Grandma's Marathon

Grandma's Marathon

Grandma's Marathon

( 86 reviews )
100% of reviewers recommend this race
  • Duluth,
    Minnesota,
    United States
  • June
  • 3 miles/5K, 13.1 miles/Half Marathon, 26.2 miles/Marathon, Virtual Race
  • Road Race
  • Event Website

Angie Maske-Berka

Iowa, United States
177 212
2019
"My 5th Grandma's"
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
Parking/Access
Race Management
Angie Maske-Berka's thoughts:

I have been writing reviews for this event since 2014 (when I ran the half.) Little has changed, but the weather.

The 2019 event took place on Saturday, June 12. The full marathon starts at 7:45 am. The starting temp was around 50, some sun. This was the best weather yet!

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.

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 9pm, 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.
*This year I worked a vendor booth at the expo. It was busy and a few full days of talking and being on my feet.

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.
*I did not have time to participate in this.

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. The corrals were back filling, so if you want to get up front, line up early. 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, a balloon and a spray painted marking on the road. 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! (I always miss the grapes provided by an Italian restaurant.)
-Spectators: All access points to the course had people with signs, ready to slap high fives. On the northern parts of the course, residents came out to cheer at the ends of their driveways. 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
-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 great weather year, which meant scenic lake views.
-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. Even the DOT LED sign had a message for the runners.
-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 - $10. Once you cross the finish line there was a volunteer with a medal and a tiny 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: chocolate milk, bananas, bagels, chips. *I love the post race strawberries and this year there were none in the finisher's only area.

The PR skillet, was after this area in the alphabetized reunion area. From there 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. A band was 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!
There was a fruit truck set up in the area, you had to play a game to get a voucher for the fruit, I finally found my strawberries!!
*The post race beer selection is massive. They bring in O'dells and Alaskan beers, in addition to Bud Light and a cider. This year they had a sour!!

My Race: I was back for my 5th Grandma's marathon, I love this race! My training plan was mostly relying on the fact that it was my 30th overall marathon, vs actually getting in quality runs. With the sprained ankle in February and all the expo hours, I was just happy to have a finish.

I woke up on race day to a spectacular sunrise, I knew it was going to be an excellent day! As per usual I did run with my pack and brought Gatorade as Powerade can be too sweet. I ran into people I knew at the start, and on the course. As I neared the finish, I saw my friend cheering me in. Then I spotted another friend coming in to finish his first marathon, so I ran the last few bits with him. My finisher certificate said I completed the race in 5:15, faster than last year!! I will take it. As I write this, I feel really good.

Overall: This race is 43 years old, they know what they are doing. If you are looking for a marathon, add this one to your list!

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