Pricing Structure (In-Person)
October 1-October 15 — $110
October 16-December 31 — $120
January 1-March 31 — $130
April 1-June 1 — $140

Pricing Structure (Virtual)
October 1-Race Day — $110

The start times for the 2024 Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon are as follows:

• 5:50 a.m. — Adaptive
• 6:00 a.m. — Men’s Elite & Sub-Elite
• 6:00 a.m. — Women’s Elite & Sub-Elite
• 6:00 a.m. — Citizens

The official Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon training group, led by certified coach Tony Stensland, is designed to prepare you for a successful race day.

This is the perfect place to gain confidence while feeling the camaraderie and support of other, like-minded runners! Whether you’re interested in joining or just need advice on how to train on your own, please click HERE for more information.

As part of your registration, all participants will be receiving an exclusive trial of the ASICS Runkeeper Go premium subscription, with access to features like:

• Tailor-made training plans based on your individual goals, experience, and schedule
• Run comparisons and advanced insights into your progress
• Guided workouts to help motivate you along the way

Put the worries of training aside, and focus instead on the fun part of reaching your finish line in June!

Rooms do book quickly for the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon race weekend, so it’s recommended that participants, volunteers, and spectators find lodging as soon as possible.

A full list of available hotels, motels, and campgrounds, etc. throughout the area is available HERE.

Participants may pick up their race packets during the Essentia Health Fitness Expo. Extended hours for packet pickup are available on Friday night for those arriving late to Duluth.

PACKET PICKUP HOURS

• Thursday, June 20, 2024 | 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
• Friday, June 21, 2024 | 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.

Click HERE for more information on the specifics of your race packet pickup.

Using official bus or train transportation is the ONLY allowable way for participants to get to the start line of the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon. For the safety of our participants, volunteers, and the public, individual drop-offs at the start line are strictly prohibited.

Please click HERE for more information on available transportation to the start line and throughout race day.

You will receive an official, clear plastic gear bag at race packet pick-up. A label with your race number is provided in your race packet envelope and must be placed in the designated space on your bag.

Gear bags MUST be dropped at the bus pickup locations prior to departing for the start area. Gear bags WILL NOT be accepted in the start area of the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon.

Please plan to wear warm layers on race morning. Extra clothes can be discarded in the start area prior to the race – Goodwill Duluth will reuse or recycle all clothing left behind.

Participants may pick up their gear bags in the secure finish area. You may pick up your gear bag before collecting your post-race food, if desired.

IMPORTANT: Unofficial gear bags (including backpacks) are not permitted and will not be accepted. Do not leave valuables in your bag. Race officials are not responsible for any lost items. All bags are subject to inspection and should not be left unattended.

START LINE
The Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon start line is located on Old Scenic Highway 61 just north of McQuade Safe Harbor. For a map and more information on the start line, including more of what to expect for participants, please click HERE.

NEW IN 2024: To help create a more efficient start experience for all, participants will be divided at the start into three separate corrals (1, 2, or 3) based on goal finish time.

A participant’s assigned corral will be printed on their race bib. You may move backward in the corral system, but not forward (i.e. if you’re assigned to corral 1, you can choose to start in either 2 or 3).

Volunteers and signage will help direct you to the correct corral on race morning.

FINISH LINE
The Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon finish line is located in the heart of Duluth’s Canal Park and is a short walk from the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC) and Bayfront Festival Park. For a map and more information on the finish line, including more of what to expect for participants, please click HERE.

Participants will receive their finisher medal and shirt after crossing the finish line. Water and Powerade Ion4 (Mountain Berry Blast) along with food and refreshments will be available.

Participants will also receive a free drink coupon that can be redeemed on race day only at the DECC Cheer Plaza or at Bayfront Festival Park.

The Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon has experienced pace teams, presented by ASICS, to help keep you on track throughout your race. Pacers will be available for the following goal finish times: 1:30, 1:40, 1:45, 1:50, 1:55, 2:00, 2:05, 2:10, 2:15, 2:20, 2:30, and 2:45.

Participants can find their pace team leader near the sign in the start corral indicating their goal pace.

Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon water and aid stations will be located at Miles 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12. Water and Powerade Ion4 will be provided in cups at every station.

IMPORTANT: Hydration vests and fuel belts are allowed on the course, but only if that is their primary purpose. Backpacks or vests with several other pockets will not be permitted.

Hiccup Earth will again be providing reusable cups for two of our Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon water stations, in partnership with Coca Cola. Please remember two important things — DO NOT take the cups with you, and TOSS your used cups to the side of the road or in one of the marked collection bins.

ON-COURSE FUEL & FOOD
Super One Foods will provide fresh fruit near Miles 6 and 10.5, and PURE FUEL by Anderson’s Maple Syrup will be available at Mile 4.

If you are unable to finish the race, there are four racecourse dropout zones with fatigue buses and medical tents.

• Lakewood Road (approximately 3.1 miles)
• 60th Avenue East (approximately 6.0 miles)
• 26th Avenue East (approximately 9.2 miles)
• 9th Avenue East (approximately 10.7 miles)

Fatigue buses will depart when full to the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC), which is approximately 1/2 mile from the finish line.

IMPORTANT: Seeking aid at a medical tent during the race DOES NOT prevent you from continuing. However, any assistance that results in your being moved forward on the course will result in a disqualification.

Timing mats will be placed at the following checkpoints on the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon racecourse: 6.9M and 11.9M.

Live runner tracking, powered by ASICS, is available through our Grandma’s Marathon mobile app. The app can be downloaded anytime on Apple and Android, but live runner tracking will be available only on race day.

Grandma’s Marathon is again offering spectators the chance to record Shoutout videos that will play as their favorite participants pass our Jumbotron screen in downtown Duluth.

The screen will be located near Mile 24 of the full marathon and Mile 11 of the half marathon.

From wherever you are, you can show your support when they need you the most in the day’s final miles.

The best – and most fun! – places to watch Grandma’s Marathon come once the participants have reached Mile 6 and the outer city limits of Duluth.

London Road, Superior Street, and Canal Park are some of the most convenient locations to watch the race. Parking in these areas can be limited, so please plan to arrive early to allow extra walking time to your chosen viewing location.

More specific spectator information for race weekend can be found HERE.

To access the full historical results database of the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon as well read more about the event’s all-time event record holders, year-by-year winners, and age category record-holders., please click HERE.

For answers to some of the most Frequently Asked Questions about the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon and race weekend, please click HERE.