2024 William A. Irvin 5K registration is now sold out.
To 2024 Race Day
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Don’t worry… there are still ways into the SOLD OUT William A. Irvin 5K!
- Great Grandma’s Challenge — Run the William A. Irvin 5K on Friday before Grandma’s Marathon on Saturday!
- Charity Partners Program — You raise the money, they pay for your race entry. Run for free, run for good!
- Bib Transfer Portal — Connect with runners who can’t make it in June and are looking to sell their race entry.
Connect with other 2024 William A. Irvin 5K participants!
- 2024 Participant Facebook Group — You’ve got questions about race weekend? Go straight to the source and connect with other participants.
- 2024 Grambassadors — We’ve assembled a group of experienced and enthusiastic race weekend veterans to offer help and encouragement!
WORLD CLASS EVENT, SMALL TOWN CHARM
The William A. Irvin 5K started in 1994 and has now become the popular kickoff event to an exciting lineup of races and festivities on Grandma’s Marathon weekend.
A perfect race for people of all ages and abilities, the 3.1-mile course was named after the William A. Irvin ore boat located next to the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC).
A new course, starting in 2016, now takes participants on a scenic tour of Duluth’s Lakewalk on the shores of Lake Superior before running through Canal Park back to the finish line.
2024 RACE DETAILS
The William A. Irvin 5K racecourse will take you on a tour of Canal Park past some of Duluth’s most iconic landmarks, including Bayfront Festival Park, Sister Cities Park, Gichi-ode Akiing Park, the Lake Superior Maritime Museum, the Aerial Lift Bridge, and the William A. Irvin ore boat museum.
Pricing Structure (In-Person)
October 1-October 15 — $40
October 16-December 31 — $45
January 1-June 1 — $50
Pricing Structure (Virtual)
October 1-Race Day — $35
Participants may pick up their race packets during the Essentia Health Fitness Expo. Anyone participating in the William A. Irvin 5K MUST pick up their race packet and arrive to the starting line no later than 5:40 p.m. on Friday, June 21.
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.
The William A. Irvin 5K will use a wave start process to help ensure the safest and most enjoyable race environment possible.
Participants are asked to line up in the start corral near the sign that most closely represents your expected pace per mile. Race officials and volunteers will provide wave instructions to participants prior to the start.
There is one water and aid station on the William A. Irvin 5K racecourse, located just before 1.5 miles.
Water, toilets, and first aid will be available to participants 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.
Open – 1st through 10th
Ages 12 & Under – 1st
Ages 13-18 – 1st
Ages 35-39 – 1st, 2nd, & 3rd
Ages 40-44 – 1st, 2nd, & 3rd
Ages 45-49 – 1st, 2nd, & 3rd
Ages 50-54 – 1st, 2nd, & 3rd
Ages 55-59 – 1st, 2nd, & 3rd
Ages 60-64 – 1st, 2nd, & 3rd
Ages 65-69 – 1st, 2nd, & 3rd
Ages 70-74 – 1st & 2nd
Ages 75-79 – 1st & 2nd
Age 80 & Over – 1st
Non-Binary – 1st
NOTE: 19-34 age group awards are included in the Open category. Chip time will be used to determine all age-group winners and other award recipients. Non-binary athletes are not eligible for overall men’s and women’s prize packages.
To access the full historical results database of the William A. Irvin 5K 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 William A. Irvin 5K and race weekend, please click HERE.
THE SWAG
2024 GRANDMA’S MARATHON or GARRY BJORKLUND HALF MARATHON LIMITED EDITION JACKET — $40.00
This Diamond Fleece Jacket, made by Minnesota-based company Storm Creek, is artfully engineered and features a quilted diamond pattern combined with luxuriously soft fabric. Peak comfort and peak performance for the perfect active layer (MSRP: $75).
2024 GRANDMA’S MARATHON or GARRY BJORKLUND HALF MARATHON TRAINING SHIRT — $30.00
Let the world know you’re training for the 2024 Grandma’s Marathon or Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon in this 100% polyester, long-sleeve tech training shirt. You’ll look good and run fast!
2024 GRANDMA’S MARATHON or GARRY BJORKLUND HALF MARATHON JACKET & SHIRT COMBO — $55.00
The perfect layering solution for all weather conditions. Save $15 when you purchase both the 2024 Grandma’s Marathon or Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon limited edition jacket and training shirt!
GRANDMA’S MARATHON LONG SLEEVE HOODIE — $35.00
Made by Minnesota-based company Storm Creek, this luciously soft and lightweight Pacesetter hoodie will fit perfectly and snuggle you all the way across the finish line (MSRP: $55.00).
NOTE: We expect items to start shipping in early 2024.
RACE RESULTS & PHOTOS
The William A. Irvin 5K serves as the kickoff to Grandma’s Marathon weekend and now includes close to 3,000 participants each year.
The race is is timed and scored by Mtec Results. The previous year’s results, as well as historical and all-time results dating to the inaugural event in 1991, are available HERE.
Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon race day images are available online through MarathonFoto. Participants can view and purchase their very own personal photo gallery HERE.
AWARDS & ACCOLADES
Minnesota’s Best
Grandma’s Marathon has been voted three straight years as the state’s top annual sports event or race in the Minnesota’s Best awards, a Star Tribune initiative to celebrate the many businesses, organizations, and individuals that make Minnesota a great place to live, work, and play.
Minnesota’s Best is an audience-driven contest and in 2023 had more than 1 million votes cast for 6,700+ organizations in 300+ categories.
Best of the Best
Grandma’s Marathon was voted as the region’s best local tournament in the 2023 Best of the Best awards, which are hosted by our major media partner the Duluth News Tribune.
More that 140,000 votes were cast in this year’s competition, separating close to 45,000 nominees in hundreds of different categories searching to find the best of the best in Duluth and the surrounding area.
The BibRave 100
Grandma’s Marathon was named by BibRave to The BibRave 100 : A Definitive List of the Best Races in America and identified as one of the top 20 best marathons of the decade.
Grandma’s Marathon was also named by BibRave voters as one of the nation’s top 5 “Race-Cations,” which is described as a premier race combined with weekend experiences to make potential extra travel and logistics worth the time.
MN Signature Event
Grandma’s Marathon was named a Signature Event by Explore Minnesota Tourism for its contributions to the state’s $15 billion travel industry.
In a 2019 economic study, it was reported that Grandma’s Marathon brings nearly $21 million to the region each year.
The organization aimed to highlight Minnesota-based, world-class events that produce substantial media exposure and generate significant travel dollars for the state of Minnesota.
Future William A.
Irvin 5K Dates
June 21, 2024
June 20, 2025
June 19, 2026
June 18, 2027
June 16, 2028
June 15, 2029
June 21, 2030