New course, start time announced for William A. Irvin 5K – Duluth News Tribune

DULUTH – Construction is once again leading to changes to the William A. Irvin 5K route. However, this time race officials also announced a new start time for the opening race of the Grandma's Marathon weekend.

The 2025 Irvin 5K begins at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, June 20, instead of the usual 6:00 p.m. The race starts next to the William A. Irvin Ore Boat Museum on Harbor Drive, passes under the finish structure set up for the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon and Grandma's Marathon, and finishes at Bayfront Festival Park. The Lakewalk will still be a long stretch in the middle.

Planned construction next summer outside the Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center resulted in a change to the route, while the new start time is aimed at relieving congestion that occurs in the late afternoon and early evening Friday before Saturday's main event, the Grandma's Marathon .

“This construction project really gave us the opportunity to rethink the entire Friday of our race weekend,” said Zach Schneider, marketing and communications director for Grandma's Marathon. “Not only can we offer new experiences for our 5K runners, but moving the race earlier in the day at a time when thousands of our marathon and half marathon runners are coming into the city and making their way through this part of town will make significant improvements “Issuance and collection of the race packages.”

Clint Austin / Files / Duluth Media Group

The Irvin 5K will take place on Friday, June 20, the day before the Björklund Half Marathon and the Grandma Marathon on Saturday, June 21. Registration for all three races begins on Tuesday, October 1st at 7:00 p.m. and is on a first come, first served basis.

All three races in 2024 were sold out for the fourth year in a row. The Bjorklund Run sold out in less than 100 hours on October 5th, while the Irvin 5K Run sold out on November 27th. Grandma's Marathon was declared sold out on January 5th.

To register and for more information, visit GrandmasMarathon.com.

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