Editor’s note: This is the second of two articles compiled by Prairie Striders Running Club in advance of the Oct. 22 Brookings Marathon, Half Marathon and Relay. For more race information, go to brookingsmarathon.com.

More than five months after the 53^rd running of the Brookings Marathon was set to begin, runners will actually toe the starting line.

A tree-toppling derecho with south winds of 90 mph smacked Brookings at about 5:30 p.m. May 12, just a day and a half before the race. Pioneer Park, where the race is centered, was a mess of downed branches and trees, electricity was out throughout town, and its volunteer base was focused on restoring normalcy to their homes and businesses.

That was 163 days ago and the community now shows no sign of the destruction, but it lingers in memories.

Kevin Beermann, of Elk Point, is a long-time participant in the Brookings Half Marathon. He didn’t catch an email that went out Friday morning, May 13, and arrived in Brookings at 4 p.m. that day. 

“Our hearts just poured out to all the families that lived in the area and the community as a whole. They were going through so much hurt. We have run so many races that we totally understand that there are things that happen outside a person’s control. We are just so very happy that it was postponed and not cancelled,” Beerman said.

Runners rearrange schedules

Molly (Wedel) Radigan was an All-American college runner who at age 42 was to attempt her first marathon in May.

“When the news first broke on Friday, I was in disbelief. Crushed. I’ve followed an 18-week training plan to a T, finally got to race-day eve, and now nothing in my control,” said Radigan in May. “I wallowed in self-pity over the weekend, then Doug (her brother) and I decided to sign up for Fargo Marathon this coming weekend.” 

Radigan and Doug Wedel had successful marathon debuts in Fargo. Many runners found another marathon in which to invest their training.

However, race director Matt Bien said about 70% of the May entries forwarded their registration to this Saturday. The May field had 147 in the marathon, 318 in the half and 45 six-person relay teams. About 30% accepted an offer to have their race shirts mailed to them and bowed out. About 20% of the October field are new entries.

Organizers frustrated by derecho, too

Bien said, “Just like the runners, the race committee put in months of preparation. To get so close to race day and have everything fall apart was challenging to say the least. Supplies were moved back to storage. Shirts and medals had a home in my basement. Some perishable items were donated.  

“Fortunately, sponsors and vendors have been more than supportive about the move to October,” Bien said. “Almost all of our volunteers will be back.”

The custom medals and long-sleeve shirts are ordered months in advance and in bulk. So that limited the race’s ability to bring in additional runners.

Veteran runners return to Brookings

Beermann is among the 70% who kept Brookings on the race schedule. That’s not a surprise. “We love the Brookings Marathon/Half Marathon and the team that puts the race on … Brookings will be my 113 half marathon and truly my joy comes from hanging out with other runners,” said the long-time Brookings participant, who at age 71 is the oldest entry. 

He credits his coach for his running longevity. His coach also happens to be his wife, the 60-year-old spring chicken Sheila Beermann, who has run 138 marathons and over 115 half marathons. Sheila has completed a marathon in all 50 states, completed all six of the world’s major marathons and run a marathon on all the continents.

Kevin Beermann said, “We try to run a half marathon each month, so it really was not a challenge in any way for us” to prepare for the new Brookings date. “We attempt to be in half marathon shape at all time.  We are older and time is not our goal, but to actually just finish and have fun are the goals for us in this season of our running.”

North Dakotan plans 50-state celebration

For Nate Lizakowski, 47, of Grand Forks, North Dakota, his goal is to complete his 50^th state in Brookings. That also was his goal in May.

“I quickly made the decision to keep Brookings as my 50^th state, even if that meant waiting a year.  It took me seven years to get to this point so one more year wouldn’t be a huge deal.  But I was very happy the race rescheduled.

“The week after we were supposed to run Brookings, I pace ran for the Fargo Marathon.  My pace was 4 hours 10 minutes …  I did my usual summer training, which just includes running about four days a week of various distances along with a few 5k and 10k races.  I ran the Twin Cities Marathon Oct. 2 and the Bemidji Marathon Oct. 8.  

“Two weeks after Brookings I will be running the New York City Marathon, which is exciting because it is difficult to get into.  It is a lottery system and it took me six years of applying before I finally got in,”Lizakowski said.

He will be among 50,000 runners in New York, but Lizakowski won’t be lonely in Brookings, even when the half and full runners split near Mile 11.

65 family, friends and fellow runners to join in

That’s because Lizakowski and his crew from the Red River Runners in Grand Forks will almost fill up the Hampton Inn on their own. 

“Fingers crossed, there should be six of us running the full together.  I also have a bunch of friends and family running the half.  That was always the plan but now looks like there may be a couple more people than there would have been in May.  

“Also, my sister (Melissa Secord) will be running her first half.  She was not fully prepared in May, but she is now.  Glad she got some extra training time and I know she’ll do great!  I don’t think the anticipation among me or my friends has been affected (by the race’s postponement).  We are still very excited,” Lizakowski said.

Red River Runners also is fielding a relay team and Lizakowski expects a number of nonrunners and family to be on hand. “I literally invited everyone I have ever known.”

All told, he expects about 65 people to celebrate his 50^th state. “The plan is for the half people to circle back about a mile or so and we will all cross the finish line together (between 11:20 and 11:35 a.m.).  Should be quite the spectacle at the finish line!”

He notes there are only about 1,775 runners worldwide who are members of the 50 States Marathon Club. “I am not aware of anyone who has ever finished in a neighboring state. A lot of people finish in Alaska or Hawaii.  So this is a bit of a unique situation where I am completing close to home and am able to have a lot of friends and family there. Should be a really unique and fun time,” Lizakowski said.

Marathon excitement hits newbies, too

His excitement is also shared by Doug Wedel and Josh Grode Wolters, who are both running their second marathon.

Wedel, of Vermillion and master’s degree graduate of the University of South Dakota, is missing the D-Days parade. “My wife and mother-in-law will still take the kids so they won’t miss out. As for me, I’ll get the heady euphoria of finishing a marathon, so that’ll make up for it. I hope the course is pretty and I expect to have fun! “

Grode Wolters, of Sioux Falls, is hoping to clock a 3:20:00 to qualify for Chicago.

“I’m really excited to run in a true community-sponsored event, and it’s looking like the weather is going to be lovely. I can’t wait!”

Final word

The Brookings Marathon started in 1970, making it the 25^th oldest marathon in the United States – older than New York City, Chicago, and Grandma’s. A helpful spectator guide can be downloaded at: www.brookingsmarathon.com.