Bq Last Chance
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Race Information
- View Race Reviews for the Last Chance Bq.2 Marathon (grand Rapids). Reviews, Race Tips, Travel Tips, and Recommendations to help you run your best Last Chance Bq.2 Marathon (grand Rapids).
- Want to PR or BQ at the Last Chance BQ.2 Marathon? Our Pace Bands will make sure you run the correct pace based on the course topography, your goal time, and pacing strategy.
- BQ.2 Marathon Races are designed and focused solely to help runners get to the Boston starting line in Hopkinton, MA. With that focus, it should be no surprise that they were ranked as the qualifiers with the highest percentage of finishers.
A flat, fast, multi-loop course along the scenic Fox River. Spring Chance BQ.2 is designed with one thing in mind: get you to Boston. See website for eligibility requirements.
Related Events
Last Chance Bq.2 Marathon (grand Rapids) Reviews. Last Chance Bq.2 Marathon (grand Rapids) 4.8 Stars from 4 Runners Fantastic race! By Smm about 2020 Review Well organized and beautiful course. The Race Director provided a top notch experience during these unprecedented times. The loop course is ideal for a speedy race.
Did you know that this race is part of a series of runs? If you like this race you may want to run one of the following BQ.2 Marathon Series events.
Find Accommodation Near BQ.2 Last Chance Marathon
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Last Chance Bq Gr
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Pace Calculator
Find your running pace and splits, and learn if you can outrun dangerous animals with the RunGuides run pace calculator.
NOTICE: Our sister race in Geneva, IL had to cancel due to Illinois mandates. Our event in Grand Rapids is still on as of September 9, 2020. We anticipate being able to put on a safe event. If you register for this event, please know that if we have to cancel due to changes in Michigan's requirements, the only option you will have is to defer your registration to our event in 2021.
PLEASE NOTE: 2020 IS A SPECIAL YEAR. WE'RE DOING THIS WITH LIMITED STAFF AND LIMITED RUNNERS TO MAXIMIZE SOCIAL DISTANCE AND KEEP THE GATHERING BELOW 100 AT ALL TIMES. PLEASE HELP US IN THIS PURSUIT BY MINIMIZING YOUR TIME ONSITE TO LESS THAN 1/2 HOUR BEFORE AND AFTER YOUR RACE
WE WILL HAVE NO MORE THAN 100 PEOPLE ON SITE AT ANY TIME! SEE BELOW FOR DETAILS.
A MESSAGE FROM THE RACE DIRECTOR:
As we all know, these are challenging times. As with every year, our highest priority is the health and safety of our runners, volunteers, medical team, and everyone else who helps make the Last Chance BQ.2 America’s #1 qualifier. That said, getting you to Boston is also at the top of our priorities.
Based on our interpretation of the BAA statement about the expanded window for Boston 2021 qualifying races (BAA STATEMENT) we anticipate the times needed to get into Boston 2021 to be even lower, meaning the Last Chance BQ.2 Marathon’s emphasis on getting runners their best times will be even higher for this year.
We’re a smaller race and already planning additional health and safety measures for the event to hopefully allow it to proceed under the State of Michigan guidelines. Our message today is that we’re planning to hold the 2020 Last Chance BQ.2 Marathon as scheduled. We will continue to work with local public officials who are closely monitoring the developments related to COVID-19.
Last Chance Bq Spring
COVID-19 Rule Changes for Last Chance BQ.2 Marathon
(UPDATED 9/9/2020) Since the Last Chance BQ.2 Marathon is a unique event with a smaller capacity, we have more flexibility to accommodate runners . As of today, 9/9/2020, the Last Chance BQ.2 Marathon meets the criteria to proceed under the Michigan Safe Start Plan Phase 4 Guidelines (maximum of 100 people at an outdoor gathering). However, please note that given the dynamic nature of the COVID-19 restrictions, this can change at any time. Stay tuned to our website for updates.
The Last Chance BQ.2 will be redesigned to minimize runner, volunteer, and spectator risks in the current COVID-19 environment. Part of our redesign is dependent upon runners adhering to public health guidelines out of respect for their fellow runners and humans. Some of these changes are mandated by the State of Michigan Department of Health. Other changes are the result of medical team, Kent County Parks, volunteer, runner, and event input. We ask for everyone’s understanding and cooperation as we prioritize safety, your personal race goals, and race experience over some of our typical amenities and the spectator’s experience.
Here are some highlights of the redesign:
– 2020 LCBQ.2 will have a limited field capacity this year in order to comply with Michigan Safe Start Phase 4.
– 2020 LCBQ.2 will be in separate waves. Runners are seeded by qualifying times needed on Boston 2021. Waves will line up according to the pace signs near the starting area and will be kept apart by at least 50 feet. We will split waves up into smaller numbers so that a maximum of 30 runners per wave may be maintained. ALL RUNNERS MUST WEAR MASKS PRIOR TO RACE START WHILE IN THE CORRAL AREA OR BE SUBJECT TO DISQUALIFICATION. We will provide a receptacle to dispose of masks shortly past the start line. We will also provide masks for those who need them.
WAVE 1, 2, AND 3 STAGING BEGINS AT 6:45 AM. SUBSEQUENT WAVES MAY STAGE AS THE LEADING WAVE CLEARS THE STARTING LINE (WAVE 4 MAY STAGE WHEN WAVE 1 CLEARS THE START. WAVE 5 WHEN WAVE 2 CLEARS THE START, ETC.)
Wave 1 – Goal time of 3:10 or less (Wave 1 starts at 7:00 am. Other waves will be called forward as the starting line is cleared via our Facebook Live broadcast. Waves are subject to change)
Wave 2 – Goal time of 3:20 or less
Wave 3 – Goal time of 3:30 or less
Wave 4 – Goal time of 3:40 or less
Wave 5 – Goal time of 3:50 or less
Wave 6 – Goal time of 4:00 or less
Wave 7 – All other runners
STARTING PROCEDURES FOR ALL RACES
Runners will stage in the large grassy area located behind Millennium Meadows pavilion. Signs will be posted by your projected pace. Hang out within a few feet of the sign that most closely matches your pace. Runners will be released from the staging area one at a time approximately every 5 seconds. Face covering (mask) must be worn until you have crossed the starting line. The race is providing a bandana for every runner which may be used as your face covering.
– No Pacers. We must minimize runner bunching at all times during the event. With Boston cancelling the 2020 race we have no idea what target paces will be needed. Note that at BQ.2 Races, runners are bibbed by their goal BQ time. This makes it simple to locate other runners with your goal time and keep each other in site. Personal pacers are strictly prohibited.
– No spectators in the race village/start finish area until 8am. Runners will finish from 9:30 a.m. -12 p.m., so there will be plenty of time to see your runner on the loop course after the race has begun. Spectators are welcome to cross the bridge, turn left and walk down to the loop. It's about 1000 feet from the start. There is a lot of space there for them to space out and see you after every 4 miles. PLEASE ASK YOUR SPECTATORS TO STAY AWAY FROM THE STARTING AREA UNTIL AFTER THE RACE HAS STARTED.
– Disposable Elite Water Bottles. Race Staff will not be handling elite runner bottles this year. If you wish to have your own water bottles handed to you, you may have one of your personal crew members hand it to you on the course. Personal crew must stay at least 50 yards away from the aid station.
We will also have two tables before Aid Station #1 available for you to put your own bottles if you like. After you take your bottle from the table please do not drop it more than 50 yards away from one of the aid stations.
(The round trip walk from the starting line to the first aid station is approx. 2000 feet if you choose to drop your own bottles. Please allow yourself enough time to deliver your bottles and be back to the start 15 minutes before race time. That’s 6:45 a.m.) Bottles left on race course will be considered trash and will be discarded or recycled.
– Other Aid Station Notes. Both aid stations will also have water and Gatorade available, pre-poured and spaced on the tables for runners to pick up—Volunteers will not personally hand cups to runners. Additional nutritional supplements (gels, etc.) will be the responsibility of runners and will not be handed out by volunteers.
RUNNERS ARE NOT REQUIRED TO BRING THEIR OWN BOTTLES. There will be plenty of water and Gatorade at the aid stations.
– Limited Post Race Village amenities. Including pre-packaged post race food and beverages handed to runners by volunteers.
– No post race massage/stretching.
– Time allowed in the Post Race Village will be limited so runners do not bunch. We’d love to hang around and have a party, but we’re just not going to.
Because of the year, some runners have decided they just aren't comfortable with running any live race. So we are offering free deferral to 2021 if that's you. Look up your registration on the registration site, click on the 'More Details' button and then Defer Registration. You'll get a code for next year's entry as soon as we go live with the 2021 registration.
In the unfortunate event that we are unable to hold the race, registrants will be offered a deferral to the 2021 Last Chance BQ.2, the 2020 or 2021 Metro Health Grand Rapids Marathon, or the 2021 Groundhog Day Marathon. However, a refund will not be an option. At this time, we plan to hold the event as scheduled, however, if it is necessary to make a different decision we will give everyone as much notice as possible.
Thank you for your patience as we all navigate through these difficult times together.
THE BQ.2 RACES ARE THE BEST QUALIFYING RACES IN THE COUNTRY. THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF QUALIFIERS ANYWHERE!
In 2019, 58% of finishers qualified for Boston!
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.
Last Chance Bq Gr Results
A race we designed specifically to give you a shot at getting to Boston in 2021. Limited to 330 runners.
See our Qualifying times chart for qualifying times. THERE IS A 4:30 TIME LIMIT.
(NOTE: WE DON'T KNOW THE REGISTRATION WINDOW FOR THE 2021 BOSTON MARATHON YET!)
Brought to you by the same team from the Metro Health 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 16 years with the Metro Health Grand Rapids Marathon. And for 2020, we’re here to help you get there with a race focused completely on getting you to Boston 2021. CONTACT US WITH QUESTIONS donkern1@gmail.com, 616 293 3145
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
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.