Great Minnesota Marathons

As racing season draws near, marathon runners like to find the perfect race to participate in. Minnesota marathons rank among the best marathon courses in the United States. Although there are several wonderful Minnesota marathons, I have found that the most enjoyable Minnesota marathon courses include the Stillwater Marathon, the Twin Cities Marathon and Grandma's Marathon.

Stillwater Marathon

The Stillwater Marathon takes place in the city that borders Wisconsin and Minnesota and straddles the great Mississippi River. The rolling river scenery along this Minnesota marathon race course is absolutely stunning, as are the many historic Victorian mansions that participants pass by during the run. The course also winds through the historic downtown district of the city of Stillwater. The annual Minnesota marathon takes place at the end of May each year. In addition to the 26.2 mile marathon race, the event includes a one mile walk/run, a 400 meter dash, a 2.62 mile mini marathon, the Get Fit Minnesota Health and Wellness Expo and even a delicious pancake breakfast.

Grandma's Marathon

Located in Duluth, Grandma's Marathon is easily one of the most popular marathons in the Midwest. Grandma's Marathon has been around for over thirty years and continues to be a favorite among Minnesota marathon runners. It is held in mid to late June every year. One great thing about attending Grandma's Marathon is that it provides marathon runners the opportunity to listen to several guest speakers, who are experts on interesting topics related to health and fitness. Former speakers also include Olympian athletes and other world-class runners and coaches. Other events taking place at Grandma's marathon include a 5k race, a half marathon, a spaghetti dinner, a bus tour of the racecourse, and live entertainment featuring several talented local musicians.

Twin Cities Marathon

Held near the end of the September or the beginning of October, the Twin Cities Marathon has been around almost as long as Grandmas' Marathon. The Twin Cities Marathon attracts a number of elite athletes from all over the United States, as well as several international runners. Many of the runners in this event participate as teams. There are several charity teams that run together to raise money for a number of wonderful causes. The Twin Cities Marathon course begins in downtown Minneapolis near the Metrodome and then winds along scenic rivers of the twin cities before ending at the Minnesota State Capitol in downtown St. Paul.