Elite Athletes

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].

  • Boston Marathon Qualifier

    The 2022 Grandma's Marathon saw 1,030 runners finish with a qualifying time for the Boston Marathon. Since 2018, more than 17.5% of all Grandma's Marathon finishers have run a BQ in Duluth.

  • Olympic Trials Qualifier

    Even with tougher time standards this cycle, the 2022 Grandma's Marathon and Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon saw 51 runners run qualifying times for the 2024 US Olympic Trials.

  • PRs Galore

    Usually with cooler temperatures and a helping tailwind, it's typical that Grandma's Marathon sees lots of PRs on race day. Since 2018, more than 7.5% of all finishers have run sub-3:00:00 pace.

2024 ELITE ATHLETE DETAILS

Qualified elite athlete entries are handled on a first-come, first-served basis. Considerations for entry, travel, or lodging assistance will be based on the depth of the field and availability of funds at the time of inquiry.

IMPORTANT: Elite athlete registration for the 2024 race weekend will open on January 1.

If you have any questions, please contact our Elite Athlete & Administration Director Sarah Culver via email at [email protected].

Considerations for entry, travel, or lodging assistance will be based on the depth of the field and availability of funds at the time of inquiry.

IMPORTANT: The elite fields for the 2023 Grandma’s Marathon and Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon are currently full.

If you have any questions, please contact our Elite Athlete & Administration Director Sarah Culver via email at [email protected].

HOW TO ENTER AS AN ELITE RUNNER
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].

GRANDMA'S MARATHON PRIZE MONEY

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 TIME INCENTIVES

GRANDMA’S MARATHON — MEN & WOMEN (OPEN DIVISION)
sub-2:08 – $10,000
sub-2:09 – $5,000
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 — MEN & WOMEN (MASTERS DIVISION)
sub-2:20 – $500

GRANDMA’S MARATHON — MEN & WOMEN (WHEELCHAIR DIVISION)
sub-1:30 – $500
sub-1:32 – $350
sub-1:34 – $150

GARRY BJORKLUND HALF MARATHON PRIZE MONEY

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

OLYMPIC TRIALS QUALIFIER

In 2022, there were 49 participants of Grandma’s Marathon that qualified for the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials. The 2023 Grandma’s Marathon will again be a qualifying event.

The qualifying window opened on January 1, 2022 and the new, updated USATF Qualifying Standards for the marathon are as follows:

MEN: 2:18:00   |   WOMEN: 2:37:00

BOSTON MARATHON QUALIFIER

In 2022, there were 1,030 participants (17.3% of finishers) of Grandma’s Marathon that qualified for the Boston Marathon, based on the B.A.A. Qualifying Standards.

Since 2010, Grandma’s Marathon has produced 10,632 qualifying times for the Boston Marathon. On average, more than 17.5% of Grandma’s Marathon finishers qualify to run in Boston.

ABBOTT AGE GROUP QUALIFIER

Grandma’s Marathon is part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors (AbbottWMM) Wanda Age Group Qualifier series.

The AbbottWMM Wanda 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. At the end of the qualifying period, the top ranked runners in each age group will be invited to the AbbottWMM Wanda Age Group World Championships.