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Mary Akor winner of 2008 Grandma's Marathon
Women's champion Mary Akor heads for the finish line
in the 2008 Grandma's Marathon Duluth, Minnesota

Grandma's Marathon Run
Two Harbors to Duluth, Minnesota

Typically held the third weekend in June, Grandmas 2013 Marathon Run will celebrate its 37th race. As Dick Beardsley states in the official marathon website, the event is "more than a 26.2-mile race – it’s a celebration of running, live entertainment, fabulous food and activities for the whole family."

2013 Grandma's Marathon Schedule

June 20th - Health & Fitness Expo
June 21th - Fitness Expo, Spagetti Dinner & Music in the Big Top, 5K and Kids Race
June 22nd - Full and Half Marathon, Music in the Big Top

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

- DULUTH VISITOR ATTRACTIONS
- JOHN BEARGREASE SLED DOG MARATHON
- LAKE SUPERIOR DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL
- CHRISTMAS LIGHTS VILLAGE

I'm no expert on marathon runs but I would have trouble imaging a more beautiful site and day for a run than we experienced when we covered the 2008 race. The race starts in downtown Two Harbors, Mn and then follows the North Shore Scenic Drive (old highway 61) along the lakeshore to the city of Duluth where the course continues near the lake until the Rose Garden where runners then go through downtown Duluth to the old railroad Depot cross the bridge and follow the course to Canal Park where the finish line is on Canal Park Drive by Little Angie Cantena. (see the course map)

In 2008 over 12,000 runners participated in the full (7,103) and half-marathons (5,485). We didn't get a number on the spectators, yet 40,000 wouldn't surprise me at all. At every conceivable point along the 26.2 mile course crowds of people were camped out in lawn chairs, blankets, or just standing cheering on the competitors as they passed. In addition to the two traditional marathon races, there was also a wheelchair marathon that drew 46 entrants and 25 finishers. South Africans Krige Schabert and Ernst Van Dyk finished #1 and #2 with only 2 seconds separating them! Amanda McGrory of Palo Alto, CA was the winner in the women's wheelchair division.

Stoney Point Checkpoint

Marathon Race Spectators

Every intersection along the 26.2 mile course drew crowds of spectators like this one near the Stoney Point community along the North Shore Scenic Drive. > > >

Wheelchair Racer Marcelo Ordaz-Cruz

< < < Wheelchair Racer Marcelo Ordaz-Cruz 10 miles out of Two Harbors. He finished #13 overall. Wheelchair racers started 5 minutes ahead of the runners and as they generally race at a faster pace, they have the course to themselves.

Wheelchair Marathon Racers

Gary Debuhr (left) in a tight race at the 10 mile point > > >


Race Leaders< < < 5 minutes later the pack of runner race leaders appeared. Two of the leaders here, #28 and #23, did not finish the race. #6 is Kenyan Lamech Mokono (running in second place here) who was the eventual winner. Fellow Kenyans Benson Cheruiyot (#3) and Cyprian Kiogora (#24) finished third and ninth respectively.

Christopher Raabe of Washington, D.C
Running 35 seconds behind the race leaders at this point, top American finisher Christopher Raabe of Washington, D.C. finished 6th overall. > > >

Ryan Holm of Walker, Michigan

< < < Ryan Holm of Walker, Michigan ended up finishing 25th overall.

Canal Park - 26 mile marker

Cyprian Kiogora

We caught up with Cyprian Kiogora (#9th overall) again as he approached the finish line. > > >

John Mirth of Platteville, Wisconsin

< < < A race official watches as John Mirth of Platteville, Wisconsin makes the turn towards the finish line. John, 46 years old, was the Senior Mens Champion and finished 24th overall.

Duluth Downtown Lakewalk

Wheelchair racer Jacqui Kapinowski finished #3 among female wheelchair racers. > > >

Canal Park Finish Line

Grandma's Marathon Finish Line Home Stretch

The Home Stretch on Canal Park Drive. > > >

Grandma's Marathon Finish Line

< < < Lots of excitement at the finish line.

Kathleen Monaghan
Duluth favorite daughter Kathleen Monaghan finished #11 overall among women racers and was #3 among women master runners (age 40 and over). > > >

Massage Tent

Volunteer therapists tend to racers aching muscles and joints in the Medical Tent. > > >

Grandma's Marathon Festival

< < < A festival atmosphere surrounds the race.

Beer GardenFestival goers in the Beer and Food Garden can keep an eye on the finish line on the mammoth big screen TV. > > >

John Beargrease Race

< < < Country music in the entertainment Tent.

  Link to Grandma's Marathon Official Website

Other Fun Race Festivals in Twin Ports Area

Duluth Area Pages

  Duluth, Minnesota - Main Information Directory

  Skyline Parkway & 7 Bridges Road Scenic Drive

  Scenic Railroad Fall Color Tour

blue triangle Depot Railway Museum

  Duluth Night Scenes

  Canal Park & Aerial Lift Bridge

Canal Park Dining & Shopping District

  Duluth Lakewalk - Directory

  Duluth Rose Garden

  Duluth Hawk Ridge

  Duluth Enger Park Tower

  John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon

  Grandma's Marathon

  Two Harbors, MN

  Superior, Wisconsin


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bay furnace campground
Campground Directory
Lake Superior Circle Tour

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Travel Planner Lake Superior Circle Tour



Race Day
Superior Dragon Boat Festival

SuperiorTrails
Lodging

 

CAMPING THE NORTH SHORE

Camping the North Shore

Golf Courses Around Lake Superior

About the Superior Hiking Trail



Pride of Baltimore II Tall ShipDuluth Tall Ships Festival
will be returning in 2013



Duluth Enger Park Tower
Duluth's Enger Park and Enger Park Tower

GGrand Portage Overlook
Scenic Fall Color Drive
Minnesota North Shore

Canoe Trails:
Wabakimi Canoe Trips
Canoe Trip Stories

Resource Links:
Rose Garden Website
Gooseberry Falls State  Park
Tettegouche State  Park
Superior Hiking Trail  Association

Duluth Skyline Drive

 

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Hotel, Motel Lodging
Duluth, Mn, Two Harbors, Grand Marais, Minnesota
North Shore

Minnesota North Shore
Golf Courses
Along Lake Superior
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North Shore and Duluth Fall Color Scenic Drives

North Shore Scenic Fall Color Drives