Since our inaugural race in 1977, Grandma’s Marathon has grown into one of the largest and most popular marathons in the United States. Now much bigger than just a 26.2-mile road race, Grandma’s Marathon is now a “can’t miss” weekend that brings together runners of all calibers and from all over the world for a yearly celebration of the human spirit.
Named four straight years as the state’s best annual sporting event by “Minnesota’s Best” voters, Grandma’s Marathon has become the unofficial “kickoff to summer” event in the region. With rolling hills and a net downhill elevation, our racecourse starts north of Duluth, MN near Two Harbors and runs along Scenic Highway 61, hugging the shores of Lake Superior before taking participants through the heart of downtown Duluth and finishing in historic Canal Park.
The point-to-point course even offers runners a tailwind most years, making it the perfect place for a marathon rookie or a veteran trying for a PR or Boston Marathon qualifying time. Not only that, but one of the nation’s largest expos as well as a traditional pre-race spaghetti feed and great post-race entertainment make for a weekend experience that is the total package for our participants.
Since its start in 1991, the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon has grown into one of the most popular and largest half marathons in the United States. Named a “Runners Choice” event by RaceRaves, the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon was voted in 2019 the best 13.1-mile race in the state of Minnesota. The racecourse starts north of Duluth, MN and runs along Scenic Highway 61, finishing in historic Canal Park.
The William A. Irvin 5K started in 1994 and has now become the popular kickoff event to an exciting lineup of races and festivities on Grandma’s Marathon weekend in Duluth, MN.
A perfect race for people of all ages and abilities, the 3.1-mile course was named after the William A. Irvin ore boat located next to the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC). The course will take you on a tour of Canal Park past some of Duluth’s most iconic landmarks, including Bayfront Festival Park, Sister Cities Park, Gichi-ode Akiing Park, the Lake Superior Maritime Museum, the Aerial Lift Bridge, and the William A. Irvin ore boat museum.
Grandma’s Marathon weekend is a time the word “impossible” ceases to exist and when more than 20,000 people become your biggest supporters and best running buddies. So get ready to once again tie up your laces for another year of memories, miles, and human might.
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Beautiful, point to point course!
The start was a little chaotic when I ran it. There was a lot of construction going on and they only offer shuttles to the start. It took an hour … MORE
The start was a little chaotic when I ran it. There was a lot of construction going on and they only offer shuttles to the start. It took an hour to get to the start and then I waited in line for 30 minutes for the bathroom. Started the race about 10 minutes late. Otherwise, the course was beautiful and well organized!
The Hype is Well Deserved
This is one of those races that everyone says you should do... and they are right! Extremely well organized, beautiful course (although the second half is the most beautiful, so … MORE
This is one of those races that everyone says you should do… and they are right! Extremely well organized, beautiful course (although the second half is the most beautiful, so for those interested in the half marathon, you’re still getting most of the views). Great shirt, great medal. Easy to navigate the city… the expo, buses to the start, and finish line are all right next to each other. The only challenge is securing a hotel reservation… make sure to do this 10 or more months in advance, although you can get on a wait list for many of the hotels as well. Definitely worth staying in Canal Park to be close to the action and avoid having to drive at all over the weekend.
Fast and flat early morning!
From a half marathon perspective, its an early morning! I stayed south of Duluth in the Proctor area and pick up to the start line was super easy. I stayed … MORE
From a half marathon perspective, its an early morning! I stayed south of Duluth in the Proctor area and pick up to the start line was super easy. I stayed at America’s Best Value Inn and it was actually really great for the weekend. A shuttle picks you up in the parking lot, takes you to the shuttle location without any hiccups or long lines (I know others who stayed closer to downtown had SUPER LONG wait lines). I also had my bib mailed to me, so I didn’t have to wait in the long traffic line to get into the expo.
The course is very flat, minus a few hills closer into the town of Duluth. There aren’t any turns until you get into downtown, so if running in one long straight line isn’t your thing… then that’s something to think about.
The medal was great! The cheering got better closer to town but overall, its a nice race through a nice bit of nature.
Overall, I felt like the 2024 race just doesn’t give the whole picture of the joy that is Grandma’s weekend… It was cold and rainy, so I didn’t really get to enjoy the after party for the full experience. But it was a great experience overall!
Lot's of crowd support
The town shows up for this race - it's a big event in Duluth and that makes it really fun. Super friendly people, beautiful views along Lake Superior and a … MORE
The town shows up for this race – it’s a big event in Duluth and that makes it really fun. Super friendly people, beautiful views along Lake Superior and a great finish line. BOOK HOTELS EARLY they fill up way in advance!!!!
great race
It was well run and well supported, big crowds and lots of fun. Great vendors at packet pickup. Was a cool and rainy day, but there were space blankets at … MORE
It was well run and well supported, big crowds and lots of fun. Great vendors at packet pickup. Was a cool and rainy day, but there were space blankets at the end
Big-hearted race in a small city
This is one of the most popular races and for good reason. The half start line is outside of Duluth along Lake Superior. It’s very quiet and peaceful along the … MORE
This is one of the most popular races and for good reason. The half start line is outside of Duluth along Lake Superior. It’s very quiet and peaceful along the first portion of the race. Crowds increase once you get inside the city limits and people are very supportive and enthusiastic. Lots of water stations too. A huge race expo and tons of merch available. Book your accommodation early!
Grandma's Marathon put it on your list
Fantastik race with lots of energy. course was laid out very well. I expected more views of Lake Surpierior however the first 17 miles had only glimpses, but made up … MORE
Fantastik race with lots of energy. course was laid out very well. I expected more views of Lake Surpierior however the first 17 miles had only glimpses, but made up for it the last 9. had plenty of great volenteers throughout the course. few rolling inclines but overall a flat course. Mile markers had ballons that could be seen from a great distance. The only negative is be sure to somehow find a room early because they seem to sell out a year in advance.
Nice course along Lake Superior
The Garry Bjorkland half shares its course with the second half of the Grandma's marathon. The half marathon starts 105 minutes before the full (giving the half time to mostly … MORE
The Garry Bjorkland half shares its course with the second half of the Grandma’s marathon.
The half marathon starts 105 minutes before the full (giving the half time to mostly finish before the full), but that also means that half runners have to get up before ‘Disney early’. (3am for me). It is mandatory to take a bus to the half start. There are several sites to catch busses at.
This year they went to a 3 ‘corral’ system, and the ‘corrals’ filled up fast. Faster runners need to get to the start earlier to get a forward spot. Fortunately as a BOPer, it was easy to get in the back.
I loved the course. Gentle rollers with a net downhill, along the north shore of Lake Superior, back into Duluth. It could be a very fast course.
Packet pickup is held at the DECC. There is plenty of paid parking, and many vendors. There is also a pasta dinner available.
Also plenty of beautiful sightseeing in the area, whether permitting.
Amazing race!!
I raced Grandma's as part of my 3 marathons in 3 months to become a Marathon Maniac, and it was my final of those three marathons so I was in … MORE
I raced Grandma’s as part of my 3 marathons in 3 months to become a Marathon Maniac, and it was my final of those three marathons so I was in bad pain the entire race since my legs were so shot but the scenery was incredible, great crowd support, it was well run, the expo was fantastic, and I loved staying in the dorms! I’d definitely run it again since the course is mostly flat but as it was I got my worst marathon time by 6 minutes.
Flat, Fast, and Friendly
As billed, Grandma's is a great race for trying to get PRs and BQs. It's flat, it's fast, and there are no surprises. Support is amazing throughout the race and … MORE
As billed, Grandma’s is a great race for trying to get PRs and BQs. It’s flat, it’s fast, and there are no surprises. Support is amazing throughout the race and the energy is wonderful.
It’s a small town so crowds are thin through most of the course except in some sections. Transportation to the front line is well organized with a train and busses. I took the train. Parking in the morning was tough. The DECC parking is mostly full from the half-marathoners that start at 6am. So the ladies at the info deck recommended parking on 1st st in a parking garage. Decent number of homeless on 1st st so wouldn’t recommend parking street side.
While the views from the train are OK (lake on the right and forest on the left), the opportunity to sit in a warm train car with bathrooms (lines can be long) is nice compared to sitting in a bus and waiting at the start line for over an hour. The train gets in around 710-715 (30 minutes before the start) so there isn’t much time to drop the gear and quick bio-break. I just went in the bushes like everyone else. There could be more porta-potties at the start though.
My only gripe was the gear pick up lines. There was no organization and just a flood of people trying to get their gear. It took over 30 minutes to get my gear bag all the while standing in the cold rain after a marathon in wet clothes. Not ideal. I heard it was better in years past. Maybe it was just a hiccup for this year.
Overall great race, highly recommended if you want to get a good time and run a comfortable race.
Loved the course and well organized.
Ride the train if possible to avoid long wait out in the cold before to run. If you do the Grandma's challenge, don't take the 5k to hard. Save leg … MORE
Ride the train if possible to avoid long wait out in the cold before to run. If you do the Grandma’s challenge, don’t take the 5k to hard. Save leg for the morning run.
Great Race -- Small Town!
The logistics of the race was hard to get to, but the course was all the hype was well worth it. It was fast and fun and spectators and entertainment … MORE
The logistics of the race was hard to get to, but the course was all the hype was well worth it. It was fast and fun and spectators and entertainment did not disappoint. The con was the parking. There was not enough parking and we had to pay $10 daily to park at the convention center and the public park. With Grandma’s Marathon Weekend highly desired race to run by runners, the race itself have outgrown the small town. This race was definitely an experience, but it was a one and done for me.
If you can get in...run it!!
This was such a fun fast race. I literally was surprised at how quickly I went from one mile to the next. The race follows the coastal road so on … MORE
This was such a fun fast race. I literally was surprised at how quickly I went from one mile to the next. The race follows the coastal road so on one side is the lake and the other homes. Race support on the course was amazing, the city and people really embraces the race and runners. Though the city itself is hilly, the race only had two two hills mile 9 and 10.5. construction near the end narrowed the course a bit which made it frustrating because some people would walk 3 in a row narrowing the race route.
Post race was great! Bagels, peanut butter, chips, apples and of course beer!! This year it rained at the end of the race and the wind made it cold, but during the half the weather was perfect. For those running the full the rain was miserable! Also, there are a lot of runners so there’s a lot of people zigzagging through the course and the first 4 miles can get tight! Also watch for pot holes, my run partner twisted his ankle in a pot hole. Another runner broke her foot when another runner smashed into it zigzagging.
Great 5k!
The course was beautiful and went quickly :) Everything was organized well. Lots of spectators cheering you on the entire way. Good way to shake out after a long road … MORE
The course was beautiful and went quickly 🙂 Everything was organized well. Lots of spectators cheering you on the entire way. Good way to shake out after a long road trip or flight before the marathon
A great race in a fantastic city!
I ran the Great Grandma's Challenge (5k on Friday night, Marathon on Sat). The event is really superb - the expo, the 5k, the transportation to the start - the … MORE
I ran the Great Grandma’s Challenge (5k on Friday night, Marathon on Sat). The event is really superb – the expo, the 5k, the transportation to the start – the spectators!!!!
The course is mostly flat with some rollers from start to finish, but nothing too aggressive. I’ve run the GB Half a few times and while the last 13.1 miles have more spectators – the first half of the Marathon goes by quickly thanks to the flat conditions.
The pack didn’t start to thin out until mile 5, so plan on keeping one eye on the road and one on the person ahead of you – saw a few folks bite some pavement because they weren’t paying attention.
Rain this year made it cooler than ideal after the race – bummer, because the after party and live music is always a good time at Bayfront.
Great Race -- Small Town!
The logistics of the race was hard to get to, but the course was all the hype was well worth it. It was fast and fun and spectators and entertainment … MORE
The logistics of the race was hard to get to, but the course was all the hype was well worth it. It was fast and fun and spectators and entertainment did not disappoint. The con was the parking. There was not enough parking and we had to pay $10 daily to park at the convention center and the public park. With Grandma’s Marathon Weekend highly desired race to run by runners, the race itself have outgrown the small town. This race was definitely an experience, but it was a one and done for me.
Large Race with Fun Atmosphere
If you're like me, I enjoy the events and production of races, not so much the running LOL This is a fun race that has beautiful views. From what I … MORE
If you’re like me, I enjoy the events and production of races, not so much the running LOL This is a fun race that has beautiful views. From what I can remember it was an easy course which is great since I was way under-trained. But hey, I finished 🙂
This Grandma gets better with age
BOTTOM LINE: Honestly, it’s tough to find fault with the Grandma’s Marathon. Sure, I could complain that true to the law of supply and demand, local hotels and businesses jack … MORE
BOTTOM LINE: Honestly, it’s tough to find fault with the Grandma’s Marathon. Sure, I could complain that true to the law of supply and demand, local hotels and businesses jack up their prices for race weekend—case in point, our room at the Holiday Inn & Suites in Downtown Duluth cost nearly $400/night, more than a room at the world-class Four Seasons Hotel in Sydney, Australia. And maybe I could argue that scheduling a race in mid-June dares Mother Nature to bring the summer heat. But at that point I’d just be looking for reasons to kvetch.
Instead, I’ll say that Grandma’s is where small-town charm & hospitality meet big-city efficiency & logistics, with the world’s largest freshwater lake as its centerpiece. It’s a definite “feel good” race, and in that sense it reminds me of a Fargo (ND) or a Missoula (MT) or a Clarence DeMar (NH), though Grandma’s hosts a significantly larger field than its small(er)-town counterparts. So it’s no surprise that this year’s sellout was the fastest in the race’s 48-year history.
The tranquil, tree-lined course parallels Lake Superior for 23 miles without a single turn before finishing at Duluth Harbor, a stone’s throw from the city’s most iconic architectural landmark, the Aerial Lift Bridge. And the lake’s not the only thing that’s Superior, as every volunteer I met was enthusiastic, supportive and helpful. Grandma’s is a major boon to the local economy, and clearly the city rallies around its race. As well it should— as the tenth-largest marathon in the U.S. in 2023, the pride of Duluth punches well above its weight class and merits strong consideration as the biggest small-town race in America.
Dining Tip: For a memorable meal in Duluth check out Va Bene, an Italian eatery that boasts an enclosed solarium and outdoor deck overlooking Lake Superior.
PRODUCTION: Show me a perennially popular race weekend that hosts nearly 20,000 runners in a town of 86,000 residents, and I’ll show you a level of professional excellence that’s second to none. When it comes to logistics and runner satisfaction, the Grandma’s team does pretty much everything well. In addition to getting the big important things right, the organizers show a thoughtful attention to detail that clearly comes from a legit combination of expertise and caring.
Nothing about race weekend feels half-assed, from the bustling expo (among the best I’ve seen outside a World Marathon Major), to the start-line shuttle buses (comfortable and on time), to the highly visible balloon mile markers along the course, to the strategically positioned aid stations (officially every two miles for the first 20 miles, then every mile to the finish), to the finish-line gathering in Canal Park. I also heard good things about the post-race celebration in Bayfront Festival Park, though I didn’t attend. The race even offered a separate train and viewing experience for spectators (at $90 per person, including a pair of Grandma’s Marathon-branded socks) that Katie would highly recommend.
SWAG: The 2023 Grandma’s Marathon medal is a well-crafted keepsake and an instant favorite. Suspended from a bright orange ribbon, the medal is a hefty handful of silver-plated hardware that depicts a scene of summer in Canal Park starring Duluth Harbor and the Aerial Lift Bridge. Adding a splash of color are the red race name and blue state outline of Minnesota with red dot showing the location of Duluth. Meanwhile, the finisher shirt—which as the name suggests runners received only after crossing the finish line—is the typical short-sleeve tech tee, though its attractive dark blue color makes it more appealing (and more likely to be worn) than the usual black, white or brightly colored alternative.
For more details on race weekend specifically and Duluth in general, check out my race report at https://blisterscrampsheaves.com/2024/03/26/grandmas-marathon-race-report/
Nice race that’s sneaky tough.
Grandma’s was a nice destination race though not my favorite (to be fair, I’ve been fortunate enough to do some really incredible ones). The course was nice, but it’s a … MORE
Grandma’s was a nice destination race though not my favorite (to be fair, I’ve been fortunate enough to do some really incredible ones). The course was nice, but it’s a while before it starts running along the lakefront. It was tougher than I expected. I thought it would be pretty flat, but was surprised by the number of rolling hills. None of them were really bad, but they do add up and you feel it later. Crowds are sparse until you get to Duluth but they show out once you’re there. Support along the course is excellent and aid stations are plentiful.
Overall it was well put together with a few small things they could do better. They could have used more toilets at the start area as there were a lot of people still in line when the race was starting. I caught the shuttle buses from the mall and was on a municipal bus that was not designed to seat everyone and ended having to stand for the ride to the start area. The shuttles did run smoothly though and got us there with plenty of time. The post-race production was nice, but the music, beer and a lot of the food was a bit of a walk from the finish—more than I really wanted to do on tired legs.
If you’re coming from out of town, book your hotel really early and you have to call because none of them post on travel apps for that weekend. I booked in March—nothing was left in the area near the finish and I barely found something in Duluth at all.
Beautiful course with a lot of runners
This race was amazing. There were more runners than I expected. My friend and I had to wait a while to board the shuttle. Also, the porta-potty line was extremely … MORE
This race was amazing. There were more runners than I expected. My friend and I had to wait a while to board the shuttle. Also, the porta-potty line was extremely long.
The race was very nice with many spectators and ran along Lake Superior. I didn’t train as much as I would’ve liked but I could still get my PR on that day.
Post-race, there were a lot of vendors and freebies as well.