Marathon Details - Grand Rapids Marathon

North America Marathons > USA > MI > Grand Rapids > Grand Rapids Marathon

University of Michigan Health - West Grand Rapids Marathon & Half Marathon, Marathon Relay, 10K, 5K

Grand Rapids, MI USA

October 20, 2024

http://www.grandrapidsmarathon.com

More Info:	News
Results:	2023 \| 2022 \| 2021 \| 2019 \| 2018 \| 2017 \| 2016 \| 2015 \| 2014 \| 2013 \| 2012 \| 2011 \| 2010 \| 2009 \| 2008 \| 2007 \| 2006 \| 2005 \| 2004 Top 3 Finishers by Year

Contact Organizer

Name:	Don Kern
Address:	Grand Rapids Marathon PO Box 1041 Grand Rapids, MI 49505
Phone Number:	616-293-3145
Email:	Email the organizers



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Reviews

Course 4.5

Organization 4.9

Spectators 4.0

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Number of comments: 329 [displaying comments 1 to 11]

More Comments: [ < 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 .. 33 > ]

R. B. from Maryland (10/20/2021) "Well-run 'small feel' marathon. A nice event!" (about: 2021) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Grand Rapids Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I chose this as my Michigan race and am happy I did. The race director and his crew are passionate about what they do and it shows. All of the little things that can make or break a race were done well. Plenty of porta-pots. Well stocked, plentiful aid stations. Well marked course. Efficient packet pick-up/expo. Great swag - a nice medal, traditional socks, a gaiter and a nice race shirt. It's not a large race (numbers probably down being the first year back after the pandemic) but you can tell that the crew & volunteers care about your experience, and throw in a little bit of fun to boot. (The obvious example would be the 'Celebrity' Pace Groups, based on the marathon results of the rich and famous... the 3:14 'Pi' group, the 4:13 'Kevin Hart' group, the Oprah and Dubya paces... etc. A nice touch). The course is largely flat, scenic in spots and not so scenic in others. There are some downtown segments and some park/lake/bike path stretches and it makes for a fine overall circuit. The weather this year was nearly perfect and all of these factors led to running my best race time since March 2017. Add in some great bar/restaurant spots I found near my hotel, and this was probably one of my favorite races in recent seasons. Your mileage may vary - but I thoroughly enjoyed it!
Russ Martin from Mich (11/15/2019) "Would have chosen 10" (about: 2019) 6-10 previous marathons \| 3 Grand Rapids Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Fantastic end of story
Richard Terry from Columbus, Ohio (11/15/2019) "Amazing First Marathon Experience" (about: 2019) First Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I traveled from Columbus, Ohio to attend the Grand Rapids Marathon. Specifically what drew me was the course time limits followed by the course style (mostly flat through a beautiful landscape). From the moment I got into town you could feel a positive vibe at the expo and that carried over to race morning. I took the early start and it made a huge difference. It made for a comfortable first 4 miles and allowed me to finish when it was still earlier than night. The course was spectacular. A great mix of city into a nature setting. Being in the back of the pack, no never felt alone on the course. The way it is set up, even after the 13 mile mark you are still seeing hundreds of people running with you the opposite way. This is a huge mental boost. It was not until the last 3-4 miles that the pack spread out (after being on the course for almost 6.5 hours) and even then every aid station was fully stocked and staffed to cheer you on. It was truly amazing. The finish line is still open and you feel like a champion crossing over even that long into the race. Family friendly and too notch.
S. L. from Grand Rapids, mi (11/15/2019) "First race, amazing experience" (about: 2019) First Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This was my first race ever. I've never even done a 5k. I was unsure of what to expect. I was blown away. Everything was easy, I felt prepared, but was never given more information than I needed at the moment. I loved getting to run thru Downtown. The support and encouragement from all the volunteers was inspiring. And because this race was so enjoyable, I'm a runner now! I already have my next race and I'm planning on seeing you guys next year!
C. P. from Grand Rapids Michigan (11/15/2019) "Amazing as usual" (about: 2019) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Grand Rapids Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Something about this race has me keep coming back. It is very well organized, beautiful course, lots of encouragement. I have ran it the last 3 yrs and impressed everytime. Thank you for all you do!!
Radovan Sotak from Illinois (10/14/2019) "My favorite marathon, period!" (about: 2018) 11-50 previous marathons \| 4-5 Grand Rapids Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I simply love everything about this race! From keeping warm before the start at the Y, to the beautiful paved trail full of fall colors and stamina-inducing smell of falling leaves (at least that's what it does for me!), to local micro-brews after the race (and no, you don't need a bib coupon to get one - or two, or & well, it's completely up to you just how much you choose to celebrate...), everything is done meticulously! It is basically impossible to take the wrong turn (for instance where the half and full split off, or anywhere else) as the course marshals and all volunteers do an amazing job, even though everything is marked well to begin with. This was my 4th Grand Rapids marathon and the first ever to brake the 2:50 barrier. Although not as pancake-flat as some other marathons I've run such as Chicago, the rolling is minimal and it's still a fast PR course. So far I PR'd on it every single time! I keep coming back despite the 3-hour drive from Illinois.
C. K. from Southwest Michigan (10/21/2018) "Nice course, great organization" (about: 2018) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Grand Rapids Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Well run small marathon. Great communication in advance, and good organization on race day. Nice to have the Y open with heat and lots of bathrooms - especially since it was very cold (around 32 F) on race morning. Tons of water/gatorade stops with nice extras like cookies, multiple Gu stops, pretzels and pickle juice. Nice course with a few very small hills, but nothing serious. Much of the course is run on a long out and back through a wooded park, with a nice stretch running around a lake. Great 'celebrity' pacers - with paces to match celebrity finish times. Huge shout out to the awesome P. Diddy pacers who got me to the finish with a post-40 PR. Nice medal, too, and also long-sleeve tech shirt and socks (cool!). Not a ton of spectators on course, but they were enthusiastic and as many as could be expected for a smaller marathon. I definitely recommend this marathon!
A. Z. from USA, Michigan (10/27/2017) "Great race - very well organized" (about: 2017) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Grand Rapids Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I registered only two days before the race. Didn't know what to expect. I loved it. Pricey but extremely well organized and a very friendly attitude.
R. P. from Illlinois (11/16/2015) "A Super Marathon" (about: 2015) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Grand Rapids Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 A super marathon with a LONG out and back that was strangely refreshing. The race directors were kind to let me start 25 minutes late. Oops. The beer at the end was the BEST, followed by a trip to Founder's Brewery. A super win.
D. G. from Southeast MI (11/3/2015) "Good Course for a PR or BQ" (about: 2015) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Grand Rapids Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 This was my 26th marathon on 22 different courses. It is an easy walk from several good downtown hotels to the expo/start/finish area and restaurants. Combined 1/2 and full start was no issue(in many other races it is), as there were only about 5,000 runners in total. It would be nice to have an organized 'pasta dinner' option, as most of the nearby Italian places were pricey and lacking in vegetarian options.

More Comments: [ < 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 .. 33 > ]

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R. B. from Maryland (10/20/2021) "Well-run 'small feel' marathon. A nice event!" (about: 2021) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Grand Rapids Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I chose this as my Michigan race and am happy I did. The race director and his crew are passionate about what they do and it shows. All of the little things that can make or break a race were done well. Plenty of porta-pots. Well stocked, plentiful aid stations. Well marked course. Efficient packet pick-up/expo. Great swag - a nice medal, traditional socks, a gaiter and a nice race shirt. It's not a large race (numbers probably down being the first year back after the pandemic) but you can tell that the crew & volunteers care about your experience, and throw in a little bit of fun to boot. (The obvious example would be the 'Celebrity' Pace Groups, based on the marathon results of the rich and famous... the 3:14 'Pi' group, the 4:13 'Kevin Hart' group, the Oprah and Dubya paces... etc. A nice touch). The course is largely flat, scenic in spots and not so scenic in others. There are some downtown segments and some park/lake/bike path stretches and it makes for a fine overall circuit. The weather this year was nearly perfect and all of these factors led to running my best race time since March 2017. Add in some great bar/restaurant spots I found near my hotel, and this was probably one of my favorite races in recent seasons. Your mileage may vary - but I thoroughly enjoyed it!
Russ Martin from Mich (11/15/2019) "Would have chosen 10" (about: 2019) 6-10 previous marathons \| 3 Grand Rapids Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Fantastic end of story
Richard Terry from Columbus, Ohio (11/15/2019) "Amazing First Marathon Experience" (about: 2019) First Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I traveled from Columbus, Ohio to attend the Grand Rapids Marathon. Specifically what drew me was the course time limits followed by the course style (mostly flat through a beautiful landscape). From the moment I got into town you could feel a positive vibe at the expo and that carried over to race morning. I took the early start and it made a huge difference. It made for a comfortable first 4 miles and allowed me to finish when it was still earlier than night. The course was spectacular. A great mix of city into a nature setting. Being in the back of the pack, no never felt alone on the course. The way it is set up, even after the 13 mile mark you are still seeing hundreds of people running with you the opposite way. This is a huge mental boost. It was not until the last 3-4 miles that the pack spread out (after being on the course for almost 6.5 hours) and even then every aid station was fully stocked and staffed to cheer you on. It was truly amazing. The finish line is still open and you feel like a champion crossing over even that long into the race. Family friendly and too notch.
S. L. from Grand Rapids, mi (11/15/2019) "First race, amazing experience" (about: 2019) First Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This was my first race ever. I've never even done a 5k. I was unsure of what to expect. I was blown away. Everything was easy, I felt prepared, but was never given more information than I needed at the moment. I loved getting to run thru Downtown. The support and encouragement from all the volunteers was inspiring. And because this race was so enjoyable, I'm a runner now! I already have my next race and I'm planning on seeing you guys next year!
C. P. from Grand Rapids Michigan (11/15/2019) "Amazing as usual" (about: 2019) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Grand Rapids Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Something about this race has me keep coming back. It is very well organized, beautiful course, lots of encouragement. I have ran it the last 3 yrs and impressed everytime. Thank you for all you do!!
Radovan Sotak from Illinois (10/14/2019) "My favorite marathon, period!" (about: 2018) 11-50 previous marathons \| 4-5 Grand Rapids Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I simply love everything about this race! From keeping warm before the start at the Y, to the beautiful paved trail full of fall colors and stamina-inducing smell of falling leaves (at least that's what it does for me!), to local micro-brews after the race (and no, you don't need a bib coupon to get one - or two, or & well, it's completely up to you just how much you choose to celebrate...), everything is done meticulously! It is basically impossible to take the wrong turn (for instance where the half and full split off, or anywhere else) as the course marshals and all volunteers do an amazing job, even though everything is marked well to begin with. This was my 4th Grand Rapids marathon and the first ever to brake the 2:50 barrier. Although not as pancake-flat as some other marathons I've run such as Chicago, the rolling is minimal and it's still a fast PR course. So far I PR'd on it every single time! I keep coming back despite the 3-hour drive from Illinois.
C. K. from Southwest Michigan (10/21/2018) "Nice course, great organization" (about: 2018) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Grand Rapids Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Well run small marathon. Great communication in advance, and good organization on race day. Nice to have the Y open with heat and lots of bathrooms - especially since it was very cold (around 32 F) on race morning. Tons of water/gatorade stops with nice extras like cookies, multiple Gu stops, pretzels and pickle juice. Nice course with a few very small hills, but nothing serious. Much of the course is run on a long out and back through a wooded park, with a nice stretch running around a lake. Great 'celebrity' pacers - with paces to match celebrity finish times. Huge shout out to the awesome P. Diddy pacers who got me to the finish with a post-40 PR. Nice medal, too, and also long-sleeve tech shirt and socks (cool!). Not a ton of spectators on course, but they were enthusiastic and as many as could be expected for a smaller marathon. I definitely recommend this marathon!
A. Z. from USA, Michigan (10/27/2017) "Great race - very well organized" (about: 2017) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Grand Rapids Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I registered only two days before the race. Didn't know what to expect. I loved it. Pricey but extremely well organized and a very friendly attitude.
R. P. from Illlinois (11/16/2015) "A Super Marathon" (about: 2015) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Grand Rapids Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 A super marathon with a LONG out and back that was strangely refreshing. The race directors were kind to let me start 25 minutes late. Oops. The beer at the end was the BEST, followed by a trip to Founder's Brewery. A super win.
D. G. from Southeast MI (11/3/2015) "Good Course for a PR or BQ" (about: 2015) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Grand Rapids Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 This was my 26th marathon on 22 different courses. It is an easy walk from several good downtown hotels to the expo/start/finish area and restaurants. Combined 1/2 and full start was no issue(in many other races it is), as there were only about 5,000 runners in total. It would be nice to have an organized 'pasta dinner' option, as most of the nearby Italian places were pricey and lacking in vegetarian options.

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Marathon Details - Grand Rapids Marathon