Everything about this race was great. The course is beautiful. Lots of running on bike trails (some narrow parts, but mostly plenty of room). The scenery was beautiful with the Grand River and changing leaves close by the whole course. Weather was fantastic in '08, but even if it were a warm year, this would be a good course because there is plenty of shade.

The organization was great too. The race starts and ends at beautiful new YMCA, which provides everyone access to locker rooms, showers and plenty of places to lie out and stretch pre- and post-race. Incredibly friendly volunteers who were very helpful - from volunteers on the course to the race director who greets every runner at the finish line. They really care about the execution of this race.

The only caution I offer is for runners who are used to big-city marathons: the aid station are small, so grab a water or Gatorade from the first hand that offers you one. I blew past two stations with nothing to drink because I didn't act quickly enough.

I cannot recommend this race highly enough. I was blown away by the support staff, beauty of the course, and convenience of the locations. Run this one next fall, and you won't be disappointed.

Ps. I crushed my PR on this mostly flat course.

Thanks to all of the volunteers who made this race possible. Grand Rapids is a beautiful city and the people were all very welcoming to the Canadian contingent. I will definitely be recommending this race to my running pals!

This is a top-notch race. Outstanding organization, lots of friendly and helpful volunteers, and a fairly flat and scenic course.

I truly enjoyed this race.

PROS: Everything about the race was well organized - registration, aid stations, start/finish, even the porta-potties. The course was beautiful, with lots of fall foliage along paved bike trails. Locally brewed beer at the finish! The volunteers were enthusiastic and well-trained.

Cons (minor): Things did get a little congested at a couple points on the trails, but everyone worked together to keep things moving smoothly. (I'd rather have a little congestion than run on boring city streets.) My pace team ran the first six miles about ten seconds per mile too fast.

This was only my fourth marathon, but I wholeheartedly recommend it and will do it again.

I don't think I have a good enough command of the English language to express what a great job Don does. The expo is first-rate for a small marathon, the aid stations are great, and the volunteers are excellent. Whatever nitpicking negatives can be said about the course's few out-and-backs are completely nullified and overtaken by the overwhelming number of positives. This race is one most runners should seriously consider doing. I've run Boston, and big marathons are nice, but I don't like being stuck in a sea of humanity. At GR, it feels like there is plenty of individual attention heaped on each runner.

I am so glad I chose the Grand Rapids Marathon for my first. While I have no other marathons to compare to, I can say that everything about this race seemed top notch. The race director is awesome and sends out the most encouraging and supportive weekly emails. The volunteers were amazing and made everything from the expo on Saturday night to the aid stations on the course perfect. The size of the marathon was perfect for me, a nervous first-timer. It was just the right number of participants to keep me from feeling overwhelmed, but not so few that I felt alone at all along the way. Overall, I had such a great time and experience and would definitely recommend this race. Thank you to Don Kern and all of the other wonderful volunteers who put this on each year!!!

Oh, wow. What a fantastic race! My husband and I (and our baby!) just ran the 2008 GRM and had the time of our lives. It was my second marathon and my husband's first, and it was just such an enjoyable experience from start to finish.

We loved running along the tree-canopied course, especially with the vibrant Michigan colors. Even though the weather was perfect and brisk this morning, even on a warmer day it would have been comfortable because of all the shade. The pace teams were great, the bathrooms and water stops were well-stocked and well-staffed, and there were some fun additions to the standard fare at the aid stations (gummy bears, cookies, oranges, and even pickle juice!!).

The crowd was just terrific, too. Even though the entire course wasn't lined the whole way like some of the mega-races, it was really kind of nice to have the contrast of those specific places every few miles where there was a big crowd. In bigger races, I have kind of zoned out when crowd support is constant, but here I was more aware of it because there were some moments where it was just us runners, and then we'd entire a crowd zone with all of their cheering and music and posters and cowbells!

And how great to have a race director that is so involved with his runners that you really feel like you know him at the end, even if it's your first time running this race!

This is truly the way marathons should be run. A+!!

My wife and I just completed the 2008 marathon. This was a first-class race on a picture-perfect day. We enjoyed ourselves despite the fact that we fell short of our personal goals. Thank you to the race director and everyone who volunteered. You are definitely appreciated. If you have never run this race before, give it try and you will not be disappointed.

Yes, the GRM course takes you through an "industrial" section, but then it takes you along the Kent Trails. I ran the half last year and I have trained year round on the course, and I can count the times, on one hand, when the "odor" was bothersome (for a minute). I'm proud of GR and all that is being done in this city - I think the course really represents that. Where would you want the course to be, out to the Bryon Center and back?! How boring! Then, you would be complaining about the cows and their "odor." GR is a city. Period. Even walking down the road you will smell car exhaust and bus exhaust, etc. Also, running the course lets you see your tax money at work - the EPA helped clean up the land behind the Coke factory. (And it looks like they are still monitoring the ground water due to the presence of the work trucks and people). I ran my first marathon in June and it was a horrible experience. (Hear that, Red Rock Company? Run Charlevoix Marathon needs A LOT of retooling.) I appreciate the very personal and ORGANIZED feel of the GRM. I love that the start is four blocks from my house - and I love how GR is represented to people from out of state (and in state!). If you want to whine about a course, then hop on your treadmill.

I, too, could not disagree with W.O. more.... This race is about as first-class as you can get. It is about running and enjoying a marathon for what it is. And this one is great! A hoot of a race director, superb organization and a scenic course (fast, too). I can't wait to be there again this year!! See you in a few, Don!! (Ps. I was so impressed with this race that I am bringing my husband along this time for his very first 26.2!!)