Spectators Celebrate Grandma’s Marathon

Fans of All Ages Cheered Runners Saturday

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Grandma’s Marathon brought thousands of runners traveling down London Road, Saturday.

Hundreds more lined the streets and sidewalks to celebrate and offer words of encouragement to runners.

Spectators shouted at runners complimenting them on their form, pace, and effort.

Chad Peterson of Duluth prepared bacon near the intersections of 43rd and London Rd.

Petersen said he started cooking the bacon five or six years ago and has prepared more and more each year.

Last year Peterson and his family cooked 17 pounds of bacon, this year he cooked 35-pounds.

Demand and excitement for Peterson’s bacon station has grown so great, some half marathoners were upset to find Peterson temporarily out of food. 

Across the street from Peterson’s bacon stand Barb Collette has a troll doll display. 

The idea started off with 10 troll dolls set up to look like they were offering high-fives of encouragement to runners.

Collette’s collection has now grown to 150 troll dolls.

Collete said the trolls serve two purposes.

The first is that they provide an unexpected sight that the runners respond well to.

Secondly, Collette allows young marathon watchers to take the trolls home for a year as long as they promise to return them at the next marathon. 

Collette emphasized that it is the responsibility of the child, not their parents to care for her troll doll.

While Collette and Peterson encouraged and fed runners other spectators, cheered with cow bells and horns.

Some offered runners beer from their own supply, others had runner specific beer set aside.

Others offered runners water, or words, and applause.

No matter how they supported the runners it appeared everyone enjoyed the spectacle that was the 39th Grandma’s Marathon Weekend.