Want to run the 50th annual Grandma’s Marathon? Get in line today.

DULUTH – Grandma’s Marathon organizers are expecting the busiest sign-up period in history when registration opens at 7 p.m. Wednesday for the 2026 races, a milestone year for the event.

Entries for the marathon, the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon and the William A. Irvin 5K are first come, first served — and last year runners took to the queue quickly and some stuck around for hours to ensure a spot. There were 7,500 people waiting when registration opened. The half-marathon and 5K sold out within two days; the marathon in a month.

More than 11,000 total entries were claimed within the first five hours, a record.

“Organizers are expecting even more interest this year ahead of the event’s 50th annual celebration,” according to a news release.

There is a workaround.

A limited number of entries are already available for runners who pay $500 — which goes to the marathon’s Young Athletes Foundation. This is the first time marathon officials have offered this option, which went live more than a week ago. There are still $500 entries available as of Wednesday afternoon, according to marketing and public relations director Zach Schneider.

Another option for early access: Join a Grandma’s Marathon Training Group, which costs $135.75 until Oct. 1. It assures an entry in the marathon or half-marathon, but does not include the registration fee. There will be dozens of group-runs for all levels in Duluth starting in January. Training runs can also be done virtually.

There are 19,000 spots available among the races, but organizers have redistributed capacity to allow for more marathon runners, which Schneider describes as “the crown jewel.”

An entry for Grandma’s Marathon is $155. Shorter distances cost less.

The Young Athletes Foundation supports kids’ programming, including Wednesday night and Saturday morning races, running shoes, scholarships and more. It started in 1990. Grandma’s Marathon started in the mid-1970s with 150 runners on the route that winds from near Two Harbors, along the shore and ends in Canal Park.