The M22 Challenge is a small event in northern Michigan in Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes National Park. I’ve competed in the M22 since it began 3 years ago. This year two other Berrien County athletes joined me - Jeff Smoke (a 2008 Olympic Kayaker) and Michael Smedley (a pro triathlete in the early 2000’s). Friday night before the race the three of us met in transition and took our boats out for a paddle (this being my 2nd paddle since the event last year:). I took off first knowing I would quickly be passed by Smoke and Smedley who each had boats over 20 feet long. As I was paddling, Smoke comes up beside me literally going 5x my speed and hollers - ‘Hey Keri, your paddle is backwards.’ Good to know.
Race Day: I woke at 430 to a huge thunderstorm with pouring rain. 30 minutes before the start the rain cleared, but the roads were still wet with puddles. I chose not to have a disc wheel as I was nervous about wind gusts with the storm.
RUN: First there was a 2.5 mile run which began with .5 mile on the road...then a climb up sleeping bear sand dune. The first man and first woman to top is names king and queen of the dune. I needed to defend my title from last year so I took off a bit fast for me. Mike Smedley lead the pack of 548 athletes up the dune but was surpassed in the last 50 feet. Somehow I made it to
the top as the first female! The rest of the run was trails where I just tried to relax and enjoy.
BIKE: I hopped on my bike in about 20th place overall. I was conservative at first as the roads are winding and unfamiliar. Around mile 5 I was in a rhythm. At mile 11 I hit the largest hill of the race, ‘Inspiration Point’. Two thirds of the way up it I was standing in my large chain ring going 10mph. I was ‘inspired’ to shift to the small chain ring...then the hill got steep. At one point I was going 6mph. The flip-side of the hill was fast, winding and wet. I only braked one time and stayed aero for 90% of it. I finished the bike in 4th place overall.
KAYAK: I had placed my boat (actually Lindy’s) in the ‘Expert’ kayak transition area. It was the only plastic boat there. Don’t get me wrong, Lindy’s boat was excellent, but it just doesn’t compare to a 21 ft carbon fiber Surf Ski. Ah well. I ran my boat into the water and paddled as hard as I could muster. In the 2.5 miles I was passed by 2 boats to finish 6th overall.
