Lean Horse Ultra Marathon or Lean Horse Ultra Marathon Relay — which comes out ahead?

The available sourced metrics do not create a clear lead; use the table to compare the held route, cost and race-day evidence.

Route comparison snapshot

Lean Horse Ultra Marathon

Mapped route
Held
Elevation profile
Held
course flatness
1.3%
flat grade share
56.8%
lower ascent
1,791 m
climbing density
11.1 m/km
net elevation
10 m
maximum grade
26.2%

Lean Horse Ultra Marathon Relay

Mapped route
Held
Elevation profile
Held
course flatness
1.3%
flat grade share
56.8%
lower ascent
1,791 m
climbing density
11.1 m/km
net elevation
10 m
maximum grade
26.2%
Head-to-head comparison
MetricLean Horse Ultra MarathonLean Horse Ultra Marathon Relay
Flat grade share56.8%56.8%
GAP factor (% slower than flat)1.3%1.3%
Uphill share21.5%21.5%
Steep-up share2.6%2.6%
Downhill share21.7%21.7%
Total ascent (m)1,791 m1,791 m
Climbing density (m/km)11.1 m/km11.1 m/km
Longest climb length (m)2,480 m2,480 m
Longest climb gain (m)80 m80 m
Longest climb average grade3.2%3.2%
Total descent (m)1,781 m1,781 m
Net elevation (m)10 m10 m
Max absolute grade26.2%26.2%
Start elevation (m)1,623 m1,623 m
Finish elevation (m)1,633 m1,633 m
Scenic score98/10098/100
Conditions57/10057/100

Only metrics available for at least one side are shown. A ✓ marks the better value for each metric (higher-is-better aware). Scores are out of 100 when available. Ascent, climbing density, max absolute grade and median finish describe course or field context and are not marked as better or worse.

Same-distance comparisons are most meaningful; cross-distance metrics are contextual.

Race facts that change the decision

Race facts comparison
FactLean Horse Ultra MarathonLean Horse Ultra Marathon Relay
Schedule

Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-07-31 (legacy event-level date).

Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-07-31 (legacy event-level date).

LocationCuster, South DakotaCuster, South Dakota
Actual distance160.9 km160.9 km
raceindex.org mapped route heldHeldHeld
raceindex.org elevation profile heldHeldHeld
Course typeOut And BackOut And Back
SurfaceCrushed limestone (former railroad bed)Crushed limestone (former railroad bed)
Elevation characterGently RollingUnavailable
TerrainGravel, TrailTrail
SceneryCountryside, Waterfront, Forest, Mountain, RiversideCountryside, Waterfront, Forest, Mountain, Riverside
AtmosphereWilderness, Scenic Tour, CommunityWilderness, Scenic Tour, Community
TechnicalityNon TechnicalUnavailable
Total ascent1,791 m1,791 m
Climbing density11.1 m/km11.1 m/km
Total descent1,781 m1,781 m
Net elevation10 m10 m
Max absolute grade26.2%26.2%
Flat grade share56.8%56.8%
GAP factor1.3%1.3%
Cutoff32:00:0032:00:00
Field cap125Unavailable
Entry modelOpenOpen

Schedule

Lean Horse Ultra Marathon

Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-07-31 (legacy event-level date).

Lean Horse Ultra Marathon Relay

Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-07-31 (legacy event-level date).

Location

Lean Horse Ultra Marathon
Custer, South Dakota
Lean Horse Ultra Marathon Relay
Custer, South Dakota

Actual distance

Lean Horse Ultra Marathon
160.9 km
Lean Horse Ultra Marathon Relay
160.9 km

raceindex.org mapped route held

Lean Horse Ultra Marathon
Held
Lean Horse Ultra Marathon Relay
Held

raceindex.org elevation profile held

Lean Horse Ultra Marathon
Held
Lean Horse Ultra Marathon Relay
Held

Course type

Lean Horse Ultra Marathon
Out And Back
Lean Horse Ultra Marathon Relay
Out And Back

Surface

Lean Horse Ultra Marathon
Crushed limestone (former railroad bed)
Lean Horse Ultra Marathon Relay
Crushed limestone (former railroad bed)

Elevation character

Lean Horse Ultra Marathon
Gently Rolling
Lean Horse Ultra Marathon Relay
Unavailable

Terrain

Lean Horse Ultra Marathon
Gravel, Trail
Lean Horse Ultra Marathon Relay
Trail

Scenery

Lean Horse Ultra Marathon
Countryside, Waterfront, Forest, Mountain, Riverside
Lean Horse Ultra Marathon Relay
Countryside, Waterfront, Forest, Mountain, Riverside

Atmosphere

Lean Horse Ultra Marathon
Wilderness, Scenic Tour, Community
Lean Horse Ultra Marathon Relay
Wilderness, Scenic Tour, Community

Technicality

Lean Horse Ultra Marathon
Non Technical
Lean Horse Ultra Marathon Relay
Unavailable

Total ascent

Lean Horse Ultra Marathon
1,791 m
Lean Horse Ultra Marathon Relay
1,791 m

Climbing density

Lean Horse Ultra Marathon
11.1 m/km
Lean Horse Ultra Marathon Relay
11.1 m/km

Total descent

Lean Horse Ultra Marathon
1,781 m
Lean Horse Ultra Marathon Relay
1,781 m

Net elevation

Lean Horse Ultra Marathon
10 m
Lean Horse Ultra Marathon Relay
10 m

Max absolute grade

Lean Horse Ultra Marathon
26.2%
Lean Horse Ultra Marathon Relay
26.2%

Flat grade share

Lean Horse Ultra Marathon
56.8%
Lean Horse Ultra Marathon Relay
56.8%

GAP factor

Lean Horse Ultra Marathon
1.3%
Lean Horse Ultra Marathon Relay
1.3%

Cutoff

Lean Horse Ultra Marathon
32:00:00
Lean Horse Ultra Marathon Relay
32:00:00

Field cap

Lean Horse Ultra Marathon
125
Lean Horse Ultra Marathon Relay
Unavailable

Entry model

Lean Horse Ultra Marathon
Open
Lean Horse Ultra Marathon Relay
Open

Facts are shown only when they exist in the sourced race record; Not held means no sourced value is held for that race.

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