The 2026 50th anniversary Grandma’s Marathon weekend was, as always, SO MUCH FUN!
My platform as a GRAMbassador for the last 4 years has brought so many amazing, caring, driven people in to my life!
As with previous Grandma’s Marathon years, I shared a room with 3 girlfriends, had some alone time, and enjoyed my 5+ hour solo run along beautiful Lake Superior (said as a mom of 3 kids- why didn’t I make it longer?!?). What more could I ask for?!
I had ZERO expectations this year (again). My goal was to finish. And again, I absolutely loved seeing the grit, determination, strength, struggle and resilience of those who were running alongside, in front of, and behind me at my 5:20:55 finish.
What did I do during my 48 hours in Duluth?
I hit up the expo and ran into friends (as always). I enjoyed the spaghetti dinner (for lunch- a VERY early lunch). I had way too many carbs and didn’t want dinner. Again. I ran a marathon (*OH HEY!*). I got pizza from Vitta Pizza (my annual post-race celebratory meal) with friends/roomies on my way back to the hotel post-marathon. We celebrated 26.2 with champagne in our hotel room followed by a drink at Vikre. And I wandered Canal Park on Sunday after the race when it was a gorgeous, sunny day and the majority of the race weekend participants had scattered.
And again, like every year before, I had THE best time!
Grandma’s isn’t just about the race for me- it’s about community. Friendship. Support. Lifting each other up. Supporting one another. Cheering each other on. And celebrating the culmination of the hundreds of miles that went into this last 26.2 mile celebration. Every single person toeing the starting line has a goal- and everyone fought- for months- to reach that finish line.
I absolutely love staying in Canal Park right by the finish. We were close to the DECC for packet pickup and the expo, were just a few short blocks to walk in the post-race stupor, and less than 5 minutes from bus pick up. Sure, it’s pricey, but between 4 of us, it was totally reasonable. And so worth it!
How was the race itself? Gorgeous. As always.
I had the race I trained for- which was a ridiculously tough one. But you know what? I GET to do this! 26.2 is 26.2 and this finish line gave me marathon medal 22, a reminder of who I am and what I can do.
THANK YOU for all the volunteers, Grandma’s Marathon office team and committees, city employees, first responders, spectators, and the city of Duluth for once again welcoming thousands of strangers in to your home and creating yet another unforgettable race weekend.
Grandma’s marathon weekend 2026: thank you. I’ll be back.
Carrie Rodman
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Favorite Grandma’s Memory: All of these are interconnected, as the Grandma’s Weekend Experience does not exist in a vacuum! My first Grandma’s Marathon experience was in 2008, when I was fortunate to run this gorgeous race with my Dad as my 3rd marathon. We crossed the finish line together in 5:34:19. We went on to run another handful of marathons together, but unfortunately my Dad had health issues creep up 5 years ago and walking is tough, let alone running.
In June of 2023, I was part of your injured GRAMbassador Cheer Squad at Mile 26 due to a stress fracture in my heel! While I didn’t get to run, I did get to participate in race weekend, cheer on all the runners as they headed into the final stretch, and had a blast!
In June of 2024, I ran Grandma’s as my 17th marathon and my comeback race following a 1 year hiatus due to said stress fracture. I was beyond thrilled to run a 4:39:12 (a post-3 kids PR)! Seeing my friends cheering their hearts out for me at Mile 26- almost exactly where I was cheering for them a year prior while in a boot- was the best! The entire weekend was unforgettable, from the expo and travel with a friend from California, to the girls’ weekend, post-race Vitta Pizza and bar hopping, it was unforgettable!
Grandma’s 2025 was a challenge thanks to life, the humidity and the weather, but THE best girls’ weekend ever! Seeing my friends along the course- especially from mile 24 to the end- were the boost I needed to get through it!
Quote that guides, inspires, or embodies your training, racing, or life: “It is what it is, wasn’t meant to happen any other way.” -Judah & The Lion
Reason you absolutely won’t run outside: COLD rain. I’m a summer-loving runner- bring on the sunshine, heat and humidity! Warm rain in Summer is fine but I hate being cold (meaning 2024 Grandma’s was a challenge).
2026 running goal: For 2026, all I ask (though it seems to be a lofty request) is to get through the season UNINJURED!
Three words to describe your training, racing, or life: CHAOTIC YET FLEXIBLE
Advice to other runners: Be where your feet are. Focus on where YOU are, not where someone else is- that applies to both training and racing. Where you are NOW won’t be where you always are. You got this!