The 2018 event took place on Saturday, June 16. The full marathon starts at 7:45 am. The starting temp was around 50 with some cloud cover, it was cool and a little humid.

Registration: This was available online, starting Oct 1, near $100 and increasing until the end of may, and when registration closed online June 1. There was no expo registration. There were opportunities to legally transfer bibs until a date in April. Included with registration was a bib, chip timing, and if you registered by a certain date a jacket. You have to earn the shirt along with your medal at the finish line.

There was also an option to add on VIP status a month or so out from the race, for an additional fee with additional perks.
*I ran the Great Grandma's challenge and received a tote bag and insulated tumbler/coozie

Note on lodging: Hotels fill up fast, and many require a 2 night stay. You can also stay at the U of M dorm rooms. Many hotels have shuttles to the race start.

Expo / Packet Pick-up: The expo was held at the Duluth Convention Center, or DECC. There were hours on Thursday and on Friday before the race You could also have your packet mailed to you for $25. Someone else could grab your packet with a signed wavier. The packet pick up was in the back of the convention hall, once you had it, the chip on your bib was checked. The bib was in a clear bag that doubled for gear check, also had some paper flyers. We also received a virtual bag via email. While the expo closed at 8pm, packet pick up was open until 11pm Friday.

The expo included many of the same exhibitors you would see at most larger events. Shoes, head bands, apparel, nearby races. It was a decent size, and seemed very busy. Many photo opportunities with back drops and cars.

Parking can be tricky, the adjacent $5 lots and ramps fill up fast, and causes some traffic backups on the Interstate. There is parking in downtown Duluth if you don't mind a walk across the Interstate.

Pasta party: For $14, tickets could be purchased ahead of time or at the gate. You could choose plain noodles, marinara sauce, meatballs, or gluten free noodles. Then you could have some lettuce, bread, ice cream, milk, or coffee. Your could get seconds, thirds; the servings were generous. Seating was round tables with family style serving of Parmesan cheeses, more bread and water. This closed at 9pm.
*This was the first year in a while I have not participated in this as the price has risen.

Pre-race: Participants need to take a shuttle bus or the train to the start. (Available near the DECC or your hotel.) The starting point had a lot of port-o-potties, but long lines. Bag drop was available, use the bag you got your packet in the night before, with a sticker provided. There were no pre-assigned corrals, but encouraged to line up by estimated finishing times or with pacers. There was music and many announcements over a PA. The National Anthem was performed live.

Race/ course: This is a point to point race, starting at Two Harbors,MN and ending in Duluth. Run along old Hwy 61, following Lake Superior.
-Elevation: FLAT! - ok so there is Lemon Drop hill at mile 22, but nothing steep (ok some flatlanders would say there are hills)
-Terrain: paved /asphalt surface, or in spots you can run on the narrow gravel shoulder.
-Course markings: each mile was marked with a sign and a balloon. There were some timing mats at certain markers. Near the end all turns were clearly navigable
-Aid Stations: Water and blue Powerade in separate paper cups, and at tables with signs. These started at mile 3 and continued every 2 miles. Many stops with wet sponges and ice. There were 2 fruit stops with oranges and bananas. There were stops with Clif gels. Spectators had unofficial aid of coffee, jolly ranchers, bacon, wine, beer, watermelon, pickles, ibuprofen and strawberries. So many volunteers!
-Spectators: All access points to the course had people with signs, ready to slap high fives. The businesses along the route had signs on their marquees. As mentioned above many spectator aid stations.
- Course Entertainment: garage style bands, polka music, string quartets, troll dolls, belly dancers
-MarathonFoto on course, mostly near the end, photos posted the next day
-Port-o-potties on the course, lots of them at the halfway point
-Scenery: Views of Lake Superior,and at the end you run through the main area of Duluth *this was a foggy year, so couldn't see as far, on a clear day you can see Duluth from around mile 10
-Volunteers / law enforcement, they were at every intersection and very energetic. There are so many volunteers that make this race possible. There were 11 or more aid stations, each had to have had 30-50 people, and they were all fully manned, you never had to fill your own cup. Top Notch!
-Road closed to traffic, entire width of road to run on. Open for 7 hours
-Medical stations - There were sweepers at a few medical points to drop out. *Thank you for the vaseline!

Finish: This was marked with an arch and timing clock. The announcer was catching names as people finished. Each side was lined with spectators, and bleacher seats available to purchase. Once you cross the finish line there was a volunteer with a medal and a bottle of water. Then you went to get your gender specific finisher’s shirt and a beverage ticket. From here you had to continue walking to get a heat sheet, then grab your gear bag. Then you could proceed to the finisher’s food: strawberries, orange juice, chocolate milk, apples, bananas, oranges, bagels, chips. There was a lot of food and things to hold.

Once through this area there was an alphabetized reunion area, or you could go to the beer tent to redeem your drink ticket for beer, wine, coffee or soda. The beer / party tent area also had live music and a video set up to view finishers. Grandma was on stage singing!!! She and her band were performing cover songs.
There was a results tent and merchandise tent. The after party tent is still going long after the finish, allowing everyone to celebrate!

My Race: I was back for my 4th Grandma's marathon, I can't keep away, this is a great event. I had my eyes glued to the weather weeks leading up to the race, and there was rain in the forecast as late as the night before. However, I was please to wake up and find no rain and 50 degrees...but I had not prepared as well as I should to run a PR...and since I had singed up for a 56k, I was using this as training. I really enjoyed every minute of this race, I took it all in. I listened to the polka music, I grabbed a slice of bacon, I used the bathroom (twice,) I even ran Lemon Drop Hill, I felt great!!! I never felt the need to walk just to get to the finish and I have been on that struggle bus. I think it also helps that I know what this race has to offer and how well it is organized. I did run with a pack and brought Gatorade as Powerade can be too sweet. I neared the finish and kept an eye out for my friend who was spectating, stopped for some photos and proceeded to the finish line. My finisher certificate said I completed the race in 5:18, while slow, I am happy with as I felt really good.

Overall: This race is one of the best. I have a hotel reserved for next year. Duluth plays host to a great event!