One of Minnesota’s most popular sporting events is canceled for the first time in its 44-year history. Organizers of Grandma’s Marathon say the annual race along Lake Superior’s north shore from Two Harbors to Canal Park in Duluth won’t take place because of the coronavirus pandemic.
“This is not the news that we wanted to be sharing with our running community,” read a statement posted Tuesday on the race website.As late as March 24, race officials were ready to stage the race as planned.
“The staff and board of Grandma’s Marathon along with our medical and public agency leaders believe this is the responsible action to take in an effort to keep everyone safe during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and not take valuable resources away from our local health system,” the statement continued. “The health and safety of our participants, volunteers, sponsors, spectators, staff and community remains our top priority. We know this news is very disappointing, and all of us at Grandma’s Marathon feel the same, but we know that this is for the best.”
Also canceled are two companion races, the Gary Bjorklund Half-Marathon and the William A. Irvin 5-kilometer race.Grandma’s is offering an entry discount for this year’s runners to sign up for the 2021 race.
They are also staging a virtual marathon, where registered runners can run the 26.2 miles and enter their time on their personal results page.
Grandma’s Marathon was first held in 1977 with about 150 runners. The 2019 event had 3405 men, 2962 women finish the race, while more than 9,000 took part in the companion races.
Also called off are the events leading up to race day, along with activities in Canal Park adjacent to the finish line.
In the metro, the Medtronic TC 1-mile run and the TCO Women Run the Cities race are both suspended. Those races were scheduled for May. Registration remains open for the Red, White, and Boom Twin Cities Half-Marathon on July 4 and the Twin Cities Marathon on Oct. 4. The Fargo Marathon also is still scheduled to take place on Aug. 29.