Description

2013 Course Information

Detailed 2013 Course Description

All three events will begin at the Minnekahta Trailhead, near the intersection of Highways 18 and 89 west of Hot Springs.  From the trailhead, runners will head north along the Mickelson Trail.  The Mickelson is a rail-to-trails project that offers a very smooth crushed gravel running surface and includes gentle, but long, grades.  50K runners will follow the Mickelson to a point between the Argyle Loop and Lime Kiln aid stations before turning around and returning to the Argyle Loop aid station.  50 mile runners will follow the Mickelson to a point between the Pringle and Carroll Creek aid stations and the 100 mile runners will follow the Mickelson all the way to Hill City before turning around and returning to Argyle Loop.

CHANGE FOR 2013: The 2013 course will reguire a 3.8 mile out and back loop again, but the location of that out and back has been moved. This year, the out and back will be run North of Hill City on the Mickelson Trail. You will leave Hill City Aid Station and follow the Mickelson Trail North for 1.9 miles the turn around and return to Hill City. You will need to enter the Hill City Aid Stations both times through Hill City.  You may be tempted to by-pass the air station since the loop is short but you must check-in at the aid station both times through.

On the return trip, runners in all three events will leave the Mickelson Trail at the Argyle Loop aid station and head east on Argyle Road, a winding, hilly country road.  The route follows Argyle Rd. for approximately 11 miles before making a right onto a two-track road across a pasture, which will eventually lead runners to the Coldbrook aid station, just 4 miles from the finish.  One final hill awaits just past Coldbrook before the course hits the city streets and bike path of Hot Springs.  When you pass the waterfall along the bike path, you've got about a mile to go and when you see the Dairy Queen sign up ahead, it's time for the finishing kick (it's like our version of Boston's famed Citgo sign)!  The finish line will be in the same location it has been for the last few years, just behind the Mueller Center (the location of the packet pick-up and pre-race meeting).

100 Mile Relay

Lean Horse 100 Relay Information

The Lean Horse 100 wants to bring you into the sport of ultra running with the support of friends and family in “bite size” chunks of running.  We are offering runners the option to participate in relay teams of 2 or 5. This will be the first year that we are offering the Relay options and we are very excited about it.
If this is your first time venturing in to the distance relays, then you’re in for a real treat. Imagine you and a group of your closest friends (or newest friends) running through the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota on the George Mickelson Trail. Traveling through the scenic Black Hills in a van with 4 other people, running on one of the most scenic trails around and developing memories and stories that you will share for a life-time. Then we have no doubt that this will be an experience you’ll never forget. Please go to www.leanhorse100.com to learn more.