the overGRound marathon/relay

🏃‍♂️ Event Overview

The overGRound is a free, unsanctioned marathon and marathon relay through the city of Grand Rapids whose route showcases the variety of GR’s 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.

🌟 Second Annual Event

This is the second year of the overGRound. This year's participating clubs include (so far) Lyon Street Run Club, November Project GR, Friendship Miles, Society Track Club, Village Rec Club, and No Surrender Running Club.

📅 Event Details

This year the overGRound will be held October 26, 2025 at 8am, starting and ending at Veterans Memorial Park. The carefully designed course passes the many coffee shops that host Lyon Street Run Club, a variety of neighborhoods, cityscapes, and parks, and ends by passing November Project Grand Rapids’ home of Lyon and Bostwick before returning to Veterans Memorial Park.

🎉 Participation Options

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

📝 More Details

• All paces welcome: Every participant from last to first gets a welcome back at Veterans Park.
• Self-supported event: A map, some signage and aid stations on course, and bikers who will check in with runners will be available.
• Marathon relay flexibility: Open to any team configuration or leg distances: coffee shops make good changepoints but do what works for you.
• Bring your own bibs: We encourage you to bring your own bibs and have fun with them.
• Participant Guide: The 2025 edition of the Participant Guide is now available HERE.
• Facebook event: The Facebook event is HERE for reference.
• Participation options: You may choose to run the marathon, run as part of a relay marathon, volunteer, or cheer (just show up on the course, or at Veterans Park, on race morning).

#theoverGRound2025