The Starkermann Challenge: 4 events, 3 days, one tough race By Erin Crowell Running is hard. So are triathlons, the multi-sport event that combines running, swimming and biking into one race. Now, imagine those disciplines spread out through the course of one weekend. This is the Starkermann Challenge – a three day, four event race that starts with a run on Friday, a triathlon on Saturday morning, 20- to 40k time trial bike ride on Saturday evening, wrapped up with a duathlon (run, bike, run) on Sunday morning. Whew! Think you’re up for the challenge? You’ll get your chance May 14-16 in Gaylord.
“STRONG MAN” The race lives up to its name – Starkermann translates to “strong man” in German, a word that describes both male and female athletes that take on the entire race weekend. However, participants have the option to compete in individual events and/or compete on a relay team. “You can pick and choose,” says Kenny Krell of 3 Disciplines Racing, the company that handles and coordinates all aspects of the race. “It’s definitely something for both beginners and seasoned athletes.” Those options include two competition levels: the more advanced Starkermann and the Starkermann Junior, with distances geared toward the beginner competitor. Friday evening hosts a one-mile seed sprint for Juniors, a 5k seed run for Starkermann. On Saturday morning, athletes hit the Gaylord Sportsplex pool for a portion of the triathlon, which includes a 2.2 mile run, 20k bike and a 400m swim for beginners; a 4.4 mile run, 30k bike and 400m swim for Starkermann. Saturday evening is a 20k time trial bike ride for Juniors and 40k for Starkermann. The challenge ends on Sunday morning, with a duathlon: one mile run, 10k bike, two mile run for Juniors; 5k run, 30k bike and 5k run for Starkermann. Events take place all over Gaylord, at venues that include the Otsego Club, Tree Tops Resort and the aforementioned Sportsplex.
TOUGH COURSE One of the most challenging areas of the course includes the hill behind Tree Tops Resort – “Alp du Huez, as the locals call it,” says Dr. Donovan Adendorf, a chiropractor at West Bay Chiropractic in Gaylord, and five-time Starkermann participant. “I haven’t done the whole challenge, but the bike portion is the most challenging thing in Michigan,” Adendorf says. The South Africa native says Starkermann helps him prepare for the triathlon season, a summer that includes at least one Ironman (2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run) and two to three triathlons per month. “I’m really slow,” Adendorf says modestly. “Starkermann kicks the season off for all of us in the north.” Krell agrees. “We designed the whole thing so it would prepare people for the upcoming race season,” he says. “For example, last year we had sleet and snow and it was 28 degrees. The lowest wind was 20 miles per hour. A bunch of people emailed us and said, ‘I didn’t know what you meant by preparing us for the season, but now I know!’ They start remembering everything they went through in Starkermann.” Weather is always part of the challenge. The race consistently runs in unpredictable weather patterns, mostly held in freezing temps and during some type of precipitation. “Starkermann never has great weather,” says Krell. “In all the years we’ve hosted and the years I participated, I can only think of one time that it was nice.”
3 DISCIPLINES Krell participated in Starkermann before he took on the fulltime job of running 3 Disciplines, a race company that—along with the Gaylord race—is host to 50 multi-sport races a year, held throughout Michigan and across the country. Krell and partner Annmarie Kern started 3 Disciplines eight years ago, launching the company in Arizona and bringing it back to their home state of Michigan. Now, the company calls Gaylord home, an oasis from the hectic world of racing. “We have a summer home up here and three years ago we came up after one of the races. I said to Annmarie, ‘I just have to live up here,’” says Krell. “You just feel calmer and less stressed.” Athletes from around the country will invade Gaylord on the weekend of May 14. “Last year we had around 200 athletes and represented five states,” says Krell. “It’s a weekend where there’s typically not much going on in Gaylord, so it’s great having a group coming for an entire weekend.” Krell says whether you’re a weekend warrior or at the top of your class, Starkermann is a race that has something for everyone.
Ready for the challenge? Register for the Starkermann Challenge, happening May 14-16 in Gaylord, by visiting 3disciplines.com and clicking on the events tab. Email your questions to info@3disciplines.com or call 231-546-2229.
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