Race Weekend was scheduled for June 19-20, 2020 

(Duluth, Minn.): Grandma’s Marathon–Duluth, Inc. has cancelled their 2020 race weekend of events scheduled for June 19-20, 2020, due to the unpredictability of the COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus) pandemic. The decision comes after careful deliberation by the Grandma’s Marathon staff and board of directors along with medical and public agency leaders in an effort to keep participants, volunteers, partners, spectators and the community as a whole safe during the pandemic and not detract valuable resources away from local health systems. 

Race Weekend would have marked the 44th annual Grandma’s Marathon. This year will be the first time in the history of the organization that race weekend is cancelled. 
“Taking into account all of the planning and preparation that is coordinated within the organization and with partners in the community, unfortunately, postponement was not a viable option,” explains Shane Bauer, executive director of Grandma’s Marathon, a Minnesota nonprofit organization. “It is not possible to reallocate necessary community resources to a later date, particularly with the growing uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic.” 

With the majority of registered participants well into their training programs, the organization plans to recognize the time, effort and commitment that runners have already put forth by providing alternative offerings to registrants including a Virtual Race option, discounts on the 2021 Grandma’s Marathon Weekend Races and special offers from some of their valued sponsors. Complete details can be found on the Grandma’s Marathon website and were emailed out to all registered participants. 

The 45th Anniversary Race Weekend will take place next year on June 18-19, 2021. 

For more information, visit www.grandmasmarathon.com/covid1 

Photo credit: Ted Heinonen