PACERTRIP CITY EDITIONUS / RACE GUIDE
Millennium Meadows Marathon race photo

Millennium Meadows Marathon

The city you want to run becomes your next trip.

USAug 29, 202742.195km · 21.1km · 10km
Race date in 326 days
Aug 29, 2027 Sun
City · Distance
Grand Rapids · 42.195km · 21.1km · 10km
Entry fee
$90Varies by event and entry period
2027Date Aug 29, 2027 · Open
2026Date Aug 30, 2026 · Entry ~ Aug 30, 2026
Why you dream of this race

THE DREAM

About Millennium Meadows Marathon — what makes it special

ABOUT THE RACE

A day you'll remember,
long past the finish line.

The Millennium Meadows Marathon will celebrate its 9th anniversary in 2026.

The road to your own record

Picture the course in advance
and find the pace that fits you.

When the city cheers

Streets lined with cheers, runners all around.
You'll be part of that scene.

The trip that follows the run

Take it slow with the finish still in you,
and meet the city all over again.

Millennium Meadows Marathon runner reviews and race reports

Stories from those who ran it first.

From the joy of finishing to the tough moments — read what runners wrote themselves.

Race reports: 2
DavidRan in 2024 · Finish time 4:49:39
“I finished in 4:49:39.”

David slowed down in the hot, humid conditions and ran with another participant during the latter stages to finish the Millennium Meadows Marathon.

JimRan in 2019 · Finish time 3:45:53
“It was really nice to run a race at an easy comfortable pace without dying at the end.”

Jim used the Millennium Meadows Marathon as preparation for fall races, completing 6 laps of a flat park course in 3 hours 45 minutes 53 seconds. The repeated course felt a little dull, but shade and friendly volunteers made for comfortable running.

We translated a short line from each public race report and summarized the experience. Finish times are as stated by the author, and past editions may differ from this year's weather and operations.

See it on video,
feel it through their stories.

Preview the course and read what runners who went before you wrote.

The Millennium Meadows Marathon

Marathon Spotlight

View on YouTube

This may be from a past edition. Check the organizer for this year's course and operations.

The way in that fits you

YOUR ENTRY

How to enter Millennium Meadows Marathon — registration routes

How to reach the start line —
start with what fits you.

Here are the ways to enter and what each requires.
Check the organizer's page for whether entries are open.

Registration platform RunSignup

Official race websiteEntry options
From the start line to the finish

RACE WEEK

Millennium Meadows Marathon course map and elevation

The 42.195km I'll run

Know the course and time limit, and race day comes into focus.

Runners start · local timeFrom 06:00
START

1400 Maynard SW, Grand Rapids, MI

Start · Google Maps
Show more

The Millennium Meadows Marathon is a race held at Millennium Park in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA.

Running along the wide paved trail of Sequia Meadows, you can see the Grand River and the grassland in one course.

Unlike Gyeonggi, which connects city intersections, the pedestrian bridges and riverside paths within the park form the main scenery.

A significant portion of course is shaded by trees, creating open grasslands and shady paths.

Full marathon goes into the loop course from the starting section, then runs the same loop several times, and finally exits again to the final.

There are gentle curves within the loop, and organizers emphasize gentle undulations rather than large hills.

Since repetition course is the basic structure of the competition, we encounter the same riverside scenery and pedestrian bridge again.

The official introduction guides full marathon to course, which is certified by the American Association of Athletics Federations,

and course, which can produce the standard record for participation in the Boston Marathon.

The half marathon, 10km, and full marathon relays will also be held.

It is explained that half marathon is a structure that measures the record of passing the regular half marathon distance separately and then runs further up to the common finish.

Relays involve team members running a park loop, with individual long-distance events and team events gathered in the same space.

The competition is sponsored by the Kent County Parks Department and local team World Vision.

There is a clear tendency to use the daily running path in Riverside Park for personal challenges, team events, and local sponsorships.

Typical race-season temperature: around 21°C (70°F)
Short sleeves — hydrate for the warmth

Participant benefits

Water stations

Aid stations

Finisher medal

Event T-shirt

Where and when to collect your Millennium Meadows Marathon race bib

To the start line,
step by step.

Pick up your bib, check your wave.
So on race morning, you can just run.

Pick up your bib at the expo

Fulton Street Pub & Grill (801 W. Fulton Street) from 2-6 p.m. the day before the race (Saturday) or at the Start Pavilion from 5:15 a.m. on the day of the race.

Stations & transport near the venue

Getting to the start

Start/finish at Secchia Meadows in Millennium Park, 1400 Maynard SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49534 (Walker, MI). Nearest public transit is The Rapid's Route 1000, a seasonal bus linking Rapid Central Station (downtown Grand Rapids) to the VanAndel Beach House inside Millennium Park, about 20-25 minutes.

Route 1000 runs Saturdays and Sundays only, 11:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. The marathon (a Sunday) almost certainly starts before 11 a.m.,

so this bus cannot get runners to the start line, though it could serve spectators or finishers heading back downtown later in the day.

Date matches source (Aug 30, 2026, a Sunday).

In practice, car/bike access is the realistic option for race-morning arrival since the only public bus route to the venue doesn't start running until 11 a.m.

Getting to the finish

Same as start — Secchia Meadows/Millennium Park (multi-loop course finishes at the same venue).

Same transit caveats as the start apply;

the Route 1000 bus window may suit later-finishing runners' return trip.

More details

No race-specific shuttle mentioned;

the official page notes ample free on-site parking.

Stations & transport near the venue

The Rapid, Grand Rapids' bus network, uses the reloadable Wave card (one-time $3 fee, available at Rapid Central Station and other retail points);

cash and tap-to-pay contactless bank cards are also accepted onboard.

A single adult ride is $1.75 with a $5.25 daily fare cap, and Wave or contactless riders get free transfers within 105 minutes.

READY TO RUN

From race morning to after the finish.

Your start time, fuel and bag drop.
Know them ahead and the run feels easier.

The day before, Packet Pickup will be held at the Fulton Street Pub and Grill outside the park,

and on the day of the game, it will be accepted at the venue pavilion.

Decide whether you want to receive bib in advance in the city or after arriving at the park, and put it in the departure route from your accommodation.

The venue address is directed to Maynard Street,

so it is better to navigate based on the official site address rather than just entering the park name and going to a different entrance.

In the circular section, there is aid station that provides water and Gatorade.

The tables for both drinks are spaced apart, so move towards the drink you want.

Course It is clearly stated that no food is provided inside, and packaged snacks and drinks are received in a separate event area after the race is completed.

Course If you separate supplies from those provided after the finals, it will be easier to find them on site.

The relay team's replacement area is indicated by a sign on the left after crossing the pedestrian bridge.

There will also be a relay area where team tents can be set up,

so please set aside a spot for each team member to avoid confusion between the cheering area and the actual shift location.

There is no accommodation contracted by the organizer, so you will need to compare accommodations that are convenient to get to the park entrance.

Times are local to Grand Rapids. Check the latest official information before the race.

A trip built around the race

STAY A LITTLE

MAKE IT A RUNTRIP

The race is one day,
the trip can be longer.

From a hotel that makes race morning easy,
to the meals and views you'll enjoy with the medal on.

Hotels near the Millennium Meadows Marathon start line in Grand Rapids

Hotels that make race morning easy

3 places

Distances are straight-line from the start.
Check real travel times and booking terms with each hotel.

Country Inn & Suites By Radisson, Grandville-Grand Rapids West, Mi

Hotel · 3.2km

7.1/10(316)
View on Booking.com

Swipe sideways to see more hotels.

View on map →

Time for you, before and after the finish

7 experiences

Rest a little, wander a little.
Pick what suits you and whoever you're with.

Grand Rapids Car Rental (EconomyBookings)

Compare rates from various rental car companies, self-drive (price confirmed at time of reservation) · Make reservation after checking price

View on EconomyBookings

Lansing|Private Airport Pickup/Drop-Off Service at Lansing Capital Region International Airport

$413

View on Klook

Total cost and budget for Millennium Meadows Marathon

TRAVEL ESSENTIALS

Trip prep too,
light and in one place.

Once saved, you can open this page without an internet connection

Runner stories and questions about Millennium Meadows Marathon

RUN TOGETHER

With runners who dream of
the same start line.

Be the first runner
Leave this room's first post

Grand Rapids runners' room

Frequently asked questions about Millennium Meadows Marathon

FAQ
When does Millennium Meadows Marathon 2027 take place?

It takes place on Sun, August 29, 2027 in Grand Rapids, MI, United States.

How much is the Millennium Meadows Marathon 2027 entry fee?

The main event costs $90.

What distances does Millennium Meadows Marathon 2027 offer?

Marathon · Half · 10K.

What time does Millennium Meadows Marathon 2027 start?

The race starts at 06:00.

Where does Millennium Meadows Marathon 2027 start?

1400 Maynard SW, Grand Rapids, MI.

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