Spike’s Challenge Race
- Date
- July 18–19, 2026
- Distance
- Spike’s Challenge C2 - Expert 1 · Spike’s Challenge C2 - Expert 2 · Spike’s Challenge C-2 - Junior or Fledgling & more
From the Organizer
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/
Events
Weather
Typical Conditions
It's too far out for a forecast, so here's what weather on this date is normally like in the area. A race day forecast will replace this as race week approaches.
Typical High
80°
Typical Low
55°
Chance of Rain
39%
Based on US Climate Normals data from Grayling, 3 mi from the venue.
Host City
About Grayling, MI
Elevation
1,136 ft
Nearest Airport
TVC
Cherry Capital Airport · 46 mi
Major Hub
GRR
Gerald R. Ford International Airport · 132 mi
Time Zone
Eastern Time
From Endurance Grid
Line up lodging and travel early to lock in your race weekend.
Race Location
Your Next Start Line
What Are You
Waiting For?
Every finish line starts with a single decision. Claim your spot at Spike’s Challenge Race, put it on the calendar, and turn “someday” into a start date.
40
Days to train
- Race
- Spike’s Challenge Race
- Date
- July 18–19, 2026
Coming Up
More Running races near Grayling, MI
Grayling Paddle Club
Less than a mile away
Higgins Lake Sunrise Run
13 miles away
Greatest 4th in the North 5k,10k, & 2k
10K · 5K
30 miles away
Gaylord Alpenfest 5K/10K Run
10K · 5K
24 miles away
From Endurance Grid
About This Sport
Endurance Grid is here to help you understand the sport, decide if it's the right fit, and learn how to prepare. For course distances, logistics, and race-day specifics, always defer to the race organizer's event page.
With running, there's a distance for every fitness level, a community at every start line, and nothing beats the feeling of crossing a finish line you trained for.
Running is an endurance sport that rewards consistency, and showing up every week compounds in ways that will surprise you.
Running
From 5K to marathon, running races are the most accessible entry point into endurance sport. There's a distance for every fitness level and a community at every start line.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- What is the Spike’s Challenge Race?
- Spike’s Challenge Race is a running race held in Grayling, Michigan on July 18, 2026. It is one of the many endurance events listed on Endurance Grid, a multi-sport endurance event calendar covering running races, triathlons, HYROX, and more endurance sports across the United States. Find more running races near you or explore our sports guides to learn what race day actually feels like.
- When and where is the Spike’s Challenge Race?
- Saturday, July 18, 2026 in Grayling, Michigan at 3979 E Beaver Island Road, Grayling, MI. Check the event page for exact start times and wave schedules.
- How do I register for the Spike’s Challenge Race?
- Registration is handled through the event's registration page. Confirm pricing and distances there, and sign up.
Spike’s Challenge Race
Jul 18, 2026