K (All Welcome) |
$35.00 |
$35.00 |
$35.00 |
|
Relay Team of 5 (All Welcome) |
$250.00 |
$250.00 |
$250.00 |
Leading Ladies Women’s Marathon Race
- Start Line: Lead Country Club
- Race Start Time: 6:00 AM MST
- Bus to Start Available: Yes - No return service
- Drop off at start Available: Yes Drop Bag: Yes, until 5:45 AM
Dakota Spirit Men’s Marathon Race
- Start Line: Lead Country Club Race
- Start Time: 6:00 AM MST
- Bus to Start Available: Yes - No return service
- Drop off at start Available: Yes Drop Bag: Yes, until 5:45 AM
Dakota Spirit Half Marathon
- Race Start Line: Approx 1/4 mile N of Savoy
- Race Start Time: 6:30 AM MST
- Bus to Start Available: Yes -No return service
- Drop off at start Available: Yes, at Savoy
- Drop Bag: Yes, until 6:15 AM
Dakota Spirit 10K
- Race Start Line: Bridal Veil Falls
- Race Start Time: 6:30 AM MDT
- Bus to Start Available: Yes - No return service
- Drop off at start Available: Yes, but no parking
- Drop Bag: Yes, until 6:15 AM
Dakota Spirit 5K- Saturday August 16th
- Race Start Line: Community Caves Trail pull out
- Race Start Time: 10:00 AM MDT
- Bus to Start Available: Yes
- Drop off at Start Available: Yes, but no parking
- Drop Bag: Yes, until 9:45 AM
- Packet pickup 8:00 am, City Park Pavilion
Marathon Course Description
Okay, on your marks! You will begin your fast South Dakota marathon from the Lead Country Club
and head out on a new out and back within Lead Country Club. Then you turn into Bogie Circle. This sub-divsion has a couple of runnable hills. Once you exit the sub-division you will be back onto gravel on Hanna Road which you will encounter the last big hill. But once at its peak you will encounter a glorious long down-hill that’s tempting to pick up the pace; be aware!
Coast past the Hanna campground at mile 5 and around mile 6 you will change from gravel to asphalt.
At the intersection of Hanna Road and HYW 85 you will cross the road to Cheyenne Crossing, site
of the 1870’s Cheyenne to Deadwood Stagecoach route. Left onto HYW 14A begins a 6.5 mile
treelined roadway to the 12 mile mark at Savoy.
Turn left at Savoy and is this is where we took out 90% of the orginal course. This very short out and back will definetly inprove your back half race.
Exit Roughlock Road past the Spearfish Canyon Lodge and back onto the asphalt of HWY 14A.
Keep an eye out for mountain goats making their way along the cliffs to your left. You are now at the
half marathon start and halfway through your fast South Dakota Marathon! It’s all downhill from
here so enjoy cruisin’ the Scenic Byway alongside Spearfish Creek. Check out the historic 1912
Hydro-plant, Bridal Veil Falls, and enjoy the shade courtesy of the towering shale and limestone canyon walls.
As the canyon opens up you are twenty-five miles in and it’s time to break from the canyon. Head
left for a short jaunt on Winterville road, and then immediately onto the city bike path. Over the bridge, then begin your final sprint to cross that finish line strong!
CONGRATULATIONS! You’ve completed your South Dakota marathon!
We are proud of your accomplishment and grateful for you! Thank you for allowing us to be part of
your journey!
Now strut through the park, show off your medal and most importantly….CELEBRATE!
Thursday/Friday, August 20th & 21st - Packet Pick-Up
- Packet Pick-up: Thursday/Friday, August 20th & 21st
- Black Hills Running Company
- 9:30 am - 5:30 pm
- 1130 W. Omaha St. Rapid City, SD 57701
Saturday, August 22nd
- Dakota Spirit 5K 10:00 AM
- Packet pick up Tretheway Pavilion 8:00-9:00 am
Busing (5k):
- City Park (Finish Line) 9:15 AM
- Packet Pick up - Tretheway Pavilion (115 S. Canyon Str) in Spearfish City Park 9 am - 5 pm
Sunday, August 23rd
Busing
Marathon/Relay
- Holiday Inn - 4:00 AM
- City Park (Finish Line) - 4:00 AM
Half Marathon
- Holiday Inn - 5:00 AM
- City Park (Finish Line) - 5:00 AM
10 K
- City Park (Finish Line) Only - 5:30 AM
- Drop bags will be available at each start line and will meet you at the finish line.
We will strictly enforce our 6 hour time limit after the Men's start, you must maintain a 13:45 minute pace. If you are not at that pace by mile 18, you will not be allowed to continue. you must follow all of the directions of the course marshals. Otherwise you will be disqualified immediately. If you do not make the 6 hour cut off, you will be listed as DNF. If you disregard the directions of course marshals, you will not be allowed to register for this race again.
New Marathon Course!
Start will continue to at Lead Country Club.
Enhancements:
- .26 mile out and back within Lead Country Club
- New loop within Bogie Circle at approx .60 miles. Within Bogie Circle there is a little evelvation gain, but you have fresh legs to attack them. Once you complete the loop it is the same route as previous years.
- At Savoy (mile 12.54) - we took out the long grind up to Roughlock Falls. Now there is a very very short out and back on Roughlock Falls Road.

General Race - FAQ
Yes this course and race is USATF certified (SD16301BK), it is also a Boston Qualifier, for both Leading Ladies and Dakota Spirit Marathon.
The average temperature in late August at the start is 49, the average high temperature in Spearfish is 82
Yes but keep the volume low so you can hear directions from race officials and you will also be running on a highway.
No, since we are on a highway its a bit too dangerous for animals
No, there are portions of the highway where the shoulder is too narrow to accommodate runners and strollers.
If you are not able to participate in the race we will allow you to defer to the next year's race
No Refunds after May 15th (minus registation processing fees)
Yes, if your training has not gone as planned you may drop to a lower distance race.
Packet Pickup will be at the Pavillion in Spearfish City Park, Saturday August 16th, 12pm to 5pm
Yes, the bibs will have timing chips and there will be timing mats at the start of each race, the half way point of the full marathon and the finish line.
Yes, you may.
No, but you can register up until the day before, at the packet pickup location
Due to limited shirts available you may be to able to after the race at the finish line if desired size is available.
Course Info - FAQ
There will be no return bus service to the starting lines after the race
Full - 2270, half - 1290', 10K - 540'
Mile 1 (50 feet) & Mile 2 (100 feet)
Approximately every 2 miles
Located at 10 of the aid stations along the course
Spearfish Holiday Inn
Full Marathon - 4:00 AM
Half Marathon - 5:00 AM
City Park (Finish Line area)
Full Marathon - 4:00 AM
Half Marathon - 5:00 AM
10 K - 5:30 AM
For the full marathon start, yes. For the half marathon, yes but must be dropped off at Savoy. For the 10k we can only allow drop off's only as there is no parking. Please note that there is no return bus service to the starting lines.
We will have water and Gatorade at each aid station, gels will be provided at miles 18 & 20
The course will close 6 hrs after the start of Dakota Spirit Full Marathon at 6:10 am. As a remider Leading Ladies Marathon and relay teams starts at 6 AM.
For the full marathon you can but only until the Cheyenne Crossing just after mile 6. After this you will be on the highway and will need to run against traffic and to the left of the white line. Crossing the line can result in disqualification.
Yes we will have bag drop vehicles at all 3 starting lines and bags must be dropped off 15 minutes before the race start.
Yes, there will be medical personal along the course and at the finish line to help
Leading Ladies Marathon, Dakota Spirit Marathon, & all Relay teams start at 6:00am. Dakota Spirit Half Marathon and the Dakota Spirit 10K will start at 6:30am
#1 - Lead Country Club to Cheyenne Crossing - 7 miles
#2 - Cheyenne Crossing to Half Marathon Start - 6.2 miles
#3 - Half Marathon Start to The Dice aid station - 3.4 miles
#4 - The Dice to Aid station at 21.9 - 5.2 miles
#5 - Finish line leg - 4.4 miles
All Relay exchange points will be clearly marked with signs.
Make your way to the closest aid station and they will arrange to get you to the finish.
Travel & Lodging - FAQ
Rapid City (RAP) is the closest airport.
Our Host hotel this year is Spearfish Holiday Inn & Convention Center. Call 605-642-4683 for discounted hotel rate, need to mention you are running Leading Ladies/Dakota Spirit Marathon/Half/10K/Relay.
Address:
305 North 27th St.
Spearfish, SD 57783
There will be bus pick up at the hotel on race morning. And shuttle back after the race from the finish line.
There are many hotels in the Spearfish and Deadwood area as well as Vacation Home Rentals.
Please visit the below link for hotel options in Rapid City (50 minutes or 45 miles from Spearfish) to stay before or after the race. They have been a proud sponsor of the event for several years.
Finish Line - FAQ
Yes, we will have overall Men's and Women's winners for each distance, as well as age group winners for each distance.
Yes, we will have water, Powerade and other food at the finish line area.


















