Course
Course Maps
Race maps are located on the Grand Rapids Marathon website. CLICK.
University of Michigan Health-West Grand Rapids Marathon 2026
- Date
- Sunday, October 18, 2026
- Start time
- 7:55 AM start (New York)
- Location
- Grand Rapids, Michigan
- Entry fee
- From $50 · goes up to $165 on Oct 1, 2026
- Included with entry
- Includes a shirt
- Fundraising
- Takes optional donations when you register
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Registration is open.
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Official race websiteAdd to calendar: Apple or Outlook · Google
Events and entry fees
| Event | Distance | When | Entry fee | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Handcycle - Marathon | Marathon | Oct 18, 20267:55 AM | $155$165 after Oct 1, 2026 | – |
| Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Oct 18, 20268:00 AM | $135$145 after Oct 1, 2026 | – |
| Marathon | Marathon | Oct 18, 20268:00 AM | $155$165 after Oct 1, 2026 | – |
| Relay Marathon | Relay | Oct 18, 20268:00 AM | $387.50$412.50 after Oct 1, 2026 | – |
| Run Thru The Rapids 10K | 10K | Oct 18, 20268:20 AM | $50$52.50 after Oct 1, 2026 | – |
| Run Thru The Rapids 5K | 5K | Oct 18, 20268:30 AM | $50$52.50 after Oct 1, 2026 | – |
Entry fees exclude processing fees. Prices and dates come from the race's registration page and refresh nightly.
Register on RunSignup
The Marathon fee goes up to $165 on Oct 1, 2026.
Race day planning
Entry fee schedule
- Handcycle - Marathon and Marathon: $155 until Sep 30, then $165 until Oct 18.
- Half Marathon: $135 until Sep 30, then $145 until Oct 18.
- Relay Marathon: $387.50 until Sep 30, then $412.50 until Oct 18.
- Run Thru The Rapids 10K and Run Thru The Rapids 5K: $50 until Sep 30, then $52.50 until Oct 18.
Online registration closes Oct 18, 2026, unless the race fills first.
How the price compares
At $155, entry is about 48 percent above a typical marathon in Michigan, which costs $105 right now.
What a typical finish looks like
A typical finisher at a marathon in Grand Rapids runs 4:12:12, about 9:37 a mile, based on 3 races with published results. Women typically finish in 4:30:23 and men in 4:01:26.
Light and altitude
Sunrise on race morning is at about 7:58 AM, and the Handcycle - Marathon starts at 7:55 AM. The start sits about 690 feet above sea level.
Fees exclude processing fees. Comparisons use current entry fees and published results from races nearby.
Start location and course
475 Lake Michigan Dr NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504
The pin marks the address the race lists, which is usually the start. The organizers have not shared a course map with us yet.
2025 results
All results (5 years)Half Marathon
1,877
finishers
2:13:00
median (10:09 /mi)
1:10:16
winning time
52% / 48%
women / men
Marathon
1,193
finishers
4:12:12
median (9:37 /mi)
2:30:14
winning time
37% / 63%
women / men
Run Thru The Rapids 10K
408
finishers
1:02:11
median (10:00 /mi)
38:46
winning time
51% / 49%
women / men
Aggregated from official results (Classic Race Management) for University of Michigan Health-West Grand Rapids Marathon. Individual finisher names are not stored here.
How fast do you need to be at University of Michigan Health-West Grand Rapids Marathon?
At the 2025 Half Marathon, the fastest tenth finished in 1:42:39 or better, the top quarter in 1:55:25, and half the field in 2:13:00; the last tenth came in after 3:09:09.
At the 2025 Marathon, the fastest tenth finished in 3:16:15 or better, the top quarter in 3:41:35, and half the field in 4:12:12; the last tenth came in after 5:37:57.
At the 2025 Run Thru The Rapids 10K, the fastest tenth finished in 49:16 or better, the top quarter in 54:47, and half the field in 1:02:11; the last tenth came in after 1:26:27.
| Age | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| Under 20 | 1:47:13 | 1:22:22 |
| 20-29 | 1:33:54 | 1:12:38 |
| 30-39 | 1:34:27 | 1:18:33 |
| 40-49 | 1:29:06 | 1:22:13 |
| 50-59 | 1:43:52 | 1:28:45 |
| 60-69 | 2:00:10 | 1:48:09 |
| 70+ | 2:22:37 | 1:59:01 |
Groups with fewer than five finishers are left out. Awards vary by race; check the race's rules.
What would my time get me?
Where a finish time would have placed in 2025.
Finishers by year
Up 126 percent since 2021.
1,657
2021
2,283
2022
3,025
2023
3,487
2024
3,741
2025
All events combined, from official results.
University of Michigan Health-West Grand Rapids Marathon Half Marathon year by year
From 2021 to 2025, the field went from 987 to 1,877 finishers, and the median time rose from 2:08:55 to 2:13:00.
| Year | Finishers | Median | Fastest tenth | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,877 (+7%) | 2:13:00 | under 1:42:39 | 1:10:16 |
| 2024 | 1,757 (+14%) | 2:09:06 | under 1:41:48 | 1:09:36 |
| 2023 | 1,535 (+4%) | 2:09:34 | under 1:42:19 | 1:13:35 |
| 2022 | 1,479 (+50%) | 2:10:21 | under 1:42:54 | 1:09:15 |
| 2021 | 987 | 2:08:55 | under 1:42:21 | 1:06:50 |
From each year's official results for the Half Marathon; virtual options are left out.
How fast is it?
About average for Michigan half marathons
The fastest quarter of the 2025 half marathon field finished under 1:55:25, against 1:52:52 in a typical Michigan half marathon, so times here are about average.
- Marathon: About average for Michigan marathons. The fastest quarter of the 2025 marathon field finished under 3:41:35, against 3:44:36 in a typical Michigan marathon, so times here are about average.
- 10K: About average for Michigan 10Ks. The fastest quarter of the 2025 10K field finished under 54:47, against 53:36 in a typical Michigan 10K, so times here are about average.
Compares the fastest quarter of each field, so walkers and first-timers do not skew it. It reflects the course and the field together: a flat course, cool weather, or a competitive crowd all make times faster.
Typical race-day weather
Around October 18 the day usually runs from 45°F at dawn to 60°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 33% of days. Cold snaps dip to 37°F and hot years reach 72°F.
Based on 75 days within a week of the date over the last 5 years, from historical weather for the start area. Not a forecast.
From the race's page
What the organizers of University of Michigan Health-West Grand Rapids Marathon cover on their registration page, in brief.
Parking and travel
Charter Bus Service
The Grand Rapids Marathon has partnered with CharterUP to offer trustworthy transportation for groups to the race. For more info, see our Travel & Hotels page.
Race details
- Where
- 475 Lake Michigan Dr NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504Map
- Course
- Road
- Start elevation
- About 690 feet
- Included with entry
- Long Sleeve Tech T-Shirt
- Donations
- Accepted when you register
- Distances
- 5K, 10K, Half Marathon, Marathon, Relay
- Editions
- 2026 (Oct 18, 2026), 2025 (Oct 19, 2025), 2024 (Oct 20, 2024), 2023 (Oct 15, 2023), 2022 (Oct 16, 2022), 2021 (Oct 17, 2021)
Organize this race? Add details or a correction
Plan your race
Quick answers
- When is University of Michigan Health-West Grand Rapids Marathon?
- Sunday, October 18, 2026, starting at 7:55 AM.
- How much does it cost?
- Entry starts at $50 before processing fees, and rises to $165 on Oct 1, 2026.
- When does registration close?
- Online registration closes Oct 18, 2026, unless the race fills first.
- Is the entry fee high for Michigan?
- At $155, entry is about 48 percent above a typical marathon in Michigan, which costs $105 right now.
- Do runners get a shirt or medal?
- Entry includes a shirt, according to the race's registration page. Check it for sizes and whether kids' races get the same.
- Can I donate to a cause when I register?
- Yes. The registration form offers an optional donation, usually for the charity or nonprofit the race supports. The race's own page names the cause.
- What distances can I run?
- 5K, 10K, Half Marathon, Marathon, Relay.
- How big is it, and how fast?
- In 2025, 1,877 runners finished the Half Marathon; the median finish was 2:13:00 and the winner ran 1:10:16.
- Is it a fast course?
- The fastest quarter of the 2025 half marathon field finished under 1:55:25, against 1:52:52 in a typical Michigan half marathon, so times here are about average.
- Where does it start?
- 475 Lake Michigan Dr NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504.
From the organizers
University of Michigan Health - West Grand Rapids Marathon
Foster Swift Half Marathon
Pepsi Zero Sugar Marathon Relay
Run Thru The Rapids 5K & 10K
Race insurance offered through RunSignUp on our registration page. For info on claims: CLICK
(For complete info on packet pickup, course, race day info, FAQ, etc, please see our main Grand Rapids Marathon website)