Grandma’s Marathon is committed to ensuring our events, programs, and services are accessible to all participants, volunteers, vendors, spectators, and community members. Our intention is that organization adhere to the principles of social equity and inclusion and remain open, welcoming, safe, and accessible for all who participate.
We will provide reasonable accommodation for individuals with permanent physical, intellectual, visual, auditory, or sensory impairments. If you require an accommodation, please contact us via email at [email protected] or via phone at (218) 727-0947.
NOTE: If you need accommodation for Grandma’s Marathon weekend, you must either indicate your need on your registration form or contact us directly prior to June 1.
PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENTS
Participants with physical and/or mobility impairments are eligible to participate in either our pushrim wheelchair or duo division.
Pushrim Wheelchair Division
The pushrim wheelchair division is included in the marathon only and will start five minutes ahead of the men’s elite wave. NOTE: There is no wheelchair division in the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon.
For safety reasons, pushrim wheelchair participants must use a racing chair. A day chair may be used only if fitted with an attachment such as a FreeWheel. All wheelchair participants must always wear a helmet.
Participants wishing to use a wheelchair in the William A. Irvin 5K should contact Race Director Greg Haapala via email at [email protected] or via phone at (218) 727-0947.
Duo Division
A duo team must be comprised of one participant with an eligible impairment being pushed by one or more able-bodied participants. Duo teams can compete in either the marathon or half marathon.
Duo teams will receive an early start for both the marathon and half marathon and must use a customized racing chair. Through a partnership with My Team Triumph, our organization may assist participants who do not have access to an eligible chair.
Duo teams wishing to participate in the William A. Irvin 5K should contact Race Director Greg Haapala via email at [email protected] or via phone at (218) 727-0947.
Other Mobility Impairments
Participants with mobility impairments who are entered into the general field may require other accommodations on race day. These participants may contact us via email at [email protected] or via phone at (218) 727-0947.
VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS
Participants with visual impairments are eligible to have a Guide Runner to assist with the race, if needed. A complimentary entry will be provided for the Guide Runner (please submit request prior to registration).
One Guide Runner is allowed per participant, and they must complete the entire race with the participant they are supporting. NOTE: Participants are encouraged to recruit and bring their own Guide Runner to the event, as Grandma’s Marathon does not actively recruit for this role.
AUDITORY IMPAIRMENTS
Deaf runners can request a special bib for race day. In some cases, a Guide Runner may be allowed to assist with the race.
Signage will help direct participants while on the racecourse, including at the start and finish lines. Water/aid stations will also have signage posted, and medical tents will be visible from the racecourse.
Mile markers on the racecourse are indicated by balloons to help provide a visual cue of a participant’s progress.
Videos played during the race weekend will contain captioning, and ASL interpreter services can be requested for specific areas (including the start line).
Any participants, volunteers, or spectators wanting to request an ASL interpreter can contact us via email at [email protected] or via phone (218) 727-0947.
NON-ENGLISH SPEAKING
Any participants, volunteers, or spectators wanting to request a language interpreter can contact us via email at [email protected].
COGNITIVE & SENSORY IMPAIRMENTS/SENSITIVITIES
Race weekend areas that will, at times, include excessive crowd congestion, noise, and bright, flashing lights include but are not limited to – fitness expo, packet pickup, start and finish lines, and entertainment venue.
If looking for less congested and busy times at the following locations, we recommend the following:
- Race Packet Pickup
- Thursday | 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
- Friday | 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
- Fitness Expo
- Thursday | 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
- Spaghetti
- Friday | 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
- Bayfront
- Friday | 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
- Saturday | 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
MEDICAL NEEDS
Medical Devices & Lactation Supplies
Grandma’s Marathon does offer transportation of medical devices and lactation supplies from start line to finish line on race day. To request this service or for more information, please contact our office via email at [email protected] or via phone at (218) 727-0947.
Dietary Restrictions
Water and Powerade Ion4 (Mountain Berry Blast) is provided to participants on the racecourse and at the finish line. Fresh fruit will be provided near Miles 19 and 23.5 of the full marathon (Miles 6 and 10.5 of the half marathon).
NOTE: There will be several unofficial food and drink items available to participants on the racecourse. These items are often brought and prepared by community members, and they are distributed outside the official water/aid station locations managed by Grandma’s Marathon and our volunteers.
Fresh fruit and chips are among the items distributed to participants in the secure finish area following the race.
Vegetarian and gluten-free sandwiches are available to volunteers in the finish line area volunteer tent, as are fresh fruit and chips.
The Michelina’s All-You-Can-Eat Spaghetti Dinner offers gluten-free pasta, upon request.
Non-alcoholic beverages, including N/A beers, are available at Bayfront Festival Park. Food at the park is provided by outside food truck vendors, so available dietary options may vary year-to-year.
RACE WEEKEND LOCATIONS
Grandma’s Marathon & Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon
Participant Transportation
The buses to the start line(s) will be full, and single participants will be asked to share a double seat. Please listen for announcements while on the bus, and wait for a staff member or volunteer to direct you to deboard once you’ve arrived at the start line.
Not all the buses used for participant transportation are equipped with air conditioning. Animals are not allowed on the buses.
If you require handicapped accessible transportation to the start line of your race, please contact us via email at [email protected] or via phone at (218) 727-0947.
Start Line
Please expect and plan for congestion and long lines at the start line. There will be speakers playing music and announcements – if noise is a sensory issue, please plan to bring ear plugs to use until after the race has started. NOTE: There will be a planned military jet flyover planned at the start of the full marathon.
Bathrooms
There will be portable toilets, including handicapped accessible units, available to participants at the start line. Please plan for long lines at these toilets prior to the start of the race.
The Racecourse
Miles for Grandma’s Marathon are marked by yellow balloons, and miles for the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon are marked by teal balloons.
Aid/water stations and medical tent locations along the racecourse are marked by signage. There will be areas of the racecourse with live music or loudspeakers and stretches with lots of spectator noise, so please be aware if noise is a sensory issue.
Most popular viewing areas along the Grandma’s Marathon racecourse, listed in detail on the Spectator Information page, are handicapped-accessible, though some will have limited parking available. If you have specific questions, please contact us via email at [email protected].
Bathrooms
Portable toilets are available at each aid/water station located along the racecourse.
Finish Line
Please expect and plan for congestion and crowds at the finish line, especially in the peak finish times of the half marathon (7:45-8:45am) and marathon (11:30am-1:00pm). Participants and spectators should plan for longer than usual travel time in this area throughout the day.
The finish line area is handicapped accessible, but please be prepared that large crowds and congestion may make it difficult to navigate. A portion of the west side of the finish line is impassable for wheelchairs due to a deck with stairs at Little Angie’s Cantina & Grill.
To cross the secure racecourse in the finish line area, please use crosswalks near Canal Park Lodge (250 Canal Park Drive) or the wheelchair-accessible gate located immediately after the finish line structure.
Accessible viewing space is available away from the immediate finish area at any of the spectator bleachers — three require $10 tickets, one is free — or on the east side of the finish line (alongside the hotels bordering Lake Superior).
If you need help in navigating your path in the finish area, please contact us prior to the race via email at [email protected] or visit one of our Information Centers on race weekend.
There will be speakers playing music and announcements, so please be aware if noise is a sensory issue.
Handicapped accessible parking is available near the finish line area on the street and in select lots, but those spots are limited and may be full. Handicapped accessible parking at the DECC parking ramp, which is located 1/2-mile from the finish line, is available for $10 per day. A parking map of the DECC campus is available HERE.
William A. Irvin 5K
The Racecourse
There is no official wheelchair or adaptive field included in the William A. Irvin 5K. If you are an adaptive athlete and would like to participate, please contact Race Director Greg Haapala via email at [email protected] prior to the event so proper accommodations can be made.
Parking
There is handicapped accessible parking available near Entrances A & B at the DECC (near the start line) and at Bayfront Festival Park (near the finish line), available for $10 per day. A parking map of the DECC campus is available HERE.
Bathrooms
There are handicapped accessible bathrooms available throughout the DECC campus, including in Pioneer Hall and near the Lake Superior Ballroom. A full facility map of the DECC campus is available HERE.
There will be two banks of portable toilets available at Bayfront Festival Park, each with a limited number of handicapped accessible units. The south bank (closest to Pier B Hotel) is the closest to the park’s paved path.
Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC)
Accessible Entrances
Both Entrance A & B are wheelchair accessible. It’s recommended to use Entrance A to access the Essentia Health Fitness Expo and race packet pickup areas (Pioneer Hall, Paulucci Hall, and DECC Arena).
To access the Michelina’s All-You-Can-Eat Spaghetti Dinner (Lake Superior Ballroom), it’s recommended to use Entrance B and use nearby elevators to access the second floor.
Accessible Parking
There is handicapped accessible parking available near Entrances A & B at the DECC, available for $10 per day. A parking map of the DECC campus is available HERE.
Accessible Bathrooms
There are handicapped accessible bathrooms available throughout the DECC campus, including in Pioneer Hall and near the Lake Superior Ballroom. A full facility map of the DECC campus is available HERE.
Other Accommodations
Service dogs and animals are allowed in the DECC facility. Air conditioning is available throughout the campus, although the building can still be warm at peak times throughout the weekend.
Bayfront Festival Park
There can be large crowds throughout the weekend at Bayfront Festival Park, especially on Saturday evening and night. There will be loud music playing from 12:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. on Friday and all day Saturday, so please be aware if noise is a sensory issue.
Parking
There is handicapped accessible parking available at Bayfront Festival Park, available for $10 per day.
Entrances & Navigation
Bayfront Festival Park is wheelchair accessible at either entrance, either the main entrance near the parking lot or the lakeside entrance near the Great Lakes Aquarium.
A paved path circles the outside of the park, but the inner portion of the park is grass and has a medium to large incline into the bowl near the main stage. Wheelchairs are asked to use caution in this area, especially during times of wet weather when the ground may be softer than normal.
Bathrooms
There will be two banks of portable toilets available at Bayfront Festival Park, each with a limited number of handicapped accessible units. The south bank (closest to Pier B Hotel) is the closest to the park’s paved path.
Whipper Snapper Races
The kids’ races are one of the most congested points at Bayfront Festival Park during race weekend. Please plan for longer than usual travel time and allow extra time for registration.
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
The Duluth Transit Authority (DTA) offers accessible public transportation throughout the city of Duluth and some of the surrounding communities. Those interested can use the DTA Trip Planner to help create and guide their route during race weekend.