Grandma's Marathon 2026
Duluth, Minnesota, MN
Date TBD
- Registration opened
- October 2, 2025
- Entry price
- $155–$185
Weather
| Month | Avg high / low | Band |
|---|---|---|
| June | 50–71°F | Mild |
Historical averages for planning — not a forecast. Always check conditions before race week.
Route & course
Marathon
Point-to-point · Road · starts 7:45 AM- Elev gain
- 437 ft
- Elev loss
- 563 ft
- High point
- 740 ft
- Low point
- 610 ft
- Start and finish are in different locations
- Plan shuttle, drop-off, or two-car logistics
- Conditions can differ from start to finish
Wheelchair/Adaptive division starts 7:35 a.m.; Men's Elite/Sub-Elite 7:40 a.m.; Women's Elite/Sub-Elite and Citizens 7:45 a.m. Net downhill ~130 ft; ~75% classified flat. Lemon Drop Hill at mile 22 is the key late-race challenge. Time limit 7 hours (~16:00/mile pace). BQ qualifier and AbbottWMM Age Group Qualifier.
Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon
Point-to-point · Road · starts 6:00 AM- Elev gain
- —
- Elev loss
- —
- High point
- —
- Low point
- —
- Start and finish are in different locations
- Plan shuttle, drop-off, or two-car logistics
- Conditions can differ from start to finish
Starts at the 13.1-mile marker of the full marathon course and follows Scenic Highway 61 into Canal Park. First run in 1991; typically slightly larger field than the marathon. 2026 edition is sold out.
William A. Irvin 5K
Unknown · Road- Elev gain
- —
- Elev loss
- —
- High point
- —
- Low point
- —
Friday June 19, 2026 race; capacity 1,500. Named after the William A. Irvin ore boat near the DECC. Kickoff event for race weekend; open to all ages and abilities. 2026 sold out.
Half Marathon
Point-to-point · Road- Elev gain
- —
- Elev loss
- 5 ft
- High point
- 672 ft
- Low point
- 610 ft
- Start and finish are in different locations
- Plan shuttle, drop-off, or two-car logistics
- Conditions can differ from start to finish
Minimal net elevation change with gentle hills.
Travel
- Base town
- Duluth
- Nearest airport
- DLH · 15 min
- Rental car
- Recommended
- Rideshare
- Good
- Lodging
- Good
- Facilities
- Good
- Trip length
- 3 nights
- Travel complexity
- 4/10
Point-to-point course
You finish in a different place than you start, so plan for transport back to your car or lodging.
Point-to-point course requires bus transport to the start in Two Harbors; buses are race-organized so no car logistics at the start. Duluth is a manageable regional destination with a solid airport, though most travelers from major hubs connect through Minneapolis (MSP).
Stay in Canal Park to walk to/from the finish and enjoy post-race atmosphere. Race buses handle the start-area transfer. Book lodging early — Canal Park hotels fill fast after registration opens in October.
Best for / avoid if
Best for
- Boston qualifiers
- first-time marathoners
- runners who love lake scenery
- destination race travelers
- half-marathon runners (Garry Bjorklund)
- runners seeking scenic races
- fans of community-driven events
Avoid if
- you need a deferral option
- you hate point-to-point logistics
- warm-weather racing is your preference
- you want a local/small-field feel
- you dislike point-to-point courses
- prefer urban racing environments
First-timer mistakes
Going out too fast on the early net-downhill miles — quad damage accumulates and Lemon Drop Hill at mile 22 will punish over-eager first halves. Also: the half marathon and 5K sell out within 90 minutes of registration opening on October 1.
Community reports — 2026
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