If you can find a race that hasn't had problems the first few years that it started you let me know. I made it clear to everyone the morning of the race that volunteers didn't show up and that there would be changes. And yes the wind blew the buoys in over night and I didn't have a boat that morning to fix it so yes it was a little short. If you were actually at this race you would of known this. The first year I held it, it cost me $4,000 in the hole and last year was a good chunk as well to buy things to have it. If I could actually afford to pay people to show up and volunteer i would love to. I also am the only one that does all the planning,advertising...everything for this race. If people were more willing to help with this sport in this area that would be awesome. That's one of the things I'm trying to grow around here.
I am also not going to ask you what "basic supplies necessary" your talking about because I had them. And as for the "safe race" thing, its just as safe as any other race.

I also talked to most the athletes if not all after the race and asked what they liked and disliked. I even emailed them and asked on things that could be improved on ect. Everyone knew why the course was shortened and why things were the way they were, so out of everyone that i talked to and emailed nobody had bad things to say about it knowing what the circumstances were.
If you would like to come and race it this year please let me know because i would be more than happy to show you that its not a "problematic" race and will get you a free entry to it.

Thanks~
~Brandon

This has been on my radar for a the last couple years. I grew up in Custer, and have raced the Iron Creek XTERRA (even won that one over-all a couple years back) and the Dakota Five-0, my wife has done Leading Ladies...and my favorite bike ride ANYWHERE is hitting the Needles Highway at about 5:00 AM in July/August. Great area to get on the bike...road or mountain, and I grew up riding my bike from Custer to Stockade and fished all day when there were still free-range kids like myself running around. We live in Wyoming and I still have a lot of family in the Black Hills, so it's always nice to head that way for a race.

I've been battling some foot issues the last couple of years that has forced me on the bike for 95% of my training, but as soon as my foot comes around, this will be one of the first races I seek. Is it USATF sanctioned/certified?

you're and your are two different words.. you should fix it on your fb page...

Looks great. Good luck Brandon!

I don't think it's going to be the deciding factor on whether or not someone does the race.

Looks like an awesome race. Unfortunately its not in the cards for me to do any travelling races this year. Hopefully you make it into one that stays around...I'd like to visit that part of the country one year.

I gotta agree with the one poster, there will ALWAYS be people that complain, whether they have a valid complaint or not. Don't feed them by showing them you are upset. I get that you are passionate about the race you are building up, you need that to organize a large event. MOST participants understand that it takes a few years to work out the kinks for a new race, even under a seasoned RD. Just take a breath, punch the air. take a walk, etc... before you respond. A public argument with customers is a killer.

Best of luck to you. Hope to do this race sometime soon.

I was going to sign up...but then saw a typo ;) Now I'm iffy.

Seriously though, if there's no running race I have to do that day I'll try to be available to volunteer this year at the event, Brandon.

Would love to do it some day. Unfortunately, that "some day" is not going to be for at least a few years to come. But looked awesome when I first found it a few years ago, and still looks awesome today!