Runner tracking is back this year for Grandmas Marathon and the Gary Bjorklund Half Marathon.  Being a runner of the half marathon, along with family members, I can personally vouch for how handy this is.  Rather than have to guess at when a runner may be at certain check points and the finish line, this tool let's you really narrows down when you should be looking for them to cheer them on.

If you’re looking to keep track of your favorite runners during Grandma’s Marathon weekend, Verizon Wireless, take advantage of this Verizon Wireless service.

Beginning June 1, family members and friends can log on to GrandmasMarathon.com, and simply enter the name(s) of up to four runners they want to track. They then select whether they want the information delivered by text message or email by entering a valid wireless phone number or email address.

The tracking system, made possible through the support of Verizon Wireless, enables the progress of Grandma’s Marathon and Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon participants to be tracked at numerous checkpoints along the racecourse, including the finish line.

The signup period runs through 8 p.m. Friday, June 20 by logging onto the Grandma's Marathon Web site or by stopping by the Verizon Wireless exhibit outside of the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC).

This marks the seventh year that Verizon Wireless is sponsoring runner tracking via text messaging and email. The company has been a major sponsor of Grandma’s Marathon since 1992.

This tracking technology is a joint effort between Grandma’s Marathon, Verizon Wireless, Mtec Results and MarathonGuide.com.

In all, more than 18,000 runners from around the world will participate in the 38th annual Grandma's Marathon weekend, which is presented by Wells Fargo and Toyota.

For more information, visit GrandmasMarathon.com or call (218) 727-0947.

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