2026 REGISTRATION
Registration for the 2026 Grandma’s Marathon weeeked will officially open on Wednesday, October 1, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. CT.
50TH ANNUAL GRANDMA’S MARATHON
Race Date: June 20 | Race Capacity: 9,500 | Race Entry Fee: $155
36TH ANNUAL GARRY BJORKLUND HALF MARATHON
Race Date: June 20 | Race Capacity: 7,000 | Race Entry Fee: $145
33RD ANNUAL WILLIAM A. IRVIN 5K
Race Date: June 19 | Race Capacity: 1,500 | Race Entry Fee: $55
FULL GREAT GRANDMA’S CHALLENGE
Race Dates: June 19-20 | Race Capacity: 500 | Race Entry Fee: $240
HALF GREAT GRANDMA’S CHALLENGE
Race Dates: June 19-20 | Race Capacity: 500 | Race Entry Fee: $230
Registration for the 2026 Grandma’s Marathon weeeked will officially open on Wednesday, October 1, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. CT.
50TH ANNUAL GRANDMA’S MARATHON
Race Date: June 20 | Race Capacity: 9,500 | Race Entry Fee: $155
36TH ANNUAL GARRY BJORKLUND HALF MARATHON
Race Date: June 20 | Race Capacity: 7,000 | Race Entry Fee: $145
33RD ANNUAL WILLIAM A. IRVIN 5K
Race Date: June 19 | Race Capacity: 1,500 | Race Entry Fee: $55
FULL GREAT GRANDMA’S CHALLENGE
Race Date: June 19-20 | Race Capacity: 500 | Race Entry Fee: $240
HALF GREAT GRANDMA’S CHALLENGE
Race Date: June 19-20 | Race Capacity: 500 | Race Entry Fee: $230
Grandma’s Marathon weekend registration has been very popular in recent years — in 2025, both the half marathon and 5K events sold out within 36 hours, and the marathon sold out within a month. With added interest to our 50th annual race weekend, we expect this to be another busy year as registration opens on October 1.
NOTE: To account for added interest, the marathon field is slightly larger than past years while the half marathon and 5K fields are slightly smaller. Please plan accordingly, depending in which race you’re interested in participating.
Our race registration is taken on a first-come, first-served basis. As in past years, we do expect an increased number of visitors to our website during the first few hours of registration being open. Our registration partner platform, Race Roster, will again be using a “controlled queue” to help control the expected high volume of website traffic.
HERE’S HOW IT WORKS
1. To access the queue, click HERE to access the Grandma’s Marathon website, and then click the “Register” button underneath the race for which you are registering. NOTE: The “Register” button may be visible before the official opening time of 7:00 p.m. CT.
2. After clicking the “Register” button, you will see a screen (pictured to the right) prompting you to sign into your Race Roster account, or to create a Race Roster account if you don’t already have one.
PRO TIP: To speed up, you can click HERE to log into your Race Roster account, recover your password, or create a new account ahead of registration day. Make sure you write down your login credentials or save them on your device so you have them available on October 1.
3. When the queue opens, you will see the “Waiting Area” screen (pictured to the right). Entering the “Waiting Area” does not guarantee you a spot in the race, but it will hold your place in line if and when a spot does become available.
4. After clicking the “Enter Waiting Area” button, you will see the “You Are In the Waiting Area” screen (pictured to the right). IMPORTANT: Do not refresh the page, open multiple tabs, or close the window. Any of these actions could result in you losing your spot in line for registration.
You will be able to start the registration process based on your position in the queue. NOTE: Depending on traffic volume, especially immediately after registration opens, your time in the waiting room could be up to 20 minutes. We thank you for your patience.
5. When it’s your turn in the queue, you will see a button that says “Register Now” (pictured to the right). Click on that button, and you will be taken into the registration form.
PRO TIP: Once you are into the registration form, SLOW DOWN! Please take your time completing the form to ensure accuracy and to check out other great items available to you – apparel, training programs and more.
You can register up to 4 people (including yourself) at one time, and they do not need to be participating in the same event.
NEXT QUESTION —
WHERE TO STAY
NEXT QUESTION — WHERE TO STAY
Even after all the above is done, there’s still more you can do before your first training run to be fully prepared for Grandma’s Marathon weekend.
One of the big next steps — finding a place to stay.
Rooms do fill up early, but we’ve done some of the early legwork for you and have compiled names and phone numbers of every hotel, motel, and campground in Duluth and the surrounding region to help start your search for a room on race weekend.
MARATHON SPONSOR HOTEL LOCATIONS
HOLIDAY INN & SUITES
DULUTH DOWNTOWN
200 W. 1st Street
Duluth, MN 55802
(218) 722-1202
The official lodging partner of Grandma’s Marathon, Holiday Inn & Suites – Duluth Downtown is the city’s largest full-service hotel offering its guests 338 rooms, two restaurants, two swimming pools, and complimentary covered parking.
Conveniently located along Duluth’s indoor skywalk system that connects guests to the DECC, AMSOIL Arena, and downtown Duluth, Holiday Inn & Suites – Duluth Downtown is the perfect place to stay during Grandma’s Marathon weekend!
HOLIDAY INN & SUITES
DULUTH DOWNTOWN
200 W. 1st Street
Duluth, MN 55802
(218) 722-1202
CANAL PARK LODGE
250 Canal Park Dr.
Duluth, MN 55802
(218) 279-6000
LIFT BRIDGE LODGE
408 Canal Park Dr.
Duluth MN, 55802
(218) 727-1378
HAMPTON INN
CANAL PARK
310 Canal Park Dr.
Duluth, MN 55802(218) 720-3000
THE INN ON
LAKE SUPERIOR
350 Canal Park Dr.
Duluth, MN 55802
(218) 726-1111
CANAL PARK LODGE
250 Canal Park Dr.
Duluth, MN 55802
(218) 279-6000
LIFT BRIDGE LODGE
408 Canal Park Dr.
Duluth MN, 55802
(218) 727-1378
HAMPTON INN
CANAL PARK
310 Canal Park Dr.
Duluth, MN 55802(218) 720-3000
THE INN ON
LAKE SUPERIOR
350 Canal Park Dr.
Duluth, MN 55802
(218) 726-1111
SHERATON DULUTH
301 E. Superior St.
Duluth, MN 55802
(218) 733-5660
OTHER LODGING OPTIONS
While hotels and motels do book quickly and can be expensive, there are several less expensive and non-traditional lodging options available throughout the area during Grandma’s Marathon weekend.
NOTE: The college campus dorms do not open reservations until late winter or early spring, so please plan accordingly if considering those options.
Area college campus housing is available during Grandma’s Marathon weekend at the following schools:
RV parking is available during race weekend at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC), which is about a 1/2-mile from the finish line area. Please click HERE for reservations and more information.
The Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC) offers overnight and multiple-day parking for vehicles. Please click HERE for more information.
HELPFUL HINTS
CALL INSTEAD OF TRYING TO BOOK ONLINE
Many hotels don’t accept online bookings for Grandma’s Marathon weekend. This is for a variety of reasons that are unique to race weekend in our community, including the total volume of customers as well as cancellation policies that may be different than usual.
So while it may appear online there are no rooms available, calling the hotel directly is always your best option. We know this adds time to your process, but it can also set you up with the best chance of success.
NOTE: Not all, but some hotels do take names for a waitlist. If it’s an option, we recommend putting your name on the waitlist as cancellations are common as people’s plans change throughout the year.
BE PATIENT… ROOMS USUALLY BECOME AVAILABLE IN THE SPRING
Most rooms on race weekend are booked by our participants, and most come with a cancellation deadline in April or early May. Additionally, our deadline to transfer a participant bib is always May 1.
Plans change, injuries happen, and we always see a large number of bibs being transferred and rooms being released around this time of the year.
So if you can wait it out, there’s a higher chance of landing a room in April or May even if everything appeared to be booked earlier in the year. These rooms do go quickly once they’re released, so calling the hotels is again the best strategy for finding what’s available.
CHECK OUT FACEBOOK GROUPS EARLY AND OFTEN
To help our participants and extended Grandma’s Marathon community connect with each other online, we’ve created two Facebook groups that can help with that ahead of race weekend.
The first is our Grandma’s Marathon Weekend Participants group, which is designed for people who are registered foe one the weekend races to ask and answer all questions releated to Grandma’s Marathon weekend. These questions can be anything from how to train, what to pack, where to eat… and of course, how to find lodging.
There are people out there going through exactly what you are right now, and there are also lots of people who have been here before and may have other helpful tips and tricks for finding a room. Don’t be afraid to use your community of runners, we think you’ll find plenty of people eager to lend a hand.
The second is our Grandma’s Marathon Weekend Bib Transfer Portal group, which is designed to connect people who are looking to buy or sell a bib before the May 1 transfer deadline. While its main function is not lodging, there are typically plenty of people there adding information about available hotel rooms as they look to sell their race entry.
CONSIDER YOUR RACE DAY BUS PLAN
For the best possible race day experience, choose a lodging location that’s close to your desired bus loading location.
Using official bus (or train, for full marathon participants) transportation is the ONLY allowable way for participants to get to the start line of Grandma’s Marathon or the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon.
Some bussing locations won’t be finalized until spring, but the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC) and University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) have historically been our busiest locations on race morning. NOTE: Please allow extra time in your race morning schedule for transportation, as wait times may vary from location to location.
After the race, shuttle buses will be available to return you to your bus loading location as well as some area hotels, so feel free to leave your car or plan a dropoff on race morning!