You ride a bus north in the early light and start near Two Harbors, then spend the morning running back toward Duluth with Lake Superior beside you the whole way. The air coming off the lake stays cool even in June, and the course is mostly gentle rollers with a net 130-foot drop, which is why so many runners chase a personal best here. The finish in Canal Park, beside the ship canal and the old ore boat William A. Irvin, is loud and welcoming, and the seven-hour limit means you are not racing the clock. The hard part is getting in: entries open in early October and the 2027 race is already listed as sold out, with charity spots the remaining option. Book your Duluth lodging the same day you register.
Point-to-point from near Two Harbors along the Lake Superior shore into Duluth's Canal Park, with rolling hills and a net 130-foot drop (740 ft start to 610 ft finish). Course map ↗
When sold out; all 2027 main races were listed sold out as of 2026-10-13 (charity entries still available). Early October annually at 7:00 p.m. CT; the 2027 race opened in October 2026. Entry fees ran $155 (early) to $200 (April-May). Registration is first-come, first-served and sells out within days. Register ↗
- The first race in 1977 had just 160 participants, ten of them women. ↗
- The name comes from Grandma's Restaurant, the only business willing to sponsor the first race, chipping in $600 of a budget of $600 to $1,200. ↗
- The 2025 race set a finisher record of 7,542. ↗
- The course has a 7-hour limit and a net elevation change of -130 feet. ↗
- Course records: 2:09:06 (Dominic Ondoro, 2014) and 2:23:52 (Volha Mazuronak, 2024). ↗
Checked 2026-10-13. Always confirm on the official site before booking travel.