Grand Rapids Kids Marathon
Grand Rapids Kids Marathon is a running race on October 17, 2026 in Grand Rapids, MI.
- Date
- October 17, 2026 (50 days to go)
- Sport
- Running
From the Organizer
On the University of Michigan Health - West Grand Rapids Marathon Course. The day before the "big kids" run
Our Presenting Sponsor -- Family Capital Management
The goal of the Grand Rapids Kids Marathon is to encourage healthy lifestyles for children and their families, and to help kids become physically active for a lifetime.
Sign Up for Free
Kids between the ages of 2 and 12 are invited to participate. Register here for the Kids Marathon now through October 18, 2025.
Begin Your Training
Starting the week of August 1, track each half mile of running/walking or 15 minutes of activity on your log sheet until you have completed 25 “miles.” Download the progress log CLICK to keep track of your activity.
Join Our Community Events
August 18 at 6:30pm: 1-mile Kick-Off run at Millennium Park
September 23 at 6:30pm Obstacle Course at Millennium Park
Get Ready to Run
On Saturday, October 18, run the last 1.2 miles of your marathon on the official race course of the Grand Rapids Marathon at the David D. Hunting YMCA. Registered runners receive an official race bib and T-shirt. All finishers receive a medal and certificate.
- Date: Saturday, October 17, 2026
- Race Time: 2:30
- Packet Pick-Up: 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
- Location: South of David D. Hunting YMCA -- in the DeVos Lot of WGVU. Tent in the southwest corner of the lot.
- Distance: The course is 1.2 miles, starting and finishing at the actual Start/Finish line of the UM Health-West Grand Rapids Marathon
Course Map
CLICK for course map
Events
Weather
Typical Conditions
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
60°
Typical Low
40°
Chance of Rain
47%
Based on US Climate Normals data from E Grand Rapids, 6 mi from the venue.
Host City
About Grand Rapids, MI
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.
Race Location
Your Next Start Line
What Are You
Waiting For?
Every finish line starts with a single decision. Claim your spot at Grand Rapids Kids Marathon, put it on the calendar, and turn “someday” into a start date.
50
Days to train
- Race
- Grand Rapids Kids Marathon
- Date
- October 17, 2026
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From Endurance Grid
About This Sport
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.
Running
From 5K to marathon, running races are an accessible entry point into endurance sport. There's a distance for every fitness level and a community at every start line.
Coming Up
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Grand Rapids Kids Marathon?
When and where is the Grand Rapids Kids Marathon?
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Grand Rapids Kids Marathon
Oct 17, 2026