Amway River Bank Run
About the Event
The Amway River Bank Run, presented by Fifth Third Bank with Corewell Health as the Official Health Partner, is held every year in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan on the second Saturday of May.
This year, on May 9, 2026, we will be celebrating 49 years and are looking forward to filling the streets of Grand Rapids with the largest 25K road race in the country, which includes the USA 25 km Open Championships, 25K Handcycle, 25K Wheelchair, 10K Run, 5K Run and 5K Community Walk.
In addition to our in-person events, we offer virtual events that give individuals an opportunity to participate by completing the distance of their choice (25K, 10K, 5K, or 5K walk) on the course of their choice and any day that works between May 1 and May 31. Each virtual event offers extended finishing times (unlike the in-person course cutoffs) and having this flexibility makes the Virtual Race a great option for many runners and walkers. Plus, you still receive all the commemorative Amway River Bank Run Race Swag, which includes high-quality race shirts, premium medals and a virtual race bib.
In 1978, just over 1,000 runners took to the streets on the second Saturday of May for the first annual Old Kent River Bank Run. In 2001, Old Kent Bank merged with Fifth Third Bank, and the event was renamed to showcase its new owner. With the transition of race ownership in 2018 to Riverbank Events and Media , a group of leading community partners came together, including Amway, Fifth Third Bank and Corewell Health, to ensure the race would continue its longstanding tradition of filling the streets of Grand Rapids with runners and walkers, on the second Saturday of May, for years to come. In 2019, with Amway as the title sponsor, the race became known as the Amway River Bank Run, presented by Fifth Third Bank and Corewell Health as the Official Health Partner.
The Amway River Bank Run is proud to be celebrating 49 years in 2026 and we hope to see you at the Start Line!
Join fellow runners on May 6, 2026 for the Amway River Bank Run. It's a fantastic 1.6K, 25K, 10K, 5K, 40K, 35K, 30K, 15K featuring a flat and fast course in Grand Rapids.
Races Offered
Running
Amway Junior presented by Corewell Health Helen DeVos Children's Hospital
Amway Junior is a fun event for 2-11 age kids. The kids will be brought down to the track at East Kentwood High School in heats and run 2 laps for a 1/2 mile or 4 laps for a 1 mile (or as many laps as they want). Exit the track to receive their finisher medal, refreshments and more fun and games in the Family Fun Area. We don't stop until the last kiddo runs! East Kentwood High School is located at 6230 Kalamazoo Ave. SE, Kentwood, MI 49508
25K - Fifth Third Bank
The USATF certified loop course starts in downtown Grand Rapids on Ottawa Avenue at Lyon Street and heads south, leaving the city to weave through parks and along the Grand River before finishing back downtown on Monroe Avenue at Lyon Street. For the safety of all 25K participants, baby joggers, bicycles, roller blades, skateboards and animals are not allowed in the 25K Run.
25K - Elite Men (USATF Elite/Invited Athletes ONLY)
This event is for invited athletes only. Please see the details on our website: https://amwayriverbankrun.com/elite-athletes/
25K Elite Women (USATF Elite/Invited Athletes ONLY)
This event is for invited athletes only. Please see the details on our website: https://amwayriverbankrun.com/elite-athletes/
25K Two-Hour Club - Fifth Third Bank
25K Two-Hour Club participants receive preferred start positioning immediately behind the 25K elite athletes, private gear check, restrooms, pre-race and post-race refreshments and networking with other Two-Hour Club participants. Two-Hour Club participants must have completed the 2023 25K or the 2024 25K in 2:00:00 or less and to have become a member of the 2025 Two-Hour Club. Verification is completed by race staff. The USATF certified loop course starts in downtown Grand Rapids on Ottawa at Lyon Street and heads south, leaving the city to weave through parks and along the Grand River before finishing back downtown on Monroe Avenue at Lyon Street. For the safety of all 25K participants, baby joggers, bicycles, roller blades, skateboards and animals are not allowed in the 25K Run.
10K Run Fox Subaru
For the safety of all 10K participants, baby joggers, bicycles, roller blades, skateboards and animals are not allowed in the 10K Run. The 1OK does offer a price discount for ages 12 and under that will be made at checkout.
5K Run - Amway
For the safety of all 5K runners, baby joggers, bicycles, roller blades, skateboards and animals are not allowed in the 5K Run. The 5K does offer a price discount for ages 12 and under that will made at checkout.
40k Triple Crown Challenge (5k/10k/25k)
This event includes running the 5k, 10k and 25k - please make sure you can finish the 5k course in under 30 minutes in order to make the 10k start and finish the 10k within 1 hour to make the 25k start. Participants will receive a limited-edition challenge medal in recognition of their accomplishment. The USATF certified loop courses start in downtown Grand Rapids on Ottawa Avenue at Lyon Street and weave through the streets and parks and along the Grand River before finishing back downtown on Monroe Avenue at Pearl Street. For the safety of all participants, baby joggers, bicycles, roller blades, skateboards and animals are not allowed in the 25K Run.
35k Double Down Challenge (10k/25k)
This event includes running the 10k and 25k - please make sure you can finish the 10k course within 1 hour to make the 25k start. Participants will receive a limited-edition challenge medal in recognition of their accomplishment. The USATF certified loop courses start in downtown Grand Rapids on Ottawa Avenue at Lyon Street and weave through the streets and parks and along the Grand River before finishing back downtown on Monroe Avenue at Pearl Street. For the safety of all participants, baby joggers, bicycles, roller blades, skateboards and animals are not allowed in the 25K Run.
30k Double Down Challenge (5k/25k)
This event includes running the 5k and 25k - please make sure you can finish the 5k course in a time that allows you make the 25k start. Participants will receive a limited-edition challenge medal in recognition of their accomplishment. The USATF certified loop courses start in downtown Grand Rapids on Ottawa Avenue at Lyon Street and weave through the streets and parks and along the Grand River before finishing back downtown on Monroe Avenue at Pearl Street. For the safety of all participants, baby joggers, bicycles, roller blades, skateboards and animals are not allowed in the 25K Run.
15k Double Down Challenge (5k/10k)
This event includes running the 5k and 10k - please make sure you can finish the 5k course in under 30 minutes in order to make the 10k start. Participants will receive a limited-edition challenge medal in recognition of their accomplishment. The USATF certified loop courses start in downtown Grand Rapids on Ottawa Avenue at Lyon Street and weave through the streets and parks and along the Grand River before finishing back downtown on Monroe Avenue at Pearl Street. For the safety of all participants, baby joggers, bicycles, roller blades, skateboards and animals are not allowed in the 25K Run.
RBR 25K Virtual Run Anywhere
Share your photos by tagging us on social medal with the #RBRGR, use RaceJoy to track your progress and automatically post your results, or the app of your choice, manually post results and share photos online.
RBR 10K Virtual Run Anywhere
Share your photos by tagging us on social medal with the #RBRGR, use RaceJoy to track your progress and automatically post your results, or the app of your choice, manually post results and share photos online.
RBR 5K Virtual Run Anywhere
Share your photos by tagging us on social medal with the #RBRGR, use RaceJoy to track your progress and automatically post your results, or the app of your choice, manually post results and share photos online.
RBR 5K Virtual Walk Anywhere
Share your photos by tagging us on social medal with the #RBRGR, use RaceJoy to track your progress and automatically post your results, or the app of your choice, manually post results and share photos online.
Wheelchair
25K Wheelchair Racing Division presented by Mary Free Bed
To register and participate in the River Bank Run 25K Wheelchair and Handcycle divisions, participants must have a physical disability which prohibits them from running the event. This event is for competitive wheelchair athletes only. Divisions are not designed for leisure racing.
25K Handcycle Racing Division presented by Mary Free Bed
To register and participate in the River Bank Run 25K Wheelchair and Handcycle divisions, participants must have a physical disability which prohibits them from running the event. This event is for competitive handcycle athletes only. Divisions are not designed for leisure racing.
Walking
5K Community Walk - Gentex
This is the only River Bank Run event that welcomes baby joggers (strollers), wagons and dogs (leashed). Please line up at the back of the group and be courteous to other walkers. The 5K Walk does offer a price discount to ages 12 and under will be made at. checkout.
Weather Overview
These values represent the 23-year monthly averages for May in Grand Rapids.
About Grand Rapids
Amway River Bank Run takes place in Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States. The local timezone is America/New_York.
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Race information has been sourced from the event's official website and other publicly available resources. For the most up-to-date details, please refer to the official website directly. If you notice any incorrect or missing information, don't hesitate to reach out to us by email.
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