Get ready for a race recap from one of the most festive races I have ever run, celebrating a holiday we Illinoisians hold near and dear. Groundhog Day! When the movie, Groundhog Day came out in 1993, Woodstock, Illinois, became a key point to visit every February. Crowds would wait for Woodstock Willie to predict our weather fate and nearly always know we were destined to have snow well into May.
Little did I know that the running community in Grand Rapids, Michigan was celebrating this holiday much differently.
In its 13th year, the Grand Rapids Groundhog Day Marathon attracts hundreds of runners to run in loops and loops, mimicking the fateful day depicted by Bill Murray in the infamous film. As a holiday junkie, I had to give it a try.
I traveled to Grand Rapids on Friday, February 7th and stayed at the Embassy Suites by Hilton in downtown Grand Rapids. This hotel was stunning and incredibly welcoming. Included in our stay was an evening reception with two complimentary drinks per adult, and a snack layout complete with pretzels, hummus, and trail mix. There was a pool and an indoor-outdoor hot tub, as well as a pristine fitness center with a Peloton bike. By far the best part of the hotel was the free breakfast which included an omelet station, a buffet offering of warm breakfast foods, and a strong fruit and yogurt selection. As a family of four, a free breakfast is always something I look for when traveling.
I woke up bright and early on Saturday, February 8th and headed over to the race headquarters. This event includes a 1/6 marathon which takes place on Friday evening, as well as a half and full marathon on Saturday morning. The race begins and ends at a park pavilion, with a large, heated tent underneath. The course is a 2.2 mile loop around Lake Leota on a mostly flat, paved trail.
The website describes the course as this:
Ever see the movie? The course will give you the opportunity to relive the same day several times. A total of 12 loops of approximately 2.18 miles on a CERTIFIED course (Yes! You can qualify for Boston!) will have you feeling just a little case of deja vu. Aid stations at 1 mile plus the finish line area. Don’t plan on the course being free of snow. It’s paved, which means no underlying rocks and roots, but that’s about all we’re promising.
Race Director, Don Kern has plenty of humor which he shared with runners leading up to the event. I appreciated the weekly e-newsletters which contained updates on the course and upcoming weather. He also hosted a “fireside chat”, which was a live Facebook event co-hosted with Associate Race Director, TJ Suchocki. The duo answered a multitude of questions and reviewed all of the race day information for runners. As a first timer, and a non-local, I really appreciated the sense of community this fostered around the event.
But don’t let the humor fool you, RD Don certainly knows what he is doing. He and his team put on a stellar event. The course began with a lining of ice on the trail, which we had all been forewarned about. We then turned onto the Fred Meijer Millenium Trail, and began our circle around Lake Leota. There was one aid station placed approximately one mile in, and one aid station at the loop turn around, allowing runners to hit aid stations 24 times for the full and 12 times for the half. There was also a fireball aid station, complete with pickle juice and high fives from friends of the race.
Runners were able to leave drop bags near the loop turnaround or in the tent for easy retrieval at each loop. Although there were a few hundred runners on the course, it never felt cramped. Although we saw it many times, the scenery was absolutely stunning, as the lake and sky both held a winter beauty that you can only find in the Midwest. The sun stayed tucked behind the winter clouds, but the temps hovered in the high 20’s so running was quite pleasant.
All runners received a hoody designed by one of the runners and a multitude of food and beer options at the finish. If I didn’t have to head back to Chicago I would’ve stayed, as the party was rocking when I crossed the finish line. Overall winners received a hand carved groundhog and age group winners took home a coffee mug.
I am hooked and can’t wait to return to this race in 2026. It’s an easy 3-hour drive and escape to a wintery wonderland for runners. Make sure to keep this one on your watch list for next year and catch registration when it opens. You can follow the updates on the Groundhog Day Facebook page all year long. Thanks to the race staff and volunteers, and to my fellow runners, for creating a new holiday tradition for this runner!
