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.
Grandma's Marathon
A collection of 35 issues
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
Known by runners for its PRs, Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon nearly sets one of its own
2025 race reaches sellout in under 18 hours.
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.
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
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 Grandma’s
On the Road to Grandma's
You will receive communication at 3:00 a.m. on Saturday with the latest information. This will come via email, social media, and mobile app notifications.
On the Road to Grandma's
The primary focus will be on the marathon and half marathon, but there will be plenty more to keep participants, volunteers, spectators, and the community busy during the upcoming Grandma’s Marathon weekend. Many of the other events throughout the weekend have become traditional favorites of participants, who this year
Minnesota Wilderness, Grandma's Marathon in the news
The Minnesota Wilderness selected 11 forwards, three defensemen and one goaltender in the 2024 NAHL Draft on Wednesday. Asanali Sarkenov of Astana, Kazakhstan, a 2006 right winger who scored five points in four games for Kazakhstan’s U18 squad in the U18 World Championships, was the first to have his
Longtime start line volunteers to be inducted into Grandma's Marathon Hall of Fame
By Zach Schneider A trio of longtime Grandma’s Marathon start line volunteers will make up the Class of 2024 and be inducted in June into the event’s Hall of Fame. Greg Helgeson, Paul Iversen and Bob Larkin are this year’s inductees, having been chosen for making longstanding
On the Road to Grandma's
Jerry Thoreson has been named the 2024 recipient of Grandma's Marathon's prestigious Marsh Nelson Media Award. Thoreson has been involved with covering the event since the late 1990s, when he worked in the composing room at the Duluth News Tribune. He remembers watching the race from
Chris Nikic to run 2024 Grandma's Marathon
Two-time ESPY award winner and Guiness world record holder Chris Nikic will be at the starting line of the 2024 Grandma’s Marathon, the organization announced today. Nikic was born with Down syndrome and was unable to walk well until age 4. Still, recently, he became the first person with
Grandma's Marathon announces free music entertainment lineup
PopROCKS and Chris Kroeze will take the stage Saturday night on Grandma’s Marathon weekend, headlining a two-day “Rock the Bayfront” celebration on what’s expected to be one of the largest race weekends ever. All events are free and open to the public. The weekend festival kicks off Friday
Grandma's Marathon adds Coca-Cola as new presenting sponsor
One of the highlights of the agreement is a combined commitment to increasing the event’s sustainability efforts, including Coca-Cola providing compostable cups to use at each of the water stations for both Grandma’s Marathon and the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon.
Friday Local News Headlines
After eight years as a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives, Liz Olson announced today that she will not seek reelection for a 5th term. “Representing the people of Duluth in the House of Representatives has been an incredible honor," Olson said in a prepared statement. "But
Registration open for first three YAF races in 2024
Registration is now open for the first three Young Athletes Foundation (YAF) fundraising running events scheduled for 2024, the organization announced today. Each of these events saw participation increase in 2023, an encouraging sign to organizers who say these races have an even deeper meaning to the community. “Just by
Grandma's Marathon now 10th largest in the U.S.
For the first time in the event’s history, Grandma’s Marathon has cracked the top 10 list of largest 26.2-mile road races in the United States. With 6,690 finishers in its 2023 race, Grandma’s Marathon moved up two spots from a year ago and now sits
Irvin 5K reaches its earliest sellout on record
Almost five months ahead of last year’s pace, the 2024 William A. Irvin officially reached a sellout on the Friday after Thanksgiving. More than 2,600 participants have signed up for the kickoff event to Grandma’s Marathon weekend, which last year sold out in late April. In both
Grandma's Marathon weekend tickets on sale
After reaching its second-earliest sellout ever a year ago, Grandma’s Marathon will open registration for its 2024 race weekend on Sunday, October 1. With three weekend races – Grandma’s Marathon, Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon, and William A. Irvin 5K – bringing more than 20,000 participants to Duluth and the
Grandma's Marathon earns award
Grandma’s Marathon has been named one of five recipients of the 2023 Facility of Merit Award by the National Center for Spectator Sports Safety & Security (NCS4), the organization announced today. The award, which is being presented this year to five organizations or facilities across several industries, serves as
Boatman, Goodoien, McColloar receive Grandma's Marathon 1,000-Miler Award
Three more runners entered a very prestigious club over this year’s Grandma’s Marathon weekend – the 1,000-Miler Award was officially presented following the race to Jim Boatman, Michael Goodoien, and Timothy McCollor. Created to celebrate longevity and commitment of Grandma’s Marathon participants, the award is given to
Quote Me: Grandma's Marathon's Shane Bauer
Grandma's Marathon Executive Director Shane Bauer on the 2023 races and events held last weekend: "It was a record-setting weekend in a lot of ways. I haven’t seen final numbers yet but it’s the first time the weather cooperated for both the runners and the
Spencer named 2023 Scott A. Keenan Founder's Award recipient
Dorothy Spencer was presented on Grandma’s Marathon weekend with the 2023 Scott A. Keenan Founder’s Award, the organization announced today. Spencer, already a member of the inaugural class into Grandma’s Marathon Hall of Fame, was honored for her lifetime contributions that have contributed to and embodies the
Barno, Hagans win Grandma's men's, women's titles
Ondoro returned to Duluth this year as the defending champion and finished as the runner-up, trailing Barno by 45 seconds and finishing with a time of 2:09:59. This marked the first-ever Grandma’s Marathon in which two men broke the 2:10:00 mark in the same race.
Pike, Fesemyer win Grandma's wheelchair races
Aaron Pike has become somewhat used to being on top of the podium at Grandma’s Marathon, while it was a new feeling entirely for Jenna Fesemyer as those two were crowned men’s and women’s wheelchair champions on Saturday. Pike won the race for the second straight year
Montoya breaks Goucher's record, Reichow bests own PR to win
Kara Goucher was adamant this week that her record in the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon was going to fall this year. Turns out, she knows something about running. On her first-ever trip to Duluth, Maggie Montoya ousted the hometown hero Goucher and etched her own name in the event’s
Shea, Cerbin-Bohach win William A. Irvin 5K
By Zach Schneider Mason Shea and Flannery Cerbin-Bohach were crowned the men’s and women’s champions at the 30th annual William A. Irvin 5K, which was run on Friday evening in Duluth. Shea, a 21-year-old from River Falls, Wis., won for the second time in three years, finishing with
On the Road to Grandma's
A tradition since the start of the race in 1977, the Michelina’s All-You-Can-Eat Spaghetti Dinner is back as part of this year’s 47th annual Grandma’s Marathon. More than 8,000 plates are typically served each year at this all-day event, which offers a perfect pre-race meal for
Grandma's Marathon seeking responsible sports certification in 2023
By Zach Schneider Grandma’s Marathon has been working throughout the year to become a Responsible Sport Certified event, and the final test will come when 50,000+ people descend on Duluth and the surrounding area next weekend for the 2023 race weekend. The certification is granted by the Council
Former champions highlight 2023 Grandma's Marathon field
Kevin Lynch not only leads a pack of American men aiming to qualify for the U.S. Olympic Trials, but is also hoping to become the first American men’s winner of Grandma’s Marathon since Chris Raabe did it in 2009.
Grandma's Marathon announces Hall of Fame Class of 2023
The three-member class, being honored for making longstanding and meaningful contributions to the race and the community, will be officially enshrined during the Grandma’s Marathon Awards Luncheon at noon on Friday, June 16 at The Garden Event Center.
Goucher to serve as media analyst for Grandma's Marathon
Duluth native and former two-time Olympian Kara Goucher will join the broadcast team for this year’s Grandma’s Marathon. Goucher will work as a finish line analyst for this year’s media simulcast. She is the women’s event record-holder in the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon. Two-time Grandma’s
Goman, Tusken to receive 2023 Rudy Perpich Public Service Award
The award, named after the late Minnesota Governor Rudy Perpich, is presented annually to elected officials or public employees who have exhibited immense dedicate and service to Grandma’s Marathon.
Fit-n-Fun Run today
Grandma's Marathon will host Fit-n-Fun Run today, which will bring close to 1,500 ISD 709 elementary school students (3rd, 4th, & 5th graders) together for an end-of-the-year celebration at Malosky Stadium. Participants will have the chance to run 1/4 mile race with their classmates, and each
Andrews, DeSutter named Grandma's Marathon Volunteers of the Year
Joan Andrews and Tom DeSutter have been named the 2023 Don Fennessy Volunteers of the Year, it was announced today by Grandma’s Marathon. The pair each has more than two decades of volunteering history with the event, with most of it coming side-by-side as co-coordinators of the race weekend