Think your family gatherings get a little out of hand? Erik Anderson jumped off the couch Sunday and ran a marathon without preparation on a bet with his brother.

The 29-year-old Arden Hills man ran 26.2 miles around Ramsey County after his brother Nik bet him $5,000 he couldn’t get up after a family meal and run a marathon in under five hours. Erik did it in 4 hours, 28 minutes.

“We have a healthy competition, but never any bets of this magnitude,” Erik said. The longest distance he had previously run was 13 miles a few years ago.

Over brunch for a niece’s birthday in Shoreview, a family member’s track career came up. Nik said he could run to Nelson’s Ice Cream in Stillwater, eat a cone and come back, which led to Erik betting that Nik couldn’t run a marathon for $500. Nik upped the ante, saying he’d give Erik $5,000 to run a marathon right after lunch.

“I scoffed at him and said, ‘You’re kidding, there’s no shot. I’d give you $5,000,’ totally joking, just being a smart-alec,” Nik said. “He goes, ‘OK,’ shakes my hand and I still think he’s kidding. Then he goes over and talks to his wife.”

“I ran over and asked my wife if I could do it and she wasn’t super pumped about it,” Erik said. “As soon as I ran out the door they looked it up online and found all these possible reasons people can die doing that.” Related Articles St. Paul man threatened another man with a sword, charges say

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Erik “scarfed down sloppy joes, chips and several dips, treats, coffee and most recently cake and ice cream. He set his plate down from finishing cake and ice cream to go change,” Nik said.

Erik changed into a brother-in-law’s running gear and ran to his own home six miles away. There he took a bathroom break, grabbed some water and changed into his own shoes. He then ran back to Shoreview to trade phones with his wife because his battery was low.

Other family and friends met him with water, Gatorade and the news that Nik had pushed their bet onto Facebook.

“I realized halfway through it’s becoming a bit of a following and there’s some hype on Facebook. With that many spectators there was some added motivation,” Erik said.

He then ran to Pleasant Lake in North Oaks where Nik met him to finish the last 11 miles of the race. The two brothers looped around the lake and headed back to Shoreview, where they were greeted by 40 of their friends and family members.

With a baby on the way, Erik plans to use the money to help raise his second child.

“It started as an exaggerated bet. I cut the check for him immediately,” Nik said. “From there, I’m pooling donations as long as they come in, helping me to not eat ramen for the rest of my life.”