Race Day 101

AID STATIONS are located at the start (Monroe and Lyon) and every 1.5 miles for 25K; near miles 2, 3, 4.5 on the 10K course; and near mile 1.5 on 5K course.

AWARDS will all be mailed out to top finishers within 20 business days following the event.

CANCELLATION OR DELAY OF RACE may happen due to adverse weather. (click here for Adverse Weather policy)

COURSE MAPS for the 25K, 10K, 5K Run and 5K Community Walk are available by clicking here.

FINISH LINE PROCEDURES include continuing to run or walk until after you have crossed the finish line completely, obtaining your finisher gift and enjoying post-event refreshments.

FITNESS FASHION SHOW (May 8, Sports & Fitness Expo Main Stage, DeVos Place) Featuring the Elite Athlete Introduction at 5 pm and the Gazelle Sports Fashion Show featuring the 2009 Fifth Third River Bank Run Road Warriors at 5:30 pm.

FREE SHOWERS/LOCKERS (May 9, David D. Hunting YMCA, 475 Lake Michigan Drive) 6 a.m.-2 p.m. Non-YMCA members can park in Dash Lot 7 when accessing the YMCA on May 9.

GEAR CHECK located at the start (Lyon and Monroe) and at Packet Pick-Up (DeVos Place). Claim your gear post-event the same place you dropped it pre-race.

GU ENERGY GEL will be available at pre-race (Lyon and Monroe), and miles 6 and 12. Available flavors - vanilla bean (caffeinated) and strawberry banana (non-caffeinated).

INFORMATION TENT will be staffed on Calder Plaza from 6:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. to provide race-related information.

MEDICAL SUPPORT is provided by Metro Health Sports Medicine and American Medical Response, and is available near the end of each Aid Station and at the finish line (click here for Medical Instructions for Participants) 

MICHELOB ULTRA POST-RACE PARTY VILLAGE (May 9, Calder Plaza) features free admission, live band and drink specials (please be prepared to show photo identification for beer purchase). Concessions available from 8:00 am to 1:30 pm.

PACKET PICK-UP/RACE CHANGES/LATE REGISTRATION is available on Friday, May 8 from 11 am to 8 pm in DeVos Place (245 Monroe N.W., downtown Grand Rapids). Packet pick-up and race changes are available on Saturday, May 9 beginning at 6:30 a.m. at DeVos Place. Event day late registration will NOT be offered.

PARKING is available in a variety of locations in downtown Grand Rapids. Come early as streets around the start/finish lines begin to close by 6:30 a.m. (click here for parking map)

PASTA DINNER (May 8, DeVos Place) 4:30 – 8:00 p.m. (click here for prices)

PRE-RACE BROADCAST is available from NEWSRADIO WOOD 1300 from 5:30 to 7:30 am on Saturday, May 9.  Race updates will be available from 7:30-9:30 am. Race highlights will be aired on NEWSRADIO WOOD 1300 from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 9.

RESTROOMS (regular and handicap portable restrooms) will be conveniently located near the start line, approximately every 1.5 miles along the race course (near Aid Stations) or after post-event refreshments on Ottawa Avenue, and the Post-Race Party area on Calder Plaza.

RESULTS (May 9) will be displayed as they become available on Calder Plaza and available online after 4 pm. Team results will be available online (www.53riverbankrun.com) no later than Friday, May 15.

SPORTS & FITNESS EXPO (May 8, DeVos Place) 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. (free)

STARTING LINES for the 5K Run (7:30 am start), 10K (8:00 am start), Handcycle/Wheelchair (8:10 and 8:12 am start), 25K and Championships (8:20 am start) and 5K Walk (8:45 am start) are all located on Monroe Avenue near Lyon Street. The 5K runners will line up first, followed by the 10K participants, the Handcycle and Wheelchair participants, 25K participants and finally the 5K walkers.   25K, 10K and 5K runners should find their appropriate pace per mile place by referencing signs held by volunteers in each start area. Please pin your participant bib to the front of your shirt for visibility purposes and attach your D-Tag to your shoe.  Your D-Tag will not work properly if attached somewhere else on your person. 

TWO HOUR CLUB participants should look for their designated area just behind the Elite Athletes at the 25K starting line. Two Hour Club participants must have finished the 2008 25K event in two hours or less and indicated their desire for preferred positioning when entering the 2009 25K event.