Deadwood Mickelson Trail Marathon: Pacing & Race-Day Strategy

Run almost entirely on the crushed-limestone George S. Mickelson Trail, this is an old railroad grade through the Black Hills, so the slopes stay gentle by design (railroads never built anything steep). The course climbs modestly for the first few miles to the high point near Dumont, then settles into a long, gradual descent toward the Deadwood finish. The soft, smooth trail surface and forgiving grades make it fast but easy on the legs.

Start → Finish

5,900 → 4,960 ft

Net

−940 ft

Total gain

≈ 940 ft

est. — not surveyed

Don’t spend yourself on the early climb to Dumont. Ease it by effort, knowing a long downhill follows. The crushed-limestone surface is slightly softer and slower than pavement, so run by feel rather than chasing road splits, and let the gentle descent carry an even, strong second half.

Aid stations are spaced along the trail with water and sports drink, but the remote rail-trail setting means longer gaps than a city race. Carry your own gels and don’t rely on finding fuel between stations, and drink on schedule in the dry Black Hills air.

Early-June in the Black Hills brings a cool, often crisp morning at elevation (frequently 40s–50s°F at the start) warming under mountain sun, with the pine canopy offering welcome shade along much of the trail.

New to how training builds toward a race like this? Start with Anatomy of a Running Plan, find your zones with the pace calculator, and plan race-day nutrition with the fueling calculator.