I run a lot of races. Too many, according to my coach.
Forty-two races in 2025, to be exact. Most of them are part of a statewide race series, which means my weekends are usually spent running 5Ks and 10Ks put on by local running clubs – often with my own club, the Fun Arkansas Run Team, or FART. Yes, that’s the acronym. Yes, we did it on purpose.
I’m currently tied for the 10th-longest streak in the series, with a goal of reaching 100 races – something only six Arkansans have ever done. Because of that, my race calendar is pretty much locked in. But on my “off” weekends (a generous term), I chase a different goal: running a half marathon in every state. I’ve checked off 15 so far, and now I’m officially past the point of easy driving distance.
That’s how Grandma’s Marathon entered my orbit.
A friend traveled up last year and came home with a massive PR – and a Boston Marathon qualifying time. I’ll be honest: with a name like Grandma’s, I had assumed it was more of a glorified 5K than a world-class event. His results quickly corrected that assumption. So when registration opened, about ten of us from Arkansas logged in and signed up.
My training didn’t go exactly as planned, and I eventually made the call to switch to the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon. While it wasn’t the original plan, I was still thrilled to check Minnesota off my list.
We flew into Minneapolis late, drove up to Duluth, and woke up ready to see what all the hype was about. Every single experience exceeded my expectations.
I’ve been to my share of big races – visiting Mickey at Disney, the mountain at Flying Pig, and the pinnacle of Boston – so I feel like I have a pretty solid baseline for comparison. Grandma’s Expo was right there with the best of them. But what really stood out was the people. Everyone was genuinely excited to welcome runners and eager to help however they could.
That hospitality extended well beyond the Expo. Our group joined the Duluth Running Company shakeout run and it was great (and we left with new gear and a sticker on my car to prove it). We sampled several local restaurants, including some of the best pasta I have ever had sitting at an outdoor cafe. The entire city didn’t just roll out the welcome mat. It opened the front door and made sure we felt at home.
Race day itself looked a little different for me than for my friends. They were chasing aggressive time goals. I was chasing the finish line and hoping not to make my lingering injury any worse. I just wanted to go sub-2, and since I wasn’t stressing splits, I actually got to enjoy the experience.
A mile or two in, I realized I’d gone out a bit too hot and shifted to the Galloway run/walk/run approach. I leap frogged the 1:55 pace group and leaned fully into enjoying Duluth. I high-fived as many spectators as possible, stopped for pictures with a red phone booth, and even ran through a shortcut (an inflatable tunnel that some spectators had set up. To be clear: not an actual shortcut).
As we wound through downtown, I paused to pose for one of my favorite running photos: more of a model pose vs. actually running. And honestly? That felt perfectly on brand.
That’s a lot of words to say this: I had an absolute blast.
Because of that, I was already planning to come back. This time for the full Grandma’s Marathon, possibly with some ambitious time goals. But just as important, I’m excited to bring a new group of friends with me so they can experience what makes this race and this city so special.
Grandma’s Marathon is definitely not a glorified 5K. It’s a world-class event hosted by one of the most welcoming running communities I’ve ever encountered. And it’s an experience every runner should have on their calendar.
Ryan Miller
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Favorite Grandma’s Marathon Memory: I ran my first race this past year. I had planned to run the marathon, but after some unexpected injuries, I decided it was more responsible to run the Half. But that resulted in a much more experience. My friends that I had traveled with were pressured to achieve specific times. I, instead, was able to run along the water, pause for as many high fives as possible, and really enjoy Duluth. I’m looking forward to training over the next year to achieve my own new goals in the coming year.
Favorite pre-race meal – I know pasta is pretty standard, but I tend to migrate to the Tour of Italy at Olive Garden. When you’re traveling for races, it’s nice to know you’ll get the same thing every time. No surprises on race day – or at least no surprises related to the meal you ate the night before.
2026 running goal – I just started my 2026 race schedule, and I already have 30 races on the calendar. My big goal is to learn which races I’m racing – and which races I’m just running to finish. Tied to that is to overcome injury and work on my strength training while becoming more consistent. Third, I want to continue my streak with my local run series as I pursue 100 races in a row. Finally, the stretch goal is to qualify for Chicago – hopefully at Grandma’s!
Advice to other runners – The first step/block/mile is the hardest. Getting out the door for runs is the hardest part. But once you do – and can get past that mental barrier – it gets so much easier. Also, remove as many barriers as you can. If you’re going to go run in the morning, sleep in your running shorts so it’s one less thing to put on. And big one: if you’re going to go run after work, NEVER sit on the couch. It will suck you and never let you go.