Fate of half marathon race unclear

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - The fate of the Purdue Half Marathon leaves many runners questioning if the race will be run.

The Home of Purdue Half Marathon was announced in December 2009, but Lafayette, West Lafayette and Purdue pulled their support from the event in April 2010. Still, the organizer, Dean Reinke of Reinke Sports Group, encourages runners to keep training for the October 24, 2010 race.

"Let me go on record. This event is not going to be canceled. For the cities to say it is canceled is inaccurate,” said Reinke.

Reinke said he already sent a check to cover the cost for local law enforcement to work the event.

"They've said the money has been returned back. I've not got it,” he said. “They also said they sent me a formal letter saying that they're not involved. I haven't seen that either."

The City of West Lafayette provided News Channel 18 a copy of a letter address to Reinke dated July 26, 2010. It reads: "This letter is sent to restate and make clear the joint agreed position of the City of Lafayette, the City of West Lafayette and Purdue University (the Entities) concerning your proposed half marathon event. As previously decided after due consideration, the Entities now reiterate they they do not support your attempts to conduct this event. None of the Entities will permit you to conduct the event on any publicly regulated property within the jurisdictions of the entities. You are directed, and demand is hereby made, to cease and desist in representing in any manner that your event is in any way sanctioned or authorized by any of the Entities or any of their instrumentalities. It is not.
Please be advised that any actions taken by you or your organization to conduct the event without proper authorization will constitute a threat to public safety and will be dealt with as such.”

It is signed by Mayor Tony Roswarski of Lafayette, Mayor John Dennis of West Lafayette and the Vice President for Marketing and Media of Purdue University.

News Channel 18 also obtained a copy of a voided check for $5,000 from Reinke Sports Group to the City of West Lafayette for police.

"I sent that check back to him by Fed Ex on July 27, 2010,” said West Lafayette attorney Eric Burns. “The check itself I personally wrote 'void' across the face of it so it could never be cashed and there would never be any loss to Mr. Reinke. That was returned to him. I got delivery confirmation.”

Reinke said if the cities and university won't cooperate, he'll find another race route.

"We'll find a course,” he stated. “That won't be a problem."

But West Lafayette Mayor John Dennis believes it could be.

"There is a limited amount of space he can conduct a mini marathon in this county,” said Dennis. “The cities of Lafayette and West Lafayette have to be involved. There is an approval process for doing something of this magnitude on a public road."

Dennis will recommend the needed permits not be granted, but Reinke insists that will not affect the race.

"When they mention about going to the public works and getting it approved there, I don't need to. We've already got it approved. We have an agreement,” said Reinke.

Reinke believes there's been some misinformation about the half marathon and wants to clear it up so the race will be cleared by the cities. Reinke said he hopes to meet with city leaders to work out the situation.

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