2027 Registration Opens at 7:00 p.m. CT on Thursday, October 1
(DULUTH, MINN.) – Registration for the 2027 Grandma’s Marathon weekend will open Thursday, October 1 at 7:00 p.m. CT, and organizers are ready for anything following a record-breaking year in several categories during the 50th annual race weekend last June.
“We honestly don’t know what to expect coming off last year,” Marketing & Public Relations Director Zach Schneider said, referencing the quickest sellout in the event’s 50-year history last fall. “If the trend of the past three or four years continues, the race could be sold out by midnight.”
It took just over 90 minutes last year for two of the weekend events – the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon and William A. Irvin 5K – to be completely sold out. Grandma’s Marathon, which featured an expanded field in 2026, wasn’t far behind and sold out less than 12 hours after opening.
The best advice for anyone wanting to participate? Be ready to go when the clock strikes 7:00 – or well before that – on October 1.
“You wouldn’t want to be late to the start line of the race, and you don’t want to be late to the start of registration either,” Schneider said. “This has literally become the race before the race. Wait until October 2, and you might be too late.”
The opening pricing tier will be shortened this year and run from October 1-5 for all three races, with individual race capacities and starting entry fees (including all fees and surcharges) listed below:
Grandma’s Marathon (8,000 capacity) – $155
Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon (7,500 capacity) – $145
William A. Irvin 5K (1,750 capacity) – $55
Full Great Grandma’s Challenge (500 capacity) – $240
Half Great Grandma’s Challenge (500 capacity) – $230
All participants will receive both a shirt and finisher medal, as well as a free drink coupon that can be redeemed during race weekend.
NOTE: Great Grandma’s Challenge participants will receive a specialized Challenge medal, as well as the two individual event medals, after finishing their marathon or half marathon on Saturday.
A specially priced participant jacket will also be available for purchase during registration, part of the marathon’s continued partnership with Minnesota-based apparel company Storm Creek.
The 51st annual Grandma’s Marathon weekend is scheduled for June 17-19, and registration for the weekend’s races will open on a first-come, first-served basis at 7:00 p.m. CT on Thursday, October 1. To register or to find more information, please visit grandmasmarathon.com.
“To think of all these people in their areas of the world, logging on at the same time just to be part of Grandma’s Marathon, it’s very humbling,” Schneider said. “Race day is certainly the biggest day of our year, but registration day has become a very close second in terms of excitement.”
HOW CAN I REGISTER BEFORE OCTOBER 1?
If the chaos of registering on October 1 is stressing you out, Grandma’s Marathon does have two options to register for the 50th annual race weekend before the general registration opens.
The first is to become a Charity Runner for the Young Athletes Foundation (YAF). The cost of this option – available only for the marathon and half marathon – is $500, which includes your race entry fee. The net proceeds will benefit the YAF, which has contributed more than $1.8M to the local community’s youth athletics and recreational activities since 1990.
To sign up or to learn more about becoming a YAF Charity Runner (limited to first 50 in both Grandma’s Marathon and the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon), please click HERE.
The second is to join the Grandma’s Marathon Training Group. The cost of this option is $125 until October 1 but does not include your race entry fee. There will be 65+ group runs in the Twin Ports area available to members beginning in January, and training is available at beginner, intermediate, or advanced levels.
Those who sign up for the training group before October 1 will have a guaranteed spot in either the marathon or half marathon (limited to first 200) and will receive registration instructions later in October.
To sign up or to learn more about the Grandma’s Marathon Training Group, please click HERE