50th Grandma’s Marathon Anticipation Shatters Registration Record

DULUTH, Minn.–Registrations have hit an all-time high as anticipation builds for the 50th Grandma’s Marathon.

For a process that normally takes around a month, last night alone over 19,000 people have signed up to cross this very start line.

“To think that at seven o’clock our time yesterday, there were 10s of 1000s of people from around the world sitting at their computers on their phones, trying to do the exact same thing, and that’s get to Duluth and get to Grandma’s marathon. That’s just a really cool thing,” said Zach Schneider, Marketing and PR Director, Grandma’s Marathon.

This event also gives back to the community.

For the racers signing up going forward, proceeds will benefit over 50 organizations.

“It means good things for probably about 1,000 more runners that we have space for through the charity partners program, so 1,000 people can get into the race, which is great for them, but also if we can raise a million dollars for those really meaningful organizations that do-good work for us, that’s good as well,” explained Schneider.

But until then, organizers are just grateful for the endless support.

“In 1977 we stand on the shoulders of a lot of those people throughout the years that have put in the work to lay the foundation and the staff that’s here right now, we get to be part of the celebration, right?” said Schneider. “When you talk about the speed of the sell out, it puts us again on a list with other big races like New York City and Chicago and Boston. We’re in that conversation as a really small town and comparatively small race, and so the interest is, again, quite humbling,”

Before racers can gear up to cross the finish line, Grandma’s organizers told FOX 21 that they have plenty of tricks up their sleeves to help celebrate this milestone.