Grandma’s Marathon Earns Amazing New Achievement

You may not be thinking about Grandma's Marathon at the moment, considering we are in the dead of winter but the annual race will be here before you know it.

The race weekend will be extra special come June of 2026 because it is the fiftieth anniversary of the event, which is going to be MASSIVE. I can't wait!

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The proof is in the registration: while the races do sell out and some very quickly, all three races sold out in record time this year. All races sold out in just twelve hours.

This was a huge accomplishment for the Grandma's Marathon team and now they have another feather in their cap with a new title the race was just given and it's pretty important.

Grandma's Marathon Given Rare & Special Certification

Grandma's Marathon has officially earned its place among the world's most sustainable large events. The races bring people from all over the world and brings a ton to the economy. They also put a big emphasis on sustainability.

RELATED: How To Get Into A Sold Out Grandma's Marathon Race For 2026

Grandma's Marathon has earned the rare Evergreen Certification from the Council of Responsible Sport, which looks at the event's 'ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship' and its impact on the community.

Grandma's Marathon Makes History With New Certification

Grandma's Marathon is record-breaking in so many ways and now they have a new spot in history: the race is the just the third marathon in the country to earn this level of certification, which is the highest.

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Only the Chicago and Los Angeles marathons have reached this level of certification, making it even more impressive. Duluth can definitely stand up to those huge cities, especially when it comes to a race as elite as Grandma's.

Like I said, Grandma's Marathon does put a huge emphasis on sustainability, using a long list of recycled items like heat sheets, cups and such. They also offer a free bike valet and help the environment greatly by bussing us all to the starting line, among many other initiatives.

The race earned the first level of certification a few years ago and made it their goal to reach the highest level in 2025. It looks like they did it - congrats and I can't wait for June! Who else?