2024 Great Grandma’s Challenge registration is now open.
To 2024 Race Weekend
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The 2023 Grandma’s Marathon is officially sold out!
Those still interested in participating in the 2023 Grandma’s Marathon can explore any of the following options:
- Great Grandma’s Challenge — Run the William A. Irvin 5K on Friday before Grandma’s Marathon on Saturday!
- Charity Partners Program — You raise the money, they pay for your race entry. Run for free, run for good!
- Bib Transfer Portal — Connect with runners who can’t make it in June and are looking to sell their race entry.
Connect with other 2024 Great Grandma’s Challenge participants!
- 2024 Participant Facebook Group — You’ve got questions about race weekend? Go straight to the source and connect with other participants!
- 2024 Grambassadors — We’ve assembled a group of experienced and enthusiastic race weekend veterans to offer help and encouragement!
- 2024 Bib Transfer Portal — Connect with people who can’t make it in June and are looking to sell their race entry.
WORLD CLASS EVENT, SMALL TOWN CHARM
Are you looking for the ultimate running experience on Grandma’s Marathon weekend?!
Take the Great Grandma’s Challenge!
Take your experience to a whole new level by participating in not just one, but two of our weekend races. All Challenge participants start with the William A. Irvin 5K on Friday evening, and they follow that up with either Grandma’s Marathon or the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon on Saturday morning.
It’s time to challenge yourself!
2024 RACE DETAILS
The Grandma’s Marathon course is a picturesque, point-to-point 26.2-mile stretch along the beautiful shores of Lake Superior.
With rolling hills and a net downhill elevation, our racecourse starts north of Duluth, MN near Two Harbors and runs along Scenic Highway 61, hugging the shores of Lake Superior before taking participants through the heart of downtown Duluth and finishing in historic Canal Park.
TIME REQUIREMENT
Our course is open for 7 hours (16:00/mile pace). To stay on pace, participants should arrive at Mile 19 by 1:00 p.m. (approximately 5 hours into the race). IMPORTANT: Anyone choosing to continue after the 7-hour time limit will be required to use the sidewalks and follow all pedestrian/traffic laws.
TOTAL ELEVATION CHANGE: -130 FEET
Elevations are approximate.
LOCATION
Start
Mile 1
Mile 2
Mile 3
Mile 4
Mile 5
Mile 6
Mile 7
Mile 8
Mile 9
Mile 10
Mile 11
Mile 12
Mile 13
Mile 14
Mile 15
Mile 16
Mile 17
Mile 18
Mile 19
Mile 20
Mile 21
Mile 22
Mile 23
Mile 24
Mile 25
Mile 26
Finish
ELEVATION (FEET)
740
712
686
656
664
637
634
640
664
677
620
639
638
617
629
631
620
640
645
625
655
672
651
657
645
636
611
610
CHANGE (MILE TO MILE)
–
-28
-26
-30
+8
-27
-3
+6
+24
+13
-57
+19
-1
-21
+12
+2
-11
+20
+5
-20
+30
+17
-21
+6
-12
-9
-25
-1
The Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon course is a picturesque, point-to-point 13.1-mile stretch along the beautiful shores of Lake Superior.
With rolling hills and a net downhill elevation, our racecourse starts north of Duluth, MN and runs along Scenic Highway 61, hugging the shores of Lake Superior before taking participants through the heart of downtown Duluth and finishing in historic Canal Park.
TIME REQUIREMENT
Our racecourse will be open for 3 hours (14:00/mile pace) on race day. IMPORTANT: Anyone choosing to continue after the 3-hour time limit will be required to move to the side of the course to make way for oncoming full marathoners.
TOTAL ELEVATION CHANGE: -5 FEET
Elevations are approximate.
LOCATION
Start
Mile 1
Mile 2
Mile 3
Mile 4
Mile 5
Mile 6
Mile 7
Mile 8
Mile 9
Mile 10
Mile 11
Mile 12
Mile 13
Finish
ELEVATION (FEET)
615
629
631
620
640
645
625
655
672
651
657
645
636
611
610
CHANGE (MILE TO MILE)
–
+14
+2
-11
+20
+5
-20
+30
+17
-21
+6
-12
-9
-25
-1
The William A. Irvin 5K racecourse will take you on a tour of Canal Park past some of Duluth’s most iconic landmarks, including Bayfront Festival Park, Sister Cities Park, Gichi-ode Akiing Park, the Lake Superior Maritime Museum, the Aerial Lift Bridge, and the William A. Irvin ore boat museum.
Full Great Grandma’s Challenge Pricing Structure
October 1-October 15 — $190
October 16-December 31 — $205
January 1-March 31 — $220
April 1-June 1 — $230
Half Great Grandma’s Challenge Pricing Structure
October 1-October 15 — $180
October 16-December 31 — $195
January 1-March 31 — $210
April 1-June 1 — $220
For answers to some of the most Frequently Asked Questions about Grandma’s Marathon and race weekend, please click HERE.
THE SWAG
2024 GREAT GRANDMA’S CHALLENGE HOODIE — FREE with paid registration
Keep it casual and cool with this laid-back 2024 Great Grandma’s Challenge hoodie, featuring ultimate softness and comfort to showcase your double finish accomplishment.
2024 GRANDMA’S MARATHON or GARRY BJORKLUND HALF MARATHON LIMITED EDITION JACKET — $40.00
This Diamond Fleece Jacket, made by Minnesota-based company Storm Creek, is artfully engineered and features a quilted diamond pattern combined with luxuriously soft fabric. Peak comfort and peak performance for the perfect active layer (MSRP: $75).
2024 GRANDMA’S MARATHON or GARRY BJORKLUND HALF MARATHON TRAINING SHIRT — $30.00
Let the world know you’re training for the 2024 Grandma’s Marathon or Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon in this 100% polyester, long-sleeve tech training shirt. You’ll look good and run fast!
2024 GRANDMA’S MARATHON or GARRY BJORKLUND HALF MARATHON JACKET & SHIRT COMBO — $55.00
The perfect layering solution for all weather conditions. Save $15 when you purchase both the 2024 Grandma’s Marathon or Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon limited edition jacket and training shirt!
GRANDMA’S MARATHON LONG SLEEVE HOODIE — $35.00
Made by Minnesota-based company Storm Creek, this luciously soft and lightweight Pacesetter hoodie will fit perfectly and snuggle you all the way across the finish line (MSRP: $55.00).
NOTE: We expect items to start shipping in early 2024.
AWARDS & ACCOLADES
Minnesota’s Best
Grandma’s Marathon has been voted three straight years as the state’s top annual sports event or race in the Minnesota’s Best awards, a Star Tribune initiative to celebrate the many businesses, organizations, and individuals that make Minnesota a great place to live, work, and play.
Minnesota’s Best is an audience-driven contest and in 2023 had more than 1 million votes cast for 6,700+ organizations in 300+ categories.
Best of the Best
Grandma’s Marathon was voted as the region’s best local tournament in the 2023 Best of the Best awards, which are hosted by our major media partner the Duluth News Tribune.
More that 140,000 votes were cast in this year’s competition, separating close to 45,000 nominees in hundreds of different categories searching to find the best of the best in Duluth and the surrounding area.
The BibRave 100
Grandma’s Marathon was named by BibRave to The BibRave 100 : A Definitive List of the Best Races in America and identified as one of the top 20 best marathons of the decade.
Grandma’s Marathon was also named by BibRave voters as one of the nation’s top 5 “Race-Cations,” which is described as a premier race combined with weekend experiences to make potential extra travel and logistics worth the time.
MN Signature Event
Grandma’s Marathon was named a Signature Event by Explore Minnesota Tourism for its contributions to the state’s $15 billion travel industry.
In a 2019 economic study, it was reported that Grandma’s Marathon brings nearly $21 million to the region each year.
The organization aimed to highlight Minnesota-based, world-class events that produce substantial media exposure and generate significant travel dollars for the state of Minnesota.
Future Grandma’s
Marathon Weekends
June 21-22, 2024
June 20-21, 2025
June 19-20, 2026
June 18-19, 2027
June 16-17, 2028
June 15-16, 2029
June 21-22, 2030
