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May 2, 2024

Brookings Marathon Runner Comments

Back to Brookings Marathon Information & Reviews

Course 4.5

Organization 4.9

Spectators 3.8

Number of comments: 104 [displaying comments 51 to 61]

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D. V. from Cincinnati, Ohio (5/16/2008) "Would have been a great run with good weather" (about: 2008) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Brookings Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 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.
K. D. from Omaha, NE (5/14/2008) "Friendly, Wet, Small-Town Marathon" (about: 2008) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Brookings Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 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.
C. S. from Cambridge, MN (5/13/2008) "Organization Saved the Day" (about: 2008) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Brookings Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 On a wet, soggy morning, this race could have been a disaster. Instead, the marathon's solid organization and volunteers kept everything running smoothly and enabled us to enjoy this small-town race. As one would expect in this part of South Dakota, the course was flat. The route twisted and turned throughout the city and offered a variety of surfaces. Much of the course was adjacent to grass, so it was possible to minimize the pounding on the legs. The early miles contained some unique scenery and the second half was mostly through nice parks and neighborhoods. Organization was definitely the strong point of this marathon. We spoke with the race director the night before and he seemed prepared for the weather. This preparation was evident on race day. One of the sponsors (Saturn) handed out free rain ponchos for runners and spectators. Volunteers were stationed at some of the more water-logged areas and warned runners about upcoming hazards. At one point, organizers even set up a 10-foot board to help runners avoid a particularly deep puddle. Beyond that, the race managed to cover all of the basics without any problems. Packet pickup was efficient. Water and PowerAde were available as advertised. For me, the course was sufficiently marked with arrows clearly indicating the proper direction. Most of the many turns also had a volunteer on hand to guide the runners. Finally, the sheer number of volunteers was incredible. This race easily had the highest ratio of volunteers to marathoners I've experienced! Overall, they did a solid job under less than ideal conditions. The volunteers also doubled as the biggest cheerleaders on the course. Support from other spectators was surprisingly good for such a small race on such a miserable day. If one is looking to cross SD off their 50 states, this is a good choice. It's also a good choice for Upper Midwest runners looking for a flat, potentially fast course or a tune-up before other spring/summer races.
Kami K. from Corpus Christi, TX (5/13/2008) "Running in the rain!" (about: 2008) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Brookings Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Brookings Marathon Brookings, S.D. Saturday, May 10, 2008 7:00 AM Brookings, home of South Dakota State University, is a very nice college town of 19,000 in rural America. I found it very clean and was impressed by its parks and bike paths. I flew into Sioux Falls on Thursday. From the airport was a 53-mile ride into Brookings via I-29. I stayed in Days Inn. This was the 39th edition of the marathon, which used to be known as the Longest Day Marathon. Packet pick-up and pre-race pasta dinner were at the University's Student Union on Friday afternoon/evening. Each runner received a nice high tech long-sleeved race shirt and a backpack. Pasta dinner was good. There was no expo. Race day temperature was in the 40s and it rained, which was a bit heavy at times. At 5:40 AM, I took the shuttle from the hotel to Pioneer Park where the start and finish lines were located. As we were lining up, the rain stopped and it was rain-free for nearly 30 minutes. Then it was running in the rain through parks, bike paths, residential neighborhoods, and the University. Essentially, the route traversed the entire town, and included a large number of turns, due to which we experienced the wind from different directions. The course was mainly flat. There were a few hilly sections, though, and the biggest one was at mile 9 when we climbed 70 feet in a 200-yard stretch. It seemed as if the top of the hill was Brookings' highest point. There were water/sports drink stations approximately every 2 miles. I missed a few of the mile markers. The course monitors were wonderful, standing in the cold rain, directing the runners. Without them, since there were too many turns, the likelihood of getting lost would have been high. I thanked as many of them as I could. The run was chip-timed and the finishers' medallion was quite nice. There were ample refreshments at the finish. The crowd support was sporadic and I didn't blame the locals for not being out in the cold rain cheering on the runners. I salute the Prairie Striders Running Club for organizing a nice running event. I am a 50-stater and this was #37.
bert moniot from winnipeg, canada (5/11/2008) "highly recommend" (about: 2008) 50+ previous marathons \| 4-5 Brookings Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I enjoyed running my 60th marathon (4th Brookings) on Saturday, May 10. Great course, as well as easy access to the hotels, packet pick up and start/finish line. I will be back next year.
R. N. from South Dakota (5/11/2008) "Great Race on a Poor Weather Day" (about: 2008) First Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 Cold (40-45F), rainy, and some wind dampened the experience of my first marathon, but the race was overall enjoyable. Difficult to manage the running, with the water running in the streets and trails. Dirt roads were muddy and potholed. Nothing the organizers could do about the amount of rain that arrived. Crossing creeks on wood beams and sloshing through a flooded underpass were not fun. Volunteers were unbelievable. Great job. Can't imagine how cold you guys must have been standing there for hours. Good job on all crossings and turns except for the turn from the dirt road by the railroad to the bike path. Some missed the turn. The shirt is a very nice tech shirt. Overall, I enjoyed the well-run race. Time was not what I hoped for but wasn't expecting so much puddle-jumping and sloshing. Thanks, Brookings.
S. H. from Brooklyn Park, MN (5/10/2008) "Rain couldn't ruin this event" (about: 2008) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Brookings Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was a great race, despite rain during much of the run. The packet pick-up was well organized. And although I didn't have the dinner at the expo, it looked and smelled delicious! The course is by far one of the most spectator-friendly, allowing family and friends to see their runners multiple times. For the runner, the course is mostly flat, with a few small undulations here and there. The shirt and medal were great. I would highly recommend the race to anyone, especially those gunning for 50 states. I also tip my hat to the race director, who handled a tough situation with the rain and a couple of runners who lost their way (not sure how as the course was very well marked with arrows and cones).
J. O. from Iowa (5/10/2008) "Awesome time in a driving rain (2008)" (about: 2008) 2 previous marathons \| 2 Brookings Marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 After suffering a heart attack on November 24, 2007, I set the Brookings Marathon as my goal for recovery. I was very pleased with the race. I also ran in 2006. The organization and fans are excellent (though fewer in number this year due to rain). After 30 minutes, a driving rain and east wind made for a challenge. My time was 20 minutes slower in 2008, but the experience was precious. My only cons would be that there are some serious potholes in the gravel sections, which normally aren't bad if there is not rain. Also, on the walking trail towards the end of the race several tree branches were a little low, and with fogged-up glasses, I brushed a few of them with my head. Otherwise, fantastic! Highly recommend.
Becky Molenaar from Willmar, MN (10/15/2007) "Amazing!" (about: 2007) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Brookings Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I ran in the half marathon this past May and had an incredible experience! I had gotten into running about a year prior and this was my first official race. The weather happened to be PERFECT for Brookings. I went to school at SDSU and encountered many very windy spring days so I was prepared for the worst! The course was beautiful and took me through all of my favorite parts of Brookings. I met so many fun people and felt very welcome and comfortable in my first race. The volunteers and spectators were AWESOME!! I would recommend this race to anyone and I plan to be back in '08!
K. A. from St. Peters Mo (5/27/2007) "Good Spectator Race." (about: 2007) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Brookings Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Race was run well for a small town; people were friendly and helpful. The course really had a lot of turns and was confusing to look at the map, but I liked the course anyway. Considering this is a small town, I think I can say that I pretty much toured all of Brookings. The course was very flat - I think even more flat than Chicago. The wind was a challenge most of the day. The course meandered all over the town and makes it a great race for spectators. I think I saw my wife about 8 times during the race, and she was on foot walking to different spots. Cannot do that in Chicago or Boston or New York! If you need to pick up South Dakota for the 50 staters, I would give this race 2 thumbs up. The rest stops had water and Gatorade but little else, so it was really great that my wife was there to give me some food. Just remember to bring support or be prepared to carry your own food along the route. The post-race food and drinks were a little thin, but it was nice that someone was selling hotdogs and brats at the finish line. Bring a few dollars to the finish line, though, to get these goodies. The band at the finish line did a good job and was a nice touch.

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