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Minnesota > Dick Beardsley Half Marathon & 5K
Detroit
Lakes,
MN
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Date
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Event
Details
First organized in 1996 as a tribute to hometown hero and legendary
marathon runner Dick Beardsley, the half marathon & 5K event
that bears his name is unique not just for its famous host but also for
the famous runners who attend and participate each year, from Carrie
Tollefson and Alberto Salazar to Joan Benoit Samuelson and Frank
Shorter, who was the marathon gold medalist in the 1972 Summer Olympics
and will serve as this year's special guest.
Following an out-and-back loop course that takes runners around Detroit
Lake, from which the city gets its name, the race is run entirely on
paved surfaces and features views of the water for nearly the entire
route. The starting line is at the Pavilion at the City Beach, from
which participants make an initial brief run along city blocks
northward and then return back to the lakeshore, where they begin the
lion's share of the course that takes them around the lake.
Runners will cross the finish line at the City Park, just a stone's
throw from the starting line over at the pavilion area.
The race draws several hundred runners each year for both the half
marathon and the 5K, many of whom no doubt come out to experience
what's it like to run with one of the country's and the world's true
running greats. Beardsley, who will be 52 on the day of the race, is
the two-time winner and still record holder of Duluth's famous
Grandma's Marathon, and has also won the London and Napa Valley
Marathons. He also holds the fifth-fastest men's marathon time in
history (and the fourth-fastest ever in the Boston Marathon, for his
1982 race there).
The city of Detroit Lakes itself is just as much of a draw for runners
from outside the local area, as it boasts more than 400 lakes within 25
miles of the city center. This portion of west central Minnesota is a
popular spot for vacationers around the Midwest for fishing and bird
watching in warm-weather months, and snowmobiling in the winter.
Race
Weather & Climate
Located in the northern half of the state and about 50 miles from the
border with North Dakota (and the city of Fargo), Detroit Lakes is
known for its mild, pleasantly warm summers and sometimes bitterly cold
winters, when temperatures regularly reach the single digits and
often drop below zero. In September, however, weather conditions are
typically benign, as temperatures during the month average between
69°F and 47°F. Rainfall amounts average just over 3
inches for the month.
Fees
$30 if registered by September 4, 2008
$35 on the day of the race
Registration
To register for the 2008 running of the Dick Beardsley Half
Marathon or the 5K, register online here.
Website
www.dickbeardsleyrun.com
Course Map
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Map
Share
Your Race Story
Ever run in Minnesota's Dick Beardsley Half Marathon? Share your
impressions and read fellow runners' stories
and tips for the event.
Discuss it in the HalfMarathons.Net
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