Grand Rapids, MI
University of Michigan Health-West Grand Rapids Marathon
The Grand Rapids Marathon is an October race in Grand Rapids, Michigan, founded in 2004, with a marathon, half marathon, marathon relay, and the Run Thru The Rapids 5K and 10K.1 The course tours downtown and then follows paved trails through Millennium Park, and the organizers call it flat and fast.2 It is USATF certified and a Boston qualifier, and an early start is offered for walkers and slower runners.5
- Date
- First start7:55 AM EDT
- Location475 Lake Michigan Dr NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504
- DistancesMarathon · Half Marathon · 5K · 10K
- SurfaceRoad
- SwagLong Sleeve Tech T-Shirt
Bib Scout Report
| Event | Distance | Start | Current fee | Next increase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marathon | Marathon | 8:00 AM EDT | $135 | $145 on |
| Half Marathon | Half Marathon | 8:00 AM EDT | $115 | $125 on |
| Relay Marathon | Marathon | 8:00 AM EDT | $322.50 | $347.50 on |
| Handcycle - Marathon | Marathon | 7:55 AM EDT | $135 | $145 on |
| Run Thru The Rapids 5K | 5K | 8:30 AM EDT | $50 | $52.50 on |
| Run Thru The Rapids 10K | 10K | 8:20 AM EDT | $52.50 | $55 on |
Scouted from the official RunSignup listing. Fees shown exclude processing fees.Merit badges are detected from the organizer’s description. Dates, courses, and prices can change — confirm on the registration page.
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University of Michigan Health-West Grand Rapids Marathon race guide
Facts checked against the sources listed below. Race-week details describe the 2026 edition.
| Founded | 2004. The 2027 race is billed as the 24th annual.1 |
|---|---|
| Race site | David D. Hunting YMCA, 475 Lake Michigan Drive, Grand Rapids.6 |
| Course | A downtown loop, then out to the paved trails of Millennium Park.23 |
| Profile | Mostly flat, with a few hills between miles 7 and 12.5 |
| Certification | USATF certified and sanctioned, and a Boston Marathon qualifier.5 |
| Boston qualifying rate | Nearly 20 percent of marathon runners in the previous year, according to the race.2 |
| Time limit | None stated. A 7:00 a.m. early start is offered for walkers and slower runners.5 |
| Aid stations | About every 1.5 miles, with portable toilets at each.5 Medical staff are at every aid station.6 |
| Relay | Teams of three to five runners. Exchange points at miles 4.0, 10.4, 14.9 and 21.5.103 |
| Finisher medals | For every finisher in the marathon, half marathon, relay, 5K and 10K.5 |
The course
The marathon gives runners a tour of downtown Grand Rapids and then heads out of the city into the trails of Millennium Park.2 The downtown loop crosses the historic Sixth Street Bridge, passes the convention center and the Amway Grand Plaza, and comes within a couple hundred yards of the final resting place of Gerald R. Ford.3
In Millennium Park the course uses paved paths between lakes, then crosses the river for an out-and-back section on Indian Mounds Road.3
The half marathon follows the same course as the marathon and turns back toward the finish at about 8.5 miles.4
Aid stations are about every 1.5 miles, each with portable toilets, and GU is handed out at two points on the marathon course.5 Medical staff are posted at every aid station.6
Is it a fast course?
The marathon page calls it a flat, fast course and an important qualifying opportunity.2 The race FAQ is a little more specific: mostly flat, with a few hills between miles 7 and 12.5
The course is USATF certified and the race is USATF sanctioned, which the organizers say means you can qualify for Boston here.5 The marathon page reports that nearly 20 percent of all marathon runners qualified for the Boston Marathon in the previous year.2
Pace teams are free to join, run even splits the whole way, and take sign-ups at the Saturday expo.8 The teams carry celebrity-themed names.8
The early start for walkers and slower runners
The race is unusually welcoming to slower participants. The FAQ says there is no time limit on either the marathon or the half marathon and describes a 7:00 a.m. start for walkers and what it calls velocity-challenged runners.5
That early start is meant for people who expect to take more than 6 hours for the marathon or more than 3 hours for the half marathon.5 It comes with conditions: nobody starting early is given a time faster than 5:00:00 for the marathon or 2:30 for the half marathon, and early starters are not eligible for awards other than the finisher medal.56
Race-day schedule
The 2027 schedule had not been posted when these sources were checked, so the times below are from the 2026 race. The early start was at 7:00 a.m., the wheelchair and hand cycle division at 7:55 a.m., and the official start of the marathon, half marathon and all relay teams at 8:00 a.m.6
The Run Thru The Rapids 10K started at 8:20 a.m. and the 5K at 8:30 a.m. on the same morning.6 All events are held at the David D. Hunting YMCA.6
Expo, packet pickup and parking
In 2026 the expo and packet pickup were on the Saturday before the race, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., at the David D. Hunting YMCA, with race-morning pickup from 6:00 a.m.7 Someone else can collect your packet if they bring a note.5
The race tells drivers to park in one of the downtown parking ramps and walk to the race site by way of the Blue Bridge or Lake Michigan Drive.6 The YMCA's own lot requires a membership card.7
Free showers are available at the YMCA after the race.5 The travel page describes Grand Rapids as about three hours by car from Chicago or Detroit.11
Awards and finisher items
Every finisher in the marathon, half marathon, relay, 5K and 10K receives a medal.5 Overall and masters awards go three deep and are based on gun time. Age-group awards also go three deep, are based on chip time, and take the form of sliders that attach to the finisher medal ribbon.5
In 2026, each race bib was good for one post-race beer.6
Rules and registration policies
- Entry fees are non-refundable.5
- Under the 2026 policy, a registration could be deferred to the following year for a $25 administration fee before the race, or transferred to another runner until the Thursday before the race for a $15 fee.5
- You can switch between races yourself through your RunSignup registration.5
- Strollers and baby joggers are not allowed on the course, apart from the My Team Triumph chariot teams. The Run Thru The Rapids 5K walk allows strollers.5
- Service dogs are allowed.5
- Hydration vests are allowed.5
Run Thru The Rapids and the relay
The Run Thru The Rapids 5K and 10K trace back to 1969, when a small group of YMCA runners decided to run a marathon.9 All proceeds support the YMCA Camp Manitou Lin scholarship fund.9
In the marathon relay, a team of three to five runners covers the full 26.2 miles.10 The exchange points are at miles 4.0, 10.4, 14.9 and 21.5.3
The wheelchair and hand cycle division is offered at the marathon distance only.2
University of Michigan Health-West Grand Rapids Marathon FAQ
Is the Grand Rapids Marathon a Boston qualifier?
Yes. The race FAQ says the course is USATF certified and that you can qualify for Boston there. The race reports that nearly 20 percent of marathon runners qualified in the previous year.52
Is the Grand Rapids Marathon flat?
Mostly. The race FAQ says the course is mostly flat with a few hills between miles 7 and 12, and the marathon page calls it flat and fast.52
Is there a time limit for the Grand Rapids Marathon?
The race FAQ says there is no time limit on the marathon or the half marathon. A 7:00 a.m. early start is offered for walkers and for runners expecting to take more than 6 hours in the marathon or 3 hours in the half.5
Can I walk the Grand Rapids Marathon?
Yes. The early start exists for walkers and slower runners. Early starters are not given a time faster than 5:00:00 in the marathon or 2:30 in the half, and they are eligible only for the finisher medal.56
Where does the Grand Rapids Marathon start?
All events are held at the David D. Hunting YMCA, 475 Lake Michigan Drive, Grand Rapids.6
Where do I park for the Grand Rapids Marathon?
The race asks drivers to park in a downtown parking ramp and walk to the race site by the Blue Bridge or Lake Michigan Drive.6
Can I get a refund or transfer my Grand Rapids Marathon entry?
Entry fees are non-refundable. Under the 2026 policy, entries could be deferred a year for a $25 fee before the race or transferred to another runner for a $15 fee until the Thursday before the race.5
Are strollers or dogs allowed in the Grand Rapids Marathon?
Strollers and baby joggers are not allowed on the marathon or half marathon course, apart from the My Team Triumph chariot teams. Service dogs are allowed.5
Sources
- Grand Rapids Marathon: Home (grandrapidsmarathon.com)
- Grand Rapids Marathon: Marathon (grandrapidsmarathon.com)
- Grand Rapids Marathon: Course maps (grandrapidsmarathon.com)
- Grand Rapids Marathon: Half marathon (grandrapidsmarathon.com)
- Grand Rapids Marathon: FAQ (grandrapidsmarathon.com)
- Grand Rapids Marathon: Race day (grandrapidsmarathon.com)
- Grand Rapids Marathon: Packet pickup and expo (grandrapidsmarathon.com)
- Grand Rapids Marathon: Pace teams (grandrapidsmarathon.com)
- Grand Rapids Marathon: Run Thru The Rapids 5K and 10K (grandrapidsmarathon.com)
- Grand Rapids Marathon: Marathon relay (grandrapidsmarathon.com)
- Grand Rapids Marathon: Travel and hotels (grandrapidsmarathon.com)
From the organizer
University of Michigan Health - West Grand Rapids Marathon Foster Swift Half Marathon Pepsi Zero Sugar Marathon Relay Run Thru The Rapids 5K & 10K Race insurance offered through RunSignUp on our registration page. For info on claims: CLICK (This is the registration site only. For the whole story and lots of questions answered, Grand Rapids Marathon website )
More in Grand Rapids: all Grand Rapids races · Half Marathon races · 5K races · 10K races