{"id":475,"date":"2026-05-11T19:00:27","date_gmt":"2026-05-11T19:00:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/marathonmarty.com\/website_01c4e708\/?page_id=475"},"modified":"2026-05-11T19:00:29","modified_gmt":"2026-05-11T19:00:29","slug":"grandmas-marathon","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/marathonmarty.com\/website_01c4e708\/grandmas-marathon\/","title":{"rendered":"Grandma’s Marathon"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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#44 \u2022 DULUTH \u2022 MINNESOTA<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Grandma\u2019s Marathon<\/h2>\n\n\n

Time of Year:<\/strong> 21 June 2025
Race Cost:<\/strong> $152 (with T-shirt)
Weather & Temperature: <\/strong>sunny, hot, no clouds; LOWS \u2013 mid 60s, HIGHS \u2013 low 80s<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Hotel Information<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Holiday Inn Downtown Duluth<\/strong>
Downtown Duluth, MN<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Older hotel with a medium size lobby and a large ground floor that includes a restaurant and bar. Average fitness center in the building. Hotel has two swimming pools. Basic room with carpeted floors, windows that do not open, and quality A\/C unit. Good walls that prevented outside noise. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

* Hotel Cost: $431 per night; $1292 for three nights
<\/strong><\/strong>* Rental car: $274 without CDW
<\/strong><\/strong>* Distance from Expo: 500m
<\/strong><\/strong>* Distance from shuttle pick up to start\/finish of marathon: 500m\/1000m
<\/strong><\/strong>* Hotel did not provide a shuttle to the airport<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other Hotel Options: <\/strong>Downtown Duluth has about a dozen of hotels within walking distance of the start \u2013 however these hotels sell out months in advance. This was the most difficult marathon to find lodging of any marathon I have run.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Expo Information<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Duluth Entertainment Convention Center<\/strong>
<\/strong>Duluth, MN
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Features:
<\/strong><\/strong>* Packet pick-up
<\/strong><\/strong>* dozens of vendors \u2013 large event hall \u2013 one of the largest race expos I have visited
<\/strong><\/strong>One hour to collect packet & visit vendors<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Race Day Information<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Saturday, June 21, 2025<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Weather & Temperature:
<\/strong><\/strong>* Start: Mid 60s\u00b0F
<\/strong><\/strong>* Finish: Low 80s\u00b0F
<\/strong><\/strong>* blue sky, no clouds, hot<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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7:45am start normally around 26 miles north of downtown Duluth
<\/strong><\/strong>* No indoor area available for stretching and any per-race preparation
<\/strong><\/strong>* Plenty of restrooms at start; but lots of people so long lines
<\/strong><\/strong>* Gear check available
<\/strong><\/strong>* Crowd was serious; arrive at your corral 15 minutes before the race
<\/strong><\/strong>* Full and half marathon start at same time at different location<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Course Information<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Miles 0<\/strong>-26.2<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The race start was delayed by 30 minutes due to thunderstorms around 0400 that delayed the buses that transport the runners to the start. The race started long after the sun was up so you could clearly see where you were heading. The race proceeds south next to the Great Lake on a rolling state road. The scenery is rural with occasional views of the Great Lake. Most of the race is on roads with not much shade from trees \u2013 this is important towards the end where there is practically no shade at all. Good crowd support at the beginning and very end but there are long areas with no spectators. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Final stats<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Race Finish was located at the Convention Center. The finish was a corral area for about two blocks that was only accessible to athletes.\u00a0 Lots of food was available to runners.\u00a0 Beer garden was available.\u00a0 Limited seating and not much shade.\u00a0 Outside the corral area thousands of spectators in the area \u2013 limited restaurants, cafes, and bars available in the area but most of them will already be full of spectators and half marathon finishers.

<\/strong><\/strong>After Party: Yes \u2013 Rock the Bay Festival \u2013 live music and an open area with access to the convention center.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Overall<\/strong> Review<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Overall the race was a medium race (about 7,500 people).\u00a0 Full and half marathon started in the separate location and at different times.\u00a0 The course has some rolling hills but overall is very fast. There are points where you can see Lake Superior and there is a nice cool lake breeze that will sweep through the course. There is not much shade \u2013 especially for the second half of the race.\u00a0 Lots of crowd support around the downtown area \u2013 less the farther you run from downtown. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Out & About<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Places I visited around town<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2026or wanted to but ran out of time!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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What restaurant will help me carbo-load the night before the race?<\/summary>\n

* Bellisio\u2019s Italian Restaurant<\/p>\n\n\n\n

* Va Bene (reserve early as its reservations will fill up before race day)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

* Vitta Pizza Canal Park<\/p>\n\n\n\n

* Pizza Luce<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

What grocery stores are in the area?<\/summary>\n

* Super One Foods
<\/strong><\/strong>* Water; Energy drinks; Bananas; Oranges; Bread; Chocolate<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

What other restaurants are in the race area?<\/summary>\n

* Holiday Inn Restaurant
<\/strong><\/strong>* Duluth\u2019s Best Bread
<\/strong><\/strong>* Duluth Coffee Company
<\/strong><\/strong>* Many other restaurants within walking distance of downtown<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

Where can I celebrate finishing the marathon with a drink?<\/summary>\n

* Rathskeller speakeasy * Blacklist Brewing Company
<\/strong><\/strong>* Canal Park Brewery
<\/strong><\/strong>* Grandma\u2019s Saloon and Grill (expect a waitlist)
<\/strong><\/strong>*Fitger\u2019s Brewhouse<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/body>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

#44 \u2022 DULUTH \u2022 MINNESOTA Time of Year: 21 June 2025Race Cost: $152 (with T-shirt)Weather & Temperature: sunny, hot, no clouds; LOWS \u2013 mid 60s, HIGHS \u2013 low 80s Hotel Information Holiday Inn Downtown DuluthDowntown Duluth, MN Older hotel with a medium size lobby and a large ground floor that includes a restaurant and bar. 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