Record-Breaking Start for Grandma’s Marathon 50th Anniversary

DULUTH, Minn. — The road to the 50th annual Grandma’s Marathon kicked off at record speed Wednesday night, as registration for the 2026 race weekend shattered previous records.

Within just 90 minutes of opening at 7 p.m., four of the five events had completely sold out — all faster than ever before. The Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon reached its 7,000-runner capacity in just 75 minutes. The William A. Irvin 5K (1,500 entries) sold out in 106 minutes, while the Full and Half Great Grandma’s Challenges, each capped at 500 runners, filled in 92 and 48 minutes, respectively.

Meanwhile, Grandma’s Marathon — the main event — had fewer than 1,250 of its 9,500 entries remaining less than two hours after registration opened. After selling out in early November last year, organizers say this year’s race is on pace to break that record as well.

More than 17,500 runners registered across all events on day one, with over 9,000 people waiting online when registration opened.

For those who missed out, there’s still a way in: charity entry. With 50 official charity partners marking the event’s 50th year, Grandma’s Marathon hopes to raise $1 million for local and regional causes.

The 50th Grandma’s Marathon weekend takes place in June 2026.