GLENN ARBOR — The town of Glenn Arbor was bursting at the seams with those planning to attend the 17th annual M-22 Challenge.
Over 900 people are expected to attend this unique triathlon, with biking, running, and kayaking, instead of swimming.
Athletes take off from the start line on M-109 in the heart of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park, with the infamous “Dune Climb” on the Sleeping Bear Dunes, kicking off the start to the 22 mile race. From there, athletes jump on their bikes for a 17-mile race up Inspiration Point and around Big and Little Glen Lake, and finish with a 2.5 mile paddle on kayaks or on stand up paddle boards in Little Glen Lake before crossing the finish line.
Matt Meyers Jr. started the event years ago, and proudly shared how it all began with his son near, and his father not far behind.
He says “My brother Keegan and I, we teach kiteboarding, and we love getting people out into the elements, getting them on the lake. Outside doing something different, except kiteboarding is somewhat limiting, not everyone can do it. ” adding “So we wanted to come up with an idea of something that more people can do. We thought of a triathlon, well the swimming really limits a lot of people cause swimming is intimidating, so we thought of adding the paddling.”
The event kicked off at 8 a.m., with the average person completing the race in 2 and a half hours.