PUSH RIM WHEELCHAIR DIVISION
Think you have what it takes to be a champion?
Grandma’s Marathon includes a push rim wheelchair racing division, comprised of both elite and citizen participants for athletes with Paralympic classification or eligible impairment.
NOTE: The Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon does not have a push rim wheelchair division.
All push rim wheelchair division participants must use a racing wheelchair– a day chair may be used only if fitted with an attachment such as a FreeWheel – and Helmets must be worn at all times.
If you have any questions, please contact our Race Director Greg Haapala via email at [email protected].
ELITE WHEELCHAIR ATHLETE DETAILS
Elite wheelcahir athlete registration for the 2027 Grandma’s Marathon and Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon will open on January 4, 2027.
To apply for an elite entry, please see the directions below and contact our Elite Athlete & Hospitality Director Sarah Culver via email at [email protected].
To be considered for an elite wheelchair entry into Grandma’s Marathon, please submit your updated racing resume highlighting your best performances during the past two years (half marathon distance or longer).
A qualifying time must have been completed 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 racing resume to our Elite Athlete & Administration Director Sarah Culver via email at [email protected].
IMPORTANT: Non-binary athletes interested in applying for the elite wheelchair field should contact Elite Athlete & Administration Director Sarah Culver via email at [email protected] to discuss available options.
Elite athlete registration for the 2026 Grandma’s Marathon and Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon is now open.
To apply for an elite entry, please see the directions below and contact our Elite Athlete & Hospitality Director Sarah Culver via email at [email protected].
Elite athlete registration for the 2026 Grandma’s Marathon and Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon is now closed.
For questions, please contact our Elite Athlete & Hospitality Director Sarah Culver via email at [email protected].
GRANDMA’S MARATHON — MEN & WOMEN (OPEN DIVISION)
1st Place – $12,000
2nd Place – $9,000
3rd Place – $7,000
4th Place – $5,000
5th Place – $4,000
6th Place – $3,500
7th Place – $3,000
8th Place – $2,500
9th Place – $2,000
10th Place – $1,500
COURSE RECORD BONUS: $10,000
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 (T53/54/34 WHEELCHAIR DIVISION)
1st Place – $3,000
2nd Place – $2,000
3rd Place – $1,500
4th Place – $1,000
5th Place – $800
COURSE RECORD BONUS: $5,000
GRANDMA’S MARATHON MEN & WOMEN (T53/54/34 WHEELCHAIR MASTERS DIVISION)
1st Place – $500
GRANDMA’S MARATHON MEN & WOMEN (T51/52 QUAD DIVISION)
1st Place – $500
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-2:28 – $500
GRANDMA’S MARATHON — WOMEN (MASTERS DIVISION)
sub-2:46 – $500
GRANDMA’S MARATHON — MEN (WHEELCHAIR DIVISION)
sub-1:29 – $1,00
sub-1:31 – $750
sub-1:33 – $500
GRANDMA’S MARATHON — WOMEN (WHEELCHAIR DIVISION)
sub-1:42 – $1,000
sub-1:46 – $750
sub-1:50 – $500
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
COURSE RECORD BONUS: $5,000
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
PARALYMPIC HISTORY
Dating back to Tami Oothoudt in 1988, there have now been 44 Paralympic marathoners who have also competed in Duluth. 19 of those wheelers are past champions in either Grandma’s Marathon, and 11 have won Paralympic medals:
- Susannah Scaroni (3rd Place, 2024)
- Daniel Romanchuck (3rd Place, 2020)
- Tatyana McFadden (2nd Place, 2016)
- Amanda McGrory (3rd Place, 2016)
- GyuDae Kim (3rd Place, 2016)
- Shirley Reilly (1st Place, 2012)
- Amanda McGrory (2nd Place, 2008)
- Ernst Van Dyk (3rd Place, 2008)
- Edgar Navarro (3rd Place, 2004)
- Mustapha Badid (1st Place, 1988)
- Candace Cable (1st Place, 1988)
- Tami Oothoudt (1st Place, 1988)
NOTE: Amanda McGrory is the only wheelchair athlete connected to Duluth to have ever won multiple Olympic medals, winning a silver medal in 2008 and a bronze medal in 2016.
Aaron Pike (United States) – 2012, 2016, 2020, 2024
Luis Francisco Sanclemente (Colombia) – 2024
Daniel Romanchuk (United States) – 2020, 2024
Brian Siemann (United States) – 2012, 2020, 2024
Patrick Monahan (Ireland) – 2016, 2020
Johnboy Smith (Great Britain) – 2020
GyuDae Kim (South Korea) – 2012, 2016
James Senbeta (United States) – 2016
Ernst Van Dyk (South Africa) – 1996, 2004, 2008, 2016
Adam Bleakney (United States) – 2004, 2008, 2012
Josh Cassidy (Canada) – 2012
Ryan Chalmers (United States) – 2012
Michel Filteau (Canada) – 2004, 2008, 2012
Josh George (United States) – 2004, 2008, 2012
Krige Schabort (South Africa) – 2000, 2004, 2012
Tyler Byers (United States) – 2004, 2008
Tony Iniguez (United States) – 2008
Rafael Botello Jimenez (Spain) – 2008
Aaron Gordian (Mexico) – 1996, 2004, 2008
Jun Hiromichi (Japan) – 2004, 2008
Mark Ledo (Canada) – 2008
Saul Mendoza (Mexico) – 1996, 2008
Alexandrino Silva (Portugal) – 2008
Alfonso Zaragoza (Mexico) – 2008
Alan Bergman (Canada) – 2004
Gottfried Ferchl (Austria) – 2004
Scot Hollonbeck (United States) – 1996, 2004
Edgar Navarro (Mexico) – 2004
Yevgeniy Tetyukhin (Kazakhstan) – 2004
Martin Velasco Soria (Mexico) – 2004
Mustapha Badid (France) – 1988, 1996
Paul Wiggins (Australia) – 1996
Vanessa Cristina de Souza (Brazil) – 2024
Susannah Scaroni (United States) – 2012, 2016, 2020, 2024
Jenna Fesemyer (United States) – 2020, 2024
Tatyana McFadden (United States) – 2012, 2016, 2020, 2024
Aline dos Santos Rocha (Brazil) – 2024
Noemi Alphonse (Mauritius) – 2024
Amanda McGrory (United States) – 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020
Shirley Reilly (United States) – 2008, 2012, 2016
Alicia Ibarra Barajas (Mexico) – 2012
Ivonne Reyes (Mexico) – 2004
Candace Cable (United States) – 1988
Tami Oothoudt (United States) – 1988
DUO TEAMS
Grandma’s Marathon is proud to host duo teams, comprised of an athlete with an eligible impairment being pushed by one to four able-bodied participants.
Duo teams must use a specialized racing wheelchair. Through a partnership with myTEAM TRIUMPH-Minnesota, our organization may assist participants who do not have access to an eligible chair.
All participants must have a paid registration and an individual race number. To provide a safe experience for all participants, each race has a capacity of five duo teams.
The duo team program is non-competitive, and there are no separate award categories.
IMPORTANT: Grandma’s Marathon and the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon require a prior performance as a duo team to demonstrate safety and ability to complete the event.
If you have any questions, please contact Event Operations Manager Erin Hamrick via email at [email protected] or via phone at (218) 727-0947.
IMPAIRED RUNNERS & GUIDES
Grandma’s Marathon welcomes all race participants who have a permanent visual, physical, or intellectual impairment that affects their ability to participate in long-distance running.
Runners with an impairment are encouraged to contact Event Operations Manager Erin Hamrick via email at [email protected] or via phone at (218) 727-0947 with any requests for accommodations needed. All requests must be made by May 15.
The Grandma’s Marathon staff will do its best to provide all reasonable accommodations to these athletes.
Athletes in this program participate as part of the general participant field, and there are no separate award categories.
GUIDE RUNNERS
Participants with an impairment are eligible to have a guide runner assist them with their race if needed. Upon request, a complimentary entry will be provided for guide runners. All guide runners must be registered by May 1.
One guide runner is allowed per athlete, and they must complete the entire race with the participant they are supporting. NOTE: Participants are encouraged to recruit their own guide runner, as the Grandma’s Marathon staff does not actively recruit for this role.