DULUTH, Minn. — As winter finally starts to show up in Minnesota, but for some, the damage has already done. Events that rely on snow and cold are dropping fast. But a summer event in Duluth is already blossoming.
Grandma's Marathon sold out its spots in nearly record time.
"It's not often that soon after the turn of the new year we're talking about a sell out," said Zach Schneider. "We were just five days off of our own personal record from 2016."
Schneider said 9,500 runners signed up to tackle the 26.2-mile race. More than 20,000 participants in total will take part in different runs.
One of them is Matt Evans, who has run the marathon 40 times.
"My two brothers have actually done it more than I have," he laughed. "My brother has done all but one. One year he was trying to hitchhike up from Madison, he just never made it. We still razz him about it."
Evans has noticed fellow runners were anxious to sign up for Grandma's, especially since the Twin Cities Marathon was canceled the day before the race. The night it was supposed to happen, Grandma's Marathon saw a record number of first-day sign ups later that same night.
Matt Baumgartner is the President for Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce. He says news of the marathon selling out is a ray of sunshine for businesses.
"Especially businesses that are close in proximity to the race, you essentially start hiring in the spring, for that Saturday," said Baumgartner.
Baumgartner worked for Grandma's Restaurant Company for 15 years before becoming president of the Chamber
"It's very unfortunate that we lost the Beargrease," he said. "When you lose something during the slow season, it has an outsized detrimental impact to the financials of your business."
The John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon canceled it's race earlier this week for later in January. According to the Chamber, January is typically a slow time for businesses.
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