Grand Rapids Marathon

Time goes by in a hurry.

Ten years ago Marathon Don was in Nova Scotia getting ready for marathon #301. Last week he was riding around Lake Michigan, swimming in seven different places. This week we celebrate the Summer Solstice, and remain hopeful and grateful for all the adventures that came from saying "yes."

His advice?
Do the fun stuff while you can.

Read this week's newsletter:

Summer Solstice Email from Metro Health Grand Rapids Marathon Marathon News From Grand Rapids 18 June 2026 31 August 2023 Marathon News from Grand Rapids 18 June 2026 View as Webpage Summer Solstice Looking for a lo

From these fathers to the fathers in Facebook land...let's save a few bucks. You can use code: FathersDay, thru Monday, to save 10% off registration of any distance at Millennium Meadows!

Whether you join the 10k, Half Marathon, Marathon or Marathon Relay, get registered ASAP and join us August 30th

https://runsignup.com/Race/MI/GrandRapids/MillenniumMeadowsMarathon

We have runners all over Michigan doing amazing things every weekend, and we always enjoy seeing where everyone's adventures took them. Let's see what you earned this weekend.

Drop a photo of your medal in the comments and tell us where you raced. Show us your hardware. 🏅👇

Brian Diemer Family of Races
Overall winner Megan O'Neil

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.

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:

Gazelle Week 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

"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!

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 ⬇️

A Little History 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

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

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/

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 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...