Grandma’s Marathon Race Festival

2017 Grandmas Marathon Race
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Grandma’s Marathon Photos – 2017 Race & Festival

Saturday, June 17, 2017
It was a beautiful day for the 41st running of Grandma’s Marathon. 6444 racers competed in the full marathon (26.2 miles) and 7337 ran in the Gary Bjorklund Half Marathon (13.1 miles). The last time we attended a Grandma’s Race Festival (see photos and article) was in 2008 where we watched part of the race part way between Two Harbors and Duluth along Scenic Highway 61 at the Stoney Point Race Checkpoint. After watching the race along the road for a while, we then headed to Duluth to catch some of the finishers. Traffic and having to park about a mile away from the finish line meant we got there too late to see the overall winners in the regular race and the wheelchair division. So in 2017 we arrived earlier in Duluth to position ourselves to catch the overall winners down the home stretch.



The Half Marathon Race starts about an hour and half (6:15 am) before the Full Marathon so that many of the racers are across the finish line before the regular racers arrive. But with 7337 competitors many half-marathoners were heading down the home stretch at the same time of the leading wheelchair racers and top marathon runners.

One thing I marveled at was the relatively large number of “plus-size” men and women competing in and FINISHING the 13.1 mile half-marathon. You go people, Kudos!

Kenyan Elisha Barno won with over a minute to spare over the second place finisher.

Winners. Runners from Kenya dominated the top finishers in the full marathon, taking the first 8 places. Elisha Barno (2:12:06) finished a minute and half ahead of fellow Kenyan Geoffrey Bundi. The top American finisher was Sergio Reyes who finished in 10th place. In the Wheelchair division Aaron Pike nosed out Joshua George in a photo finish both finishing in a time of 1:29:02. In the women’s wheelchair race division there was also a photo finish with Amanda McGrory overtaking Susannah Scaroni both with finishing times of 1:40:02.

We saw two racers whom we watched in 2008. 40-year-old Mary Akor who was the women’s champion in 2008 was the top finisher in the 40 year and older women’s division. And wheelchair winner Amanda McGrory was also the winner in 2008.

Kenyan Christopher Kipyego, finished 4th overall, was the top finisher in the 40 year old and older division.
Wheelchair racer Joshua George in the home stretch, finishing second to Aaron Pike in a photo finish.
Women’s champion Hellen Jepkurgat is 36 years old, bested Askale Merachi by 16 seconds.
Heading into the home stretch Tom Bruno passes Mary Akor. Both were the top finishers in the 40 year and older masters division!
Half marathon competitors Karen Dahlstrom and Elizabeth Simonson head down the home stretch. We love your grit and patriotic outfits!
Rounding the curve in the home stretch, Chicago native Tyler Jermann passing Gebrekian Abadi to take 11th place overall.
Winner Amanda McGrory following Susannah Scaroni as they head into the home stretch.
Top US women’s finisher Lindsey Scherf finished 5th overall among women racers.
Amy Feit from Luverne MN heading down the homes stretch. She was the top finisher in the women’s 35-39 year old division.
Festival attendees catching a bite to eat in front of Grandma’s Restaurant beneath Duluth’s famous Aerial Lift Bridge.

Grandma’s Marathon Page on SuperiorTrails.com