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☰
Grandma's Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Grandma's Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.5 
Organization 4.7 
Spectators 4.4
Number of comments: 298 [displaying comments 141 to 151]
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A. S. from Roberts, WI
(6/23/2008)
"Great race!!" (about: 2008)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Grandma's Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my third marathon. By far Grandma's has the best water stops and entertainment at the end of the race. Water stops were well stocked with water, Ultima, wet sponges, and ice. They were easy to get through without stopping. My boyfriend was a spectator, and this was his favorite race to watch because it is a huge party at the finish line. As for the course, there were small rolling hills throughout; I'm not a hill runner by any means, but these were no problem whatsoever. This would be a great race for a first-timer or an experienced runner. My only complaint is that the expo is too crowded. | |
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L. B. from USA
(6/23/2008)
"Perfect weather; great course" (about: 2008)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Grandma's Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 This is a great race. The weather was beautiful, with a slight breeze off of Lake Superior. The course is generally flat, with slight rolling hills. Organization was well-done. | |
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Grannie Annie Singer from Suffern, New York
(6/23/2008)
"Grannie Annie Loved Grandma's Marathon" (about: 2008)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Grandma's Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was the 49th state for this 50-State Marathoner. You can find less expensive rooms about 8 miles from downtown. I loved the bus ride from the Convention Center to the start of the marathon. It was very well organized. Chills and a few tears. Hey, listen, this is my last state before completing 50 at the start line with about 8,000. Music was great - from "Shaken Up, Baby" to the actual start music: "Chariots of Fire." Very classy. The route is very scenic. Lake Superior with the sun shinning was beautiful. Volunteers had water and ice. Yes, the temperature was over 70, and sports drinks could not have been more pleasant and helpful. Spectators cheered all the way. Loved finish through old downtown Duluth and then into Canal Park. Plenty of food was left for us who finish in the back of the pack. Cute young girls were giving huge strawberries at mile 24. Thanks - delicious. The expo was excellent, and the speakers were interesting. The finisher's shirt is a keeper. The medal... WOW. From one granny to Grandma's Marathon, thanks a million. I would come back to do another half or marathon in Duluth. | |
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D. Z. from Philly
(6/23/2008)
"What a Blast" (about: 2008)
4-5 previous marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Run this one. Early this year I decided I wanted to run a marathon in late spring/early summer. Looking over the available races, Grandma's seemed a nice fit. I had run the Miami Marathon in January and wanted to try something different. The reviews of Grandma's promised beautiful and fast course supported by a strong organization. I can report that these promises are well founded: Grandma's is great. The only real problem with the race is that it has the potential to be hot, and there is very little shade. As you can see from other reviews, '06 and '07 were very hot. While not as bad, '08 was hotter than ideal. I finished before 11:00, and it was probably around 80 from mile 17 on. Overall, I think the heat may have added a couple minutes to my time. However, of the four marathons I've run, Grandma's course is by far the best. The course is beautiful. Most of the course is run on a scenic roadway that jogs along the North Shore of Lake Superior. When you're not getting breathtaking views of the lake, your surrounded by picturesque forest. Then, at around mile 20, you get into town, where the spectators are great. In my opinion, the course is fast. (Personally, I turned in a 20-minute PR.) That is not to say that it's pancake flat. The first 21 miles of the course has gentle rolling hills. Not one of these hills is enough to interrupt your pace. Prior to the race, I had heard about Lemon Drop Hill, which is at mile 22. Bottom line: a hill this small should not have a name. Two facts contribute to its legend. First, you can see it coming for about 3/4 of a mile. Second, it looks worse than it is as you approach because you come at it on a downhill. Once you get to the base of it, however, you realize just how insignificant it is. And once you're over Lemon Drop Hill, the race is almost all gently downhill and flat. Everyone involved with the race, both runners and spectators, are super friendly. For example, I had an opportunity to meet and speak with Doug Kurtis, who narrated a bus tour of the course the day before the race. For those of you who don't know who he is, and I admit that I didn't, he's a real star and credit to the sport. One of his accolades is that he holds the record for most sub 2:20 marathons - 76 I think. He's a great guy, and the fact that he's involved with and accessible at Grandma's Marathon just makes the race that much cooler. | |
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Patricia Karl from Mukwonago Wi.
(6/22/2008)
"Well organized and great finish area." (about: 2008)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Grandma's Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 There were so many great volunteers, and lots of special treatment along the course. I loved the yellow balloons as mile markers - I could see them and was encouraged. There was great food at the end to refuel with properly. What a nice marathon! I just had problems handling the inclines, but I still finished! | |
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K. W. from Houston, TX
(6/22/2008)
"Fantastic!" (about: 2008)
11-50 previous marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my first Grandma's Marathon, and I loved it! Beautiful scenery, great organization, and friendly fans and volunteers. The course has rolling hills and is on a state highway with a view of Lake Superior. If I could change one thing about Grandma's, it would be to have an earlier start (say 5:30 or 6 a.m. instead of 7:30 a.m.) because by the end of the marathon you are running in direct sunlight with no shade and the temp approaches the 80s. (The temperature at the start is in the 50s, so you have to take into account the temp increase and plan your race strategy accordingly - or crash and burn like I did. However, considering that they transport all of the half and full runners to the start line, this may not be feasible since buses would have to start running around 3 a.m.) This is probably in my list of top 3 marathons. Great job, Grandma's! | |
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Jonathan Lund from Duluth, Minnesota, USA
(6/21/2008)
"This race keeps getting better!" (about: 2008)
11-50 previous marathons
| 6+ Grandma's Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Just completed 2008 Grandma's about an hour ago. This was a perfect day; cool breeze off Lake Superior, right number of spectators, plenty of aid stations and just a good flow of people. As always, many of the local residents get involved in volunteering or cheering the runners on. Thanks! | |
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L. S. from Iowa City, IA
(4/7/2008)
"Grandma's 2007" (about: 2007)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Grandma's Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 This was my first marathon in 2007. Overall I had a good experience, although I was not expecting it to be so hot! I picked this one due to the average starting temps in the 50s, but it was at least 70 by the 7 a.m. start. I did not adjust my pace accordingly, and ended up suffering as a result. I was still able to finish, but I was practically crawling from mile 17 on. Regardless, it is a beautiful course and a well organized marathon. The course is relatively flat with some rolling hills, mostly tree-lined with a good view of the lake. The expo and after-race party were great. Runners beware: Ultima is a horrible sports drink, and I actually packed my own Gatorade powder into little plastic baggies and mixed it with water as I ran. I hope the race directors get the hint soon and make the switch! | |
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B. C. from Minneapolis, MN
(11/26/2007)
"Grandmas!" (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 6+ Grandma's Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Great Marathon. Duluth really does a great job to welcome marathoners - - except for the hotel prices. Great run with fantastic organization. The last 2 years have had tougher conditions. | |
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S. W. from St. Paul, MN
(9/15/2007)
"Great marathon; mediocre shirt" (about: 2007)
4-5 previous marathons
| 2 Grandma's Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Grandma's Marathon is truly the annual Duluth event. Although hot this year, the fans were great and the organization was as always fantastic. Let's get some better shirts though. Mine is a one-wear and done. My wife enjoys wearing it, though. |
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