GRANDMA’S MARATHON START LINE
893 Scenic Drive
Two Harbors, MN 55616

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

There will be plenty of portable toilets, as well as water and medical aid, available to participants at the start area in the parking lot of Sonju Two Harbors.

NOTE: Please be respectful of our neighbors along the racecourse and help keep Minnesota’s North Shore pristine by using designated portable toilets ONLY. Participants doing otherwise run the risk of disqualification.

The Grandma’s Marathon start area is lined on one side by trees and private property and on the other side by railroad tracks and Lake Superior. Due to this confined nature, as well as a lack of available parking, spectators are not encouraged at or near the start line.

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

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.

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