The running community has given me so much more than just a hobby or a way to stay in shape. Over the years, I have basically built my identity around this sport. It has fundamentally changed who I am, making me a more caring, driven, and peaceful person. Because of that, the best way I know how to give back to the community that formed me is by offering up my time and energy as a volunteer.
On the surface, it sounds completely selfless. You are out there helping runners make their way toward a finish line, providing motivation when they hit the wall, handing out essential hydration, or standing on a corner as a course marshal to keep everyone safe. But if I am being honest, I get just as much out of it as the runners do.
One of the biggest rewards is the relationship you form with others in the community. This includes the runners, of course, but also the people who might never run a single mile themselves. At Grandma’s Marathon in particular, you meet people with hearts of gold who are out there doing everything they can to support the athletes. These are the true altruists. They are up way before dawn setting up aid stations and they stay until the very last person crosses the finish line. These individuals are the heart of our community. Volunteering is such a natural way to network and socialize. Having people to run with, talk to, and lean on is essential for meeting your own goals, and you find those people while wearing a volunteer vest.
It is also incredibly motivating. At every race I have ever worked, I have been inspired by what I see on the course. Being a firsthand witness to the grit and passion people display, especially in those final miles of a marathon, is a massive perspective shift. It is hard to feel lazy about your own training when you have spent the morning watching someone push through physical exhaustion to reach a goal they have chased for months.
If you are curious about the sport or thinking about jumping up to a new distance, there is no better classroom than an aid station. You learn exactly what it takes to complete that distance and you get to talk with people who have done it a dozen times over. You see what works, what doesn’t, and what kind of mental toughness is required.
Beyond the physical act of running, volunteering gives you a new appreciation for the logistics. There are so many moving parts behind the scenes of a race as large and well organized as Grandma’s. Every little detail has been obsessed over to make the experience great for the runners. Every cup of water passed out, every mile marker balloon, every bit of paint on the road, and every bleacher seat has been planned. As a volunteer, you are the one who actually brings those plans to life.
Finally, you are supporting a cause that goes beyond the pavement. Grandma’s Marathon does so much for our area through programs like the Young Athletes Foundation. They hold races for local kids, work with our school systems, provide grants for youth sports, and even donate shoes to high school runners who need them.
But maybe the most important reason to sign up is that it is just plain fun. There is a specific kind of electricity in the air on race day that you cannot find anywhere else. Working alongside other excited, inspired people gets you totally pumped up. When you see the look of pure gratitude on a runner’s face as you hand them what they need, it brings a level of joy that is hard to describe. You cannot help but get swept up in the camaraderie and the general race day excitement. It is like being part of the world’s biggest, most exhausted party.
When you volunteer, you aren’t just handing out water. You are fueling a cycle of support that keeps our community running. Whether you are a seasoned marathoner or someone who has never laced up a pair of running shoes, I promise that being on the other side of the course will change you for the better.
If you want to talk training, learn about the Duluth area, or know more about Grandma’s Marathon or volunteering, please reach out to me at Superior Singletrack !
Shannon Hogan
Follow Her on: Instagram, Facebook
Favorite Grandma’s Marathon Memory: • When I think of Grandma’s Marathon, my fondest memories aren’t really about the race itself—they’re about the people and the feeling of community that surrounds it. Grandma’s has given me so much more than miles on the course; it’s given me friendships and traditions I cherish year after year. I think about my Hoops Running Club teammates who bring endless laughs and encouragement, the familiar “Grandma’s regulars” I catch up with once a year like it’s a family reunion, and the welcoming Grandma’s staff and Grambassadors who make every runner feel like they belong. And maybe best of all, my kiddo, Dot has joined in on the tradition too, lacing up for the 5K each year and joining in all the weekend festivities—it’s become our shared celebration of running, joy, and this amazing community.
Quote that guides, inspires, or embodies your training, racing, or life: “Nothing lasts forever.” Both the joy and the struggle are temporary. The good moments are gifts—pause, savor them, and let yourself be fully present. And when challenges come, in training, in racing, or in life, remember that they, too, will pass.
Song that must be on your running playlist: My musical inspirations are always changing, but right now it’s “Passenger” by Noah Kahan.
2026 running goal: Soak in the 50th Anniversary and run my first Great Grandma’s double (from the finish to the start and back)! PR the 100 mile distance.
Advice to other runners: Dare to do something that feels impossible. Set goals that seem out of reach, where the risk of falling short is real. It’s in those moments—when the outcome isn’t guaranteed—that true growth happens. These challenges not only reveal your limits, they expand them, reshaping you again and again into a more resilient, peaceful, and grateful person.