
Duluth, United States of America · Saturday 20 June 2026
Grandma's Marathon is an annual 26.2-mile (42.2 km) road race held each June in northeastern Minnesota, United States, starting just south of Two Harbors and following Scenic Route 61 along the shore of Lake Superior to finish in Canal Park, Duluth. The point-to-point course features gently rolling hills with a net downhill profile, providing varied terrain and scenic lake views. The final miles pass through downtown Duluth, culminating near a prominent local landmark, the Aerial Lift Bridge.\n\
Adjusted Time
4:40:12
Time difference: +40.2 minutes compared to a flat, road, temperate course.
Grandmas Marathon is a full marathon held in Duluth, United States of America, scheduled for Saturday 20 June 2026. The course is run on trail surface with 170m of total elevation gain, reaching a maximum altitude of 225m above sea level. For registration and full race details, visit the official Grandmas Marathon website.
With 170m of elevation gain, this is a moderately undulating course. The route ranges from 184m to 225m above sea level (41m total range). While not completely flat, the elevation changes are manageable for most runners and shouldn't significantly impact pacing strategy.
Based on historical weather data for June, the expected race day conditions are as follows. Moderate temperatures between 15°C and 23°C are expected. While comfortable for most runners, those targeting fast times should pay attention to hydration, as these temperatures can impact performance over the full distance. There is a low chance of rain (0%), so dry conditions are likely.
Grandmas Marathon is a trail race, meaning the course includes unpaved surfaces such as dirt, gravel, or forest paths. Trail surfaces are inherently slower than road courses due to uneven footing, technical sections, and often steeper gradients. Trail-specific shoes with good grip are recommended, and runners should expect a finish time 10-20% slower than their equivalent road marathon time.
Our difficulty rating for Grandmas Marathon is calculated using a model that combines elevation gain, temperature impact, and surface type. Use the difficulty calculator above to enter your target finish time and see exactly how many minutes this course would add or subtract compared to a perfectly flat, cool, road-based marathon. Faster runners and slower runners are affected differently by the same course conditions, so the difficulty is personalised to your pace.
Looking for an easier marathon or a tougher challenge? You can also compare Grandmas Marathon against other marathons to find the right race for your goals.
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