Challenge Dakota: Empowering Communities
THANK YOU SPONSORS, VOLUNTEERS AND COURAGEOUS RUNNERS!
Nearly 70 runners ignored the rain and cold to tackle the 11th Annual Stars, Stripes & Steps Stair Climbing race. The volunteers who lined the course shivered as they cheered the runners, who joined us to “Honor America’s fallen heroes by having the courage to get strong—in body, mind and spirit!”
Challenge Dakota and the Hot Springs Boys and Girls Club are grateful to the runners, volunteers and sponsors, all of whom helped us raise much needed dollars (we will let you know later how many dollars) for the Club.
Two runners who drove down from Spearfish for the race said they counted well over twenty volunteers on the course! And that is just route monitors! We also have volunteers ‘behind the scenes’, setting out route signs, putting up tents and banners, handling registration and time keeping and of course tearing it all down and storing it at the end of the day. Most volunteers come back year after year. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!
Volunteers Kay Birkholt and Caitlyn Mosset are shown here taking a well-deserved lollipop break!
Stars, Stripes & Steps—2025—in the books!
We had a great time, in spite of the rain. As happens every time we have a rainy year, the rain slowed down enough to give the runners a pleasantly cool day. Volunteers were probably chilly, but the runners were mostly comfortable!
And the winners are...
The winners were, as usual, too doggone fast! Find their names and times here!
PHOTOS NEEDED! Please send us your photos! We want to share them with past and future runners. They are so much fun. Like this shot of Bohdi Johnson receiving his 3rd place award!
REGISTRATION OPENS FEBRUARY 1, 2026
KIDS (under 18) ARE JUST $15.00!
REGISTER EARLY FOR BEST PRICE & GUARANTEED SHIRTS.
About Challenge Dakota
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT
The 2025 Knee High Hilly Half Marathon ONLY is canceled for 2025 ONLY.
THE PRIMARY RACES—5K Crazy Crew AND Two Mile Sock Hop ARE STILL ON for 2025! In fact, you should really REGISTER RIGHT NOW!
We apologize for the half marathon cancellation but plan for it to be back bigger and better in 2026!
ANOTHER FUN STAIR CLIMBING RACE IN THE BOOKS!
2023
We expanded our Finish Line Cheer team to include a great bunch of enthusiastic supporters from Black Hills Special Services. They had a great time and plan to volunteer again next year. Photo by Jo Jo Williams.
SAVE THE STEPS
STAIRCASE RESTORATION
Jeff Alley heads up Challenge Dakota's SAVE THE STEPS committee to explore options to help the community repair/replace this historic landmark staircase. If you are interested in the committee, contact Jeff at redrocksaver@gmail.com.
RACE OVERVIEW
RUN, WALK, STROLL or roll
All three of our STAIR-CLIMBING routes navigate the trails, hills, streets and steps that make downtown Hot Springs such a beautiful place to run, walk or stroll.
Children four and under are welcome to accompany parents or guardians at no charge
(no tee shirts, bibs, medals or SWAG), but be aware that these stairs are steep and strollers are absolutely forbidden, except on the zero-stair flip-flop romp!
We are a walker-friendly event (except for the Knee High Hilly Half Marathon). Some of our participants stroll the Sock Hop or Crazy Crew, window shopping and enjoying the scenery!
Leashed and well-behaved dogs are welcome, but you must follow the City's rules and regulations.
CHOOSE YOUR ROUTE
THE HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION IS DONE!
We are so happy to have the highway work done. It will take more time until there is progress on rebuilding the two closed stair cases. SO WE ARE STILL NARROWING DOWN THE ROUTE TO DETERMINE EXACT NUMBER OF STEPS IN 2025!
SOCK HOP - 2 miles, 264 steps
This two mile route is a great "starter" stair climb, terrific for kids and also good for those who are recovering from injuries. Many fast runners like it too—we are always surprised when those speedsters cross the finish line like rockets! You will share your route with the Crazy Crew and Knee High Hilly Halfers, making it lots of fun! You will pass two water stations along the way and lots of volunteers will cheer you on.
CRAZY CREW 5K - 5 kilometers (3.1 miles), 5 flights of stairs (657 steps)
This challenging route is our most popular event among men, women and kids. Although only a mile longer than the Sock Hop, those three extra staircases make it much more challenging—in fact more challenging by far than your ordinary 5K. The dogs love it too! Lots of steps and gorgeous views. You can run or take your time. You will pass two water stations. You will share the route with the Sock Hoppers and Hilly Halfers, so you will never be lonely!
NOTE: 2025 1/2 MARATHON CANCELED FOR 2025...BACK NEXT YEAR. WHY NOT ENTER THE 5K CRAZY CREW!
1/2 MARATHON, CANCELED FOR 2025---SEE YOU NEXT YEAR! This route takes you on a challenging tour of the steeps and steps of Hot Springs and a bit beyond and is not for the faint of heart. There are serious hills to climb as well as a few reasonably flat miles to stretch your legs and take in those astounding Hot Springs vistas. And of course 744 steps to climb on five town core staircases and the one private staircase in what we like to call the "outer limits" (PRIVATE STAIRCASE NOT ACCESSIBLE IN 2022). This route is mostly on paved walkways, streets and highways but also includes a bit of meadow) and a few gravel roads. THIS IS NOT WALKER FRIENDLY. COURSE CLOSES AT 2:00 P.M. You will be supported in the town center with the same water stations as the shorter routes, and in the outer limits there will be roving support cars with water, encouragement and a bail-out ride if you need it. (But you won't need it 'cause you are training, right?)