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Marathon Details - Leading Ladies Marathon

North America Marathons > USA > SD > Spearfish > Leading Ladies Marathon

Leading Ladies Marathon

Leading Ladies Marathon & Half Marathon, Relay, 10K, 5K

Spearfish, SD USA

August 17, 2025

http://www.leadingladiesmarathon.com

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Race Details

A gentle down-hill course through the scenic Black Hills. 2 marathons, same day same route. Leading Ladies Marathon (Women) Dakota Spirit Marathon (Men)

Contact Information

Name:	Michael Albin
Address:	2020 Pendar Ln. Rapid City, SD 57701
Phone Number:	605-381-9426
Email:	Email the organizers

Runner Reviews (61)

Course 4.6

Organization 4.4

Spectators 3.2

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Number of comments: 61 [displaying comments 1 to 11]

More Comments: [ < 1 2 3 4 5 6 > ]

R. C. from Washington State (9/7/2024) "Women's marathon that DOESN'T focus on women" (about: 2024) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Leading Ladies Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 2 I found it very surprising and upsetting that a marathon that is FOR women didn't have women's shirts. HUGE disappointment and I wouldn't recommend this race for this reason. Other information: The morning shuttle service was disorganized. I chose to be picked up at the hotel, there was a single bus. For some reason, they drove us over to the finish line where we were joined by the other two buses. All 3 buses then drove BACK to the hotel for some unknown reason. We got lost on the way to the start (according to the signage, we overshot the race start by 12 miles). Our 30 minute bus ride took 90 minutes.
D. S. from Colorado, USA (8/20/2018) "No runner forced to quit or pulled for time." (about: 2018) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Leading Ladies Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 This a women focused race, but men can enter. This is a very small full marathon field. Eighty eight were registered 86 finished. I have been hesitant to run this race for a while because there is no course profile listed on the website. But, Elaine's description is accurate. The full is mostly a gentle downhill race with a couple of big hills at the beginning and the 11-12 miles, plus these hills are on dirt gravel roads. There are basically no spectators, except at the aid stations. But,that might be because it was raining heavily during the race. Even though me and another lady were over the course limit, they still had the finish line up, we got our medals and received official times. Most of the full and all of the half are run on the shoulder of the highway running against traffic. It is a very scenic course. The expo is very small. I would recommend this course, if you're trying to BQ AND if you are a slower runner who fears being pulled for too slow. For us, I never felt rushed to finish. A medical cart checked on us periodically, but they never forced us to get in. I gave the course 4/5 stars because the hills were both on dirt gravel roads, they're not technical. The first was at the beginning and second dirt hill was at 11-12 miles of the full that was an out and back section, at least it wasn't toward the end of the race! I will be back another time to run the half, because that is my favorite distance.
J. E. from Pennsylvania (8/20/2017) "Gorgeous, don't let downhill fool you" (about: 2017) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Leading Ladies Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 Pros: close proximity to black hills tourist attractions. We spent 4 days seeing the sights. The course is gorgeous & downhill elevation loss of over 2500 feet but don't be fooled that it's easy. It kills your legs so go out slow. Aid is every 2 miles [No gels, had bananas & pretzels], great rate at host hotel but no breakfast, expo simple, organized shuttle to start, really nice medal (beautiful ribbon with flowers) Cons: awesome cool temps at start but by mile 16 it heats up , but there is shade, the initial mile & mile 11 to 11.75 is all uphill. Really only 2 hills but tough if you live at sea level and the 1st hill is at 6000 feet. Really anticlimactic finish...very little food & no drinks other than what was on course which was really watered down (No biggie because I carried my own fluids) I just thought with all women that maybe wine would be served. Shuttle leaves hotel at 400am for 600am start. Luckily the bus driver let us sit on the bus for the hour we waited. The roads are open but I didn't find that a problem. There were very few spectstors...again, not a problem. Many didn't like the shirt. I actually did (sunflower on grey dri fit short sleeves shirt). You would assume a downhill course equates to wicked fast times. I was very pleased with my time but it reeked havoc on my legs while I ran. I would not recommend this race if you are prone to OR nursing an injury. The downhill and camber of the road were tough I felt it was organized and I personally enjoyed it. My family was here and it was an opportunity for a terrific vacation. I'm in pursuit of 50 states so came for south Dakota and wasn't disappointed.
S. S. from Kirkwood, MO (9/22/2016) "Beautiful course and an all- around great marathon" (about: 2016) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Leading Ladies Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 I signed up for this race in order to check South Dakota off of my list, and I am so, so glad to have chosen it! Its small roughly 120 marathonersbut this was exactly how it was advertised, so it wasnt a surprise to run a predominately solitary 26.2 miles. What sets this marathon apart is the incredible beauty of the course. The scenery is breathtaking throughout: towering evergreen trees, enormous rock facades, and babbling streams make up the vast majority of the run. The other noteworthy element of this race was the elevation. It begins at 6,000 feet and drops approximately 2,600 feet from start to finish. The lack of oxygen was definitely noticeable and would have been a huge hindrance if it wasnt for the fact that we ran almost entirely downhill. There was a small (but difficult because of the altitude) half mile long incline at the start of the race and another hill at mile 11 where we turned into Roughneck Falls; no other uphills to speak of, though. Aid stations were every 2-3 miles apart and were well stocked but did not have any gels or GU. A 6:00 AM start time and a large elevation drop also means that there is a fairly large shift in the weather from beginning to end. It was (pleasantly) chilly at the start line and warmed up considerably during the last few miles. My only real criticism of this race was the bus ride to the start line: we boarded the busses from our hotel at 4:00 AM only to sit at the starting area for over an hour. I really, really would have appreciated the extra hour of sleep. Other than that, it was a very well- run race. Finally, if you have the time to make a long weekendor even a weekout of this, do it. There are so many amazing things to see and do in this part of the country.
C. C. from Charlotte, NC (8/24/2016) "Awesome all around!" (about: 2016) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Leading Ladies Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 First off, how often do you get to mingle with the race director? Elaine was present the whole weekend and made herself available to anyone who wanted to say hello or had questions. (Pick up her books, by the way - good reads.) Secondly, this course is absolutely gorgeous. From the canyon walls to the trickling stream that can be heard for miles, the course is breathtaking. Although the spectators were limited to a few family members, I still gave Spectators a 4 star rating because the volunteers on the course were very friendly and supportive. I have run another 'downhill' race and this one was much less aggressive and is accurately advertised as 'gentle downhill'. I'm sure it's all a matter of perspective though. Your quads will take a bit of a pounding, but it will be well worth it.
K. B. from Colorado Springs, CO (9/30/2015) "All downhill!" (about: 2015) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Leading Ladies Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I echo the comments of others: this is very well-organized, and it is one of the most gorgeous, scenic races I have done. And I did Big Sur, Maui Oceanfront, and St George ... so I have seen some pretty places! The course is indeed almost all downhill, and the incline is not horribly steep. That said, the downhill does invite you to run a little too fast ... and you may pay for it later like I did. Still, it's really fun to have an effortless run, though if you are from sea level, keep in mind that you are running at altitude, so you may have to consider that. The race director is a peach, cheering for all the runners and disseminating good common sense to anyone who wants it. This is a great event for ladies, and I am really glad I could join the fun. This makes for a great destination race with easy driving to Mount Rushmore and Badlands NP, etc. Highly recommend this race to ladies looking for a good time in running shoes.
C. B. from Ge (8/27/2015) "Gorgeous course!" (about: 2015) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Leading Ladies Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 This was a lovely, scenic downhill marathon. Logistics were easy, support was great - every stop not only had water and gatorade but also oranges, bananas, M&Ms and pretzels. I am working on 50 states and would highly recommend this marathon to any female runner who needs South Dakota.
L. G. from AZ (8/19/2015) "beautiful downhill run through Spearfish Canyon" (about: 2015) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Leading Ladies Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 People always ask me which is my favorite marathon, and this one definitely tops the list for scenery. The first few miles on the dirt road just after sunrise were gorgeous. Running through Spearfish Canyon with towering cliffs and the creek alongside is breathtaking, and made the lack of spectators a non-issue. The only downside is the heavily cambered road; my hips are still complaining 3 days later. The bus driver was awesome and let us sit and stretch on the bus until the start, the waterstop volunteers fantastic, and the finish line folks helpful. Great organization for a small race.
J. B. from Catonsville, MD (9/3/2014) "Well Organized and Enjoyable Event" (about: 2014) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Leading Ladies Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I was impressed with how well this race was organizedespecially for such a small race. My one complaint was the road surface. At certain places along the course, the edge of the road was at such an incline that you had to run nearly in the middle of the road to find a flat surface. Since the traffic was so light, this wasn't a problem overall. I also would have liked a few more aid stations after mile 20, but other than that, there were well-stocked aid stations, plenty of port-a-pottys and nicest volunteers ever. Plus my fellow runners were so congenial. That isn't always the case. Lastly my friends and family came along to support me. There were plenty of spots for them to park along the course and cheer for me and my fellow runners.
M. C. from United States (11/3/2013) "Fabulous scenery, poor organization." (about: 2013) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Leading Ladies Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 1 The course is a beautiful downhill one. There was no water at the start and it was very unorganized. Except for the first waterstop, the volunteers did not hand cups to runners and could not understand that a runner might want more than 1/4 cup water on a warm day. This is not a closed course but I expected a safe one. At 25+ miles the course crosses a road with no volunteer to help with traffic. I was forced to wait while a car and truck went by before I felt safe crossing. Post race refreshments consisted of margaritas and cookies with cream on them.

More Comments: [ < 1 2 3 4 5 6 > ]



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R. C. from Washington State (9/7/2024) "Women's marathon that DOESN'T focus on women" (about: 2024) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Leading Ladies Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 2 I found it very surprising and upsetting that a marathon that is FOR women didn't have women's shirts. HUGE disappointment and I wouldn't recommend this race for this reason. Other information: The morning shuttle service was disorganized. I chose to be picked up at the hotel, there was a single bus. For some reason, they drove us over to the finish line where we were joined by the other two buses. All 3 buses then drove BACK to the hotel for some unknown reason. We got lost on the way to the start (according to the signage, we overshot the race start by 12 miles). Our 30 minute bus ride took 90 minutes.
D. S. from Colorado, USA (8/20/2018) "No runner forced to quit or pulled for time." (about: 2018) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Leading Ladies Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 This a women focused race, but men can enter. This is a very small full marathon field. Eighty eight were registered 86 finished. I have been hesitant to run this race for a while because there is no course profile listed on the website. But, Elaine's description is accurate. The full is mostly a gentle downhill race with a couple of big hills at the beginning and the 11-12 miles, plus these hills are on dirt gravel roads. There are basically no spectators, except at the aid stations. But,that might be because it was raining heavily during the race. Even though me and another lady were over the course limit, they still had the finish line up, we got our medals and received official times. Most of the full and all of the half are run on the shoulder of the highway running against traffic. It is a very scenic course. The expo is very small. I would recommend this course, if you're trying to BQ AND if you are a slower runner who fears being pulled for too slow. For us, I never felt rushed to finish. A medical cart checked on us periodically, but they never forced us to get in. I gave the course 4/5 stars because the hills were both on dirt gravel roads, they're not technical. The first was at the beginning and second dirt hill was at 11-12 miles of the full that was an out and back section, at least it wasn't toward the end of the race! I will be back another time to run the half, because that is my favorite distance.
J. E. from Pennsylvania (8/20/2017) "Gorgeous, don't let downhill fool you" (about: 2017) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Leading Ladies Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 Pros: close proximity to black hills tourist attractions. We spent 4 days seeing the sights. The course is gorgeous & downhill elevation loss of over 2500 feet but don't be fooled that it's easy. It kills your legs so go out slow. Aid is every 2 miles [No gels, had bananas & pretzels], great rate at host hotel but no breakfast, expo simple, organized shuttle to start, really nice medal (beautiful ribbon with flowers) Cons: awesome cool temps at start but by mile 16 it heats up , but there is shade, the initial mile & mile 11 to 11.75 is all uphill. Really only 2 hills but tough if you live at sea level and the 1st hill is at 6000 feet. Really anticlimactic finish...very little food & no drinks other than what was on course which was really watered down (No biggie because I carried my own fluids) I just thought with all women that maybe wine would be served. Shuttle leaves hotel at 400am for 600am start. Luckily the bus driver let us sit on the bus for the hour we waited. The roads are open but I didn't find that a problem. There were very few spectstors...again, not a problem. Many didn't like the shirt. I actually did (sunflower on grey dri fit short sleeves shirt). You would assume a downhill course equates to wicked fast times. I was very pleased with my time but it reeked havoc on my legs while I ran. I would not recommend this race if you are prone to OR nursing an injury. The downhill and camber of the road were tough I felt it was organized and I personally enjoyed it. My family was here and it was an opportunity for a terrific vacation. I'm in pursuit of 50 states so came for south Dakota and wasn't disappointed.
S. S. from Kirkwood, MO (9/22/2016) "Beautiful course and an all- around great marathon" (about: 2016) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Leading Ladies Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 I signed up for this race in order to check South Dakota off of my list, and I am so, so glad to have chosen it! Its small roughly 120 marathonersbut this was exactly how it was advertised, so it wasnt a surprise to run a predominately solitary 26.2 miles. What sets this marathon apart is the incredible beauty of the course. The scenery is breathtaking throughout: towering evergreen trees, enormous rock facades, and babbling streams make up the vast majority of the run. The other noteworthy element of this race was the elevation. It begins at 6,000 feet and drops approximately 2,600 feet from start to finish. The lack of oxygen was definitely noticeable and would have been a huge hindrance if it wasnt for the fact that we ran almost entirely downhill. There was a small (but difficult because of the altitude) half mile long incline at the start of the race and another hill at mile 11 where we turned into Roughneck Falls; no other uphills to speak of, though. Aid stations were every 2-3 miles apart and were well stocked but did not have any gels or GU. A 6:00 AM start time and a large elevation drop also means that there is a fairly large shift in the weather from beginning to end. It was (pleasantly) chilly at the start line and warmed up considerably during the last few miles. My only real criticism of this race was the bus ride to the start line: we boarded the busses from our hotel at 4:00 AM only to sit at the starting area for over an hour. I really, really would have appreciated the extra hour of sleep. Other than that, it was a very well- run race. Finally, if you have the time to make a long weekendor even a weekout of this, do it. There are so many amazing things to see and do in this part of the country.
C. C. from Charlotte, NC (8/24/2016) "Awesome all around!" (about: 2016) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Leading Ladies Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 First off, how often do you get to mingle with the race director? Elaine was present the whole weekend and made herself available to anyone who wanted to say hello or had questions. (Pick up her books, by the way - good reads.) Secondly, this course is absolutely gorgeous. From the canyon walls to the trickling stream that can be heard for miles, the course is breathtaking. Although the spectators were limited to a few family members, I still gave Spectators a 4 star rating because the volunteers on the course were very friendly and supportive. I have run another 'downhill' race and this one was much less aggressive and is accurately advertised as 'gentle downhill'. I'm sure it's all a matter of perspective though. Your quads will take a bit of a pounding, but it will be well worth it.
K. B. from Colorado Springs, CO (9/30/2015) "All downhill!" (about: 2015) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Leading Ladies Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I echo the comments of others: this is very well-organized, and it is one of the most gorgeous, scenic races I have done. And I did Big Sur, Maui Oceanfront, and St George ... so I have seen some pretty places! The course is indeed almost all downhill, and the incline is not horribly steep. That said, the downhill does invite you to run a little too fast ... and you may pay for it later like I did. Still, it's really fun to have an effortless run, though if you are from sea level, keep in mind that you are running at altitude, so you may have to consider that. The race director is a peach, cheering for all the runners and disseminating good common sense to anyone who wants it. This is a great event for ladies, and I am really glad I could join the fun. This makes for a great destination race with easy driving to Mount Rushmore and Badlands NP, etc. Highly recommend this race to ladies looking for a good time in running shoes.
C. B. from Ge (8/27/2015) "Gorgeous course!" (about: 2015) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Leading Ladies Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 This was a lovely, scenic downhill marathon. Logistics were easy, support was great - every stop not only had water and gatorade but also oranges, bananas, M&Ms and pretzels. I am working on 50 states and would highly recommend this marathon to any female runner who needs South Dakota.
L. G. from AZ (8/19/2015) "beautiful downhill run through Spearfish Canyon" (about: 2015) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Leading Ladies Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 People always ask me which is my favorite marathon, and this one definitely tops the list for scenery. The first few miles on the dirt road just after sunrise were gorgeous. Running through Spearfish Canyon with towering cliffs and the creek alongside is breathtaking, and made the lack of spectators a non-issue. The only downside is the heavily cambered road; my hips are still complaining 3 days later. The bus driver was awesome and let us sit and stretch on the bus until the start, the waterstop volunteers fantastic, and the finish line folks helpful. Great organization for a small race.
J. B. from Catonsville, MD (9/3/2014) "Well Organized and Enjoyable Event" (about: 2014) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Leading Ladies Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I was impressed with how well this race was organizedespecially for such a small race. My one complaint was the road surface. At certain places along the course, the edge of the road was at such an incline that you had to run nearly in the middle of the road to find a flat surface. Since the traffic was so light, this wasn't a problem overall. I also would have liked a few more aid stations after mile 20, but other than that, there were well-stocked aid stations, plenty of port-a-pottys and nicest volunteers ever. Plus my fellow runners were so congenial. That isn't always the case. Lastly my friends and family came along to support me. There were plenty of spots for them to park along the course and cheer for me and my fellow runners.
M. C. from United States (11/3/2013) "Fabulous scenery, poor organization." (about: 2013) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Leading Ladies Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 1 The course is a beautiful downhill one. There was no water at the start and it was very unorganized. Except for the first waterstop, the volunteers did not hand cups to runners and could not understand that a runner might want more than 1/4 cup water on a warm day. This is not a closed course but I expected a safe one. At 25+ miles the course crosses a road with no volunteer to help with traffic. I was forced to wait while a car and truck went by before I felt safe crossing. Post race refreshments consisted of margaritas and cookies with cream on them.

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Marathon Details - Leading Ladies Marathon