The Bark Beetle Race is put on by the YMCA as a fund raiser to fund youth scholarships for the local YMCA. The YMCA is an important part of the local Custer community as it gives the youth a place to go and get involved in things that can have a positive influence in their lives. The RD of the race, Connie, was a sweet and highly energetic lady. This year she had a tough nut to crack as the Black Hills from Rapid City to Custer and all around were dowsed with rain the last several weeks, leading to flooding and high/fast stream levels. Typically, this race is a trail race that crosses a small stream about six times. However, this year, due to the rains, the course had to be altered to a mostly paved trail race, with either a 5K or 10K option.

You do need a pass to get into beautiful Custer State Park, (yes there are bison!) but once you find the Peter Norbeck visitor's center, there is plenty of parking. We had a beautiful day for this old school race---think finishing clock but with your place given to you on a popsicle stick.

We each got a nice tech shirt and plenty of samples, along with snacks afterwards. In fact, everyone even got a homemade wooden medal and the trophies for overall were made of wood as well. Though Custer is around 5000 ft in elevation, the total elevation gain for this race was less than 300 feet. I poked through this 10K and managed it under an hour, quite a feat since the day before I had hiked Harney Peak, the highest point in the state, for the 3rd time in about 9 days, and this last time, the hardest way, 11 miles with over 2400 ft of elevation gain. (Plus I had fallen and bruised my ribs in Hell Canyon on Monday.)

Overall a great local event and if you are out in Custer or the surrounding area next June, look up the Custer YMCA and put this race on your calendar. I'm sure when it returns to an actuall off road race, it will be even better!