RunFastAbout the race
Grandma's Marathon is a point-to-point road race along the shore of Lake Superior in Minnesota, held on the third Saturday in June. It runs from Two Harbors into Duluth and is one of the ten largest marathons in the United States, with more than 7,000 finishers.
History
Scott Keenan of the North Shore Striders running group came up with the idea in 1976, though local banks and businesses turned him down. Grandma's Restaurant, then newly opened, was the only business willing to sponsor it, putting in 600 dollars of a budget of between 600 and 1,200. The first race was run in 1977 with only 160 participants, ten of them women. The roads were open to traffic, a truck led the field, and the entry fee was 3 dollars. Garry Bjorklund, a 1976 Olympic 10,000 m runner from Minnesota, won the first men's race alongside women's winner Wendy Hovland.
The course
The race starts at Two Harbors, on Scenic Route 61, and follows the lakeshore into Duluth. The finish is in Canal Park, close to Grandma's Restaurant and the Aerial Lift Bridge, which is easy to spot. Bjorklund summed it up by saying you start in the middle of the woods, run along the beautiful shores of Lake Superior and finish at a pub. The race has a reputation for being friendly, well organised and fast, even with some gentle hills along the way.
Distances
The marathon is the main event of the weekend, which also includes the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon, named for the first winner.
Entry and cut-offs
Check the official site for current registration dates, entry rules and course time limits. The only cut-off in the sources is historic: the first race had a four-hour limit, which several runners ran past.
Where to watch
The finish area in Canal Park by the Aerial Lift Bridge is the obvious place to gather, with the restaurant and the harbour close by. Supporters can also pick spots along Scenic Route 61 and the lakeshore into the city, though they should check the organiser's advice on road closures.
Weather
June is early summer in northern Minnesota. Mornings beside Lake Superior can feel cool, with the lake influencing conditions along the route, but weather varies from year to year, so look at the forecast closer to race day.