Running The TutHell 50K: A Challenge For Charities in Sioux Falls

If you told someone, “I’ve got some running to do this weekend,” there’s a pretty good chance they might have pictured you running a few errands, or maybe, just maybe, a casual jog along the Sioux Falls bike trails, not 31 miles of pure grit in the middle of Tuthill Park. But for a select group of ultra-dedicated runners in Sioux Falls, that’s exactly what went down Saturday morning, May 3, during the 2026 "TutHell 50K."

The TutHell 50K returned to the trails on the south side of Tuthill Park in Sioux Falls over the weekend. The ultra-endurance race that challenges runners to complete a 50K (that’s 31 miles) on a 0.31-mile loop…100 times. Let that sink in. That’s more laps than you’ve probably done around the Empire Mall during a typical holiday shopping season. And they had just 12 hours to get it done.

I myself am a runner, and at my advanced age, I average a couple of miles a day, so this particular race feels like a whole different universe. This isn’t a jog; this is a mental and physical chess match that ends with severe chaffing.

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Beyond all the sweat and miles, the TutHell 50K has a heart. The Sioux Falls running event is designed to raise money for charities across the Sioux Empire. According to Dakota News Now, organizers set a $10,000 fundraising goal for 2026, building on last year’s effort that brought in over $5,000 for local organizations.

You have to do more than jog to get into this race. Participation is by invitation only, and runners had to submit a 100-word essay explaining why they wanted to take on the challenge. Each participant also selected a charity they’d support if they came out on top, so every step had a purpose.

Winners for the 2026 race haven’t been announced yet, but they’ll be attempting to best the times set in 2025. Jeffrey Pratt was the male winner last year, finishing with a time of 5:14:09, while Jessi Rakness, the female winner, crossed the line at 7:18:43.

As for me? If I attempted the TutHell 50K, you’d probably still find me somewhere around lap 12, in a state of delerium.

Congratulations to each of the 50 different runners who laced em' up and participated in this year's race for some worthwhile charities.