Being this was going to be my 10th overall marathon I wanted the race to be nostalgic, So i choose Brooking, SD were i spent the first 8 years of … MORE
Being this was going to be my 10th overall marathon I wanted the race to be nostalgic, So i choose Brooking, SD were i spent the first 8 years of my life as that.
This race had the Full and Half Marathon as well as the relay. No 5k or 10k this year due to COVID. COVID restrictions temperature checks, wave starts, and masks at the start.
The course took you through Campus (South Dakota State), parks, residential area, and downtown. There seemed to be very little if any overlap. The course was marked well and aid stations seemed to be less than 2 miles apart. Very flat course which was mostly on pavement. (very small sections on grass.
For the size of the race and community there seemed to be great crowd support. Very enthusiastic volunteers. My family was able to easily cheer me on at several locations.
Finisher medal was nice and the swag included a bag and quarter zip long sleeve shirt. packaged drinks and some food at the end, which included hamburgers which you went the local shop down the road to get.
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Nice Small town race
Being this was going to be my 10th overall marathon I wanted the race to be nostalgic, So i choose Brooking, SD were i spent the first 8 years of … MORE
Being this was going to be my 10th overall marathon I wanted the race to be nostalgic, So i choose Brooking, SD were i spent the first 8 years of my life as that.
This race had the Full and Half Marathon as well as the relay. No 5k or 10k this year due to COVID. COVID restrictions temperature checks, wave starts, and masks at the start.
The course took you through Campus (South Dakota State), parks, residential area, and downtown. There seemed to be very little if any overlap. The course was marked well and aid stations seemed to be less than 2 miles apart. Very flat course which was mostly on pavement. (very small sections on grass.
For the size of the race and community there seemed to be great crowd support. Very enthusiastic volunteers. My family was able to easily cheer me on at several locations.
Finisher medal was nice and the swag included a bag and quarter zip long sleeve shirt. packaged drinks and some food at the end, which included hamburgers which you went the local shop down the road to get.
Great post-Covid small town race
I'll review this race with the caveat that they had covid restrictions in place, so having never run this event before I don't know what it is normally like. That … MORE
I’ll review this race with the caveat that they had covid restrictions in place, so having never run this event before I don’t know what it is normally like. That being said, it was so wonderful to have an actual in-person event!
Packet Pick Up/Swag: Pick up was a breeze. Held in the start/finish area the day before. Plenty of parking, easy in/out (with temperature checks for participants). Each participant received a reusable bag that contained a mask and your finisher’s shirt. The finisher’s shirt was higher quality than a lot of others I’ve received the past.
Start area/Organization: There was plenty of parking near the park, access to indoor bathrooms as well as porto-potties. This was a very small race and they capped their numbers, so there was absolutely no line or crowds. Runners were asked to self-select a start wave in order to limit crowds in the start corrals.
Course: The course was well marked. Really flat with some minor exceptions (a bit of a longer-ish incline in campus and a short but relatively-steep(ish) hill in a park around mile 9). We went through the small downtown area, university campus and wove around plenty of residential neighborhoods and several beautiful local parks/nature areas. Because of the small number of runners combined with staggered start waves, there was very little in the way of companionship along the course. Where the 1/2 marathon splits off (around mile 10.5-11) there is virtually nothing but for the strategically placed volunteers/aid stations for several miles. As an example, I ran approx. miles 11-14.5 practically alone. This is not a complaint, under the circumstances I was grateful to be running an actual live race, but something to keep in mind if you are someone who requires large crowds to stay motivated. That said, the course had plenty of aid stations and each and every volunteer was super energetic and motivating. I got the sense we were all collectively grateful to be participating in a shared event.
Finish: The finish area was at the same location as the start. They did have a mini finisher tent where you received your medal and choice of snacks: banana, individually wrapped cookies (there is a set of volunteers somewhere who deserve a huge high-five for that!), chocolate milk, Gatorade, water, I think some fruit snacks or other small treat. Because it started/ended in a local park, there was plenty of space to meet your loved ones and relax after the race. We were treated to gorgeous weather as well, and the finish area was really laid back and enjoyable. Runners were invited to a local downtown restaurant to receive a free hamburger (I think?). I did not participate in that but instead found a local brewery for some delicious beer and a pizza.
Overall: this is a small town race for sure, but the race organizers clearly know what they are doing. Everything was well organized and easy to navigate as a participant. They were thoughtful with the covid precautions and still managed to put on a great event. Thank you Brookings for hosting and for welcoming the runners!
Small race, great production!
Great volunteer support on the course for this small race! The weather was sunny yet manageable. The course mostly scenic and flat. Nice shirt, reusable bag and cowbell in the … MORE
Great volunteer support on the course for this small race! The weather was sunny yet manageable. The course mostly scenic and flat. Nice shirt, reusable bag and cowbell in the packet. Banana and cookie at the end….. post COVID race, what more can you expect. Brookings is very nice and we enjoyed our stay in this college town!
Well organized marathon
We lucked on the weather for this Covid-19 postponed marathon. It was originally scheduled for May 16, 2020, but was postponed to September 12, 2020. Runners were given a temperature … MORE
We lucked on the weather for this Covid-19 postponed marathon. It was originally scheduled for May 16, 2020, but was postponed to September 12, 2020. Runners were given a temperature check at the packet pickup and had to wear a wrist band to show that they had the check. The 118 runners were divided up into 3 waves at the start to allow for sufficient distancing and were required to wear face coverings at the start. Once the race started, we were allowed to take off our masks. Due to the staggered start and the small field, runners became spaced out very quickly. There were a surprising number of volunteers who were stationed at every turn and at most intersections. Swag included a cow bell, a rather plain, but heavy finisher’s medal, and a zippered long-sleeved shirt. Post-race beef sliders were kindly provided by Nick’s Burgers, but they weren’t served at the finish line. Instead we had to go to their location for take out service. I had forgotten how pretty some of the trails were along the route, but this race is probably not for you if you like lots of spectators. Other than the volunteers, there were few people cheering the runners along the route.
Well Run Race - Good course for a PR
This race is well run. The swag is nothing great, but medal is pretty nice. This is a flat and fast course, a PR ripe for the picking, if the … MORE
This race is well run. The swag is nothing great, but medal is pretty nice. This is a flat and fast course, a PR ripe for the picking, if the weather cooperates.
A small college town that has some nice spots to eat and relax when done but gets pretty busy after the race.
Nice race - mostly flat, well organized
This is a well organized race. It starts and finishes at the same park with plenty of parking, so really nice to not have to worry about shuttling back to … MORE
This is a well organized race. It starts and finishes at the same park with plenty of parking, so really nice to not have to worry about shuttling back to your vehicle. The course goes through the South Dakota State University Campus, but other than that, it’s pretty much a residential run.
With the exception of one short, but very steep hill, it is a pretty flat course. If the wind isn’t blowing, it is the perfect course for a PR, but beware, South Dakota is known for it’s wind. The weather for this run was beautiful, but some years, it’s cold and wet.
The half marathon swag is just a short sleeve shirt and there isn’t an expo but packet pick-up is quick and painless.
Well organized race
Was surprised the race gave a 2-4-1 and club discounts. So I was running on my Maniacs discount and my wife got a free race. There was a post party … MORE
Was surprised the race gave a 2-4-1 and club discounts. So I was running on my Maniacs discount and my wife got a free race. There was a post party at a bar in town excellent. First rate swag with a nice 1/4 zip jacket(lightweight) and my wife’s age group prize was wool cap. As for the race course plus and minus. Plus nice college town with good neighborhoods. Minus why so many sidewalks and did we really have to run down the gravel beside the railroad tracks. Plus great bike paths thru parks. So for my wife it was great for me I just didn’t like that many sidewalks and turns. Again I was slow but it was my third marathon in a short period of time.