Cycling & running events in Rapid City, 2026

Rapid City Training Notes

Running: Locals run Rapid Creek when they want easy base miles, and the 8-mile paved Bike Path keeps Z2 simple through town. Hanson-Larsen Memorial Park gives trail runners twenty miles of multi-use dirt, and Skyline Wilderness Park adds ten more miles when the legs want singletrack. Black Hills Running Company keeps Tuesday runs at 5:30 PM from Hanson-Larsen Memorial Park, and Wednesday speed workouts meet at Sioux Park at 5:30 PM when weather permits. Black Hills Runners Club keeps the calendar busy. Founders Park anchors the Memorial Day 5K/10K/15K, and the Rapid City Half Marathon gives road runners a clean local target.

Cycling: Locals ride mountain and gravel first, and roadie energy stays smaller around Rapid City. Black Hills Bike Hub, Black Hills Cycling Community, and Rapid City Roadies are the names to know when you want wheels to follow. Hanson-Larsen Memorial Park lets riders hop on fun, swooping trails and return to town within minutes. Hanson-Larsen Memorial Park has 4 mi of gravel for longer base miles. Hanson-Larsen Memorial Park has 4 mi of gravel for longer base miles, while Norris Peak Road, Edelweiss Mountain Road, Boulder Hill Road, and Sheridan Lake Road are where the climbs start talking. Buffalo 50 and Tatanka Youth Mountain Bike Race sit on the anchor-event list.

Season: Spring and Autumn give Rapid City the best training rhythm, with cool starts, dry air, and enough daylight for after-work miles. Summer mornings average 6 °C, so locals get intervals done early and save steady Z2 for shaded creek paths or higher Black Hills roads. 7 °C. Chinook winds can push temperatures above 10 °C about 20 times from December to February, while Black Hills Running Company moves indoor track workouts to the Liberty Center during cooler months.