Last fall, I wrote about a race that was poorly organized. Today, I’d like to mention a well-run race. The Grandma’s Marathon in Duluth was extremely well put together. What makes it different from my fall race?

Packet Pick-Up: The convention center housing the expo had entrances on every side, was surrounded by parking (although it cost $5 to park – boo), and featured a great deal of signage. It was easy to navigate the expo and easy to pick up my number/chip.

Course Maps/Curb Crew Information: The website featured a detailed and interactive course map, there were several varieties of course maps available at the expo, and it was a simple course to follow. Also, the website and race packet contained helpful hints and cautions for spectators. My Curb Crew knew how to get to the finish and had a good idea of where to park. They knew that traffic congestion would make seeing me earlier in the race as well as the finish difficult.

Course: The course is beautiful. It’s flat, but there are enough small rollers that it gives your legs some variety. I loved running along Lake Superior. Finishing in Canal Park is probably the coolest part of Duluth. I was surprised by how many spectators lined the course since I know most of them couldn’t make it to the finish.

Aid Stations: There were port-o-potties almost every mile during the race. Each mile marker was festooned with a large balloon above the runners. Each mile marker also featured a portable defibrillator and someone trained to use it. Finally, the aid stations were well stocked with enthusiastic volunteers and a predictable lay-out: water first, then sports drink.

BigDaddy and RunnerDad at Grandma's Finish

Post-Race: The finish area was thoughtfully laid out. The chute was wide enough that volunteers didn’t have to constantly nag runners to keep moving. The food area was spacious. The volunteers were cheerful. There was music, food, beer, soda, etc where runners could socialize with their Curb Crew. They had race merchandise for sale, too.

One post-race feature I really enjoyed were the showers. There were three different locations for runners to shower post-race. Two of these even provided towels. The available showers were great since we were staying near the start of this point-to-point course.

Overall, I give this race two thumbs way up. It was a wonderful experience.