the overGRound marathon/relay

  • Date Sun 25th October 2026
  • Time 7:00AM EDT
  • Location Grand Rapids, Michigan
  • Price Free
  • Races 4 races
  • Distances Marathon

Event summary

Get ready for the exciting return of the overGRound Marathon and Relay on Sunday, October 25, 2026, in the vibrant city of Grand Rapids, Kent! This inclusive, free, and unofficial marathon celebrates community spirit and grassroots fitness, inviting runners of all paces to participate. Starting and ending at Veterans Memorial Park at 8 AM, the carefully designed 26.2-mile course winds through picturesque neighborhoods, cityscapes, and local parks, showcasing the diverse charm of Grand Rapids.

Whether you're a seasoned marathoner or a first-time runner, the overGRound offers a supportive atmosphere where everyone is welcomed back at the finish line. Participants have the option to run solo or form a relay team with flexible leg distances, making this event perfect for all. Join the local running clubs, cheer on fellow participants, or volunteer to help make this unique event a memorable experience. Mark your calendars for a day of fun, fitness, and community connection!

Organiser's Description

The overGRound is a free, unofficial marathon and marathon relay through the city of Grand Rapids whose route showcases the variety of GRs features and neighborhoods (beyond Butterworth and Millennium). This is an inclusive, supportive, and free running event celebrating community and a grassroots, no frills spirit of running and free fitness. It is a co-hosted event featuring the many wonderful running and fitness communities of Grand Rapids. Together, participating clubs can invite people out to run, cheer, and support runners on the course. The public is warmly welcomed to participate.

This will be the third running of the overGRound, the first (known) marathon held fully within GR city limits. Once again, it will be hosted by local participating clubs.

This year the overGRound will be held October 25, 2026 at 8am, starting and ending at Veterans Memorial Park. The carefully designed course passes many coffee shops, a variety of neighborhoods, cityscapes, and parks before returning to Veterans Memorial Park.

Whether you run the marathon, organize a team to run the relay, or just show up to support the runners, lets make it once again a fun, unique, out-in-the-open Grand Rapids event that goes beyond the norm.

More details:

* All paces welcome to participate, with every participant from last to first getting a welcome back at Veterans Park
* This is mostly a self-supported event, but there will be wayfinding guidance, aid stations on course, and bikers and volunteers who will check in with runners
* The marathon relay is open to any team configuration or leg distances; the coffee shops make good changepoints but "yall do yall" to complete the 26.2
* We encourage you to bring your own bibs and have fun with them
* The 2026 edition of the Participant Guide is not yet availablewe will email you when its ready!
* You are welcome to do any combination of the following: a) run the marathon, b) run as part of a relay marathon, or c) volunteer to help this event be a success, d) come out and cheer (just show up on the course, or at Veterans Park, on race morning).

#THEOVERGROUND2026

Races

  • Marathon

    Sun 25th October 2026 (8:00AM EDT)

    Free

    CLOSED
    This is a (mostly) self-supported marathon on a course that is completely shared with the public. There will a number of aid stations along the route.
  • Relay Marathon (Any Leg or Distance)

    Sun 25th October 2026 (8:00AM EDT)

    Free

    CLOSED
    Relay teams can be made up of any number of runners and distances can be broken up however teammates decide; the main thing is to cover the 26.2 mile route in sequence with your teammates. This is a (mostly) self-supported marathon on a course that is completely shared with the public. There will a number of aid stations along the route.
  • Day-Of Volunteer (Exact Timing TBD)

    Sun 25th October 2026 (7:00AM EDT)

    Free

    CLOSED
  • Day-Before Volunteer (Exact Timing TBD on Sat 10/24)

    Sun 25th October 2026 (7:00AM EDT)

    Free

    CLOSED

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Location

Veterans Memorial Park, 101 Fulton Street E, Grand Rapids, 49503, MI, United States

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