Grandma's Marathon. Saturday, June 19, 2021. 58ish degrees, partly cloudy.

Registration: Typically registration for this event opens in October the year before. I was offered a discount for participating virtually the year before. The cost is around $100. Included was a bib with timing chip, finisher shirt (gender specific, short sleeve) finisher beverage, and a pair of socks! You could add in training shirts and/or bib shipping to the cost. This year the race was capped at half or 4000(?) participants and it sold out quick.
There was plenty of pre-race communication via email and social media. The race didn't get a permit to host an in person event until about a couple months or less before the event. Participants were always in the know.

Expo / Packet Pick up: The expo was held in the DECC starting the Thursday before the event and going late Friday evening. The layout of the expo was different this year, they moved the vendors to the bigger space. The spaghetti dinner was moved and bib pickup was in an area all it's own. Everything was definitely spread out. There was also a specific entrance and exit to the building. Parking was available for a fee at the DECC, or you could walk from downtown.
*I paid to have my bib shipped to me. I was uncertain at the time I registered. I did take the time to walk through the expo this year. It felt spacious for sure, but also felt there might not have been as many vendors. Which is understandable as the world returns to in person events.

Pre-Race: This race is point to point, requiring transportation to the start line. There is a train that leaves early or you can take a bus. There is one central location to catch either mode of transportation at the DECC. There were also a few bus stops around Duluth and Superior that would take you to the start.
*With the scaled back participants, there were not as many bus locations as in the past.

At the starting line there were many port-o-potties in the parking lot of the nearby car dealership. There were bins to toss clothes in provided by Goodwill. This year there was no bag drop at the start, bags had to be dropped off at packet pickup the day before.
There was a rendition of the National Anthem, and then the 148th fighter wing performed a flyover (like 3 times.) Then there was a rolling start. There were no corrals, no encouragement to line up according to pace, no pacers. Once you were close to the start, there were ribbons separating people.

Race / Course:
-paved / asphalt
-roads were closed to traffic
-Spectators were they had access to the course. Some spectators with aid stations offering pancakes, orange juice, candy, pickles, Advil.
-Marathonfoto was on course, in the starting corrals and at the finish line
-There were many aid stations all of them had water in paper cups, blue Powerade in paper cups and ice in paper cups. There were water refill stations and small plastic water bottles this year too. There were a couple of stops with energy gels and fruit. Port-o-potties at the aid stations.
-Medical stations were near most aid stations. Vaseline available here.
-Relatively flat. There is Lemon Drop hill at about mile 22, but there are no steep climbs.
-Police at all major road crossings
-Every mile is marked with a balloon and spray paint.
-Views of Lake Superior

Finish / Post Race: An arch an timing mat greeted you at the finish. A volunteer handed you a medal, a beer ticket and a heat sheet. There was an option to grab a bottled water and take some photos. Then you walked through the post race food area - I was given a leftover gear check bag. I passed on the banana, but grabbed a Nature Valley granola bar, bag of Old Dutch Chips and a can of chocolate milk. There were also bagels with peanut butter and yogurt.
The post race area was a short hike to Bayfront Park - just under another mile. This is where there was a band, the post race beverage and a place to meet back up with your friends. Festivities went on until 10pm.
*The finisher shirt was handed out this year only with your bib. Usually you earn that at the finish line.

My race: My training had not been the best, I ran an endurance event as my long run and battled a shin splint. I was looking to finish and feel good.
It was good to be back at the start line of a big race again, I was worried as a slower runner and with registration capped it would feel lonely out there. However, from the start to finish, I never felt alone. The port-o-potties and corrals felt just like a normal race day, but more relaxed. I even started with my husband.
The miles passed by quickly. By mile 3 I was chatting to the guy who runs to the start from the finish line. At mile 5 I was starting in with the chews I brought with me. Maybe at mile 10 the chaffing started, I was on the look out for vaseline. At mile 13 I used a port-o-potty. At Mile 17 I was looking forward to the fruit stop, but instead was surprised to get a pickle. I was happy to see the Jolly Rancher stop at mile 18. At mile 19 I was stopping to walk through each aid station to grab a water. I carried Tailwind with me as I do not really care for Powerade. I made sure to take notivce of the troll dolls. Around mile 21 I grabbed pickle juice. Then just before mile 22 I snagged a watermelon slice. I crested Lemon Drop hill and shuffled past businesses in Duluth. There were orange slices and more water and ice stops. I really wanted a Coca Cola. The last hill after mile 25 I remember chatting with a spectator who was going to the finish line. Then it was the last few turns (the only major turns of the course and it feels like there are 65 of them.) I was in the finisher chute, I heard my friend cheering me in, then my husband. Next thing I knew I had a finisher medal around my neck.
The finisher area really kept you moving this year, no place for gathering. I wasn't too interested in the post race eats, but I did try that chocolate milk in a can, it wasn't bad.

I met my husband and friend at our traditional post race venue, Little Angie's I felt really good with my 5:22:XX finishing time and celebrated with all the salty foods (chips and french fries) Colas and of course fried ice cream.

We really lucked out with the weather, the day before it was 80+ degrees and the day after it rained all day.

I didn't make it to the official post race party until later that evening. I really like the venue for the post race, but it's really not the same so far away from the finish line.

Overall: I love this race! You get a closed course, lots of support and excellent views (on a clear day.) I will always try to run this race. I also appreciate the communication that was provided in a year filled with so much uncertainty.

This is my 8th year participating in a Grandma's event in some capacity. I have run the half and have participated virtually.