Grandmas was my 7th marathon (and my PR); one of the best organized and staffed in my experience, with a very festive atmosphere. The course is essentially flat (one small hill late in the race), and it is ideal for first-time runners. I would highly recommend staying at the UMD campus for accomodations - good price, and buses were plentiful both the day before and the day of the race. Pockets of spectators for the first 19 miles, but the lake views were rewarding and preferable. Crowds were much more prevalent after mile 19 - from entering Duluth all the way through to the end. They were very supportive, vocal, and enthusiastic, which helped to keep you going.

I agree with everything that my brother said (I was the other recipient of the free lunch) - it was a fantastic event from start to finish, and beyond. Do not leave town without staying around for the party Saturday night, but do go to the pasta dinner on Friday, sit down at a table with people you don't know, and make some new friends. It's a fast course with some great views, some very supportive fans, and only one hill - appropriately named 'Lemon Drop Hill' - which is only challenging due to its location (mile 22), rather than its size/steepness. Well worth the trip, and make sure to reserve your hotel early. Thanks again to the people and town of Duluth for such a memorable experience.

I never thought the experience I had at the Chicago Marathon would get surpassed, but Grandma's was simply unbelievable. The people, the atmosphere, the race, the after-party; it was all perfect. Everyone involved in this race was kind, genuine, enthusiastic and so ridiculously supportive of the race that I wanted to give back somehow at the end. They wouldn't let me. Instead, some people I met after the race bought my brother and I lunch.
I recommend this marathon to everyone and anyone.
Finally, thank you, Duluth, for giving me my PR (and a qualifying time for Boston as well). But more importantly, thank you for your hospitality and overwhelming support. Every marathon should learn from this one.

Loved Duluth. Great course. Pine trees, winding roads, and inspiring views of Lake Superior. Lots of water stops and restrooms along the way. Most difficult climb is Gum Drop Hill... (That should be a clue about how punishing it was). And how about dem spectators, eh?

This marathon is a must! And if I did it, anyone can! The support at the water stations was great - they even said 'You are looking great' when we all knew the truth! Also running were 5 of my family members who were all running their 2nd marathon (4 of the 5 hated their first one - Detroit Free Press). We all loved it and are talking about our next one! People were upset about the rain delay, but I was glad not to get drenched early in the race. I figure either way, we are going to run for a LONG time! The better attitude you have the better time you have! The only complaint I have is they needed more port-a-potties! Especially near the start line. The lines for the bathrooms were so long, if the race had started on time, I would not have made it. I absolutely loved the scenery, loved the people, and loved the experience. I was so excited from it that I still couldn't sleep that night (pain may have had something to do with it also).

I am attempting to run 12 marathons in 12 months. Grandmas was my halfway point: marathon #6 in 6 months.

This was my second time running Grandmas, and quite frankly, this is one of the best-organized, and well-run marathons out there (I have run 12 marathons overall, some big, and some smaller ones as well).

They have a first-class expo (I saw guest speakers Dick Beardsley and Grete Waitz), and a good pasta dinner the night before.

One hitch: they had a half hour 'weather delay' that they did not announce until about 3 minutes before the race. Most people had already turned in their sweats and had lined up (fortunately for me, my wife was at the start so I could put mine back on--we ended up ducking underneath a panel truck to avoid getting wet!). This was a relatively minor inconvenience in the whole scheme of things, however, and was quickly forgotten once the race began.

The weather was almost perfect for mid-June. It was cool at the start, and then when we got close to the lake, the temperature dropped about 10 degrees, and gave us a nice slight tail wind.

Support at Grandmas is the best of any race I've been in. Every water stop has water-sports drink-water-sports drink-water (in other words, you don't have to make sure that you get whatever fluid you are looking for at the first table you come to). They also have wet sponges at all of the stops.

The finish in Canal Park is probably the best finish of any marathon I've been in as well. If you are serious about marathoning, Grandmas is a must-run at least once. One tip: REGISTER EARLY! I downloaded the entry form the day it came online and mailed it in. The race generally closes within about 2 weeks, and there is no online registration.

THis town loves their marathon, and they go all out for it--I would highly recommend this race to anyone (first-timers, or veteran marathoners).

Next marathon: Lake Okoboji Marathon, Okoboji, Iowa.

I've run Grandma's eight times. The last time I ran it was in 1999 before this race somehow became 'the' race to run. It has exploded in popularity and usually fills up a couple weeks after entries start being taken in March. They put a cap on the number of participants (9,000) simply for the fact that there is not enough lodging to support the 15,000 entries I'm sure they would receive if it were unlimited. If you get in, I recommend staying in the University of MN-Duluth dorms. They are inexpensive, well-staffed, and you can get right on a shuttle first thing in the morning. Plus, there are a lot of other runners to enjoy the atmosphere with.

The race itself is along the North Shore of Lake Superior. You are always going to get nice cool breezes to help you along as you make your way into Duluth. Only once in my years of doing this race have I felt the heat. And it is usually sunny and cool at the finish line so bring a sweatshirt.

The crowds are great. Although they don't line the route constantly, it is nice to get a break every couple of miles and listen to the 'hum' of thousands of feet hitting the ground. When you do run into pockets of spectators they are LOUD! Minnesota folk are quite enthused about this race since it is the BIG EVENT in Duluth every year.

The course is rolling and you can see the lift-bridge where the finish line is for the last 16 miles of the race. This can be demoralizing if you are hurting early on in the race. But by the time you get into the Duluth city limits, the crowds are thick and everybody is partying! Make sure you save some room for a beer at mile 23 in front of the Law School house. After that, the last couple miles are right through downtown and it's cool to hear the crowds echo off the tall buildings. People go nuts for this race. You finish in Canal Park where you can watch the ships go by as you pig out on a great post-race spread.

Traffic is not a problem. T-shirts are always well-done. Weather makes for fast times.

The only thing I would change about this race is the post-race party. They charge an arm and a leg to get in. You are better off bar-hopping in Canal Park instead of going to a subdued post-race concert.

This was my second marathon and I loved it. Except for the rain delay, everything was perfect. They really know how to take care of the runners. I found the city very friendly and I loved the big ballons marking the miles for me. I always had something to pull me along. Cool temp and the wind at my back made for a PR for me! Thanks Duluth for an experience to cherish. I think everyone should run this race at least once. I'll be back next year!

THIS IS THE 3RD GRANDMAS MARATHON I'VE RAN & WAS ONCE AGAIN IMPRESSED WITH THE OVERALL ORGANIZATION! EASY TO FIND PARKING, EASY TO PICK UP PACKETS, PLENTY OF BUSES TO START LINE, PLENTY OF SUPPORT ALONG THE WAY & BEST OF ALL AN AWESOME CROWD!!

This marathon is VERY well organized. It was just my second marathon, and both have been good experiences. That makes the running life so much easier. One gripe: The start of the 2002 race was delayed a half hour about three minutes before it was supposed to start. There were severe weahter concerns, but they didn't really tell us that. It was just called a 'rain delay.' Everybody had turned in their sweats, was in the chute and ready to run. Then ... the announcement. Aside from that, though, it was great. I forgot about the delay a mile into the race. The weather (50-55 degrees with 10 mph tailwind) was good for running, although bad for spectators, I guess. The course is great and they get you to the start in plenty of time. The expo and post-race organization and pasta opportunites and all that jazz are super. The crowds weren't what I expected, but again, that was probably weather-related with threats of rain all day. The upside is that the smaller crowds made it easier for 'your' fans (family members, friends) to see you a few times during the race. Check this race out. And plan to spend a few extra days in the wonderful Duluth/North Shore area. The city loves its marathon and I find the city itself soothing and tourist-friendly. You'll go home happy.