You are here:
Stars Stripes & Steps
Race Details:
- Location: Hot Springs, SD, USA
- Race Date: 05/25/2026
- Race Distances: Half Marathon
What This Race Counts Toward:
Stars Stripes & Steps Description
The Stars, Stripes & Steps is a Memorial Day stair-climbing race in Hot Springs, South Dakota’s Southern Black Hills, part of the town’s annual Salute to Valor weekend honoring fallen service members. The signature Knee High Hilly Half Marathon covers 744 steps and steep hills on a route open only to ages 12 and up, alongside shorter 2-mile and 5K options with outdoor staircases of their own. Every finisher medal is individually designed and produced by kids from the local Boys & Girls Club, which the race benefits as a fundraiser.
Always check the official race website for the most accurate and up-to-date race information and logistics.
Share This Race
Shop This Race
Handpicked for runners toeing this line.
Stars Stripes & Steps Additional Details:
Weekend festivities stretch well beyond race day itself: a Wine Walk, a community picnic, veteran memorials, live music, and trivia all lead up to Monday’s stair climb. Families who come along can spend the morning at a dedicated Kids Zone or the Mammoth Site’s Science Zone and mini-golf setup. Because every finisher medal and award is designed by local Boys & Girls Club kids, no two are exactly alike, a genuinely one-of-a-kind keepsake for an event most marathons can’t match. Between the 744-step climb and the small-town Memorial Day tradition behind it, this is one of the most distinctive fitness events in the entire region.
Course Information
Profile: Hilly
Type: Mostly Loop
Surface: Mixed Surfaces
Pace Groups: No
Time Limit: 1/2 marathon 3 hours; 2m and 5K 2 hours
# of Finishers
Half Marathon: 10
Elevation Details
Elevation Gain: 1200 ft
Elevation Loss: 1200 ft
Average Temperature
- Low: 44°F
- High: 68°F
Train Smarter for Race Day
A great race starts long before the starting line. Whether you’re chasing your first finish or hunting a new PR, a structured training plan takes the guesswork out of race prep — building your fitness, your confidence, and your mileage at the right pace for you.
Explore plans for every distance and experience level, from your first 5K to your next ultra.
Half Marathon Training Plan
Beginner, intermediate, and advanced plans to get you strong and confident at 13.1.
Things to Do in Hot Springs, SD, USA
Make the most of race weekend — here’s how to fill the time before and after you cross the finish line.
Museums & History
The Mammoth Site
Tour The Mammoth Site, an active paleontological dig with the largest concentration of mammoth remains in the world — an easy, indoor, low-impact stop after race day.
Outdoors & Trails
Fall River Freedom Trail
Walk or bike the Fall River Freedom Trail, a scenic paved path through Hot Springs, South Dakota — an easy option for tapering or recovering legs.
Sports & Entertainment
Evans Plunge
Soak in Evans Plunge, one of the oldest naturally warm, spring-fed swimming pools in the country — a relaxed, low-impact way to celebrate the finish line after race day.
Scenic Drives & Viewpoints
Angostura Recreation Area
Take in lake views at Angostura Recreation Area just south of town, a hotspot for boating, fishing, and camping — a relaxed, low-impact way to spend a rest day.
Landmark
Wind Cave National Park
Explore Wind Cave National Park, home to one of the world’s longest cave systems beneath rolling prairie — an easy, mostly-outdoor stop after race weekend.
Hotels & Lodging Near the Stars Stripes & Steps
Compare nearby hotels and book your Stars Stripes & Steps race-weekend stay in seconds.
Sunrise Running Company may earn a commission if you book through the map below, at no extra cost to you.
Featured Race
A pancake-flat course made for chasing a PR — and a Boston Qualifier.
Boston Qualifier: Yes