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Bayshore
Marathon 2026
SPORTS INFOS — Michigan's most scenic marathon — East Arm of Grand Traverse Bay, Traverse City cherry orchards, Birchwood Drive, East Shore Road, Old Mission Peninsula, NMC stadium finish. 23 May 2026 · 44th edition · BQ · USATF sanctioned.
Results — Bayshore Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K & Kids Fun Run 2026
Official results via RunSignup — Marathon 42.2km, Half Marathon 21.1km, 10K, Kids Fun Run — Saturday 23 May 2026, Northwestern Michigan College, Traverse City, MI 49686. Organizer: Traverse City Track Club.
Results — RunSignup → 🌐 bayshoremarathon.org →Traverse City — Bay, Blossoms & a Stadium Finish
The 44th Bayshore Marathon takes place on Saturday 23 May 2026 — the Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend — in Traverse City, Michigan. Founded in 1983 by local running enthusiasts who wanted to share the beauty of the Grand Traverse region, the race is organized by the Traverse City Track Club and has become a Midwest "must-run." For the first time in 2026, the event carries USATF sanctioning, meaning elite runners can use their time to qualify for the US Olympic Marathon Trials. The course is an out-and-back alongside the East Arm of Grand Traverse Bay, the crystal-blue inland arm of Lake Michigan, with Traverse City's famous cherry orchards and cherry trees lining the other side. Flat, 100% paved, and largely shaded, it consistently produces a 19%+ Boston qualifying rate and is ranked among the Top 50 BQ races in America. The marathon finishes with a final 200-meter lap on the track inside NMC's stadium — one of the most memorable finishes in Midwest running.
"Bayshore is a flat, out-and-back course that runs along the shores of beautiful Grand Traverse Bay. Throughout the race, you have the crystal blue waters of Lake Michigan on one side and Traverse City's famous cherry trees and orchards on the other. The Half Marathon course is the most popular event and sells out." — bayshoremarathon.org
Marathon (42.2km) BOSTON QUALIFIER USATF SANCTIONED WORLD MARATHON MAJOR QUALIFIER
Out-and-back · NMC campus → 1 mile residential streets → Birchwood Drive → East Shore Road → Center Road (M-37) → Bluff Road / Peninsula Drive → turnaround at mile 13 → return to NMC → final 200 meters on the NMC stadium track. Only elevation change: miles 18–19. Cutoff: 1:15pm (6 hours). Aid stations at ~18 locations (every 1–1.5 miles).
Half Marathon (21.1km) BOSTON QUALIFIER
Point-to-point (most popular event, sells out) · Starts near the marathon turnaround point → follows the marathon route back to NMC finish. Same bay and orchard scenery. Finishes on NMC track.
10K
Out-and-back · Starts at NMC, turns around at the 3-mile mark, returns to NMC finish. Same flat waterfront route as the marathon.
Kids Fun Run
Short distance for young runners · NMC campus · Family-friendly event.
Race Events — Saturday 23 May 2026
| Event | Distance / Format | Course / Details |
|---|---|---|
| Marathon BQ USATF SANCTIONED WMM QUALIFIER | 42.2km · Out-and-back | NMC → bay waterfront → turnaround at mile 13 → NMC track finish · Cutoff 1:15pm / 6 hrs · Final 200m on stadium track |
| Half Marathon BQ SELLS OUT | 21.1km · Point-to-point | Starts near marathon turnaround → bay waterfront → NMC finish · Most popular event · Flat, fast, fully paved |
| 10K | 10km · Out-and-back | NMC → waterfront → turnaround at mile 3 → NMC finish · Same flat bay route |
| Kids Fun Run | Short distance · NMC campus | Young runners · Family event · NMC campus · Celebrate Michigan's cherry region |