• 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.

          • Read More
    • 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.

          • Read More
    • 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.

          • Read More
  • VISIT Grandma's Marathon

North End Nightmare 5K

Registration for the North End Nightmare 5K will open on September 1.

To 2023 Race Day

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NEXT RACE

TBD

LOCATION

Superior, WI

START TIME

TBD

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A spooky end to our annual racing calendar, the North End Nightmare 5K brings us across the bridge to Superior and offers a chance to combine your love of running with Halloween!

In coordination with the annual Superior Spooktacular, this event offers participants a mix of scary surprises and haunted attractions to go along with a family-friendly costume race!

Participants will have the chance to enter a race day costume contest, with fabulous prizes available to the day’s best-dressed individuals, groups, and kids.

2023 RACE DETAILS

LOCATION
COURSE MAP

NORTH END NIGHTMARE 5K

The North End Nightmare 5K course starts and finishes near Earth Rider Brewery in Superior. The start and finish area has plenty of activities for before and after your race, including a trick-or-treat area for kids.

NOTE: The North End Nightmare 5K course is designed to be Halloween-themed, and though we make every effort to make the decorations family-friendly, some participants may find it frightening. For more details on what to expect on race day, please call our office at (218) 727-0947.

ENTRY FEE STRUCTURE

Pricing Structure (Adults)
September 1-September 15 — $30
September 16-October 15 — $35
October 16-Race Day — $40

Pricing Structure (Youth – Ages 18 & Under)
September 1-Race Day — $10

RACE PACKET PICKUP

Participants may pick up their race packets on Friday or Saturday of race week. NOTE: In-person registration will also be available, as space allows.

 

PACKET PICKUP HOURS
Grandma’s Marathon Office (351 Canal Park Drive, Duluth)
Friday, October 27 | 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

 

Earth Rider Brewery (1715 N. 3rd Street, Superior)
Saturday, October 28 | 9:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.

KIDS' RACES

The Spider Dash Kids’ Races are FREE and open to all participants ages 14 & under. 

 

The kids’ races will start at 12:30 p.m., shortly after the conclusion of the main race. The kids’ races will start and finish at the start line of the main race, and participants will be separated (along with parents) into separate heats on race day based on age and participation.

MERCHANDISE SALE

A North End Nightmare merchandise sale will be held during race packet pickup hours. All previous year’s jackets can be purchased be $10 each or two for $15, and Fitsoks can be purchased for $3 each.

 

MERCHANDISE SALE HOURS
Grandma’s Marathon Office (351 Canal Park Drive, Duluth)
Friday, October 27 | 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

 

Earth Rider Brewery (1617 N. 3rd Street, Superior)
Saturday, October 28 | 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

COSTUME CONTEST

All participants are invited to participate in the North End Nightmare 5K costume contest. Simply get your picture taken near the start-finish area outside Earth Rider Brewery to be entered, and winners will be selected the following week via a public vote on our Facebook page.

 

Prizes will be available to the costume contest winners, which will include several different categories such as individual, group, kids, etc.

RACE RULES

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 GuidanceNOTE: 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

2023 ADULT FULL-ZIP HOODED SWEATSHIRT (BLACK)
All North End Nightmare 5K adult participants will receive a commemorative black, full-zip hooded sweatshirt, included with the entry fee.

2023 YOUTH FULL-ZIP FLEECE JACKET (GOLD)
All youth participants will receive a commemorative gold full-zip fleece jacket, included with the entry fee. 

NOTE: Adult and youth sizes may vary in color and style.

2023 PARTICIPANT SOCKS
All North End Nightmare 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

 

2023 FREE DRINK COUPON (FROM EARTH RIDER BREWERY)
All North End Nightmare 5K participants will receive a free drink coupon that can be redeemed on race day only at Earth Rider Brewery (located near the start/finish area).  Non-alcoholic drinks will also be available.

RACE RESULTS & PHOTOS

The North End Nightmare 5K all-time men’s event record is held by Scott Behling, who finished in 15:40 in the 2021 race. The women’s event record belongs to Rochelle Wirth, who ran 20:27 in the first-ever race in 2019.

NOTE: The non-binary category has been an available option to participants since 2022, but as of now no one has registered in that particular category.

Full historical results of the North End Nightmare 5K can be seen HERE.

ALL-TIME NORTH END NIGHTMARE 5K MEN’S CHAMPIONS
2023 – Cooper Lucarelli, 19:07
2022 – James Kyes, 18:39
2021 – Scott Behling, 15:40
2020 – Maverick Koecher, 11:22*
2019 – Scott Behling, 16:01

*The 2020 North End Nightmare was shortened to a 2-mile race due to public health concerns.

ALL-TIME NORTH END NIGHTMARE 5K WOMEN’S CHAMPIONS
2023 – Melissa Severson, 21:01
2022 – Kari Koski, 21:04
2021 – Rochelle Wirth, 20:54
2020 – Rochelle Wirth, 12:41*
2019 – Rochelle Wirth, 20:27

*The 2020 North End Nightmare was shortened to a 2-mile race due to public health concerns.

ALL-TIME NORTH END NIGHTMARE 5K NON-BINARY CHAMPIONS
2019-2023 – n/a

ALL-TIME NORTH END NIGHTMARE 5K MULTIPLE TIME MEN’S CHAMPIONS
2 – Scott Behling (2019, 2021)

ALL-TIME NORTH END NIGHTMARE 5K MULTIPLE TIME WOMEN’S CHAMPIONS
3 – Rochelle Wirth (2019, 2020, 2021)

ALL-TIME NORTH END NIGHTMARE 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.