
From the Organizer
The Amway River Bank Run, presented by Fifth Third Bank with Corewell Health as the Official Health Partner, is held every year in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan on the second Saturday of May.
This year, on May 9, 2026, we will be celebrating 49 years and are looking forward to filling the streets of Grand Rapids with the largest 25K road race in the country, which includes the USA 25 km Open Championships, 25K Handcycle, 25K Wheelchair, 10K Run, 5K Run and 5K Community Walk.
In addition to our in-person events, we offer virtual events that give individuals an opportunity to participate by completing the distance of their choice (25K, 10K, 5K, or 5K walk) on the course of their choice and any day that works between May 1 and May 31. Each virtual event offers extended finishing times (unlike the in-person course cutoffs) and having this flexibility makes the Virtual Race a great option for many runners and walkers. Plus, you still receive all the commemorative Amway River Bank Run Race Swag, which includes high-quality race shirts, premium medals and a virtual race bib.
In 1978, just over 1,000 runners took to the streets on the second Saturday of May for the first annual Old Kent River Bank Run. In 2001, Old Kent Bank merged with Fifth Third Bank, and the event was renamed to showcase its new owner. With the transition of race ownership in 2018 to Riverbank Events and Media , a group of leading community partners came together, including Amway, Fifth Third Bank and Corewell Health, to ensure the race would continue its longstanding tradition of filling the streets of Grand Rapids with runners and walkers, on the second Saturday of May, for years to come. In 2019, with Amway as the title sponsor, the race became known as the Amway River Bank Run, presented by Fifth Third Bank and Corewell Health as the Official Health Partner.
The Amway River Bank Run is proud to be celebrating 49 years in 2026 and we hope to see you at the Start Line!
Events
Weather
It's too far out for a forecast, so here's what weather on this date is normally like in the area. A race day forecast will replace this as race week approaches.
Typical High
65°
Typical Low
41°
Chance of Rain
45%
Based on US Climate Normals data from E Grand Rapids, 4 mi from the venue.
Host City
Population
197,768
as of 2023
City Elevation
741 ft
Nearest Airport
GRR
Gerald R. Ford International Airport · 8 mi
Time Zone
Eastern Time
From Endurance Grid
A mid-size host city. Enough lodging and amenities to keep race weekend easy, without big-city sprawl.
Your Next Start Line
Every finish line starts with a single decision. Claim your spot at Amway River Bank Run, put it on the calendar, and turn “someday” into a start date.
315
Days to train
Coming Up
West Michigan Latino Health 5K Walk/Run
Less than a mile away
LMCU Bridge Run
Less than a mile away
myTEAM TRIUMPH West MI - Bridge Run -- Captain & Angel Registration
Less than a mile away
University of Michigan Health-West Grand Rapids Marathon
Less than a mile away
From Endurance Grid
Endurance Grid is here to help you understand the sport, decide if it’s the right fit, and learn how to prepare. For course distances, logistics, and race-day specifics, always defer to the race organizer’s event page.
With running, there's a distance for every fitness level, a community at every start line, and nothing beats the feeling of crossing a finish line you trained for.
Running is an endurance sport that rewards consistency, and showing up every week compounds in ways that will surprise you.
From 5K to marathon, running races are the most accessible entry point into endurance sport. There's a distance for every fitness level and a community at every start line.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Amway River Bank Run
May 5, 2027