Brookings Marathon
Brookings Marathon offers a fast, certified course through South Dakota's parks and historic districts.
Race Date
Oct 3, 2026
Location
Brookings, SD
Quick facts
- Date
- Saturday, October 3, 2026
- Location
- Brookings, South Dakota
- Distance
- Half marathon (13.1 mi) + 26.2M
- Course
- Point to Point
- Terrain
- Road
- USATF certified
- Yes
- Finishers on record
- 5,397
Highlights
Good For
Atmosphere
Course
The Experience
The Brookings Marathon, Half Marathon, and Relay is a well-established event, first run in 2005 and now in its 19th edition. It draws runners from approximately 14 states, with a median field size of around 206 finishers, indicating a steady and loyal following, as about 17% return each year.
The course winds through Brookings' scenic parks, gardens, university campus, and historic districts. As a USATF-certified course with minimal elevation change and a slight net drop, it's designed for speed, making it a prime location for runners aiming for personal bests or Boston Qualifying times.
Held in May, participants can expect typical race-day temperatures ranging from 55–73°F. The event offers a half marathon, relay, and 5K alongside the full marathon, providing options for various running goals.
Race-provided description
The Brookings Marathon passes through parks, gardens, university and historic districts. The race is held in May in South Dakota and includes a half marathon, relay and 5K.
Course Info
USATF CertifiedCourse Type
Point to Point
Terrain
road
Scenery
Park, Urban
Surface
Paved
Difficulty
Ultra-Flat
Net Drop/km
0 m (Flat)
Separation
0.9%
Also Offers
USATF Certified Course
SD18001MN · Brookings Half Marathon
Relatively flat with minimal net elevation change. Loop course — start and finish are close together.
Quality Score
Standout7920 years running
~213 finishers a year
growing or steady
18% returning runners
USATF certified · 3 photos
runners from 13 states
winner 1:07:16
typical high 73°F
Race Day Weather
5-year historical avgStart (Low)
55°
Afternoon (High)
73°
Warm — hydration strategy is key, start conservatively
0.1"
Precipitation
15 mph
Wind
60%
Humidity
Historical Finish Times
How 5,397 finishers actually crossed the line across 20 years.
Most recent
2026
Total finishers
5,397
Median time
2:04:59
Latest turnout
229
States
40
Turnout by year
2018–2026
Hover the histogram to inspect specific finish times.
Race Photos
Frequently asked
When is the Brookings Marathon?
The Brookings Marathon was held on Saturday, October 3, 2026.
Where does the Brookings Marathon take place?
It takes place in Brookings, South Dakota.
What distances does the Brookings Marathon offer?
The half marathon (13.1 miles), plus 26.2M.
Is the Brookings Marathon course flat and good for a PR?
The Brookings Marathon is a ultra-flat, point to point course. The course is USATF-certified, so finish times can be used for qualifying.
How many people run the Brookings Marathon?
HalfRuns has finish records for 5,397 runners who have completed the Brookings Marathon.
HalfRuns editorial — independent, no paid placement.
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