Grandma's Marathon goes on as scheduled despite the rain
DULUTH, Minn. — With rapids of water shooting past Duluth residences this week, the 20,000-plus Grandma's Marathoners were already watching the weather.
Grandma's Marathon officials announced on Saturday morning that the race would go on as planned, as the threat for severe weather diminished. Officials say runners should prepare for wet and cool conditions; rain and scattered storms are still expected throughout the day.
Carrie Rodman from Eagan was in Duluth on Friday ahead of the race.
"I mean right now it's really nice here," said Rodman.
She's hoping Mother Nature wouldn't stand in the way of what would make her 17th marathon. Last year, she missed out on the race due to a fractured heel.
"It would be disappointing, but it's also something that would be understandable," said Rodman. "There's a lot of people involved that they need to keep safe, whether it's spectators, whether its volunteers, whether its runners."
Thousands of runners travel to Duluth for the marathon, which is one of the qualifiers for the Boston Marathon.
"My marathon addiction maybe started about, maybe two or three years ago," said Rachel Rodriguez.
Rodriguez is in Duluth, all the way from Los Angeles.
"I'm running a marathon in every state. This is state 24 for me," said Rodriguez. "Hopefully tomorrow, we're standing at the finish line, running through the finish line."
Note: The above video first aired on June 21, 2024, before officials decided that the race would continue on as planned.