Black Hills Veterans March and Marathon
Wed, Sep 16, 2026, 1:00 AM MDT
- Type
- Run
Finish signup on the organizer site (check fees and dates there).
Race feel
Honor veterans on a challenging march or marathon through the picturesque Black Hills National Forest, a deeply meaningful experience.
- Scenic
- For a Cause
Scenic
For a CauseGreat for
- Military & First Responders
Military & First RespondersThe Black Hills Veteran’s Honor March and Marathon is a commemorative event dedicated to honoring the sacrifices of servicemen and women. Conceived by South Dakota Army National Guard soldiers, it offers various distances, including a 26.2-mile march and a challenging 110-mile endurance option. Participants experience the picturesque Mickelson Trail within the Black Hills National Forest, following a route established by the original recon team. This event has grown significantly, drawing hundreds from across the United States to pay tribute.
What to expect
Past race snapshot
What the field usually feels like
A plain-English read from past public results. It is helpful context, not a prediction.
Crowd
Small field
4 16 Miles finishers in 2023. A quieter race where the pack may spread out more quickly.
Typical finish
5:11:19
Think middle-of-the-pack, using chip time when available.
Competitive feel
Relaxed front
Past results suggest the front of the field is less intense than many races. Front-group read: 4:47:15.
People mix
Mixed field
Gender mix needs more complete finish rows before we summarize it.
Quick read
For the 16 Miles in 2023, this looks like a small field: 4 finishers are represented here. A middle-of-the-pack finish was around 5:11:19. The quicker front of the field averaged about 4:47:15. Use it as a feel check, not a promise about race day.
Where runners came from
Aggregated city counts only. Small groups stay hidden in public views.
Vermillion, SD
Travel draw
Award clues
Historic placement clues only. Race-day awards can use different rules.
Overall observed placement
Top 3 (from finish order in our sample)
Show the year-by-year numbers
| Distance | Year | Finishers | Typical | Average | Front 10% | Fastest M / W |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Miles | 2023 | 4 | 5:11:19 | 5:11:20 | 4:47:15 | Not enough data / 4:47:15 |
Last summary update: May 2, 2026
From the organizer
BLACK HILLS VETERAN’S HONOR MARCH AND MARATHON
The Black Hills Veteran’s Honor March was conceived in 2002 as a way to honor the sacrifices of the nation’s servicemen and women. The 26.2-mile march takes place in the picturesque Black Hills National Forest on the Mickelson Trail. The March is held on a weekend at the end of September.
The March, which is conducted under the auspices of the South Dakota National Guard Enlisted Association (SDNGEA), grew out of an idea that originated from some South Dakota Army National Guard soldiers who had participated in the Bataan Memorial Death March. It was during the long ride home from White Sands, New Mexico that the idea of a commemorative march could be held to honor all Veterans and that the Black Hills would be a perfect place to hold such an event. Since the Bataan Memorial Death March takes place in late March or April, the consensus was that this new event should be held later in the year.
On September 21, 2002, seven members of the Army National Guard traveled to Deadwood, SD, and set out to reconnoiter the proposed march route and establish sites for water points, rest stops, and lodging requirements. Ted Deloy, Michael Jones, Matt Lacroix, Ben Lamp, Jeff Nord, Ben Smetana, and Mark Thomas were members of the recon team and laid the foundation for this event. The route today closely matches the original route from Rochford to Deadwood, the only change being the decision to end at the Rodeo grounds as compared to main street Deadwood.
After completing the dry run in September 2002, the marchers compiled notes and ideas. Due to mobilization in 2003, the idea had to wait to be presented to the SDNGEA at the state conference in April 2004. The decision was made to have the inaugural march start in September 2004.
Since its inception, the memorial march has grown to hundreds of marchers from across the United States. Events are offered in Team Military and Civilian, Individual Military and Civilian, Heavy Military (with a 35lb Rucksack), Marathon, Mini-March, Team Mini-March, and now 110 Mile Endurance March.