The AuSable River Canoe Marathon, known as “The Marathon,” is a challenging 120-mile, two-person (C-2) canoe race held annually on the last full weekend of July. It kicks off at night with an exciting LeMans-style running start to the river in Grayling, MI, and concludes the next day at the end of the river on the shores of Lake Huron in Oscoda, MI. This is no leisurely paddle—it’s an intense, ultra-competitive event drawing elite paddlers from across the U.S., Canada, and beyond. Competitors must be in peak physical and mental condition to complete the race within the time limit, battling exhaustion, tough portages, and the demanding nature of the course.