North Shore Inline Marathon Is The National Championship of Inline Marathons
Hardcore skaters from 46 states and a dozen countries compete in NSIM - North America's largest inline marathon.
Duluth is well-known for being a humble, salt of the Earth-type place.
We Duluthians aren’t very good at tooting our own horn, or boasting about everything we have going on; even when it’s well-deserved. But maybe we should do a little bragging from time to time.
In typical Duluth fashion, our city will host an elite-level athletic event this September, and it’s one you may not know much about: the North Shore Inline Marathon.
This event has attracted top-tier, elite athletes – including Olympic gold medalists, NHL players, and more - to our fine city for the last 28 years. It is expected to provide a healthy economic impact of $2-3 million dollars in the Twin Ports in 2024.
The event is the official National Championship of Inline Marathons. It is also the largest inline skating event in North America, and the 2nd largest inline marathon in the world. (Second only to the Berlin Marathon, in Berlin, Germany).
“The North Shore Inline Marathon is one of those typical Duluth events: its wacky, weird, and sort of fits the community,” said Andrew Weisz, CEO of Finden Marketing – the company handling marketing and PR for the event.
“It brings people from all around the world,” he added. “The athletes get to see the Lake; see the Aerial Lift Bridge. It kind of encapsulates what I think of when I think of Duluth. Ultimately, it brings people to Duluth who would otherwise not know about our town.”
The North Shore Inline Marathon has been a unique Duluth event since 1996. Racers enjoy views of Lake Superior, and plenty of other beautiful Duluth scenery. (Photo submitted).
History
The marathon started in 1996, and was founded by a group of male athletes, including Duluthian George Hovland. “George was a very impactful person in the Duluth community,” Weisz shared.
“He was an Olympic cross-country skier, and participated in the 1952 Winter Olympics in Oslo, Norway. He was also one of the founders of Spirit Mountain.”
Sadly, Hovland passed away a few years ago. But his legacy lives on through this dynamic event.
The history of the sport of inline skating has ties to Minnesota, too. The brand name Rollerblade was founded by two Minnesota brothers who wanted to continue training year-round for ice hockey season.
Event
This year’s North Shore Inline Marathon will take place Saturday, September 14th. The event has three different “disciplines,” with a total of eight races.
In addition to inline skating races, there are running and roller skiing events. NSIM website graphic.
Inline skating:
- Full marathon (26.2 miles)
- Half marathon (13.1 miles)
- 10k (6.2 miles)
- Combined (athletes do a half marathon, followed by a full marathon, for a total of 39.3 miles)
Running:
- Aspirus/St. Luke’s Half Marathon (13.1 miles)
- Finden Marketing Tunnel 10k (6.2 miles)
Roller Ski:
- Full marathon – Volkswagen of Duluth Roller Ski Marathon (26.2 miles)
- Roller ski half marathon (13.1 miles)
The day before the event, on September 13th, there will be a Skate and Health Expo, held at the DECC from noon – 9 pm. Here, athletes can pick up their race packets and visit between 50 and 75 vendor booths.
One of the vendors signed on to attend is Rollerblade. Athletes - using any brand of inline skates - can have their equipment checked, and/or receive some minor maintenance to their skates, right on-site.
The event features three “disciplines:” Inline skating, running, and roller skiing. (Photo submitted).
Route
The North Shore Inline Marathon follows almost the exact same route as Grandma’s Marathon, but with a slightly different finish line location.
The race begins near Sonju Two Harbors, continues south on Highway 61 to London Road, enters the Interstate (the racers go through the tunnels), veers right toward Lake Avenue, follows 5th Avenue, wraps around the DECC, and finishes next to the William A. Irvin in Canal Park.
The full marathon begins at 9 am, and the half starts at 7 am. To accommodate the marathon, the entire race route will be shut down from 6 am – 2 pm the day of the race.
The average skater typically completes the full marathon in about two hours. The elites come in at about 1:05 – 1:15, with the record being 58 minutes. The half marathon takes about 35 minutes for the average skater.
If you are interested in catching the action at the finish line, plan to be at the William A. Irvin around 7:30 am for the half, and 10 am for the full. The event will be live streamed through Roller Planet, and Weisz currently in negotiations to have it covered by local TV and radio.
Please visit the website (northshoreinline.com) and their social media platforms to stay up-to-date.
Beginner to Elite Participants
This year is expected to see the largest registration numbers in 15 years, with close to 3,000 participants. This includes over 2,100 inline skaters, 800 runners, and over 100 roller skiers.
The event is open to all ages and athletic abilities, from beginner to advanced. Each race “division” is broken down by age groups. There is even a "kids sprint" on Friday, so there is fun for the whole family.
On Friday is the 22nd annual kid sprint where kids of all ages race to the finish line to be named kid champion. (Photo submitted).
There are expected to be 80 elite athletes from across the world this year including world champions, Olympians, and professional athletes. The other 2,900 participants range in skill level from recreational skaters to advanced.
“Our race isn’t just for the elites; it’s definitely for the recreational skaters, too,” Weisz shared. “So, anyone is welcome to participate.”
And you don’t have to be a tremendous athlete to take part. Anyone can learn to inline skate. “The best thing about inline skating is that it’s easy on the body,” noted Weisz, who is himself participating in his fifth full marathon.
The finish line is directly next to the William A. Irvin, in Duluth’s Canal Park. (Photo submitted).
Registration for the marathon remains open until the day beforehand – September 13th. And, in contrast to many other marathons, there is no specific number cap. “We are open to having as many racers that want to join in the fun,” Weisz said.
The price point for entry is very affordable. The full marathon is $119; the half is $89; and the 10k is $58. If you are looking for an even better deal, there is an early bird discount to make it even more affordable.
The top three male and female racers will receive a medal: gold, silver, or bronze. And, for the elites, whoever wins will earn the title of U.S. National Inline Marathon Champion. Cash prizes totaling upwards of $10,000 will also be awarded to the winners.
The event will bring people from all over the world. “Usually, we have people from ten to twelve different countries racing every year,” Weisz noted. “Since 1996, we’ve had 26 countries represented. And, we usually have people from 46 – 50 of the United States here to compete every year.”
Elite Athletes
This year, NSIM is excited to share that two Olympic athletes – married couple Viktor and Sofia Thorup – will be participating. The Thorups, who compete on behalf of Denmark, are at the top of their field in a sport with many commonalities – long-track speed ice skating.
Olympians Viktor Hald Thorup and Sofia Thorup (Prosvirnova) are coming back to the 2024 NorthShore Inline Marathon. From NSIM Facebook Page
Past “celebrity” participants include American Chad Hedrick, a five-time Olympic medal winner (1 gold, 2 silver, and 2 bronze). Hedrick remains the current record holder; a designation he has held since 1998.
Other big names over the past five years include Bart Swings (Olympian), Joey Mantia (Olympian), Sebastian Guzman (World Champion), Julie Glass (X-Games), and Eddy Matzger (the first person to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro – on skates!).
And, the female record holder is Columbian Gabriela Rueda, who is a World Champion Inline skater. Rueda, who broke the ladies’ record in 2023, is also a past winner of the Berlin Marathon.
A variety of professional hockey players from the NHL have also completed the race.
Come out and Cheer!
The North Shore Inline Marathon is an amazing Duluth event that doesn’t get nearly as much attention as it deserves. Consider finding a spot along Scenic Highway 61, London Road, or at the finish line the day of the race to cheer on the athletes.
“We love to have people come out and cheer,” Weisz said. “The racers hit speeds of up to 35 miles per hour, so it’s fast-paced and really fun to watch.”
Racers can hit speeds of up to 35 miles per hour, making the North Shore Inline Marathon a fun and exciting event to watch. (Photo submitted).
Race registration remains open until September 13. Racers can use any age/brand of inline skates, but are required to wear a helmet. Please visit northshoreinline.com to learn more.
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Andrea Busche is a Duluth + regional freelance writer and small business owner. She is credited with over 1,000 bylines in local print and digital publications, and has been a frequent contributor to Destination Duluth since 2017.
