AuSable River Canoe Marathon

AuSable River Canoe Marathon Since 1947, One of the Greatest Races on Earth!
120 miles non-stop Grayling to Oscoda Michigan
July 25-26, 2026

Since 1947, One of the Greatest Canoe Races on Earth! More than 50,000 fans cheer on teams competing in North America's toughest & richest canoe race - 120 miles & over 50,000 paddle strokes non-stop overnight on the AuSable River from Grayling to Oscoda, Michigan

The AuSable River Canoe Marathon is organized by a non-profit organization, AuSable River International Canoe Marathon, Inc. (ARICM) which is made up entirely of volunteers who are fans of this great race.

❓How does your nutrition support your paddling performance?Get your nutrition questions answered!Whether you are a recre...
05/07/2026

❓How does your nutrition support your paddling performance?

Get your nutrition questions answered!

Whether you are a recreational paddling enthusiast or a top Triple Crown competitor, nutrition is a HUGE factor in how you show up on the water.

👉 Join the discussion Tuesday May 12 at 7:30pm EDT, hosted by the New York Paddlesports Racing Association (NYPRA).

This clinic is free for NYPRA members and $10 for non-members.

Non-members can register on the NYPRA website in the store, here:
http://nypra.org/.../NewYorkPaddlesportsRacingAssoc.../Store

Don't miss this informative discussion all about fueling for long-distance paddling with registered sports dietitian Lynsie Gram (of Meteor Nutrition by Kelsey Pontius). As a dietitian, her goal is to help athletes build a positive relationship with food and develop the confidence to fuel their bodies effectively so they can perform at their best ✨

Join the discussion on Tuesday, May 12, at 7:30pm EDT.


📣 Hey paddle pals! Hard to believe it's already this time again, but is upon us! 🎉Join us as we kick off the Consumer...
05/05/2026

📣 Hey paddle pals! Hard to believe it's already this time again, but is upon us!

🎉Join us as we kick off the Consumers Energy AuSable River Canoe Marathon season with a special Business After Hours event at Paddle Hard Yard!

Held in conjunction with the Grayling Regional Chamber of Commerce this is a great opportunity to connect with fellow Marathon enthusiasts and area professionals to celebrate one of our community’s most exciting and historied traditions.

🙌New this year: We're moving the party to a Friday night and there's no cover charge!

📅 May 29th
🕔 5:30PM
📍 Paddle Hard Yard
🎶 Live music by the Broom Closet Boys
🤝 Networking with local businesses & community members
🍻 Drinks, conversation, and summer vibes
🎫 Raffles for free ARCM goodies, and some of our sponsors!

Whether you're a longtime supporter of The Marathon or just looking to make new connections int the area, this is a great way to start the season and have some fun doing it!

We hope to see you there!

Event link/RSVP, here: https://www.facebook.com/share/1HS88Zg1xr/



Please meet Mr. Raynald Morand (R), of Quebec, pictured above on the 2025 ARCM starting line after arriving in Grayling,...
05/03/2026

Please meet Mr. Raynald Morand (R), of Quebec, pictured above on the 2025 ARCM starting line after arriving in Grayling, Michigan, for the full week of activity.

Mr. Morand traveled to all three races on the 2025 to photograph the action at New York's General Clinton Canoe Regatta, Michigan's AuSable River Canoe Marathon, and Quebec's Classique internationale de canots de la Mauricie.

This album includes Mr. Morand's top photos from the 2025 Consumers Energy AuSable River Canoe Marathon.

Mr. Morand was the first photographer in the 33-year history of the Triple Crown to photograph the action at all three races and did so almost entirely at his own expense. Words are insufficient to express the level of our appreciation to Raynald for his generous and outstanding gesture of appreciation for our sport, our athletes, and the Triple Crown of Canoe Racing.

Bravo, Raynald! Et merci beaucoup pour votre travail acharné et pour avoir partagé avec nous le fruit de votre talent.

12 Weeks to go until the start of the Consumers Energy 78th Annual AuSable River Canoe Marathon!!~~Historical Snapshot 1...
05/03/2026

12 Weeks to go until the start of the Consumers Energy 78th Annual AuSable River Canoe Marathon!!

~~Historical Snapshot 1986~~
Perfect weather conditions were in order for the start of the 39th Marathon on July 26, 1986. Eighteen pro teams and eight amateur teams dashed to the river at the 10 PM start of the race; the last year in which the Marathon started at 10 PM.

Five teams were grouped together in the lead pack early in the race, with the teams of Nick Bauer & Steve Landick and Steve Krantz & Brian Krantz taking turns leading the race between Grayling and McMasters Bridge. At Parmalee, Bauer & Landick had lost the lead and dropped to 4th, and the Krantz brothers had claimed an almost two minute lead over the uncle-nephew team of Butch Stockton & Brett Stockton.

At Camp Ten, the lead margin shrank to a minute-and-a-half.
At Mio Dam, Butch and Brett claimed a six second lead, and they would hold the lead the rest of the way to Oscoda, crossing the finish line in a time of 14:30:38.

In doing so, Butch Stockton became the first paddler in Marathon history to win five consecutive Marathons. Pictured is the team of Butch & Brett as they approach one of the dams late in the race.

Fifteen of the eighteen pro teams finished, which also marked the first time that over 80% of the pro teams finished the race.








Triple Crown of Canoe Racing

‼️Important ARCM Clean Sport Initiative Updates ‼️Dear AuSable River Canoe Marathon competitors: Thank you so much to ev...
05/01/2026

‼️Important ARCM Clean Sport Initiative Updates ‼️

Dear AuSable River Canoe Marathon competitors:

Thank you so much to everyone who joined us for the initial ‘Anti-Doping 101’ informational webinar presented by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) on April 21.

The April 21 webinar was the first step in the AuSable River Canoe Marathon Clean Sport Initiative rollout. We are pleased to announce these additional steps in the rollout process:

👉 The ARCM Clean Sport Initiative web page is now published and can be found at: www.ausablecanoemarathon.org/paddlers/clean-sport

The web page is a comprehensive resource for marathon canoe racing athletes, highlighting the USADA ‘need-to-know’ publications.

Also linked on the web page is an ARCM-focused Clean Sport FAQ document, developed in conjunction with USADA, that addresses a wide range of questions specifically related to the ARCM Clean Sport Program.

👉 An additional webinar has been added to our Clean Sport agenda. Titled ‘Anti-Doping 101.5,’ this webinar on Monday evening, June 1st, will reintroduce the concepts from the first webinar for anyone who missed it, or needs a refresher.

Plus! USADA will review and address a selection of pre-submitted questions during this webinar session.

❓Do you have a question you’d like USADA to review on June 1? Please submit your questions via email to: [email protected] no later than Wednesday, May 27th.

👉 The third and final USADA webinar on Monday evening, July 6th, will review the anti-doping processes specific to the ARCM.

👉 Please ensure these webinar dates are noted on your calendar. Please plan to attend and learn more about this important program. Webinar details and links will be provided at a future date.

Finally, please know that we will continue to work closely with USADA to ensure our athletes have all of the resources necessary for understanding the Clean Sport Program. Additional information will be added to the ARCM Clean Sport page as and when warranted.

Our focus strongly remains on doing what is in the best interest of our race, our athletes, the paddling community, the sport of marathon canoe racing, and our sponsors.

We appreciate your partnership in helping to keep our sport clean, our athletes safe, and ensuring the success of this pioneering initiative.

Contact: [email protected]

04/29/2026

🛶To be sure you don't ‘miss the boat’ (see what we did there😏), we’ll be sharing some of the amazing causes and projects that a number of our Consumers Energy AuSable River Canoe Marathon competitors are contributing to as a part of their journey.

First up for , Marathon rookies Ryan Clouse and Marley Watson are raising money for the Children's Miracle Network via their 120 Miracle Miles project. Aiming to get 10,000 ‘Miracle Sponsors’ to donate $120 each - one dollar for every mile of the race – the goal of the ‘120 Miracle Miles’ Team is to raise $1.2 million dollars for CMN hospitals, turning ‘a single race into a wave of change for children’s health.’ Visit their page or website for more information: https://120miraclemiles.com/

🙌Big thank you to Ryan and Marley for sharing their journey and reminding us that paddling the race is truly just the beginning of the ARCM story; this race is about so much more for nearly everyone involved.

👉Paddler, spectator, feeder or volunteer - we’d love to have you tell us – what’s your why?




?

For nearly 20 years Alexis Cherven has been an integral part of the Consumers Energy AuSable River Canoe Marathon’s ope...
04/26/2026

For nearly 20 years Alexis Cherven has been an integral part of the Consumers Energy AuSable River Canoe Marathon’s opening program hosted annually near the start line at the Old AuSable Fly Shop.

From writing the scripts as a high school student, to introducing paddlers, and eventually emceeing the show for 10 years, Lexi along with her Dad, John Cherven, have played major roles in helping execute a special part of our event that truly sets the Marathon apart from other canoe races.

This year, Lexi and her partner Logan are getting married! And so, for the first time in almost a decade, Lexi will not be emceeing the pre-race program in 2026. The AuSable River Canoe Marathon Committee wants to extend our well wishes to the happy couple and a heartfelt thank you to Lexi for everything she has contributed to the Marathon, and especially the pre-race program, over the years. Thanks Lexi! We hope to have you back on mic again soon!

In Lexi’s absence, Camren Wilson Money is looking to put together a team to help plan and execute this year’s pre-race program. After more than 10 years emceeing the event, Cam is excited to inject new ideas and new energy into the program.

If you have interest in helping with the pre-race program (in front of, or behind the scenes 😉) or just an idea for something you would like to see done during this year’s program, please reach out to Cam via FB messenger or his email at [email protected]

Thank you in advance for your interest in being a part of the Marathon Magic! It truly takes a village!





Many moons ago, Grayling's own Pat Thompson created "The Marathon Man" logo for the AuSable River Canoe Marathon. Pat's...
04/25/2026

Many moons ago, Grayling's own Pat Thompson created "The Marathon Man" logo for the AuSable River Canoe Marathon. Pat's artistic contribution to The Marathon was an important step in helping us grow into the world-class event that was envisioned at that time.

Pat's logo has served the very well, and it's now time for, ‘Marathon Man’ to paddle into the sunset, making way for an updated logo and refreshed brand identity.

🙌We’re so pleased to unveil a new logo that honors the race’s rich legacy and strong regional identity, and highlights the unique characteristics that define our iconic event:

✅The two guiding stars highlight the collaboration between communities, paddlers, and volunteers, and represent Grayling (start) and Oscoda (finish).

✅"HUP All Night" - a mash up of 'HUP' and 'Up All Night' - captures the paddlers' call to change sides with their stroke, and the race's overnight span, with a nod to the fans and supporters who follow the paddlers all night long

✅The moon and stars convey the unique overnight nature of the race.

✅The colors are inspired by the rich greens and blues of Michigan's landscape, and the AuSable River - 'AuSable' meaning 'of sand'.

✅The canoe silhouette depicts two-paddler teams more accurately representative of AuSable Marathon athletes.

Finally, we know that moving on from Marathon Man will be tough for some, and we get that. The paddling man logo has been a defining symbol of the race for several decades and will forever hold a place in the rich legacy that is ‘The Marathon’.

And, just think of the throwback merch opportunities for the future! 😉






Consumers Energy

04/24/2026

👀New logo loading in 5...4...3...2...1....





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