Essentia Health Dick Beardsley Races

The Essentia Health Dick Beardsley Races draw thousands of runners to Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, for a weekend featuring several distances: a half marathon, 10K, 5K, youth run, and 25K. This family-favorite series, now in its 31st year, offers options for children, first-timers, regular road runners, and those seeking a longer Minnesota road race. The courses wind through miles of Minnesota roads around Detroit Lakes, creating a community road-race atmosphere rather than a single-distance competition. The event's name is literal: runners can meet Dick Beardsley, the legendary American distance runner, and some have the opportunity to run alongside him. A Friday night dinner with Beardsley is part of the race-weekend tradition, providing a personal element uncommon in most local races.