Founded in 1983 by local running enthusiasts who wanted to share the beauty of the Grand Traverse Region and the Old Mission Peninsula, the Bayshore Marathon has become a “must run” for runners throughout the Midwest and beyond. Many runners return year after year to enjoy the scenic courses which …
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Founded in 1983 by local running enthusiasts who wanted to share the beauty of the Grand Traverse Region and the Old Mission Peninsula, the Bayshore Marathon has become a “must run” for runners throughout the Midwest and beyond. Many runners return year after year to enjoy the scenic courses which run along the shores of beautiful Grand Traverse Bay. To ensure a more enjoyable experience, the number of runners in all three races is limited. Bayshore races are always held on Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend.
The Full Marathon starts on the grounds of Northwestern Michigan College then winds through the waterfront along the East Arm of Grand Traverse Bay. This out-and-back USATF certified course is flat, scenic, and fast making it a favorite for both runners attempting to qualify for Boston or finish their first marathon!
The point-to-point half marathon is the most popular event and sells out! Racers will be bused out to the start at Devil’s Dive Road. The course later joins the Marathon course following Bluff, Center Rd. and East Shore Dr. back to the finish line. Expect a fast and scenic race with some of the most breathtaking views available on any Half-Marathon course.
The out-and-back 10K winds through one mile of residential neighborhoods. It then follows the marathon course along the west shore of East Grand Traverse Bay. Runners turn around at about the 3 mile marker. The course is flat, 100% paved and shaded along much of the route. Expect a fast and scenic race.
Traverse City Track Club uses proceeds from Bayshore to sponsor many running and health-related activities in and around Northwest Michigan.
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Beautiful scenic race
There were parts of the course where the water was so clear and pretty that it could've been a Virgin Island, or a Florida Key, but no~ it's Michigan. The … MORE
There were parts of the course where the water was so clear and pretty that it could’ve been a Virgin Island, or a Florida Key, but no~ it’s Michigan.
The course isn’t quite as flat as they market it to be. It’s not difficult or anything, but I wasn’t expecting that many hills. But for the views, it was all worth it. The course is a simple out and back along the lake shore and just oh so pretty and breathtaking.
There were so many bugs… like swarms of bugs on the route. I don’t know if that’s a normal Michigan late spring thing or not, but it was gross. I inhaled and swallowed a fair amount of bugs on course. That’s not the race’s fault, but bring some bug spray or maybe a mask just in case.
Also, Traverse City is a smallish town, with not many hotels, and this race is held during Memorial Weekend. The average hotel rates were very high — something I wish I would’ve planned for and known about when I signed up.
Definitely a great race that I would run again if I ever find myself in Michigan again.
Beautiful flat lakefront course
This was my first marathon and it was amazing! Traverse City is such a beautiful place. We drove up from Chicago, where summer is in full swing, but in Michigan … MORE
This was my first marathon and it was amazing! Traverse City is such a beautiful place. We drove up from Chicago, where summer is in full swing, but in Michigan the cherry and apple trees are in full bloom.
The weather was great. Mostly 50s, overcast, rain drizzle for the first few miles. In the second half the sun came out and it got a little warm, but the breeze from the lake was cooling.
Running along the lake was amazing! There were plenty of spectators, and lots of locals came out and cheered on their patios and driveways. There were at least 2 unofficial “beer” stations. Plenty of water, Gatorade, and GU stops. Not enough bathrooms along the course. I lost 5 minutes waiting in line for one.
The expo was small, and the swag limited, but the shirt I got was a great quality brooks running shirt that I’m pretty excited about. Tart cherry juice, yum! Bought a bottle for home.
Overall, I highly recommend this race. Even though I placed closer to the end (this race is popular with BQ people, everyone was sooo fast), I think the mid to back of the packers were well supported.
PR course for sure
RaceRaves Summary: Bayshore was a fun, scenic, and very memorable race weekend for our family. My wife, son, and I all raced, and I came away with a new PR. … MORE
RaceRaves Summary:
Bayshore was a fun, scenic, and very memorable race weekend for our family. My wife, son, and I all raced, and I came away with a new PR. The course was mostly flat aside from an early hill near the start, with beautiful stretches through lakefront cottage areas and plenty of crowd support. Weather was ideal for racing — 55°F, cloudy, with intermittent rain/drizzle.
Logistics were smooth, especially packet pickup, and we were lucky to have a half-marathon parking pass so we could wait in a warm car at the start instead of taking the early shuttle. The course was well marked, and the post-race atmosphere was fun. The Moomers line was too long for us, but we still enjoyed the finish area with bananas and hop water. Overall, a well-run, enjoyable race that I’d definitely recommend.
A pretty race along the water.
I’ve run this race 3 times and the marathon twice. Not too big. Not too small. Some great crowd support along the way- pickle juice, Gatorade, water, and even some … MORE
I’ve run this race 3 times and the marathon twice. Not too big. Not too small. Some great crowd support along the way- pickle juice, Gatorade, water, and even some opportunities to grab a beer or two. A good portion of the race is along Grand Traverse Bay. There’s a good sized hill at the start of the half, but the rest is pretty flat. Love the moisture wicking t-shirts. After the race, there are pretty good snacks, especially the Moomers ice cream!
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It was a good race in gorgeous traverse city, highlighting the area’s natural waterfront and greenery. An excellent way to kick off a summer of running. MORE
It was a good race in gorgeous traverse city, highlighting the area’s natural waterfront and greenery. An excellent way to kick off a summer of running.
Great Race and Scenic Course
I have run the Bayshore half marathon. every year since 2016 (absent the COVID years). It is a fantastic race. The course starts in a field half way up the … MORE
I have run the Bayshore half marathon. every year since 2016 (absent the COVID years). It is a fantastic race. The course starts in a field half way up the Mission Peninsula and runs to the coast. The race then follows the coast of the peninsula down to the finish on the Traverse City high school track. The road to the coast has some decent hills, but that is only for the first 1.75 miles or so. The rest of the course along the coast is flat, fast, and very scenic with water views the majority of the way.
The race has an incredible atmosphere. The volunteers are extremely helpful and enthusiastic. The community turns out and offers a lot of support as well. There are ample aid stations along the course and the finisher’s medal is always very nice. Moomers ice cream at the finish line is always something to look forward to.
If I had one (minor) complaint, it is the bus system to get to the starting line. Before COVID, I never had trouble just rolling into the race in the morning, hopping on a bus, and getting to the start line. Something seems to have changed post-COVID, and I’m not sure what it is. The first two years after COVID had bus delays that led to the race start being delayed. Now, the race has an appointment system, where the first bus runs at 5:00am for a 7:30am start. That’s way too early to get to the start line. I wish there was smoother system to get to the start like there was pre-COVID. With that said, I look forward to running the Bayshore again.
Gorgeous Cherry Blossoms
I wanted to run the race after reading Ann Patchett’s wonderful book “Tom Lake” that takes place in Traverse City, and the surrounding area did not disappoint. Full confession, I’ve … MORE
I wanted to run the race after reading Ann Patchett’s wonderful book “Tom Lake” that takes place in Traverse City, and the surrounding area did not disappoint. Full confession, I’ve never been to Michigan before this race, who knew Traverse City would be so gorgeous. The race is nice and flat with the exception of an opening hill that warms you up. The scenery is beautiful, you are running along the lake and stunning lake houses. One aspect of the race that was really fun was the crowd support, some lovely neighbors had even set up beer stands. A great race, and I’ll admit I may have fallen in love with Traverse City!
Beautiful Scenery
A well organized race. The expo was small, but vendors had plenty of running supplies and race branded gear for sale. I treated myself to the VIP experience. They opened … MORE
A well organized race. The expo was small, but vendors had plenty of running supplies and race branded gear for sale. I treated myself to the VIP experience. They opened up one of the college buildings for us to sit in pre-race and provided coffee and snacks. Nice but not necessary, save your money. The race went off without any issues. Plenty of on course volunteers. Well stocked aid stations. The course goes along TRaverse Bay with beautiful water views on one side, mansions and vineyards on the other. Small after party, which included some delicious gourmet ice cream from a local company. A great race chioce for Michigan.
Serene, pretty course
This course is just so peaceful. It is a beautiful area along Traverse Grand Bay. The lake was so flat. You pass by nice houses with docks extending into the … MORE
This course is just so peaceful. It is a beautiful area along Traverse Grand Bay. The lake was so flat. You pass by nice houses with docks extending into the bay. Most of the race offered great glimpses of the blue waters of the lake.
The expo was only on Friday and didn’t open in until 11. I got there a little early and I was still able to get my bib and shirt. They offered additional merchandise and the usual expo fares.
The marathon started at 7:15 around the track of the high school. The course is an out and back and ends on the track. The half starts at a different location. You will see the half marathoners pass through. The timing works well and there is plenty of room except for 1 or 2 crowded aid stations.
There were pockets of spectators along the way, but they were not lining the course. It was a very relaxed atmosphere. The weather was great this year. Just a slight breeze and upper 40’s. According to my watch, it was only 334′ of elevation gain.
The finish had the usual items, such as oranges, apples, chips, etc., but also offered ice cream from Moomers. I stayed at a hotel that was within walking distance. The shirt and medal were nice. Overall, I would definitely recommend this race.
Not a great as expected
This race was my first attempt at a sub 3 marathon and it was not as fast and flat as expected. Sure, the hills are small and rolling but I … MORE
This race was my first attempt at a sub 3 marathon and it was not as fast and flat as expected. Sure, the hills are small and rolling but I am used to Chicago’s ZERO hills. It also ended up being 95% humidity and windy at the start of the race. The problem with a marathon this small is that you can end up running alone..at the time when you needed the support the most. Between the humidity and battling the wind alone my system was toast and spent the last 10mi puking. There were some spectators every now and then but my family said it was hard to get out there on the peninsula to cheer. If you’re used to big city marathons this will feel incredibly boring. Post run food was pretty good and the shirt is nice. May do the half next year but I am never doing the full here again 🙁
Beautiful Race
Cool town, beautiful course and well organized race... Run along Lake Michigan on this very flat course which is great for attempting a BQ. I gave it a shot but … MORE
Cool town, beautiful course and well organized race… Run along Lake Michigan on this very flat course which is great for attempting a BQ. I gave it a shot but blew up at mile 21, you win some you lose some! Highly recommend this race and Traverse City in general, fun place to visit!
Pleasant 10K
This was my first race post-stress fracture, so I had to take it semi-easy to not overdo it, but overall it was a pleasant race! Easy to get to and … MORE
This was my first race post-stress fracture, so I had to take it semi-easy to not overdo it, but overall it was a pleasant race! Easy to get to and navigate to and from the start / finish. Would definitely do it again!
SImply Amazing
The half course is perfect being a point to point route. Some rolling hills in the first mile, but then a flat easy course along Grand Traverse Bay. Great support … MORE
The half course is perfect being a point to point route. Some rolling hills in the first mile, but then a flat easy course along Grand Traverse Bay. Great support from the aid stations and locals with Moomers ice cream at the finish line. Finishing on the high school track really highlights the strong connection to the community.
Run for the views!
What a fantastic race! I had heard great things about the Bayshore Half, and with the spots filling up in hours, it's all the more tempting for a runner to … MORE
What a fantastic race! I had heard great things about the Bayshore Half, and with the spots filling up in hours, it’s all the more tempting for a runner to want to see what all the fuss was about – boy, the fuss is real! The ‘least scenic’ portion of the race is the first couple of miles (and the last one onto the track), but even those first couple of miles give a view – especially mile two as you start running towards the east shore of Old Mission peninsula. And then, the views don’t stop! While there was limited crowd (and even the rice directors state they don’t claim to be Boston or Chicago), the fans out there were very supportive. And the volunteers were incredible! There’s ice cream from Moomer’s (and plant of other great post-race goodies) at the finish line too! Well oiled production and a wonderful race – I imagine I’ll be back again soon!
gorgeous view, fast time, wonderful day
The flat course led to a PR, but the beautiful views made the time fly by anyways. I love my race t-shirt, and I really enjoyed spending the rest of … MORE
The flat course led to a PR, but the beautiful views made the time fly by anyways. I love my race t-shirt, and I really enjoyed spending the rest of the weekend in scenic Traverse City tasting wine!
Memorial Weekend in Traverse City
It doesn't get much better than this for a (relatively) small-town marathon. Held annually on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend, it's a perfect time to plan a destination race. … MORE
It doesn’t get much better than this for a (relatively) small-town marathon. Held annually on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend, it’s a perfect time to plan a destination race. The area is famous for its charming towns and beautiful lake views. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is only 45 minutes away.
The race was organized very well. In fact, I followed their Facebook page leading up to the race and was impressed by all the helpful advice the organizers put online. There were even contests to get people excited about running–of which I was a lucky winner! Besides the views along the shoreline of the Traverse Bay, I really liked the Moomer’s ice cream that they served up to the runners after the race. Moomer’s even came up with a custom flavor for the race!
Course rocks...traffic stinks!!!
Overall Rating: Excellent. One of the most scenic courses I've run. Very good support. Course Difficulty: Long, low grade hills, even injured and taking my time I came close to … MORE
Overall Rating: Excellent. One of the most scenic courses I’ve run. Very good support.
Course Difficulty: Long, low grade hills, even injured and taking my time I came close to my normal times.
Course Scenery: Outstanding. Looking out over the bay for sunrise and sailboats, blooming orchards and vineyards, just really pretty.
Race Production: It was good. I think it was good planning, although maybe just luck at times? I came into this run thinking it was just a small town run, and the pre-race media really didn’t lead me to believe any different, but when I got there and saw all the traffic and people, it was a little overwhelming…not a New York or Boston, but not a 300 person trail race either. I think there were around 1200 marathoners, 3500 halfers, and not sure about 10k. Anyway, no long lines at packet pickup, lots of happy volunteers, on time start, and accurate timing and results…all good in my book.
Race Swag: Good. Decent medal, tech tee, and performance socks.
My Performance: Ok. I was running along talking to people knowing that it wasn’t going to be great, and then at mile 22 I looked at my watch and was actually really close to a PR pace. The knee didn’t hold out for a PR, but this is definitely a BQ race if it’s cool and cloudy…maybe not if it’s sunny and 70.
The only downside to this race is the traffic, other than that it is a 5 shoe review. I wasn’t aware that Traverse City was a vacation destination for a lot of mid-westerners, so it was really crowded for Memorial Day, add to that the fact that there was only one road out of the race with no traffic control people there, and the result is waiting hour(s) to get out after the race…I partially blame myself for this, again, I was not prepared for the size of race it was.
All in all, a good race that I am happy to recommend; just be prepared for the logistic challenges. Stay close to the start/finish and walk off of the peninsula onto the main drag.
Lovely course, well organized race
This was my 30th state, 35th marathon. I'd heard great things about the event and learned that it sells out quickly each year (I came to find out that meant … MORE
This was my 30th state, 35th marathon. I’d heard great things about the event and learned that it sells out quickly each year (I came to find out that meant the half marathon sells out in minutes, the full sold out in about a month).
In some ways it reminded me of Grandma’s Marathon. It’s a small town, on the water, and lodging can get expensive. I found it much more scenic than Grandma’s though; for the most part, you are on the water with lovely vistas for about 23 miles of the race.
I stayed within walking distance of the start and finish, TC Central High School, which was awesome (Cambria Suites – expensive rates for that weekend but very convenient). I walked to get my packet, which was quick and efficient. Great tech shirt, a pair of running socks, and bib. Short and sweet. There were vendors too, and a pasta dinner if you bought a ticket.
The start was smooth. The half starts at the turnaround point on the marathon course and they take a shuttle to get there, so that was kind of a nice change; fewer people at the start meant shorter lines for the portajohns, at least initially! The first couple of miles go through the neighborhood near the school before popping you out on the lake drive. Lovely views and some beautiful houses provide the majority of the scenery. There are only a few gentle hills. This is an out and back course so no surprises. The half runners never had an awkward merge with the full; we saw them running back on our way out which meant no congestion or slamming into a crowd. When you get back to the school where you started, you run portion of the track, and then get funneled out to the field for the finisher area.
There were plenty of stocked aid stations, lots of gatorade and water, and also seemed like they were handing out Gu at a lot of them (I carry my own). The medal was nice; not huge, but a good, heavy medal with the logo. The finish area had Moomers Ice Cream (awesome), chocolate milk, water, and a variety of other food choices.
Weather seems like the biggest question mark about this event. Everything about it was organized from my perspective; it ran smoothly, the course was great, and the swag was good. I enjoyed it thoroughly. The only gray area is what the weather will hold. I’ve heard past years were lovely and cooler. This year was pretty warm and VERY humid. Luckily it stayed mostly overcast until about mile 20 before the sun came out. There was also a pretty nice breeze. Just be aware when you pack.
Be sure to explore Traverse City and sample some of the local fare. Lots of breweries and good eateries. Rare Bird was great, and Bubba’s is supposed to be good too. Tons of options for that post-race beer(s)!
My First Marathon!
Beautiful, beautiful course! It was my first marathon, so of course it kicked my butt!! But, besides that, water stations were plenty, lots of excitement and if I'm ever around … MORE
Beautiful, beautiful course! It was my first marathon, so of course it kicked my butt!! But, besides that, water stations were plenty, lots of excitement and if I’m ever around Traverse City in May, I would definitely do it again!