Mount Rushmore Half Marathon
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Mount Rushmore Half Marathon
The Mount Rushmore Half Marathon takes place on September 12, 2026 and covers 13.1 miles through the Black Hills of South Dakota. The course begins at Ghost Canyon Getaway on a well-packed dirt road for about three miles before turning to pavement, and it finishes at the Borglum Story Museum in Keystone, SD. The route includes substantial uphill sections and a final downhill stretch before the finish. Total elevation gain is listed as 1,850 ft and the course time limit is four hours.
On-course support includes five aid stations with water and electrolytes served in a cup-free system; runners may bring a lightweight reusable cup or a personal hydration system. Parking is available at both the start and the finish, and shuttles run to return runners who parked at the start to their cars. An expo and bib pickup are held in Keystone on the Friday before the race, and shipped bibs are offered for a fee.
Awards include place medals for the top five overall male, female, and non-binary finishers, top masters 40+ finishers, and the top five in standard age groups; all finishers receive a finisher medal. Spectators are directed to the finish area at the Borglum Story Museum and are asked not to use runner shuttles or spectate along the course. The event uses a zero waste approach to on-course hydration. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
