A run to add to the list. Could be 5 stars if the course was reversed for the marathoners. I would much rather run the portion in the open first and not have to deal with the wind at the end of a marathon. Really good support along the course.

Great small-town race. The weather was a bit cold and windy, but coming from FL, I should have expected it. The race was well organized and very accommodating to the runners. The finish line was great, with a band and the free massages. It could have had a few more supplies - no GU until after mile 17. I carried my own, but was running out of pockets. Water and PowerAde were plentiful. All of the volunteers and the race director were super! The loved the race shirt! Definitely worth doing.

No matter what the weather, the volunteers and race director do their best to make this flat marathon enjoyable for all.

This is the smallest marathon I've run, but I was won over by the previous year's reviewers and the proximity to Omaha. The temperature at race-time was below 40, but it was a really pleasant day. It was windy, but you change directions often. The variety of the course (roads, bike trails, city, residential) was enjoyable, and the frequent turns broke it up. Mile markers well marked. I arrived 50 minutes before start, checked in, and still had plenty of time. They did not have the throngs of fans you'll see in Chicago, but the ones out were very polite and supportive.

This marathon was GREAT! It is clearly organized by people who are primarily interested in producing a quality event. They know their limits, which means that they support the last runner as well as the first. This year the weather was cool and beautiful. The town is so nice and neat that it reminded me of small New England towns that I have visited. While there are several SD marathons to choose from, this is a good one.

How do you have a marathon in a town that is only 3 miles wide? Brookings has done it by taking you on a route that meandered though the entire town on streets, sidewalks, park paths, gravel roads, and grass. I especially like the sidewalk near the end that went through the backyards and under the roadways. Just today, when I was running, I saw a sidewalk that went between apartment buildings and thought that if this were Brookings, I would have turn there. LOL!

This year the weather was perfect. I love the shirt. There were very few spectators but the volunteers at every turn made up for that. If I get another opportunity to run this one I will.

This was my first marathon ever, so I don't have any others to compare it too, but I thought it was great. It had a small-town feel, and we got to see that small town too, literally. The course wound through neighborhoods, downtown, parks, and everything else in between. It was a nice, flat course with plenty of people at various spots to cheer us on, and aid stations at perfect intervals. Everyone was so friendly and, although I plan on doing many more marathons in other places, I will definitely bring the family back to Brookings for another marathon in the future.

If a small, friendly marathon on a flat, fast course is your pleasure, the Brookings Marathon is your place.
This small-town race has the accommodations expected at a larger marathon, without the annoyance of long lines. The runners can get spread out on the second half of the marathon, but distance running is about being out there on your own and succeeding.

That's not to say that there isn't plenty of help along the way. There are aid stations every 1 1/2 miles after mile 2, and each of the many turns were marked by volunteers.

With the crabapple trees and other trees in full blossom, it was more beautiful than one would expect for eastern South Dakota. Most of the course is through nice residential neighborhoods and on bike paths.

Fans are few to be found; most are supporters of other runners, but aid workers were supportive too.

Overall a good experience. My only complaint is the fact that there are not only lots of turns but also many switches back and forth between pavement and sidewalk on the course, which would have been fine in dry weather, but became dangerous in the rain, particularly near the end of the course when you are tired. Many thanks to the volunteers who were fantastic and carried us through a cold, rainy day.

Despite terrible weather conditions for running, this is a marathon that stands out. This event could not have been run by a friendlier group of people. The race director stayed late so we could pick up our packets the night before. Volunteers stood for hours in the rain, cheering us on. Warm food was still being grilled after a long wet morning. They did their best with circumstances that were beyond their control.