South Dakota's Largest Marathon Happens In Sioux Falls Sunday

If you happen to see a whole lot of people running around Sioux Falls this Sunday, don't worry; they are not late for church.

Between 2000 and 2500 people will be running Sioux Falls this Sunday, as the 14th annual Sioux Falls Marathon hits the streets of the Sioux Empire on Sunday, September 20.

The event has something for just about every type of runner, including a 5K, Half Marathon, and Full Marathon.

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And if you've ever trained for a long-distance race, you know the word "training" doesn't quite cover what you're actually doing to yourself.

Running 26.2 miles isn't something most people casually decide to do on a Sunday morning after a couple of cups of coffee. It takes months of training, discipline, long runs, sore muscles, chafing, and the occasional moment where you seriously wonder what you've gotten yourself into.

Training for a marathon can be especially challenging during a South Dakota summer. Heat and humidity have a funny way of making a person feel like they're carrying a backpack full of bricks.

If you've ever gone for a long run on a hot, humid Sioux Falls morning, you know exactly what I'm talking about. By the time you're finished, you're not just sweating; you're basically making your own gravy.

Getting into shape to complete a marathon requires plenty of preparation and fortitude. But there's also something incredibly rewarding about crossing that finish line after all those miles and all those training runs.

As a runner myself, I've completed several half marathons, but I've never taken on the full 26.2.

At 63, I'm not exactly sure what my old bones would think about that idea. Some days, it takes everything I've got just to make it to the end of the block. So, for now, I'll happily take on the spectator's role for those who are willing to tackle the full marathon.

The Sioux Falls Marathon is the largest in South Dakota each year, and the Full Marathon is USATF certified and a Boston Qualifying race, making it a big deal for those serious runners looking to chase a qualifying time.

The Full Marathon gets underway at approximately 6:45 that morning at Howard Wood Field.

Runners will make their way through Sioux Falls, taking in city streets, historic neighborhoods, downtown, Falls Park, and portions of the paved river greenway trails before eventually finishing on the track inside Howard Wood Field.

The Sioux Falls Half Marathon also starts near Howard Wood Field.

It takes runners through downtown and several local parks before bringing them back to the stadium for the finish.

And then there's the Miracle 5K.

That race starts in the large parking lot east of Howard Wood Field and finishes on the track. The route offers views of downtown Sioux Falls, Falls Park and portions of the city's bike trail system.

The entire event is powered by the Sioux Falls Sports Authority, and registration is still open, with spots remaining in each of the races.

So whether you're chasing a Boston qualifying time, knocking out your first half marathon, running your first 5K, or simply looking for an excuse to eat a ridiculous amount of carbs afterward, there's still time to get involved.

Get complete race details and find out how to register here.

Good luck to everyone running this weekend!

Now get out there and let's run this thing!