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Racers took off from the starting line in Two Harbors, Minn. at 7:45 a.m. this morning for the 39th annual 

The course weaves along Scenic Route 61 and Lake Superior before finishing in Duluth's Canal Park near Grandma's Restaurant, for which the race is named. 

Last year, Dominic Ondoro set a men's record on the course at 2:09:06. The women's record of 2:26:32 was set in 2013 by Sarah Kiptoo. Both Ondoro and Kiptoo hail from Kenya. Ethiopians and Kenyans have dominated the Duluth-area marathon for the last several years. The last Americans to win Grandma's were Christopher Raabe and Mary Akor, who took first in the men's and women's categories in 2009.

In its first year, Grandma's Marathon only had 150 runners. This year, more than 7,000 runners registered. Both Ondoro and Kiptoo ran the course, but neither record holder won.

Elisha Barno of Kenya took first place for men with an unofficial time of 2:10:37. Jane Kibii, also Kenyan, took first place for women with an unofficial time of 2:32:05.

As the winning times show, Grandma's Marathon quickly developed from a small Minnesota race into a competitive, global event. 

For men, the current world record for the marathon is held by 

, with a time of 2:02:57. Paula Radcliffe holds the 

Sports

Tracy Mumford

Author

Racers crossed the finish line in Duluth's Canal Park this morning. Elisha Barno and Jane Kibii, both of Kenya, had the top times for men and women.

Grandma's Marathon: Racing for a record

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