Amway River Bank Run
About this race
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 11, 2016 for the Amway River Bank Run. It's a fantastic 1.6K, 25K, 10K, 5K featuring a flat and fast course in Grand Rapids.
Pick your distance
Running
Junior Events
Non-competitive "fun runs" (5:30p) around the track for kids 5-12 will take place in heats to ensure a safe time for everyone.
25K Run
The USATF certified loop course starts in downtown Grand Rapids on Monroe Avenue at Lyon Street and heads south, leaving the city to weave through parks and along the Grand River before finishing back downtown on Ottawa Avenue at Lyon Street.
25K Relay
A 25K Relay group consists of two or three participants who will run the entire 25K (15.5 miles) distance. Each participant will run one leg that ranges from 3 to 7 miles. If your relay group has only two members competing, this requires that one member run two consecutive legs. 25K Relay Categories include: Male, Female or Co-Ed.
10K Run
The 10K USATF-certified race starts at 7:40 am with a staggered start (groups released from the start every 2-3 minutes) on Saturday, May 14, 2016. For the safety of all 10K participants, baby joggers, bicycles, roller blades, skateboards and animals are not allowed in the 10K Run.
5K Run
The 5K USATF-certified run will feature a staggered start (groups released from the start every 2-3 minutes) beginning at 7:00 am on Saturday, May 14, 2016. For the safety of all 5K runners, baby joggers, bicycles, roller blades, skateboards and animals are not allowed in the 5K Run.
25K Elite Athletes
This event is for invited athletes only. Please see the details on our website: https://www.53riverbankrun.com/participate/elite-athletes/
10K Elite Athletes
This event is for invited athletes only. Please see the details on our website: https://www.53riverbankrun.com/participate/elite-athletes/
5K Elite Athletes
This event is for invited athletes only. Please see the details on our website: https://www.53riverbankrun.com/participate/elite-athletes/
25K Clydesdale Division
25K Open and Masters Clydesdale divisions for males and females who indicate their preferred weight class when they register for the 25K and 10K events. Weight classes in the Open and Masters divisions are as follows: Men: Class A (185-199 lbs), Class B: (200+ lbs) Women: Class A (145-154 lbs), Class B (155+ lbs) Trophies will be provided for the top finishers in each weight class in each division. Medals will be awarded to the top three finishers in each weight class in each division.
10K Clydesdale Division
10K Open and Masters Clydesdale divisions for males and females who indicate their preferred weight class when they register for the 25K and 10K events. Weight classes in the Open and Masters divisions are as follows: Men: Class A (185-199 lbs), Class B: (200+ lbs) Women: Class A (145-154 lbs), Class B (155+ lbs) Trophies will be provided for the top finishers in each weight class in each division. Medals will be awarded to the top three finishers in each weight class in each division.
Wheelchair
25K Wheelchair Racing
To register and participate in the Fifth Third 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
To register and participate in the Fifth Third 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
The 5K Community Walk starts at 9am on Saturday, May 14, 2016. This is the only Fifth Third 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.
Weather Overview
These values reflect historical conditions on the race dates in Grand Rapids in 2016, from Open-Meteo archive data.
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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Credit Unions for Kids 5K Fun Run/Walk Powered by the Mid-Michigan Chapter of Credit Unions
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Gazelle Sports Run Camp