US EditionThe strides and struggles of North Dakota's first marathon
- The North Dakota Marathon, initiated by Eric T. Parker, ran annually from 1972 to 1985 in Grand Forks, North Dakota, starting as a 15-mile race.
- The race began during a U.S. Running boom influenced by Olympic gold medalist Frank Shorter, although initially it faced challenges like minimal local support and a nonstandard distance.
- The number of participants grew, peaking in 1978 with 386 runners in full or half marathons, and winning times steadily improved as the course extended to the official marathon distance by 1974.
- Despite receiving local newspaper coverage and YMCA sponsorship, the marathon struggled financially, losing $600 in 1984, and executive director Lyle Oechsle said, “no one seemed to care.”
- The race ended after 1985 because local interest waned, with organizer Eric Parker describing it as “a regional race” whose main goal was enjoyment rather than size or prominence.
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The strides and struggles of North Dakota's first marathon
GRAND FORKS — It was the little marathon that could, until it couldn’t. But as it neared its 10-year anniversary, the North Dakota Marathon had a difficult time being recognized in its own community, even with front-page coverage in its daily newspaper. Five years later, as the number of runners dwindled, the marathon itself crossed its own finish line. Running from 1972 to 1985, the North Dakota Marathon wasn’t a marathon to begin with, at leas…
·Fargo, United States
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