Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Run for the Lakes Marathon


 * The following discussion is an archived debate of the proposed deletion of the article below. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the article's talk page or in a deletion review).  No further edits should be made to this page.

The result was merge to Nisswa, Minnesota. The arguments against keeping are far more substantial and subsequently given more weight in terms of policy. (non-admin closure) RandomCanadian (talk / contribs) 18:28, 25 May 2021 (UTC)

Run for the Lakes Marathon

 * – ( View AfD View log )

Only sources are local news (mainly Brainer Dispatch) or results listings. The race falls well short of the standards at WP:NATH; for context, a course of record of 2:35 is amateur and could likely be achieved by a healthy runner with 4-5 years of training. Also, the race has only been around since 2008 and so has no or little historical significance beyond the local level, if that. One source which is beyond the local level, is simply a forum and not a WP:RS. Other evidence that could be taken into consideration for a lack of notability is the low participation and low prize money. Willbb234Talk (please &#123;&#123;ping&#125;&#125; me in replies) 22:39, 28 April 2021 (UTC)
 * Note: This discussion has been included in the list of Events-related deletion discussions. Willbb234Talk (please &#123;&#123;ping&#125;&#125; me in replies) 22:39, 28 April 2021 (UTC)
 * Note: This discussion has been included in the list of Sports-related deletion discussions. Willbb234Talk (please &#123;&#123;ping&#125;&#125; me in replies) 22:39, 28 April 2021 (UTC)
 * Note: This discussion has been included in the list of Minnesota-related deletion discussions. Willbb234Talk (please &#123;&#123;ping&#125;&#125; me in replies) 22:39, 28 April 2021 (UTC)

Strong Keep: AFD made in good faith by editor concerned about Notability, citing references are too close to source. References are from multiple news organizations, some local, but extend beyond region (though not eliciting an A1 headline at NYT), move past one-time event coverage from a variety of sources. Coverage extends beyond "bear-in-the-tree" and routine so-and-so won, is not sensational nor criminal nor single person. GNG event is notable as a large event in the region. Other articles the editor should consider putting on the list include Minneapolis Marathon, Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Film Festival, Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show.Comm260 ncu (talk) 15:41, 29 April 2021 (UTC)
 * I never said the "references are too close to source". Also, all but a few sources are local not just "some". It is not a "large event in the region" seeing as the participation is "150+". Willbb234Talk (please &#123;&#123;ping&#125;&#125; me in replies) 17:12, 29 April 2021 (UTC)
 * The box you added says that you are looking for sources that "are independent of the topic." I believe the sources show a wide variety, much more than most, with a core of articles from a newspaper based south of the small town where the marathon takes place. The articles states that the weekend draws more than 1,500 participants and 500 volunteers, so along with the families/spectators, the event is one of the larger events in the region. I figured the info-box should be for just the race, but I can change that to match the total race participants. Though you are correct that it is no massive 25,000 person race. But I believe it is an event of notable prominence, one that takes a solid place in the community and so the article allows even smaller communities to say that Wikipedia is indeed a comprehensive written compendium. On a side-note, great work on the Boston year-to-year articles—they look great! Let me know if you need more help on those.Comm260 ncu (talk) 22:29, 29 April 2021 (UTC)

Keep: Lots of results sources listed, but that's pretty typical of a marathon page (though most just list one source, even though the results are incomplete on the one page, so it that sense, this page is more thorough). A quick Google search only turns up four Brainerd articles, which doesn't mean there isn't more out there. There are local sources here, but others from outside the area demonstrating length and depth of coverage. Star Tribune is one of the top 10 news orgs in the US, though I would like to see deeper coverage for this. I've seen some pretty ragged marathon pages out there Seattle Marathon, Flying Pig Marathon, Washington D.C. Marathon—and DC isn't setting any land-speed records either. Keep with consideration to re-evaluate athletic events in the future (does Wikipedia need a sweep of all non-AIMS events? Small league baseball/football in US is considered notable, see Burlington Sock Puppets or Carolina Phoenix, but has less participants, less fans and less impact in the community than a marathon in a tri-city area).Kingsriter201 (talk) 19:38, 29 April 2021 (UTC)
 * I would recommend you take a look at WP:OTHERSTUFFEXISTS. I have been trying to sort out marathon articles for a while now and have taken a few to GA, so I am certainly not filing this AfD with little knowledge of what else goes on around Wikipedia, and especially with little knowledge of marathon articles. Kind regards, Willbb234Talk (please &#123;&#123;ping&#125;&#125; me in replies) 21:38, 29 April 2021 (UTC)

 Relisted to generate a more thorough discussion and clearer consensus.

Please add new comments below this notice. Thanks, CommanderWaterford (talk) 10:51, 7 May 2021 (UTC)  Relisted to generate a more thorough discussion and clearer consensus.

Please add new comments below this notice. Thanks, Nosebagbear (talk) 15:50, 14 May 2021 (UTC)
 * Delete or Merge and redirect - Per Notability (events) and WP:GNG. I do not see how this event - based on the sourcing I found online and in the article. 99% of the reliable secondary sources are from the same publication - the Brainerd Dispatch which is the local newspaper. The rest are unreliable, primary sources. I also do not see, per WP:EVENT, how this marathon has "enduring historical significance and meet the general notability guideline, or if they have a significant lasting effect." Nor does it have widespread - national or international - coverage. I'm not convinced it merits inclusion in our encyclopedia. I would perhaps support a Merge and redirect to Nisswa, Minnesota - perhaps creating a Nisswa, Minnesota section - as an WP:Alternative to deletion. Missvain (talk) 14:49, 21 May 2021 (UTC)
 * Thanks for your thoughts and suggestions, Missvain. You're right that the Dispatch is one of the main sources here, as it is the large city near the town where the race is run. I'll push back by saying that the coverage demonstrates "significant impact over a wide region, domain, or widespread societal group" by restating the importance shown in the coverage from the Dispatch, the magazines, and the other news orgs. I'll look for some TV coverage based on your comments. Thanks for your time. Comm260 ncu (talk) 03:44, 22 May 2021 (UTC)


 * Merge and redirect As per Missvain. MrsSnoozyTurtle 01:55, 23 May 2021 (UTC)
 * Merge and redirect as per Missvain. Powerful Karma (talk) 03:04, 24 May 2021 (UTC)


 * The above discussion is preserved as an archive of the debate. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the article's talk page or in a deletion review). No further edits should be made to this page.