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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 201 to 211]
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K. M. from Waukesha, WI
(6/20/2006)
 "Excellent race for a first-timer!" (about: 2006)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Grandma's Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Grandma's was my first marathon and I loved the entire experience! Despite hot conditions and high humidity, I enjoyed the scenic course, the enthusiastic spectators, great volunteers, and well-stocked aid stations. Other runners have whined about the Ultima replenisher--they need to get over it. It doesn't taste great, but it does the job. The city of Duluth loves this marathon and it shows. Yes, the hotel prices are high for the weekend, but it's the one weekend a year they can charge rack rate. Bus transport to the start and finish was very efficient. This is a well-organized event, and I would highly recommend this race to anyone--especially for a first-time marathoner. | |
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T. K. from Plymouth, MN
(6/19/2006)
"Great Marathon by Great Lake" (about: 2006)
4-5 previous marathons
| 2 Grandma's Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I ran Grandma's back in 1990, and returned in 2006 to find that it is still a well organized race. It is a huge deal for the City of Duluth, and the town makes you feel welcomed. There are not many spectators along the first 15 miles or so, but I perfer it that way. No cheering crowd to pump you up into going out too fast. There are plenty of spectators in the later miles when you really need a lift. The course is run mostly along Lake Superior which tends to keep things cool, except this year when it was hot and humid. There are some slight hills along the course, then Lemon Drop Hill at 22, which is nothing more than a glorified speed bump. Otherwise the course is fast. The aid stations are among the best I have seen. At the finish many runners wade into Lake Superior's cold waters to sooth their tired legs. Grandma's is a race I would recommend to anyone who likes a well organized race on a fast course. My only complaint is the price gouging that the hotels engage in. Book your hotel before you register. | |
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D. B. from Virginia
(6/19/2006)
 "Nice town, needs better fluids" (about: 2006)
4-5 previous marathons
| 2 Grandma's Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 Very good marathon. Organization was great, with a wonderful medical crew. I need some help after I finished and they did a top-notch job. However, the last 2 miles are deceiving. The course never seems to end. Additionally, they need to get rid of Ultima and use a better replenishing drink. Ultima is NASTY! | |
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J. P. from Magnolia Texas
(6/19/2006)
 "The long and winding rode was steamy" (about: 2006)
11-50 previous marathons
| 2 Grandma's Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This was my 2nd Grandma's and this was my hottest marathon to date. The course was good, and road construction was finished the night before, which consumed the major road leading into the city. Aid stations with the conditions should have had Gatorade as a choice; what was served didn't help me. I enjoy the people, as they really try to do everything they can to make you feel welcome. Only a few changes I would consider. 1. Allow each runner to use his or her own chip. 2. Start the race earlier; it gets light around 5 a.m. on race day. A 6 or 6:30 start would have been great this year. 3. Serve some sort of electrolyte at the finish. | |
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Jim Reimann from Eagan, Minnesota
(6/19/2006)
"Best Marathon in the Country" (about: 2006)
11-50 previous marathons
| 6+ Grandma's Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I have run Grandma's 7 times - and I never leave Duluth without a feeling that I've just experienced what all runners look for in a marathon. The support, course, and spectators are second to none. This is in anyone's top 10 list for USA marathons and it earns that spot year after year. I'll admit the weather was brutal this year, but how can you blame that on the race directors? They responded with a medical support team at every mile marker - something that you cannot take for granted. If you want to have a great first, second, etc. marathon, put this one on your calendar and get in early (January - it fills fast). I've run marathons from Boston to Maui and this one is still my favorite. | |
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L. B. from Denver, CO
(6/19/2006)
"Hot and humid this year" (about: 2006)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Grandma's Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Ok, here it goes, the good, bad and the ugly. I will start off by saying I'm a 3:46 marathoner and ran a 4:20. The course is a great Boston qualifier, only a few hills, but most of the time you're running flat or downhill. The aid stations are the best, thank God for the ice and sponges or I might not have made it, and you see the mile markers very clearly. The volunteers and spectators were amazing. Good food at the end, and they make it easy to find family and friends. Duluth pulls out the red carpet for the runners that weekend. The entire city is involved. The race is very well organized. GREAT JOB RACE DIRECTORES!! If you're looking for a place to eat you must try Bulldog Pizza, the best!! Now, the bad and ugly. I was not able to qualify for the Boston due to the incredible heat and himidity, heat index was over 90 degrees. So many runners were suffering and so many didn't make their qualifying times, but congrats. to those who did. The black flag was lifted for the first time, but from what I heard the last few years of the race have been very warm. We stayed at the dorms, because the hotels price gouge, and it worked out great, but the rooms were of course too warm, bring the fan. The bus we were on got us to the start 5 min. before race time, not good. The t-shirts were nice, the medal ugly. Had the race been in the mid 50's I would have qualified, like I said, the course is great, it was just too hot. | |
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joe bell from minneapolis, mn
(6/19/2006)
"great place to run, no place to stay" (about: 2006)
11-50 previous marathons
| 4-5 Grandma's Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 The long sleeve t-shirt for finishers is an extra $20.00 cost - and that is a bad thing!!!!!!! | |
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John Hunt from Chattanooga, Tennessee
(6/18/2006)
"They do things right at Grandma's Marathon." (about: 2006)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Grandma's Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I had always heard that Grandma's Marathon was a world-class event and that was certainly the case in 2006. The weather was more hot and humid than normal, but what a great experience. The entire city of Duluth supports this event and the thousands of volunteers and spectators on race day indicate that they genuinely appreciate our being there to participate. I was hoping for a positive running experience and I got that and more. Would certainly recommend it to anyone and hope to return one day myself. | |
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C. M. from S.B. Wisconsin
(3/20/2006)
 "Good race for first marathon." (General Comments)
11-50 previous marathons
| 3 Grandma's Marathons
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 I thought Grandma's was good for a first marathon - but having now run others (I'm nearing 15), I would prefer to begin training a month earlier and do Green Bay! Grandma's course is beautiful, but the roads are not the greatest. The hotel prices are crazy! I could fly to Arizona and stay for a few days and it was STILL cheaper than Grandma's! However, not bad for a first marathon when you don't know any better - and you do have that beautiful Lake Superior scenery to take in for awhile! | |
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Sarah Hunter from St. Paul, Minnesota
(2/15/2006)
 "This is a beautiful net downhill course." (General Comments)
4-5 previous marathons
| 3 Grandma's Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This is a friendly race. The only real drawback is that there aren't many spectators until you hit downtown Duluth at mile 20 or so. |
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