Grandma's does it right
- By Doug Kurtis

At Ford Motor Company, after completing projects, we look at lessons learned.   What went right, what went wrong, how can we improve on the future projects.   Last weekend, at Grandma's Marathon in Duluth, Minnesota, I witnessed first hand how an event does things right. It is my favorite marathon (outside of Detroit's, of course) largely due to the way everyone in the city and surrounding area supports the event.

While at Grandma's Marathon I had the opportunity to work as one of the finish line announcers for their 5km, half marathon and marathon.   As names of the participants popped up on our computer screen, I was impressed by how many participants came right from Duluth.   As many as 20 percent of the runners come from the city of Duluth in the two shorter races. Sixty percent of the field of 9,500 marathoners comes from Minnesota. In addition, four thousand locals volunteer and thousands more are sitting in the bleachers at the finish line cheering them on.

While observing and working on numerous races around the country, I've witnessed one key ingredient to the most successful races. The event becomes something everyone wants to be a part of no matter what aspect that is.   In Duluth, almost every storefront on Lake Avenue and Canal Park has a poster promoting the weekend long event. And those stores enjoy the business that all of the runners and spectators bring in. You can't go anywhere without hearing people talk about the race.   Very few cities have that degree of focus.

The Marathon sold out two weeks after opening in January.   A limit on entries for all three races was set in part because of hotel space. Every room within one hundred miles is booked months in advance.   It's every race director's dream to not worry about entries. It smoothes planning for all the amenities they offer runners.   Imagine putting in an order for 500,000 cups, 30,000 sponges and 2,000 pounds of spaghetti sauce. Most runners aren't worried about the Atkins diet.   The Carbo loading party was busting at the seams last Friday night.

Any good retailer or real estate agent would tell you that it's all about location. Grandma's has many advantages to its locale. Outside magazine rated Duluth in the top 10 of its places to do things outside.    The views along the marathon route from Two Harbors to the foot of the Ariel Lift Bridge are phenomenal.   Runners that wanted to save themselves from doing two much walking along the boardwalk rented one of several unusual pedal carts.   The William A. Irvin 5km, an ore ship that is now a marvelous museum, starts and finishes at it namesake. Within a few hundreds yards families can take their kids to the IMAX, the Great Lakes Aquarium or the newest attraction, the Bayfront Festival Park for kids.

Duluth doesn't want its participants to go home once the race is over.   There were many post race activities to ensure runners are left with a gratifying experience.