The Grandma’s Marathon course is a picturesque, point-to-point 26.2-mile stretch along the beautiful shores of Lake Superior. With rolling hills and a net downhill elevation, our racecourse starts north of Duluth, MN near Two Harbors and runs along Scenic Highway 61, hugging the shores of Lake Superior before taking participants through the heart of downtown Duluth and finishing in historic Canal Park.

TIME REQUIREMENT
The Grandma’s Marathon time limit for participants is 7 hours, which requires a minimum pace of approximately 16:00/mile.

Participants choosing to continue after the cutoff time will be asked to move to the sidewalk and will do so at their own risk due to vehicular traffic and aid/water stations no longer being available.

MILE MARKERS
Grandma’s Marathon miles are marked by yellow balloons.

COURSE ELEVATION
START – 740 feet
MILE 1 – 712 feet (-28)
MILE 2 – 686 feet (-26)
MILE 3 – 656 feet (-30)
MILE 4 – 664 feet (+8)
MILE 5 – 637 feet (-27)
MILE 6 – 634 feet (-3)
MILE 7 – 640 feet (+6)
MILE 8 – 664 feet (+24)
MILE 9 – 677 feet (+13)
MILE 10 – 620 feet (-57)
MILE 11 – 639 feet (+19)
MILE 12 – 638 feet (-1)
MILE 13 – 617 feet (-21)
MILE 14 – 629 feet (+12)
MILE 15 – 631 feet (+2)
MILE 16 – 620 feet (-11)
MILE 17 – 640 feet (+20)
MILE 18 – 645 feet (+5)
MILE 19 – 625 feet (-20)
MILE 20 – 655 feet (+30)
MILE 21 – 672 feet (+17)
MILE 22 – 651 feet (-21)
MILE 23 – 657 feet (+6)
MILE 24 – 645 feet (-12)
MILE 25 – 636 feet (-9)
MILE 26 – 611 feet (-25)
FINISH – 610 feet (-1)

TOTAL ELEVATION CHANGE: -130 feet
Elevations are approximate, relative to sea level.

The start times for Grandma’s Marathon are as follows:

• 7:35 a.m. — Wheelchair & Adaptive
• 7:40 a.m. — Men’s Elite & Semi-Elite
• 7:45 a.m. — Women’s Elite & Semi-Elite
• 7:45 a.m. — Citizens

NOTE: Non-binary participants who are accepted into the elite or semi-elite field will be invited to participate in either the men’s or women’s start.

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

Buses will depart from the following locations on race morning:

• Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC) 
• Miller Hill Mall
• University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD)
• Duluth East High School
• Proctor Sports & Event Center
• University of Wisconsin Superior (UWS)
• Two Harbors High School

Marathon participants will also have the option of taking the North Shore Scenic Railroad to the start line.

These transportation options are for PARTICIPANTS ONLY, and your race bib must be visible to board. NOTE: Participants will be asked to choose their preferred loading location via email in mid-May. Please look for this email and respond as soon as possible — it greatly helps our transportation team in creating its plan for race morning.

Please click HERE for more information on loading times and other information on start line transportation. 

There will also be FREE return shuttle bus service provided for participants and spectators on race day. The buses will run continuously from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on race day.

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 19 | 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
• Friday, June 20 | 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.

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

IMPORTANT: The deadline to select race packet delivery is May 20. To make this change to your account, please call our office at (218) 727-0947. This service costs $25, and your race packet will arrive 7-10 days before the race. IMPORTANT: Race packet delivery is not available for the Great Grandma’s Challenge.

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 in the appropriately numbered containers near the start corral entrance. You must drop your gear bag by 7:15 a.m. to avoid delays getting into the start corral. No gear bags are permitted in the start corral. Please plan to wear warm layers on race morning. Extra clothes can be discarded in the start area prior to the race – True North Goodwill 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.

To help create a more efficient start experience, Grandma’s Marathon uses a staggered start process with three separate corrals for participants.

Based on goal finish time submitted during registration, participants will be assigned to either Start Corral A, B, or C. The corral assignment will be printed on each participant’s race bib.

NOTE: Participants will receive an email in early May to confirm their goal finish time. Any changes to that must be made via your Race Roster account prior to May 27.

Participants may choose to move BACKWARD in the corral system, but in no scenario can a participant move FORWARD (i.e. if you’re assigned to corral A, you can choose to start in either B or C).

Volunteers and signage will help direct you to the correct corral on race morning. Toilets will be available to participants before entering the starting corral.

IMPORTANT: Please expect and plan for congestion and long lines at the start line, especially for the portable toilets. There will also 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.

Click HERE for more information on the specifics on the start line area of the race.

Experienced pacers, presented by ASICS, will be available at the following times: 2:55, 3:00, 3:05, 3:15, 3:20, 3:25, 3:30, 3:35, 3:45, 3:50, 4:00, 4:05, 4:20, 4:35, 4:50, 5:00, 5:30, and 6:00.

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

Grandma’s Marathon water and aid stations will be located at Miles 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, and 25. Water and Powerade Ion4 will be provided in cups at every station. Toilets and first aid will also be available.

Our partnership with Coca Cola means all 400,000+ cups available on the racecourse will now be compostable.

In addition, Hiccup Earth will again be providing 50,000+ reusable cups for two of our Grandma’s Marathon water stations – located at Miles 9 and 25. 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 19 and 23.5, and PURE FUEL by Anderson’s Maple Syrup will be available at Mile 17.

BAGS & PERSONAL HYDRATION PACKS
Grandma’s Marathon does not allow backpacks to be worn by participants in our race weekend events or brought into the start areas or on start line transportation (buses or train).

NEW IN 2025: Hydration packs or vests, fuel belts, and hand-held water bottles are allowed. Hydration packs or vests are limited to an overall capacity of no more than 8 liters (8L), and a water bladder capacity no more than 1.5 liters (1.5L), if applicable. Any items brought to start line areas by participants may be subject to search by law enforcement.

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

• McQuade Road (approximately 13.4 miles)
• Lakewood Road (approximately 16.1 miles)
• 60th Avenue East (approximately 19.0 miles)
• 26th Avenue East (approximately 22.2 miles)
• 9th Avenue East (approximately 23.7 miles)

Fatigue buses will bring participants who have dropped out of the race to the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC) medical tent, which is located on Railroad St. near the DECC parking ramp. Anyone seeking medical information on a participant should inquire at the Medical Information Tent near the finish line or by calling the marathon office at (218) 727-0947.

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

Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) and trained responders are located each mile along the racecourse. Medical assistance is available at racecourse aid stations during the event and at the finish line medical tent until 3:00 p.m. on race day. Use hospital/emergency room services for all needs after 3:00 p.m.

You MUST have a visible race bib or valid race credential to be inside the secure finish area. NO EXCEPTIONS.

After finishing the race, participants will immediately receive their finisher medal and T-shirt. IMPORTANT: Men’s and women’s shirts will be distributed on separate sides of the T-shirt tent. Please take the size shirt you selected during registration. To request a size exchange of your finisher shirt after the race, please complete a form HERE. Requests will be honored on a first-come, first-served basis as inventory allows.

Water, Powerade Ion4 (Mountain Berry Blast), and other refreshments will be available to participants within the secure finish area. Participants may choose to collect their gear bag before visiting the runner recovery lot but must stay within the secure finish area.

Click HERE for more information on the specifics on the finish line area of the race.

There will be a tearaway tag on the bottom of the race bibs, which can be redeemed for a FREE beverage on race weekend. These tags can be redeemed either in the secure finish area of Grandma’s Marathon and the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon (Saturday, June 21) or at Bayfront Festival Park (Friday-Saturday, June 20-21).

If you wish to use your tag for an alcoholic beverage, you MUST present your ID at one of the following locations to receive a wristband, which must remain on your wrist and visible until the time you receive your drink. PRO TIP: Get your wristband at packet pickup or the fitness expo, and skip the ID line at Bayfront Festival Park.

Thursday, June 19 — 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Friday, June 20 — 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Race Packet Pickup
C&L Expo Booth
DECC Information Booths
All three locations are inside the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC) as part of the Essentia Health Fitness Expo.

Thursday, June 19 — 12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Friday, June 20 — 7:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.
Bayfront Festival Park

Timing mats will be placed at the following checkpoints on the Grandma’s Marathon racecourse: 3.1M, 6.2M, 13.1, 16.2M, 20M, 22M, and 24M.

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.

ESTIMATED CHAMPION FINISH TIMES
Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon
Men – 7:00 a.m.
Women – 7:10 a.m.

Grandma’s Marathon Wheelchair
Men – 9:00 a.m.
Women – 9:05 a.m.

Grandma’s Marathon
Men – 9:50 a.m.
Women – 10:10 a.m.

TV & RADIO COVERAGE
TV & Streaming: WDIO-TV (Duluth area), KSTC-TV (Twin Cities), and wdio.com

Radio: Northland FAN 106.5FM (Duluth area), and northlandfan.com

Coverage starts at 6:30 a.m. on race day.

Newspaper: Duluth News Tribune (Duluth area) and duluthnewstribune.com

VIEWING LOCATIONS
The best – and most fun! – places to watch Grandma’s Marathon come once the participants have reached Mile 19 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.

Full race results will be posted immediately following the event at grandmasmarathon.com.

Finish time photo opportunities will be available to all participants from 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. at the ASICS Results Tent. The PR Pan and First Time Finisher Bell will be available on race day in Canal Park.

To access the full historical results database of Grandma’s 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.

Rooms do book quickly for Grandma’s Marathon 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.

BIKE VALET
Skip the traffic when exploring Duluth! To help make our event a more accessible biking destination, we will offer a bike valet on both Friday and Saturday of race weekend. Just like a coat check, we’ll tag your bike and provide you with a claim stub. When you’re ready to move on, come get your bike, and off you go!

This complimentary service is available at the following times and locations on race weekend:

Friday, June 20
12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. — Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC), near Entrance A

Saturday, June 21
6:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. — Corner of Buchanan Street & Lake Avenue

RIDE THE BUS 
Participants can ride the Duluth Transit Authority (DTA) for free on race day just by showing their official race bib. NOTE: Be sure to utilize the DTA Trip Planner to plan your weekend activities.

PORT TOWN TROLLEY
Courtesy of the Duluth Transit Authority (DTA), the Port Town Trolley will be available from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on race day between Canal Park (corner of Lake Avenue and Morse Street) and Bayfront Festival Park.

SKYWALK ACCESS
Use the indoor skywalk system to cross Interstate-35 and access the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC). Enter the skywalk in downtown Duluth at the Holiday Center (207 W. Superior Street).

LAKEWALK
For a less congested option to move between the finish line area and Miles 19-24 on the racecourse, consider using Duluth’s scenic Lakewalk. IMPORTANT: Bikes are allowed on the Lakewalk, but they are NOT ALLOWED on the racecourse.

For answers to some of the most Frequently Asked Questions about Grandma’s Marathon and our race weekend, please click HERE.