Spike’s Challenge Race
About the Event
The race is held the weekend prior to the Consumers Energy AuSable River Canoe Marathon and runs from the streets of Grayling to McMasters Bridge. Time trials for starting position are held on Saturday in the Grayling City Park pond. The C-1 Race is on Saturday night and runs from Borcher’s Canoe Livery to Burton’s Landing. The C-2 race is on Sunday where the canoes and teams line up on Ingham Street at 8:30am. The horn sounds at 9:00am and the teams are running towards the Old AuSable Fly Shop for their trek to McMasters Bridge. The purse for this race is over $7000.
Held the weekend before the Consumers Energy AuSable River Canoe Marathon, Spike’s Challenge includes a C-1 Race, C-2 Race, Junior and Fledging Races and Mentor Race.
The C-2 Race (Grayling to McMasters) is held on Sunday morning and features a Le-Mans style start. Teams line up on Ingham Street at 8:30am and the race starts at 9:00. Sprints are held on Saturday to determine starting positions for the C-2 teams. Teams that do not participate in the sprints will start in the last row.
The C-1 Race is held on Saturday night and ends at Burton’s Landing.
Lunch and Awards Banquet is held on Sunday at 2:00pm in the Grayling City Park Pavilion – bring a lawn chair. Lunch provided by Spike’s Keg ‘O’ Nails of Grayling.
For Schedule of Events, Sprint Course Map, Sprint Rules, and Race Course go to:
https://www.ausablecanoemarathon.org/events/spikes-challenge/
The Spike’s Challenge Race brings an exciting Marathon, 12.9K to Grayling, Michigan on July 18, 2026. Don't miss this beautiful event!
Races Offered
Paddle sports
Spike’s Challenge C2 - Expert 1
Saturday July 19, 2025 - 8:00 AM Registration for all Spike’s Challenge events will run from 8am until 2pm at the Grayling City Park Pavilion. These events include C-1 Race, C-2 Race, Junior and Fledgling Races, Mentor Races, etc. Pre-registration is $45/Team, Saturday registration is $50/Team. Both paddlers must still sign in at the table in order to get a sprint position. Early registrants not sprinting must sign in by Sunday at 8:15am in Joe Wakeley’s garage. There will be no registration on Sunday July 20, 2025. All registrations must be received by Saturday July 19, 2025. Saturday July 19, 2025 - 9:00 AM Sprints for starting position at Grayling City Park Pond. Participants will sprint in the order in which they register or sign-in at the registration table. There will be a 10-minute break between each heat of 10 sprints. There will be two teams on the sprint course at a time. Teams may look over the course during the breaks. (See Sprint Rules) Sunday July 20, 2025 - 8:30 AM Line up of the C-2 start of the Spike’s Challenge on Ingham Street. Teams will line up based on their sprint time from Saturday. Those who did not sprint will start in the last row. Sunday July 20, 2025 - 9:00 AM Start of the C-2 Spike’s Challenge 2:00 PM Lunch and Awards Banquet at the Grayling City Park Pavilion – bring a lawn chair. Lunch provided by Spike’s Keg ‘O’ Nails of Grayling. For Schedule of Events, Sprint Course Map, Sprint Rules, and Race Course Map go to: https://www.ausablecanoemarathon.org/events/spikes-challenge/
Spike’s Challenge C2 - Expert 2
Saturday July 19, 2025 - 8:00 AM Registration for all Spike’s Challenge events will run from 8am until 2pm at the Grayling City Park Pavilion. These events include C-1 Race, C-2 Race, Junior and Fledgling Races, Mentor Races, etc. Pre-registration is $30/Team, Saturday registration is $30/Team. Both paddlers must still sign in at the table in order to get a sprint position. Early registrants not sprinting must sign in by Sunday at 8:15am in Joe Wakeley’s garage. There will be no registration on Sunday July 20, 2025. All registrations must be received by Saturday July 19, 2025. Saturday July 19, 2025 - 9:00 AM Sprints for starting position at Grayling City Park Pond. Participants will sprint in the order in which they register or sign-in at the registration table. There will be a 10-minute break between each heat of 10 sprints. There will be two teams on the sprint course at a time. Teams may look over the course during the breaks. (See Sprint Rules) Sunday July 20, 2025 - 8:30 AM Line up of the C-2 start of the Spike’s Challenge on Ingham Street. Teams will line up based on their sprint time from Saturday. Those who did not sprint will start in the last row. Sunday July 20, 2025 - 9:00 AM Start of the C-2 Spike’s Challenge 2:00 PM Lunch and Awards Banquet at the Grayling City Park Pavilion – bring a lawn chair. Lunch provided by Spike’s Keg ‘O’ Nails of Grayling. For Schedule of Events, Sprint Course Map, Sprint Rules, and Race Course Map go to: https://www.ausablecanoemarathon.org/events/spikes-challenge/
Spike’s Challenge C-2 - Junior or Fledgling
Saturday July 19, 2025 - 8:00 AM Registration for all Spike’s Challenge events will run from 8am until 2pm at the Grayling City Park Pavilion. These events include C-1 Race, C-2 Race, Junior and Fledgling Races, Mentor Races, etc. Pre-registration is $10/Team, Saturday registration is $10/Team. Both paddlers must still sign in at the table. All registrations must be received by Saturday July 19, 2025. Saturday July 19, 2025 - 5:30 PM Canoes will line up at Joe Wakely's dock and race to Burton's Landing. Adult C-1 Race begins at 6:00 PM. Sunday, July 20, 2025 - 2:00 PM Lunch and Awards Banquet at the Grayling City Park Pavilion – bring a lawn chair. Lunch provided by Spike’s Keg ‘O’ Nails of Grayling. For Schedule of Events, Sprint Course Map, Sprint Rules, and Race Course Map go to: https://www.ausablecanoemarathon.org/events/spikes-challenge/
Spike’s Challenge C1
Saturday July 19, 2025 - 8:00 AM Registration for all Spike’s Challenge events will run from 8am until 2pm at the Grayling City Park Pavilion. These events include C-1 Race, C-2 Race, Junior and Fledgling Races, Mentor Races, etc. C-1 Pre-registration is $20, Saturday registration is $20. All registrations must be received by Saturday July 19, 2025. Saturday July 19, 2025 - 4:30 PM Registration for C-1 will continue until 5:15 pm. 5:20 pm - Briefing and draw for starting positions in each heat. Heats are assigned by the order in which the contestant signed up. Saturday July 19, 2025 - 5:30 PM Start for Fledgling/Junior C-1 or C-2 races to Burton's Landing 6:00 PM July 19, 2025 - Start of the C-1 race to Burton's Landing 2:00 PM Lunch and Awards Banquet at the Grayling City Park Pavilion – bring a lawn chair. Lunch provided by Spike’s Keg ‘O’ Nails of Grayling. For Schedule of Events, Sprint Course Map, Sprint Rules, and Race Course Map go to: https://www.ausablecanoemarathon.org/events/spikes-challenge/
Spike’s Challenge C-1 - Youth (18 and younger)
Saturday July 19, 2025 - 8:00 AM Registration for all Spike’s Challenge events will run from 8am until 2pm at the Grayling City Park Pavilion. These events include C-1 Race, C-2 Race, Junior and Fledgling Races, Mentor Races, etc. C-1 Pre-registration is $5, Saturday registration is $5. All registrations must be received by Saturday July 19, 2025. Saturday July 19, 2025 - 4:30 PM Registration for C-1 will continue until 5:15 pm. 5:20 pm - Briefing and draw for starting positions in each heat. Heats are assigned by the order in which the contestant signed up. Saturday July 19, 2025 - 5:30 PM Start for Fledgling/Junior C-1 or C-2 races to Burton's Landing 6:00 PM July 19, 2025 - Start of the C-1 race to Burton's Landing 2:00 PM Lunch and Awards Banquet at the Grayling City Park Pavilion – bring a lawn chair. Lunch provided by Spike’s Keg ‘O’ Nails of Grayling. For Schedule of Events, Sprint Course Map, Sprint Rules, and Race Course Map go to: https://www.ausablecanoemarathon.org/events/spikes-challenge/
Spike’s Challenge C-1 - Grand Veteran (70 years +)
Saturday July 19, 2025 - 8:00 AM Registration for all Spike’s Challenge events will run from 8am until 2pm at the Grayling City Park Pavilion. These events include C-1 Race, C-2 Race, Junior and Fledgling Races, Mentor Races, etc. C-1 Grand Veterans Pre-registration is $5, Saturday registration is $5. All registrations must be received by Saturday July 19, 2025. Saturday July 19, 2025 - 4:30 PM Registration for C-1 will continue until 5:15 pm. 5:20 pm - Briefing and draw for starting positions in each heat. Heats are assigned by the order in which the contestant signed up. Saturday July 19, 2025 - 5:30 PM Start for Fledgling/Junior C-1 or C-2 races to Burton's Landing 6:00 PM July 19, 2025 - Start of the C-1 race to Burton's Landing 2:00 PM Lunch and Awards Banquet at the Grayling City Park Pavilion – bring a lawn chair. Lunch provided by Spike’s Keg ‘O’ Nails of Grayling. For Schedule of Events, Sprint Course Map, Sprint Rules, and Race Course Map go to: https://www.ausablecanoemarathon.org/events/spikes-challenge/
About Grayling
Spike’s Challenge Race takes place in Grayling, Michigan, United States. The local timezone is America/Detroit.
Runner Reviews
Based on 0 reviews
Share your thoughts
If you've participated in this event, share your experience with other runners
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience!
Race information has been sourced from the event's official website and other publicly available resources. For the most up-to-date details, please refer to the official website directly. If you notice any incorrect or missing information, don't hesitate to reach out to us by email.
Nearby Events
Crawford AuSable Soccer Plant the Pitch 5K
Mighty Milers (Grayling Cross Country Running Club)
Hanson Hills Challenge Trail Run
Grayling Paddle Club
Crawford AuSable Soccer Plant the Pitch 5K
Mighty Milers (Grayling Cross Country Running Club)
Hanson Hills Challenge Trail Run