Holland Haven Marathon, Michigan Review and Trip Report
Race Cost: $162 (w/ t-shirt)
Registered in July 2025
Flights: LGB-LAS-GRR Southwest
(bought tickets in xxx 2025)
Departure: 5 Sept 25 (Fri) 0855-1900
Return: 8 Sept 25 (Mon) 14510-1940
Cost: Southwest $431
Transportation to/from airport: Rental car
Rental car: Dollar – 3 days $200
Start/Finish is 30 miles away from RAP airport
Primary Hotel: Courtyard Holland Downtown
Pre-race night ($300); Post-race night ($168)
$468 total with race discount
Modern hotel – located in center of town; walkable; indoor/outdoor pool and jacuzzi
Room – modern; carpet; windows partial open; wall a/c unit; good walls – no outside noise unit
Lobby and public spaces modern – free parking
Distance from bus pick up/finish of marathon: 800 meters
Distance from Expo: 400 meters
Other Hotel Options: xxx (host hotel)
Fly In Hotel (significantly cheaper than race hotel)
Doubletree Holland (1 night – $165 total)
Expo Thoughts –
Location: Gazelle Sports Store
Size: N/A – just packet pick up with merchandise; no vendors
Time to see it all: 5 minutes
Bus Departure from Holland, Michigan (0600)
Race start (0730) – Start at Rosy Mound Elementary School – 20 min shuttle ride from pick up location (which is also the finish); outdoors; lots of restrooms; chill crowd, start on bicycle path.
Finish was in a parking lot located a couple of blocks from Holland main street. Finish was completely open which was nice – no segregated runner area which is possible because it is a smaller race in a small town. Food available for runners and spectators. There was a popcorn vender giving away free popcorn. Beer vendor handing out free local beer. Plenty of seating under shaded tents. Beautiful weather for a race and the finish was in the 60s and partially cloudy.
Post-race party – average, beer garden, snacks; some vendors; parking lot with shaded seats and tables
The Race: Overall the race was medium to small (about xxx people for the full marathon). Full and half marathon start in separate locations. You start at Rosy Mound Elementary School on a 6 foot wide bicycle path that is offset from the road by about 10 feet. The race is very spectator friendly since spectators can watch the start – get in their car – drive down the road a few miles – park – cheer on their runner – and then do it all over again. There were probably over a dozen people/small groups doing this during the race. The course was also the bicycle paths for most of the marathon with the exception of the last 1000m which was on the road to the finish. There were a couple of small sections of boardwalk as you ran over some marsh area. There was no view of Lake Superior because you were a little too far inland. What I enjoyed the most is that most of the race was shaded by large trees lining the bicycle path so the amount of direct sunlight was minimal. This helped prevent me from getting sunburn and enjoy the race. Lots of greenery and rural areas.
Grocery Store in area:
Grocery store – Meijer Grocery – x.x from hotel- Water; Energy Drink; Bananas; Oranges; Bread; Chocolate
Food – Holland, Michigan
Night Before the Race (no Italian options): Waverly Stone (not Italian restaurant but has pasta)
Other Restaurants: Crazy Horse Steakhouse (dinner Friday night)
Windmill Restaurants (ate at for lunch ; basic diner with Holland theme)
Hops at 84 East (dinner Sunday night; duck)
Weather – Start: ~45 degrees
Finish temp mid 60s; partial cloudy
Over the 3 day trip: Lows in 40s; highs upper 60s.
| Breweries/Drinking establishments | |
| New Holland Brewery (post-race lunch) | Big Lake Brewery |
| Our Brewery | Hops at 84 East |