Great Grandma’s Challenge
The countdown is on!
2023 Great Grandma’s Challenge registration opens on October 1, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. CT.
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The 2023 Great Grandma’s Challenge is officially sold out!
Those still interested in participating in the 2023 Great Grandma’s Challenge can explore any of the following options:
- 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.
Full Great Grandma’s Challenge
Race Date(s): June 17-18, 2022
Race Location: Duluth, MN
Race Capacity: 500
Pricing Structure (In-Person)
October 1-October 15 — $185
October 16-December 31 — $200
January 1-March 31 — $215
April 1-June 1 — $225
Half Great Grandma’s Challenge
Race Date(s): June 17-18, 2022
Race Location: Duluth, MN
Race Capacity: 700
Pricing Structure (In-Person)
October 1-October 15 — $175
October 16-December 31 — $190
January 1-March 31 — $205
April 1-June 1 — $215
Connect with other 2023 Great Grandma’s Challenge runners!
- 2023 Participant Facebook Group — You’ve got questions about race weekend? Go straight to the source and connect with other runners!
Future Great Grandma’s Challenge Dates
June 16-17, 2023
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
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!
Grandma’s Marathon and the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon both run along the north shore of Lake Superior, offering some of the most spectacular views in road racing while running over dozens of rivers, creeks, and streams from start to finish.
TIME REQUIREMENT
The Grandma’s Marathon racecourse is open for 7 hours (16-minute mile pace), while the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon racecourse is open for 3:0:3:40 (14-minute mile pace). Slower participants will be asked by race officials and volunteers to move to the side of the road for safety reasons.
This 3.1-mile William A. Irvin 5K course starts and finishes near the historic William A. Irvin ore boat slip and will take runners on a tour of Duluth’s most iconic landmarks.
The racecourse will bring runners past some of the most popular places in Canal Park and downtown Duluth, including Bayfront Festival Park, Sister Cities Park, Gichi-ode Akiing Park, the Lake Superior Maritime Museum, and the Aerial Lift Bridge.
Great Grandma's Challenge participants are eligible for overall and age division awards in each of the races they are participating in. There is no separate award category for Challenge runners.
2023 LIMITED EDITION JACKET
$50.00
Whatever the weather, this breathable performance fleece zip-up jacket made by Minnesota-based company Storm Creek will keep you at peak comfort and offers the perfect active layer.
MSRP: $75.00
2023 TRAINING SHIRT
$30.00
Let the world know you’re training for 2023 in this 100% polyester, long-sleeve tech training shirt. You’ll look good and run fast!
SOFT QUARTER ZIP
$35.00
Made by Minnesota-based company Storm Creek, this luciously soft and lightweight quarter-zip will fit perfectly and snuggle you all the way across the finish line.
MSRP: $55.00
Known for providing some of the best hospitality in road racing, the Grandma’s Marathon weekend is one of the largest marathons in the United States and one of the few not held in a large, metropolitan area.
Travel to Duluth for race weekend is made easy with daily, direct flights from the Minneapolis-St. Paul and Chicago-O’Hare airports.
A summer marathon needs a natural air conditioner. Lake Superior keeps our city cool on race day, with an average temperature of 56 degrees and a typical tailwind for our runners.
