Grand Rapids Marathon
Grand Rapids Marathon race day weather
Cool temps, steady winds ahead
Runners will face a temperature rise from 45°F at the start to 55°F by the finish, with average humidity at 68%. Winds will be light to moderate, with a crosswind in the early miles transitioning to a tailwind from miles 12 to 15, and again from 20 to 26. Adjusting pace during the headwind stretches (Miles 4-10 and 16-17) will be crucial for maintaining energy.
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Grand Rapids Marathon route and elevation
The Grand Rapids Marathon course has about 194 ft (59 m) of climbing and 206 ft (63 m) of descent, a net drop of about 12 ft (4 m). It is flatter than 75% of the marathon courses racecast.io has mapped, measured by what the hills cost in time. It has no steep miles: no mile climbs more than 50 ft (15 m).
What the hills cost
- 3:30 on a flat course is about 3:30:25 here (25 seconds slower).
- 4:00 on a flat course is about 4:00:30 here (30 seconds slower).
- 4:30 on a flat course is about 4:30:30 here (30 seconds slower).
Hills only, priced mile by mile on the course map. The pace calculator above adds the race-day weather.
Even-effort splits for a 3:30, 4:00 or 4:30 finish
| Mile | Climb | Descent | 3:30 | 4:00 | 4:30 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11 ft | 10 ft | 8:00 | 9:08 | 10:17 |
| 2 | 6 ft | 7 ft | 7:59 | 9:08 | 10:17 |
| 3 | 8 ft | 4 ft | 8:02 | 9:11 | 10:19 |
| 4 | 1 ft | 7 ft | 7:58 | 9:07 | 10:15 |
| 5 | 8 ft | 8 ft | 8:00 | 9:08 | 10:17 |
| 6 | 18 ft | 11 ft | 8:03 | 9:12 | 10:21 |
| 7 | 36 ft | 17 ft | 8:09 | 9:19 | 10:29 |
| 8 | 16 ft | 29 ft | 7:57 | 9:04 | 10:12 |
| 9 | 49 ft | 22 ft | 8:13 | 9:24 | 10:34 |
| 10 | 13 ft | 47 ft | 7:51 | 8:59 | 10:06 |
| 11 | 4 ft | 20 ft | 7:56 | 9:04 | 10:12 |
| 12 | 41 ft | 31 ft | 8:05 | 9:13 | 10:23 |
| 13 | 17 ft | 22 ft | 7:58 | 9:07 | 10:15 |
| 14 | 9 ft | 14 ft | 7:58 | 9:07 | 10:15 |
| 15 | 10 ft | 11 ft | 8:00 | 9:08 | 10:17 |
| 16 | 4 ft | 2 ft | 8:00 | 9:08 | 10:17 |
| 17 | 5 ft | 6 ft | 7:59 | 9:08 | 10:16 |
| 18 | 5 ft | 9 ft | 7:59 | 9:07 | 10:16 |
| 19 | 9 ft | 6 ft | 8:01 | 9:10 | 10:18 |
| 20 | 8 ft | 5 ft | 8:01 | 9:10 | 10:18 |
| 21 | 2 ft | 3 ft | 7:59 | 9:08 | 10:17 |
| 22 | 15 ft | 8 ft | 8:03 | 9:12 | 10:21 |
| 23 | 11 ft | 11 ft | 8:00 | 9:08 | 10:17 |
| 24 | 15 ft | 8 ft | 8:03 | 9:12 | 10:21 |
| 25 | 10 ft | 14 ft | 7:59 | 9:07 | 10:15 |
| 26 | 11 ft | 10 ft | 8:00 | 9:09 | 10:18 |
| Last 0.2 | 1 ft | 1 ft | 1:47 | 2:02 | 2:17 |
Explore the Grand Rapids Marathon course with the weather and your pace along the route, or compare it with other races.
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About the Grand Rapids Marathon
The Grand Rapids Marathon is run on a Sunday in October in Grand Rapids, Michigan, starting and finishing near the David D. Hunting YMCA on Lake Michigan Drive. The course loops through downtown and crosses the Sixth Street Bridge, then heads out to the trails of Millennium Park and an out-and-back on Indian Mounds Road. It is USATF certified, mostly flat apart from a few rises between miles 7 and 12, and a Boston Marathon qualifier. A half marathon, a marathon relay and the Run Thru The Rapids 5K and 10K start the same morning.