Last Chance BQ GR

  Special note regarding BAA:The qualifying window for the 128th Boston Marathon, scheduled to take place on April 15, 2024, began on September 1, 2022. For the 2024 BAA Boston Marathon, Qualifier registration will open on Monday, September 11 at 10:00 a.m. ET and will close on Friday, September 15, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. ET. The qualifying window for the 129th Boston Marathon, scheduled to take place on April 21, 2025, will begin on September 1, 2023. Registration details for that race will be announced following the 2024 Boston Marathon.   If you run the Last Chance BQ.2 Grand Rapids on September 10, 2023, you can qualify for both the 2024 and 2025 Boston Marathon.   You should only sign up for this race if you are going to be ready to qualify for Boston. To sign up before July 15 you'll need to run a "qualifying race" to sign up. Please check the table below.

 

Please note: Because of the nature of this course, we do not allow wheel chairs (Handcycle or push rim) in this race. 

 

Last Chance BQ.2-Grand Rapids has become one of the premier and most nationally known, BQ events. The timing is perfect and we provide a venue that has proven to be one of the highest percentage qualifiers in the country, hovering around 60%.

This is a race we designed specifically to give you a shot at getting to Boston in 2024. Limited to 330 runners.
See our Qualifying times chart for qualifying times. THERE IS A 4:30 TIME LIMIT.

The qualifying window for the 2024 Boston Marathon is September 1, 2022 through the conclusion of the registration period in September 2023.
Registration for the 128th Boston Marathon opened on Monday, September 12 in 2022. Dates for the 2024 event will be announced by BAA whenever they do it.

This event is brought to you by the same team that puts on the UM Health-West Grand Rapids Marathon. As runners, we know how important Boston is to you, and we know what it takes to get there. We’ve been there ourselves, and we’ve helped THOUSANDS of runners get there in our 19 years with the UM Health-West Grand Rapids Marathon. In 2023 we’re here to help you get there with a race focused completely on getting you to Boston 2024. 

Course: Last Chance BQ.2 - Grand Rapids occurs at Secchia Meadows in Millennium Park, one of the many Kent County Parks and what we think is the most scenic and beautiful. You will run on a wide and paved path that crosses a footbridge, winds along the Grand River, and cuts through meadows. Most of the course is heavily shaded.

Race Weekend: Packet pickup is at Fulton Street Pub & Grill from 4-7 Saturday. 801 West Fulton Street.  Sunday at the race site starting at 6am.
The race site is at 1400 Maynard SW.  Starting time is at 7am Sunday morning.
Bring your shoes. Recommended. But optional.

There are qualifying standards to get into this race. The reason we have qualifying standards is because WE WANT EVERYONE IN THIS RACE PREPARED TO QUALIFY FOR BOSTON! The table is below. For more on Boston Qualifying standards and info on their registration dates, CLICK

Contact us with question: [email protected], 616 293 3145 

Our sister BQ.2 race is being held in Geneva, Illinois. It's under different management and on a different registration platform. Don't get confused. They also do a Spring Chance BQ.2 in the spring.