Having volunteers sign up online helps Grandma’s Marathon gather the necessary information to best serve our volunteers. We are able to gather contact information, emergency contacts, and see how long people have been volunteering.

If you have any issues signing up online, please reach out so we can assist you. Contact our Program Director Alivia Nelson via email at [email protected] or call our office at (218) 727-0947.

In a typical year, it takes up to 5,000 people from our community to help support the approximately 20,000 participants that come for Grandma’s Marathon weekend.

Volunteer registration for 2025 is open now here. If you have questions, please contact our Program Director Alivia Nelson via email at [email protected] or call our office at (218) 727-0947.

A variety of different roles are needed to help make our race weekend happen. A full list of available positions is visible during registration.

Different roles require different skills and commitments from volunteers. If you have any questions, please contact our Program Director Alivia Nelson via email at [email protected] so she can help find a volunteer position that best fits your skills.

If you have any special considerations please list those during the registration process.

A Grandma’s Marathon’s staff member and/or your volunteer captain will communicate final information, including check-in location, parking and transportation options, preparation tips, and more to you in early June. All volunteer training takes place onsite.

Group leaders are encouraged to follow up with their volunteers after receiving the official email to reiterate final details and share any instructions specific to your group.

In addition, all volunteers are encouraged to read and be familiar with the information included in the Grandma’s Marathon Weekend Guide. (Note: The newest version of the guide will be completed each year in May, and the link will be updated.)

All volunteers will receive their required attire and any required credentials for their area in their volunteer packet. The volunteer attire must be the outermost layer and any volunteer credentials should be visible at all times.

While we appreciate groups and organizations wanting to represent themselves, it is vital for race officials, runners, and participants to be able to identify volunteers and for a consistent look across all areas of the event weekend.

IMPORTANT: The weather in northern Minnesota can be unpredictable. Please dress according to your job duty, and make sure you will be comfortable for the duration of your shift.

Volunteer packets start assembly in May and volunteers will receive a call when their packet is ready for pickup.

Volunteers coming from out of town or state can arrange for their packet pickup by contacting our Program Director Alivia Nelson via email at [email protected] or by calling our office at (218) 727-0947.

NOTE: Some volunteer areas distribute shirts and volunteer packets on-site the day of the race. If you are placed in one of those areas, we will let you know.

Individuals and group leaders can pick up their volunteer packets at Grandma’s Marathon’s office, address listed below. Pickup hours are from Monday-Friday from 8:00 am-7:00 pm.

351 Canal Park Drive
Duluth, MN 55802

Volunteers coming from out of town or state can arrange for their packet pickup by contacting our Program Director Alivia Nelson via email at [email protected] or by calling our office at (218) 727-0947.

Volunteers should not bring any personal items or valuables with them while they are volunteering. However, volunteers should bring what they need to take care of themselves for their shift (ie: extra snacks, jackets/layers, sunscreen etc).

Please check with your Volunteer Captain for any additional items they may suggest bringing with as each role and location has different needs or resources.

When arriving at your volunteer location, please check with your Captain for the designated area to store these items.

If you are no longer able to fulfill your volunteer shift, please immediately contact our Program Director Alivia Nelson via email at [email protected] or call our office at (218) 727-0947.

It takes up to 5,000 volunteers to support the runners throughout the event weekend, so if you are able to find a replacement or help spread the word to others who may volunteer, we and the weekend’s participants would appreciate every helping hand we can get!

Yes! Families, teens, and youth are welcome to join the excitement that comes along with race weekend. HOWEVER, all children must register as volunteers and for the most enjoyable experience, we encourage that children be at least 14.

NOTE: Some jobs allow children ages 10+ with the supervision of a parent or guardian. Please see job descriptions for age guidelines in those roles.

Groups of children should have supervision throughout their volunteering by a parent/guardian at an adult to child ratio of 10:1, respectively.

Some volunteer jobs are in fast pace areas and might not be suited for younger children. If you plan to bring a young child with you, please reach out to the Grandma’s Marathon office for more details. 

If your volunteer hours need to be counted towards school, work, or another organization—you must bring a copy of your program’s volunteer tracking sheet and will need to check-in and check-out with your designated Volunteer Captain to sign off on hours volunteered.

Grandma’s Marathon does not provide a tracking sheet and is unable to confirm volunteer hours after the shift.

If you are part of a group, please indicate that during the volunteer registration process. If you are a group leader and do not see your group listed on volunteer registration or if you are registering a group of more than 20 people, please contact our Program Director Alivia Nelson via email at [email protected] or call our office at (218) 727-0947.

Because of the scope of Grandma’s Marathon, it is helpful to know who is volunteering for our event and to know if those who signed up showed up for their shifts. It’s also a liability concern, as we need to know who is where and for whom we are responsible throughout the day.