Tony Loyd began running late in life and, to himself, said he'd never do it again after running his first-ever marathon in 2001. Well, Tony lied to himself and as since on running and on marathoning -- he qualified for his first Boston Marathon in 2005 and has run several other big races, including the 2013 New York City Marathon.

Loyd touches on all of his running experiences in this episode, including the first time he ran in Duluth at the 2019 Grandma's Marathon after a long, personal battle with depression. Having now run here several times, Loyd is steadfast in his description of Grandma's Marathon as one of the best in the world.

Loyd is one of our 2023 Grambassadors, a group that's assembled to assist in spreading the word ahead of this year's Grandma's Marathon weekend as well as being resources for our other participants with questions about training, travel, lodging, race weekend in Duluth, etc. 

To connect with him on social media ahead of the 2023 race weekend, follow @anthonyloyd on Instagram and @TonyLoyd on Twitter.

Essentia Health ATC Cristina Nistler joins the podcast for the next of several installments ahead of the 2023 Grandma's Marathon weekend designed to help keep runners focused on the finish line while avoiding any common injuries and/or medical issues.

As part of her role with Essentia Health, Nistler works part-time throughout the year in the Grandma's Marathon office. She's responsible not only for helping lead the organization of our medical personnel on race weekend, but also to educate and inform our runners ahead of their race in Duluth.

Nistler will be every runner's biggest cheerleader when it comes to race day, but she's also hoping this mini-podcast series, as well as several other initiatives, can help ensure that she won't have to meet many of our runners in the medical tent this June.

As you make your way down the North Shore during Grandma's Marathon in June, you and thousands of others are enjoying some of the very best road racing available in the United States.

It's a race you've probably heard of --- almost certainly, if you're listening to this podcast. What you might not have heard much about, though, is trail running.

With more than 150 miles of trail running within the city limits, Duluth has become a beacon of that discipline, and the region is even starting to offer more and more in terms of trail running events throughout the year.

To learn more about the difference between trails and roads, and also to offer some tips and tricks for those looking to dive into a new world of running, we invited 2023 Grambassador Shannon Hogan to share her thoughts and experiences.

A self-proclaimed "marathon junkie," Chuck Engle has certainly earned the title. He's completed more than 475 marathons in his lifetime, and he's also the world record holder with more than 150 of those being completed in 3 hours or less.

Engle travels nearly every week of the year to at least one race, and he has not only completed, but actually has WON a marathon in each of the 50 states. 

While he knows his lifestyle is specific and not for everyone, Engle does have amazing insight into the world of marathoning and offers plenty of helpful tips throughout this podcast episode to first-time runners hoping to complete their first race.

Engle also touches on his first-ever experience at Grandma's Marathon, which came in 2021 and was so incredible that he plans to be back in 2023 to try and break the 3-hour mark in Duluth (something he didn't accomplish the first time he ran there).

This is Part 2 of our conversation with Engle, so if you haven't yet be sure to start with Part 1 uploaded just before Thanksgiving.

A self-proclaimed "marathon junkie," Chuck Engle has certainly earned the title. He's completed more than 475 marathons in his lifetime, and he's also the world record holder with more than 150 of those being completed in 3 hours or less.

Engle travels nearly every week of the year to at least one race, and he has not only completed, but actually has WON a marathon in each of the 50 states. 

While he knows his lifestyle is specific and not for everyone, Engle does have amazing insight into the world of marathoning and offers plenty of helpful tips throughout this podcast episode to first-time runners hoping to complete their first race.

Engle also touches on his first-ever experience at Grandma's Marathon, which came in 2021 and was so incredible that he plans to be back in 2023 to try and break the 3-hour mark in Duluth (something he didn't accomplish the first time he ran there).

This is just Part 1 of our conversation with Engle, so be on the lookout for Part 2 to be released in early December.

Essentia Health ATC Cristina Nistler joins the podcast for the first of several installments ahead of the 2023 Grandma's Marathon weekend designed to help keep runners focused on the finish line while avoiding any common injuries and/or medical issues.

As part of her role with Essentia Health, Nistler works part-time throughout the year in the Grandma's Marathon office. She's responsible not only for helping lead the organization of our medical personnel on race weekend, but also to educate and inform our runners ahead of their race in Duluth.

Nistler will be every runner's biggest cheerleader when it comes to race day, but she's also hoping this mini-podcast series, as well as several other initiatives, can help ensure that she won't have to meet many of our runners in the medical tent this June.

Fresh off her first career win at the Chicago Marathon, wheelchair athlete Susannah Scaroni joined our Gearing Up for Grandma's podcast. Not only did Scaroni win the 2022 Chicago Marathon, she also won her fourth career Grandma's Marathon this past June and broke her own event record in the process.

Scaroni is a three-time U.S. Paralympian and won a gold medal in the 5,000-meters at the 2020 Tokyo Games. She has now placed in the top three in three straight World Marathon Majors --- Berlin (3rd), London (2nd), and Chicago (1st). 

Hear her thoughts on the advancements of wheelchair racing, plus she tells the story of being hit by a car during training in September 2021 and wondering if she would ever again get to compete at the world's highest level.

Minnesota native and former US Olympian Carrie Tollefson has been involved with Grandma's Marathon for more than a decade, serving most recently as lead analyst for the women's marathon for our radio broadcast.

Tollefson works primarily on race day with Chad Salmela, who has Olympic experience of his own in the broadcast booth. Together, they are part of a star-studded media team each year at Grandma's Marathon.

Tollefson talk this episode about her favorite parts of Grandma's Marathon weekend, including the William A. Irvin 5K on Friday night, and gives her recommendations for anyone visiting northern Minnesota for the first time.

You can catch more of Carrie on her podcast, C Tolle Run, which has developed into one of the premier podcasts in the running industry.

Each year, we accept a number of "race ambassadors" who help us throughout the year spread the word about Grandma's Marathon and help keep the spirit of the race alive in the buildup to June.

Some of this year's "Grambassadors" join us for this podcast to talk about one of their favorite things - Grandma's Marathon! Hear firsthand about their favorite spots on the course, about why the race is different than so many others, and about what their secrets are to a perfect race weekend in Duluth!

The use of CBD by runners to aid in their training and recovery has exploded over the past several years, and it's led to a lot of different opinions about what's best for your body and how to properly choose from and use the many products on the market.

Nature's Gem CBD & Wellness has been a major sponsor of Grandma's Marathon since 2019, and founder Lisa Baskfield has a very personal connection both to the race and to the need for non-traditional treatments for pain.

In this podcast, she offers a bit more of her backstory as well as explains the business she's created --- helping runners understand and implement the benefits of using CBD in their training and recovery process.