WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS!
Think you have what it takes to be a champion?
We are proud to welcome an elite field for both Grandma’s Marathon and the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon each year on one of the fastest and most scenic racecourses in the United States.
Want to be breaking the tape in Canal Park? Put Grandma’s Marathon weekend on your calendar, and we’ll see you at the start line!
If you have any questions, please contact our Elite Athlete & Administration Director Sarah Culver via email at [email protected].
ELITE ATHLETE DETAILS
Elite athlete registration for the 2025 Grandma’s Marathon race weekend will open on January 1, 2025.
To apply for an elite 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 entry into Grandma’s Marathon or the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon, please submit your updated running resume highlighting your best performances during the past two years (half marathon distance or longer).
A qualifying time must have been run 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 running resume any time after January 1 to our Elite Athlete & Administration Director Sarah Culver via email at [email protected].
IMPORTANT: Non-binary athletes interested in applying for the elite field should contact Elite Athlete & Administration Director Sarah Culver
via email at [email protected] to discuss available options.
Elite athlete registration for the 2024 Grandma’s Marathon race weekend are now open. To apply for an elite entry, please see the directions below and contact our Elite Athlete & Administration Director Sarah Culver via email at [email protected].
Elite athlete registration for the 2024 Grandma’s Marathon race weekend is now closed. The official elite athlete roster for both the full marathon and half marathon events will be announced closer to race weekend.
Questions? Please contact our Elite Athlete & Administration Director Sarah Culver via email at [email protected].
GRANDMA’S MARATHON — MEN & WOMEN (OPEN DIVISION)
1st Place – $10,000
2nd Place – $7,500
3rd Place – $5,000
4th Place – $4,000
5th Place – $3,500
6th Place – $3,000
7th Place – $2,500
8th Place – $2,000
9th Place – $1,500
10th Place – $1,000
GRANDMA’S MARATHON — NON-BINARY (OPEN DIVISION)
1st Place – $500
2nd Place – $250
3rd Place – $100
GRANDMA’S MARATHON MEN & WOMEN (MASTERS DIVISION)
1st Place – $2,500
2nd Place – $1,500
3rd Place – $1,000
GRANDMA’S MARATHON MEN & WOMEN (WHEELCHAIR DIVISION)
1st Place – $3,000
2nd Place – $2,000
3rd Place – $1,500
4th Place – $1,000
5th Place – $800
GRANDMA’S MARATHON — MEN (OPEN DIVISION)
sub-2:08 – $5,000
sub-2:09 – $3,000
sub-2:10 – $2,500
sub-2:11 – $2,000
sub-2:12 – $1,500
sub-2:13 – $1,000
sub-2:14 – $900
sub-2:15 – $800
sub-2:16 – $700
sub-2:17 – $600
sub-2:18 – $400
sub-2:19 – $200
GRANDMA’S MARATHON — WOMEN (OPEN DIVISION)
sub-2:27 – $5,000
sub-2:28 – $3,000
sub-2:29 – $2,500
sub-2:30 – $2,000
sub-2:31 – $1,500
sub-2:32 – $1,000
sub-2:33 – $900
sub-2:34 – $800
sub-2:35 – $700
sub-2:36 – $600
sub-2:37 – $400
sub-2:38 – $200
GRANDMA’S MARATHON — MEN (MASTERS DIVISION)
sub-2:20 – $500
GRANDMA’S MARATHON — WOMEN (MASTERS DIVISION)
sub-2:40 – $500
GRANDMA’S MARATHON — MEN (WHEELCHAIR DIVISION)
sub-1:30 – $500
sub-1:32 – $350
sub-1:34 – $150
GRANDMA’S MARATHON — WOMEN (WHEELCHAIR DIVISION)
sub-1:43 – $500
sub-1:47 – $350
sub-1:51 – $150
GARRY BJORKLUND HALF MARATHON — MEN & WOMEN (OPEN DIVISION)
1st Place – $3,000
2nd Place – $2,000
3rd Place – $1,500
4th Place – $1,000
5th Place – $800
6th Place – $700
7th Place – $600
8th Place – $500
9th Place – $400
10th Place – $300
GARRY BJORKLUND HALF MARATHON — NON-BINARY (OPEN DIVISION)
1st Place – $150
2nd Place – $100
3rd Place – $75
GARRY BJORKLUND HALF MARATHON MEN & WOMEN (MASTERS DIVISION)
1st Place – $1,000
2nd Place – $750
3rd Place – $500
AN OLYMPIC DREAM
Grandma’s Marathon is proud to congratulate Dakotah Lindwurm (12th place) and Tebello Ramakongoana (7th place) on their oustanding performances at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympic Games!
Dating back to Ron Daws in 1968, there have now been 28 Olympic marathoners who have also competed in Duluth. Nine of those runners are past champions in either Grandma’s Marathon or the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon, and three have won Olympic medals:
- Meb Keflezighi (2nd Place, 2004)
- Deena Kastor (3rd Place, 2004)
- Lorriane Moller (3rd Place, 1992)
Tebello Ramakongoana (Lesotho) – 2024
Jordan Chipangama (Zambia) – 2016
Meb Keflezighi (United States) – 2004, 2012, 2016
Pardon Ndhlovu (Zimbabwe) – 2016
Pedro Mora (Venezuela) – 2012
Andrey Gordeyev (Belarus) – 2008
Zepherinus Joseph (Saint Lucia) – 2004
Smartex Tambala (Malawi) – 1992
Ed Eyestone (United States) – 1988, 1992
David Edge (Canada) – 1984, 1988
James Walker (Guam) – 1988
Joseph Kipsang (Kenya) – 1988
John Tuttle (United States) – 1984
Ryszard Marczak (Poland) – 1980
Ron Daws (United States) – 1968
Dakotah Lindwurm (United States) – 2024
Rosa Chacha (Ecuador) – 2012, 2016, 2020
Ariana Hilborn (Latvia) – 2016
Jane Vongvorachoti (Thailand) – 2016
Yolimar Pineda (Venzuela) – 2012, 2016
Amira Benamor (Tunisia) – 2012
Desiree Linden (United States) – 2012
Kara Goucher (United States) – 2012
Deena Kastor (United States) – 2004, 2008
Colleen De Reuck (South Africa, United States) – 1992, 2000, 2004
Lyubov Morgunova (Russia) – 2000
Lorraine Moller (New Zealand) – 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996
Janis Klecker (United States) – 1992
OLYMPIC TRIALS QUALIFIER
In 2022 & 2023, there were 97 participants of Grandma’s Marathon and the Garry Bkorklund Half Marathon that qualified for the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials.
Minnesota native and two-time Grandma’s Marathon champion Dakotah Lindwurm finished in third place at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, meaning she will represent her country at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympic Games.
The qualifying window for the 2028 U.S. Olympic Team Trials will open in 2026 (marathon) and 2027 (half marathon).
BOSTON MARATHON QUALIFIER
In 2024, there were 1,393 participants (18.4% of finishers) of Grandma’s Marathon that qualified for the Boston Marathon, based on the current year’s B.A.A. Qualifying Standards.
In its 48-year history, Grandma’s Marathon has produced nearly 35,000 qualifying times for the Boston Marathon. On average, close to 14.5% of Grandma’s Marathon finishers qualify each year to run in Boston.
ABBOTT AGE GROUP QUALIFIER
The AbbottWMM Marathon Tours & Travel Age Group World Rankings comprise a one-year qualifying period during which athletes in nine separate age groups can compete in over 50 marathons across the world to earn ranking points. The top ranked runners in each age group will be invited to the AbbottWMM Marathon Tours & Travel Age Group World Championships.
NOTE: The AbbottWMM Marathon Tours & Travel Age Group World Rankings and Championships currently do not offer a non-binary option for qualification but are keeping this under annual review and will continue to monitor runner data and growth to create meaningful competition.