How do I enter the Brookings Marathon?

Registration is open to anyone, no qualifier required. Entry opens January 1 and closes one week before race day. Early pricing runs through July 27, with a higher late price from July 28 onward. There is no race-week or race-day registration, and the field is capped at 300 marathon runners.

Is the Brookings Marathon a Boston qualifier?

Yes, the course is USATF-certified and qualifies for Boston. Roughly one in eight finishers hits a BQ standard, so the course is fair but not a gimme — you'll want to show up ready.

What is the elevation profile like?

The course is a loop that is nearly net-flat, dropping just five feet overall. Total gain and loss each sit around 550 feet spread across the full distance, so there are no big climbs or steep descents to manage. Wind on the open sections is likely a bigger factor than the elevation.

What is the typical race-day weather?

Race day is October 3, and temperatures in Brookings typically range from the low 30s at the start to the upper 50s by midday. Wind is the main variable to plan around. Dress in throwaway layers for the corral and be ready to adjust.

How big is the field?

Recent finisher counts have been well under 200, making this a small, low-key event. The field is capped at 300 marathon runners.

Is the course USATF certified?

Yes, the Brookings Marathon course is USATF certified.

Sat, Oct 3 · 2026Brookings, SDSince 1970

Brookings Marathon

The Brookings Marathon is a low-key, genuinely flat loop through a South Dakota college town, where a small field and open entry make it one of the more approachable marathons on the northern plains.

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BROOKINGS · US

Brookings

SAT, OCT 3

2026

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Race Overview

EST. 1970

Brookings is the kind of race where you actually get to run your own race. The field is small, the course is a loop through town, and nobody is crowding you into the first mile. It starts and finishes at Pioneer Park downtown, and from the gun it feels calm. The loop keeps things honest. There are no long net downhills to pull you out too fast, and the elevation barely moves. The one thing that can catch you is wind. South Dakota in October can be breezy on the open sections, and that matters more than the profile. Stay patient early and don't let the flat miles trick you into banking time you'll need later.

This is a genuinely PR-friendly course if the weather cooperates, and it's a solid Boston qualifier attempt for runners who are close to their standard. The field is capped, but open registration means you don't need to fight a lottery or chase a qualifying time just to get in. Sign up early for the better price, and note there's no race-week or race-day registration. Sioux Falls is about an hour away if you're flying in, and there's lodging right in the downtown area. For a low-pressure, well-certified marathon with a flat course, it's hard to argue with.

Field size

~136

136 finishers

BQ rate

12%

Above national average

Time limit

6:00

Tight cutoff

Entry

Open

First-come registration

Course records

Men

2:23:29

Randy Fischer

1979

Women

2:48:25

Jane Wipf

1980

The Course

544 ft total gain

Total ascent

↑544 ft

Total descent

↓549 ft

Net elevation

↓5 ft

Highest point

1,690 ft

Lowest point

1,596 ft

Course shape

Loop

Start and finish in one place

The course is nearly net-neutral, losing just five feet overall across a loop that stays within a narrow band of elevation. Total gain and loss each sit around 550 feet, spread across 26.2 miles, meaning no single climb is severe. The modest, rolling grade changes come gradually enough that pacing should stay consistent throughout. There are no dramatic descents to bank time and no long climbs to manage. Runners chasing a qualifier will find the profile cooperative. Watch wind exposure on the open stretches, which can matter more than the elevation on a breezy October day in South Dakota.

DIFFICULTYROLLINGPR-FRIENDLYMODERATE

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Race-Day Weather

10-year median

Low

33°F

High

57°F

30°MARATHON-IDEAL 45–60°80°

What to expect

October in Brookings means a cold start and a cool finish. You'll likely be in the low-to-mid 30s at the gun, so dress in layers you're willing to toss. By the time you're in the back half, temps can climb into the high 50s, which is comfortable for racing. The bigger variable is wind. The plains can be breezy, and on an exposed loop course that adds up. It's not reliably a fast-weather day, but it's also not a heat-management race. Plan for the cold corral, and don't overdress for what comes after.

Entry

OPEN

Open registration year-round until one week before race day. Early entry pricing available through July 27; late pricing July 28 - October 3. No race day or race week registration. Field size limited to 300 marathon runners.

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Frequently Asked

7 questions

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