Grandma's Marathon

Registration is open to all runners via Race Roster. It opens October 1 at 7:00 PM CT and sells out quickly due to high demand. Charity entries through the race's official charity partners are also available after general registration closes.

Yes. Grandma's is a USATF-certified course and a top Boston qualifier each year. In 2025, 11.5% of finishers ran a BQ time; in strong weather years like 2023 the rate has reached nearly 20%.

The full marathon has a 7-hour time limit. After this point the course is opened to normal vehicle traffic.

The course starts at 740 ft near Two Harbors and finishes at 610 ft in Canal Park, a net drop of 130 ft. The route is mostly flat with gentle lakeshore rollers. The one significant challenge is Lemon Drop Hill just before mile 22, a short, sharp climb that costs most runners 60 to 90 seconds.

Temperatures are moderated by Lake Superior, typically starting in the upper 40s to low 50s°F at the Two Harbors start and rising to the low-to-mid 60s by the Canal Park finish. East winds off the lake and occasional light rain are common; serious heat is unusual.

The 2025 marathon had 7,555 finishers, a new race record. The full weekend (marathon, half marathon, and 5K) draws over 18,000 total finishers across all events.

The marathon starts just outside of Two Harbors, MN on Scenic Highway 61. There is no parking at the start; all runners use provided bus or train transportation. The finish line is in Duluth's Canal Park, near the iconic Aerial Lift Bridge.