Gearing Up for Grandma's
67 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 1 month ago - ★★★★★ - 20 ratingsHear inspiring stories leading up to Grandma's Marathon, a 26.2-mile road race along the scenic shores of Lake Superior and finishing in Duluth, Minn. Started in 1977 with only 150 runners, Grandma's Marathon is now the 12th largest marathon in the United States and brings approximately 20,000 participants to northern Minnesota each June. Our podcast is brought to you with the support of Essentia Health. Grandma's Marathon is proudly presented by Toyota, Members Cooperative Credit Union, and ASICS.
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Episodes
Season 1, Episode 9 --- Emily Larson & Janelle Jones
June 02, 2021 14:00 - 23 minutes - 16.5 MBDuluth Mayor Emily Larson and Lake County Chamber of Commerce President Janelle Jones join the podcast to talk about the municipal support that's required for Grandma's Marathon each and every year. Mayor Larson and her city staff are integral to the success of Grandma's Marathon weekend, and the planning for each race is truly a year-round process. The city devotes resources, time, energy, and money to the race and has been one of its strongest supporters since the start in 1977. Jones, m...
Season 1, Episode 8 --- Herb Dillon
May 25, 2021 23:00 - 25 minutes - 17.9 MBHerb Dillon is a longtime volunteer of Grandma's Marathon and has been part of the event's medical team for more than 40 years now. Dillon has a military background and, after coming off active duty, started working triage with Grandma's Marathon in 1979 and has been back for every race since. He's now one of the leaders of the weekend's medical team and works primarily at the finish line area with dozens of volunteers to keep participants safe and healthy before, during, and after the rac...
Episode #8 - Herb Dillon
May 25, 2021 23:00 - 25 minutes - 17.9 MBHerb Dillon is a longtime volunteer of Grandma's Marathon and has been part of the event's medical team for more than 40 years now. Dillon has a military background and, after coming off active duty, started working triage with Grandma's Marathon in 1979 and has been back for every race since. He's now one of the leaders of the weekend's medical team and works primarily at the finish line area with dozens of volunteers to keep participants safe and healthy before, during, and after the rac...
Season 1, Episode 7 --- Doug Nelson
May 11, 2021 20:00 - 25 minutes - 17.5 MBDoug Nelson is a longtime volunteer of Grandma's Marathon and has been part of the event's communications team for more than 35 years now. Doug and his team are responsible for many things on race weekend, including keeping the course clear and communicating any issues that may arise throughout the day. Inducted into the Grandma's Marathon Hall of Fame in 2017, Nelson also received the Rudy Perpich Public Service Award in 2009. He has the unique claim of being "the last person to finish Gr...
Episode #7 --- Doug Nelson
May 11, 2021 20:00 - 25 minutes - 17.5 MBDoug Nelson is a longtime volunteer of Grandma's Marathon and has been part of the event's communications team for more than 35 years now. Doug and his team are responsible for many things on race weekend, including keeping the course clear and communicating any issues that may arise throughout the day. Inducted into the Grandma's Marathon Hall of Fame in 2017, Nelson also received the Rudy Perpich Public Service Award in 2009. He has the unique claim of being "the last person to finish Gr...
Episode #6 --- Michael Pinocci
April 13, 2021 20:00 - 39 minutes - 27 MBLongtime race announcers Peter Graves and Michael Pinocci recount their favorite memories of Grandma's Marathon weekend, as seen from their perch above the finish line in Duluth's Canal Park. Pinocci placed second in the 1984 full marathon with a time of 2:14:01, and he is a 2004 inductee into the Grandma's Marathon Hall of Fame. He touches on his experience with the race as a runner and as an announcer, as well as his battle with a heart arrhythmia that ultimately ended his competitive run...
Season 1, Episode 6 --- Michael Pinocci
April 13, 2021 20:00 - 39 minutes - 27 MBLongtime race announcers Peter Graves and Michael Pinocci recount their favorite memories of Grandma's Marathon weekend, as seen from their perch above the finish line in Duluth's Canal Park. Pinocci placed second in the 1984 full marathon with a time of 2:14:01, and he is a 2004 inductee into the Grandma's Marathon Hall of Fame. He touches on his experience with the race as a runner and as an announcer, as well as his battle with a heart arrhythmia that ultimately ended his competitive run...
Season 1, Episode 5 --- Kellyn Taylor
March 10, 2021 14:00 - 32 minutes - 22.6 MBIt was a unique set of circumstances that brought Kellyn Taylor to Grandma's Marathon in June 2018, and she arrived in Duluth with something to prove. After having to withdraw before the halfway mark of a cold and rainy Boston Marathon in April, Taylor was in top shape and now had an opening on her schedule for a Grandma's Marathon appearance. She ran 2:24:28 to set the event record, breaking the old mark by more than two minutes. Of course, she remembers that day fondly and shares more ab...
Episode #5 --- Kellyn Taylor
March 10, 2021 14:00 - 32 minutes - 22.6 MBIt was a unique set of circumstances that brought Kellyn Taylor to Grandma's Marathon in June 2018, and she arrived in Duluth with something to prove. After having to withdraw before the halfway mark of a cold and rainy Boston Marathon in April, Taylor was in top shape and now had an opening on her schedule for a Grandma's Marathon appearance. She ran 2:24:28 to set the event record, breaking the old mark by more than two minutes. Of course, she remembers that day fondly and shares more ab...
Season 1, Episode 4 --- Nell Rojas
February 08, 2021 22:00 - 41 minutes - 28.8 MBNell Rojas was the 2019 Grandma's Marathon champion, running a time of 2:28:06 in just her second-ever marathon. That time qualified her for the 2020 US Olympic Trials, where she finished ninth. Now, Rojas has her sights set firmly on again qualifying for the Trials and earning a spot on the US Olympic Team. She talks about those career plans as well as an affinity she's developed for the coaching side of running. Rojas also talks about her relationship with her father, who has been her co...
Episode #4 --- Nell Rojas
February 08, 2021 22:00 - 41 minutes - 28.8 MBNell Rojas was the 2019 Grandma's Marathon champion, running a time of 2:28:06 in just her second-ever marathon. That time qualified her for the 2020 US Olympic Trials, where she finished ninth. Now, Rojas has her sights set firmly on again qualifying for the Trials and earning a spot on the US Olympic Team. She talks about those career plans as well as an affinity she's developed for the coaching side of running. Rojas also talks about her relationship with her father, who has been her co...
Season 1, Episode 3 --- Wendy (Hovland) Cregg
January 12, 2021 18:00 - 37 minutes - 26.1 MBWendy (Hovland) Cregg was the first-ever women's champion at Grandma's Marathon, winning the 1977 race with a time of 3:23:39. Only 18 years old at the time, Grandma's was the first and only marathon for the then-Wendy Hovland, though she does still enjoy casual running. In 2019, Cregg was presented with the Scott A. Keenan Founder's Award, which recognizes an exemplary person who embodies the history, vision, and spirit of Grandma’s Marathon through their chosen area of contribution. He...
Episode #3 --- Wendy (Hovland) Cregg
January 12, 2021 18:00 - 37 minutes - 26.1 MBWendy (Hovland) Cregg was the first-ever women's champion at Grandma's Marathon, winning the 1977 race with a time of 3:23:39. Only 18 years old at the time, Grandma's was the first and only marathon for the then-Wendy Hovland, though she does still enjoy casual running. In 2019, Cregg was presented with the Scott A. Keenan Founder's Award, which recognizes an exemplary person who embodies the history, vision, and spirit of Grandma’s Marathon through their chosen area of contribution. He...
Season 1, Episode 2 --- Kevin Pates
December 09, 2020 15:00 - 35 minutes - 24.1 MBLongtime Duluth News Tribune reporter Kevin Pates relives his 37 years covering Grandma's Marathon, remembering fondly his time working alongside some of the best running talent to visit the shores of Lake Superior. From telling tale about Lasse Viren, a four-time Olympic gold medalist, to explaining his affinity for detail in his own stories and in others, Pates goes back through nearly four decades of newspaper reporting on what has become one of the premier marathons in the United States.
Episode #2 --- Kevin Pates
December 09, 2020 15:00 - 35 minutes - 24.1 MBLongtime Duluth News Tribune reporter Kevin Pates relives his 37 years covering Grandma's Marathon, remembering fondly his time working alongside some of the best running talent to visit the shores of Lake Superior. From telling tale about Lasse Viren, a four-time Olympic gold medalist, to explaining his affinity for detail in his own stories and in others, Pates goes back through nearly four decades of newspaper reporting on what has become one of the premier marathons in the United States.
Episode #1 --- Dick Beardsley
November 09, 2020 21:00 - 40 minutes - 27.6 MBLongtime Grandma's Marathon record-holder Dick Beardsley joins the podcast to talk about a variety of topics, all stemming from his love of running. Beardsley touches on his inauspicious start in the sport, the year his Grandma's record was beaten by Dominic Ondoro, and his "Duel in the Sun" with Alberto Salazar at the 1981 Boston Marathon. He also dives into more serious things, including speaking of his one-time narcotics addiction and the death of his son, Andy. Race announcer Peter Gr...
Season 1, Episode 1 --- Dick Beardsley
November 09, 2020 21:00 - 40 minutes - 27.6 MBLongtime Grandma's Marathon record-holder Dick Beardsley joins the podcast to talk about a variety of topics, all stemming from his love of running. Beardsley touches on his inauspicious start in the sport, the year his Grandma's record was beaten by Dominic Ondoro, and his "Duel in the Sun" with Alberto Salazar at the 1981 Boston Marathon. He also dives into more serious things, including speaking of his one-time narcotics addiction and the death of his son, Andy. Race announcer Peter Gr...