Try The Official Grandma's Training Group In Duluth, MN For Free

In September of last year, Grandma’s Marathon opened registration for its Twin Ports-based training group to prepare runners for this year's races, and for an added incentive, anyone who signs up for the training group is guaranteed an entry in either the 2026 Grandma’s Marathon or the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon.

The training group is led by USATF- and RRCA-certified running coach Tony Stensland, and it will meet for group training runs three times a week in the Duluth-Superior area starting in January. The goal is to prep local runners for a safe and successful race weekend.

A monthly guest speaker series is also planned for group participants, ranging in topics from areas like nutrition to race day tips and tricks, and group participants will also receive a commemorative running hat from the marathon.

Now, as the training group prepares to begin, Grandma's is offering the chance to try the first run free of charge.

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Grandma's Marathon Training Group Ready To Begin

The official Grandma's Marathon Training group is ready to begin, with its first run set for 5 pm on Tuesday, January 27, and that first run is free and open to the public. This gives people a chance to “test drive” the training group before committing to signing up ahead of this year’s Grandma’s Marathon weekend.

The group run will start and finish at the Rose Garden near Leif Erickson Park in Duluth, with different pace groups available for the run, which will take a route along the Lakewalk.

It's worth noting that there are still 50 spots available in the training group, which again offers participants a guaranteed spot in either Grandma’s Marathon or the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon. So if you regret not signing up for one of the races last fall, this is a chance to get in and be trained to finish.

Training Group Pricing Tiers

September 1 to October 1: $125
October 2 to December 31: $150
January 1 to March 1: $175

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IMPORTANT: Prices listed above DO NOT include the price of your race entry. Training group participants will receive a registration code and will pay the normal entry fee at the time of signup.

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Gallery Credit: Lauren Wells