Peters family balances politics and cross country

By Mary Albl for DyeStat

HARTFORD, S.D. -- Tuesday is Election Day. 

For Derick Peters, Nov. 8 is just another typical crazy day. 

"It's always a little crazy, I gotta be honest," Peters said of his life. "I'm just kind of used to it."

Derick is a standout junior distance runner and soccer player from West Central High in Hartford, S.D.

His mom Deb is a State Senator and on Tuesday's ballot in South Dakota. His younger brother Braden is also on the cross county team. Their dad Chris, he's a corporate controller for the company POET. 

Four family members, four completely different schedules. 

Crazy is the norm for the Peters. 

"When I first was elected, the boys were 3 and 4 years old," said Deb Peters, who is a Republican State Senator for District 9. "And they really don't know any better. They have two parents going in opposite directions."

Phones, E-mail and Google Calendar -- all are daily staples in the Peters family, and help keep them organized and synced. 

"Every election cycle is crazy, and then you throw the cross country season in there. But family has always been important for me," Deb Peters said. "I only missed a couple of meets at the beginning of the year, but the big meets we're all there."

This fall in particular has been extra special for the family as Derick has emerged as one of the top runners in the country. 

On Aug. 26, he ran an eye-opening time of 15 minutes, 8 seconds at the John Collignon Invitational in Madison. Deb Peters said they made sure to have the course re-measured to verify it was a true 5,000-meter layout, as they weren't 100 percent convinced he put down that fast of a time. 

But as the season went, fast times and first place became a constant.

On Sept. 10, Derick won the Nike Heartland Preview in 15:16.3. Most recently, he claimed the South Dakota Class A State title in 15:37.7. 

"I definitely believe this is way more than I expected," Derick Peters said of his rapid progression. "I've put in a lot of good, hard miles and workouts, but I can't ever say I expected to say it's gone this far."

In August, the Peters hired Grant Watley, owner of 605 Running. He's served as coach for Derick and Braden (who is 17 months younger) outside of school. 

"I think he's (Watley) really added a good sense of guidance," Derick Peters said. "For summer training, I would just kind of go out and do whatever. And now I have a purpose."

Derick will run Nov. 13 in the Nike Cross Heartland Regional at Yankton Trail Park, in Sioux Falls and try and qualify for NXN. He said he also plans to give the Foot Locker Midwest Regionals a try Nov. 26 at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. 

"It doesn't matter what he's doing, he just dives in with both feet and moves forward," Deb Peters said. "He's had that drive every since I can remember."

Although sports and school are two of the main priorities for Derick, he does make a point to engage with his mom's role as a legislator. 

"It's fun to kind of tag along to some of her meetings," he said. "I don't know if I'll ever get involved in politics but it's always an interesting subject."

Come Election Day, Derick and his brother will both have roles.  

"That will be a busy day," Derick Peters said. "I definitely expect to come home from school and be put to work."

Deb explained that a typical schedule on Election Tuesday isn't spent in front of the television. Instead, it's all work.

In the evening, the Peters' will pull signs down. The signs are large 4x6 feet billboard type signs that have been put together with zip-ties and steel posts. 

“As soon as the polls close, the signs come down,” Deb Peters said. “People are tired of the election, especially this year, and we just want to get out of the way as soon as possible."

And once it's Wednesday morning, the standard business day starts again. 

“We don't have the luxury in South Dakota of being full-time legislators. We are part-time legislators so we have a business,” Deb Peters explained. “I run my accounting firm, my husband has to go back to work, the kids have to go back to school, so it's just another day."

Just another typical crazy day for the Peters family.