Center of the Nation: September 30 – October 5, 2024

2021 Center of the Nationsseriesgroupfb

Day 1 (Mon, Sept. 30): Sterling, Colorado
Day 2 (Tue, Oct. 1): Chadron, Nebraska
Day 3 (Wed, Oct. 2): Sundance, Wyoming
Day 4 (Thu, Oct. 3): Belle Fourche, South Dakota
Day 5 (Fri, Oct. 4): Bowman, North Dakota
Day 6 (Sat, Oct. 5): Baker, Montana

Quick Overview
Series Dates: Monday, September 30 – Saturday, October 5, 2024
Race Times: All Regular Starts are at 7:00 AM (MT) and optional Early Starts are at 6:00 AM (MT). Early Start available for distances of half marathon or longer. We encourage any 6+ hour participants to take advantage of the Early Starts. Pre-Race Briefing will start approximately 10 minutes before each of the two race start times.
Packet Pickup: Sunday, September 29, 3-4:30 PM; Pioneer Park, 17615 Hwy 14, Sterling, CO (GPS: N 40.624970, W 103.246650)
Race Day Packet Pickup/Registration: Beginning at 5:30 AM MDT on race day, at the start line.
Time Limit: None. We have a “no runner left behind” policy, and we happily stay until the final finisher crosses the line. Walkers are always welcome!
Pets/Strollers: Pets are not allowed, for the safety and comfort of our runners/walkers; you’re welcome to bring a stroller if you have small children.

Group dinners, hotels, and airports: Check Center of the Nation Series Facebook Group.

Hotel Searches: CO, NE, WY, SD, ND, MT
Discounts: $10 discount to active military, as well as members of any club that will list these events on their calendar. (Active.com requires a code to receive discount, which you can find on the club’s site or by contacting us.) We also offer a discount for local participants; contact us for details.
Food/Aid Stations: Due to our unique multi-loop course setup, we have one giant “aid station,” with more food and drink than you could ever need! Ask anyone who’s run at least one of our races; we’ve got everything from fruit to jelly beans to sandwiches, water to Gatorade to hot coffee, and everything in between. Way more than just granola bars and bananas–we even have our very own mobile kitchen, Loony Lunchbox!

Registration information is below. You may do any number of races; special medals are awarded to those who complete all six!

Race Locations:

  • Day 1: Colorado
    • Pioneer Park
    • 17615 Hwy 14
    • Sterling, CO
    • GPS (map): N 40.624970, W 103.246650
    • Course Surface: Fine and loose gravel trail with moderate shade.
    • Elevation Gain (per lap estimates by Garmin): 40′
    • Tentative Course Laps: 14 laps for Marathon.
    • Course Lap Preview

Center of the Nation - CO

  • Day 2: Nebraska
    • Chadron State Park
    • Chadron, NE
    • GPS (map): N 42.709703, W 103.009079
    • Course Surface: Mostly asphalt with a short section of grass and dirt trail, moderate shade.
    • Elevation Gain (per lap estimates by Garmin): 46′
    • Tentative Course Laps: 12 laps for Marathon
    • Course Lap Preview

  • Day 3: Wyoming
    • Crook County Fairgrounds
    • Fairground Loop Road
    • Sundance, WY
    • GPS (map): N 44.407182, W 104.368714
    • Course Surface: Mix of asphalt and gravel with little shade.
    • Elevation Gain (per lap estimates by Garmin): 33′
    • Tentative Course Laps: 22 laps for Marathon
    • Course Lap Preview

Sundance, WY

  • Day 4: South Dakota
    • Rocky Point Recreation Area
    • 18513 Fisherman’s Road (9 miles outside the town of Belle Fourche, SD)
    • GPS (map): N 44.72358, W 103.69960
    • Course Surface: Smooth asphalt road with little shade.
    • Elevation Gain (per lap estimates by Garmin): 16′
    • Tentative Course Laps: 14 for Marathon
    • Course Lap Preview

Rocky Point Recreation Area, Belle Fourche, SD

  • Day 5: North Dakota
    • North Shore Marina
    • Bowman-Haley Lake
    • Bowman, ND
    • GPS (map): N 45.99869, W 103.26302
    • Course Surface: Mostly asphalt with a little bit of gravel, very little shade.
    • Elevation Gain (per lap estimates by Garmin): 23′
    • Tentative Course Laps: 12 laps for Marathon.
    • Course Lap Preview

IMG_2628

  • Day 6: Montana
    • Triangle Park
    • Lakeview Drive
    • Baker, MT
    • GPS (map): N 46.35911, W 104.27040
    • Course Surface: Start/finish on gravel with rest of course on closed asphalt road, very little shade.
    • Elevation Gain (per lap estimates by Garmin): 24′
    • Tentative Course Laps: 14 laps for Marathon.
    • Course Lap Preview

Center of the Nation - MT

Travel distances/times between race locations:

  • Day 1 (CO) => Day 2 (NE): 166 miles, 2:49
  • Day 2 (NE) => Day 3 (WY): 191 miles, 3:02
  • Day 3 (WY) => Day 4 (SD): 50 miles, 0:58
  • Day 4 (SD) => Day 5 (ND): 117 miles, 1:52
  • Day 5 (ND) => Day 6 (MT): 47 miles, 0:50

Center of the Nation Map

What about the bling?
We all know that’s the best part! Every participant will receive one t-shirt and other fun goodies.
All finishers will receive a separate medal for each day; in addition, we give a special medal to those who complete all races in a series.
We even give a special award to each person participating in his or her first full or half marathon!
The best part: The famous caboose, given to the final finisher of each marathon and half marathon!

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Colorado – Nebraska – Wyoming – South Dakota – North Dakota – Montana

Sept 30 – Oct 5 2024
Race type By 1/31/24 2/1/24-3/31/24 4/1/24-8/31/24 After 8/31/24
Full $110 $120 $135 $155
Half $95 $105 $120 $135
10K $55 $55 $55 $65
5K $45 $45 $45 $55
50K $120 $130 $145 $165
Register Online: HERE!!
Mail-in Registration Form: HERE!!
You may also register during packet pickup or on race day (cash/check/credit card/PayPal). Entry fees are non-refundable and may not be transferred to another participant.
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