DULUTH, MINN./ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – Dakotah Lindwurm will be at the starting line during this year’s Grandma’s Marathon weekend in June, just not as part of the race that’s helped make her a fan favorite in Duluth and one of the best female distance runners in America.
Instead of the full marathon, the Minnesota native will be part of the field in this year’s Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon as part of her ongoing preparations for the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics.
“I’m so excited to wear ‘USA’ across my chest,” Lindwurm said. “I’ve been an underdog my whole career, so I’m excited to stick my nose where it doesn’t belong amongst the best in the world and hopefully, I can surprise some people again.”
Lindwurm qualified for Paris at the US Olympic Trials in February, finishing third and becoming only the third former Grandma’s Marathon women’s champion to qualify for the Olympic Games – the others were Lorraine Moller (won Grandma’s in 1979, 1980, 1981) and Janis Klecker (won Grandma’s in 1987).
One of only eight women to be a multiple-time champion of Grandma’s Marathon, Lindwurm has become a wonderful ambassador for the sport and this race in particular.
“There’s nothing to dislike about Grandma’s Marathon,” Lindwurm said. “From the start you get up the north shore to the serene middle miles to the loud finish, it’s all just laid out perfectly. And what truly makes this race different from all the others is after you finish, everyone’s here to celebrate you. I’ll always have Grandma’s Marathon circled on my calendar because it’s one of my favorite weekends of the year.”
In addition to competing in the half marathon on Saturday, Lindwurm will make several public appearances during the 2024 Grandma’s Marathon weekend. A full schedule of the free and paid events involving Lindwurm is below:
THURSDAY, JUNE 20
VIP Meet & Greet – 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. | The Garden Event Center – Duluth, MN
Grandma’s Marathon will host a fundraising event for Lindwurm and her family on Thursday evening, aiming to raise money that can assist with travel costs to the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics.
Lindwurm will be available for autographs and pictures, and she will deliver a short presentation. Heavy hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar will be available. Tickets are $50 each and limited to 150.
VIP Meet & Greet Tickets — Purchase HERE
FRIDAY, JUNE 21
Morning Group Run – 9:00 a.m. | DECC Entrance A – Duluth, MN
Lindwurm will lead a short shakeout community run through Canal Park and along the Lakewalk. Organized by Duluth Running Company, the group run is free and open to the public.
Autograph Signing – 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. | DECC Pioneer Hall – Duluth, MN
Lindwurm will be available during the Essentia Health Fitness Expo to sign autographs at a designated booth. Grandma’s Marathon will provide posters to be signed, or autograph seekers can bring their own items. This autograph session is free and open to the public.
Pre-Race Talk Show – 4:00 p.m. | DECC Paulucci Hall – Duluth, MN
Lindwurm will appear as a guest on our popular “Dick & Carrie Show” as part of the Essentia Health Fitness Expo. She will join Dick Beardsley and Carrie Tollefson to talk more about her Grandma’s Marathon experience and path to the 2024 Olympics. This show is free and open to the public.
For any questions or interview requests, please contact Marketing & Public Relations Director Zach Schneider via phone at (218) 343-9874 or via email at zach@grandmasmarathon.com.
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ABOUT GRANDMA’S MARATHON
Grandma’s Marathon began in 1977 when a group of local runners planned a scenic road race from Two Harbors to Duluth, Minnesota. After seeing just 150 participants that year, the race weekend has now grown into one of the largest in the United States and welcomes more than 20,000 participants for its three-race event each June.
The race got its name from the Duluth-based group of famous Grandma’s Restaurants, the first major sponsor of the marathon. In addition to the 26.2-mile race, the organization has now added the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon and William A. Irvin 5K to its weekend offerings.
As the popularity of Grandma’s Marathon has grown, our mission has stayed the same – to organize, promote, and deliver annual events and programs that cultivate running, educational, social, and charitable opportunities to our communities.
Grandma’s Marathon-Duluth, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization with a nine-person, full-time staff and a 17-member Board of Directors.
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