Other cities upset with marathons

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - The question of whether or not the Home of Purdue Half Marathon will take place in the Greater Lafayette area is still up in the air.

The Home of Purdue Half Marathon is just one of a number of races Dean Reinke has planned. News Channel 18 contacted cities across the country which had hosted races organized by Reinke. We found two that were upset, and one which reported a positive experience.

A marathon held by Reinke last year in Clarksville, Tennessee left some there wishing they would have thought twice before becoming involved.

Theresea Harrington, Executive Director of the Clarksville-Montgomery County Convention and Visitors Bureau said the city ended up paying for several items they had not expected to pay for, including the course and portable restrooms.

She said a lot of things Reinke should have paid for had to be donated by local organizations like security personnel and food. 

"Our whole original thought process was it was going to be a turn-key event. He was going to come in here, he was going to bring staff and he was going to work the event and give money back to our community like our YMCA and our Wings of Liberty Museum. He came in and what ended up happening was we ended up doing all of the work and he left town with a lot of money," said Harrington.

In an interview with News Channel 18 earlier this week, Reinke said he made a five-figure donation to the Clarksville YMCA after that event.

"We have a formula, we also have a donation program. Runners can make a donation to a charity. We allow runners to run for their own cause," said Reinke.

Reinke added his goal for every race, no matter in what market, is to create an event with a positive economic impact for that community.

"Our primary objective with all of our markets, and I made it clear from the get-go when we came to this community and said we would like to look at doing an event here, is that our primary goal is to build a tourism event that for years to come will bring in tourism," said Reinke.

That positive impact wasn't felt in Clarksville. According to Harrington, Reinke left runners without medals after they crossed the finish line.

"He was supposed to re-print the medals and send them to the runners. To this day, he has not done that," said Harrington.

Clarksville, Tennessee is not the only city upset with Reinke. Officials at the Convention and Visitors' Bureau in Bentonville, Arkansas said that due to the situation between them and Reinke, no comment could be made without an attorney present.

There are cities across the country that have had success with Reinke's marathons, however.

Officials in Worcester, Massachusetts told News Channel 18 the marathon Reinke organized there earlier this year was "a huge success" and "would be welcome back anytime."