Gearing Up for Grandma's

Rachel Barger has proudly been a lifelong "back of the pack" marathoner, but in the buildup to the 2025 Grandma's Marathon she decided to do something she'd never done before.She decided to really care about her time.Rachel is teaming up this training cycle with her father, Joe, who has run 35 full marathons in his life, including 24 of those in Duluth. Together, they will be trying to shave nearly an hour off Rachel's exisiting PR this June.We check in with them both near the start of their journey to talk about how this goal came to be and discuss the work needed to accomplish it, together.To connect with Rachel or any of our other Grambassadors in the buildup to our 2025 Grandma's Marathon weekend, please see below:Rachel Barger   - Instagram @rae.barger   - Tik Tok @run.rae.runMeet All of Our 2025 Grambassadors 

Dakotah Lindwurm crossed the finish line in Paris as the 12th overall woman and top American in the 2024 Olympic Marathon, solidifying her spot at or near the top of United States distance running.Lindwurm joins the podcast to discuss the strategy behind her race, which included (unintentionally, perhaps) leading the field just past the halfway point. She shares details of her life and preparation in Paris for the biggest race of her life, and she also details what might be next in her still growing career --- hint, 2025 Grandma's Marathon seems to be written in pen, not pencil.The Minnesotan admits she can't call herself an underdog at almost any race she enters from here on out --- that includes the New York City Marathon just under three months from when the episode was recorded. Lindwurm does say her life continues to change, but it's changed less after the Olympics themselves than it did after she made the team in February.Change is good, though, especially it's because you're now on everyone's radar.

2024 US Olympian Dakotah Lindwurm joins the podcast to relive her experience finishing third at the US Olympic Trials in February and share more about her preparation for the upcoming Summer Games in Paris.A two-time Grandma's Marathon champion, Lindwurm this year will be competing in the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon as part of her training plan for the Olympics. She will also be making several public appearances during race weekend, giving fans a chance to meet her before she departs for the Olympics this summer.In 2021, Lindwurm became the first Minnesota woman to win Grandma's Marathon since Janis Klecker in 1987, and then one year later she returned to become just the eighth repeat women's champion and first since Sarah Kiptoo in 2016.Lindwurm has been a fan favorite each time she's competed in Duluth, thanks in large part to the smile she proudly displays from start to finish.

Riley Saunders is one of our 2024 Grambassadors, selected from a large group of applicants to share his passion and knowledge of our race weekend.Saunders joined the podcast to talk about the mental aspect behind distance running, sharing his story of going from the 5K and 10K races to full marathons and beyond. Saunders shares what worked for him in overcoming the mental barrier to running longer distances, and he offers some tips and tricks for those participating in this year's Grandma's Marathon.To connect with and/or follow Saunders in the buildup to our 2024 Grandma's Marathon weekend, please see below:Riley Saunders   - Instagram @riley_ders96

Michelle Ziebarth is one of our 2024 Grambassadors, selected from a large group of applicants to share her passion and knowledge of our race weekend.Ziebarth was diagnosed in the mid 2010s with Chron's Disease and has run in Duluth several years since that time, battling and dealing with the complications that come along with the diagnosis.She joined the podcast to talk about the many areas of accessibility when it comes to endurance sports and special events - from wheelchairs to other special needs - and the goal of every participant being able to stay true to themselves while at an event like Grandma's Marathon.To connect with and/or follow Ziebarth in the buildup to our 2024 Grandma's Marathon weekend, please see below:Michelle Ziebarth   - Instagram @michellesgottherunz

Fresh off top 10 finishes at this year's Boston Marathon and London Marathon, Fesemyer returns to Duluth this summer as the defending champion in the women's wheelchair division. Having raced to a 1:47:20 finish last year, Fesemyer broke the tape for the first time at Grandma's Marathon and will try this year to become the sixth woman to have two or more wheelchair titles in Duluth.She speaks on why the excitement and energy of Duluth makes Grandma's Marathon her favorite event as well as her Illinois racing team, which includes four-time women's wheelchair champion Susannah Scaroni.

Hannah Koch is one of our 2024 Grambassadors, selected from a large group of applicants to share her passion and knowledge of our race weekend.Hogan joined the podcast to talk about her first-ever marathon, sharing tips and tricks for those participants set to reach the start line for the first time this June at Grandma's Marathon. Koch shares advice for the buildup to race day and also talks about some of the mistakes she made and things she wished she knew.To connect with and/or follow Koch in the buildup to our 2024 Grandma's Marathon weekend, please see below:Hannah Koch   - Instagram @hannah_koch_

Chris Lundstrom is going to Paris!As head coach of Minnesota Distance Elite, Lundstrom gets to work with 2x Grandma's Marathon champion Dakotah Lindwurm, who qualified for the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics via a third place finish at the US Olympic Trials in February.Not only does Lundstrom work with Lindwurm, he also oversees the training programs for several of the up-and-coming American distance runners from the team's home base in the Twin Cities of Minnesota.He joined the podcast to talk more about his team, formerly called Team USA Minnesota, and about the next few months as he and Lindwurm get ready to take on the Olympic marathon course in August.

Carrie Rodman is one of our 2024 Grambassadors, selected from a large group of applicants to share her passion and knowledge of our race weekend.Rodman joined the podcast to talk about the dirty, three letter words in running - DNF and DNS. It's a reality in marathoning that not every registered participant will make it to the starting line, and not everyone who starts will finish.Rodman talks about her experience being unable to start a race she had signed up and trained for, and she shares her memories of almost dropping out of a race. Neither is a place anyone wants to be, but she shares how she was able to process her emotions during a diffcult time in her running career.To connect with and/or follow Rodman in the buildup to our 2024 Grandma's Marathon weekend, please see below:Carrie Rodman   - Instagram @cdrodman

Shannon Hogan is one of our 2024 Grambassadors, selected from a large group of applicants to share her passion and knowledge of our race weekend.Hogan joined the podcast to talk about her experience with the mental health benefits of running. In this episode, she talks about finding therapy through running and also how to combat the days where training seems too much. IMPORTANT: Hogan is not licensed mental health professional, and this episode is meant to be purely experiential. If you're in need of medical help, please contact your doctor.To connect with and/or follow Hogan in the buildup to our 2024 Grandma's Marathon weekend, please see below:Shannon Hogan   - Instagram @runningoffbeet

Sarah Stuhr is one of our 2024 Grambassadors, selected from a large group of applicants to share his passion and knowledge of our race weekend.Stuhr was the first-ever non-binary champion of our Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon, finishing that race in a time of 2:56:58.They joined the podcast to talk about the importance of inclusivity in running, specifically pertaining to non-binary and transgender participants. Stuhr details the important work they've seen done in the past five years, including the addition of official non-binary categories at races like Grandma's Marathon, and also offers a current status of where they believe we are as a running community.To connect with and/or follow Stuhr in the buildup to our 2024 Grandma's Marathon weekend, please see below:Sarah Stuhr   - Instagram @stuhritup

Two-time Grandma's Marathon champion Dakotah Lindwurm joins the podcast to talk about her training leading into the 2024 US Olympic Trials, where she will be one of the athletes expected to compete for a spot in the Paris Games.In 2021, Lindwurm became the first Minnesota woman to win Grandma's Marathon since Janis Klecker in 1987, and then one year later she returned to become just the eighth repeat women's champion and first since Sarah Kiptoo in 2016.Lindwurm has been a fan favorite each time she's competed in Duluth, thanks in large part to the smile she proudly displays from start to finish. She's also been an outspoken advocate of the event itself, and she plans to be back in some capacity this June following the results of the Olympic Trials.

Nadir Yusuf made his marathon debut at the 2023 Grandma's Marathon, running a time of 2:15:26 that was good for 13th place overall and qualified him for the 2024 US Olympic Trials.Yusuf, from Willmar, Minn., attended Minnesota State Moorhead, where he competed mostly in middle and long distance track events. He was a multi-time conference champion, a two-time All-American, and he still holds several school records for the Dragons.In February, though, he'll be running the race of his life. A race he knows can change the course of his career, if he's able to snag one of the available Olympic spots in the men's marathon.He joins the podcast to talk about why he made the transition to the marathon in the first place and his training for the Trials, which right now he's doing side-by-side with his day job and graduate school.

Jacob Oak is one of our 2024 Grambassadors, selected from a large group of applicants to share his passion and knowledge of our race weekend.Oak works as a personal fitness and running coach in Minnesota's Twin Cities area, and he watched several of his clients set new personal bests in Duluth last summer while he himself set a 10-minute PR at the 2023 Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon.One of Oak's passions with people he coaches is exploring the mental aspect of running, specficially the "why" behind the "how." He joins the podcast to discuss the benefits of "finding your why" before race day and offers some helpful advice on how to get connected with the true meaning behind your desire to run.To connect with and/or follow Oak in the buildup to our 2024 Grandma's Marathon weekend, please see below:Jacob Oak   - Instagram @coachjacoboak

Lauren Hagans made her marathon debut at the 2023 Grandma's Marathon, and her first-ever race was certainly one to remember. Hagans beat out two-time defending champion Dakotah Lindwurm to win the women's crown, finishing her debut with a time of 2:25:55.That time also qualified Hagans for the 2024 US Olympic Trials, which will be held February 3 in Orlando, Fla. Hagans lives and trains in Flagstaff, and she's excited for the opportunity to compete for one of three women's spots in the 2024 Paris Games.

Ally Colton is one of our 2024 Grambassadors, selected from a large group of applicants to share his passion and knowledge of our race weekend.Colton was in Duluth for the first time for the 2023 Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon, setting a new PR in the process. She's running that race again in June 2024, hoping to again have a successful weekend in northern Minnesota.One of Colton's passion alongside running is raising money for charity, as she's been an official charity runner in several big races like New York City and Boston. She's found that charity running can not only be your ticket into some of these big races, but it also deepens the connection you have during training and on race day.On this episode, she shares some of her experiences in choosing the right charity and then advice on how to most effectively raise the money required by the organization/race.To connect with and/or follow Colton in the buildup to our 2024 Grandma's Marathon weekend, please see below:Ally Colton   - Instagram @run.ally.run   - TikTok @allylouise

Tony Loyd is one of our 2024 Grambassadors, selected from a large group of applicants to share his passion and knowledge of our race weekend.Loyd began running late in life and, to himself, said he'd never do it again after running his first-ever marathon in 2001. Well, Tony lied to himself and as since on running and on marathoning -- he qualified for his first Boston Marathon in 2005 and has run several other big races, including the 2013 New York City Marathon.He joins the podcast for a second time, this time to share some end-of-year lessons learned that he hopes will be relatable, and possibly even inspiring, to those prepping for the coming 2024 race weekend in June.To connect with and/or follow Loyd in the buildup to our 2024 Grandma's Marathon weekend, please see below:Tony Loyd   - Instagram @anthonyloyd    - Twitter @TonyLoyd

Shawn Jarvis and Jamie Vesel are two of our 2024 Grambassadors, selected from a large group of applicants to share their passion and knowledge of our race weekend.Both Jarvis and Vesel have previously participated in Grandma's Marathon weekend and several other events, and together they joined the podcast to share their experience and thoughts on the importance of proper nutrition and crosstraining habits in the buildup to race weekend.To connect with and/or follow these two Grambassadors in the buildup to our 2024 Grandma's Marathon weekend, please see below:Shawn Jarvis   - Instagram @spjbearJamie Vesel   - Instagram @jamies.journey.in.life

Essentia Health ATC Cristina Nistler joins the podcast for the first of several installments ahead of the 2024 Grandma's Marathon weekend designed to help keep runners focused on the finish line while avoiding any common injuries and/or medical issues.As part of her role with Essentia Health, Nistler works part-time throughout the year in the Grandma's Marathon office. She's responsible not only for helping lead the organization of our medical personnel on race weekend, but also to educate and inform our runners ahead of their race in Duluth.Nistler will be every runner's biggest cheerleader when it comes to race day, but she's also hoping this mini-podcast series, as well as several other initiatives, can help ensure that she won't have to meet many of our runners in the medical tent this June.

Carrie Alajoki and Rachel Barger are two of our 2024 Grambassadors, selected from a large group of applicants to share their passion and knowledge of our race weekend.Both Alajoki and Barger have participated in a Grandma's Marathon weekend event 10+ times in their running careers, and together they joined the podcast to encourage the "non-traditional" or "back-of-the-pack" participants. Running, even marathoning, can be for everyone if it's something you want to do in your life. Alajoki and Barger share their experiences getting into running and now being multiple-time full marathon finishers.To connect with and/or follow these two Grambassadors in the buildup to our 2024 Grandma's Marathon weekend, please see below:Carrie Alajoki   - Instagram @long_run_calybeal   - Tik Tok @calybealRachel Barger   - Instagram @rae.barger94   - Tik Tok @run.rae.run

Laura Bergen began working with Grandma's Marathon in 1999 and, over the past two plus decades, has held a variety of roles within the organization.She is currently the Registration and Expo Director, meaning she's primarily responsible for overseeing the event's registration processes and organizing the Essentia Health Fitness Expo that's held on race weekend.In 2021, Bergen was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. After having gone through surgery and several rounds of chemotherapy, that cancer is now in remission. However, she's now developed a form of bile duct cancer, of which her treatment is ongoing.The medical concerns have changed Bergen's availability to the marathon but not her love of the organization and the community that helps make Grandma's Marathon a success each June.

Maggie Montoya had no idea, as she rounded the final turn to the finish line, that she was about to break one of the more storied records in Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon history.Just as Duluth native Kara Goucher predicted earlier in the week, Montoya was about to break Goucher's own event record that she had set during the USA Half Marathon Championships in 2012.Montoya's time of 1:09:26 was 20 seconds faster than Goucher, ending the hometown hero's run at the top of the event's all-time leaderboard.Making her debut in Duluth, Montoya navigated the racecourse brilliantly in route to breaking her own PR by 40 seconds with a time of 1:09:26.Montoya kicks off Season 4 of our Gearing Up for Grandma's podcast to talk more about that record-breaking run and also what lies ahead in her running career.

Alison Mariella Désir has developed into one of the nation's leading voices when it comes to inclusivity and diversity, especially within the endurance sports industry.10 years ago, she founded a group called Harlem Run that has grown into one of the nation's most well-known running clubs. More recently, she published a book titled Running While Black, widely seen as a searing expose of a supposedly egalitarian sport and a call to reimagine the entire running industry.She will be a featured guest at this year's Grandma's Marathon with several opportunities for the public to meet and hear from her.FRIDAY, JUNE 168:00 a.m. - Morning Shakeout Run - Duluth Running Company12:00 p.m. - DEI Keynote Speech - Essentia Health Fitness Expo (DECC)1:00 p.m. - DEI Roundtable - Essentia Health Fitness Expo (DECC)2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. - Book Signing - Essentia Health Fitness Expo (DECC)

There are only two people to have completed every mile ever run on the Grandma's Marathon racecourse --- John Naslund and Jim Nowak. Together, they're known as "The Iron 2," and both will be back this year trying to complete their 47th trip from Two Harbors to Duluth.Already, they've each accumulated more than 1,200 miles on the Grandma's Marathon racecourse, and each is a past recipient of the race's 1,000-Miler Award.

Founding executive director Scott Keenan makes his second appearance on the podcast, this time to talk about his coming induction into the DECC Athletic Hall of Fame. The official induction ceremony, which will include Kara Goucher as another member of the Class of 2023, will be held May 4 in Duluth.

Carrie Rodman is one of our 2023 Grambassadors and joins the podcast to talk about positive self-talk and how to properly train your mind along with your body ahead of race weekend. Carrie, who last ran in Duluth in 2008, shares some her personal favorite mantras that she repeats to herself during training and on race day to keep herself in a positive mindset and working toward the finish line.

There's so much that goes into marathon training, but one of most individualized and important pieces is nutrition. What should you be putting into your body before, during, and after your training runs to help you feel and perform your best?We assembled a roundtable to talk about that very issue, led by Cristina Nistler, our Medical Liasion from Essentia Health, and three of our 2023 Grambassadors to talk from a professional and personal perspective on what proper nutrition looks like while training for and running in Grandma's Marathon.NOTE: Before making any major changes to your diet, please consult your physician to determine what's best for you and your body.

Tony Loyd began running late in life and, to himself, said he'd never do it again after running his first-ever marathon in 2001. Well, Tony lied to himself and as since on running and on marathoning -- he qualified for his first Boston Marathon in 2005 and has run several other big races, including the 2013 New York City Marathon.Loyd touches on all of his running experiences in this episode, including the first time he ran in Duluth at the 2019 Grandma's Marathon after a long, personal battle with depression. Having now run here several times, Loyd is steadfast in his description of Grandma's Marathon as one of the best in the world.Loyd is one of our 2023 Grambassadors, a group that's assembled to assist in spreading the word ahead of this year's Grandma's Marathon weekend as well as being resources for our other participants with questions about training, travel, lodging, race weekend in Duluth, etc. To connect with him on social media ahead of the 2023 race weekend, follow @anthonyloyd on Instagram and @TonyLoyd on Twitter.

Essentia Health ATC Cristina Nistler joins the podcast for the next of several installments ahead of the 2023 Grandma's Marathon weekend designed to help keep runners focused on the finish line while avoiding any common injuries and/or medical issues.As part of her role with Essentia Health, Nistler works part-time throughout the year in the Grandma's Marathon office. She's responsible not only for helping lead the organization of our medical personnel on race weekend, but also to educate and inform our runners ahead of their race in Duluth.Nistler will be every runner's biggest cheerleader when it comes to race day, but she's also hoping this mini-podcast series, as well as several other initiatives, can help ensure that she won't have to meet many of our runners in the medical tent this June.

As you make your way down the North Shore during Grandma's Marathon in June, you and thousands of others are enjoying some of the very best road racing available in the United States.It's a race you've probably heard of --- almost certainly, if you're listening to this podcast. What you might not have heard much about, though, is trail running.With more than 150 miles of trail running within the city limits, Duluth has become a beacon of that discipline, and the region is even starting to offer more and more in terms of trail running events throughout the year.To learn more about the difference between trails and roads, and also to offer some tips and tricks for those looking to dive into a new world of running, we invited 2023 Grambassador Shannon Hogan to share her thoughts and experiences.

A self-proclaimed "marathon junkie," Chuck Engle has certainly earned the title. He's completed more than 475 marathons in his lifetime, and he's also the world record holder with more than 150 of those being completed in 3 hours or less.Engle travels nearly every week of the year to at least one race, and he has not only completed, but actually has WON a marathon in each of the 50 states. While he knows his lifestyle is specific and not for everyone, Engle does have amazing insight into the world of marathoning and offers plenty of helpful tips throughout this podcast episode to first-time runners hoping to complete their first race.Engle also touches on his first-ever experience at Grandma's Marathon, which came in 2021 and was so incredible that he plans to be back in 2023 to try and break the 3-hour mark in Duluth (something he didn't accomplish the first time he ran there).This is Part 2 of our conversation with Engle, so if you haven't yet be sure to start with Part 1 uploaded just before Thanksgiving.

A self-proclaimed "marathon junkie," Chuck Engle has certainly earned the title. He's completed more than 475 marathons in his lifetime, and he's also the world record holder with more than 150 of those being completed in 3 hours or less.Engle travels nearly every week of the year to at least one race, and he has not only completed, but actually has WON a marathon in each of the 50 states. While he knows his lifestyle is specific and not for everyone, Engle does have amazing insight into the world of marathoning and offers plenty of helpful tips throughout this podcast episode to first-time runners hoping to complete their first race.Engle also touches on his first-ever experience at Grandma's Marathon, which came in 2021 and was so incredible that he plans to be back in 2023 to try and break the 3-hour mark in Duluth (something he didn't accomplish the first time he ran there).This is just Part 1 of our conversation with Engle, so be on the lookout for Part 2 to be released in early December.

Essentia Health ATC Cristina Nistler joins the podcast for the first of several installments ahead of the 2023 Grandma's Marathon weekend designed to help keep runners focused on the finish line while avoiding any common injuries and/or medical issues.As part of her role with Essentia Health, Nistler works part-time throughout the year in the Grandma's Marathon office. She's responsible not only for helping lead the organization of our medical personnel on race weekend, but also to educate and inform our runners ahead of their race in Duluth.Nistler will be every runner's biggest cheerleader when it comes to race day, but she's also hoping this mini-podcast series, as well as several other initiatives, can help ensure that she won't have to meet many of our runners in the medical tent this June.

Fresh off her first career win at the Chicago Marathon, wheelchair athlete Susannah Scaroni joined our Gearing Up for Grandma's podcast. Not only did Scaroni win the 2022 Chicago Marathon, she also won her fourth career Grandma's Marathon this past June and broke her own event record in the process.Scaroni is a three-time U.S. Paralympian and won a gold medal in the 5,000-meters at the 2020 Tokyo Games. She has now placed in the top three in three straight World Marathon Majors --- Berlin (3rd), London (2nd), and Chicago (1st). Hear her thoughts on the advancements of wheelchair racing, plus she tells the story of being hit by a car during training in September 2021 and wondering if she would ever again get to compete at the world's highest level.

Minnesota native and former US Olympian Carrie Tollefson has been involved with Grandma's Marathon for more than a decade, serving most recently as lead analyst for the women's marathon for our radio broadcast.Tollefson works primarily on race day with Chad Salmela, who has Olympic experience of his own in the broadcast booth. Together, they are part of a star-studded media team each year at Grandma's Marathon.Tollefson talk this episode about her favorite parts of Grandma's Marathon weekend, including the William A. Irvin 5K on Friday night, and gives her recommendations for anyone visiting northern Minnesota for the first time.You can catch more of Carrie on her podcast, C Tolle Run, which has developed into one of the premier podcasts in the running industry.

Each year, we accept a number of "race ambassadors" who help us throughout the year spread the word about Grandma's Marathon and help keep the spirit of the race alive in the buildup to June.Some of this year's "Grambassadors" join us for this podcast to talk about one of their favorite things - Grandma's Marathon! Hear firsthand about their favorite spots on the course, about why the race is different than so many others, and about what their secrets are to a perfect race weekend in Duluth!

The use of CBD by runners to aid in their training and recovery has exploded over the past several years, and it's led to a lot of different opinions about what's best for your body and how to properly choose from and use the many products on the market.Nature's Gem CBD & Wellness has been a major sponsor of Grandma's Marathon since 2019, and founder Lisa Baskfield has a very personal connection both to the race and to the need for non-traditional treatments for pain.In this podcast, she offers a bit more of her backstory as well as explains the business she's created --- helping runners understand and implement the benefits of using CBD in their training and recovery process.

Each year, we accept a number of "race ambassadors" who help us throughout the year spread the word about Grandma's Marathon and help keep the spirit of the race alive in the buildup to June.Some of this year's "Grambassadors" join us for this podcast to talk about one of their favorite things - Grandma's Marathon! Hear firsthand about their favorite spots on the course, about why the race is different than so many others, and about what their secrets are to a perfect race weekend in Duluth!

CJ Albertson was the men's runner-up at the 2021 Grandma's Marathon, but he may be best-known for his performance a few months later at the 2021 Boston Marathon.Albertson went to the lead at record pace for the first 20 miles of Boston, but he was eventually caught by the pack and ended up finishing 10th on the day. He joins the Gearing Up for Grandma's podcast to discuss his unique approach to road racing, as well as intent to run both Boston and Grandma's again in 2022.

2021 Grandma's Marathon champion Dakotah Lindwurm joins the podcast to talk about her training cycle this year, which includes both Boston Marathon in April and Grandma's Marathon in June.Lindwurm became the first Minnesota woman to win Grandma's Marathon since Janis Klecker in 1987, and she'll be back in the field this year to try and become just the eighth repeat women's champion and first since Sarah Kiptoo in 2016.She also talks about her late mom, who still inspires her every time she's on a start line, and discusses some of her favorite off-the-beaten-path things to do in Duluth on race weekend.

Duluth's own Kara Goucher joins the Season 2 debut of "Gearing Up for Grandma's" fresh off making her TV analyst debut for NBC at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. There, she provided commentary of several distance running events, including the women's marathon in which Molly Seidel won just the third-ever Olympic medal in that event.Goucher is joined by our regular host, Peter Graves, and special co-host for this episode, Chad Salmela, both of whom also have broadcasting experience at the Olympic Games.Together, they recount what were the 2020 Games and talk tricks of the trade, including Goucher answering which is harder --- becoming an Olympic athlete or an Olympic TV analyst.Goucher also reminisces on her hometown race, Grandma's Marathon, with her name still etched in history as the women's event record holder of the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon. 

Founder and former executive director Scott Keenan joins the podcast ahead of the 2021 Grandma's Marathon. After helping to start the race in 1977, Keenan retired in 2013 following 37 years at the helm of what's become one of the largest marathons in the United States.Keenan also has a new book surrounding the race called "My Journey to Grandma's Marathon: Heroes and History" that focuses on several of the other people credited with the creation and the growth of Grandma's Marathon since its humble beginnings.

Duluth Mayor Emily Larson and Lake County Chamber of Commerce President Janelle Jones join the podcast to talk about the municipal support that's required for Grandma's Marathon each and every year.Mayor Larson and her city staff are integral to the success of Grandma's Marathon weekend, and the planning for each race is truly a year-round process. The city devotes resources, time, energy, and money to the race and has been one of its strongest supporters since the start in 1977.Jones, meanwhile, is part of the extraordinary start line just outside of Two Harbors. That area has been vital to Grandma's Marathon weekend since the beginning, and the transformation of that area, headed by efforts of the Chamber of Commerce, is always a mini-miracle on race weekend.

Herb Dillon is a longtime volunteer of Grandma's Marathon and has been part of the event's medical team for more than 40 years now.Dillon has a military background and, after coming off active duty, started working triage with Grandma's Marathon in 1979 and has been back for every race since.He's now one of the leaders of the weekend's medical team and works primarily at the finish line area with dozens of volunteers to keep participants safe and healthy before, during, and after the race.Dillon was inducted into the Grandma's Marathon Hall of Fame in 2000, and this year will be working his 43rd race weekend.

Doug Nelson is a longtime volunteer of Grandma's Marathon and has been part of the event's communications team for more than 35 years now.Doug and his team are responsible for many things on race weekend, including keeping the course clear and communicating any issues that may arise throughout the day.Inducted into the Grandma's Marathon Hall of Fame in 2017, Nelson also received the Rudy Perpich Public Service Award in 2009. He has the unique claim of being "the last person to finish Grandma's Marathon every year."

Longtime race announcers Peter Graves and Michael Pinocci recount their favorite memories of Grandma's Marathon weekend, as seen from their perch above the finish line in Duluth's Canal Park.Pinocci placed second in the 1984 full marathon with a time of 2:14:01, and he is a 2004 inductee into the Grandma's Marathon Hall of Fame. He touches on his experience with the race as a runner and as an announcer, as well as his battle with a heart arrhythmia that ultimately ended his competitive running career.

It was a unique set of circumstances that brought Kellyn Taylor to Grandma's Marathon in June 2018, and she arrived in Duluth with something to prove.After having to withdraw before the halfway mark of a cold and rainy Boston Marathon in April, Taylor was in top shape and now had an opening on her schedule for a Grandma's Marathon appearance.She ran 2:24:28 to set the event record, breaking the old mark by more than two minutes. Of course, she remembers that day fondly and shares more about the events that led to her record-setting run in Duluth.She also touches on her Olympic dreams (which may come true sooner than later), being a certified firefighter, and how she balances her professional running career with family life.

Nell Rojas was the 2019 Grandma's Marathon champion, running a time of 2:28:06 in just her second-ever marathon. That time qualified her for the 2020 US Olympic Trials, where she finished ninth.Now, Rojas has her sights set firmly on again qualifying for the Trials and earning a spot on the US Olympic Team. She talks about those career plans as well as an affinity she's developed for the coaching side of running.Rojas also talks about her relationship with her father, who has been her coach for most of her professional running career, and she speaks to the effects the COVID-19 pandemic has had on her life and career.Now a two-year defending champion of Grandma's Marathon (due to 2020's cancellation), Rojas also touches on her winning moment in 2019 and what makes the Duluth-based race a destination for so many professional and amateur runners alike.

Wendy (Hovland) Cregg was the first-ever women's champion at Grandma's Marathon, winning the 1977 race with a time of 3:23:39. Only 18 years old at the time, Grandma's was the first and only marathon for the then-Wendy Hovland, though she does still enjoy casual running.In 2019, Cregg was presented with the Scott A. Keenan Founder's Award, which recognizes an exemplary person who embodies the history, vision, and spirit of Grandma's Marathon through their chosen area of contribution.Hear Cregg relive her inaugural victory of 1977 and cover a wide range of other topics, including the progression of women's sports, Title IX, and her love of cross country skiing.

Longtime Duluth News Tribune reporter Kevin Pates relives his 37 years covering Grandma's Marathon, remembering fondly his time working alongside some of the best running talent to visit the shores of Lake Superior.From telling tale about Lasse Viren, a four-time Olympic gold medalist, to explaining his affinity for detail in his own stories and in others, Pates goes back through nearly four decades of newspaper reporting on what has become one of the premier marathons in the United States.

Longtime Grandma's Marathon record-holder Dick Beardsley joins the podcast to talk about a variety of topics, all stemming from his love of running.Beardsley touches on his inauspicious start in the sport, the year his Grandma's record was beaten by Dominic Ondoro, and his "Duel in the Sun" with Alberto Salazar at the 1981 Boston Marathon.He also dives into more serious things, including speaking of his one-time narcotics addiction and the death of his son, Andy.Race announcer Peter Graves hosts this first-ever "Gearing Up for Grandma's" podcast, which is brought to you by Essentia Health. Grandma's Marathon is proudly presented by Toyota, Members Cooperative Credit Union, and ASICS.