This was my first marathon. I was very impressed with the race organization, the volunteers, and the MANY spectators along the route cheering us on.

This route is closed to traffic during the race which was wonderful. I ran with the 4 hour pace team and was surrounded by upbeat and interesting runners.

Ran grandmas 35th anniversary race. Very nice race with good support from the community. The course was scenic with views of lake superior for much of it. I've run several large races; Chicago, San Diego, etc. and this size was much more enjoyable. My fourteenth race overall and definately the best organized. Busses from the hotel to near the start line were easy, bag check system was most efficient I've seen, plenty of porta johns at the start, good expo, The pasta dinner ran all day and evening at the expo was a good idea.

This is a race I'd always heard about and wanted to run. After four years off from marathons, I targeted this race to see if it met the hype. For the most part - yes - it definitely does.

Organization - 2nd to none. It's a good sized marathon/half-marathon. Communication for the months leading up to the race up until race day - superb.

Experience - I've run the larger marathons (NYC, Chicago) and one smaller (Fargo). I did notice that the people of Duluth were really curious about who the participants were - where they were from, etc. As someone who lived in a town of 500 growing up, I appreciated that curiousity. I really enjoyed the friendly feel of the race.

I support going the dorm route - stayed at UW-Superior. It made race day SO easy - walk out the door onto a bus to the start line. Great set-up.

Course - beautiful. But, I'll admit, I was ready to see something else after 18 miles along the lake. I did like the rolling hills - not tough....just made the race challenging enough - but not TOO challenging.

Post-race. I really enjoyed the set-up. Finisher shirt was great. '11 was COLD - so I spent 1/2 hr just trying to warm up.

I'd recommend this race. I'll probably try others out since I like to see different parts of the U.S. But, try this one....worth the trip.

Talk about superb organization, amazing community and volunteer support, and add in some soothing views of the Big Lake and spectacular Duluth, what is not to like? The Clifbar 4:15 Pace team experience made it even better. Thanks Star and Clifbar! I feared the weather would be so dreadful the race would be cancelled (it thunderstormed and poured rain ahead of time and was in the 40s) and I almost backed out but it was about ideal except for hypothermia hitting me after reaching the finish line. PB. BQ. Go for it.

I chose Grandma's Marathon for my second marathon because reviews indicated it was reasonably flat and because it had a seven hour time limit.

Packet pickup was very easy. There was a large expo with lots of interesting things. The pasta dinner was excellent.

I stayed at a dorm at UWS. It was exactly what I expected - modest accommodations, but clean. I would not hesitate to stay there again. Was able to 'check out' about 4:30 AM as I headed to the start.

The setting of the course along Lake Superior and through downtown Duluth was scenic and pleasant. Flat to rolling terrain and a slight downhill bias, with Lemondrop Hill the only stretch - maybe a quarter mile - which would qualify as knowing you were on a hill (and then just barely).

The first nineteen miles of the event are pretty isolated. As a marathon walker, I enjoyed the solitude. It had rained all night and was raining even as we boarded the train to Two Harbors. What a fantastic way to get people to the starting line! The course was initially wet, but it didn't rain during the race - for that we were fortunate.

As I approached Lemondrop Hill the course was opened to traffic. It would have been nice to have been pointed to sidewalk on the right side of the road since the left sidewalk did NOT go where the race went!! Little did I know then that was just the start of having to find my way to the finish line.....

The race to that point was a straight shot toward Duluth from Two Harbors - no question about where to walk. But once in town, and particularly near the finish, there are several turns and there was ABSOLUTELY NO indication of the marathon route. Fortunately earlier finishers were around and able to guide me through the turns.

I recognize I am one of the slower participants and the resources of the race need to be focused on the masses. Still, if the race advertises a seven hour time limit, I think the organization should be committed to supporting those on a seven hour pace. I was on a less than 6:50 pace and rather feel like I was abandoned. I saw a clock at mile five - I did not see another one until the finish line. Several of the water stops after the mid-point were almost completely broken down, some only had water or Powerade. And I don't have a time for the 25 mile mark - from the results it looks like those folks packed up and left about 6:15 into the race. Why?

Despite my issues, it was a wonderful experience and I appreciate the opportunity Grandma's Marathon provided.

My Grandma's experience was great. I met my goal of a sub-2:50. The course is scenic and slightly downhill. We got lucky with the weather, which helped many runners clock outstanding times. The organization was outstanding. The spectators are some of the best I've ever encountered in a marathon. If you haven't done this one, put it on your calendar for next year.

Course was beautiful!!! 5+ Stars. Packet pickup was a little crazy. Only 2 people handing out women's packets could have been better organized. Finish line could have had blankets moved up on cold day and hard to find food. Great fan support in town and through all the water stops. Fewer people out of town but that wasn't an issue. They were there when you needed them. Can't go wrong with 35 years of experience. I would run this one again and it is a must run for Minnesota.

I trained all winter for my first marathon and couldn't wait to finally particpate in a marathon with my husband. Sadly, I was dissapointed with my Grandma's experience. My husband is a much faster runner then I and came in at 3:14. While reviewing his pictures and experience I see that he had flowers at the finish line, space blankets (it was freeezing once you ended), multiple viewing angles in the finish line cameras, and a lot of food choices at the end. He was also lucky enough to get a finisher shirt!! I on the other hand finished at 5:23 (on a course that is advertised as open for 7 hours) and found that they were out of fisher shirts, no space blankets (i was shivering beyond belief trying to find my sweat bags that were a long ways away) no flowers and very limited food options with many of the tables being taken down and the volunteers discussing 'packing up.' I felt like I should be running to gather my stuff to get out of their way because I was an inconveniece coming in at 5:23. Looking back I'm starting to feel like I'm an unofficial finisher, and that the marathon didn't value my slow marathon as much as they value the expereince of the faster runners. There were other Spring marathons available and I picked Grandma's because of the large number of poeple and hoping that there would still be 'hype' even if I was slow. I have contacted the marathon to try and order the finsher shirt that I orginally ordered in my registration form, but I'm still awaiting their reply.

Very well organized marathon with great volunteer support. Beautiful course along the shores of Lake Superior, flat to slightly downhill except the small Lemon Drop hill at mile 22. No traffic of any kind except runners along the entire course. Truly a joy to run this course, the near perfect conditions helped. Finish line support and amenities were very nice, the finisher's medal was awesome. I will definitely be back.

This marathon sets the standard for all others.
The course was excellent, running next to Lake Superior was something I won't soon forget. This was for sure the flatest course I've been on so it's not for those looking for a difficult challenge but it is for those looking for a new PR.
The aid stations were great. Water and powerade on both sides of the road and more than enough volunteers to pass it out.
One smart thing they did was start the half-marathoners at mile 13. This prevented congestion at the beginning of the race and it was nice to know that all the people around you were doing the same race, kind of like at Boston.
They did a fantastic job with the transportation to and from the race. My bus arrived at the start line with over an hour to go before the start and I was back at my hotel soon after the race was over.
I really don't have anything negative to say about this race, I would highly recommend this to any runner and I will come back in the future.