GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The 21st annual University of Michigan Health-West Grand Rapids Marathon took place this weekend.
On Sunday, more than 4,000 runners and their supporters lined up in downtown Grand Rapids for the marathon.
The race covered a "flat, fast" course that took runners on a brief tour of downtown Grand Rapids and showed off the surrounding scenery. Runners passed iconic buildings like the DeVos Place Convention Center and the Amway Grand Plaza. The route then took participants to Millennium Park, where they could enjoy the fall colors on a scenic run.
"The whole idea behind this is people can do anything they work themselves up to, and a marathon is a big goal," said Race Director Don Kern. "If you can run 26.2 miles, it's not just roll out of bed one morning and do it. It's put together a plan that lasts throughout the summer, throughout the whole training season."
Because this course was fast, many participants aimed to qualify for the Boston Marathon. Organizers said nearly 20% of last year's participants qualified using their time in the Grand Rapids Marathon.
But the race wasn't only for serious runners.
“The Grand Rapids Marathon is more than a race—it’s a celebration of perseverance and the power of community,” said Kern. “We’ve designed it to be welcoming to everyone, from first-time marathoners to experienced runners looking for a Boston qualifier. No one is a stranger on this course, and we celebrate every finish line crossed.”
Along with the marathon, there was a half marathon, a 10K and a 5K. Here's a look at the scheduled events on Sunday:
- 6 a.m. to race time – Packet pickup
- 7 a.m. – Early start for "Velocity Challenged" Marathon and Half Marathon
- 7:30 a.m. – Wheelchair and Hand Cycle Division, myTeam Triumph & Other Chariot Racers start
- 7:45 a.m. – Opening Ceremonies – National Anthem and Welcome
- 8 a.m. – Official start of Marathon, Half Marathon, and Relay Teams
- 8:20 a.m. – Run Thru the Rapids 10K Start
- 8:30 a.m. – Run Thru the Rapids 5K Start
- 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Runners cross the finish line
"We wanted to make it possible for people to do things they never thought they could do before," Kern said.