THE GRANDMA’S MARATHON BLOG ARCHIVE
Running As You Get Older
As someone who’s been distance running for a few decades now, I’ve seen what effect aging has on racing and putting in all the miles can do. From slower times, to taking longer to recover from harder efforts. But that doesn’t mean that running can’t be enjoyed well into your
How to Use Your Pacer
Introduction “I’m just telling you now, I’m going to run almost perfect nine-o-nines for every split. Sorry to say it, but most of you won’t be able to hang with me the whole time.” Who is this asshole? I thought to myself, looking the lithe, besunglassed man sporting a buzzcut
Running the Half, Celebrating the Full
This year marks the 50th running of Grandma’s Marathon, a milestone that means so much to the runners, volunteers, staff, and spectators who return to the North Shore year after year. Alongside the full marathon, the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon is celebrating its 36th year. Half marathon runners run the
Beyond the Asphalt: Why the Twinports is the Midwest’s Adventure Mecca
When I decided to move to the Twin Ports back in 2020, I wasn’t just looking for a new zip code; I was looking for a new way of life. The enthusiasm and dedication of all the runners I had met at Grandma’s combined with the beauty of the outdoors
Women’s Health & Running: Training With Your Body, Not Against It
Running teaches us resilience, but it also offers an incredible opportunity to learn how to truly listen to our bodies, not just push through them. As an acupuncturist, registered nurse, and endurance runner who works closely with women athletes, I see firsthand how often female physiology is misunderstood or oversimplified
From Backyard Tent to Finish Line
If you had told me a few years ago that one of my favorite marathon memories would involve a tent, the winds off Lake Superior, and a very generous stranger’s backyard, I probably would have laughed and then still showed up with my running shoes. As I head into my
Camping It: “In-tents” Lodging Advice for Marathon Weekend
We have used both RTT (rooftop tent) and ground tent camping for biking and running races, depending on whether our kids are coming along and the weather conditions. The north shore of Minnesota will always be one of my favorite places I have ever been, nationally or internationally. For folks
Troubleshooting Your Fueling
When I first started running, I did not pay too much attention to what I was eating other than making sure I was drinking enough water and eating when I was hungry. While this lack of strategy did not create problems for runs of shorter duration and distance, the longer














































