Back of the Pack
February 21, 2022
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…if you are the first runner or the last. Both the first runner and the last runner across the finish line completed a challenge that only 1% of the U.S….
- The Marathon
- The Races
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2026 Registration Opens October 1 @ 7:00 p.m. CT
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- Marathon Weekend
- Programs
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More Than a Marathon
The mission of Grandma’s Marathon is to organize, promote, and deliver annual events and programs that cultivate running, educational, social, and charitable opportunities in our communities. Our organization believes that running should be accessible to everyone and works with several area partners to ensure our race weekend can be enjoyed by and beneficial to all.
- Ambassador Program
- Charity Partners
- Corporate Team Challenge
- Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
- Running Club Experience
- Training Program
- Young Athletes Foundation
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- The Races
- Annual Races
- Grandma's Marathon
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Race Date: June 20, 2026
Featuring a relatively flat and fast course along the shores of Lake Superior, Grandma’s Marathon also famously offers enthusiastic and empowering support given by tens of thousands of spectators throughout race day. Each year, runners from all over the world flock to northeastern Minnesota for this world class event with small town charm.
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- Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon
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Race Date: June 20, 2026
The opening salvo to race day, the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon is now arguably the most popular event on Grandma’s Marathon weekend. The 13.1-mile course winds along the shores of Lake Superior before reaching the city limits, where thousands of cheering fans will usher runners to the always exciting and emotional finish line in Canal Park.
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- William A. Irvin 5K
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Race Date: June 19, 2026
The kickoff event to Grandma’s Marathon weekend, this 3.1-mile race starts and finishes near the historic William A. Irvin ore boat in Duluth’s Canal Park. A new racecourse offers a scenic tour of the city, making this the perfect race for beginning and experienced runners alike.
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- Great Grandma’s Challenge
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Race Dates: June 19-20, 2026
It’s certainly not for the faint of heart, but the Great Grandma’s Challenge is the best way for runners to experience everything our event has to offer, starting with the 5K on Friday night and continuing with either the full or half marathon on Saturday morning!
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- KP Challenge
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Up for a Challenge?
The KP Challenge is a series of three great, local races — Saint Fennessy 4K, Fitger’s 5K, and Park Point 5-Miler — that are strategically placed throughout the year to help participants build their endurance and stick to a regular training schedule.
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- Saint Fennessy 4K
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2027 Race Date: TBD
Get your green on for the Saint Fennessy 4K, a festive fun run perfect for runners of all ages and abilities. Whether you’re a first-timer or looking to jump start your spring training, this is the race for you!
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- Fitger's 5K
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2027 Race Date: TBD
A perfect challenge for new runners or a good training race for veterans, the Fitger’s 5K has grown into one of the area’s premier spring races and now welcomes close to 1,500 participants each year.
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- Park Point 5-Miler & 2-Mile Walk
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Race Date: July 16, 2026
Come enjoy the height of a northern Minnesota summer at the Park Point 5-Miler, which holds the crown as northern Minnesota’s oldest road race and features a racecourse sandwiched between the open waters of Lake Superior and the Duluth Harbor.
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- Minnesota Mile
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2026 Race Registration Opens on July 1
The Minnesota Mile takes you on a scenic, 5,280-foot journey around Duluth’s Enger Park, treating participants to some of the best views in the entire city during the peak of fall’s color season.
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- Superior Nightmare 5K
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2026 Race Registration Opens on September 1
A spooky end to our local racing calendar, the Superior Nightmare 5K brings with it plenty of scary surprises and haunted hijinks. Dress your best for this annual combination of Halloween and running, and be sure to enter our costume contest to decide the day’s best-dressed!
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- YAF Youth Races
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A central pillar of the Young Athletes Foundation (YAF) is providing free and accessible programming for our area’s kids throughout the year. These programs are focused on our mission of building and providing pathways to the community’s children in their pursuit of active and healthy lifestyles.
- Wednesday Night at the Races
- Saturday Morning at the Races
- Whipper Snapper Races
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- Grandma's Marathon
- Young Athletes Foundation
- YAF Races
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Our kids. Our community. Our future.
By participating in any of the events listed below, you are helping further the mission of our Young Athletes Foundation, with all proceeds benefitting our effort to support youth athletics in our community by providing pathways for area kids to live active and healthy lifestyles.
- KP Challenge
- Saint Fennessy 4K
- Fitger's 5K
- Park Point 5-Miler
- Minnesota Mile
- Superior Nightmare 5K
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- YAF Youth Races
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Our kids. Our community. Our future.
A central pillar of the Young Athletes Foundation is providing free and accessible programming for our area’s kids throughout the year. These programs are focused on our mission of building and providing pathways to the community’s children in their pursuit of active and healthy lifestyles.
- Wednesday Night at the Races
- Saturday Morning at the Races
- Whipper Snapper Races
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- YAF Programs
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Our kids. Our community. Our future.
Since its inception in 1990, the Young Athletes Foundation has worked to support the organizations and individuals of its five-county region through a series of kids’ events, grants, scholarships, and other programs that are focused on promoting and providing pathways for kids to live healthy and active lifestyles.
- Grant Program
- Running Shoe Program
- Scholarship Program
- Fit-n-Fun Run
- Winter Challenge
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- YAF Volunteer
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Our kids. Our community. Our future.
Our tremendous community of volunteers plays a significant role in helping the Young Athletes Foundation to create memorable and successful events for our runners. More than 1,000 volunteers are needed throughout the year to support our fundraising race events for the YAF.
- Read More
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- YAF Sponsors
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Our kids. Our community. Our future.
The Young Athletes Foundation was created to serve the community, and for more than three decades we have done that with the help of our local and regional business partners. With events throughout the year, our sponsors assist greatly in our mission of  providing pathways of opportunity to youth in athletic programs and encouraging healthy lifestyles.
- Read More
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- YAF Races
- When You Visit
- What to See & Do
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Authentic Duluth
Don’t miss out on the authentic Duluth experience! Grandma’s Marathon falls during one of the most beautiful times of the year in northern Minnesota, and there’s no shortage of outdoor adventures or fun activities for you to enjoy with your family and friends on race weekend!
- Read More
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- Where to Stay
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Authentic Duluth
There’s nothing more important before the race or more welcome after the race than the perfect place to rest, relax, and recharge. With the help of our many lodging and hospitality partners in the area, Grandma’s Marathon is committed to making sure each of our 20,000+ runners, not to mention our volunteers and spectators, have a place to stay on race weekend!
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- Where to Eat & Drink
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Authentic Duluth
Every year since 1977, our community has thrown open its doors to runners and spectators in town for Grandma’s Marathon. As the race has grown, the service industry has always been there with a smile to welcome tens of thousands of runners along with their families and friends as they descend on Duluth for race weekend.
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- How to Get Around
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Authentic Duluth
There is so much to see and do in Duluth and along the North Shore of Minnesota! Getting there couldn’t be easier with our transportation partners. Whether you need to know where to find parking nearby on race day or you are looking for a way to get around town, we are here to help.
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- What to See & Do
- Support
- Volunteer
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It Takes a Village
We agree with our runners — we have the most compassionate and energizing community of volunteers. Every year, we host close to 20,000 participants and we couldn’t take care of them without your help. Grandma’s Marathon is a world-class event with small-town charm because of our volunteers!
- Sign Up
- Read More
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- Course Entertainment
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Loud & Proud
If you have ever wanted to perform for a crowd of 20,000+ this opportunity is for you. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or brand-new to the enertainment game, our runners will be thrilled to have you there to cheer them on. Course entertainment groups can range from bands and musicians, to cheer and dance teams, to anybody dressed up in costume!
- Sign Up
- Read More
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- Sponsors
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It Takes a Village
At Grandma’s Marathon, we specialize in bringing people together for an unparalleled running experience. Over four decades of careful attention to detail has earned us the reputation as one of the most highly organized races in the country. More than 20,000 participants travel from more than 50 countries and all 50 states to join us each June on the scenic shores of Lake Superior, and your message can be waiting for all of them when they get here.
- Read More
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- Donation Campaign
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It Takes a Village
We couldn’t do it without you, and we wouldn’t want to! The passion our community has for Grandma’s Marathon is what gives our race its small town charm, and the contributions you’ve made over the years are what allow us to keep improving the world class experience for our participants, volunteers, and spectators.
- Read More
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- Volunteer
- MENU
- The Marathon
- Annual Races
- Young Athletes Foundation
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Our kids. Our community. Our future.
The Young Athletes Foundation (YAF) is the charitable side of Grandma’s Marathon that works within our five-county region to support the organizations and individuals through a series of kids’ events, grants, scholarships, and other programs that are focused on promoting and providing pathways for kids to live healthy and active lifestyles.
- YAF Races
- YAF Youth Races
- YAF Programs
- YAF Volunteer
- YAF Sponsors
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- When You Visit
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Authentic Duluth
Grandma’s Marathon falls during one of the most exciting and beautiful times of the year in northern Minnesota. Let us be your guide in getting the entire authentic Duluth experience on race weekend!
- What to See & Do
- Where to Stay
- Where to Eat & Drink
- How to Get Around
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- Support
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It Takes a Village
We couldn’t do it without you, and we wouldn’t want to! The passion our community has for Grandma’s Marathon is what gives our race its small town charm, and the contributions you’ve made over the years are what allow us to keep improving the world class experience for our participants, volunteers, and spectators.
- Sponsors
- Volunteer
- Donation Campaign
- Course Entertainment
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