Grandma's 2024 Weekend

3 Night / 4 Day Stay and Play VIP package at the race host hotel

Check in Thursday, June 20th

Check out Sunday, June 23rd

Race Date: Saturday, June 22nd

Additional Nights: Contact us at hello@destination-marathons.com

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World Class Event, Small Town Charm

Run along the quiet, scenic shores of Lake Superior into Duluth in what has become one of the largest and most well-known races in the US!

What's included in the Stay & Play VIP?
Not included
VIP Experience

Guests have access to hosts on-site all weekend to ensure a stress-free, fun-filled trip.

Ideal Location

The Holiday Inn & Suites Duluth -Downtown is just 0.7 mi. from the finish line and 0.5 mi to shuttle, train, and DECC Expo (covered walkway connected).

Pre-Race Dinner

We’ve got you covered for the pre-race dinner. Enjoy local Italian fare without having to leave the hotel.

Spectators

Enjoy our detailed cheer plan and bleacher access passes at finish! Plus enjoy all our exclusive events.

TRAINING WITH DAKOTAH LINDWURM

DM Guests Have Access to Dakotah Lindwurm’s Training Program (additional fees apply). Dakatoh is a two-time winner of Grandma’s Marathon. DM runners will receive 50% off the first month of training by using her code 50%lindwurm.

“As someone who likes to dream big, I’d love to help you achieve your wildest running dreams! As my athlete you would receive completely individualized training to fit your needs and goals.”

ITINERARY

 Thursday, June 20th

Welcome to Duluth!

4:00pm Hotel check-in

Destination Marathons Welcome Reception – light refreshments, get swag bag and name badge, and meet hosts

Sign-Making Station for Spectators

4:00pm – 8:00pm Expo Open & Packet Pick-Up

 
Friday, June 21st

8:00am Join us during our shakeout run along Lake Superior and coffee gathering with Grandma’s Marathon Legend Dick Beardsley!

9:00am Coffee gathering with breakfast snacks lead by Dick Beardsley. Hear about course tips, have a chance for some Q&A, and time for photos.

10:00am-8:00pm Expo Open, packet pickup available until 11:00pm

Enjoy your time in Duluth!  Maybe be inspired to call your Grandma!

5:30-8:00pm pre-race dinner with guest speaker Dakotah Lindwurm. Note, speaker begins at 5:30pm, dinner begins at 6:30pm. At the end of dinner we will discuss spectator plans and hand out bleacher passes. Grab & Go Breakfast bags will be available for runners to take after dinner.

6:30pm – 7:00pm

Join us for pre-race dinner for a chat with two-time Grandma’s Marathon Champion, Dakotah Lindwurm. *Tentatively planned, Subject to her standing at the Olympic trials. Schedule may change.

Saturday, June 17th

4:00am Grab & Go Breakfast Bags and coffee available for runners in host room

4:45-5:30am Shuttles for 1/2 Marathon from DECC. DM hosts will meet you in lobby at 4:45 to guide you to your shuttles.

5:30am Load Northshore Scenic Railroad to Marathon Start (6:10am departure). DM hosts will meet you in lobby at 5:40 and guide you to your transportation.

6:00am 1/2 Marathon Start

6:30-7:15am Shuttles for Marathon from DECC

7:45am Marathon Start

7:00am-12:00pm Spectators follow spectator plan to see their favorite runners

11:30am-2:30pm Post-race party. Note: If you’re a 5+ hour marathoner, let us know. We want to make sure to cheer for you!

5:00pm-6:00pm Awards ceremony

 
Sunday, June 18th

11:00am Check out of hotel

5:00pm Safe travels home. We hope you had a wonderful time this weekend!

*Times are based on 2023 race itinerary and are subject to change. Final itinerary will be available for DM-VIP guests prior to trip.

Dakota Lindwurm
In 2022 she made history. Now she’s building a legacy. From ice hockey goalie to elite marathoner, Dakotah Lindwurm is a talent to be watched! She was a 2020 Olympic Trials Marathon qualifier, and placed as the 3rd American at the 2021 Boston Marathon. 
She won the Grandma’s women’s titles 2021-2022 back to back with a personal-best time of 2:25:01, the second-best ever at Grandma’s! Dakota is a hometown fan favorite in Duluth, not only as a top distance runner in Minnesota history, but also as a current leader on the national stage.
Dick  Beardsley
At the very first London Marathon In 1981,  he and Norwegian Inge Simonsen intentionally crossed the finish line together holding hands in a time of 2:11:48. According to Beardsley, “It was a big deal for both of us because neither one of us had won a marathon before.” 
His finish time of 2:09:37 at the 1981 Grandma’s Marathon stood as a course record for 33 years until it was broken in 2014. Beardsley placed second (2:08:53) on the heels of Alberto Salazar in the 1982 Boston Marathon, breaking the Boston Marathon course record and the American record.

ACCOMMODATIONS

The Holiday Inn & Suites Duluth – Downtown is the Official Lodging Sponsor for Grandma’s Marathon! Centrally located, it’s just 0.7 mi. from the finish line and 0.5 mi to the shuttle, train, and DECC Expo -connected to the hotel via a covered walkway. Contact the hotel for details on the airport shuttle.

2 Indoor pools & hot-tub

On-site restaurant, bar, and café

Access to free hotel airport shuttle

Covered walkway connecting to DECC Expo and fitness center

Close to start and finish

Free high-speed internet

PRICING

3 Night Package (Thursday, June 20 – Sunday, June 23, 2024)
Please Note

*DM reserves the right to increase pricing to reflect current market conditions.

*Children age ten (10) and younger may stay free with a paying adult. 

*Guests receive all the same VIP perks as the payor. All guests (including children) must be registered at checkout to ensure DM has knowledge of who is in the room in case of emergency and so all paid guests have access to the package perks. The additional guest rate is for the entire stay.

*Running is a sport that may cause injury during training. Injuries do not exempt you from the cancellation policy. We strongly encourage guests to consider travel insurance. Please see our Travel Insurance information at the bottom.

YOUR HOSTS

Mark Janik

Founder

Jamie Frazier

Team Leader

Mike Benz

Ambassador Extraordinaire

RACE SPECIFIC FAQ'S

How do I hold my reservation?

Guests are required to pay a $300 non-refundable deposit upon signing up for the trip. Read our payment policy at the bottom of this page for details.

Do I have to register my guests even if they’re not running?

Yes! DM guests have access to all the great VIP perks as our runners. For everyone’s safety, we need to know who is traveling and staying with our group in case of emergency. Adherence to our security policy is strictly enforced. You can ready more details in our Terms and Conditions.

Can I bring my kids?

Sure! Kids 10 and under are welcome on any of our packages for free, provided they stay in your room (same room as the payor). Some hotels/packages may have restrictions on the number of guests per guestroom so please check with us as you make your reservation. Please note, children must be supervised at all times by a guardian age 18 or older.

Can we add additional nights onto our stay?

Sure! Please reach out if you would like to add nights prior to or after our package dates. Our email is hello@destination-marathons.com Of course, guests are free of charge for those additional nights.

If I only wanted to stay 2 nights, can I alter the package?

Since the rooms are sold as a package, we require a minimum of 3 nights. If you don’t use the additional night, that is your choice.

What if I have food allergies?

Please notify us of any dietary restrictions you have so we can do our best to accommodate you.

How do I make my final payment?

You will receive payment reminders prior to the payment deadline, but you can log into your account at any time to make your final payment.

How will spectators find their runners at the end of the race?

Pick a landmark in Canal Park or meet at the post-race party.

How do we get back to the hotel after the race?

With our hotel’s central location, it’s an easy walk back.

Reviews

I traveled solo out to Grandma’s Marathon using Destination Marathons. It was great to be able to have a group to meet up with and have all the details taken care of. They had organized groups dinners, pre-race goodie bags for us, and had an organized shake out run with Dakotah Lindwurm (2021 and 2022 winner!) who was so nice!!! I really appreciated getting to meet other runners and have a group to hang with. Everyone from the company itself was also so nice and friendly. At Grandma’s starting area we had access to a club area with other clubs with private ports potties which was critical as the lines for the others were massive!! The company had reps cheering on the course and even took some race photos of me running which they sent to me after the race! Post race they had other planned meets up and a bar crawl which I didn’t attend as I had other plans- but looked like a lot of fun from the pics. Highly Recommend using this company and will use them again in the future for sure if they match up with a race I’m planning.

Destination Marathons is amazing! Mark and his crew not only took care of the runners but they also made sure our family members had a great time. The hotel we stayed at was convenient and I really appreciate the private coach to the start line in Hopkinton. Thank you for making this Boston experience so positive for my family and me!

Destination Marathons did an excellent job!!! It was my first time booking a trip through them and I am 100% pleased!! I’m already planning another!! The whole process was easy, the communication was clear, the accommodations were perfect, the gatherings (parties) were really fun!!! Everything was on point. Thank you DM!!!!

Have you ever wondered how the Elite Runners are treated? Run with Destination Marathons and you'll find out! I ran the Wilmington Marathon in 2022 with DM and from Hotel Check-In to Check-Out they were there for me. The night before the race we had a great pasta dinner as a group, runners and family, and it was nice to catch up with people from all over. Race morning we boarded a private shuttle to the start where we also had a warm private area to get ready. Of course the crew along with family and friends were on the route for a nice friendly cheer zone. Post race they were ready for us, tons of snacks, drinks (adult and other) and a masseuse! It is great to get a solid massage right after the race. That afternoon they led us on a pub crawl to several different locations around Downtown Wilmington. When traveling for a race I would highly recommend Destination Marathons so you can worry less and focus on your race!

Amazing time!! Highly recommend! Mark and his team take the race logistics stress away! Had an incredible weekend in Boston! The dinner before race night took the stress of finding dinner in a town where all the restaurants were full. The shuttle gave us an extra hour of sleep and no stress fighting the crowds. Access to our own bathrooms was worth the price alone, when I got to athlete's village the bathroom lines were insane, so glad we had our own! You can tell they are committed to giving you the most stress free weekend allowing you to focus on what you came there to do, race!

Grandma's Marathon 2024

We have access to sold out bibs!