top_nav.html
   Home About | USA Races | World Races | Articles & Tips | Race Calendar | Message Boards | Links 

Michigan > Grand Rapids Marathon, Half Marathon & Relay
Grand Rapids, MI
addthis


Date

Sunday, October 19, 2008



Event Details

Thanks to its gentle, forgiving fast and flat course, the Grand Rapids Marathon, Half Marathon & Relay is considered an excellent road race for first-time marathoners or half marathoners, with a route that begins at about 610 feet above sea level and never rises higher than about 652 feet or lower than its lowest point of about 580 feet above sea level. The attractiveness of the course combined with its relative ease has quickly made it a popular race, as last year's event (just its 4th annual) saw more than 2,400 runners cross the finish line.

When they set out to design the course for both the 26.2-mile event and the 13.1-mile event, race organizers say they wanted to avoid the "big city races through concrete canyons" kind of experience so common at other marathon and half-marathon events. So they created a course that features the bulk of its mileage inside Grand Rapids' Millenium Park, an urban park which is still under development but will be twice the size of New York City's Central Park when complete.

From the starting line at the corner of the city's Winter Street and Blumrich, the race's out-and-back course follows a mostly southwestern direction toward the park, which also connects the area's four major cities together -- Wyoming, Grandville and Walker with Grand Rapids. While the race's first half takes runners along the park's northern edge along Butterworth Street, the second half features ample views for several miles of the Grand River, which flows through the center of town.

Because of both the time of year and the location of the course, through lots of tree-lined parks and greenspace areas, there's plenty of fall color on display, with all the reds, oranges and yellow leaves of the season turning and nearing or hitting their peak. The race is also walker-friendly, and features a 7:00 AM starting time for walkers -- the race starting time for runners is 8:00 AM.


Race Weather & Climate

Nestled in the central-southern part of the state, about 30 miles from the shores of Lake Michigan to the west, the city of Grand Rapids typically sees early fall weather that ranges from mild and breezy with occasional rain to outright cold conditions. In October, monthly temperatures average between 60°F and 40°F, while precipitation amounts average around 2.8 inches for the month.


Fees

$56 if registered by June 15, 2008
$66 from June 16 - August 15
$76 from Aug. 16 - September 30
$86 from October 1 through the race weekend


Registration

To reserve your spot in this year's running of the Grand Rapids Marathon or Half Marathon, register online here or print out and mail in this downloadable entry form.


Website

www.grandrapidsmarathon.com


Course Map


View Larger Map



Share Your Race Story

Ever run in Grand Rapids' annual Marathon or Half Marathon? Share your impressions and read fellow runners' stories and tips for the event.

Discuss it in the HalfMarathons.Net Message Boards


page_bottom.html © 2006-2008 HalfMarathons.Net  •  Site Map  •  Advertising  •  Privacy Policy  •  Contact info@halfmarathons.net