200 Early Entries Aim to Raise $100K for Young Athletes Foundation

$500 Entries Available Before October 1 for Grandma’s Marathon, Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon

(DULUTH, MINN.) — October 1 has become an unofficial holiday for Grandma’s Marathon goers, but organizers today announced a new program ahead of the highly anticipated 50^th annual race weekend that will have many prospective participants setting their alarms two weeks earlier.

200 total entries – 100 half marathon and 100 full marathon – will be available starting at 10:00 a.m. CT on Monday, September 15. The cost per entry will be $500, with all proceeds benefiting the marathon’s Young Athletes Foundation (YAF).

“It’s the definition of win-win,” Marketing & Public Relations Director Zach Schneider said. “Our race has never been in higher demand, and we’re seeing faster and faster sellouts. Through this new program, you can skip the stress of registering with 1000s others on October 1 and in turn help us in raising $100,000 for kids and youth organizations in our community.”

The YAF was created in 1990 as the marathon’s charitable branch, and since then it’s donated more than $1.8 million to its five-county area in free kids’ programming, grants, running shoes, scholarships, and more. In the past year alone, the YAF has provided the following:

• 3250+ participants in free kids’ programming and events, including our Wednesday Night and Saturday Morning at the Races series
• $80,000+ in grant money to local teams, organizations, and clubs
• 450+ pairs of free running shoes to high school cross country and track and field athletes
• $5,000 in scholarships to local collegiate and high school runners

“Chances are high that if you have kids active in sports or other recreational activities in this area, they’ve benefited in some way from the YAF,” Schneider said. “This is an exciting chance to more closely combine that mission with that of the marathon, with these 200 people choosing to connect their journey to the finish line with the next generation.”

This new initiative is part of a growing Charity Partners Program for Grandma’s Marathon, which last year raised over $600,000 for its participating organizations. The goal this year – to raise over $1,000,000 for 50 total charities.

All YAF charity participants will also receive the following perks and benefits ahead of and on the 2026 Grandma’s Marathon race weekend:

• (2) finish line bleacher passes for Grandma’s Marathon race weekend
• (2) complimentary entries into 2026 YAF race(s) of your choice
  • Saint Fennessy 4K, Fitger’s 5K, Park Point 5-Miler, Minnesota Mile, or
    Superior Nightmare 5K
• (1) YAF-branded running shirt
• 20% off entry fee to Grandma’s Marathon Training Group
• 25% off single order at ASICS.com
• 25% off single order at Grandma’s Marathon Online Store
• Fundraising resources and support, including personal fundraising page

The early entries benefiting the YAF will be available on a first-come, first-served basis starting at 10:00 a.m. CT on Monday, September 15. Registration instructions and more information can be found at grandmasmarathon.com.