Northland Sports Online

Rodds Ramblings – Grandma’s Marathon Is Here Check It Out!

June 15, 2012

Kerry Rodd-NSO


Well, ready or not Grandma’s Marathon weekend is here! The 36th running of the marathon in Duluth is not only one of the largest marathons, but this year they will host the USA Half Marathon Championships and records could fall in that race which will feature some of the best runners this country has to offer.

This will be the 36th year of the marathon and after a year off I am excited to be back involved again. After spending 22 years and covering 23 marathons for KDAL in Duluth; I then missed a year of broadcasting seven years ago and finally, due to things beyond my control, I missed again last year. However, this will now be my 28th Grandma’s Marathon and I am probably more excited than ever.

When I was the anchor of the broadcasts at KDAL, I spent my entire time doing finish line announcing and acting as the coordinator of the broadcast from the finish line reviewing stand. We had a great staff that loved doing the broadcasts. People like; Rik Jordan, Jim Brown, Mark Fleischer, Pat Cadigan and so many others treated the broadcast of this race with the respect it deserved. However, eventually things changed and KDAL (Midwest Communications) no longer held the rights to the broadcasts and I left to head back home to Cloquet and WKLK Radio.

One year after my departure of KDAL, the broadcast rights to the marathon moved over to Clear Channel, which is now Town Square Media and the race is broadcast over ESPN 560 WEBC. I joined their broadcast and for the next five years I was able to continue my association with the race with a whole new group of people who are equally dedicated to bringing you a quality product.

After missing last year I was approached by Scott Keenan, the man behind the race, to get back involved, and I said yes with great enthusiasm. My duties this year will include; doing the public address announcing of the William Irvin 5K on Friday night, anchoring coverage from the lead men’s car with Dick Beardsley and Kevin Pates, and then I will wrap up my weekend as the Master of Ceremonies at the USA Half Marathon Championships Awards Ceremony.

I would invite anyone who has never stopped down to the marathon and watched the finish of the races to do so at least once. Until you have seen the enthusiasm and excitement you will have no idea as to what this race weekend means to Duluth. It isn’t about a race; it is about a community event that serves to prove to the world that Duluth and the surrounding communities is not only a beautiful place to live, but a great place to visit.

Kerry Rodd can be reached at kerry@northlandsportsonline.com

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