Elite Athletes

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS!

Think you have what it takes to be a champion?

We are proud to welcome an elite field for both Grandma’s Marathon and the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon each year on one of the fastest and most scenic racecourses in the United States.

Want to be breaking the tape in Canal Park? Put Grandma’s Marathon weekend on your calendar, and we’ll see you at the start line!

If you have any questions, please contact our Elite Athlete & Administration Director Sarah Culver via email at [email protected].

  • Boston Marathon Qualifier

    The 2023 Grandma's Marathon saw 1,262 runners finish with a qualifying time for the Boston Marathon. On average, more than 14.5% of Grandma’s Marathon finishers qualify for Boston.

  • Olympic Trials Qualifier

    In 2022 & 2023, there were 97 participants of Grandma’s Marathon and the Garry Bkorklund Half Marathon that qualified for the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials.

  • PRs Galore

    Usually with cooler temperatures and a helping tailwind, it's typical that Grandma's Marathon sees lots of PRs on race day. Since 2018, more than 7.5% of all finishers have run sub-3:00:00 pace in the 26.2-mile distance in Duluth.

2024 ELITE ATHLETE DETAILS

Elite athlete registration for the 2024 Grandma’s Marathon race weekend are now open. To apply for an elite entry, please see the directions below and contact our Elite Athlete & Administration Director Sarah Culver via email at [email protected].

HOW TO ENTER AS AN ELITE RUNNER
To be considered for an elite entry into Grandma’s Marathon or the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon, please submit your updated running resume highlighting your best performances during the past two years (half marathon distance or longer).

A qualifying time must have been run on a certified course within two years prior to Grandma’s Marathon. Consideration for a race entry and assistance on any level is handled case-by-case and is entirely at the discretion of Grandma’s Marathon staff.

Please send your running resume any time after January 1 to our Elite Athlete & Administration Director Sarah Culver via email at [email protected].

GRANDMA'S MARATHON PRIZE MONEY

GRANDMA’S MARATHON — MEN & WOMEN (OPEN DIVISION)
1st Place – $10,000
2nd Place – $7,500
3rd Place – $5,000
4th Place – $4,000
5th Place – $3,500
6th Place – $3,000
7th Place – $2,500
8th Place – $2,000
9th Place – $1,500
10th Place – $1,000

 

GRANDMA’S MARATHON — NON-BINARY (OPEN DIVISION)
1st Place – $500
2nd Place – $250
3rd Place – $100

 

GRANDMA’S MARATHON MEN & WOMEN (MASTERS DIVISION)
1st Place – $2,500
2nd Place – $1,500
3rd Place – $1,000

 

GRANDMA’S MARATHON MEN & WOMEN (WHEELCHAIR DIVISION)
1st Place – $3,000
2nd Place – $2,000
3rd Place – $1,500
4th Place – $1,000
5th Place – $800

GRANDMA'S MARATHON TIME INCENTIVES

GRANDMA’S MARATHON — MEN (OPEN DIVISION)
sub-2:08 – $5,000
sub-2:09 – $3,000
sub-2:10 – $2,500
sub-2:11 – $2,000
sub-2:12 – $1,500
sub-2:13 – $1,000
sub-2:14 – $900
sub-2:15 – $800
sub-2:16 – $700
sub-2:17 – $600
sub-2:18 – $400
sub-2:19 – $200

 

GRANDMA’S MARATHON — WOMEN (OPEN DIVISION)
sub-2:27 – $5,000
sub-2:28 – $3,000
sub-2:29 – $2,500
sub-2:30 – $2,000
sub-2:31 – $1,500
sub-2:32 – $1,000
sub-2:33 – $900
sub-2:34 – $800
sub-2:35 – $700
sub-2:36 – $600
sub-2:37 – $400
sub-2:38 – $200

 

GRANDMA’S MARATHON — MEN (MASTERS DIVISION)
sub-2:20 – $500

 

GRANDMA’S MARATHON — WOMEN (MASTERS DIVISION)
sub-2:40 – $500

 

GRANDMA’S MARATHON — MEN (WHEELCHAIR DIVISION)
sub-1:30 – $500
sub-1:32 – $350
sub-1:34 – $150

 

GRANDMA’S MARATHON — WOMEN (WHEELCHAIR DIVISION)
sub-1:43 – $500
sub-1:47 – $350
sub-1:51 – $150

GARRY BJORKLUND HALF MARATHON PRIZE MONEY

GARRY BJORKLUND HALF MARATHON — MEN & WOMEN (OPEN DIVISION)
1st Place – $3,000
2nd Place – $2,000
3rd Place – $1,500
4th Place – $1,000
5th Place – $800
6th Place – $700
7th Place – $600
8th Place – $500
9th Place – $400
10th Place – $300

 

GARRY BJORKLUND HALF MARATHON — NON-BINARY (OPEN DIVISION)
1st Place – $150
2nd Place – $100
3rd Place – $75

 

GARRY BJORKLUND HALF MARATHON MEN & WOMEN (MASTERS DIVISION)
1st Place – $1,000
2nd Place – $750
3rd Place – $500

Non-binary athletes interested in applying for the elite field should contact Elite Athlete & Administration Director Sarah Culver
via email at [email protected] to discuss available options.

PARIS BOUND!

Grandma’s Marathon is proud to support Dakotah Lindwurm (pictured right), who is one of the three American women to be representing the United States in the marathon event at the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris.

Lindwurm is a two-time Grandma’s Marathon champion (2021 and 2022) and has become a fan favorite in Duluth, known city-wide for the smile she carries from start line to finish line.

A native Minnesotan and member of Minnesota Distance Elite, Lindwurm ran a time of 2:25:31 to finish third at the Olympic Trials and claim the final spot on the 2024 Olympic team.

She was one of 147 athletes competing at this year’s Trials who had competed previously in Duluth, with 60 of those attaining their qualifying time at the 2022 or 2023 Grandma’s Marathon weekend.

OLYMPIC TRIALS QUALIFIER

In 2022 & 2023, there were 97 participants of Grandma’s Marathon and the Garry Bkorklund Half Marathon that qualified for the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials.

The 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials will be held on February 3 in Orlando, Fla.

The qualifying window for the 2028 U.S. Olympic Team Trials will open in 2026 (marathon) and 2027 (half marathon).

BOSTON MARATHON QUALIFIER

In 2023, there were 1,262 participants (18.9% of finishers) of Grandma’s Marathon that qualified for the Boston Marathon, based on the current year’s B.A.A. Qualifying Standards.

In its 47-year history, Grandma’s Marathon has produced more than 32,000 qualifying times for the Boston Marathon. On average, more than 14.5% of Grandma’s Marathon finishers qualify to run in Boston.

ABBOTT AGE GROUP QUALIFIER

The AbbottWMM Wanda Age Group World Rankings comprise a one-year qualifying period during which athletes in nine separate age groups can compete in over 50 marathons across the world to earn ranking points. The top ranked runners in each age group will be invited to the AbbottWMM Wanda Age Group World Championships.

NOTE: The AbbottWMM Wanda Age Group World Rankings and Championships currently do not offer a non-binary option for qualification but are keeping this under annual review and will continue to monitor runner data and growth to create meaningful competition.