45-Year Volunteer Keeps Marathon Runners Safe in Duluth

When Herb Dillon first stepped into the medical tent at Grandma's Marathon in 1979, he saw room for improvement and decided to do something about it.

Nearly five decades later, the Duluth volunteer is still showing up every year to help keep thousands of runners safe. What started as a simple request from a coworker at St. Mary's Hospital has become his annual tradition and a crucial part of one of Minnesota's biggest sporting events.

"Some of the things weren't working as well as I thought they could, so I offered to take it over the next year and it just grew from there," Dillon said. Under his leadership, the medical operation expanded from a basic aid station into a comprehensive emergency system that now supports tens of thousands of participants and spectators.

The scale of volunteer support at Grandma's Marathon is remarkable. About half as many volunteers as runners work behind the scenes to ensure everyone's safety. Medical tents line the entire race route, creating what organizers call "a little hospital" that prevents local emergency rooms from getting overwhelmed on race day.

Planning for this massive volunteer effort starts months before runners hit the pavement. Cristina Nistler with Essentia Health coordinates with marathon organizers beginning in early spring to review best practices, set up emergency protocols, and arrange for supplies and staffing.

Sunny's Take

Dillon stepped down from his leadership role six years ago but keeps coming back as a volunteer. His commitment shows what's possible when someone sees a need and chooses to fill it, year after year, decade after decade.

"You don't have to be young to be useful in this community," Dillon said. Those words carry extra weight coming from someone who has spent 45 years proving them true.

His story reminds us that the most impressive marathons aren't always the ones we run. Sometimes they're the commitments we make to show up for others, season after season, without fanfare or recognition.

Thanks to volunteers like Dillon, every runner who crosses the finish line at Grandma's Marathon does so knowing someone is watching their back.