Fitger’s 5K
Registration for the 2024 Fitger’s 5K is now open.
To 2024 Race Day
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Online registration for the 2024 Fitger’s 5K is now closed. In-person registration is available Friday-Saturday, April 19-20 at the Fitger’s complex during following times:
Friday, April 19 — 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, April 20 — 7:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
NOTE: The capacity for this year’s race is 1,300 participants. Registration is taken on a
first-come, first-served basis until that capacity is reached.
A SPRINT INTO SPRING!
The iconic Fitger’s 5K has grown into one of the state’s premier spring races, offering a perfect challenge for runners of all ages and abilities while taking participants on a scenic tour of newly-renovated downtown Duluth.
Whether you’re in the middle of training for a bigger spring or summer race — Grandma’s Marathon, anyone? — or a first-timer wanting to be in a race environment for the first time, the Fitger’s 5K is the perfect race for you.
With a new racecourse that now takes you through downtown Duluth and Canal Park before turning onto the beautifully scenic Lakewalk, this race is challenging enough for competitive participants while also enjoyable for more casual participants.
2024 RACE DETAILS
START & FINISH LINE
Fitger’s Complex
600 East Superior Street
Duluth, MN 55802
FITGER’S 5K
The Fitger’s 5K course starts and finishes just outside the historic Fitger’s Complex in downtown Duluth. Participants will travel eastward on Superior Street to 12th Avenue East before going down the hill to London Road.
The middle miles contain a series of small turns between London Road and South Street before participants come back up the hill on 10th Avenue East before returning to the Fitger’s complex on Superior Street.
Pricing Structure (Adults)
January 1-February 15 — $35
February 16-March 31— $40
April 1-Race Day — $45
Pricing Structure (Youth – Ages 18 & Under)
July 1-Race Day — $15
Online registration will be open until 11:59 p.m. CT on Thursday, April 18. Race packet pickup and in-person registration will be available at the following times and locations:
FRIDAY, APRIL 19
12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. @ Fitger’s Complex
SATURDAY, APRIL 20
7:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. @ Fitger’s Complex
With the 2024 Fitger’s 5K falling near Earth Day, Grandma’s Marathon-Duluth, Inc. and the Young Athletes Foundation (YAF) have announced plans to make it a zero-waste event.
Included for the 1,300-person race will be several initiatives aimed at curbing the local event’s impact on the environment:
- Participant shirts, made by Leslie Jordan, will be made of recycled polyester.
- 3,000 compostable cups, provided by Coca Cola, will be available to participants at a mid-race water station and the finish line.
- Compostable post-race refreshments available to participants will be bananas (Super One Foods), Old Dutch chips (Project Nice), and race rolls (Great Harvest).
- Waste sorting stations and a bike valet will be available throughout the event.
- Age division award winners will be presented with succulent flower boxes.
On event day, road closures will be as follows in downtown Duluth and around the area of London Road:
8:15 a.m.-10:30 a.m.
- Superior Street closed between the Fitger’s complex and 8th Avenue East
8:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m.
- Superior Street closed between 8th-12th Avenues East
- London Road closed between 10th-21st Avenues East
- South Street closed between 15th-20th Avenues East
- All avenues closed between London Road and South Street
IMPORTANT: The 21st Avenue East and London Road intersection will remain open to traffic to the north, south, and east, as will the I35 on- and off-ramps.
Eastbound traffic is encouraged to use 2nd Street, while westbound traffic is encouraged to use 3rd Street to bypass the closures.
Motorists should be aware of temporary “No Parking” areas on Superior Street, London Road, and South Street within the closure area. Violators will be tagged and towed.
Participants, spectators, and volunteers are encouraged to park either in the Fitger’s complex ramp or along streets and avenues up the hill from the racecourse.
Businesses open along the south side of London Road will have limited access during the race and above road closure times.
No pets, motor vehicles, bicycles, handcycles, hand-cranked wheelchairs, roller skis, inline skates, or unregistered participants are allowed on the racecourse.
Baby joggers and strollers are allowed at YAF events but must start in the back of the corral.
Pushrim wheelchair competitors, duo teams, and other adaptive athletes are encouraged to participate but must follow all Wheelchair & Adaptive Program Guidance. NOTE: Adaptive athletes are asked to contact Race Director Greg Haapala via phone at (218) 727-0947 prior to registering so that all reasonable accommodations can be provided.
THE SWAG
2024 FINISHER MEDAL
All Fitger’s 5K finishers will receive a commemorative finisher medal.
2024 PARTICIPANT SHIRT
All Fitger’s 5K participants will receive a commemorative long sleeve shirt, included with the entry fee. NOTE: Adult and youth sizes may vary in color and style.
2024 PARTICIPANT SOCKS
All Fitger’s 5K participants will also have the option to purchase commemorative Fitsoks for $7, either during registration or at packet pickup.
Fitsoks Sizing Information
- Medium — Men’s Shoe Size 6-8; Women’s Shoe Size 7-9
- Large — Men’s Shoe Size 9-11; Women’s Shoe Size 10-12
SKI HUT RAFFLE
2024 SKI HUT RAFFLE
At packet pickup, participants will have a chance to purchase $10 raffle tickets with the grand prize being a 24” bicycle ($700 value via gift certificate), courtesy of our major YAF sponsor Ski Hut.
The winner will be announced at the start line. The gift certificate must be used at the Ski Hut in Duluth on or before December 31, 2024.
All money raised from the raffle directly benefits the Young Athletes Foundation and its community programming.
RACE RESULTS & PHOTOS
Joe Moore holds the all-time men’s event record in the Fitger’s 5K, finishing with the only men’s time under 15:00 in the event’s history — his mark of 14:53 in 2013 is still the mark to beat.
Amy Lyons, meanwhile, holds the all-time women’s event record in the Fitger’s 5K, finishing with the only women’s time under 17:00 in the event’s history — her time of 16:55 in 2016 is still the mark to beat.
John Eide was the event’s first-ever non-binary finisher and still holds the all-time event record with a time of 24:37 in 2022.
Full historical results of the Fitger’s 5K can be seen HERE.
ALL-TIME FITGER’S 5K MEN’S CHAMPIONS
2023 – Scott Behling, 15:56
2022 – Scott Behling, 16:03
2021 – Liam Fife, 16:59
2020 – Liam Fife, 17:29
2019 – Scott Behling, 15:18
2018 – Nate Routhier, 15:35
2017 – Scott Behling, 15:54
2016 – Scott Behling, 16:08
2015 – Justin Grunewald, 15:18
2014 – Trevor Zimak, 15:54
2013 – Joe Moore, 14:53
2012 – Michael Reneau, 15:10
2011 – Justin Grunewald, 16:10
2010 – Jeremy Polson, 15:35
2009 – Jeremy Polson, 15:29
2008 – Michael Benchina, 16:08
2007 – Michael Benchina, 16:42
2006 – Michael Benchina, 16:44
2005 – n/a
2004 – Gene Letty, 17:02
2003 – n/a
2002 – Jeremy Polson, 15:07
2001 – Patrick Russell, 15:29
2000 – Patrick Russell, 15:46
1990-1999 – n/a
NOTE: Some early records for the Fitger’s 5K are incomplete. Our staff is working to retrieve those results dating back to 1990.
ALL-TIME FITGER’S 5K WOMEN’S CHAMPIONS
2023 – Alyssa Nash, 19:22
2022 – Chelsey Youngberg, 19:30
2021 – Katherine Hoffman, 19:05
2020 – Rochelle Wirth, 21:19
2019 – Casey Hovland, 18:08
2018 – Ellen Smith, 18:26
2017 – Anna Lahti, 19:56
2016 – Megan Baertsch, 19:31
2015 – Carrie Tollefson, 18:20
2014 – Katie McGee, 19:30
2013 – Morgan Place, 17:53
2012 – Katie Koski, 17:48
2011 – Gabrielle Cyr, 18:58
2010 – Katie Koski, 18:23
2009 – Amy Lyons, 17:32
2008 – Jennifer Houck, 18:57
2007 – Desiree Budd, 17:51
2006 – Amy Lyons, 16:55
2005 – n/a
2004 – Katie Koski, 18:10
2003 – n/a
2002 – Katie Koski, 18:03
2001 – Rochelle Wirth, 19:45
2000 – Heidi Schroeder, 19:51
1990-1999 – n/a
NOTE: Some early records for the Fitger’s 5K are incomplete. Our staff is working to retrieve those results dating back to 1990.
ALL-TIME FITGER’S 5K NON-BINARY CHAMPIONS
2023 – n/a
2022 – John Eide, 24:37
1990-2021 – n/a
ALL-TIME FITGER’S 5K MULTIPLE TIME MEN’S CHAMPIONS
5 – Scott Behling (2016, 2017, 2019, 2022, 2023)
3 – Jeremy Polson (2002, 2009, 2010)
Michael Benchina (2006, 2007, 2008)
2 – Patrick Russell (2000, 2001)
Justin Grunewald (2011, 2015)
Liam Fife (2020, 2021)
ALL-TIME FITGER’S 5K MULTIPLE TIME WOMEN’S CHAMPIONS
4 – Katie Koski (2002, 2004, 2010, 2012)
2 – Rochelle Wirth (2001, 2020)
Amy Lyons (2006, 2009)
ALL-TIME FITGER’S 5K MULTIPLE TIME NON-BINARY CHAMPIONS
n/a
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.