• 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.

          • Read More
    • 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

Saint Fennessy 4K

Registration for the 2024 Saint Fennessy 4K is now open.

Registration for the 2024 Saint Fennessy 4K is now sold out.

To 2024 Race Day

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Online registration for the 2024 Saint Fennessy 4K is now closed. In-person registration is available Friday-Saturday, March 15-16 at Skyline Social & Games during following times:
Friday, March 15 — 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, March 16 — 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
NOTE: The capacity for this year’s race is 850 participants. Registration is taken on a
first-come, first-served basis until that capacity is reached.

NEXT RACE

March 16, 2024

LOCATION

Hermantown, MN

START TIME

10:00 a.m.

GET SOCIAL

SHAMROCK & ROLL

The perfect start to our annual racing calendar, the Saint Fennessy 4K is a chance for our participants to shake off the winter blues and celebrate… St. Patrick’S Day style.

An out-and-back racecourse that starts and finishes at Skyline Social & Games in Hermantown makes this a perfect race for veteran runners hoping to set a new PR, and the shorter 4K distance makes it an inviting event for those who aren’t regulars in the running scene.

PLUS, a post-race costume contest offers participants with the most St. Paddy’s Day spirit the chance at some lucky charms and a pot o’ gold! So get your green on and come out to Skyline Social & Games, which will be offering great food and drink specials throughout race day.

A RECORD-SETTING DAY

RECORD PARTICIPATION IN 2024

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What a day it was for the 2024 Saint Fennessy 4K 🍀🏃‍♂️🍀🏃‍♀️
 
Despite some cool and windy conditions on race day, we saw a RECORD NUMBER of lucky leprachauns and shamrock shakers cross the finish line this year. Huge congratulations to everyone who participated with determination, passion, and a whole lot of Irish spirit!

Our glasses of green beer 🍺 may be empty, but our hearts are full! 💚 💚 
 

2024 RACE DETAILS

LOCATION

START & FINISH LINE
Skyline Social & Games
4894 Miller Trunk Highway
Duluth, MN 55811

COURSE MAP

SAINT FENNESSY 4K

The Saint Fennessy 4K course starts and finishes at Skyline Social & Games.

The out-and-back course begins on Stebner Road, with participants running toward Arrowhead Road. After turning right onto Arrowhead Road, participants will continue until the turnaround just before Lavaque Road. After the turnaround, participants then head back on Arrowhead Road before finishing on Stebner Road.

ENTRY FEE STRUCTURE

Pricing Structure (Adults)
January 1-January 21 — $25
January 22-February 29 — $30
March 1-Race Day — $35

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

REGISTRATION & PACKET PICKUP

Online registration will be open until 11:59 p.m. CT on Thursday, March 14. Race packet pickup and in-person registration will be available at the following times and locations:

 

FRIDAY, MARCH 15
12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. @ Skyline Social & Games
SATURDAY, MARCH 16
8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. @ Skyline Social & Games

ROAD CLOSURES

On event day, Stebner Road will be closed between West Arrowhead Road and Village Drive from 9:15-11:45 a.m., and West Arrowhead Road will be closed between Stebner Road and Lavaque Road from 9:30-11:30 a.m.

Motorists can use Miller Trunk Highway/Highway 53 or Maple Grove Road as detour routes between Lavaque and Stebner Roads.

PARKING

Free parking for participants, volunteers, and spectators will be available in the Skyline Social & Games and Marcus Lakes Cinema parking lots. NOTE: Those parking in the Marcus Lake Cinema lot must move their vehicles by 12:00 p.m. on race day.

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

2024 PARTICIPANT SHIRT
All Saint Fennessy 4K 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 Saint Fennessy 4K participants will also have the option to purchase commemorative Fitsoks for $8, 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

POST-RACE PARTY

2024 POST-RACE PARTY
Skyline Social & Games will open for business at 8:00 a.m. on race day, with the kitchen scheduled to open at 10:00 a.m.

Participants are encouraged to stay for one of the best post-race parties around, complete with festive St. Patrick’s Day-themed drinks (listed below).

Lucky Charm — $9
melon liqueur, vodka, white run, pink lemonade

Irish Luck — $9
tequila, orange and pineapple juices, blue curacao liqueur

Saint Fennessy Finisher — $9
Jameson Irish whiskey, peach schnapps, pineapple juice, Starry

Green Beer — $5.75
Michelob Ultra

COSTUME CONTEST & RAFFLE

2024 COSTUME CONTEST
A costume contest will determine the day’s best dressed, so participants are encouraged to come wearing their best St. Patrick’s Day attire.

To enter the costume contest, please visit our photo backdrop at Skyline Social & Games on race morning. Pictures will be posted on our Facebook page for voting the Monday following the race.

Best Overall: $75 Tortoise & Hare Footwear Gift Card
Best Group: 
$100 Skyline Social & Games Gift Card
Best Kids: 
$20 Skyline Social & Games Gift Card (2 winners chosen)

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 (or $700 gift certificate), courtesy of 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.

COSTUME CONTEST

2024 COSTUME CONTEST
Each Saint Fennessy 4K we hold a costume contest determine the day’s best dressed, and voting is now open for 2024!

HOW TO VOTE
1️⃣ Click HERE to view all of the entries into this year’s costume contest.
2️⃣ Click ‘like’ on your favorite photos. You can vote for more than one photo, but you must ‘like’ the photo for your vote to count.
3️⃣ The voting closes at noon on Friday, March 22. The winners will be announced on Facebook and contacted directly.
 
Thanks to everyone who participated! May the luck of the Irish be with you!

BEST OVERALL

BEST GROUP

BEST KIDS’

BEST KIDS’

RACE RESULTS & PHOTOS

Scott Behling holds the all-time men’s event record in the Saint Fennessy 4K, posting a time of 12:03 in the second annual event. John Curley (12:18 in 2024) and Kyle Smith (12:59 in 2018) are the only other men to break the 13:00 mark in the event’s history.

Grace McCormick, meanwhile, holds the all-time women’s event record in the Saint Fennessy 4K, finishing with the only women’s time under 15:00 in the event’s history — her time of 14:56 in 2017 is still the market to beat.

Joshua Herbert is the all-time non-binary event record holder, having finished in 21:43 in 2023. 

Full historical results of the Saint Fennessy 4K can be seen HERE.

ALL-TIME SAINT FENNESSY 4K MEN’S CHAMPIONS
2024 – John Curley, 12:18
2023 – Charlie Juntunen, 13:31
2022 – John Curley, 13:25
2021 – Henry Seeb, 13:49
2020 – n/a
2019 – Matt Estep, 14:56
2018 – Kyle Smith, 12:59
2017 – Sam Helms, 12:26
2016 – Eric Cyr, 13:10
2015 – Scott Behling, 12:03
2014 – n/a

ALL-TIME SAINT FENNESSY 4K WOMEN’S CHAMPIONS
2024 – Anna-Britta Helmer, 16:31
2023 – Sasha Wahman, 17:52
2022 – Julie Running, 15:19
2021 – Keegan McAuliffe, 15:16
2020 – n/a
2019 – Molly Pennings, 15:56
2018 – Molly Pennings, 15:12
2017 – Grace McCormick, 14:56
2016 – Amy Hallbeck, 16:59
2015 – Kathi Madden, 17:10
2014 – n/a

ALL-TIME SAINT FENNESSY 4K NON-BINARY CHAMPIONS
2024 – Ammie O’Connor, 27:32
2023 – Joshua Herbert, 21:43
2022 – Majora Bengston, 47:28
2014-2021 – n/a

ALL-TIME SAINT FENNESSY 4K MULTIPLE TIME MEN’S CHAMPIONS

2 – John Curley (2022, 2024)

ALL-TIME SAINT FENNESSY 4K MULTIPLE TIME WOMEN’S CHAMPIONS

2 – Molly Pennings (2018, 2019)

ALL-TIME SAINT FENNESSY 4K 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.