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This Saturday (September 4th) at 9 AM there will be a Port Oneida Run/Walk along a 5K barn to barn trail run. Runners are offered a unique tour of the Port Oneida Rural Historic District, through the pastoral landscape of farmsteads from the late 1800s and along the shores of Lake Michigan.

The run benefits Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear, a nonprofit partner of the Park dedicated to saving the historic structures and landscapes in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

More details from Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear and register online at signmeup.com.

Photo credit: Paddock Candy by smartee_martee

"The Broneah Brothers," Matt and Keegan Meyers, are once again bringing us the M-22 Challenge to be held on June 12. The Challenge, which begins Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore park (aka Little Glen Lake Picnic Area), is multi-discipline event, with biking, running, and paddling, which is designed to challenge athletes against the natural terrain and environmental elements of the area.

The first leg requires athletes to bike approximately 17 miles around Big and Little Glen Lake. Bike highlights include a peddle through downtown Glen Arbor, sections along the Crystal River and the famous M-22, and of course, Inspiration Point. The Leelanau County Sheriffs Department will be leading the bikers in a “rolling enclosure” that will allow athletes use of the entire right lane of the roads.

For the second running portion, athletes will cross the street into the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Parkshore “Dune Climb” park and face a steep and sandy climb up the dune. The reward at the top is the view! Competitors will then catch their breath in a fun run down the dune and along a groomed trail to M-109. On the road, runners will sprint back to the event site and transition area to complete the approximate 2 mile run. Approximately half of the run will take place on pavement.

Transitioning from a run to the water, the third and final portion of the event has participants paddling out and back into Little Glen Lake for approximately 2 miles. Athletes are only allowed to use one (1) paddle to hand power their chosen craft (kayak, standup paddle board, anything else you can dream up! etc.) A two blade paddle is allowed, but in no way can the paddle be fixed to the craft.

The M-22 Challenge is a Zero-Waste event, "Green Certified" event, meaning every aspect of this event’s planning and operation is scrutinized to make sure that waste is not only minimized, but any wastes generated are able to be collected and processed via recycling/composting at local facilities.

Although registration for the event is sold out, volunteer opportunities are still available. And, of course, spectators are more than welcome to come and cheer on their favorites.

Be sure to check out the results from the 2009 M-22 Challenge and race photos!

Photo: M22 Challenge by Andy McFarlane

The 1st Annual M-22 Challenge was a success, according to event coordinator, Matt Myers. One-hundred twenty-two athletes participated in the challenge, which included a 17 mile bike ride around Big and Little Glen Lake, a 2 mile run including dune climb, and 1 mile out and back paddle in Little Glen Lake. With a time of 1:09:37, Jonathan Kuck, from Champaign, IL, was the overall men's winner.  Mark Durno, of Fairview Park, OH and Stephen John Andriese, of Traverse City, followed closely behind respective times of 1:10:06 and 1:11:09.   Keri Pawielski, of St Joesph, MI, was the top woman, with 1:15:48 time. Stephanie Frye, of Traverse City, was the 2nd best woman with a 1:26:42:58 tim.  Leland's own, Sue Burns, took 3rd overall in the woman's division. with a time of 1:28:25.  Full results available on the M-22 Challenge website.

The M-22 Challenge is a multi-discipline event based in beautiful Leelanau County in Northern Michigan designed to challenge athletes against the natural terrain and environmental elements of the area. The event organizers were thrilled with the number of participants, spectators, and volunteers. Next year, they are hoping that next year the event will draw 500 participants.

The above photo is by Jason Hamelin.  More photos of the M-22 Challenge are availble on his website  www.hamelinphoto.com or via the M-22 Challenge site.

To those unfamiliar with Leelanau County, M-22 is just a road on a map. To Keegan and Matt Meyers, two kite-boarding brothers from Old Mission, this majestic highway is the call sign of their hearts. Attuned to the frequency of summer, the lakeshore along M-22 beckons the brothers back from far off adventures. Again and again they return to their home and heart, along the dune sloped shores of Lake Michigan, meeting the waves and wind with incomparable appreciation. This mutual reverence motivates them to share their love of the region by offering the M-22 Challenge - a three sport, action adventure event focusing on the splendor of the area.

The said "Broneah Brothers" conceptualized the M-22 Challenge, hoping to translate their passion for the area into an event that could be shared with others. Assembling an all-star cast of coordinators, including their father Matt Meyers, local athletes and promoters, plus the support of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, this event has the makings of a long-standing ritual for both locals and visitors. Participation in this event entitles contestants to an intimate view of the Park and the surrounding lakes. There is no way to possibly be more up close and personal with Northern Michigan than to take on this challenge.

The M-22 Challenge is scheduled for June 20th. The event begins with a two mile run, starting with a 100 yard climb up the steep sand dunes, within the boundaries of the Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore. For the second leg,  contestants will transition to their cycles, taking a 17 mile spin around the Glen Lakes before hitting the water for an exciting finale - a one mile kayaking circuit. The "Challenge" is open to all levels, but the top athletes are expected to complete the course in about two hours.

Participation will be capped around 200 contestants, but there are still spaces available and time to join in the fun. Check out the M-22 Challenge website for complete access to details of the race, including maps depicting the exact run, bike, and kayak courses. Additionally, volunteer opportunities abound. The next volunteer meeting is scheduled for May 26th. If you are curious and want to be involved, but prefer not to race, don't be shy! Inquire about volunteering. Either way, be sure to be involved in this event.

Photo: Glen Arbor Men by Andy McFarlane

There's a lot of holiday happenings coming up - here's a list of some of them and check the Leelanau Calendar for more!

Cedar offers you a chance to Make It, Take it on Friday (Nov 28). Handmade gift kits will be available to purchase at any shop in Cedar, then you may attend a class to learn how to put the gift together! There's also the Cedar Christmas Party on Sunday, December 7, 1-3 pm at the Solon Twp Hall - call 228-3426  for details!

Empire will hold the 1st Annual Empire Artisan Marketplace at the Empire Town Hall on November 29, 2008 from 12noon to 5pm with local artisans selling crafts such as jewelry, pottery, fiber arts, clothing, handcrafted brooms, tin ware, wreaths and much more. There's also the tree lighting Friday evening. Visit the Empire Chamber for more.

Glen Arbor invites you to shop in your PJs on Friday (Nov 28) and come back for tree lighting, carols and the holiday marketplace preview. The marketplace continues on Saturday at the Glen Arbor Town Hall. More from the Glen Lake Chamber. There's also a free concert by the Leelanau Community Choir "Singing the Tidings of Christmas" at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Glen Arbor.

Leland gets in on the PJ shopping fun Friday from 8-10 am and there's also a book signing and breakfast buffet at the Library. The Old Art Building holds the annual Merry Marketplace next Saturday (Dec 6). Leland's holiday calendar also offers tree lighting and Santa's arrival (Dec 7), Ladies Shopping Night (Dec 11) and for all you Last Second Larrys, Men's Shopping Night on December 23.

Northport has their Merchant's Open House this Saturday (Nov 28) and there's a Holiday Open House at the Grand Traverse Lighthouse on Sunday, December 7 from noon - 4 PM. The annual Christmas Concert takes place on December 13th & 14th as well!

Suttons Bay welcomes Santa to town on Sunday, December 7. Also taking place on Sunday will be Antlers & Elves (with real live reindeer!) at Enerdyne and the Leelanau Community Choir makes another stop on their tour in Suttons Bay at 3 PM at the Suttons Bay Congregational Church.

Traverse City(ish) is the location of Pathfinder School's Holiday Art & Craft Show on December 13th and the first annual Traverse City Downtown Turkey Trot 5K Run/Walk takes place on Thanksgiving - get the info here.

Did we miss something? Post it below!

The photo is Brilliant (blue) Books by Pentax K1000 Gal

There will be a benefit concert and kickoff party for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's Walk to Cure Diabetes. The concert features Blind Dog Hank and takes place on Friday September 26, 7:00 PM at the InsideOut Gallery in Traverse City (229 Garland St).

Everyone is welcome with a $10 donation requested at the door and all proceeds go direct to funding research to cure Juvenile Diabetes.

For more information about the show, go to www.Insideoutgallery.com, or call Geno or Peggy Miller at 231-256-7473. Click here for information about the Walk to Cure Diabetes!