Grand Rapids will always have a special place in my heart because it’s where I ran my first-ever race, the Fifth Third River Bank Run 25K back in 2007. Most recently I ran in GR when three of my best running friends and I participated in the Gazelle Girl Half Marathon this past April. I love this city, its vibrancy (the craft beer scene alone is amazing; it is Beer City, U.S.A. after all), and with great friends and family living in that area, I hope to get to know Grand Rapids even better in coming years (attending ArtPrize, as part of our 15th wedding anniversary, is on our list for this fall.)
But one race I’ve yet to experience, and really want to check out, is the Metro Health Grand Rapids Marathon, Half Marathon and Marathon Relay. I recently connected with race organizers, including GR race committee member Lisa Rose, to learn more about this year’s event, slated for Sunday, Oct. 19. Best of all, I’ve got a special MRG reader discount code that’ll save you $10 when registering for any of the races.
First, a few fun facts about the event, which is now in its 11th year and expects to attract more than 6,000 participants (in addition, nearly 1,000 kids, along with their parents, plan to take part in the event’s Kids Marathon, held the Saturday of the same weekend):
- The first Grand Rapids Marathon was held on Halloween 2004. Some 930 runners participated.
- In 2013, numbers for the marathon, half-marathon, and marathon relay grew to nearly 4,700. Add to this the “events surrounding the event”—Kids Marathon, with nearly 1,000 kids involved, a volunteer corps of over 1,000, the Run Thru The Rapids 5K & 10K, and a Health and Fitness Expo at the David D Hunting YMCA the day before the race—and participation grew to many thousands.
- In 10 years, thousands of runners from age three to age 80+ have participated in the event. Over two-thirds are from Michigan. Nearly half are from the West Michigan area.
- The GR race committee is hosting the BQ Last Chance Marathon also, as well as the winter Groundhog Day Marathon.
Ready to sign on? Here’s the discount code to use when registering for one of these Grand Rapids races: michiganrunnergirl
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Are you running the Grand Rapids Marathon, Half Marathon or Marathon Relay? Have you participated in the past?
I’m running the Last Chance to BQ in Grand Rapids next weekend! Any recommendations for places to eat pre-race or post-race there? Would love to hear!
Grand Rapids has all kinds of great restaurants, all depends on what you love!
Vegan/Veggie: Cult Pizza or Bartertown
Burgers: Stellas (Burgers big as your head!)
All the beers and good food: Hopcat
Breakfast: Marie Catribs, Real Food or Wolfgangs (all have waits on the weekends)
Pizza and the Beers: Mitten Brewing or Harmony Brewing
Best Dough nuts ever: Propaganda
Sandwich and beers and patio: Founders
Good luck runner!!!
Thanks for these great recommendations, Sarah!
it’s a terrific race – i’m coming off a torn achilles, so had to drop to the half this year, but this will be my fourth starting (and finishing) line. it’s flat(ish) and fast, well organized, and has a nice homey feel. less corporate and more labor of love. be sure to get the post-race pickle juice!
Thanks for sharing your experience with this race, Matty. Sorry to hear about your torn achilles. Glad you’re able to still get out there and run the half. Hope you have a great race! Pickle juice — that sounds interesting! Didn’t know about that! :)
Does your code work for the Run Thru the Rapids 5 and 10k races?
Hey Katie! Unfortunately, it does not…I just checked with the race director on this and he tells me it’s because The Run Thru The Rapids is actually put on by the YMCA Service Club, and is their fundraiser for Camp Manitou-lin.
Hope you still sign on — sounds like such a great race weekend in GR!
Does the code work for the gazelle girl half in April 2015…it didn’t work for me but maybe I did something wrong? I belong to a large running group, Thundering Gazelles on the east side and we are very pumped to run this. Would be a great initiative for many of our runners for that discount!
Hey Amber! This code was for this fall’s Grand Rapids Marathon and Half Marathon, which is put on by a different race organization. I can tell you to stay tuned regarding all things Gazelle Girl Half Marathon & 5K — I’ll be offering some cool things in the coming months through the partnership I have with this race. I’d love to hear more about your running grip — do you have information online in case others want to learn about Thundering Gazelles? Thanks for visiting Michigan Runner Girl and commenting! – Heather