Skip to content

Grandma's Marathon

Iverson, Parker upset deep fields for Bjorklund victories

DULUTH, Minn. — Acer Iverson and Kasandra Parker arrived at the 36th annual Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon as talented contenders in fields packed with proven champions, Olympians and established road-racing stars. By Saturday morning's end, both had transformed from overlooked challengers into first-time champions on one of

Members Public

Shea, Myran repeat as William A. Irvin 5K champions

The race attracted 2,525 finishers, narrowly missing the event record of 2,548 participants set in 2025. The William A. Irvin 5K serves as one of the traditional kickoff events for the annual Grandma's Marathon weekend, drawing runners from across the region and beyond to Duluth's waterfront.

Members Public

Howie: Grandma's Marathon to open museum exhibit at Depot

Howie's daily column is sponsored by Lyric Kitchen Bar. The story of Grandma's Marathon has always lived in pieces scattered across the Northland — in shoeboxes filled with fading race bibs, newspaper clippings tucked into basements, volunteer jackets hanging in closets and family photo albums showing exhausted

Members Public
Michelina's All-You-Can-Eat Spaghetti Dinner prep underway at the DECC
DECC. Submitted

Michelina's All-You-Can-Eat Spaghetti Dinner prep underway at the DECC

It’s that magical time of year when the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center kitchen revs up to serve hungry marathon runners at the annual Michelina's All-You-Can-Eat Spaghetti Dinner. The event, which began in an outdoor tent in 1977, now serves 8,000 in the Lake

Members Public
Arrowhead Regional Arts Council Board approves grants

Arrowhead Regional Arts Council Board approves grants

The Arrowhead Regional Arts Council's mission is to create a healthy art and cultural ecosystem by offering support and resources for artistic professional development and equitable access for arts organizations and individuals to benefit all communities.

Members Public
Quote Me, Howie: Eric Thompson, Yvonne Prettner Solon
Thompson. Howie / HowieHanson.com

Quote Me, Howie: Eric Thompson, Yvonne Prettner Solon

"If someone has a heart attack, they don’t care who shows up – whether they’re a doctor, a paramedic, or a firefighter – if they know what they’re doing. With us strategically spread out with eight stations across the city, we can get to your house quickly." -- Eric Thompson

Members Public
City of Duluth round up of events, staff spotlight for June 2025
Howie / HowieHanson.com

City of Duluth round up of events, staff spotlight for June 2025

EVENTS Happy Pride!  June 1 – DPD Sidewalk and Streets event 11:30-1 PM at Denfeld H.S. providing vouchers to replace headlights, taillights and turn signals.  June 8 – Trans Joy Fest June 11 – Summer Day of Caring with Head of the Lakes United Way | Community-wide volunteer events. Project

Members Public
Clint Austin named 2025 recipient of the Marsh Nelson Media Award
Legendary Duluth News Tribune photographer Clint Austin. Submitted / Grandma's Marathon

Clint Austin named 2025 recipient of the Marsh Nelson Media Award

“I’m humbled by such a great honor. I’m always in awe when I hear stories of Marsh, and it’s amazing that he’s still such a pillar of the sports community in Duluth.” -- Clint Austin

Members Public
Study: Grandma's Marathon economic impact $40M
GrandmasMarathon.com

Study: Grandma's Marathon economic impact $40M

With each travel party spending $1,239 in 2024 as compared to $778 in 2019, that shows a nearly 60% jump in consumer spending on Grandma’s Marathon race weekend.

Members Public

William A. Irvin 5K reaches sellout

Organizers wondered what an earlier start time and new racecourse might do to the interest level in the kickoff race to Grandma’s Marathon weekend, the William A. Irvin 5K. They now have their answer. The race has officially sold out, with more than 2,500 people registering in less

Members Public

Grandma's Marathon Notebook

Including each of the weekend’s three races – Grandma’s Marathon, the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon, and the William A. Irvin 5K – the 2024 race weekend was the largest in the organization’s history, with 17,401 total finishers across the three events.

Members Public

Best Grandma's Marathon Online Coverage

Elisha Barno wins sixth Grandma's Marathon; Volha Mazuronak earns women's title, by Kevin Pates (StarTribune.com, paywall) Half marathon records fall in Duluth under good early running conditions, by Kevin Pates (StarTribune.com, paywall) Stevenson, Files set new William A. Irvin course records, by Zach Schneider

Members Public

Stevenson, Files set new William A. Irvin course records

By Zach Schneider Noah Stevenson, Khia Kurtenbach and Caleb-Michael Files all made quite an impression in their first-ever William A. Irvin 5K, with each winning their debut to kick off the 2024 Grandma’s Marathon weekend. Stevenson, who had been to Duluth before but never participated in a

Members Public