Media

Every person comes to Grandma’s Marathon with a story, and our local, regional, and national media partners work tirelessly to bring those stories to life and share them across our community, our state, and the world.

For interview requests or more information about Grandma’s Marathon, media members are asked to contact Marketing & Public Relations Director Zach Schneider via email at [email protected] or to call our office at (218) 727-0947.

MEDIA RELEASES

An archive of Grandma's Marathon media releases is available for viewing HERE. If you require additional information or have questions, please contact Marketing & Public Relations Director Zach Schneider via email at [email protected] or call our office at (218) 727-0947.

MEDIA GUIDE

As part of our commitment to sustainability, our Grandma’s Marathon Media Guides and other media materials, including advance story ideas, are available and distributed digitally.

 

If you would prefer a printed version of the Grandma's Marathon Media Guide, please indicate on your credential application. Printed guides will be available for pickup on race week at either the Media Center or our Grandma's Marathon offices.

 

2022 Grandma's Marathon Media Guide

LOGOS & PHOTOS

To request the Grandma's Marathon logo or high-resolution photos from our event, please contact Marketing & Public Relations Director Zach Schneider via email at [email protected]

Media Credentials

Official Grandma’s Marathon media credentials are required for all working media on race weekend and must always be visible. Media members will have access to certain restricted areas, including along the racecourse and inside the Media Center (located near the finish line).

To access the secure finish line area, media members must apply for and display an official Grandma’s Marathon finish line ribbon along with their media credential.

Media credential requests for the 2023 race weekend will open in early May and can be made by completing the form linked below. IMPORTANT: Please complete one application per media member, even if working for the same organization.

All media credential requests must be made prior to June 10, 2023.

Upon your media credentials being approved, you will receive via email a complete weekend schedule along with several advance story leads for the 2023 Grandma’s Marathon weekend.

Prior to the race, you will also receive a digital, searchable version of our participant database. Our elite athlete field will be announced and distributed in early June, though all participation is subject to change prior to the race.

The complete 2023 Grandma’s Marathon Media Guide will be delivered via email in early June. Printed copies can be requested, and those will be available for pickup on race weekend.

All 2023 Grandma’s Marathon media credentials will be available for pickup on Friday, June 16 at the Media Center (425 S. Lake Avenue). To make other arrangements, please email Marketing & Public Relations Director Zach Schneider at [email protected].

Major Media Partners

WDIO-TV and the Northland FAN 106.5 FM are the official television and radio stations of Grandma’s Marathon and will air simulcast race-day coverage from 7:00 a.m. until approximately 10:30 a.m., featuring commentary from Dick Beardsley, Kara Goucher, Carrie Tollefson, and Doug Kurtis.

The Duluth News Tribune is the official newspaper of Grandma’s Marathon and will provide comprehensive online coverage in addition to printing full race results in the Wednesday, June 21 edition.

Media Center

The Grandma’s Marathon Media Center is located in The Garden Event Center (425 S. Lake Avenue, Duluth, MN 55802) near the finish line area in Canal Park.

The Media Center will be open on Saturday, June 17 from 5:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Table space, wireless internet, and refreshments will be provided for working media members throughout the day.

A media credential is required to access the Media Center on race weekend.

Media Vehicles

No unofficial or private vehicles, including bicycles, are allowed on the racecourse at any time during the running of Grandma’s Marathon, the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon, or the William A. Irvin 5K.

Live trucks or other broadcast units used at the finish area must be parked in Canal Park before 3:00 p.m. on Friday, June 16, and their location must be pre-approved by race officials. The finish area will be closed to traffic until approximately 4:00 p.m. on race day.

Racecourse Coverage

Travel on race weekend is limited and traffic can be heavy. Team coverage is encouraged, and we do not recommend one person attempt to cover both the start and finish lines of Grandma’s Marathon.

The best stationary positions for media, other than the finish line, are along the access roads connected to the MN-61 Expressway or along London Road and Superior Street.

NOTE: There is no media parking available in Canal Park lots on race day. Paid parking is available at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC), Bayfront Festival Park, and in downtown Duluth.

Race Results

Results for each of the weekend’s three races – Grandma’s Marathon, the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon, and the William A. Irvin 5K – will be available online in real-time on mtecresults.com. Credentialed media members will also be given a media-only link that allows more specific and powerful searching. Printed copies of results can be provided in the Media Center upon request. All race results are unofficial until certified.

NOTE: We will recognize the top 10 men and women from Grandma’s Marathon and the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon in the Media Center on race day with a short awards ceremony followed by a post-race media conference.

Fitger's 5K History

The Fitger’s 5K began in 1990 and over more than three decades has now become Duluth’s premier spring running event.

The 3.1-mile race traditionally starts and finishes in front of the historic Fitger’s building. The scenic race course takes participants through downtown Duluth and Canal Park.

Below are the all-time Fitger’s 5K race records and winners from each year. NOTE: Some early records are incomplete and our staff is working to retrieve those dating back to 1990.

2022 Fitger's 5K Parking Info

The Fitger’s 5K course starts and finishes just outside the historic Fitger’s Lakefront Hotel in downtown Duluth. They travel eastward toward 23rd Avenue East on Superior Street, London Road, and South Street.

2022 Fitger's 5K Parking Info

The Fitger’s 5K course starts and finishes just outside the historic Fitger’s Lakefront Hotel in downtown Duluth. They travel eastward toward 23rd Avenue East on Superior Street, London Road, and South Street.

2022 Fitger's 5K Parking Info

Free parking for the event is available in the parking ramp located next to Fitger’s.

Fitger’s Complex
600 E. Superior Street
Duluth, MN 55802

2022 Fitger's 5K Race Packet Pickup Info

The Fitger’s 5K course starts and finishes just outside the historic Fitger’s Lakefront Hotel in downtown Duluth. They travel eastward toward 23rd Avenue East on Superior Street, London Road, and South Street.

2022 Fitger's 5K Swag Items

The Fitger’s 5K course starts and finishes just outside the historic Fitger’s Lakefront Hotel in downtown Duluth. They travel eastward toward 23rd Avenue East on Superior Street, London Road, and South Street.