Grand Rapids Marathon

06/12/2026

Thinking about a fall half marathon or marathon?

This is how it starts.

Gazelle Sports Run Camp kicks off this weekend with 18 weeks of training, group runs, coaching, and encouragement along the way.

A lot of our finishers started right here.
Details in the flyer below.

06/11/2026

This week Marathon Don's celebrating over 30 years of friendship with Gazelle Sports, remembering the days before online registration and chip timing, when runners found races on a rack in the store and volunteers yelled "Stay in order!" at the finish line.

He's also encouraging everyone to check out one of Michigan's great summer adventures: The FRED Running Relay.
Gather some friends. Load up a vehicle. Take turns running the White Pine Trail through the woods, countryside, and around Lake Cadillac. Somewhere between the start and the finish you'll probably come home with a few stories worth telling.

Be careful who you hang around with. That's usually how the next adventure starts.

Read this week's newsletter:

Email from Metro Health Grand Rapids Marathon Marathon News From Grand Rapids 11 June 2026 31 August 2023 Marathon News from Grand Rapids 11 June 2026 View as Webpage Gazelle Week! Looking for a loca

06/08/2026

"And if you live long enough, you start winning sh*t. Third place age group 70 to 74 at Huntington Bank Grand Rapids Triathlon."

It's MEDAL Monday! Let's see the bling!

06/05/2026

Did you know Grand Rapids had marathons long before the Grand Rapids Marathon?

This week, Don shares a little local running history, from the original Grand Valley Marathon in 1969 to the races that helped shape the running community we enjoy today.

He also talks about one of our favorite partnerships—the YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids and why it's still such an important part of race weekend.

A little history lesson. Some marathon talk. And a reminder that we're all part of something that's been going on here for a long time. More from this week's newsletter ⬇️

Email from Metro Health Grand Rapids Marathon Marathon News From Grand Rapids 4 June 2026 31 August 2023 Marathon News from Grand Rapids 4 June 2026 View as Webpage A Little History Looking for a loc

06/03/2026

It's Global Running Day.

Somewhere today, somebody will run their first mile.

Somebody else will run their hundredth race.

Somebody is training for a marathon. Somebody is just trying to make it around the block.

That's one of the things we love about running. Everybody starts somewhere.

Get out there and enjoy the miles. Drop a photo of your

06/02/2026

SOCKS! The company that makes our socks went out of business. So we won't be doing them at UMHW Grand Rapids Marathon anymore. I have some left for sale. https://www.grandrapidsmarathon.com/store/socks/

06/02/2026

Looking for a summer adventure?

The FRED Running Relay are back July 10-11.
25, 50, 100, or 200 miles on the White Pine Trail.
Grab some friends. Load up a van. Make some memories.
That's how the best running stories start. Price jump on June 6th!
Registration link in the post below.

The FRED Running Relays - 25 Mile - 50 Mile - 100 Mile - 200 Mile is on Friday July 10, 2026 to Saturday July 11, 2026. It includes the following events: The FRED 100 Relay - 6 Person Crew, The FRED 200 Relay - 12 person Crew, The FRED 200 Relay - 9 Person Crew, The FRED 200 Relay - 6 Person Crew, T...

05/28/2026

In this week's newsletter, Don talks about milestones. Birthdays with a zero on the end. First marathons. Big adventures. The kind of stuff that sneaks up on you when you look back and realize how fast the years went.

He also admitted his brain is still very susceptible to people putting interesting ideas in it. Which probably explains a lot about the last 30 years.

A couple friends finished their first marathon at Bayshore. Another reminder that once you run 26.2, your world gets bigger in a hurry.

There’s more in this week’s newsletter about adventures, aging, charities, running friends, and why marathon people never really seem to slow down. Check it out:

Email from Metro Health Grand Rapids Marathon Marathon News From Grand Rapids 28 May 2026 31 August 2023 Marathon News from Grand Rapids 28 May 2026 View as Webpage Milestones Looking for a local run

05/27/2026

Don turns 70 today.

We pulled together a few members of his race committee and longtime friends to say a few words about the guy most of West Michigan knows simply as “Marathon Don.”

If you’ve spent any time around his events, you already know about him.

Early mornings. Weather reports. Last minute course adjustments.

A lot of people see the finish lines. It's people like Don that make them happen.

Happy Birthday, Don! Here's to many more!

05/26/2026

A race with friends that ends in a biergarten? Now that's our kind of deal!

With a 25 Mile Relay, 50 Mile Relay, as well as a 100 & 200 Mile Relay, there's an option for you and your friends!

Who is looking forward to the post race party in the Third Nature Brewing Company biergarten?!?

Registration includes a meal and drink ticket, when you register to join us July 10-11th: https://runsignup.com/Race/MI/Rockford/2018FredRunningrelays