Longest Day Marathon - Race Reviews

Having run the past three years, 2003 finally had nice weather. Along with that came a generally well organized race. To help improve the course and chances for nicer weather, I've heard that next year's race is moving to mid-May, and off the highway onto the bike trails.

I do not plan to do this race again. Aside from the weather being poor, there were several other problems. The course was poorly marked as there are several other races going on at the same time. The medals were poor quality and the race was overall unorganized. Provided only water at aid stations and virtually no snacks at the end of the race. The course was boring and alot of the race was run on cement which was hard on my body. Overall disappointing.

I will preface my comments by stating that I've only run 13 marathons. This was a boring double-loop course with hardly any fan support. This was not a big deal as I didn't expect much based upon the location. My biggest gripe is that their 'aid' stations were 3 miles apart and had only water. No replacement fluids, candy, bananas, pretzels, or anything related to noursishment. I started cramping early and was fortunate to mooch some salt tablets and a balance bar off of another runner. I thought that taking care of the runners was up to the organizers. The post race food consisted of bananas, store bought generic vanilla cookies, and McDonald's orange drink. Most races I can get enough to be satisfied. Here I had to make a beeline to Burger king to get some salt back into my system To top it all off, the medal is a generic one that has a runner on it (the kind you'd get at a high school track meet). The back of it shows clear evidence of grinding and buffing with a tiny engraving that says 'Longest Day Marathon Finisher.' IT'S OBVIOUS THAT THE MEDAL WAS RECYCLED. What an insult. Compared with other small town races with similar entry fees I couldn't believe how many corners they cut here to lower expenses and felt that my $40 entry fee was about $30 too high.. One would think they'd have gotten the idea after 32 years. I wouldn't go back here if they gave me free transportation, free registration, free hotel, and a $100 cash.

I did not see more then 30 people in the marathon. Maybe this was because the race coordinator chose to tell some of the runners that if your are planning on taking more then 5 hours you are expected to start early. This was not told to all runners. Only 3 water stations available. There was not any medical assistance. Course was poorly marked; two times went the wrong way on the course. Race vol. and race coordinator went home prior to all runners completing the race. Rude vol. (at 1st split time, vol. asked if we really wanted to know our split time because it was really bad (under 9 minutes) ) There are to many stupid over sites on the race coordinators part that I could not name them all. I love going to races and have been in 13 this was my 14th and it was the worst by at least 100%. All I can do is ask that Brookings take a look at the liability of having a marathon that is so poorly supervised and monitored. The course was not bad it was flat, the race was in the 40's and it was an April day in South Dakota.

Mid April is simply a bad time to hold this marathon. I have a friend who just returned from the 2002 Anarctic marathon. He ran in better weather. The two lap course is very unsatisfying, especially in an area with nothing but land. The organization is poor. There are no carbs to be found in town or water stations. There were three water stations only...approximately every 3.2 miles....insufficient!

Make sure that you watch the Weather Channel and make your trip according to your threshold of the cold. In 2000, the outdoor race was changed to indoors on a 8-lap/mile track; However 15 of us ran outside in weather that included 2 inches of sleet, 25 degrees, 25+ MPH winds and a negative windshill. But it was better than 210+ laps inside. Weather in South Dakota is unpredictable this time of year.

(Run in '98.) Small field, and other races take place on route at different start times; course doesn't clog. I'd call organization modest-to-basic. Course flat and mostly paved (short gravel stretch), with S/F on South Dakota State U campus. Don't know if this has changed, but I found out the hard way aid stations provided only water. Contact race staff to find out and/or bring sufficient portable carbs. Prepare for wind and be grateful if wind speed stays below 15 mph. Race day '98 coincided with town's spring clean-up day, so we got to run past trash cans/piles alongside the roads.