• KP Challenge
          • The KP Challenge is a series of three great, local races — Saint Fennessy 4K, Fitger’s 5K, and Park Point 5-Miler — that are strategically placed throughout the year to help participants build their endurance and stick to a regular training schedule.

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    • Saint Fennessy 4K
    • Fitger’s 5K
    • Park Point 5-Miler & 2-Mile Walk
    • Minnesota Mile
    • North End Nightmare 5K
    • Youth Races
    • Volunteer
          • Our kids. Our community. Our future.

            Our tremendous community of volunteers plays a significant role in helping the Young Athletes Foundation to create memorable and successful events for our runners. More than 1,000 volunteers are needed throughout the year to support our fundraising race events for the YAF.

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    • Sponsors
          • Our kids. Our community. Our future.

            The Young Athletes Foundation was created to serve the community, and for more than three decades we have done that with the help of our local and regional business partners. With events throughout the year, our sponsors assist greatly in our mission of  providing pathways of opportunity to youth in athletic programs and encouraging healthy lifestyles.

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    • Charity Runners
          • Our kids. Our community. Our future.

            Do you want to run for free AND add more meaning to your miles Sign up ahead of Grandma’s Marathon weekend to be a charity runner for the Young Athletes Foundation (YAF), and your success in reaching the finish line can help someone else reach theirs.

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  • VISIT Grandma's Marathon

Running Shoe Program

A MILE IN THEIR SHOES

Our running shoe program carries the mission of providing the area’s high school running teams with free running shoe certificates that the head coaches can distribute to their athletes in need.

If you’re an area coach or would like your high school program to be involved, please contact our Office Manager Kellie Luedloff via email at [email protected] or call our office at (218) 727-0947.

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Since 1990, the YAF has awarded more than 4,500 pairs of running shoes to the area's high school cross country and track and field athletes.

AREA HIGH SCHOOLS

The following high school programs are located within our five-county area — Carlton, Cook, Douglas, Lake, and St. Louis Counties are all represented. Each varsity season, these programs (some are cooperatives involving more than one school) are all eligible to receive up to eight shoe certificates for cross country and 12 shoe certificates for track and field.

Carlton-Wrenshall
Chisholm
Cloquet
Cook County-Two Harbors-Silver Bay
Cromwell-Wright-Floodwood

Duluth Denfeld
Duluth East
Ely
Esko
Greenway-Nashwauk-Keewatin
Hermantown

Hibbing
Lakeview Christian Academy
Duluth Marshall
Mesabi East
Mountain Iron-Buhl
Northeast Range

Northwestern
Rock Ridge
Proctor
Solon Springs
Superior

2020
Track & Field — 0 
Cross Country — 145
Miscellaneous — 1
Total Value: $10,888

2019
Track & Field — 262
Cross Country — 0
Total Value: $18,405

2018
Track & Field — 273
Cross Country — 141
Total Value: $29,119

2017
Track & Field — 255
Cross Country — 137
Total Value: $27,890

2016
Track & Field — 163
Cross Country — 57
Total Value: $16,111

2015
Track & Field — 182
Cross Country — 63
Total Value: $16,773

2014
Track & Field — 182
Cross Country — 66
Total Value: $17,528

2013
Track & Field — 169
Cross Country — 77
Total Value: $17,489

2012
Track & Field — 175
Cross Country — 69
Miscellaneous — 27 
Total Value: $19,007

2011
Track & Field — 184
Cross Country — 62
Total Value: $15,991

2010
Track & Field — 184
Cross Country — 63
Total Value: $15,416

2009
Track & Field — 172 
Cross Country — 79
Total Value: $15,409

2008
Track & Field — 161
Cross Country — 70
Ice Skates — 40
Total Value: $15,215

2007
Track & Field — 136
Cross Country — 60
Ice Skates — 63
Total Value: $14,588

2006
Track & Field — 149
Cross Country — 61
Ice Skates — 62
Total Value: $15,288

2005
Track & Field — 45
Cross Country — 62
Ice Skates — 58
Total Value: $8,816

2004
Track & Field — 37
Cross Country — 23
Ice Skates — 44
Total Value: $4,807

2003
Track & Field — 28
Cross Country — 20
Ice Skates — 25
Total Value: $3,610

2002
Track & Field — 38
Cross Country — 16
Ice Skates — 48
Total Value: $4,400

2001
Track & Field — 41
Cross Country — 15
Total Value: $3,080

2000
Track & Field — 38
Cross Country — 18
Total Value: $3,080

1999
Track & Field — 39
Cross Country — 16
Total Value: $3,025

1998
Track & Field — 30
Cross Country — 23
Miscellaneous — 17
Total Value: $3,406

1997
Track & Field — 36
Cross Country — 18
Total Value: $2,790

1996
Track & Field — 32
Cross Country — 16
Total Value: $2,400

1995
Track & Field — 13
Cross Country — 20
Miscellaneous — 1
Total Value: $1,705

1994
Track & Field — 15
Cross Country — 17
Miscellaneous — 2
Total Value: $1,542

1993
Track & Field — 22
Cross Country — 21
Total Value: $1,935

1992
Track & Field — 10
Cross Country — 12
Miscellaneous — 1
Total Value: $1,019

1991
Track & Field — 14
Cross Country — 0
Miscellaneous — 1
Total Value: $675

YOUNG ATHLETES FOUNDATION

The Young Athletes Foundation (YAF), the charity arm of Grandma’s Marathon, was created in 1990 to assist with the promotion and development of healthy and active lifestyles for youth throughout Carlton, Cook, Douglas, Lake, and St. Louis Counties. Since its inception, the YAF has donated more than $1.3 million to the community’s youth athletic, recreational, and nonprofit organizations.

If you are interested in volunteering for any of our Young Athletes Foundation (YAF) events or have any other questions, please contact our Program Director Alivia Nelson via email at [email protected] or call our office at (218) 727-0947.