Grandma's Marathon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Grandma's Marathon |
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2021 Grandma's Marathon race logo
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| Date | June 21, 2025 |
| Location | Two Harbors, Minnesota to Duluth, Minnesota |
| Distance | 26.2 miles (42.2 km) |
| Primary sponsor | Grandma's Restaurant and others |
| Established | 1977 |
| Course records | Men: 2:09:06 (2014) Dominic Ondoro Women: 2:23:52 (2024) Volha Mazuronak |
| Official site | http://www.grandmasmarathon.com |
| Participants | 9,000 |
Grandma's Marathon is a big annual running race. It happens every June in Duluth, Minnesota, in the United States. The race course starts in Two Harbors and follows Scenic Route 61 along Lake Superior. Runners finish in Canal Park, right by Grandma's Restaurant and the famous Aerial Lift Bridge.
With more than 7,000 people finishing the race, Grandma's Marathon is one of the ten largest marathons in the United States.
Contents
The Story of Grandma's Marathon
The idea for a marathon from Two Harbors to Duluth came from Scott Keenan. He was part of a running group called the North Shore Striders. In 1976, local banks and businesses were not interested in helping him start the race.
But a new restaurant called Grandma's Restaurant decided to help. They gave $600, which was a big part of the first race's budget. The first race cost only $3 to enter.
The very first Grandma's Marathon was held in 1977. Only 160 people ran, and ten of them were women. The race started where Scenic Highway 61 and the Highway 61 expressway split in Two Harbors. A red truck even led the runners along the course!
The first winners were Garry Bjorklund and Wendy Hovland. Garry Bjorklund was an Olympic runner from Minnesota. He even changed his shoes during the race because his first pair was too slippery! The first race had a four-hour time limit. However, some runners finished later, like Dr. Leonard Linnell, who finished in 6 hours and 5 minutes.
In the early races (1977-1980), aid stations offered water and a sports drink called ERG. Today, aid stations provide water and Powerade.
Grandma's Marathon has grown a lot. Now, almost 20,000 people take part each year. The race has a budget of nearly $2 million. It brings many tourists to Duluth, filling hotels and businesses. In 2016, it was estimated that 65,000 people visited Duluth for the marathon weekend. They spent about $10 million in total.
The fastest time for men at Grandma's Marathon is 2 hours, 9 minutes, and 6 seconds. This record was set in 2014 by Dominic Ondoro from Kenya. The previous record had stood for 33 years! The fastest time for women is 2 hours, 23 minutes, and 52 seconds. Volha Mazuronak set this record in 2024.
Since 1980, the US Army 477th Medical Company has helped with first aid at the marathon.
In 2001, Grandma's Marathon started using ChampionChip timing devices. These small chips attached to runners' shoes. Before that, runners had to line up in narrow lanes at the finish line. Race officials would then remove a part of their race bibs to record their finish time.
In 2005, Halina Karnatsevich was the first woman to finish. However, she was later disqualified because she failed a drug test after the race.
In 2007, race officials stopped runners from using headphones at the start. This was to follow rules that banned headphones in races. About 30 runners who ignored the rule were disqualified.
The 35th marathon in 2011 had a very close finish. The winner, Christopher Kipyego, stopped too early. This led to a last-minute sprint against Teklu Deneke. Only two-tenths of a second separated them!
In 2013, more people signed up for the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon than the full marathon for the first time.
The 40th race in 2016 had the most finishers ever, with 7,423 people completing the race. That year also saw a record number of women finishers.
In 2020, Grandma's Marathon added a woman to its official logo. Organizers said this was "long overdue."
The race happened every year for 44 years. But in 2020, it was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This was the first time the marathon, half marathon, and 5K races were canceled. People who had signed up did not get refunds. However, they received a discount for the 2021 or 2022 race.
In 2023, Grandma's Marathon started a program called "Running to Common Ground." This program offers discounted entries to people from different communities. In 2022, they also added a non-binary division for runners.
The 48th race in 2024 set a new record for the most finishers, with 7,536 people. The 49th race in 2025 also set a new record with 7,542 finishers. Joel Reichow became the first person to win both Grandma's Marathon and the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon.
The Grandma's Marathon course has some famous spots:
- Lemon Drop Hill at the 22 miles (35 km) mark.
- Troll Mile, also around 22 miles (35 km).
- The historic Fitger's Brewing Company at about 24 miles (39 km).
- The SS William A. Irvin ship at about 25.5 miles (41.0 km).
Race Weekend Fun
What started as one race in 1977 has grown into a whole weekend of running events!
The fun begins on Thursday with a health expo at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center. Races start on Friday. First, there are "Whipper Snapper" races for kids at Bayfront Festival Park. After that, the William A. Irvin 5K race takes place. This 5K race started in 1994. It is named after a large ship docked nearby. The course starts at the back of the ship, goes around the canal area, and finishes at the front. Nearly 2,000 runners join this race.
Early on Saturday morning, the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon begins. More than 7,000 runners head south on Scenic Route 61 towards Duluth. The half marathon started in 1991. It now has more participants than the full marathon. This race starts near the Talmadge River.
The half marathon starts at 6:00 am. The full marathon starts at 7:40 am for elite men runners. Women elite runners and other participants start at 7:45 am.
Throughout the rest of the year, the Grandma's Marathon organization hosts other races. These include the Fitger's 5K, the Park Point 5 Miler, and the Grandma's Minnesota Mile. In 2023, Grandma's Marathon was the 10th largest marathon in the United States.
Past Marathon Winners
Key: Course record American championship race
| Edition | Date | Men's winner | Time (h:m:s) |
Women's winner | Time (h:m:s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1977-06-25 |  Garry Bjorklund (USA) |
2:21:54 | Wendy Hovland (USA) |
3:23:39 |
| 2 | 1978-06-24 | Barney Klecker (USA) |
2:18:42 | Cheryl Westrum (USA) |
2:57:14 |
| 3 | 1979-06-23 |  Ricky Wilde (ENG) |
2:14:44 |  Lorraine Moller (NZL) |
2:37:37 |
| 4 | 1980-06-21 | Garry Bjorklund (USA) |
2:10:20 | Lorraine Moller (NZL) |
2:38:35 |
| 5 | 1981-06-20 | Dick Beardsley (USA) |
2:09:37 | Lorraine Moller (NZL) |
2:29:35 |
| 6 | 1982-06-19 | Dick Beardsley (USA) |
2:14:50 | Janice Ettle (USA) |
2:41:21 |
| 7 | 1983-06-11 | Gerry Helme (ENG) |
2:12:10 | Jenny Spangler (USA) |
2:33:52 |
| 8 | 1984-06-16 | Derek Stevens (ENG) |
2:12:41 | Anne Hird (USA) |
2:37:30 |
| 9 | 1985-06-15 | Don Norman (USA) |
2:11:08 |  Susan Stone (CAN) |
2:39:45 |
| 10 | 1986-06-21 |  Joseph Kipsang (KEN) |
2:12:53 | Karlene Herrell (USA) |
2:38:45 |
| 11 | 1987-06-20 | Dan Schlesinger (USA) |
2:16:00 | Janis Klecker (USA) |
2:36:12 |
| 12 | 1988-06-11 |  Armando Azócar (VEN) |
2:20:07 | Jacqueline Gareau (CAN) |
2:43:27 |
| 13 | 1989-06-17 | Doug Kurtis (USA) |
2:16:49 | Louise Mohanna (USA) |
2:39:50 |
| 14 | 1990-06-23 |  Igor Braslavskiy (URS) |
2:18:12 | Jane Welzel (USA) |
2:33:25 |
| 15 | 1991-06-22 |  Driss Dacha (MAR) |
2:13:59 | Janice Ettle (USA) |
2:35:27 |
| 16 | 1992-06-20 |  Roy Dooney (IRL) |
2:13:25 | Jane Welzel (USA) |
2:33:01 |
| 17 | 1993-06-19 | Doug Kurtis (USA) |
2:16:38 | Lorraine Hochella (USA) |
2:34:46 |
| 18 | 1994-06-18 | Donald Johns (USA) |
2:18:19 | Linda Somers (USA) |
2:33:42 |
| 19 | 1995-06-17 | Mark Curp (USA) |
2:15:23 |  Irina Bogachova (KGZ) |
2:34:11 |
| 20 | 1996-06-22 | Patrick Muturi (KEN) |
2:13:43 | Mary Alico (USA) |
2:32:42 |
| 21 | 1997-06-21 | Patrick Muturi (KEN) |
2:15:44 | Irina Bogachova (KGZ) |
2:38:44 |
| 22 | 1998-06-20 |  Simon Peter (TAN) |
2:12:47 |  Elena Plastinina (UKR) |
2:35:46 |
| 23 | 1999-06-19 | Andrew Musuva (KEN) |
2:13:22 |  Elena Makalova (BLR) |
2:29:13 |
| 24 | 2000-06-17 |  Pavel Andreyev (RUS) |
2:14:31 |  Svetlana Şepelev-Tcaci (MDA) |
2:33:53 |
| 25 | 2001-06-16 | Benjamin Matolo (KEN) |
2:14:25 | Lyubov Belavina (RUS) |
2:35:13 |
| 26 | 2002-06-22 | Elly Rono (KEN) |
2:10:57 | Zinaida Semenova (RUS) |
2:32:21 |
| 27 | 2003-06-21 | Joseph Kamau (KEN) |
2:11:22 | Firiya Sultanova (RUS) |
2:27:05 |
| 28 | 2004-06-19 | Vladimir Tyamchik (BLR) |
2:17:59 | Firiya Sultanova (RUS) |
2:35:08 |
| 29 | 2005-06-18 | Wesley Ngetich (KEN) |
2:13:18 | Halina Karnatsevich (BLR) |
2:28:43 |
| 30 | 2006-06-17 | Sergey Lukin (RUS) |
2:14:30 | Svetlana Nekhorosh (UKR) |
2:37:33 |
| 31 | 2007-06-16 | Wesley Ngetich (KEN) |
2:15:55 | Mary Akor (USA) |
2:35:40 |
| 32 | 2008-06-21 | Lamech Mokono (KEN) |
2:13:39 | Mary Akor (USA) |
2:38:50 |
| 33 | 2009-06-20 | Christopher Raabe (USA) |
2:15:13 | Mary Akor (USA) |
2:36:52 |
| 34 | 2010-06-19 | Philemon Kemboi (KEN) |
2:15:44 |  Buzunesh Deba (ETH) |
2:31:35 |
| 35 | 2011-06-19 | Christopher Kipyego (KEN) |
2:12:16 | Yihunlish Delelecha (ETH) |
2:30:39 |
| 36 | 2012-06-16 | Berhanu Girma (ETH) |
2:12:24 | Everlyne Lagat (KEN) |
2:33:13 |
| 37 | 2013-06-22 | Bazu Worku (ETH) |
2:11:12 | Sarah Kiptoo (KEN) |
2:26:32 |
| 38 | 2014-06-21 | Dominic Ondoro (KEN) |
2:09:06 | Pasca Myers (KEN) |
2:33:45 |
| 39 | 2015-06-20 | Elisha Barno (KEN) |
2:10:36 | Jane Kibii (KEN) |
2:32:06 |
| 40 | 2016-06-18 | Elisha Barno (KEN) |
2:11:26 | Sarah Kiptoo (KEN) |
2:33:28 |
| 41 | 2017-06-17 | Elisha Barno (KEN) |
2:12:06 | Hellen Jepkurgat (KEN) |
2:32:09 |
| 42 | 2018-06-16 | Elisha Barno (KEN) |
2:10:06 | Kellyn Taylor (USA) |
2:24:28 |
| 43 | 2019-06-22 | Boniface Kongin (KEN) |
2:11:56 | Nell Rojas (USA) |
2:28:06 |
| 44 | 2020-06-20* | Race canceled due to COVID-19 | xx:xx:xx | Race canceled due to COVID-19 | xx:xx:xx |
| 45 | 2021-06-19 | Milton Rotich (KEN) |
2:13:03 | Dakotah Lindwurm (USA) |
2:29:04 |
| 46 | 2022-06-18 | Dominic Ondoro (KEN) |
2:09:34 | Dakotah Lindwurm (USA) |
2:25:01 |
| 47 | 2023-06-17 | Elisha Barno (KEN) |
2:09:14 | Lauren Hagans (USA) |
2:25:55 |
| 48 | 2024-06-22 | Elisha Barno (KEN) |
2:10:54 | Volha Mazuronak (BLR) |
2:23:52 |
| 49 | 2025-06-21 | Joel Reichow (USA) |
2:11:58 | Lilian Chebii (KEN) |
* After canceling the race, a "virtual race" was held.
Non-Binary Category Winners
- Steven Bugarin (USA): 2:50:29
- Zoey Viavattine (USA): 2:44:43
- Eli Blascyk (USA): 3:07:53
Men with Multiple Wins
- 6 wins
- Elisha Barno: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2023, 2024
- 2 wins
- Garry Bjorklund: 1977, 1980
- Dick Beardsley: 1981, 1982
- Doug Kurtis: 1989, 1993
- Patrick Muturi: 1996, 1997
- Dominic Ondoro: 2014, 2022
Women with Multiple Wins
- 3 wins
- Lorraine Moller: 1979, 1980, 1981
- Mary Akor: 2007, 2008, 2009
- 2 wins
- Janice Ettle: 1982, 1991
- Jane Welzel: 1990, 1992
- Irina Bogachova: 1995, 1997
- Firiya Sultanova: 2003, 2004
- Sarah Kiptoo: 2013, 2016
- Dakotah Lindwurm: 2021, 2022
Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon Past Winners
Key: Course record American championship race
| Edition | Date | Men's winner | Time (h:m:s) |
Women's winner | Time (h:m:s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1991-06-22 | Thomas Plechter (USA) |
1:08:44 | Doris Widsand-Dausman (USA) |
1:23:05 |
| 2 | 1992-06-20 | Dan Carlson (USA) |
1:07:27 | Jill Anderson (USA) |
1:21:28 |
| 3 | 1993-06-19 | Dan Carlson (USA) |
1:06:31 | Kari Beasley (USA) |
1:19:09 |
| 4 | 1994-06-18 | Dan Carlson (USA) |
1:08:20 | Julie Cotter (USA) |
1:25:30 |
| 5 | 1995-06-17 | Thomas Plechter (USA) |
1:09:22 | Laurel Park (USA) |
1:14:11 |
| 6 | 1996-06-22 | Curt Kotsonas (USA) |
1:06:12 | Debra Gormley (USA) |
1:16:57 |
| 7 | 1997-06-21 | Sean Mulheron (USA) |
1:07:30 | Debra Gormley (USA) |
1:20:05 |
| 8 | 1998-06-20 | Sean Mulheron (USA) |
1:06:53 | Kelly Keeler (USA) |
1:15:16 |
| 9 | 1999-06-19 | Ryan Meissen (USA) |
1:08:14 | Mary Button (USA) |
1:20:53 |
| 10 | 2000-06-17 | Ryan Meissen (USA) |
1:08:09 | Kelly Keeler (USA) |
1:16:21 |
| 11 | 2001-06-16 | Ryan Meissen (USA) |
1:06:10 | Kelly Keeler (USA) |
1:15:48 |
| 12 | 2002-06-22 | Ryan Meissen (USA) |
1:04:19 | Debra Gormley (USA) |
1:20:18 |
| 13 | 2003-06-21 | Jason Lehmkuhle (USA) |
1:06:43 | Colleen De Reuch (USA) |
1:10:00 |
| 14 | 2004-06-19 | Ryan Meissen (USA) |
1:05:51 | Deena Kastor (USA) |
1:10:30 |
| 15 | 2005-06-18 | Ryan Meissen (USA) |
1:06:38 | Jennifer Blue (USA) |
1:17:44 |
| 16 | 2006-06-17 | Matt Hooley (USA) |
1:06:40 | Desiree Budd (USA) |
1:15:33 |
| 17 | 2007-06-16 | Chad Johnson (USA) |
1:05:18 | Paige Higgins (USA) |
1:14:46 |
| 18 | 2008-06-21 | Matthew Chesang (KEN) |
1:04:48 | Liza Hunter-Galvan (USA) |
1:13:29 |
| 19 | 2009-06-20 | Ernest Kebenei (USA) |
1:05:15 | Belainesh Gebre (ETH) |
1:11:57 |
| 20 | 2010-06-19 | Stephen Muange (KEN) |
1:04:24 | Caroline Rotich (KEN) |
1:12:40 |
| 21 | 2011-06-19 | Derese Deniboba (ETH) |
1:02:19 | Katie McGregor (USA) |
1:13:18 |
| 22 | 2012-06-16 | Abdi Abdirahman (USA) |
1:02:46 | Kara Goucher (USA) |
1:09:46 |
| 23 | 2013-06-22 | Meb Keflezighi (USA) |
1:01:22 | Adrianna Nelson (USA) |
1:09:57 |
| 24 | 2014-06-21 | Julius Koskei (KEN) |
1:03:36 | Cynthia Limo (KEN) |
1:09:50 |
| 25 | 2015-06-20 | Shadrack Biwott (USA) |
1:03:09 | Neely Spence Gracey (USA) |
1:11:27 |
| 26 | 2016-06-18 | Macdonald Ondara (KEN) |
1:03:33 | Simegn Abnet Yeshanbel (ETH) |
1:13:21 |
| 27 | 2017-06-17 | Evans Kurui (KEN) |
1:03:05 | Biruktayit Degefa (ETH) |
1:11:25 |
| 28 | 2018-06-16 | Panuel Mkungo (KEN) |
1:02:50 | Monicah Ngige (KEN) |
1:09:55 |
| 29 | 2019-06-19 | Panuel Mkungo (KEN) |
1:02:37 | Katy Jermann (USA) |
1:10:27 |
| xx | 2020-06-20* | Race canceled due to COVID-19 | xx:xx:xx | Race canceled due to COVID-19 | xx:xx:xx |
| 31 | 2021-06-19 |  Mohamed Hrezi (LIB) |
1:04:14 | Ann Centner (USA) |
1:14:23 |
| 32 | 2022-06-18 | Daniel Kemoi (KEN) |
1:02:03 |  Rosie Edwards (UK) |
1:12:45 |
| 33 | 2023-06-17 | Joel Reichow (USA) |
1:02:30 | Maggie Montoya (USA) |
1:09:26 |
| 34 | 2024-06-22 |  Tebello Ramakongoana (LES) |
1:00:17 | Annie Frisbie (USA) |
1:07:33 |
| 35 | 2025-06-21 | Murphy Smith (USA) |
1:02:49 | Annie Frisbie (USA) |
1:09:05 |
* After canceling the race, a "virtual race" was held.
Men with Multiple Half Marathon Wins
- 6 wins
- Ryan Meissen: 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005
- 3 wins
- Dan Carlson: 1992, 1993, 1994
- 2 wins
- Thomas Plechter: 1991, 1995
- Sean Mulheron: 1997, 1998
- Panuel Mkungo: 2018, 2019
Women with Multiple Half Marathon Wins
- 3 wins
- Kelly Keeler: 1998, 2000, 2001
- Debra Gormley: 1996, 1997, 2002
- 2 wins
- Annie Frisbie: 2024, 2025
See also
- Twin Cities Marathon
- Minneapolis Marathon
- Mankato Marathon
- Med City Marathon
