Sandhills: a rural road start near Brownlee, south of Valentine
The rural location makes a precise arrival plan more useful than a general city pin. Confirm the start coordinates and access instructions in the next participant guide, then save the route before leaving your accommodation. Do not assume that arriving in Valentine puts you within walking distance of the start.
The old programme’s two-hour gap between the full and half starts matters for shared transport. A runner in the full marathon cannot use a companion’s half-marathon arrival time. Check the next edition’s category schedule and the local time zone before setting alarms or arranging a ride.
A narrow blacktop road can feel different from a broad city marathon course. Review the organizer’s traffic and passing rules, and plan for any exposed sections using the actual race-week forecast. The landscape description does not establish a flat elevation profile, so inspect the current map before choosing a pace target.
Obtain the aid-station locations and supplied products before deciding what to carry. Rural access may also restrict where companions can provide support; use only locations the organizer permits. Practice with familiar supplies and plan a finish pickup that does not depend on finding an unconfirmed taxi or shuttle. Check collection hours and registration availability directly, because the site’s 2026 registration link describes a completed edition. If you need a certified marathon result, verify the applicable course certificate and the receiving race’s rules rather than inferring qualification status from the event name. The June 2026 date and early start remain labelled historical context. Keep a new exact date pending until an organizer announcement establishes the next edition, and recheck transport, collection, course limits and support arrangements before committing to a taper or making inflexible travel bookings.
Last-known race profile
These details identify the race page; they do not establish the next edition's operations. The previous race date does not establish the next edition. Wait for the organizer’s announcement before committing to a race-day schedule.