Sandhills Marathon

Sandhills Marathon takes place on June 5, 2027, near Valentine, Nebraska, on a single-lane paved road running through the grass-covered dunes of the Sandhills. The marathon (26.2 mi) starts at 6:00 a.m. and the half marathon (13.1 mi) at 8:00 a.m. No elevation gain is listed.

This is a race built for solitude rather than for crowds, which changes how you prepare: there will be long stretches with nobody to run with, so rehearse holding goal pace alone in training rather than relying on a group to carry you. A 6:00 a.m. start for the marathon tells you what the organisers expect of the day — plan to have the hard miles behind you before the sun is high.