Quick Info

What do I do?

SHE RUNS Grand Rapids is an exciting event, designed to engage you in a community of women from your first day of training to the final song played at the Finish Line Festival! The event will celebrate its new date and location on Sunday, September 29 at John Ball Park, and we are so glad you will be joining us! Whether you are a returning participant or brand new to the SHE RUNS Grand Rapids team, check out the Event Guide to get up to speed on event weekend 2024!

Your event day guide:

Until 11:59 pm on September 19, 2024 you can defer your registration to the 2025 event or transfer your registration to a different distance online by accessing your RunSignUp account. 

After September 19, deferrals are no longer an option but registered participants can transfer to a different event distance in person at the Expo or on event day at John Ball Zoo beginning at 7:00 am. Please note that those who transfer to a different distance after September 19 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. 

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-Grand Rapids (3930 28th Street SE) if event caps have not been reached on Saturday, September 28 from 9 am to 6 pm. 

On event day, Sunday, September 29, event check-in will be available at John Ball Park adjacent to the start/finish line beginning at 7:00 am. 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 participant shirt.

If you would like to swap out the shirt size you ordered during online registration, please plan to do so on Sunday, September 29 after your event at the Event Check-in/Registration tent in the Finish Line Festival.

This year, your participant bib will be assigned when you visit your 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 and hydration compliments of Meijer. Before heading to the Finisher Medals tent just east 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! 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 9:45 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 9:45 am. Overall winners for each distance will receive:

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

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

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

We are excited to continue the SHE RUNS party at the finish tradition with:

Interactive sponsor booths including HOKA, New Balance and Gazelle Sports featuring SHE RUNS Grand Rapids fanwear

Nursing & Pumping Privacy Tent hosted by Hulst Jepsen Physical Therapy

Bars with Brewery Vivant branded beer and NA Hop Water, cider, wine, mimosas and more — use the tab on your participant bib for one complimentary beverage at the bar. 

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 7:00 am – 12:30 pm on Sunday, September 29
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, September 29, so you can find parking in plenty of time to participate. Parking will be available at John Ball Zoo in the overflow lot adjacent to the Finish Line Festival by entering the Zoo off Fulton. Parking on surrounding streets will also be available.

Mindtopia is sponsoring complimentary photos for SHE RUNS Grand Rapids participants in 2024! 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 September 29, and uploading everything to FlashFrame to be available for free download after 5 pm on Wednesday, October 3. Look for the link in the post-event eNews or on social media and enjoy!

Portable restrooms will be available at John Ball Zoo and at every Aid Station along the event courses on Sunday, September 29.

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 in the Finish Line Festival to have them scan your QR code for you.

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 2024 Half Marathon Pacers at the start 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 7:55 am followed by the rest of the field at 8:00 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. New this year: Please look for the pace signs being held by the 2024 10k Pacers at the start to help you line up. The 10k will start at 8:15 am.

5k participants should line up AFTER the 10k participants have all crossed the starting line.  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 8:25 am followed by the rest of the field at 8:30 am.

Plan to visit the SHE RUNS Grand Rapids Expo to check-in for your event. Depending on when you visit, you might 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 the next 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 in the Finish Line Festival so you can grab them after you finish!

Make sure you have everything, especially your participant bib if you picked it up at the Expo, before you leave your vehicle after parking at John Ball Zoo or on the surrounding streets. 

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 X 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, 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, lightning/storms). If you see black flags, the race is cancelled.

See our full Hazardous Weather and Evacuation Protocol here. 

Event Day Schedule

7:00-8:30 am Event check-in/registration

7:55 am START — myTeam Triumph SHE RUNS Grand Rapids half marathon

8:00 am START — SHE RUNS Grand Rapids half marathon

8:15 am START – SHE RUNS Grand Rapids 10k

8:25 am START — myTeam Triumph SHE RUNS Grand Rapids 5k

8:30 am START – SHE RUNS Grand Rapids 5k

8:30 am-1:30 pm Finish Line Festival

9:45 am Age Group awards available in Information Tent at Finish Line Festival

Awards Ceremony for 1st-3rd place finishers in Hospitality Tent

Streets will reopen to traffic as the majority of those participating finish sections of the course with those still remaining asked to move to the sidewalks. Those who do not finish by 12:30 pm when the finish line truss has to be removed will have their finish time recorded with a hand-held scanner for inclusion in the results.

We’re a zero waste event!

Did you know about 80% of your daily waste can be recycled or composted? This means we can keep about 80% of waste OUT of the landfill! The SHE RUNS Grand Rapids event committee and sponsors believe in being a responsible sport leader by prioritizing the environment in our race operations.  This means we have secured items for race day that can be composted and recycled. We strive to keep 98%+ of our race day materials out of the landfill. But we need your help! Be on the lookout for our waste stations on race day and be kind to our Green Team volunteers as they sort your waste. And special thanks to John Ball Zoo, and Athletico Physical Therapy for their support of this initiative!

Supporting our Charity Partners

 

Thank you to our sponsors:

 

Presenting Sponsors

Footwear Sponsor

Apparel Sponsor

Photography Sponsor

Packet Pickup

Silver Sponsor

Bronze Sponsor

Zero Waste Sponsor

Scholarship Sponsor

Community Supporter

My TeamTriumph Sponsor

Race Course Signage Sponsor

Recovery Zone Sponsor

For more information on SHE RUNS Grand Rapids sponsorship opportunities, please contact Julie VanGessel at
jvangessel@gazellesports.com