The “Race Before the Race” As Competitive As Ever for 50th Annual Grandma’s Marathon Weekend – RUNNING USA

2026 Registration Opens at 7:00 p.m. CT on Wednesday, October 1

(DULUTH, MINN.) — If reaching the finish line will be the most difficult part of the 50^th annual Grandma’s Marathon weekend, getting a spot at the start line will be a very close second.

After record-setting registration numbers last year – the half marathon and 5K were sold out in less than two days, and the marathon was sold out in a month – organizers are expecting even more interest this year ahead of the event’s 50^th annual celebration.

“Wait until October 2, and you may be too late,” said Marketing & Public Relations Director Zach Schneider, referencing the event’s October 1 open date for general registration.

Expecting more interest surrounding the 50^th celebration, organizers have adjusted capacities for the 2026 race weekend – the marathon will take more participants, while the half marathon and 5K will take fewer. Together, there will be 19,000 entries up for grabs when the general registration opens.

“The marathon will be in a spotlight like never before, and rightfully so. That’s the crown jewel,” Schneider said. “At the same time, reduced capacities for the half marathon and 5K will make the registration move quicker for those races as well. Simply put, this is lining up to be our busiest registration open ever.”

The 50^th annual Grandma’s Marathon weekend is scheduled for June 18-20, and registration for the weekend’s races will open on a first-come, first-served basis at 7:00 p.m. CT on Wednesday, October 1.

To register or to find more information, please visit grandmasmarathon.com.

The opening pricing tier runs from October 1-15 for all three races, with individual race capacities and starting entry fees (including all fees and surcharges) listed below:

Grandma’s Marathon (9,500 capacity) – $155

Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon (7,000 capacity) – $145

William A. Irvin 5K (1,500 capacity) – $55

There will again be a limited number of Great Grandma’s Challenge entries available, offering a chance to participate in both the 5K on Friday and either the marathon or half marathon on Saturday.

Full Great Grandma’s Challenge (500 capacity) – $240

Half Great Grandma’s Challenge (500 capacity) – $230

All participants will receive both a shirt and finisher medal, as well as a free drink coupon that can be redeemed during race weekend. Full marathoners will also receive a commemorative pair of socks to celebrate 50 years of Grandma’s Marathon, and Great Grandma’s Challenge participants will receive a branded running hat.

NOTE: Great Grandma’s Challenge participants will receive a specialized Challenge medal, as well as the two individual event medals, after finishing their marathon or half marathon on Saturday.

A specially priced participant jacket will also be available for purchase during registration, part of the marathon’s continued partnership with Minnesota-based apparel company Storm Creek.

While details are still being finalized, organizers have hinted the 50^th annual Grandma’s Marathon weekend will include several celebrity and guest appearances, a marquee musical selection for Bayfront Festival Park, a historical museum hosted at the Duluth Depot, and other special events to celebrate five decades of success for the race.

“The way the race has grown in these 50 years is phenomenal,” Schneider said. “We’re excited to celebrate and honor that history and success while at the same time setting the stage for many years to come. Each year, we get to showcase our community on a worldwide stage, and that part never gets old.”

HOW CAN I REGISTER BEFORE OCTOBER 1?

If the chaos of registering on October 1 is stressing you out, Grandma’s Marathon does have an option for you to register for the 50^th annual race weekend before the general registration opens.

That is to become a Charity Runner for the Young Athletes Foundation (YAF). The cost of this option – available only for the marathon and half marathon – is $500, which includes your race entry fee. The net proceeds will benefit the YAF, which has contributed more than $1.8M to the local community’s youth athletics and recreational activities since 1990.

To sign up or to learn more about becoming a YAF Charity Runner (limited to first 200), please click HERE.

ABOUT GRANDMA’S MARATHON

Grandma’s Marathon began in 1977 when a group of local runners planned a scenic road race from Two Harbors to Duluth, Minnesota. After seeing just 150 registered participants that year, the marathon has now grown into the 10^th largest in the United States.

The race got its name from the Duluth-based group of famous Grandma’s Restaurants, the first major sponsor of the marathon. Having now added the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon and William A. Irvin 5K, the race weekend now welcomes more than 20,000 participants to Duluth and the surrounding region each year.

As the popularity of Grandma’s Marathon weekend has grown, our mission has stayed the same – to organize, promote, and deliver annual events and programs that cultivate running, educational, social, and charitable opportunities to our communities.

Grandma’s Marathon-Duluth, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization with a 10-person, full-time staff and a 17-member Board of Directors.

RUNNING USA