Chris Oliver, Augusta resident and third grade teacher at Oil Hill Elementary and former Augusta Oriole football and track athlete, ran his first marathon (26.2 miles) in the mountains and hills around Deadwood, S.D., on Sunday, June 7.
He ran in a field of over 500 marathon runners, also in the race were some who ran half marathons and some who ran four-person relays.
These were not part of the 500-plus marathon runners. The temperature was a cool and misty/rainy 43 degrees at start time. Chris said the scenery was really beautiful.
The first half of the marathon was up-hill with a peak elevation at 6,250 feet and the finish at 4,500 feet.
His marathon time was a little over five hours and five minutes.
The first Deadwood Mickelson Trail Marathon was held in 2002 — featured just one event and less than 100 runners. This year’s event featured a variety of events and drew well more than 2,000 runners.
The Deadwood Mickelson Trail Marathon begins in Rochford and the first 1.5 miles are on pavement, before the course becomes the Mickelson Trail. The next 12 miles are a mixture of gentle uphill and flat terrain. From there to mile 19 is downhill, From 19.6 to about 20, there is a serious downhill. The course finishes at the historic Engine House at end of the line…the Deadwood Trailhead.
The half marathon is also a point-to-point course, starting at the 13.1 mile mark of the full marathon, and follows the marathon course also ending at the engine house
Augusta, Kan. —
