Last Chance BQ.2 - Grand Rapids

LATEST UPDATE FROM BAA FOR 2026 REGISTRATION AND 2027 QUALIFICATION WINDOW:

2026 BOSTON MARATHON REGISTRATION WEEK

• Dates: Registration for the 2026 Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America will occur over five days, September 8 through 12, 2025.
• Eligibility: Anyone who has achieved a currently valid Boston Marathon qualifying time for their respective age and gender can apply during this time within the B.A.A.’s online platform Athletes’ Village.
• Application: Registration is not on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Deadline: Applications will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. ET on Friday, September 12.

2027 BOSTON MARATHON QUALIFYING WINDOW

• Opening Date: The 2027 Boston Marathon qualifying window will open on Saturday, September 13, 2025.
• Duration: The qualifying window will remain open through 2027 Boston Marathon Registration Week in September 2026.
• Future Dates: Exact dates for the 2027 registration will be announced later.
• Updates: WE'LL UPDATE THIS SECTION MORE AS THE BAA SETS THEIR DATES FOR FUTURE QUALIFICATION.

IMPORTANT NOTE FOR BOSTON MARATHON 2026

• Qualifying Period: For the 130th Boston Marathon, scheduled for April 20, 2026, the qualifying period began on September 1, 2024.
• Registration Details: Registration details for that race will be announced following the 2025 Boston Marathon.
• Time Changes: Boston has changed their qualifying times for 2026.
• Readiness: You should only sign up for this race if you are going to be ready to qualify for Boston.

COURSE AND FORMAT

• Race Registration: To sign up before July 15, you’ll need to run a "qualifying race" to sign up.
• Course Details: Last Chance BQ.2-Grand Rapids has become one of the premier and most nationally known BQ events.
• Runner Limit: This race is limited to 330 runners with a time limit of 4:30.
• Venue: The course occurs at Secchia Meadows in Millennium Park.

RACE WEEKEND INFORMATION

• Packet Pickup: Packet pickup is at Fulton Street Pub & Grill on Saturday from 4-7 PM.
• Race Site: The race site is at 1400 Maynard SW, starting at 7 AM Sunday morning.
• Recommendations: Bring your shoes. Recommended, but optional.
• Contact: For questions, contact donkern1@gmail.com or 616 293 3145.

SISTER RACE INFORMATION

• Other Race: Our sister BQ.2 race is being held in Geneva, Illinois.
• Management: It's under different management and on a different registration platform.
• Spring Race: They also do a Spring Chance BQ.2 in the spring.
• Clarification: Don’t get confused between these events.

For more details about the race, please visit this link.