Swag: Nice shirt and very high quality medals both years that I ran this race. Lots of food/drink options after the race for runners. The race packet also had lots … MORE
Swag: Nice shirt and very high quality medals both years that I ran this race. Lots of food/drink options after the race for runners. The race packet also had lots of goodies.
Course: I like that there are some nice scenic sections of the city in the start. You see some of the bridges etc. Then you run out of the city into Millennium park which is a great place to run. There are good cheering sections throughout the race. Water/Gatorade/Gu provided and toilets along the course if you need them. Pacers available with signs to match Celebrity racers. Ex. George Bush / Dubya’s Running Mates 8:32/mile.
Great race! I’m a local so will definitely do it again!
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Great race in Grand Rapids
Swag: Nice shirt and very high quality medals both years that I ran this race. Lots of food/drink options after the race for runners. The race packet also had lots … MORE
Swag: Nice shirt and very high quality medals both years that I ran this race. Lots of food/drink options after the race for runners. The race packet also had lots of goodies.
Course: I like that there are some nice scenic sections of the city in the start. You see some of the bridges etc. Then you run out of the city into Millennium park which is a great place to run. There are good cheering sections throughout the race. Water/Gatorade/Gu provided and toilets along the course if you need them. Pacers available with signs to match Celebrity racers. Ex. George Bush / Dubya’s Running Mates 8:32/mile.
Great race! I’m a local so will definitely do it again!
Definitely Worth It!
Don Kern really knows how to put on a race! The expo was at the YMCA, and it was smaller than I hoped. BUT.... you get a huge bag of … MORE
Don Kern really knows how to put on a race! The expo was at the YMCA, and it was smaller than I hoped. BUT…. you get a huge bag of swag such as protein mix, biofreeze, and coffee! I was worried the weather wouldn’t hold up since it rained the day before, but it did, and I wasn’t cold or hot (just a bit gloomy). The course is mostly flat, as there are small patches of hills/higher elevation. I don’t think this would be a course that someone would get a PR, but it’s definitely well supported with aid stations and spectators (one spot had pickle juice). Runners received Gogurt, ice cream, water, beer, and other goodies at the finish line.
If I do another round of the US, I’ll definitely run this again!
Great first full marathon!
Easy flat course with awesome staff. Everything was well organized, parking wasn’t a nightmare, all the volunteers were amazing. Packet pick up and expo were also well done! MORE
Easy flat course with awesome staff. Everything was well organized, parking wasn’t a nightmare, all the volunteers were amazing. Packet pick up and expo were also well done!
A must do for Michigan
The race director helps make this race awesome. He is there at the finish to greet you. He posted videos when there was course flooding to assure participants that we … MORE
The race director helps make this race awesome. He is there at the finish to greet you. He posted videos when there was course flooding to assure participants that we would be ok. The pacers were awesome and the support and spectators were fantastic. Highly recommend this race, even with the monsoon that happened throughout.
Well-organized race. Fun event!
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 … MORE
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!
Great Michigan choice!
I loved this small city marathon. As a walker I felt welcomed, not just tolerated. Especially appreciated the early start for the velocity challenged. There were changes due to COVID … MORE
I loved this small city marathon. As a walker I felt welcomed, not just tolerated. Especially appreciated the early start for the velocity challenged. There were changes due to COVID so I can’t really address what the expo would normally be. But the volunteers were great. The race director and his frequent emails were informative and humorous. The course is almost pancake flat with most of it being shaded. This was my 23rd marathon, 4th as a walker after knee replacements. I would recommend this race for runners and walkers alike.
Perfect Fall Race Location
Race combines the beautiful Grand Rapids downtown area with a run through rural road and a beautiful park and paved pathway. Perfect weather with 40's for the start and 50's … MORE
Race combines the beautiful Grand Rapids downtown area with a run through rural road and a beautiful park and paved pathway. Perfect weather with 40’s for the start and 50’s to finish. Well run, great on-course volunteers, and many cheering spectators. Would consider doing it again.
The best race director imaginable
The race director, Don Kern, is what makes this race so great. He is extremely dedicated and makes sure this race is perfect. You'll get fun weekly emails from him … MORE
The race director, Don Kern, is what makes this race so great. He is extremely dedicated and makes sure this race is perfect. You’ll get fun weekly emails from him leading up to race day and he makes sure to stand at the finish and shake each finisher’s hand.
The logistics are smooth. Packet pickup was a breeze. You get to wait inside the YMCA before the race (and use its bathrooms, or the plentiful port-a-potties). All the aid stations were well-run, with volunteers clearly denoting the water vs. Gatorade. Miles are all clearly marked. The pacers seemed on point (although I didn’t use them). Easy spectator spots are clearly marked.
There are some mentally tough parts of the course (the quiet of Millennium Park, a long out and back on Indian Mounds Road), but in all, the course is fun with a good go around the city followed by a scenic tour of fall colors.
Overall, a very fun race race in a great city.
Hillier than Anticipated
Race was a little hillier than I had anticipated, but I have NO hills in my home town where I train! Expo was simple but nice! Liked that was able … MORE
Race was a little hillier than I had anticipated, but I have NO hills in my home town where I train! Expo was simple but nice! Liked that was able to exchange shirt at end of run. Water was flooding the course at places and volunteers were furiously working to remove. All the volunteers were so good!! Course was well stocked and communication leading up to event was exceptional. Appreciated being able to take a shower at the “Y” before heading home. And shaking the race directors hand at the end was a bonus. You can tell he takes the small details to heart and the event showed that. A little pricey overall, but a solid event.
my overall race expeirence
This race was beyond amazing, and was very well run. the medal is super cool, and great on course support and thounsads of spectator support. All of the views were … MORE
This race was beyond amazing, and was very well run. the medal is super cool, and great on course support and thounsads of spectator support. All of the views were stunningly beautiful, and i would strongly recommend this race to anyone
Great smaller event
This is a well organized event. The race director and volunteers are very friendly. This is a smaller event with a half marathon and marathon relay starting at the same … MORE
This is a well organized event. The race director and volunteers are very friendly. This is a smaller event with a half marathon and marathon relay starting at the same time. The first 5 miles or so is in downtown Grand Rapids, then it heads out onto paved trails in Millennium Park for the majority of the race. You get very scenic views of the park with it’s lakes and the Fall colors are spectacular. The park is well shaded. There is a long out and back section in the park. The course is fairly flat and fast. The aid stations are plentiful and have a variety of food and drinks, including pickle juice. The finish line is the same as the start, ending at the Grand Rapids YMCA. You are allowed into the Y for showers after the race. Unlimited New Holland Brewery Beer at the Beer Garden afterwards, which is a bit crowded.