Since its 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 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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Grandma’s was rough for me!
Mostly it was on me (I wasn’t well enough trained), but there were some things about Grandma’s that made it hard for me. First, getting to the start line. Second, … MORE
Mostly it was on me (I wasn’t well enough trained), but there were some things about Grandma’s that made it hard for me. First, getting to the start line. Second, it was incredibly humid. Third, I was near the back and a lot of the latter aid stations were packing up when I got there. Also, I can’t say I loved the swag.
Great Race
Super fun race - beautiful scenery and great organization. Only thing I wasn't a big fan of was the shirt. Volunteers were great, plenty of aid stations. A little bit … MORE
Super fun race – beautiful scenery and great organization. Only thing I wasn’t a big fan of was the shirt. Volunteers were great, plenty of aid stations. A little bit of confusion as they moved up the start time because of the storms but then combined all waves into one – I didn’t receive the second comm in time. Overall, highly recommended.
Well-run marathon
2025 was the 49th yr of this marathon so race organizers have gotten it to a well-run operation. This is a point-to-point course going from Two Harbors to Duluth along … MORE
2025 was the 49th yr of this marathon so race organizers have gotten it to a well-run operation. This is a point-to-point course going from Two Harbors to Duluth along Lake Superior. It’s a net slight downhill course but with rolling hills.
The expo was huge. Mile markers were flagged by balloons so you could see them ahead. Strawberries at about mile 22 were a nice touch. The only weak link was the after-race nutrition which was the usual bananas, apples, chips, bagels….Pork sticks were the only unique thing…And there was a beer if you wanted it which always tastes good after 26+ miles.
This was a PR for me so it was a good experience. Recommend.
Great Energy!
The crowd and community are great at Grandma's. I was worried about the logistics, but it went very smoothly, especially with the weather in the middle of the night. I … MORE
The crowd and community are great at Grandma’s. I was worried about the logistics, but it went very smoothly, especially with the weather in the middle of the night. I would probably run this race again!
Very popular race !
All of the other fellow runners' reviews of this race are very good. So there is not much to add. This is a very popular race with 8000 in the … MORE
All of the other fellow runners’ reviews of this race are very good. So there is not much to add. This is a very popular race with 8000 in the half marathon selling out in only one day !!! If you’re interested, check registration opening day and be ready. Also important to note that accommodation prices will skyrocket for this weekend.
Weather seems to be unpredictable. This year the half got delayed 30 minutes due to busing delays from a 4AM storm. The half usually starts at 6AM. Temp started in the 50sF (10sC) and quickly rose to the 60sF with high humidity. Bring some disposable layers because gear bags are NOT allowed at the HALF start line !! (it is different for the full). You MUST drop your bag off BEFORE boarding a bus to the start. They will take it to the finish line from there. Taking the bus to the start is imperative. Most main roads are closed and there is no parking at the start. Been dropped off at the start will be a major hassle. Duluth is very nice this time of the year and the North Scenic Drive is fantastic.
A race worth doing!
Due to severe lightning causing a weather delay, the bus loading was a little chaotic. The busses drop off the half marathoners before going back to pick up the marathoners … MORE
Due to severe lightning causing a weather delay, the bus loading was a little chaotic. The busses drop off the half marathoners before going back to pick up the marathoners so at our spot there was a bus coming every 10 minutes, which was a little stressful since it took a while to get to the top. The race was supposed to start in 3 waves (A, B, C) but the organizers realized that the pacing signs didn’t align with the waves people were put in, which is something that should have been caught before 30 minutes before the race. The starting corral is pretty challenging to get into because the bottleneck you in through the sides, so a lot of people were stuck outside the corral when the race started. Obviously your time doesn’t start until you cross the mat but it was a little stressful to start a race.
On the course, the race was organized beautifully. Aid stations were where you expected them to be on the map and were well-stocked and packed with volunteers. There’s an option for water at the beginning of the aid station and again at the end, which is always nice if you want to grab a second cup to splash. They also had ice and sponges to help cool people off.
The course itself is relatively easy, very flat with really only one hill at Mile 22. The hill isn’t terrible unless you’re already half-dead because you’re undertrained for the race. There are only a few glimpses of Lake Superior; I had been hoping to see more of it but most of the view of the lake is blocked by trees.
It was VERY humid. I don’t live there so I can’t say what it’s normally like but the first mile is a bit suffocating while you’re still jam-packed with people and there’s just stale, humid area. Eventually, you get some cool air off the lake when the trees open up a bit and the breeze felt absolutely incredible! The end is closer to the lake so it stayed cooler in the last mile or so.
The spectators are phenomenal! Every 2-3 miles throughout the race and then they essentially line the last 10k so there’s a lot of support to help get you through.
Duluth itself is also a really cool town so with a flat and fast course, awesome spectators, and a a neat environment, this race should definitely be on your list!
Minnesota Must-Do
Love love love this Marathon! Point to point course with rolling hills and incredible support. It really does feel like all of Duluth get behind this race and come out … MORE
Love love love this Marathon! Point to point course with rolling hills and incredible support. It really does feel like all of Duluth get behind this race and come out to cheer the runners on.
The weather wasn’t exactly on our side this year- it was warm and very humid which made the second half tough. Little snippets of breeze from Lake Superior felt amazing.
We made this into a family racecation and there was lots of fun stuff to keep my kids occupied (free concert, free kids race). My husband reports that spectating was easy, and the communication for spectators was thorough.
All in all, extremely well run, amazing vibes. A celebration of Minnesota and if our beloved sport!
Unusually warm, but still delivered
I ran this race to lower my BQ time, and was able to do that despite unusually warm weather and high humidity. I think the point-to-point straight shot for 23 … MORE
I ran this race to lower my BQ time, and was able to do that despite unusually warm weather and high humidity. I think the point-to-point straight shot for 23 serene miles helped me dial in and run efficiently, but if you are someone who likes varied scenery and tons of spectators, this probably won’t be the race for you. That being said, I was surprised by the pockets of spectators that popped up in the middle of nowhere, and the last 10K had pretty consistent supporters right when you need it. The field did not feel overcrowded, even in the beginning of the race, which is something I have struggled with at other popular marathons. The “hill” at mile 22 is not bad. I really liked the medal. The T-shirt was okay, not tech. Volunteers for this race were great, and there were plenty of aid stations with nice touches like sponges and ice at most of them and fruit, pickle juice at some. There were also several sprinklers/water spray stations (not sure if they were official or set up by residents) that were life-saving. I recommend the Michelina’s spaghetti dinner, which is also available for lunch. Downsides: Port-a-potties at the start had long lines. Lodging in Duluth is so limited and sells out fast. You’ll need to pack all of your own fuel — no gels on course, just Pure Fuel maple syrup packet at one aid station. Overall, good experience.
Beautiful course, unpredictable weather
Uff-dah!! Grandmas was a beautiful course, but a HOT one today for me. I guess the weather is very unpredictable. Some years cold, some perfect, other humid & hot. The … MORE
Uff-dah!! Grandmas was a beautiful course, but a HOT one today for me. I guess the weather is very unpredictable. Some years cold, some perfect, other humid & hot. The lake effect did cool it down at parts, but it was a tough weather year. Overall, this marathon impressed by excellent coordination throughout the whole event.
Expo: We stayed at the Holiday Inn downtown, it was easy to take the Skyway to get to the expo. Great expo. Lots of runners=lots & lots of people. Many, many vendors. Lots of free samples. I loved trying the Maple Syrup fuel that will be provided on course. Bib pickup was a breeze. They did sell out of official merchandise pretty quickly on the 2nd Expo day. We opted to get the unlimited spaghetti meal. It was in the same building and a nice way to chat with other runners.
Race Day: The race was delayed by 30 mins due to storms overnight & the very early hours. They needed to make sure everyone was safe. You need to train or bus to the start. My bus took about 40 mins. It was super easy to jump on a bus.
Course: Asphalt. All on the road. This course has rolling smallish/medium hills. The infamous Lemon Drop hill around miles 22 is not too bad. It is steeper than the others, but short. The course runs along Scenic Hwy 61 for appox. 18 miles. The race kicks off with fighter jets flying off and the train passing by. You run along beautiful trees and Lake Superior pops out around mile 6, but makes a grander entrance in the double digit miles. Then you head into the city by first running in a neighboorhood followed by downtown duluth. The course profile and scenry is very enjoyable. There is little shade. We lucked out for the 1st couple hours and had some clouds.
Fuel/Hydration: No issues. Every 2 miles there was water & powerade. I dumped water on my head and took advantage of the ice and sponges provided. Fuel is not provided until the later miles. I am glad I brought my own. Fuel on course was maple syrup, bananas, strawberries. Supporters were handing out lots of goodies, watermelon, popsicles, pickles, candy, ect.
Other: Crowd support was solid. Definitely went in sections due to how supporters could get course access. Volunteers were all amazing.
Pretty good race
The half sold out in one day this year and with next year being the 50th i would imagine it will as well. Had my packet mailed to me since … MORE
The half sold out in one day this year and with next year being the 50th i would imagine it will as well. Had my packet mailed to me since I was going to be staying farther from the bus pick up than I did. If you’re lucky enough to get in, be ready to get a hotel right away. They are going to be pricy and will probably need a 2 night minimum book as soon as you get in then keep looking after that. lots of cancellations the closer it got to race day. anyways the course had some great views early of lake superior, then you run thru Duluth the 2nd half of the race. Lots of aid stations and lots of local support the 2nd half. the after party was a good size one as well
Bad organization = bad race!
Was really looking forward to this race but it was a bit of an organizational disaster, adding further stress to the hot/humid conditions. Race was delayed at last minute (4:30AM) … MORE
Was really looking forward to this race but it was a bit of an organizational disaster, adding further stress to the hot/humid conditions. Race was delayed at last minute (4:30AM) and the queue for the shuttles/buses took over an hour. As a result I arrived just before my wave (A) was starting. Long queues for toilets meant I decided to run in wave B – only for them to scrap the waves last minute and do rolling start. Started behind 10000 runners and was impossible to PR. Pulled out around mile 20
Great production fantastic crowd support
My biggest piece of advice is book a hotel room close to the race shuttles as early as possible, rooms sell out quickly and the rates go up exponentially. The … MORE
My biggest piece of advice is book a hotel room close to the race shuttles as early as possible, rooms sell out quickly and the rates go up exponentially. The expo was biggest I’ve attended, and had absolutely everything you could possibly need to run the race. Fantastic communication from the race director, we had extreme rain and thunderstorms the morning of the race and the email communications were frequent and helpful.
The course was pretty and followed Lake Superior, and was nice and flat. Despite the humidity, I was really happy with my time. This race is a must do, several runners I spoke to go out of their way to run this race year after year.
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.