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Our History 

When Frank Cashman from the Grand Rapids Track Club approached Marty Allen, then Marketing Director for Old Kent Bank, in the mid 1970s about initiating a local road race, Allen was intrigued. Cashman worked out what he felt was the perfect distance, a 25K that started and finished in downtown Grand Rapids and Allen pledged the funding. 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 will continue for many years to follow on the second Saturday in May in downtown Grand Rapids. In 2019 the race transitions names to the Amway River Bank Run presented by Fifth Third Bank and Corewell Health, formerly Spectrum Health as the Official Health Partner.

The Amway River Bank Run presented by Fifth Third Bank with Corewell Health, the Official Health Partner will celebrate 47 years of road running on May 11, 2024.  More than 10,000* people are expected to compete in the event which features the largest 25K road race in the country and offers the only 25K Wheelchair racing division in the world along with a 25K Handcycle division.  Site of the USA 25 km Open Championships since 1995 will run concurrently with the 25K event. In addition to the 25K, participants can choose from the 10K Run, 5K Run, Team Competition, 5K Community Walk and Amway Junior (Wednesday, May 8, 2024).

Consistently ranked as one of the premier road racing events in the United States, the Amway River Bank Run is the site of the Men’s 25K American and Course record (1:13:47; 2019); Women’s 25K American record (1:24:36; 2012) and former Men’s 25K World record (1998). The 25K has been the site of the USA 25 km Open Championships since 1995.  

Philanthropy

  • Over $2.3 million raised for charity partners since 2008
  • Provides opportunities for selected not-for-profit organizations to utilize the Amway River Bank Run for fundraising and community relations purposes
  • Provides opportunities for non-selected not-for-profit organizations to participate in Aid Stations, Spirit Stations and group volunteers
  • Race contributes $1.8 million in economic impact to downtown Grand Rapids

 

* Anticipated participation based on 70-75% of pre-COVID numbers from 2019.