Grandma's Marathon
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About the race
Grandma’s Marathon is a multi-race event held in Duluth, Minnesota, during a featured weekend in June. The weekend includes a full marathon and the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon, plus shorter events and community activities tied to the race weekend.
The marathon and half marathon are staged along the shores of Lake Superior on a course described as relatively flat and fast. The Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon covers 13.1 miles. The weekend also features the William A. Irvin 5K, a 3.1-mile race that starts and finishes near the historic William A. Irvin ore boat, and the Great Grandma’s Challenge, which combines the 5K with either the full or half marathon across two days.
Other weekend elements listed by the organizers include a fitness expo, a spaghetti dinner, music festival and kids races known as the Whipper Snapper series. The event draws more than 20,000 participants from many states and countries and takes place in a city that has hosted the marathon annually since 1977. Tens of thousands of spectators provide roadside support during race day. The Young Athletes Foundation operates alongside the races, offering youth programming, grants, scholarships, and a series of youth races and community programs focused on active lifestyles. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
