LMCU Bridge Run

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 2026 Bridge Run will take place on SUNDAY, September 20 and 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! 

We are excited to bring back Kids Dash with the Crash of the Whitecaps, which will take place at 11:50am on SATURDAY, September 19 at the LMCU Ballpark (4500 W River Dr NE, Comstock Park, MI 49321). We will announce more about this event in 2025, but expect there to be a 200 meter and 400 meter option, kids will be able to select one or both. Bib pickup for the Sunday event will take place at the LMCU Ballpark from 10am to 11:45am, so come to pick up your bib and stay to cheer your future track star on. 


Our race team is excited to put on this event for YOU! Check out the 2025 RACE WEEKEND GUIDE for FAQs and other good-to-know info. If you have any questions, please let us know by emailing lmcubridgerun@gmail.com. We will update this for 2026 as race day gets closer.

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
• 3 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 2026, the 10 Mile is part of the Road Runners Club of America National Championship Series
• In 2026, 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

You can view pictures from Bridge Runs past on our Flickr & Photo pages.

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+. 

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. 

Bib Pickup

Friday, September 18th from 4pm to 6pm
Gazelle Sports (3930 28th St SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49512)
**Show your bib for 10% at Gazelle Sports TODAY ONLY**

Saturday, September 19th from 10am to 11:45am 
LMCU Ballpark (4500 W River Dr NE, Comstock Park, MI 49321)
We will be on the north side of the ballpark, near the main entrance, by the stairs

The Kids Dash will take place at 11:50am at LMCU Ballpark!

Sunday, September 20th from 6am to 7:30am
Start/Finish Area

Pacers

We offer pacers brought to the race by RunGR for the 10 Mile to help get you to your goal. The pace groups start at a 7-minute mile and go every 30 seconds to the 12-minute mile pace. 

10 Mile Plans, starting 7/7/25.

5K Beginner Plan Upload

5K Training Plan Upload

Elite Athlete Program

We are excited to continue to offer free entries as part of our "Elite Athlete Program". To qualify, you must have met or exceeded the time standards outline below in the last 18 months.

• Male 10 Mile: 57 minutes
• Female 10 Mile: 61 minutes
• Male 5K: 15:45
• Female 5K: 17:45

Send your verification to lmcubridgerun@gmail.com with the subject line "Elite Entry".

Team Program

New in 2021 was the activation of our team program, which is a new way to have fun with your running friends. We have the following categories:

• Club Teams
• Friends & Family
• Corporate

There is a 10 Mile & 5K option for each category. There are no limits to your team size, but in order to compete, you must have at least 5 members. Stay tuned for the team awards. 

Is this your first time participating in the Bridge Run? First time doing an event like this? No worries, we are here to help make sure you have all the information you need so you are confident come race day. Join this Facebook group! 

Here is your guide to race weekend. We will continually be updating the information to help you have a great experience, but if you don't see something you are looking for, email us at lmcubridgerun@gmail.com.

Race day location for Sunday's Bridge Run: 731 Front Avenue NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504
This is just west of the 6th Street Bridge

Bib Pickup

• Friday, September 12 from 4pm to 6pm
  Gazelle Sports (3930 28th St SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49512)
  **Show your bib for 10% at Gazelle Sports TODAY ONLY**
  
  
  
• Saturday, September 13 from 10am to 11:45am 
  LMCU Ballpark (4500 W River Dr NE, Comstock Park, MI 49321)
  We will be on the north side of the ballpark, between the 1st and 2nd base outfield fence
  
  The Kids Dash will take place at 11:50am at LMCU Ballpark!
  
  
• Sunday, September 14th from 6am to 7:30am
  Start/Finish Area

*If you are a virtual participant, your packets will be mailed to you. We plan to put them in the mail on Saturday, 9/14.
**Someone else CAN pick up your bib, they simply just need to know your first & last name.

Parking

Remember, our venue this year is just west of the 6th Street Bridge (use 731 Front Ave NW, Grand Rapids, 49504 in your GPS for our physical location).

Street parking (unless noted by a sign) is FREE on Sundays and there is plenty of it in this section of the city that is within an easy walking distance to our start/finish area (roughly .25 miles). We recommend anything east of the Grand River (as our start/finish area will get congested) or north of 6th Street if you plan to park on the west side of the Grand River.

The City of Grand Rapids also has this parking map available. On the map, the 601 Ottawa Lot, DeVos Place parking ramp, Government Center Ramp, & Scribner Lot are all good options that range from .25 to .5 miles from the start area and would allow you to easily leave without having to wait for the race to conclude. The ramps are fee-based, but the surface parking lots owned by the City should be free on Sundays.

The Route

You can view the map of our routes by clicking on the distance, 5K | 10 Mile. 

There is no need to memorize the route. It will be marked and led by cyclists and guided by course marshalls. We will have aid stations at the Ford Museum (roughly Mile 2), on Monroe at miles 4 & 9 (Mile 4 will have the Gu), and in Riverside Park at roughly miles 5.5 & 7.5. All aid stations will have water and Gatorade. 

We recognize that the maps aren't easy to print, so we have switched to a more interactive map that is more mobile-friendly. 

Race Day Timeline

• 6:30 am: Packet Pickup Starts
• 7:50 am: Opening Ceremonies Start
• 7:55 am; National Anthem
• 8:00 am: Start of the 5K & 10 Mile (combined start)
• 9:00 am: 5K Award Ceremony
• 10:00 am: 10 Mile Award Ceremony 
• 10:00 am: Garage Bar & Grill Opens (819 Ottawa Avenue Northwest Grand Rapids, MI 49503)

How Do the Virtual Events Work?

We have been providing this option since 2017 as a way participants can keep the Bridge Run tradition alive, even if they aren't able to join us on race day. The first rule of participating in a virtual event is to make it fun! After that, there are no rules. We will be sending out your shirt & medal on the Saturday of race weekend, there is no need to pick it up. You can run your Bridge Run when and where works best for you, just remember to HAVE FUN. If you want to post your time and/or a picture to the website, you can. However, this is not required. 

2025 Participant Shirt & Finisher Medals

Everyone who registered before August 24 will receive a shirt! Anyone who registered after that date is subject to the remaining sizes we have left (we did order extra). If you were able to select the size you wanted when you registered, there is a good chance we will have this size for you at any of the packet pickup options.

Gear Check

This year our gear check area will be self-serve. We will have bags & bins to put your items in. As with other years, we recommend you do not leave anything of value with us. We recommend you either run with items like your phone or leave them in the car.

ArtPrize

ArtPrize started on Wednesday, which means you will have an opportunity to see many of the outdoor pieces as you participate on Sunday, but also plan to stay downtown on Saturday after you pick up your bib or on Sunday after the race. You can see all of their installations at https://www.artprize.org/. 

FAQs

Are strollers allowed?
Yes. We love seeing families and the next generation of track stars out and active together. We just ask when pushing a stroller you are aware of your surroundings and other runners.

Do I need to register my child?
Only if you would like them to have an official time, shirt, & medal. Otherwise, they are free to ride along in the stroller. 

What does the Bridge Run support?
The Bridge Run's first goal is to provide our participants with a great race day experience while helping get the community out & active. The Bridge Run is owned and operated by the Brian Diemer Family of Races, which is a local non-profit focused on providing the community with excellent events. For the last several years we have been able to donate over $10,000 to local school groups (who volunteer) and non-profits that focus on helping get people out and active. Namely, No Surrender Running Club & myTeam Triumph. Both of which you will see on race day. We work hard to balance keeping the participant prices low, while providing everyone a great experience.

Can someone pick my bib up for me?
Yes! They simply need to know your first & last name.

Are dogs allowed?
Only official service dogs. 

How many aid stations are on the course? What is provided at them?
All of our aid stations will have water and Gatorade available at them. Here is where they approximately fall on the course:
-1.3 miles
-2.2 miles
-4 miles (this station has Gu packets)
-5.4 miles
-7.5 miles
-9 miles

Will the course be marked?
Yes, the course will be marked. We will have lead and sweeper cyclists. Additionally, the City of Grand Rapids will be handling the road closures and where there are key turns, we will have course marshalls stationed to help guide you.

Where should my family cheer?
We recommend looking at the course map (note, the 5K is the first 3 miles of the 10 Mile route that we linked) to determine the best place for your family to try and see you. There are a lot of places to park along the route that won't interfere with the race. 

What time does the 5K start? The 10 Mile?
Both races start together at 8am. The first 3 miles are all run together. 

What pace groups do you have?
We are excited to again offer our pacer program to help get YOU to your race day go. With both races starting together and being on the course for the first 3 miles, the pacer program works for the 5K too. Our pace groups start out at a 7 minute mile pace and go every 30 seconds (ie: 7:30, 8:00, 8:30) to a 12 minute pace. The 12 minute pace is a 2 hour 10 Mile. 

Thank you for being patient with us as we continue our tradition that was established on the 2nd Sunday after Labor Day in 2002. The Lake Michigan Credit Union Bridge Run aims to provide everyone with a great experience to celebrate their movement. In addition to this, each year raises money for local charities that focus on helping the community get out and active.

We recognize that not everyone is coming downtown Sunday morning for our race. We want to give you context on how to navigate the road closures.

Impact in the City Center

The race starts at 8am, with the only road closures taking place prior to this being on Front Street, just south of the 6th Street Bridge.
At 8am, our race will start and move east across the 6th Street Bridge, south on Monroe Avenue, through the heart of the City and back to the 6th Street Bridge heading north on Scribner. The area of downtown south of 6th Street, north of Campau, West of Ottawa, and East of 131 will be impacted from roughly 8am to 9am. Police will be letting traffic through as there are breaks in the runners. Additionally, we have volunteer course marshalls along the route to help direct you around the runners should you encounter a road closure. 

This footprint is roughly our 5K route, which you can view here. 

Impact on North Monroe

Roughly around 8:20am to 10am, our runners will be moving along Monroe Avenue, north of the 6th Street Bridge to Riverside Park.

Monroe Avenue from north of 6th Street to Lenoard will be open to northbound traffic, with runners using the southbound lane.

Monroe Avenue north of Leonoard to the Knapp Street Entrance of Riverside Park will be closed both directions.

Police will be letting traffic through as there are breaks in runners. Additionally, we have volunteer course marshalls along the route to help direct you around the runners should you encounter a road closure. 

Our footprint north of the 6th Street Bridge is our 10 Mile route and can be viewed here. 

Alternative Routes

East & West crossings
We recommend crossing the Grand River using the North Park Street, Fulton Street bridges, 196, or 131 using the Market Street exit. Our footprint does not extend to those points and will be impact-free.

North & South routes
We recommend Division Avenue to the east of the Grand River and anything 131 and west on the west side of the City.


We have volunteer opportunities on the route, along with spots available in our start/finish area to help highlight your organization. This is in addition to discounted entries. Let us know if you would like to take advantage of any of this.

Email us if you have any questions or concerns, lmcubridgerun@gmail.com. We are happy to talk through our route and your concerns with you. 

Thank you for being patient with us!

We enjoy working with organizations of all sizes in the community to help further our mission of getting people out and active! We offer traditional sponsorship opportunities, where we partner with an organization to connect them to our participants. We have also developed a wellness partnership that focuses on helping employees of an organization use the Bridge Run as an opportunity to get or stay active. There is also expo-style booth space available at our start/finish area. 

Our partners are the heroes of race day, helping make the race day moments happen for our participants. Download our partnership information and contact us at lmcubridgerun@gmail.com or 616.204.6648 to become a hero. 

Our FREE training plans are brought to you by our official training partner, RunGR. RunGR is a Grand Rapids running club made up of people with a wide range of skill levels and ages, all trying to better themselves and their community through running. With the guidance of two respected coaches, this group will help add the structure and purpose to your routines needed to take your running to the next level. RunGR has a training program for all levels. You can find more information on their website, www.rungr.com. 

Stay tuned for the 2026 plans!

10 Mile Training  Plan
5K Training Plan 
5K Beginner Training Plan 

Remember, we have a Facebook group created for anyone who is new to the Bridge Run or running in general, if that is you, then join our NEWBIE group. We also know that runners love jargon, so we found this great Runner's World resource to help, but when in doubt, feel free to email us at lmcubridgerun@gmail.com with your question.

Good luck and have FUN with your training. 

We are excited to announce that the 10 Mile will be part of the 2026 Michigan Runner Series! This is a convenient way to explore other events in the state while earning points for participating in the Bridge Run. Check out their website for the full 2026 listing of events and learn how it works. 

"I think joining RunGR was one of the best decisions in my life." -RunGR Member

RunGR is a Grand Rapids running club made up of people with a wide range of skill levels and ages, all trying to better themselves and their community through running. With the guidance of two respected coaches, this group will help add the structure and purpose to your routines needed to take your running to the next level. RunGR has a training program for all levels. Check it out at www.rungr.com.