2024 Race Recap Grambassador: Angie

My husband, Josh and I started the trek to Duluth on Thursday before the race. We can not stay away from Grandma’s Marathon weekend, making this my 10th trip. We were excited to get out of town and enjoy the weekend in our hotel near the finish line, with a lake view.

Friday started with a shakeout run with Dakotah Lindwurm, hosted by the Duluth Running Company. We joined up at the DECC and ran along the lakefront for an out and back totalling about a 5k in distance. It was funny as at one point we were leading the Olympian. 

After this we needed to get our bibs and explore the expo. We went back to the DECC where all of this happens. There is a giant arena with the bib pickup in the back. We decided to get our bibs before checking out the vendors. I was running the Great Grandma’s Half Challenge (5k and half marathon) and Josh was running the full marathon. The bib pickup was clearly marked as to where we needed to go. I was greeted by a helpful volunteer, who let me try on the great grandma’s swag before committing to a size. The clear bags we received, which doubled as the gear check bag, were filled with an envelope with the bibs and safety pins as well as coupons. If you were running the 5k you received your t-shirt. Before we left the area, it was encouraged to scan the envelope with your bib to make sure the timing chip worked. 

After some photos with the prompts we proceeded to the expo. We parted ways and both wandered around picking up freebies, entering giveaways and learning about some new to us items or area races. The official race merchandise is always cool to look at because they make separate items for each race. We met back up after finding our names in our respective races on the wrapped cars. One final giveaway game of Plinko and we walked back to the hotel to relax for the afternoon.

It was nearing time for the ambassador meetup photo, so we just walked out the hotel and there we were at the finish line for the picture. Always a nice time to meet the others in person and catch up and discuss the past months of training and plans for running in the rain. We snapped a photo and I needed to get ready for the 5k.

I mentioned the weather and race officials had been in contact with participants with emails and social media posts. The 5k would miss the rain chance and would go on as planned at 6 PM. With just a little time to kill, we waited near the lift bridge and were treated to an arriving freighter passing through.

From there I walked to the starting area, which was a little different this year due to some construction. I met up with my friend Carol and chatted near the back. Then everyone was moving and the race had started. The start felt a little different this year, we all just started moving in one large group. Last year they started people off in waves, but there was the risk the leaders would be coming back through before we even crossed the starting line. I mention this start as I felt the entire 5k was super crowded. I was not there to race the event, I usually run it as I have a run streak and I am in town. (Yeah, I know I already ran earlier.) 

The course has been the same the last few times I have run it. It takes you behind the DECC to circle around to the lakefront area, then under the lift bridge, along the water to where we started near the William A. Irvin freighter (which the race is named after) then to end at Bayfront Park. The course has one decent climb near the first mile, but otherwise flat. Once across the finish line, you receive a medal, bottle of water, some snacks and a drink ticket. There was a band playing and food trucks set up next to the tents to redeem your drink ticket. It’s a nice party for a short race. I would later find out this year’s race had one of the most participants ever.

It was nearing 7 PM and with the longer distance races super early in the morning, I met back up with Josh to get to the spaghetti dinner. This event is held in a second story ballroom in the DECC. I am always amazed at how many people are working this. We always go at what seems like the busiest time. We did have advanced VIP tickets so we went to the front of the ticket line, but then got caught up waiting in other lines for the food. When you’re hungry it seems like a long wait, but in reality it’s not that bad. We even chatted with some people in line. Once you’ve received a plate of food, you can find a seat in the large dining area. The utensils and loaves of bread are available at the tables. This year we didn’t notice the bottles of water at the tables. After each getting a second plate and some ice cream we were ready to head back to the hotel.

Now it was time to actually decide if the rain was going to be a race day threat. All week it was fun watching the forecast. The panic from people who have never run in the rain was real. I was not too concerned as I will run in the rain if it’s safe to do so. The worst part would be if we would have to wait at the starting area, with no shelter. It was announced that at 3 AM an email would be sent determining if the race would continue as scheduled.  I went ahead with laying out the things I would need, including a poncho for the starting area and a baggie for my phone. 

Race day was here! The 3 AM email said the race was on! The Garry Bjorklund half marathon starts before the full, as the starting line is the halfway point for the full marathon. I was at the bus stop area just before 5 AM. There were lines and lines and lines, but I just got in one and got on a bus. I found a seat and chatted on the way to the start. We arrived sometime around 5:30. I did not have a race goal, but to do the best I could do, so I just took a seat on the side of the corral and watched all the different types of shoes walk by. (Fun story, when we travel to races we usually wear a tigerhawk for the University of Iowa. As I was just chilling on the side of the road, I started chatting with another runner from Iowa City.) Race start would be 6 AM.

This is the first year I could remember the half (& the full) were implementing a corral start. I was placed in the first corral. While I did start in this corral, I stayed towards the back. I would have thought my estimated finish time would put me in the last corral. I like the idea of corrals by estimated pace, but if you got on a late arriving bus, it was difficult to get to the first corral as the bus drop off was near the back. 

It was go time, I tried to stick to the side as we got going. The course would take the entire width of a two lane road, but there were a lot of runners. No matter how many times I run this event, there is always a moment where I feel the miles go by quickly. They are all marked with a balloon high into the sky, which you can see before you get there. The first few miles just felt like I was passing balloons left and right. I eventually stopped for some water after taking in some SaltStick fast chews, but just kept moving along. I didn’t feel like I was struggling or did I feel like I was going to set a PR. There came a time where I thought I should probably eat something, so I had some Scratch chews, but it was a weirdly fueled race for me. The more I run longer distances, I just need a cola. (Maybe a suggestion for that aid station just after lemon drop hill.) Despite all that, I did have some pickles, watermelon and strawberries. There are some great unofficial aid stations along the course. Some have snacks, some in fun costumes, with music or bubbles.

The rain seemed like it was going to stay away, until it didn’t. I felt like for the half it showed up in the last few miles. I was just searching through my photos, and it maybe started a couple hours after the half start at 8 AM. So, enough to be soaked by the time I finished. It wasn’t a super heavy rain or super cold while running.

I came around to the finish line, which if you have never run this race before seems to take forever to get to. I was happy to cross with a smile and see Grandma there where I asked to take a selfie. From here I received my finisher medal, then I could grab a bottle of water and a heat sheet. Then it was time to get my finisher shirt and drink ticket. There were also backdrops set up for MarathonFoto. I skipped the photos and went to get my challenge medal. I noticed the long lines for post race food and did something I don’t think I have ever done, I skipped it all. 

The key to running in the rain is to get out of your wet clothes as soon as possible. With our hotel being sooo close to the finish line, that is what I did. I also had a pass for the VIP tent, so I knew I would be able to grab some post race food at some point. 

I made it back to the VIP tent and was able to chat with others that helped put on the race. I enjoy hearing all the perspectives of race day. It takes so many people for this event to happen. I had some fruit and a bloody mary while I used my phone to track my friends I knew were running the full. 

It was nearing the time to catch my friends at the finish line, so I grabbed the umbrella we threw in last minute and went to cheer them all in. The app did a really great job of letting me know when to expect everyone. I did not miss any of them. Everyone was so wet and hopefully not too miserable. From the time it started raining it did not let up for the rest of the day. 

There was also a post race beer tent closer to the DECC and a band playing in Bayfront park with more places to redeem drink tickets and food trucks.  We would never make it over there as we did not want to stand in the wet grass. 

All in all it was another successful Grandma’s weekend. For me, making it to any finish line with a smile is the goal. The older I get, I want to keep moving everyday. Maybe one day I will throw in some speed goals, but I get to do this and I want to enjoy it.

After the weekend I heard about some hiccups that might have happened, but for my experience, I truly enjoyed my time in Duluth. I understand race day logistics and the problems the weather can throw in, I felt I always knew what my options would be. I always say this, but it’s definitely a big time race with a small town feel. I will be back again next year, maybe I will return to running the full? I don’t know, but what I do know is that you should reserve that hotel room now.