PUSHRIM WHEELCHAIR DIVISION
Grandma’s Marathon includes a push rim wheelchair racing division, comprised of both elite and citizen participants for athletes with Paralympic classification or eligible impairment.
To ensure a safe field size and race experience for all, both elite and citizen wheelchair participants must notify the Grandma’s Marathon office of their intent to participate prior to registering.
All push rim wheelchair division participants must have a prior performance of at least a half marathon distance to demonstrate safety and ability to complete the event.
ELITE WHEELCHAIR ATHLETE REGISTRATION
Elite wheelchair athlete registration for the 2025 Grandma’s Marathon race weekend will open on January 1, 2025.
To apply for an elite wheelchair entry, please see the directions below and contact our Elite Athlete & Administration Director Sarah Culver via email at [email protected].
To be considered for an elite wheelchair entry into Grandma’s Marathon, please submit your updated racing resume highlighting your best performances during the past two years (half marathon distance or longer).
A qualifying time must have been completed on a certified course within two years prior to Grandma’s Marathon. Consideration for a race entry and assistance on any level is handled case-by-case and is entirely at the discretion of Grandma’s Marathon staff.
Please send your racing resume any time after January 1 to our Elite Athlete & Administration Director Sarah Culver via email at [email protected].
AN OLYMPIC DREAM
Grandma’s Marathon is proud to congratulate Susannah Scaroni (3rd place) on her outstanding performance at the 2024 Paris Summer Paralympic Games!
Dating back to Tami Oothoudt in 1988, there have now been 43 Paralympic marathoners who have also competed in Duluth. 19 of those wheelers are past champions in either Grandma’s Marathon, and 11 have won Paralympic medals:
- Susannah Scaroni (3rd Place, 2024)
- Daniel Romanchuck (3rd Place, 2020)
- Tatyana McFadden (2nd Place, 2016)
- Amanda McGrory (3rd Place, 2016)
- GyuDae Kim (3rd Place, 2016)
- Shirley Reilly (1st Place, 2012)
- Amanda McGrory (2nd Place, 2008)
- Ernst Van Dyk (3rd Place, 2008)
- Edgar Navarro (3rd Place, 2004)
- Mustapha Badid (1st Place, 1988)
- Candace Cable (1st Place, 1988)
- Tami Oothoudt (1st Place, 1988)
NOTE: Amanda McGrory is the only wheelchair athlete connected to Duluth to have ever won multiple Olympic medals, winning a silver medal in 2008 and a bronze medal in 2016.
Aaron Pike (United States) – 2012, 2016, 2020, 2024
Luis Francisco Sanclemente (Colombia) – 2024
Daniel Romanchuk (United States) – 2020, 2024
Brian Siemann (United States) – 2012, 2020, 2024
Patrick Monahan (Ireland) – 2016, 2020
Johnboy Smith (Great Britain) – 2020
GyuDae Kim (South Korea) – 2012, 2016
James Senbeta (United States) – 2016
Ernst Van Dyk (South Africa) – 1996, 2004, 2008, 2016
Adam Bleakney (United States) – 2004, 2008, 2012
Josh Cassidy (Canada) – 2012
Ryan Chalmers (United States) – 2012
Michel Filteau (Canada) – 2004, 2008, 2012
Josh George (United States) – 2004, 2008, 2012
Krige Schabort (South Africa) – 2000, 2004, 2012
Tyler Byers (United States) – 2004, 2008
Tony Iniguez (United States) – 2008
Rafael Botello Jimenez (Spain) – 2008
Aaron Gordian (Mexico) – 1996, 2004, 2008
Jun Hiromichi (Japan) – 2004, 2008
Mark Ledo (Canada) – 2008
Saul Mendoza (Mexico) – 1996, 2008
Alexandrino Silva (Portugal) – 2008
Alfonso Zaragoza (Mexico) – 2008
Alan Bergman (Canada) – 2004
Gottfried Ferchl (Austria) – 2004
Scot Hollonbeck (United States) – 1996, 2004
Edgar Navarro (Mexico) – 2004
Yevgeniy Tetyukhin (Kazakhstan) – 2004
Martin Velasco Soria (Mexico) – 2004
Mustapha Badid (France) – 1988, 1996
Paul Wiggins (Australia) – 1996
Susannah Scaroni (United States) – 2012, 2016, 2020, 2024
Jenna Fesemyer (United States) – 2020, 2024
Tatyana McFadden (United States) – 2012, 2016, 2020, 2024
Aline dos Santos Rocha (Brazil) – 2024
Noemi Alphonse (Mauritius) – 2024
Amanda McGrory (United States) – 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020
Shirley Reilly (United States) – 2008, 2012, 2016
Alicia Ibarra Barajas (Mexico) – 2012
Ivonne Reyes (Mexico) – 2004
Candace Cable (United States) – 1988
Tami Oothoudt (United States) – 1988
NOTE: The Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon does not have a push rim wheelchair division.
IMPORTANT: For safety reasons, push rim wheelchair division participants must use a racing wheelchair. A day chair may be used only if fitted with an attachment such as a FreeWheel. Helmets must be worn at all times by all wheelchair division participants. If you have any questions, please contact our Race Director Greg Haapala via email at [email protected].
DUO TEAMS
Grandma’s Marathon is proud to host duo teams, comprised of an athlete with an eligible impairment pushed by one or more able-bodied runners in a specialized racing wheelchair.
All participants of a Duo Team must be a paid registrant with an individual race number. To provide a safe experience for all participants, each race has a capacity of five Duo Teams.
The Duo Team program is non-competitive, and there are no separate award categories.
IMPORTANT: Grandma’s Marathon and the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon require a prior performance for Duo Teams to demonstrate safety and ability to complete the event.
If you have any questions, please contact our Race Director Greg Haapala via email at [email protected].
IMPAIRED RUNNERS & GUIDES
Grandma’s Marathon welcomes all race participants in all events who may have a permanent visual, physical, or intellectual impairment that affects their ability to participate in long-distance running.
Runners with an impairment are encouraged to contact the Grandma’s Marathon office with any requests for accommodations needed prior to registering. The Grandma’s Marathon staff will do its best to provide all reasonable accommodations to these athletes.
Athletes in this program participate as part of the general participant field, and there are no separate award categories.
If you have any questions, please contact our Race Director Greg Haapala via email at [email protected].
GUIDE RUNNERS
Runners with an impairment are eligible to have a Guide Runner assist them with their race if needed. A complimentary entry will be provided for Guide Runners upon request, prior to registration.
One guide is allowed per athlete, and they must complete the entire race with the participant they are supporting. Participants in this program are encouraged to find their own Guide Runner, as the Grandma’s Marathon staff does not actively recruit Guide Runner volunteers.