Grandma's Marathon - Race Reviews

I have run 96 marathons including 16 grandmas marathons - great course with good views of lake superior, good finish atmosphere and crowd support as you enter Duluth. Only negative is hotels charge too much.

This race was AMAZING! The hospitality of the volunteers, the pasta party, the train to the start, our hotel located AT the finish line, etc! I could not have asked for a better experience! My sole sista had medical issues and the med tent took great care of her! I highly recommend this race! Weather was perfect for us South Louisiana girls! I look forward to returning one day with my hubby!

Great race under ideal conditions. I love this race and I'll be back

I came back to Grandma's this year in 2018 to redeem myself after being injured in 2017. The weather was fantastic this year - foggy and in the low 50s with a light tailwind most the way. Race organization is top notch. You can tell they've run this for many years. Ample fluids on both sides of the course, and each mile checkpoint is marked with balloons on both sides of the road. Busing to the start is well run, though admittedly it's a long ride with a lot of time to think about that you have to run all the way back to Duluth. Don't let people tell you it's flat or downhill. It's a net downhill race by a little over 100 feet, but I would characterize the course as gently rolling. There's just enough hills to keep it from being monotonous, but not too many to wear you out. I don't find it difficult to keep a constant pace. If large urban marathons are your thing, you might not like Grandma's since the first 2/3rds of the race is out in the country, but I found it refreshing and at each minor collections of houses along the way there were always enthusiastic crowds of people. Plus it's a big race so you're very unlikely to find yourself running alone. Yet it's not so big that you don't have a little room if you need it. The hardest part is just finding lodging, so try to reserve well in advance if you can. UMD dorms are a fine backup option but bear in mind they are not air conditioned. A good tip is to bring a box fan. The race is on a Saturday as well, so plenty of time to recover. Note that most places will require a 2 night stay. Plenty of things to do around the area afterwards though. Try going up the coast - it's very scenic.

I ran the 2018 Grandma's, which was my 41st marathon, with my first being in 1978. I am a 59-year old who has run for 46 years and over 1,000 races around the globe. I once was fairly competitive (2:30 PR), but after a plethora of injuries, weight gain, and old age I'm a middle of the pack runner now. I ran Grandma's trying to get a Boston qualifier, with a 3:48-3:50 as my goal and ran a 3:41 with a slightly negative split. I found this to be a top notch race in most every way. The course is relatively fast; it is not flat but the rolling hills throughout are not particularly difficult and their is a net elevation drop. The weather cooperated, with temperatures in the low to mid 50s, fog, and a slight tailwind. Organization was superb, from the expo and packet pickup, to the morning shuttle buses, to the race volunteers, to the finish line. Very efficient and very friendly, including the fans. I rank Grandma's quite highly. This race is somewhat of a cross between a small-town, low key race and a major, high numbers, competitive marathon. There were over 9,000 in the marathon, with a very deep field, a great expo, and a big crowd at the finish. The last miles through Duluth was good fan support. The first 15+ miles were pretty desolate, though with lots of runners one doesn't notice so much. The pre-race gathering area was quite relaxed, though if it was raining I could see it being pretty problematic. Essentially, everyone gathers in a large, desolate parking lot with no tents, no indoor facilities, and your car is in Duluth. It would be a long, unpleasant pre-race in the rain. Hotels do gouge you in Duluth, as they increase rates several fold; expect to pay $300/night for an $89 room, with a two-night minimum stay required. Overall, a great race and I highly recommend.

This was my 16th marathon, and I had been looking for my PR that will eventually get me in Boston, after a couple of near misses. I will write mostly about race day, the course and the organization. At the end I will add a couple of words about the expo, logistics and others. I've heard and read that Duluth's weather can be crazy, and you can expect an 80 degree day to a cold and even snowy day. So whatever you do, be prepared for anything. This year, race conditions were PERFECT. No rain (a bit of mist) fog and cool temperatures (50-60 degrees). The course is a rolling hill course, that if you are able to run with a pace group or more people, you will not feel the small hills at all. I ran with the 3:05 pace group, and the group was a compacted and on pace throughout the race. As the course is mostly a rural course, there isn't much crowds, but in specific areas (such as the half way point, mile 5 and others), there are concentrated and very loud group of people + music cheering runners on. Excellent boost of energy. If you are looking for a great scenery, this might not be the best course (again we had fog, and we barely got to see the lake). Aid stations, and volunteers where perfect. Although is not NYC or Chicago, it has water and powerade on both sides of the course, and plenty of volunteers in each station. Mile markers... LOOK OUT FOR THE YELLOW BALLOONS! No big hills to worry about, Lemon Drop hill, is really not that bad. And the best part of it, is that once you are on the top, is a long almost two mile stretch smooth down hill, so take the Lemon Drop Hill easy, as you can gain speed and make up time right after it. Final turns, nothing to worry about. No more than 5 turns, and you can easily walk it the day before when you go to the expo. That really helped me to know what to expect on race day. Overall excellent organization, perfect weather conditions and a fast course that can be suitable for a PR. Like mine! Expo: I did not like it. It is held at a Hockey arena, and is super crowded and tight. Logistics: be sure to book accommodations well in advance. At least 6 or more months before the race. Grandma's Marathon is THE EVENT of the year for Duluth, and everything goes out very fast (no wonder the race day is on a Saturday). I would run it again for sure.

This was my 35th marathon on 28 different courses. Nice course and very well organized - lots of information to digest. Yet I'm finding it not particularly memorable, perhaps because I was not as psyched up to run this one as I usually am. Still I would recommend this one - it's a nice town that is easy to get around, and the people turn out well to support the race.

Grandma's Marathon was my 14th full marathon and absolutely ranks as one of my favorite races of any distance. This is a really fun race and is completely worth the trip to Duluth. That trip was the only part of the race that was difficult in any way. I flew into Minneapolis and drove a rental car 2.5 hours to get to Duluth. There are flights from Minneapolis or Detroit to Duluth, but you need a car in Duluth anyway so the drive was better than the extra expense of flying directly into Duluth. The drive wasn't that bad, and the view coming into Duluth was spectacular. I stayed at the Radisson and paid about 3 times the normal rate as all the hotels in the area jack up their rates for this weekend. Since that is out of the control of the race directors, I don't consider that a negative against the race. The Radisson location is fantastic and is walking distance to the expo and the finish line where you can take the train or bus to the start line. The expo was good, appropriately sized for the race with plenty of race merchandise for sale. I got there early on Friday morning so I didn't have any issues with huge crowds of people. Packet pickup was easy and they had a station to double check your time chip on your bib which was a nice thing to be able to do before leaving. The weather forecast leading up to the race was calling for thunderstorms for race morning. The afternoon before the race a large storm did blow in and knocked out power briefly and rained several inches in just a short period of time. Everyone was afraid that this was a preview of what was to come the next morning. I got up early on race morning to be able to take the train to the start line, which I highly recommend over the buses. The first thing I checked when I got up at 3:30am was the forecast and was amazed to see the storms had been moved rom early morning to late afternoon and the chance of rain during the race was dropped to about 30%. The forecast temperature of 59 turned into an actual temperature of 50, pretty close to perfect conditions. Taking the train to the start line was an option for the first 1000 runners wanting to ride. The train departs about 5:45 so the sun is up and the views heading out along Lake Superior are fabulous. The train is also plenty warm and roomy and there are lots of toilets available. The only downside is the trip takes every bit of an hour so if you want to get to the start line super early don't take the train. The race start is well organized with most runners lining up in accordance with their expected finish times. With the half marathon starting an hour earlier and starting from the marathon half way point, I never saw anyone with a half marathon bib and couldn't even tell you what color their bibs were. The first 19 miles of the course are along Lake Superior which is unfortunately very often blocked by all of the trees. We did deal with a pretty heavy fog and off and on light rain for most of the race, but the wind was at out our back and I never felt like the scenery became monotonous. Crown support during this part of the race was limited to certain spots along the road but was very enthusiastic in those spots and provided much needed boosts. The aid stations had clearly labeled water and power aid and was always water first. The volunteers did a spectacular job, you could tell this race has been run for over 40 years, these were some well trained and experienced volunteers. Just past mile 19 the course heads into Duluth and the pine trees and lake views change to a city run with spectators everywhere. The final 6 miles were full of rowdy spectators providing a ton of distractions, even a long line of troll dolls along the curb around mile 22 which qualifies as one of the strangest things I've come across during a race. The finish was great, there were a lot of twists and turns in the last half mile or so, but it didn't bother me as much as I feared from previous reviews. The finish line area was plenty busy, but I had no problem getting my medal and finisher's shirt and there was plenty of food and beer available. I actually like the fact that you get your finisher shirt when you finish the race, that's the definition of finisher shirt. The medals were big and heavy, certainly appropriate for the accomplishment. I love events where it seems like the whole town shuts down for the race and they really appreciate the runners who came to be a part of it. The way Duluth embraces the race and the runners is extremely impressive and rivaled the support I've experienced at much larger events like Chicago. If you can get to northern Minnesota in June you won't find a better event than Grandma's Marathon.

This is a big race with a small feeling to it, and I mean that in the best of ways. We ended up with perfect weather for running (50s and cloudy/foggy), but not great for viewing. I find viewing overrated in marathons anyway, so that was fine. The course is net downhill, but rolls gently. The only 'big' hill isn't that big, unless you live where there are no hills. Spectators were few in the first many miles, but the ones who were there were terrific. Great crowd support for the last several miles. Wonderful volunteers. Well organized, and well supported by a town that is eager to please. Put this one on your bucket list.

A class act from top to bottom. Very well organized and structured. Course is great, expo is great, post party bands were out of this world. A wonderful experience from the time we rolled in to town until we left.

Weather a bit volatile, but otherwise this is the perfect event - not sure whether to call it a runners race, or a racers run, or both! Great course, felt downhill the whole way (maybe because I'm living in flat as a pancake Miami). Great organization/ volunteers/ scenery. And the perfect size for a fast race - I've run NYC and Treaure Coast (50,000 people and 150 people). This was approx 6000 but was the perfect balance of not crowded, but enough people to run with if desired, no matter the pace. And the whole town is so friendly.

A few well organized event but perhaps a victim (in my mind anyway) of being 'over-hyped' because generally it gets very high recommendations. I have no really complaints other than to point out a few misconceptions that I had. It is NOT a flat course - there are lots of hills (not steep but gradual). While Duluth is very beautiful, the majority of course is along a country road with trees on both sides - there are some view of Lake Superior, but for the most part, all you see is trees on both sides (just got a bit boring). Also, the race is 'point-to-point' which requires a long shuttle ride either before or after the event. There was a nice amount of support along the course which was great and the aid stations had plenty of water and friendly volunteers. Would I do this race again? Probably not (I actually prefer more urban marathons).

INTRODUCTION: I am a race-walker with a median marathon completion time of 5:18:15. The Grandma's Marathon was my forty-fourth 26.2-miler accomplished. COURSE: It was a great day for a marathon. Temperature at the start line was 64 degrees, 75 percent relative humidity, calm and partly cloudy. We started on Scenic Route 61 just west of Two Harbors. Throughout the course that declined 130 feet in elevation were rolling hills of short duration. The first six miles were in the forest close to the Lake Superior shoreline. Just past the railroad overcrossing, we obtained our first glimpse of the lake just before the 10 kilometer mark. We hugged the shoreline, which afforded us closer and closer views of the Duluth skyline, for the next 13 miles. Just prior to mile 19, we crossed over the Lester River and entered residential Duluth, including passing by the Glensheen Historic Estate, the site of two murders that took place on the same day as the 1977 marathon. Just past mile 23, we took our first 90 degree turn on the course, and shortly followed by a second turn, entered the brick-surfaced downtown just past the historic Fitger's Brewery. At mile 25, we turned left and headed toward the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC). On Harbor Drive, we were given a view of the Aerial Lift Bridge and the SS William A. Irvin. Our final turn at mile 26 placed us Canal Park Drive, with clear sight of the finish line. Finish line temperature was 64 degrees, 88 percent relative humidity, westerly winds at 6 mph and rain. ORGANIZATION: Superb. Efficient packet pickup and slightly congested Expo at the DECC. Good pasta dinner that allowed the participant to come in any time between 11 a.m. and 9 p.m. Friday. The bus tour was narrated by Dave, a member of the North Shore Striders (the original event organizer) who completed the inaugural event 40 years earlier. He did a good job laying out the course for us although he was helped by the fact that each mile was permanently marked on the pavement. Consider arriving at the DECC early to be one of the first thousand participants to take the train to the start. Later arrivals will be obliged to take the busses. Also, there are bus pickups from various other locations in Duluth and Superior. The Rock the Big Top events at the finish line take place between 7 p.m. and 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday are at elevated decibel levels. So if one requires more than three hours of sleep, one should not stay in the Canal Park area motels. SPECTATORS: Typical in number for a marathon of this size. No entertainment to speak of except for one of the most remarkable in any marathon seen to date: spotting an unoccupied chair and abandoned guitar alongside the course, a participant, who happened to be a professional musician, sat herself down and played, appropriately, The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. Upon completion, she resumed her marathon run. CONCLUSION: A marathon deserving of its reputation and popularity. Well done.

Course: This is a point-to-point course starting in a more secluded wooded area, running along Lake Superior, and finishing in the heart of Duluth. For the first 18ish miles there are only intermittent spectators but the ones there and the volunteers at aid stations are all fantastic. After mile 20 the crowds gradually build until around mile 24 when the streets are lined and the cheering is out of this world. The views of the water are stunning and I liked the more peaceful moments interspersed with lots of crowd support. Organization: The event directors of this race were on the ball with everything. There were lots of pre-race emails leading up to the big day that made everything easy to follow. I had to have my packet mailed to me since I would be getting into town really late the night before and it arrived the week before and eliminated a lot of stress and the need to have someone drive up early to get my packet for me. The 1/4 zip jackets are also really awesome so make sure to register before that deadline. Logistics: The hotels fill up quickly and really spike their rates so either book early or look into getting a room from one of the local colleges there. Overall, a fantastic experience that got me a PR and my first BQ!

This was a marathon I had always read great things about, but had never run. When my daughter asked me to run it with her, I was quick to say yes, and am glad I did. The course is great, if not a bit monotonous(the first half), and when you first see Duluth, it looks very far away. For the Organizers. Please start the race earlier. A 7:00 am start would be much better and cooler. Get more porta-potties at the start, and get more water/fuel stops in the first half - I am a sipper and like small drinks often. The start transportation was great, the registration cost is reasonable, but the cost to stay in Duluth is inflated by the limited hotel supply (and book early). Finish area congestion was a problem, with the exit dumping people into a tight area with people going in every direction.- but I am nit picking. This is a very well organized event with terrific volunteers, great community support, a super expo, and a fantastic location. We really enjoyed the weekend in Duluth, and the Saturday Marathon gives you plenty of time to enjoy the town and watch fellow runners limp around flaunting their event finisher shirts. Also great is the pre-race delivery of the very nice 1/4 zip long sleeve shirt. The pasta dinner was pretty so so, but not untypical of other events.

This is a great marathon on a good course. However, it's not that 'PR Course' people keep talking about. True, it's a point-to-point 'mostly' downhill course, but it has many rolling hills and not flat by any means. The organization, volunteers and spectators are awesome though. This year, however, the weather did not cooperate 100%. It started overcast and in the 60s and by the time we finished, the sun was fully shining and temps were close to 80. I hears 2016 was a lot worse though, so can't complain. Anyhow, I do recommend this race to runners, especially if you need MN for your 50 states.

Pros: 1) great swag (I received a jacket in the mail, plus the race shirts and medal were top notch) 2) great organization (except packet pickup for challengers...those doing 5K on Friday and full marathon or half on Saturday) was a bit unorganized...mainly due to non-participants being present in heavy numbers... 3) pre-race dinner right there at the expo - very convenient and likely the reason for congestion at packet pickup, but nice to have it this way for convenience 4) great volunteers - without them, I would have wilted in the terrible heat 5) fan support - wow! and surprising given the size of the town 6) train to the race start - what a blast and such a unique experience! Cons: 1) heat - but that is not something that can be controlled...I was told by a past participant that both 2014 and 2015 was perfect in terms of running weather 2) A bit hectic at challenger packet pickup. All and all, a wonderful experience and the best organized race in terms of course support I have ever experienced!

This was my 8th marathon, but my first Grandma's. I must say that the organization of this race was superb...better than any other I have done. I expected cool weather and a flat course, but there was neither. With the heat, humidity, no breeze, no clouds, and ambient heat from the road, we ended up racing under black flag conditions. The med tents were busy, but the people working them were extremely responsive! Also, be warned...this is NOT a flat course. Maybe it is to people from the Rockies, but I live at the beach and there are definite rollers for the entire first half. The course elevation description is a bit deceptive! It is a point to point, but there was crowd support all along the way. The swag was ridiculously top-notch...I got a super-nice track jacket sent to me a couple months after I registered (these are first come, first served, so register early!). I did the Great-Grandma's Challenge, so I also got a REALLY nice 3/4 zip shirt with the challenge name on it and the 5k finisher shirt at packet pick up. Then the marathon finisher shirt after the race. All VERY good quality shirts! And a pair of Grandma's Marathon socks in my bag at packet pick-up. The medals are spectacular and the marathon medal must weigh a pound. I stayed in the UWS dorm, which provided a shuttle to the start. I highly recommend this race to everyone!

Grandma's is a great race for beginners, elites and everyone in between. First a note on weather. If you plan on running Grandma's, you need to prepare for any sort of weather. You could have a 'black flag' day and have temperatures around 80 with high humidity (2016), you could a morning storm roll through get rain for the duration of the race (2015), you might even see snow (you never know, it's Duluth). Be prepared for heat, cold, humidity, rain, snow, you name it. The course is scenic and very flat, with the only notable hill being Lemon Drop hill. It's notoriety has more to do with the timing in the race (mile 22) rather than the incline of the hill. If you came across Lemon Drop on a training run you might not even slow down. The first 18 miles of the course take you down a northwoods road that often feels very isolated. Crowd support is sparse and sporadic through the first half of the race. At mile 8, on a clear day, you get your first glimpse of the finish line. Breathtaking views of the lake, numerous bridges and local spectators line the route for the first two thirds. Mile 19 brings you into the neighborhoods north of Duluth, and eventually leads you to London Road. The crowds get progressively larger and louder the closer you get to the finish line, with the last 3 miles nearly lined on both sides of the street. It all reaches a fever pitch when you wind through Canal Park, making the last turn for the final two tenths of a mile. With hundreds of cheering spectators and a straightaway to the finish, it's an ideal finishing shoot. The race is extremely well organized, from the expo and packet pickup, through race day. The expo is very easy to park, get in, get your stuff, and get out. Traffic downtown can be a little tricky during the expo and on race day, but local police and race officials are very good about routing traffic and keeping things moving. This year, the race staff and volunteers were the reason the race was so successful. The weather was terribly hot, with temperatures approaching 80 degrees and 100% humidity at the finish, with little to no breeze. Every water stop along the way was well stocked with water, powerade, ice and sponges. On this 'black flag' day, I did see many medical dropouts, but I know there would have been many many more had the volunteers and race officials not done such a good job about providing water and support along the race course. Truly, top notch race organization. The metal and finish shirts have been great each year I've finished. This year, the finisher medal was so big and hefty, it can actually stand up straight on it's own. It's a 3D replica of the famous canal park drawbridge.

What an exceptional race in a neat North Shore atmosphere! I would run this race again in a heartbeat...it is no wonder there are so many Minnesotans claiming to have run this race 10, 20, 30+ times! The expo was extremely organized, the all-you-can-eat pasta dinner with Ben & Jerry's ice cream was wonderful. All volunteers are so friendly with their northern MN accents. :) Race day shuttles went smoothly. The only issue I have with the entire race is that there didn't seem to be enough port-o-potties or space in the drop bag bins at the start in 2016. The race course itself, which starts in Two Harbors, was relatively easy, peaceful, and BEAUTIFUL! Running along Lake Superior as the fog is lifting in the morning is such a neat experience. I thought the course felt mostly flat to downhill the majority of the time - a few gentle hills but nothing dramatic. Mile 22 'Lemon Drop Hill' is not bad, but on tired legs at that point in the race, it can be slowing. The final mile and finish chute in Canal Park was GREAT with tons of fans cheering and lots of energy in the air! A few more sharp turns than I would like at the end of a marathon, but doable. Make sure to mosey through the finish area food tents for strawberries, salted nut rolls, chocolate milk, etc., and MAKE SURE to walk out to the shore to soak your legs in the icy-cool Lake Superior water! It's tradition :) The one thing you'll never be able to predict for sure is the weather in Duluth...In 2016, the day before the race, the weather called for thunderstorms all night and morning. I packed ponchos, bags for my shoes, and all my rain gear in preparation for 26.2 miles in pouring rain. Instead, we woke up to clear sunny skies and HEAT! Grandma's Marathon is known to have years of sunny heat and years of misty, foggy, cloudy days, so you never know what you'll get...just cross your fingers for the cloudy, misty weather because the Grandma's course has very little shade. All in all, this is a wonderful, peaceful, easy-to-run marathon showcasing Minnesota's beautiful North Shore region at its finest!

First, the great stuff: a nice straightaway course organized to perfection. Friendly and enthusiastic fans. Not a flat course: Be ready for some rolling hills and Lemon Drop Hill at mile 22. Nice expo, finding food at the finish a little nebulous but not that big of a deal. After the hot and humid race food was the last thing on my mind. I cannot overemphasize the friendliness and strong presence of the course support, which we needed badly because of the heat: a black flag warning for excessive heat was up by 11:30 and the race became a bit of a sufferfest for some. Also great: helium balloons tethered high in the air at all the mile markers, so you could see them from far away and plan accordingly. The course is that straight. Not so good: getting into the corral from the car dealership parking lot at the start. Many runners had to squeeze through a closed gate in muddy grass and blacktop. There was a lot of congestion around that gate. Next year it has to be open, or corral instructions have to be better broadcast over the loudspeakers. All in all, this is a tremendous race and should be on all bucket lists.

I loved the course, although perhaps it is not for everyone. The first 19 miles or so are very quiet you run along the lakefront with great views of Lake Superior and lakefront properties, some of which are spectacular. Spectators are only allowed to congregate in select locations every few miles. You get miles of quietude interspersed with bursts of energy from the crowd. Then as you get into the city of Duluth, the crowd energy builds until the end. It's a great feeling the whole way. The racecourse was crowded at the beginning it took me six or seven minutes to get to the start after the gun went off but it thinned out after a couple of miles. No complaints there. The expo was unpleasantly crowded when I was there (noonish on Friday) so I didn't stay long. Race check-in was easy. A problem I had my 40th anniversary jacket had never arrived in the mail was quickly resolved at the marathon office. The weather was extremely hot black caution flags came out a half hour or so before I finished the race. The race organizers had plenty of water, ice, powerade and cold sponges to deal with the heat. Volunteers at the aid stations were great. The finish line area was well organized. The people giving out shirts and drinks and food and stuff were all located well away from the finish in order to prevent crowding. The chocolate milk people were especially enthusiastic about giving out their potations. I had three chocolate milks and about seven waters. I missed the salted nut bars, but apparently there were some.

This was marathon #61 for me and my first one to walk. Overall, it's a great race, however, I was a little disappointed in the scenery. It was mostly a road with trees on either side. It was a nice road, with nice trees, but I was expecting more views of the lake. Those didn't come until 2/3 into the race. Duluth is a great town. I don't think I've ever run into friendlier people. My one complaint was lodging. The prices are inflated and in very limited supply. Make your reservations EARLY if you plan to do this race. Overall, it was a fun race and good venue. If you know someone in Duluth you can visit, all the better.

This was my first full marathon and I had an amazing experience. The weather was horrid it was unusually hot and very humid for Duluth in June (which is normally very mild even at the peak of summer) so that was awful. However, the race organizers seemed prepared and had an abundance of aid stations that were well stocked with powerade, sponges and Clif shots. Even though about 2/3 of the race is on 'rural' roads, lots of people were sitting outside to not only to cheer but to cool runners off with hoses and some even had snacks. The course is very scenic and there are some amazing views of Duluth/ Lake Superior along the way. All in all, highly organized and a really fun time despite the weather. The whole town really comes out to support the event the entire weekend and makes it a special place for runners.

I ran 5:30, and there were still SO MANY spectators along the course; lots of them had sprinklers for us (very hot and humid). Packed post-race, lots of food. Great organization (although except at the half marathon start, only a couple porta potties at a time even with 9600 registered marathoners and 10,000? Half marathoners); so if you can wait till you get to mile 13.1 where the Half starts, there are LOTS of porta potties. Miller Mall is super convenient shuttle pickup, and there are hotels by it. Clyde Iron Works was a great after-race place to eat and get a beer (and gluten-free). If you have time, go to the famous Betty's Pies in Two Harbors. Packet pickup is crazy busy and super long to get into the parking lot, so try to figure out alternative parking. Pasta dinner at Expo was fine. Post-race go to the Lake (right at finish) and cool your legs.

I loved everything about this marathon, start to finish...except the very hot day, which of course they had no control over. The organization, volunteers, town support was just amazing. The weather forecast up until right before the race was for thunderstorms, not clear skies and unrelenting heat! The flags at the marathon went from yellow to red to black very soon after the start. I was very impressed with the organizers, who were prepared for anything....they had ice, sponges, plenty of water, and extra medical support ready to go. This was the smoothest, most well-organized, friendliest marathon of the 20 I've done. My only suggestion would be to start it a bit earlier if possible...7:45 is pretty late to start a race in late June with the temperatures possible during mid-day. We ran the 5K the night before, too, which was really fun. Pasta dinner was great, enjoyed the expo. Hotels really jack up the prices for the weekend so it's not a cheap marathon to do, but the friendly Duluth folks made it a great weekend start to finish!

This is the ideal marathon for fast times. Definitely recommend this course to anyone and everyone. The atmosphere is awesome, and the post-marathon festivities will be worth missing the shuttle back to your hotel. Ha!

This was my 7th marathon (Also run Twin Cities and Boston) and my first Grandma's Marathon. I felt the organization from start to finish was wonderful, even more impressive given Duluth is a small town. The people of Duluth were very supportive of the runners from the moment you enter the city. The bus ride from my hotel to the start line was seemless. I got to the start line about an hour early and the rain began to fall. This was a bummer, but was forecasted so I had a poncho, a garbage bag and a towel. I saw others who had bags on their shoes until the start... good idea. The rain slowed to a steady sprinkle for the first three miles and then was on and off for a few more miles. I thought this was going to be detrimental at first but proved to be perfect weather for running. Not too hot, not too cold. Prior to running the race, I was worried about the mental aspect of running basically one road for 26.2 miles through basically forest for the first 20 miles. I had nothing to worry about. There were many people along the route and you can gain a lot of time if you focus on running tangents (which there are lot of) that keeps your mind off the road head. In addition, when you can see Lake Superior during the race it is truly breathtaking. The aid stations had water, Powerade, ice, and later one had gels. They were located about every two miles and just as indicated on the course map. The volunteers were wonderful! Once you hit the city of Duluth, the crowds really picked up and the cheering on Superior Street rivaled any marathon or race for that matter I've ever run. It was almost deafening. The finish area is well organized with good food and drinks for recovery. I'm a huge fan of Salted Nut Rolls and was thrilled to see them at the finish line. The finisher shirt is black with green, the colors of the marathon, and it's a classy look. I'm sort of tired of all the neon finishers shirts of late. The finishers medal matches the shirt which I liked as well. I truly enjoyed the entire experience of this marathon. I ran 90 seconds under my goal time and qualified for Boston. I would recommend this marathon to anyone looking for something refreshing, beautiful, and truly Minnesota.

This very well known and popular marathon did not disappoint - except for Mother Nature getting me completely soaked before the start. I have run over 40 marathons and I can honestly say this was one of the best organized races I have run. One thing I really appreciated was getting my results via email shortly after the race. I usually have to wait and/or search for them so this was definitely a bonus. Spectators were plentiful but not as cheerful as expected. A lot of them just stood there, silently. Maybe the rain got to them too... We loved Duluth and the very beautiful serene views of Lake Superior. I would definitely recommend this race but reserve your room *VERY* early. Grandma, you rock!!

Summary: Have heard so much about it that I likely had my expectations set too high. It was really nothing special and the logistics were a pain. Pros: - Scenic course - Plenty of well staffed and stocked water stations - Friendly town; very supportive Cons: - Waiting at the start line for over an hour because of the busing (point-to-points are not my favorite) - Chaotic starting area for full. Weather didn't help but it would have been bad anyway. - Poor signage to runners food at finish; I totally missed it until it was too late. - Expensive and inconvenient to fly in/out of Duluth, but long drive from major airports - No shirt until you cross the finish. There are many reasons why people don't finish and if they paid their money they should get their shirt. - Ran out of my size finisher shirts; hope they really do mail it to me as promised

I believe there is a 5k, 10k, Tot Trot, Half Marathon and Marathon. The Half is via lottery so spouse missed out on that but I did the full. Duluth is a cute small town but you can see all there is in a day or two. The Lake Walk is very pretty. The entire town seems to support the marathon. From the flight attendants on the way there to the hotel, stores, restaurants- everyone asks if you are running and welcome signs are everywhere. The course is pretty, but not spectacular as you run through lots of wooded areas, some right by the water, some not. There are also pretty neighborhoods with every other household out on their lawns cheering. For a small town I thought the spectator support was very good. The course is nearly flat for about half the way and uphill on a tolerable incline the rest of the way. Not bad at all. Lemon Drop Hill is not really a hill compared to some of the others they have in MN. It seemed like there was an aid station around every corner but they are really every two miles and very well attended. The bus ride from the hotel was easy as could be. We were dropped off about an hour early and it poured cold rain all the way thru to the start after which it was breezy and sprinkled pretty much the rest of the morning. The temp was between 55-62 for the race. During the run it was great but there was no where to hide from the rain at the start and some who were in shorts and singlets looked miserable (I had a rain jacket w/ hood). We stayed at the Sheraton where we paid a Kings ransom for a good, not great, hotel that's not that close to the finish. Two points: Book really early (like right now!) to get a hotel near the finish (Comfort Suites) and make a reservation at Bellisio's Restaurant for the night before the race. Fantastic food and service. Really, really good so they will book up. One disappointment: the marathon shirt and medal are black and green. Very boring compared to the half marathon shirt and medal which were colorful. Looks like two entirely different organizers planned the event medals. Anyway that's a minor thing in an overall very well organized, relatively easy marathon which I definitely recommend.

Of the nearly 20 marathons and 50+ half marathons I've run, this had probably the best expo I've seen. The speakers, including Beardsley and Ulrich, made for a great pre-race experience. The start area was a chaotic mob of people trying to drop off gear bags and figure out the lines to the porta-potties. The course itself was pretty much as advertised, but don't be lulled into thinking the only hill happens around mile 24. There are a number of gradual hills you may feel along the way. The weather for my race was great for running, lousy for viewing the lake (fog hung over it for most of the race). Overall a great experience, though for this runner it was overhyped relative to what it delivered.

I think if you've read a few of the comments for Grandma's Marathon that you get an accurate picture of this race. It is a large (6211 in full, 7299 in half), well run and very welcoming race. Full disclosure: I do not like bigger races as a rule. I feel smaller races have more intimacy and the race morning stress is significantly less. Having said that this race shows you how well a larger race can be run! There's a large expo at the local convention center. Parking cost $5. There was not enough area for a race of this size. To get into the main floor we had to walk down a narrow entry way which was a major bottle neck. If you are claustrophobic beware. For a race this large this was not well planned. Once inside it was better but still a little cramped. There are plenty of booths and race souvenirs to be had. The biggest thing about Grandma's is how the entire city knows about the race and goes out of its way to welcome the runners. I'm a 50 stater and so often I travel to a city and mention I'm running the marathon and all I get is a blank stare. Not in Duluth! There are signs everywhere welcoming runners and I bet 90% of the clerks I saw asked me if I was running. The race must get volunteer shirts out early because Thursday and Friday I kept seeing folks proudly wearing theirs. Nice touch! If you are coming from out of town book early. Hotels really fill up quickly. It is pricey getting to Duluth but to save some money I flew into Minneapolis and drove up. It was way cheaper and the drive is about 2.5 hours. Even with the rental car cost I saved quite a bit. The race is a point to point race where runners must take race transportation to the start. This worked effortlessly for me. The shuttle came right to my hotel (it looked like buses came to most hotels in the area) and was a snap. Runners could drive to the finish line and park and catch a shuttle from there also. The pre-race area is just a large field. If there's rain there would be no shelter at all. There are lots of port-a-johns but in races this large I never feel there are never enough. If you weren't in line by 30 minutes before the gun you were left out. I was surprised that there weren't wave starts but I felt like the roads thinned out pretty quickly so I guess it wasn't necessary. I felt the course was a fast course but I can see why some folks disagree. There is only one 'real' hill (lemon drop hill at mile 22) but as others have said there are quite a few very gradual climbs. I live in a hilly area so I barely noticed these and I felt they were the type that allowed runners to use different muscles. But I guess some folks may disagree. The course runs along Lake Superior and on a clear day I bet the views would be great. This year with all the fog we barely saw any water at all. The weather this year was ideal for running, 50ish with no wind to speak of and no sun. Talking to local runners I got the impression that this kind of weather is the norm. There are plenty of aid stations and they are well organized and everyone is laid out exactly the same with signage. So many races just don't realize how helpful this is for runners in a marathon, especially a large race like this! Every stop had water and powerade and later stops added gels and sponges. There could (should) be more pot-a-johns along the course. I saw lots of lines at every one and therefore lots of folks just used the bushes. Fan support the first 20 miles is sporadic. Quiet sections broken up by large, vocal clusters of fans. Once we get into Duluth proper the support is constant and great! Look for the Troll dolls that line the street around mile 21. :) Post race area is spread out but it needs to be with all the runners. I found food and gear bags pretty easily. Runners get a nice medal and a finishers shirt. I always like it when I have to earn the shirt and not just get it at packet pick-up. This race is advertised as a big city race with a small town feel and I think that is a pretty accurate summation.

Cons: This IS overall decreasing elevation course, however, there are a LOT of slight, LONG uphills. The only reason this is a con is bc it is so frequently referred to as 'relatively flat'. My hamstrings and glutes were on fire at the end- a result of up hill... The Expo was a not well layed out at ALL, complete cluster...needs reorganizing esp with such a huge area set up for the pasta dinner- flip flop this and the expo? Accomadations are NYC prices... Don't bank on a tail wind- we didn't get it this year. Finish was great except food and bag drop were on opposite sides with only one entry/exit? difficult to navigate after 26.2 Pros: The whole town is all about the Marathon, hotel was very accommadating- balloons, food. Bus transportation and bag drop perfect, views of Lake Superior would have been great if there wasn't fog, aid water stations, volunteers were excellent! course well marked. Pros:

The things that can be controlled by the race organizers were all executed nearly perfectly (although I noticed that both the half and the full marathon started about 5 minutes late). The weather and enthusiasm of the spectators which cant be controlled by the organizers were nearly perfect also. As many others have noted, this race is expensive for the travel and lodging, but in my experience this year, it was well worth it.

The course was awesome, the shuttle to the start was convenient for those of us at UMD. (Enjoyed chatting with a group of 22-year-olds on the bus.) The spectators on the course were great. The expo was a clustermess though and should have been organized better to get in and out of. (Flip-flop the location of the expo and the spaghetti dinner in the DECC?) Parking for family members to meet me at the finish area was difficult, to say the least. Overall, I would recommend this run. Staying in an apartment on the UMD campus was worth it.

It's hard to imagine a town this small organizing a race of this scale so well, but with lots of experience they have it down. I signed up just a month ahead after a disastrous Green Bay Marathon, and the hotels were all booked but I stayed in the UMD dorms and they were great - nice rooms, friendly staff, coffee and food starting at 4 AM on race day, race and weather information. I've stayed in plenty of hotels that weren't as good. The course is great - rolling hills with a net downward incline keep the various muscles engaged without monotony fatigue. It was cold and foggy, which meant the famed lake views weren't there, but it's pretty. Aid stations abound, with water then powerade then water again at every station. Crowd support is great for the final 8 miles or so, but the first 18 are way out in the country along old US-61 and crowds are sparse except for some clusters in towns. All the logistics - transportation to the start, portapotties, medical, etc. - were excellent.