Grandma's Marathon 50th Anniversary Nears Record 19,000 Runners Sold Out

Registration for the 2026 Grandma's Marathon weekend, marking the event's 50th anniversary, broke all previous records by selling out in just 12 hours, with over 19,000 participants signed up across all races. The main marathon filled 9,500 spots, while the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon sold out in 75 minutes, and the William A. Irvin 5K and Great Grandma's Challenges also reached capacity rapidly. Organizers attributed the intense demand to the milestone anniversary, drawing interest from across the country and worldwide. Despite the quick sellouts, charity entries remain a way for runners to participate, supporting local causes with the event aiming to raise $1 million. This marks the sixth consecutive year of sellouts, with registration times growing shorter each year, and organizers expressed surprise and excitement over the unprecedented enthusiasm. The registration process, improved from previous years, handled the high volume smoothly, underscoring the event's status as one of the largest and most popular marathons in the country.