Aid Stations will be offered on all three event courses and feature water, GU hydration (lemon-lime or tri-berry), portable restrooms and University of Michigan Health-West medical personnel. Check out the course maps for locations.

The half marathon course will feature one nutrition station near the halfway point featuring GU gels (salted caramel, vanilla bean, tri-berry, strawberry banana and raspberry lemonade) and chews (strawberry and watermelon). The nutrition station will be available just before an Aid Station so you can hydrate as necessary after taking nutrition.

Until 11:59 pm on April 19, 2023 you can defer your registration to the 2024 event or transfer your registration to a different distance online by accessing your RunSignUp account. 

After April 19, deferrals are no longer an option but registered participants can transfer to a different event distance in person at any 11 Day Lead In  event or on event day at Calder Plaza beginning at 6:30 am. Please note that those who transfer to a different distance after April 19 cannot be guaranteed an event-specific shirt and will not receive any difference between event costs as a refund but will be required to pay any additional cost if transferring from a shorter to a longer event.

How to do an online deferral or event distance transfer:
1. Go to www.runsignup.com and click Sign In at the top right to log into your Run Sign Up account
2. Click the Profile link at the top right
3. Scroll down and click My Registered Races
4. Find the She Runs Grand Rapids link
5. Click Manage Registration
6. If you are on a computer, click either Transfer Event or Defer Registration on the left hand side. If you are on a mobile phone, click Race Menu at the top center, followed by either Transfer Event or Defer Registration.

You can check in and/or register for any SHE RUNS Grand Rapids event at Gazelle Sports locations around Michigan on various dates/times (as long as event caps have not been reached) during the new 11 Day Lead In – sponsored by Foster Swift — beginning Thursday, April 20! 

On event day, Sunday, April 30, event check-in will be available on Calder Plaza adjacent to the start/finish line beginning at 6:30 am. And, if event caps have not been reached, registration will also be offered at Calder Plaza on April 30. Upon check-in, you’ll receive your participant bib with safety pins to wear on the front of your shirt during your event and your 2023 event-specific participant shirt. 

If you would like to swap out the shirt size you ordered during online registration, please plan to do so on Sunday, April 30 after your event at the Event Check-in/Registration tent on Calder Plaza.

This year, your participant bib will be assigned when you visit an event check-in location, so no need to worry about it ahead of time!

Since the event’s inception in 2013, more than $300K has been donated to local charities. In 2023, SHE RUNS Grand Rapids Charity Partners will receive 100% of event proceeds to support their invaluable programming for our community: Girls on the Run West Michigan and the YWCA West Central Michigan.

You will finish all SHE RUNS Grand Rapids events at the same place you started. After you cross the finish line, please enjoy post-event nutrition compliments of Meijer and Gluten Free Bar and hydration from Boxed Water before heading to the Finisher Medals tent just north of the finish line to claim your bling! Note: participants MUST show their bib to receive the finisher prize. If the correct bib is not displayed, the finisher gift will not be available.

Then, stick around and enjoy the Finish Line Festival on Calder Plaza! The Awards Ceremony will take place at the Finish Line Festival tent after 9:30 am. Those who placed for an age group award can claim their prize at the Information/Volunteer Check-in Tent beginning at 9:30 am as results are available. First, second and third place Age Group winners for each event will receive $25, $15 and $10 Gazelle Sports gift certificates, respectively. Overall winners will be recognized at the Awards Ceremony in the Hospitality Tent at 9:30 am. Overall winners for each distance will receive:

1st Place: 
HOKA shoes
$75 New Balance apparel/accessories
$100 Gazelle Sports gift certificate

2nd Place:
HOKA shoes
$50 New Balance apparel/accessories
$75 Gazelle Sports gift certificate

3rd Place:
HOKA shoes
$25 New Balance apparel/accessories
$50 Gazelle Sports gift certificate

We are excited to continue the SHE RUNS party after your finish with:

• Music from West Michigan’s own Venus Flyytrap 
• Food truck fair from Around Baking Company, Dune Buggy, Kosher Falafel Truck, Kona Ice and Olly’s Donuts (cash or card accepted)
• Interactive sponsor booths including HOKA, New Balance and Gazelle Sports featuring SHE RUNS Grand Rapids fanwear 
• Cold Brew coffee compliments of Soldadera Coffee
• Recovery zone with Athletico Physical Therapy, Center for Physical Rehab, Duo Massage, Fuel Health & Wellness, StretchLab and Max Living Chiropractic
• Nursing & Pumping Privacy Tent hosted by Hulst Jepsen Physical Therapy 
• Bars with Brewery Vivant branded beer, Brewery Nyx Gluten Free beer, Farmhaus Cider Co. cider, Fenn Valley Vineyards wine, and more — use the tab on your participant bib for one complimentary beverage at the bar
• Macaroon and breakfast sandwich samples and coupons compliments of Le Macaron and The Cloud Bread Company.
• Giveaways from Planet Fitness and Gun Lake Casino

PLEASE NOTE
Bring a valid photo ID if you would like an alcoholic beverage. Your race bib does not count as ID. When purchasing beverage tickets at the ticket stations for the bar, please plan to use cash or credit card.

If you have questions after reviewing all the SHE RUNS Grand Rapids event weekend information, please check the FAQ. Or, email sherunsgr@gazellesports.com.

Open 6:30 am – 12:30 pm on Sunday, April 30
Gear Check allows you to stow your belongings while you’re out on your event course. It will be organized sequentially by bib number. 

You will receive a clear bag at gear check on Calder Plaza. This is the only bag allowed to be checked with your belongings. Please affix the gear check tag found on your bib number to your bag with the provided zip tie for identification purposes. After the race, reclaim your checked bag at the same location where you dropped it off.

Please note: DO NOT leave valuables, cash or jewelry in your gear check bag. The event is not responsible for any lost items. Gear bags must be claimed before close of the Finish Line on event day.

Please come early to your event on Sunday, April 30, so you can find parking in plenty of time to participate. Check out your options prior to coming downtown to plan your route. 

Gun Lake Casino is sponsoring complimentary photos for SHE RUNS Grand Rapids participants in 2023! Make sure you affix your bib on the front of your shirt so your number can be identified when searching for your photos post-event. The Mindtopia team will be taking photographs at the start and finish line on April 30, and uploading everything to FlashFrame to be available for free download after 5 pm on Wednesday, May 3. Look for the link in the May 3 eNews and on social media, and enjoy!

Scan the QR code available on your participant bib after you finish with a smartphone to access your results. You may also visit the Information/Volunteer Check-in tent on Calder Plaza to have them scan your QR code for you.

Virtual participants can start upload their finish time anytime between 6 am on April 15 and 11:59 pm on May 15,2023 by clicking the “Submit Virtual Results” button available on the top of the results page. Event shirts and medals will be mailed to Virtual participants the week of April 23.

Half marathon participants should line up according to pace, with the fastest runners in the front. Please look for the pace signs being held by the 2023 Pacers on Ottawa Avenue to help you line up. If you are walking the Half, please line up at the end of the line of runners. myTeam Triumph Half participants will start at 7:25 am followed by the rest of the field at 7:30 am.

10k participants should line up AFTER the Half participants have all crossed the starting line. If you are walking the 10k and/or pushing a stroller, please plan to line up behind anyone running the event. Pace signs will be available in the starting area for line up, but official pacers will not be pacing this event. The 10k will start at 7:50 am.

5k participants should line up behind the 10k participants.  If you are walking the 5k or pushing a stroller, please plan to line up behind anyone running the event. Pace signs will be available in the starting area for line up, but official pacers won’t be pacing this event. myTeam Triumph 5k participants will start at approximately 8:00 am followed by the rest of the field at 8:02 am.

Plan to visit a SHE RUNS Grand Rapids 11 Day Lead In  event — presented by Foster Swift – to check-in for your event. Depending on the Gazelle Sports’ location you visit, you might make a sign for a friend or family member to hold to encourage you on event day; sample wine, cider, beer or cold brew coffee; participate in a training run or panel discussion; check-out SHE RUNS Grand Rapids fanwear and so much more! You’ll walk away with everything you need to go right to the starting line on event day!

Saturday night, get prepared for your event. Lay out what you want to wear, pack anything you might need (change of clothes, nutrition, etc.)  and be ready to go.

If the forecast looks chilly or like rain, a dry change of warm clothes or a towel can be nice to have. Think comfort! Dry shoes or comfy slip-ons can feel great on sore feet. Store these items at Gear Check on Calder Plaza so you can grab them after you finish!

Make sure you have everything, especially your participant bib if you picked it up during the 11 Day Lead In, before you leave your vehicle after parking.

Clothes discarded during the event will be picked up by an area nonprofit organization and donated to help everyone have the apparel they need for training and participating. Please plan to drop any items within the first mile or at an Aid Station.

Remember, nothing new on race day! Wear clothes/shoes/socks you’ve worn before. Eat similarly to your training runs.

HAVE FUN! Today is a celebration of all you have accomplished!

Get social! Use #SheRunsGR on Twitter and Instagram to share photos and inspiration! Tag SHE RUNS Grand Rapids on Facebook so we can celebrate with you.

if it’s just rain or snow, the event goes on! You’ll see colored flags at our Aid Stations to alert you about weather conditions. Flags change color if weather heightens risk to the race (high winds, lightening/storms). If you see black flags, the race is cancelled.

See our full Hazardous Weather and Evacuation Protocol here. 

Be in the know and register for emergency alerts today. The Grand Rapids Office of Emergency Management and Public Safety Departments encourage all residents, businesses and visitors to sign up for emergency alerts. Alerts include weather warnings, water boil notices, evacuation notices, and other emergency messages. For the event address, use 351 Calder Plaza NW, Grand Rapids 49503.