Deciding to run the Grandma’s Marathon is a wise decision. It’s one of the most beautiful and well-organized races in the world. With its lack of elevation and incredible views of Lake Superior, Grandma’s Marathon is perfect for newbies and elite runners alike.
If Grandma’s Marathon is your first marathon, or even if it’s just your first time to Duluth, you may need help figuring out where to start.
That’s where we come in. Our names are Michelle Ziebarth and Matt Naugle, and we were selected as 2023 Grambassadors for this very reason — to be a resource and to answer questions for those coming to this year’s Grandma’s Marathon weekend.
So together, we’ve created a list of things you can do right now to help prepare you for Grandma’s Marathon success.
SECURE LODGING
We cannot stress this enough, as most places do not allow bookings for Grandma’s Marathon weekend to be made online and require a two-night minimum. You will probably need to call around to multiple places so be prepared for that.
If you are wanting to stay at one of the local colleges (UMD, St Scholastica, UW Superior), make sure you put the date the reservations open on the calendar and call the day they open as they usually fill up right away.
Check out another blog post for more specific Grandma’s Marathon lodging tips.
GET INTO THE RIGHT MINDSET
As running coach Mo’ath Alkhawaldeh said, “Running your first marathon requires you to train your mind and body. There are no shortcuts to developing the mental stamina required.”
Running is as much a mental game as it is physical. The human body has the capacity to do amazing things, and running 26.2 miles may push your limits. It’s time to prepare with proper training, nutrition, sleep, and dedication. Marathon training requires a lifestyle change and commitment.
Consult with a physician, understand your limitations, and get ready for the exciting journey ahead.
PICK A TRAINING PLAN
It takes time to get comfortable with increased mileage. Start with a consistent baseline of miles (ideally 20-30 miles/week) at a conversational pace. Marathon plans begin ideally 12-20 weeks before the marathon.
In general, marathon plans will increase your overall mileage by around 10-15% per week. In addition to that base mileage, it should include a long run every weekend to help acclimate your body.
These long runs are a perfect opportunity to incorporate your friends or a local running club into your training. Finding people willing to join you on long runs holds you accountable and makes the runs more enjoyable.
In addition to ramped-up mileage, training plans should be combined with intervals, tempo, and threshold runs to improve your cardio capacity.
In general, training plans should ideally follow an 80/20 rule of training. 80% of your training should be done at an easy effort level, and 20% should be hard. Also, don’t forget those critical rest days!
GET THE PROPER EQUIPMENT
Running is a unique sport because it requires no expensive special equipment. Anyone can go outside and start moving! However, for marathon training, there are two key items that are worth having: a GPS watch and quality running shoes.
A GPS running watch (such as Garmin, Coros, or smart-watches such as Apple Watch) allows marathon trainers to take a step back and see their progress over time. By monitoring heart race, speed, and pacing, watches help maximize workout efforts and help keep runners on goal pace. Runners have very strong opinions about the “best” running watch, but it’s up to you to find one that fits your needs.
As for shoes, Grandma’s Marathon is proud to be sponsored by ASICS. As some running shoes are more focused on speed and others on comfort, please speak with your local shoe store to correctly measure your feet and find the best shoe for your goals.
Have them look at your stride and examine where your feet initially touch the ground. Our feet naturally roll inward when it strikes the ground, but rolling too far or rolling outward requires different levels of padding. Also, make sure to change your shoes every 500 miles or so, depending on how hard the miles are you’re putting in.
MAKE A WEEKEND ITINERARY
Yes, you’re going there for the race but Duluth and the surrounding area is gorgeous and there are so many things to do. A few resources that will be helpful in planning your trip are Visit Duluth, Lake County, and Visit Cook County. See what’s available during your time in town, and try to come up with a tentative itinerary for your stay.
Grandma’s Marathon weekend, as you probably know, is a very busy time in Duluth and you will want to make reservations for whatever you want to visit in advanced.
GO TO THE SPAGHETTI FEED
Friday night of race weekend is super busy in Duluth as most people are arriving to town that day. Skip the lines at some of the local restaurants on Friday night and eat at the All-You-Can-Eat Spaghetti Dinner.
The food is always hot and delicious, plus it’s quick and easy as the dinner located in the same space as packet pickup, fitness expo, and 5K. If you’re signed up to run the race, you can just add tickets on to your registration, or they also have tickets available at the door.
It’s a tradition, and you won’t want to miss out!
HAVE FUN
With enough planning, preparation, and training, you will be on your way to success at Grandma’s Marathon. Good luck, and we will see you in Duluth!