2026 Grandma's Marathon Weekend Races

Register BEFORE OCTOBER 1 for Grandma's Marathon or the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon! Skip the lines and support the Young Athletes Foundation. For just $500, you'll secure your spot at the starting line in 2026 and help ensure all the kids in the Northland have a pathway to a healthy and active lifestyle.

YOUNG ATHLETES FOUNDATION The Young Athletes Foundation (YAF) is the charitable branch of Grandma’s Marathon and was created in 1990 to assist with the promotion and development of healthy and active lifestyles for youth throughout northeastern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin, specifically Carlton, Cook, Douglas, Lake, and St. Louis Counties. Since its inception, the YAF has donated more than $1.8 million to the community’s youth athletic, recreational, and nonprofit organizations. Donations help fund 10 free kids running events, 2 collegiate scholarships, our high school running shoe program, and our grant program that supports youth athletic programming. CHARITY RUNNER BENEFITS (2) finish line bleacher passes for Grandma’s Marathon race weekend (2) complimentary entries into 2026 YAF race(s) of your choice (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

Please note: The fair market value (FMV) of the race is entry is estimated to be $155 (full marathon) and $145 (half marathon). Accordingly, $345 (full) and $355 (half) of each contribution is tax-deductible as a charitable contribution.

Not afraid of a little friendly competition? Come run one of the most scenic road races in the United States while, at the same time, building community within your company. Gather your co-workers and sign up for the Corporate Team Challenge, which offers your group a chance to work together in pursuit of a common goal – not to mention, bragging rights for the next year!

We’ve got the right distance for everyone – register your team for Grandma’s Marathon, the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon, or the William A. Irvin 5K – so get signed up and get to training!

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?

• Any for-profit or non-profit corporation or municipality is eligible to participate.
• All full- and part-time employees who are registered for either Grandma’s Marathon, the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon or the William A Irvin 5K are eligible to participate.
• Non-employees (family members, friends, etc.) are not eligible to participate.

HOW TO REGISTER:

Each team must designate a Team Captain, who will be responsible for creating the team and basic team management tasks. NOTE: Creating a corporate team DOES NOT officially register the team captain for the race.

All team members, including the team captain, must officially register for Grandma’s Marathon, the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon or the William A. Irvin in order to participate in the Corporate Team Challenge.

FOR TEAM CAPTAINS

1. The Team Captain must first create a team. This feature will be available prior to race registration launch on October 1. To create a team, select the “Register” button on the right.
2. Once signed in, the Team Captain will select “Create Grandma’s Marathon Corporate Team”, “Create Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon Corporate Team, ” OR "Create William A. Irvin 5K Corporate Team.
3. The Team Captain will complete the registration form. In the section titled “Add Registrant to a Team,” please select “Create a New Team.”
4. The Team Captain will name the team. IMPORTANT: If your corporation or municipality plans to have a team for both Grandma’s Marathon and the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon, please indicate this in your team’s name (i.e. TeamDuluth 26.2 and TeamDuluth 13.1).
5. The Team Captain will submit payment for the team.
6. The Team Captain will share the team’s name with fellow team members.

FOR TEAM MEMBERS

1. Starting at 7 p.m. on October 1, team members and team captains can officially register for Grandma's Marathon, the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon and the William A. Irvin 5K.
2. Team members and captains will complete the race registration form. In the section titled “Add Participant to a Team,” please select “Yes, add to an existing team.”
3. Select the team name given to you by your Team Captain and follow the remaining prompts. NOTE: There is no fee to JOIN a team, only to create one.