MEDIA CONTACT
Zach Schneider
Marketing & Public Relations Director
Office Phone: (218) 727-0947
Cell Phone: (218) 343-9874
Email: [email protected]

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).

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

Please request your Grandma’s Marathon media credential by completing the form linked below. IMPORTANT: Please complete one application per media member, even if working for the same organization.

Grandma’s Marathon Media Credential Request

All media credential requests must be made prior to Friday, June 13.

Prior to the race, all credentialed media will 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 Grandma’s Marathon Media Guide will be delivered via email in early June. Printed copies can be requested in the form above, and those will be available for pickup on race weekend.

Media members may pick up their credentials at the following times and locations on Friday, June 20:

• 10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. | Garden Event Center
• 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. | DECC – Paulucci Hall

Please contact Marketing & Public Relations Director Zach Schneider to make other arrangements for credential pickup.

GRANDMA’S MARATHON OFFICE
351 Canal Park Drive Duluth, MN 55802

MEDIA CENTER – GARDEN EVENT CENTER
425 S. Lake Avenue Duluth, MN 55802

FINISH LINE
408 Canal Park Drive Duluth, MN 55802

START LINE – GRANDMA’S MARATHON
893 Scenic Drive Two Harbors, MN 55616

START LINE – GARRY BJORKLUND HALF MARATHON
5135 North Shore Drive Duluth, MN 55804

DULUTH ENTERTAINMENT CONVENTION CENTER (DECC)
350 Harbor Drive Duluth, MN 55802

BAYFRONT FESTIVAL PARK
350 Harbor Drive Duluth, MN 55802

FRIDAY, JUNE 20

MEDIA CREDENTIAL PICKUP
10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. | Garden Event Center
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. | DECC – Paulucci Hall

START OF 32^nd ANNUAL WILLIAM A. IRVIN 5K
1:00 p.m.

APPROXIMATE FINISH TIMES OF WILLIAM A. IRVIN 5K CHAMPIONS
Men’s Champion – 1:15 p.m.
Women’s Champion – 1:20 p.m.

MEDIA NOTE: Men’s and women’s champions of William A. Irvin 5K will be available for interviews near the finish line area in Bayfront Festival Park shortly after the race.

WOMEN’S ELITE PRE-RACE MEDIA CONFERENCE
3:00 p.m. | DECC – Paulucci Hall

MEN’S ELITE PRE-RACE MEDIA CONFERENCE
3:30 p.m. | DECC – Paulucci Hall

WHIPPER SNAPPER RACES FOR KIDS
4:00 p.m. | Bayfront Festival Park

SATURDAY, JUNE 21

MEDIA CENTER OPEN
5:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. | Garden Event Center

START OF 35^th ANNUAL GARRY BJORKLUND HALF MARATHON
Adaptive – 5:50 a.m.
Men’s Elite & Semi-Elite – 6:00 a.m.
Women’s Elite & Semi-Elite – 6:00 a.m.
Citizens – 6:00 a.m.

APPROXIMATE FINISH TIMES OF GARRY BJORKLUND HALF MARATHON CHAMPIONS
Men’s Champion – 7:00 a.m.
Women’s Champion – 7:10 a.m. 

START OF 49^th ANNUAL GRANDMA’S MARATHON
Wheelchair & Adaptive – 7:35 a.m.
Men’s Elite & Semi-Elite – 7:40 a.m.
Women’s Elite & Semi-Elite – 7:45 a.m.
Citizens – 7:45 a.m.

POST-RACE AWARDS CEREMONY & MEDIA CONFERENCE (HALF MARATHON)
8:00 a.m. | Garden Event Center

APPROXIMATE FINISH TIMES OF GRANDMA’S MARATHON WHEELCHAIR CHAMPIONS
Men’s Champion – 9:00 a.m.
Women’s Champion – 9:05 a.m.

POST-RACE MEDIA AVAILABILITY (MARATHON WHEELCHAIR)
9:15 a.m. | Wheelchair Athlete Finish Line Tent

APPROXIMATE FINISH TIMES OF GRANDMA’S MARATHON CHAMPIONS
Men’s Champion – 9:50 a.m.
Women’s Champion – 10:10 a.m. 

POST-RACE AWARDS CEREMONY & MEDIA CONFERENCE (MARATHON)
11:00 a.m. | Garden Event Center

MEDIA NOTE: Men’s and women’s champions of Grandma’s Marathon and the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon will be available for interviews inside the Media Center following a brief awards ceremony. Wheelchair athletes will be available in their hospitality tent near the finish line shortly following their race.

Other elite athletes, including the men’s and women’s master champions, may be made available upon request. No interviews are allowed at the finish line, other than major media partners.

THURSDAY, JUNE 20

RUDY PERPICH PUBLIC SERVICE BREAKFAST
8:00 a.m. | Garden Event Center
Chad Nagorksi, Duluth Police Department
Lake County Ambulance
Mayo Clinic Ambulance

RACE PACKET PICKUP
4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. | DECC – Arena

ESSENTIA HEALTH FITNESS EXPO
4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. | DECC – Pioneer Hall

FRIDAY, JUNE 21

MORNING SHAKEOUT RUN
9:00 a.m. | Duluth Running Company
Dakotah Popehn, 2024 US Olympian and 2x Grandma’s Marathon Champion
Annie Frisbie, Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon Women’s Event Record Holder

ESSENTIA HEALTH FITNESS EXPO
10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. | DECC – Pioneer Hall

RACE PACKET PICKUP
10:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m. | DECC – Arena

VIRTUAL COURSE TOUR
10:30 a.m. | DECC – Paulucci Hall
Featuring Live Q&A with Doug Kurtis, 2x Grandma’s Marathon Champion

GRANDMA’S MARATHON AWARDS BRUNCH
10:30 a.m. | Garden Event Center
Dave Malban, Hall of Fame
Dominic Ondoro, Hall of Fame
Clint Austin, Marsh Nelson Media Award
John Hartwick, Mac Welles Award of Excellence
Evans Brothers, Ron Daws Ambassador of the Year

MICHELINA’S ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT SPAGHETTI DINNER
11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. | DECC – Lake Superior Ballroom

ROCK THE BAYFRONT FESTIVAL
Park Open 12:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. | Bayfront Festival Park
1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. – Boxcar
5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. – Cloud Cult

START OF 32^nd ANNUAL WILLIAM A. IRVIN 5K
1:00 p.m.

YAF FESTIVAL FOR KIDS
2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. | Bayfront Festival Park

WOMEN’S ELITE PRE-RACE MEDIA CONFERENCE
3:00 p.m. | DECC – Paulucci Hall

MEN’S ELITE PRE-RACE MEDIA CONFERENCE
3:30 p.m. | DECC – Paulucci Hall

WHIPPER SNAPPER RACES FOR KIDS
4:00 p.m. | Bayfront Festival Park                              

DICK & CARRIE PRE-RACE TALK SHOW
4:30 p.m. | DECC – Paulucci Hall
Hosted by Dick Beardsley (2x Grandma’s Marathon Champion) & Carrie Tollefson (2004 US Olympian)
Brent Silkey, 30 for Freedom
Becs Gentry, Peloton
Garry Bjorklund, 1977 Grandma’s Marathon Champion

VIRTUAL COURSE TOUR
6:00 p.m. | DECC – Paulucci Hall
Featuring Live Q&A with Doug Kurtis, 2x Grandma’s Marathon Champion

SATURDAY, JUNE 22

START OF 35^th ANNUAL GARRY BJORKLUND HALF MARATHON
Adaptive – 5:50 a.m.
Men’s Elite & Semi-Elite – 6:00 a.m.
Women’s Elite & Semi-Elite – 6:00 a.m.
Citizens – 6:00 a.m.

START OF 49^th ANNUAL GRANDMA’S MARATHON
Wheelchair & Adaptive – 7:35 a.m.
Men’s Elite & Semi-Elite – 7:40 a.m.
Women’s Elite & Semi-Elite – 7:45 a.m.
Citizens – 7:45 a.m. 

VIP FINISH LINE TENT
7:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. | Canal Park

ROCK THE BAYFRONT POST-RACE FESTIVAL
Park Open 7:00 a.m. – 11:45 p.m. | Bayfront Festival Park
9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. – Boxcar
11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. – Shane Martin Band
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. – Father Hennepin
2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. – Breanne Marie & The Front Porch Sinners
4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. – Sydney Hansen
6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. – Woodblind
8:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. – Rafe Carlson
10:00 p.m. – 11:30 p.m. – Big Wave Dave & The Ripples

ASICS POST-RACE RECEPTION
6:00 p.m. | DECC – Harborside Ballroom
Kevin Pates, Founder’s Award

The Grandma’s Marathon Media Center is in The Garden Event Center (425 S. Lake Avenue, Duluth, MN 55802) near the finish line area in Canal Park. NOTE: A media credential is required to access the Media Center.

The Media Center will be open on Saturday, June 21 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.

RACECOURSE ACCESS
Credentialed media members must always remain off the racecourse and out of the way of participants, staff, and volunteers throughout the event. Media must always follow the instructions of race staff, volunteers, and law enforcement officials while in permitted areas.

START LINE ACCESS
Credentialed, working media members are welcome at the start line of Grandma’s Marathon and the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon. Media will be allowed inside the barricaded areas, but must move to the side of the roads and remain out of the way of participants, staff, and volunteers as the race(s) start.

IMPORTANT: Road access and parking is limited near either start line. Please contact Marketing & Public Relations Director Zach Schneider to request the appropriate signage for your vehicle.

FINISH LINE ACCESS
Credentialed, working media members must remain inside the designated areas at the finish line. This area is expected to be congested at peak times during the day, including as champions come across the finish line. Media will be allowed inside the barricaded areas, but must remain out of the way of participants, staff, and volunteers as the race(s) continues.

IMPORTANT: While working anywhere in proximity to the racecourse, especially at the finish line, please always remain aware of your surroundings.

RACECOURSE COVERAGE
Travel on race weekend is difficult and delays should be expected. NOTE: We do not recommend one person attempt to cover both the start and finish areas of Grandma’s Marathon or the Garry Bjorklund Half 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.

MEDIA VEHICLES, TRAVEL, & PARKING
No unofficial or private vehicles 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 to be used at the finish area must be pre-approved by Grandma’s Marathon staff. These units must be parked in Canal Park before 4:00 p.m. on Friday, June 20, after which the finish line area will be closed to all traffic until approximately 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 21.

Current, up-to-date records and historical results can be viewed using the following links:

• Grandma’s Marathon Records & Results
• Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon Records & Results
• William A. Irvin 5K Records & Results

WDIO-TV is the official television station of Grandma’s Marathon and will air race coverage on its primary local channel, 10-1, as well via web stream on wdio.com. Coverage will also air on KSTC-45 in the Twin Cities.

The Northland FAN 106.5 FM is the official radio station of Grandma’s Marathon and will air race coverage on the radio that will be simulcast on ESPN Radio 560 WEBC.

The Duluth News Tribune is the official newspaper of Grandma’s Marathon and will print full race results in the Wednesday, June 25 edition.

NOTE: Our official media partners are the only outlets authorized to conduct interviews inside the secure finish area in Canal Park. Other outlets will be provided access to the top elite runners at the post-race media conference in the Media Center.

Race results for all three of the weekend’s races – Grandma’s Marathon, the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon, and the William A. Irvin 5K – will be posted online to grandmasmarathon.com and mtecresults.com as the races are in progress throughout the weekend. All results are unofficial until certified.

NOTE: We will recognize the top men and women from each race at a short ceremony inside the Media Center. Age division winners can pick up their awards at Bayfront Festival Park any time between 8:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 21.

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].

For answers to some of the most Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Grandma’s Marathon race weekend, please click HERE.