2023 RACE CALENDAR

Come run with three time Olympian Brian Diemer on our new, flat and fast 5k course. We have 6 live bands on our course, kids runs, hand-cycle, My Team Triumph, and prize money. Don’t forget – if you beat Brian, you win a donut! This year we are celebrating the 33rd Anniversary of the Brian Diemer Family of Races, which is now a 501c3 non-profit.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR JUNE 24, 2023: WEST MICHIGAN’S SIGNATURE EVENT RETURNS TO DOWNTOWN GRAND RAPIDS.

In partnership with Robert Hughes, the visionary behind the MSU Gran Fondo, and Tris4Health (Grand Rapids Triathlon, Michigan Titanium, Waterloo G+G and more), the new Grand Rapids Gran Fondo presented by KeyBank will continue the tradition of the previous event while moving Fondo forward into the future.

While the name may be a different, everything that makes Fondo what it is remains:

• Charity-focused with strong fundraising tools
• Four route options for cyclists of any skill level
• Same downtown Grand Rapids start/finish
• Unparalleled Finish Line Festival with music, craft beer, gourmet food and vendor booths 

Time to lace up the shoes and head to the track with RunGR for the 2023 Magic of the Mile! We will again be back at Grand Rapids Christian’s Eagle Stadium, which will be open & FREE for spectators to cheer everyone on. We have day of registration, online and onsite (cash or check). 

The Magic of the Mile will be chip timed. We used last year’s data to adjust the heats and add an additional heat for both genders. We will watch registrations to keep the starting line a nice field size. We are excited to announce that this year’s Mile is a part of the Michigan Runner’s Series & the Road Runners Club of America Michigan 2023 Championship Series event.

As in the past, our Youth 200 Meter/400 Meter & Youth Coed Mile are FREE for future track stars to go out and have FUN! It is also FREE for spectators. Anyone who is 20 or younger on race day will automatically receive a $10 entry when they register.

Awards

Thank you to Gazelle Sports for their continued support of this event, they will be providing gift certificates for the age group and heat winners.

Youth 200M & 400M | Coed Youth Mile

• Popsicles at the finish!

Heat Awards

• Gazelle Sports Gift Certificates: $20 for 1st, $15 for 2nd, & $10 for 3rd

Age Group Awards
These will be mailed out AFTER the Magic of the Mile. We will combine all of the heats to determine these awards and use a 10 year age range, starting with 20 – 29.

• Gazelle Sports Gift Certificates: $20 for 1st, $15 for 2nd, & $10 for 3rd

Elite Mile

• Cash Prize from RunGR: $100 for 1st, $50 for 2nd, & $25 for 3rd
• Gazelle Sports Gift Certificates: $20 for 1st, $15 for 2nd, & $10 for 3rd
• The top 3 finishers will not be eligible for Age Group awards

**College & high school participants, we recommend you consult with your parents, coaches, and schools to determine if you are able to accept any prizes.

How It Works

This event will flow similar to a high school track meet, where the start times associated with each heat are an approximation. The emcee will alert you to when your particular heat needs to be at the starting line. Register for the heat that represents your projected finish time (see below).

-Track Opens for Warm Ups (5:00 PM)
-Bib Pickup (5:00 PM)
-Late Registration (5:00 PM)

-Kids 200 meter fun run!  (6:00 PM)
-Kids 400 meter fun run!
-Youth Coed 1 Mile*

-Women: 8:00 pace – + (6:50 PM)
-Men: 7:30 – + pace

-Women: 7:15 to 7:59 pace (7:10 PM)
-Men: 6:30 to 7:29 pace

-Women: 6:45 to 7:14 pace (7:30 PM)
-Men: 5:30 to 6:29 pace

-Women: 5:45 to 6:44 pace (7:50 PM)
-Men: 4:45 to 5:29 pace

-Elite Women: under 5:45 pace (8:10 PM)
-Elite Men: under 4:45 pace (8:20 pm)

*the Youth Coed Mile is designed for anyone who wants to participate in the Mile, but this might be one of their first times running the distance. We designed it to be less intimidating and more relaxed compared to the heats that are slotted by specific paces. That being said, all heats are open to any age.

If you have any questions, email at lmcubridgerun@gmail.com. We have opportunities for sponsors and day of vendors to join in the Magic of the Mile fun, simply email us to learn more.

Register: https://runsignup.com/Race/MI/GrandRapids/Mile

The Original Gravel Triathlon is part of the Tris4Health family of events.

The team at Tris4Health is excited have Ugly Dog Gravel Triathlon as part of our premier endurance events. As the owners and race directors of Grand Rapids Triathlon, Michigan Titanium and The Dirty Mitten Gravel Triathlon, we pledge to retain the spirit of this event while bringing our unique spin to Ugly Dog.

What is Ugly Dog Gravel Triathlon?

Ugly Dog Gravel Tri started in 2018 as a swim – gravel bike – trail run event. Your race will start your day with a beautiful swim in Portage Lake. Then get ready for the bike leg, but leave the expensive tri bike and skinny tires home. Grab a road bike, fat tire, mountain bike, whatever is going to take you through the gravel roads. Once you are back to transition, finish off your race with a wooded trail run.

Ugly Dog Tri History

Started in 2018 by EPIC Races, Ugly Dog Tri is the original gravel triathlon, combining swimming, gravel biking and trail running. The event takes place in Big Portage Lake State Park, Waterloo Recreation Area in Grass Lake, MI.

In late 2021, Tris4Health acquired the event along with Waterloo G&G Gravel Road Race to add to its family of events. Coupled with Tris4Health’s The Dirty Mitten Gravel Triathlon, Ugly Dog Gravel Tri puts Michigan on the map as the predominant gravel triathlon destination in the country.

• Running IS a team sport and the Cross Country Team Challenge allows you and four of your friends to experience it all together.  This event resembles a high school-style cross country meet, using standard scoring and a 5K course.  This is a team event, with 5 to 7 people per team.  If you don’t have a team or enough people to make an entire team, let us know and we will help you put a team together.

  This year we try out a new course & venue at Richmond Park in the City of Grand Rapids. The 5K course will feature mowed grass, packed dirt, and gravel.  Be sure to check out the course preview video below to get an idea of what XC running looks like! Also new this year is the FREE community 1 Mile Run, which is open to both youth & adults.

  For more information on what cross country is, click the “Cross Country 101” section to your left or simply ask us.

  How to Register

  We tried to make it as easy as we could for you to register and start your team (if you have one). The first person on your team to register has the ability to create the team. From there, that person can share the team name and a link for others to join. We also activated the features that allow you to change your team name and the type of team you have (female, male, coed). We are also happy to help with all of this.

  If you don’t have a team yet (or don’t want the pressure of creating the team name), no worries! Go ahead and register yourself and we can help you unite with a team later.

  When in doubt, ask! Remember, teams can range from 5 to 7 individuals, with only the top 5 places counting towards your score (with any other runners on your team helping to block other team members from securing lower points). Coed teams do not have a requirement for the number of males or females they have on them, just at least one member of the opposite gender.

  The 5K portion of the event is chip-timed.

  We have youth pricing turned on so anyone under the age of 20 will receive a $10 entry. If a high school team would like to register to participate, email us at lmcubridgerun@gmail.com for a special discount code.

  Awards

  Gazelle Sports has generously signed on board as an Awards Sponsor this year. They have helped us since the first year.

  • First Overall Female: $25 to Gazelle Sports
  • First Overall Male: $25 to Gazelle Sports
  • First Overall Female Masters: $25 to Gazelle Sports
  • First Overall Male Masters: $25 to Gazelle Sports
  • Middle of the Pack Award: $25 to Gazelle Sports
    (given to the person who finishes in the middle of the final order)
  • Overall Female Team: all team members receive a $20 to Gazelle Sports
  • Overall Male Team: all team members receive a $20 to Gazelle Sports
  • Overall Coed Team: all team members receive a $20 to Gazelle Sports
  • Overall Masters Female Team (all team members must be 40+): all team members receive a $20 to Gazelle Sports
  • Overall Masters Male Team (all team members must be 40+): all team members receive a $20 to Gazelle Sports
  • Overall Masters Coed Team (all team members must be 40+):  all team members receive a $20 to Gazelle Sports
  • Most Spirited Team: all team members receive a $20 to Gazelle Sports
    (this will be voted on by the race day volunteers)

  The FUN Run Mile participants are not eligible for awards. The FUN Run Mile is also not timed.

Register: https://runsignup.com/Race/CrossCountryChallenge

Michigan Titanium, a USAT sanctioned event and 2019, 2022 & 2023 Ultra-Distance (Full) Championship, offers multiple options including our 140.6 mile Ultra-Distance, Half, Olympic and (NEW ) Sprint distances are offered for Triathlon, Duathlon, Aquabike, Relay and Swim-Only events.  Come experience a world-class event in Plainfield, MI on August 13, 2023.

The LMCU Bridge Run has been providing the community with a premier starting line to accomplish goals since 2002 and we invite you to join us in person or virtually to keep the tradition “running” (pun intended)! Whether you pick the 10 Mile Run or 5K Run/Walk, be assured you will have a great race day experience running through downtown Grand Rapids and of course, crossing the many bridges in the city.

The 2023 Bridge Run will be located on the west side of the 6th Street Bridge (use 731 Front Ave NW, Grand Rapids, 49504 in your GPS for our physical location). The historic 6th Street bridge is an icon and a favorite of our event participants. Both the 5K and 10 Mile routes will still go through downtown Grand Rapids (over a bonus bridge), with the 10 Mile still heading out through Riverside Park. You can view the tentative routes (we are still working with the City of Grand Rapids to finalize the details) by clicking on each distance: 5K | 10 Mile. You will notice that the 5K route is essentially the same for everyone, which will allow us to start BOTH races at 8am this year!

Why the Bridge Run?

• All participants receive an AWESOME finishers medal & commemorative shirt
• Aid stations on both courses featuring Gatorade & water, with GU energy packets on the 10 Mile course
• Spirit stations to CHEER YOU ON
• 2 bands on the course & 1 in the finish area
• Pacers for the 10 Mile to help you achieve YOUR GOAL
• The scenic route taking you through downtown Grand Rapids, the many parks in the city, and over bridges
• Cash prizes for the top 3 finishers and overall masters winner for both the 5K & 10 Mile
• In 2016, it was voted Top 50 Road Races in Michigan by MLive
• In 2016, it was named Top 10 Fall Road Races in Michigan by MLive
• In 2023, the 10 Mile is part of the Road Runners Club of America Central Region Championship Series
• In 2023, the 10 Mile is part of the Michigan Runner Race Series
• A portion of the race proceeds are donated to local groups to help move their missions forward
• FREE training plans to help you
• Our committee works throughout the year to make sure you are smiling when you cross the finish line!

Make sure to follow them on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram!

We have age-based pricing activated, anyone 18 and under on race day will pay $35 for the 10 Mile & $20 for the 5K (virtual events are not included). There is nothing you need to do other than input your age when you complete the signup process!

Volunteer!

It takes over 400 volunteers to create the magic of race day. This is a great opportunity for school teams, families, and individuals to get involved and help our participants have an AMAZING race day experience. We will happily donate $150 to school or non-profit groups that brings out 15+ individuals. Visit our volunteer portal to see and sign up for all of our opportunities.

Awards

We are excited to have Gazelle Sports back this year to help provide our awards. The Bridge Run Age Group Awards are as follows:

• 1st place: $20 to Gazelle Sports + commemorative item
• 2nd place: $10 to Gazelle Sports + commemorative item
• 3rd place: commemorative item
• Age Groups start at 9 and under, then go every 5 years (ie: 10-14, 15-19….70-74, 75-79), until 80+.

RunGR will be providing a cash prize for each race (10 Mile & 5K, Male & Female) as laid out below:

• 1st place: $150
• 2nd place: $100
• 3rd place: $50
• Overall Master’s: $100

Overall prize winners will not be eligible to win age group awards.  

The Road Runners Club of America will be presenting special awards for the 10 Mile.

Register: https://www.thebridgerun.com/

Rode To HELL is a gravel bike event consisting of four distances: 101 Mile, 65 Mile, 39 Mile and 25 Mile. The event encompasses Jackson, Washtenaw, Livingston and Ingham Counties. A majority of the roads traveled will be gravel with smaller segments of paved portions, making for a memorable and unique challenge at the longer distances.

Rode To HELL is done in partnership with the Region 2 Economic Planning Commission serving Hillsdale, Jackson & Lenawee Counties in Michigan.

25, 39, 65, 101 Mile Distances

Check out their website for more details.

Register: https://runsignup.com/Race/MI/GrassLake/RodetoHellGravelBikeRace