Grandma's Marathon
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Grandma's Marathon
Grandma's Marathon is an annual running weekend held in Duluth, Minnesota. The event centers on a full marathon and the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon, both routed along the shores of Lake Superior. The marathon course is described as relatively flat and fast, and race day draws large spectator support from tens of thousands of people.
The weekend program includes several distance events and community activities:
- Full marathon
- Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon (13.1 miles)
- William A. Irvin 5K (3.1 miles)
- Great Grandma's Challenge, combining the 5K and either the full or half marathon
Additional weekend features listed by the organizer include a fitness expo, a spaghetti dinner, a music festival, youth races called the Whipper Snapper series, and spectator information for visitors. Specific race dates published for 2026 include June 20 for the marathon and half marathon and June 19 for the William A. Irvin 5K; the Great Grandma's Challenge spans June 19-20.
The Young Athletes Foundation is the event's charitable arm and provides youth programming, grants, scholarships, and running shoe support in a five-county region. The foundation runs year round events for young athletes and relies on volunteer support to operate its fundraising races and programs. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
