When Grandma's Marathon put together its inaugural Hall of Fame class in 1996, Ratelle was as easy a choice as folks like Garry Bjorklund and Dick Beardsley.

To be running marathons at that age, and to be running them fast, is something.'

It's absolutely beyond comprehension what he did. In 2008, Page said of Ratelle: '(He's) relentless, obsessed, compelled. Page, 66, ran the 1979 Grandma's Marathon and has a personal best of 3:27:50. One member of Ratelle's group of running friends in the Twin Cities was National Football League Hall of Famer Alan Page, now an associate justice with the Minnesota Supreme Court. When asked to describe the effort needed to run fast for 26.2 miles at an older age, he quipped to the News Tribune in 2008: 'During the first half of the marathon you're afraid you're going to die, and during the second half you're afraid you're going to live.' He once held eight world age-group records and 32 American age-group bests.

He also holds the Grandma's Marathon mark for those 60-64 at 2:48:20, set in 1985 at age 60. That stood as an American record for those ages 55-59 for six years and remains a course record for that age group. He completed 161 marathons, none more amazing than the 1981 Grandma's Marathon, finishing in 2:30:40 at age 56. He spent 40 years in the medical profession as an anesthesiologist, living in Edina.īut those who follow running, especially road racing in the 1970s and '80s, know and revere Ratelle as an age-class superstar. He was shot down twice, but sustained only minor injuries when the plane crash-landed. Here's a look back at the sights from the finish line and through downtown Duluth for Grandma's Marathon weekend.His career included 60 missions as a navigator in a B-17 bomber with the Army Air Corps during World War II. 5:00 pm: Music opens with a DJ on stage playing tunes before the evening's actįood and beverages will be available on-site during the festivities at Bayfront.Here's the full schedule: Friday, June 16, 2023 The Grandmas Marathon entry form will be available to download from our. Like in years past, there will be two nights of music, with an act performing Friday night and several acts taking the stage on Saturday. Grandmas Marathon is a point-to-point course run along the beautiful north. Being one of the premiere outdoor music venues in Duluth, those in attendance can enjoy watching ships sail by and other great Bayfront views during the music. The move, inspired by providing additional space during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, ultimately adds a whole new level to the music and party atmosphere.

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