32ND ANNUAL GRAND ISLAND 1/2 MARATHON

SATURDAY, MAY 2ND, 2026, AT BEAVER ISLAND STATE PARK



A BUFFALO RUNNER OF THE YEAR RACE

A BUFFALO TRADITION THE GRAND ISLAND HALF MARATHON HAS BEEN PROVIDING RUNNERS A QUALITY RUNNING EXPERIENCE AND GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY SINCE OUR INAUGURAL RACE APRIL 15TH, 1995.

THE GRAND ISLAND HALF MARATHON'S PRINCIPAL BENEFICIARY FOR THIS YEAR'S EVENT IS THE NEIGHBORS FOUNDATION OF GRAND ISLAND, AN ALL-VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES FOOD ASSISTANCE TO IN NEED RESIDENTS OF GRAND ISLAND.


INCLUDED IN THIS YEAR'S RACE:

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RACEJOY [https://www.racejoy.net/features] FREE PHONE LIVE TRACKING, PROGRESS ALERTS, AND CHEER SENDING.

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FREE DOWNLOADABLE PHOTOS!!!! ARRANGED BY BIB NUMBER, DOWNLOAD YOUR PHOTOS, SHARE THEM ON SOCIAL MEDIA, OR EVEN UPLOAD YOUR OWN PHOTOS!! PHOTOGRAPHERS WILL BE AT THE START, ON THE COURSE, AND AT THE FINISH LINE. YOU DESERVE YOUR PHOTO FINISH

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FIRST TIME HALF MARATHONS RECEIVE THEIR MEDAL WITH A DISTINCT RIBBON ACKNOWLEDGING THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENT, AND WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE A PICTURE IN FRONT OF A FIRST-TIME 1/2 MARATHON PLACARD

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_POST-RACE PARTY _HELD ADJACENT TO THE FINISH LINE WITH AWARDS, MUSIC FROM THE HEENEN BROTHERS, SPORTSCITY PIZZA AND, AND SARANAC BREWING BEER.

EARN CASH BACK BY REFERRING FRIENDS. REFER 3 OR MORE PARTICIPANTS AND EARN $20 BACK! IT'S EASY. JUST SHARE THE SPECIAL LINK YOU WILL RECEIVE IN YOUR REGISTRATION CONFIRMATION EMAIL. SEND THE LINK TO FRIENDS VIA EMAIL. POST THE LINK ON FB, TWITTER, ETC. YOU WILL EARN CASH BACK AFTER 3 PEOPLE REGISTER USING YOUR UNIQUE LINK!

RACE FEE: $60 FOR BOTH IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL ENTRIES (PLUS $2.55 TRANSACTION FEE AT CHECKOUT). VIRTUAL ENTRIES WILL RECEIVE THEIR GEAR VIA US MAIL, MAILING DATE TDB ONCE WE RECEIVE THE RACE SHIRTS FROM OUR VENDOR.

RACE DAY ONLINE REGISTRATION ONLY. NO REFUNDS. REGISTRATIONS MAY BE DEFERRED TO THE NEXT SCHEDULED GRAND ISLAND HALF MARATHON OR UNTIL APRIL 15. YOU MAY TRANSFER YOUR REGISTRATION TO ANOTHER RUNNER AT NO CHARGE.

RACE FEE INCLUDES:
- CHIP TIMING, WATER AND SPORTS DRINKS AT 6 HYDRATION STATIONS ALONG THE COURSE
- POST RACE PARTY AND BEVERAGES FROM 10:30AM - 12:30PM,
- COMMEMORATIVE MEDAL AWARDED TO EVERY HALF MARATHON FINISHER!

HALF MARATHON AWARDS:
THE OVERALL MALE AND FEMALE WINNERS.
THE OVERALL MASTERS MALE AND FEMALE WINNERS.
THE OVERALL 19 AND UNDER MALE AND FEMALE WINNERS.
TOP THREE FINISHERS IN EACH 5-YEAR AGE DIVISION FROM 19 AND UNDER TO 80+

EVENT RECORDS: (ENTRY FEE REFUNDED TO ANYONE BREAKING THE RECORD IN THEIR DIVISION)

OVERALL:
JOSEPH WHELAN 155 IN 2023 ............ CHRISTINE COTE 154 IN 1998

MASTERS:
DAVID O'KEEFFE 136 IN 1999 ............. JENNY KEENEN 117 IN 2023


RACE DAY DETAILS AND AMENITIES:

SATURDAY, MAY 2ND, 2026

7:30 AM BIB PICKUP IN THE MAIN PARKING LOT ADJACENT TO THE START/FINISH.

9:00AM START AT BEAVER ISLAND STATE PARK, GRAND ISLAND, NY (BETWEEN BUFFALO AND NIAGARA FALLS). THE RACE STARTS AND FINISHES IN THE MAIN PARKING LOT.

MEDALS AND OTHER RACE GIVEAWAYS WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE FINISH LINE.

THE COURSE IS FLAT, OUT AND BACK, ALONG THE SCENIC NIAGARA RIVER.
MORE THAN 85% OF THE COURSE IS CLOSED TO TRAFFIC. THERE IS NO TIME LIMIT TO COMPLETE THE COURSE.

6 HYDRATION STATIONS ALONG THE COURSE. RACE VOLUNTEERS WILL PLACE CUPS OF WATER AND GATORADE ON TABLES FOR RUNNERS TO PICK UP. CUPS WILL NOT BE HANDED TO RUNNERS IN ORDER TO REDUCE CONTACT. RUNNERS MAY ALSO CARRY THEIR OWN WATER BOTTLES TO REFILL ALONG THE COURSE.

8 PORTABLE TOILET STATIONS ALONG THE COURSE PLUS ADDITIONAL IN THE START/FINISH AREA.

QUESTIONS? SEND AN EMAIL TO [email protected]