Brookings Marathon - Brookings, South Dakota - Running

The Brookings Marathon is a Running race in Brookings, South Dakota consisting of a Half Marathon and Marathon and Marathon Relay.

The eastern South Dakota community of Brookings has hosted a marathon since the summer of 1970. Just as the course has changed a few times in the past 46 years, the racing experience continues to evolve. Today's event has beautiful neighborhoods, hundreds of wonderful volunteers, and a great post-race party for you and your family and friends. Our course takes runners through the best rural America has to offer: Parks, Gardens, Bike Paths, Historic Districts and South Dakota State University.

Most of the course is asphalt, with grass adjoining the pavement in many areas for runners who prefer an alternative surface. The course is flat, with a gentle grade thrown in here and there to keep things interesting. With the exception of Larson Hill (a 35' high hill that you could walk up and down in a minute) the entire course stays between 1595 and 1680 feet of elevation and never changes more than 40 feet over a single mile.

Because our course traverses the entire city, closing roads during the race would result in frustrated motorists and an increased safety risk. Accordingly, roads are open during the race, with volunteers controlling traffic at major intersections. Traffic in Brookings is light on a Saturday morning, but as in any road race, you are ultimately responsible for your own safety. Use of headphones and other devices that could distract you from traffic is discouraged. In the interest of runner safety, dogs, bikes, strollers and rollerblades are not allowed on the course.

The marathon course is open (water, first aid, traffic control provided) based on a 6 hour pace (13:45 per mile). Participants who are proceeding at a rate slower than this pace may be asked to leave the course for their own safety.