Anyone doing it this year? I'm thinking about it. Never done this one before. How are the crowds and parking in Duluth for this one?

It attracts enough people that you might have trouble booking accommodations from Duluth-Superior up past Two Harbors. All the people stay along the race course, and downtown Duluth is a zoo on race day. I’ve passed through on the freeway the day before during pre-race activities with no problem, but haven’t been around Canal Park or the DECC on that day.

the couple times I did it, it filled up in January and I had to get lodging about that time too. For spectators, they probably have to pick a spot and stay there since it's a point-to-point and would prob be hard to make your way from one spot to another. The race itself is fantastic, well-organized with a beautiful course. If you stay at a hotel/resort, there are likely close-by shuttle buses for you to use before & after the race.

I would sign up late so I would probably stay well out of Duluth and just drive to one of the bus pick up sites the day of the race. I would be coming out of the Q just before the race so I will have my canoe on my vehicle. Would this be safe in a hotel parking lot during the race?

I'll be running. I'm lucky; my sister lives between Two Harbors and Duluth. Last year she dropped me off and I returned by bus. Usually I park at a hotel in Two Harbors and take the 5 minute bus ride to the start. Avoid driving to Duluth as it's busy and there are many detours. After Grandma's I'm heading to the BW. I'll have my canoe on my car. Buy a lock if you're comfortable leaving it unattended.

I'm running it, this will be my fifth year in a row. My second and third fastest marathons were there in 2014 and 2015. In the past I've registered late and stayed in the UMD dorms; this year I registered in October and I'm staying in the Comfort Suites in Canal Park.

It's a good time. The course is fast and very runner friendly, but the rolling terrain isn't "flat" the way some people think it is.

I like to train hard for Grandma's, then hit Fitger's right after the race. I spend two weeks barely running and eating too much, then I head in to the Boundary Waters. It's a nice way to prepare for a trip up north!

I'm running the half. I've done it maybe a half-dozen times, but not in the last 7 years! It's a great course, with good spectators most of the way.

Not sure if things have changed, but I always remember that a lot of the runners would go shower and take a nap, then come back down to the saturday night party.

TominMpls: "I'm running it, this will be my fifth year in a row. My second and third fastest marathons were there in 2014 and 2015. In the past I've registered late and stayed in the UMD dorms; this year I registered in October and I'm staying in the Comfort Suites in Canal Park.


It's a good time. The course is fast and very runner friendly, but the rolling terrain isn't "flat" the way some people think it is.


I like to train hard for Grandma's, then hit Fitger's right after the race. I spend two weeks barely running and eating too much, then I head in to the Boundary Waters. It's a nice way to prepare for a trip up north!"

What? You didn't have a personal best in 2016? lol Did you finish that year? That was brutally HOT!!! I was drinking 1L per mile and it was hardly enough. Only black flagged race I have ever or will ever run again.

Sadly not running it this year. I have a couple times though. It's well organized. I just hate the gouging all the hotels do that weekend.......$250/night with a minimum of 2 night reservation.....for a room that normally runs $80.....

The year I ran it which was several years ago I camped out at a Forest Service Campground the week before but then I somehow scored a room at Americinn right by the start line in 2 harbors at the last minute. I liked the course and the spectator support was fantastic. Nice party in Canal Park afterward. My wife parked our truck with a canoe on it somewhere along the street on a hill and she was pretty mad because she didn't like driving my truck with stick shift.

pamonster: "What? You didn't have a personal best in 2016? lol Did you finish that year? That was brutally HOT!!! I was drinking 1L per mile and it was hardly enough. Only black flagged race I have ever or will ever run again. "

Fortunately, I got in just before they put out the black flag, so technically it was "only" a red flag race for me. Although it was my slowest Grandma's to that point, it was also my best place finish, so I guess I did less badly in the heat than others. It's also the only time I've ever crossed a finish line and gone to the med tent, however.

Hopefully this year it's nice and cool!

Good luck to you guys doing it this year! I hope to return one day, though right now I'm in pathetic shape.
Last time I was there, they had some good bands playing the evening party after the race - GB Leighton and Sister Hazel.

Thanks or the info. Which hotel on the shuttle bus line is south of town or the farthest from the crowds? I will need to hit the road right after finishing if I do this.

I don’t think it will help much time wise but: "Buses marked “WEST DULUTH/PROCTOR/SPIRIT MOUNTAIN” return to: Motel 6, Comfort Inn-West, Super 8, AmericInn, Best Western Plus – Spirit Mt., Duluth Spirit Mountain Inn – America’s Best Value Inn." Full info on race webpage.

TominMpls: "

pamonster: "What? You didn't have a personal best in 2016? lol Did you finish that year? That was brutally HOT!!! I was drinking 1L per mile and it was hardly enough. Only black flagged race I have ever or will ever run again. "

Fortunately, I got in just before they put out the black flag, so technically it was "only" a red flag race for me. Although it was my slowest Grandma's to that point, it was almost my best place finish, so I guess I did less badly in the heat than others. It's also the only time I've ever crossed a finish line and gone to the med tent, however.


Hopefully this year it's nice and cool!


"

Nice work! You're obviously a lot quicker runner than I :)
Although I did lose about 30 minutes stopping with my wife who eventually went to the medic tent just past mile 13 and called it quits. I was feeling good prior that on-ramp near mile 20 where I believe I took the wrong on-ramp and ended up on the surface of the sun.

Yes, hope for much better weather this year! Wish I was going again!

pamonster: "I was feeling good prior that on-ramp near mile 20 where I believe I took the wrong on-ramp and ended up on the surface of the sun. "

Man, I hear that. In previous years I hadn't noticed how exposed and lacking shade the course is. Of course, in previous years I couldn't even see the lake, it was so foggy. Grandma's conditions are truly a roll of the dice.

Good luck all chasing grandma.

TominMpls: "

pamonster: "I was feeling good prior that on-ramp near mile 20 where I believe I took the wrong on-ramp and ended up on the surface of the sun. "

Man, I hear that. In previous years I hadn't noticed how exposed and lacking shade the course is. Of course, in previous years I couldn't even see the lake, it was so foggy. Grandma's conditions are truly a roll of the dice."

I've been running Grandma's for some years now and every year I end up with half my body tanned or burned from the sun.