Grandma's Marathon: Race Week!

Race Week is here! The weeks of the training are over and now I’m forcing myself to rest up. I’ve been comparing week-of-race strategies with veteran runners: which days to run an easy few miles and how many miles to do so at that. Amongst the best advice I received: hydrate up throughout the week.

The Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon will be my first half so my time on Saturday will be a PR no matter the outcome. Do I have a goal time? YES. Do I hope the weather will be classically Duluth cool and foggy – just like the weather I trained in this past spring? YES. Will I have my SPIbelt pre-packed with my Race Bib, gloves and Honey Stinger Organic Energy Chews in grapefruit flavor for days? YES. Am I (just a little) pumped to participate in a Grandma’s weekend race event after years of spectating? YES. YES. Oh, YES.

Spectators and runners alike: looking for a unique and of course oh-so-useful Grandma’s memento? Epicurean is offering two different cutting boards engraved with the Grandma’s logo, which includes the race date. We’ll be selling these at the EXPO, online and in the Factory Outlet Store.

Our store, located on the Duluth-Superior harbor, will be open BOTH Saturday and Sunday of Grandma’s race weekend. Visit us and perhaps the timing will be right for a ship to pass by our building too.

Training for this inaugural half has been impactful. My initial reason for running was that I turn 40 this summer; running a half seemed like a goal I should hit and as a Duluthian it was time to be on the other side of the participation lines. I always knew I liked to run but I now have this new level of love for the sport that I wasn’t expecting: I LOVE to run. I loved the training – from the hard days to the easier days – and now I can’t wait to be part of the race day momentum with thousands of other participants.

As an employee of Epicurean, I certainly have my share of cutting boards in my home kitchen already…but I’ll be snagging one of these engraved boards this Race Week. It’ll be my everyday reminder of everything this race has meant to me.

 To the thousands of workers, volunteers, spectators and participants of Grandma’s Marathon, the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon and the William A. Irvin 5k races: here’s to a great 2019 Grandma’s Weekend!