FindMyMarathon.com

Subscribe to our Newsletter




Best Boston Marathon Qualifiers

Best Boston Marathon Qualifiers

It's here! Our annual list of the year's
best marathons to help you qualify for the Boston Marathon.


Marathon Pace Bands

Marathon Pace Bands

Run the Right Pace in Your Next Marathon

Nearly 500 marathon courses.
Ships same or Next Day


Grandmas Marathon

Duluth, MN
Saturday, June 22, 2024

  4.8 Stars from 19 Reviews

Description

The point-to-point Grandma's Marathon course loses approximately 100 feet of elevation as it runs along Lake Superior. The course travels on Old Highway 61 along the north shore of Lake Superior. The route is mostly flat with some small rolling hills and one significant incline - Lemon Drop Hill - just prior to mile 22.

The start is just outside of Two Harbors, Minnesota and the race finishes in Duluth’s Canal Park.

This is a great late spring marathon because race day temperatures are often lower than the temperatures in the rest of the U.S.

Pace Band  |   Race Details  |   Rankings  |   Course Elevation Chart  |   Race Hotels  |   Time Converter  |   Reviews

Marathon Pace Bands

Want to run your best Grandmas Marathon?

Don't waste months of training only to run the wrong pace.

Grandmas Marathon Pace Bands are adjusted for the specific terrain of the course, your goal time and pacing strategies.


Only $9.99


Race Information

Race Dates

2024: Saturday, June 22, 2024
2023: Saturday, June 17, 2023


Course Information

Profile: Mostly Flat
Type: Point to Point
Surface: Road/Pavement

Boston Qualifier?: Yes


Race Day Weather

Mean Temp.: 61°F (16°C)
Average High: 72°F (22°C)
Average Low: 49° F (9°C)




PR Score & Course Score

PR Score: 98.20
Course Score: 99.32


Race Size

2023: 6,686 Finishers
2022: 5,954 Finishers
2021: 2,774 Finishers
2020: No Results
2019: 6,360 Finishers
2018: 6,093 Finishers


BQ Percentages

2023: 19.8%
2022: 17.3%
2021: 17.7%
2020: N/A
2019: 16.9%
2018: 18.2%

Miscellaneous Information

Pace Groups?: Yes


Weather Averages for Last 13 Years


Race Day Temperatures

High: 68°F  (20°C)
Low: 51°F  (11°C)

Race Start Conditions

58°F  (14°C)
Humidity: 83%

Clear
E 7 mph

PR Score

66.76

Course Score

99.32



BBBB1719036000 --- 1711657044 ---- 85.404583333333 --- 2024-06-22 -- 2024 --- date_2024 --- 2024-06-22 --t- 06-22-2024


How does the Grandmas Marathon Rank?


The Grandmas Marathon was the 10th largest marathon in the U.S. last year and was the 12th largest in 2022.

Last year 19.8% of finishers qualified for the Boston Marathon and 17.3% of runners qualified for Boston in 2022.

This gives the Grandmas Marathon the 53rd highest percentage of Boston Marathon qualifiers in the U.S. last year and the 70th highest percentage in 2022.


Its Course Score of 99.32 ranks it as the 134th fastest marathon course in the U.S. and the 3rd fastest course in Minnesota.

The typical race time temperature and humidity levels are above the ideal range for optimal marathon performance. This, coupled with the Course Score, gives the Grandmas Marathon a PR Score of 98.20. This PR Score ranks it as the 244th fastest marathon in the U.S. and the 6th fastest in Minnesota.

Learn more about PR Scores and Course Scores on the FAQ page.


Grandmas Marathon Elevation Chart

Max Elevation: 727 feet (221m)
Min Elevation: 603 feet (183m)

Elevation Gain: 471 feet (143m)
Elevation Loss: 581 feet (177m)


Grandmas
Course updated 01/11/2024



Hotel & VRBO Accommodations for the
Grandmas Marathon

View available accomodations around the Grandmas Marathon Finish Line and Course. Book your Reservation now before the best places are sold out.


For a better mobile or desktop experience:




How Fast Can You Go?


If you ran the Grandmas Marathon in 4:59:00, what would your time in other marathons be?

See how your race times would compare on other marathon courses with our time conversion tool.




Recent Grandmas Marathon Reviews

4.8 Stars from 19 Reviews
View all Reviews





HB's review of 2023 Grandmas Marathon.   

3 / 5 Stars

Review

It was a great course with lots of crowd support.Weather was great in 2023.Volunteers and after marathon was nice.A bit of walking to get to the celebration area.Two things prevent me from giving 5 stars.Serious lack of porta potty for such a large marathon.Please be aware of the hotel price gouging for marathon weekend.Your paying incredibly high prices for basic accommodations if you can find them


Race Tips

Slightly downhill or flat.One slight hill at 22 barely noticed.Slight hill just created a fast gradual incline to finish.Negative splits for me


Logistical Tips (Hotels, Restaurants, Parking, Discounts, etc.)

Hotel and motel sale out quickly and they are charging twice what they are worth.If your traveling solo consider staying at Two Harbours but still very pricey


KB's review of 2022 Grandmas Marathon.   

5 / 5 Stars

Review

Great race organization, beautiful course with mix of lake views and running in town. Mostly flat and just enough elevation to keep it interesting. Nice medal and finisher shirt. Good after party.


Race Tips

The lemon drop hill isn't bad at all! Although known to be somewhat warm and humid 2022 ended up with great weather. Bus ride takes about 30 minutes to start line. Rolling start.


Logistical Tips (Hotels, Restaurants, Parking, Discounts, etc.)

Book hotel as soon as registering or even before. Hotels are expensive, Dorm room options open up around February, which is cheaper.


DF's review of 2018 Grandmas Marathon.   

5 / 5 Stars

Review

Very well organized race. Great crowd support from the small towns on the way into Duluth. Weather was great, cloudy and cool. Lemon Drop Hill at Mile 22 can be challenging, only if you don't prepare for it.


Race Tips


Logistical Tips (Hotels, Restaurants, Parking, Discounts, etc.)

Book hotels very early, they fill up fast!


TEM's review of 2018 Grandmas Marathon.   

5 / 5 Stars

Review

Well organized race with great support. With favorable weather this is fast.


Race Tips

The train ride up to the start was nice. Long wait for portapotties.


Logistical Tips (Hotels, Restaurants, Parking, Discounts, etc.)

Get hotel reservations early.


SBC's review of 2017 Grandmas Marathon.   

5 / 5 Stars

Review

This is just about the most well organized, coordinated marathon I have ever had the pleasure to run. Loved the easy packet pick up, great pre-race dinner, easy transportation to the start, beautiful scenery along Lake Superior and one of the most fabulous finish line parties. Not only was Grandmas team of volunteers organized, they were the most welcoming helpful and friendly group that wanted nothing more than everyone to have fun and be happy. Well done!


Race Tips

This course is rolling - some slight graded, long inclines, but nothing too steep or intimidating. A "hill" at mile 22 seems bigger than it is by the simple fact that it comes at the end. Even pacing would work well here. Expect any kind of weather for Duluth. It was supposed to be 65 and rain and the sun arrived full force on mile 9 and temperatures hovered in mid-70's. It had been 90's the previous days and I've read that it has been close to freezing on other years.This is a course with little to no shade if there is full sun.


Logistical Tips (Hotels, Restaurants, Parking, Discounts, etc.)

We stayed at a hotel near the finish line, but if you drive in for your packet pick up, there were lines of cars the afternoon before the race to get to the convention center.

There are several hotels near the finish line and all are very walkable. Book early, it all fills up! The spaghetti dinner hosted by Grandmas was delicious.