Black Hills Veteran March and Marathon

Black Hills Veteran March and Marathon

The Black Hills Veteran March and Marathon is an annual set of march and run events held on the Mickelson Trail through the Black Hills National Forest near Deadwood. The event is organized under the South Dakota National Guard Enlisted Association and is held on a weekend at the end of September.

Distances offered include:

• 110 Miles - team endurance march, walking only, team participation required
• 26.2 Miles - marathon and full march options, individual and team formats
• 16 Miles - mini march, individual and team options

The route follows crushed limestone and gravel trail through pine forest, crosses numerous converted railroad bridges, and passes rock tunnels. There are rest stops approximately every 3 to 5 miles for food and drink. Several competitive formats exist including 5-person teams where all members must finish together and a relay where the team finish time is based on the final team member crossing. Military-specific divisions require uniformed participants during opening and finish ceremonies and limit footwear to service-recognized boots. A heavy military division requires a minimum 35 pound rucksack that is weighed and verified at the finish.

The event was conceived in 2002 to honor servicemen and women and held its inaugural march in 2004. The current route largely follows the original Rochford to Deadwood course and finishes at the Days of ’76 Rodeo Grounds in Deadwood. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.