Make a Resolution You Can Keep: Plan to Run the KeyBank Vermont City Marathon
The starting gun goes off at 8:03 a.m., on Sunday, May 30, 2010, Memorial Day Weekend. Training starts now! And 2010 is the year that every runner should place the KeyBank Vermont City Marathon Number 1 on their priority list. Make a New Year’s resolution to run this marathon or marathon relay in 2010.

Michelle  E-mail this page  Printer-friendly page

By Michelle Boisvert
Posted Tuesday, 19 January, 2010

Located on the shores of Lake Champlain, the country’s sixth largest freshwater lake, the 22nd annual KeyBank Vermont City Marathon is the perfect family destination for Memorial Day Weekend. Burlington, Vermont has been on many “Top Ten” lists for its beauty, pedestrian-friendly downtown, and wealth of family activities, to name just a few reasons. What better way to see this vibrant city than on foot? Race weekend offers an event for every member of the family, from the kids’ Yam Scram race on Saturday, May 29th, to the marathon and marathon relay on Sunday, the 30th. Non-runners will also feel like part of the action with several prime viewing points from which to cheer the runners. Make it official—online registration is open now: www.runvermont.org.

Make Your Goal 26.2—This Time I mean It
For many runners, running a marathon is the ultimate goal—a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to prove themselves by going the distance. To others, running a marathon is a common occurrence—they constantly strive to improve their time, upping the ante of their personal best or aiming for a Boston Qualifier. Whether it’s your first or your 100th, the KeyBank Vermont City Marathon—with its beautiful course, wonderful lake-side college town, dedicated volunteers and cheering crowds—gives every runner that once-in-a-lifetime feeling.

Most marathon training programs consist of about 18-20 weeks of consistent preparation before hitting the starting line. And guess what? If you hit January 1st with the resolution to run a marathon in 2010, you have just the right amount of time to train for and run the KeyBank Vermont City Marathon on May 30th. So what are you waiting for? Make it official and register today: www.runvermont.org .

Marathon runners and Leg 1 of the relay start at Battery Park, overlooking Lake Champlain, at precisely 8:03 a.m., and head through residential streets and through the city’s Church Street Marketplace, a traffic-free, open-air mall that’s filled with shops, restaurants and outdoor seating. Soak in the cheering crowds that line the streets, stash that long-sleeve shirt now that you’ve warmed up and settle into your pace as you head out of town.

Just after 3.5 miles, you start on a 4-mile out-and-back stretch down the Northern Connector, a divided highway that the city closes to traffic just for this race. It offers some open green space and views of the Green Mountains off in the distance. Even with the scenery try to keep your eyes on the runners on the ‘back’ portion of the Connector and you might just catch a glimpse of the winners speeding along this fast, flat stretch of open road.

Maybe you’ve settled in on these quiet roads and retreated back into yourself with thoughts of split times and pace. Well, the excitement at mile 8 will snap you out of that. A second loop through the Marketplace gives you a chance to check your watch, grab a drink and give all the spectators a proud smile. Then head to Burlington’s South End toward Oakledge Park, a waterfront area with beach access, playgrounds, tennis and volleyball courts, softball fields and picnic areas.

The park also marks the halfway point of the course. Alive with activity, Oakledge Park is also the exchange point for the two-person relay teams. If you’re looking for a little pick up here, you might want to look to a friendly relay runner. “If you use them the right way, those relay runners can really pull you through some of the tougher miles of the marathon,” said Peter Delaney, race director and Executive Director of RunVermont.org.

After passing through Oakledge Park, you’ll run the next two miles lakeside. Take this opportunity to distract yourself by gazing out into the vast waters of Lake Champlain, which separates Vermont and New York, arguably the most beautiful of the “Great Lakes”. Maybe you’ll be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of “Champ,” the legendary lake monster thought by some to live in the dark depths of Lake Champlain. People have reported spotting this unusually large and unidentifiable “creature” in Lake Champlain since the 1600s, and sightings continue today. Likened to Scotland’s Loch Ness Monster, Champ has become one of many tourist attractions in the Burlington area. There was a “sighting” last summer along the shore portion of the course just beyond half way, and the video was widely distributed on Youtube: Youtube.com/watch?v+YT49LQMxthg .

Don’t Miss a Beat on the Hills
Not only is the marathon course well-manned with volunteers, water stops, aid stations and spectators, it also offers some entertainment along the way. And some of that entertainment has become famous for its perfectly timed placement. Around mile 15, runners meet the challenge of Battery Street—a six-block climb adjacent to the downtown region. Listen for the Taiko drummers located in the middle of the hill and catch their rhythm and enthusiasm to keep pace all the way up the incline. It’s amazing what a little music or rhythm can do at just the right time! And the music isn’t only there. The marathon course is actually lined with musicians in many locations—just about everything but classical music, says Delaney. In 2009, there were 12 different bands on the course.

After making your way up Battery Street, you can catch your breath as you make your way through tree-lined neighborhoods of Burlington, then it’s off to the beautiful bike path, a cool and lovely paved rail trail, from mile 22 to the finish. This path has views of Lake Champlain on the right and the other side has woods or residences, with cheering crowds toward the finish holding up signs and ringing cowbells to give you that last push. The hoopla and energy certainly doesn’t calm down at the finish. The crowds at the Keybank Vermont City Marathon are beyond compare—making the journey of 26.2 miles even more memorable. Close out is probable with only 3,600 marathon bibs available. Registration is running ahead of last year, so register now.

Miles For a Mission
Running a marathon, or any race for that matter, can be a personal growth experience. But it’s also an excellent way to give back by raising money for a nonprofit organization or charity. In 2010, runners can use the KeyBank Vermont City Marathon as a fundraising element for one of several charities, including the American Cancer Society, Team Hole in the Wall, Team in Training, March of Dimes, Vermont Children’s Hospital, Fletcher Allen, UVM College of Medicine, and Common Ground Youth Center.

Once you sign up to run for a charity, the RunVermont.org Website enables you to create an online fundraising page to track your progress and share your experience with family and friends. Both marathon runners and relay teams can raise money for charity—so give yourself even more incentive and add purpose to your race.

Run the Relay—Cover the Miles as a Team
The KeyBank Vermont City Marathon was one of the first races in the country to offer a marathon relay. This year the relay features 2-person teams as well as 3-5 person teams to cover the full 26.2 miles. Distances for the 5-person relay teams range from 3.1 miles to 6.4 miles.
Relay exchange points 1, 2 and 3 are each within a couple hundred yards of the starting line, allowing teams to support each other for a good portion of the first half. Transportation is provided to other hand-off point, taking the worry out of getting to your transition in time.
The course is limited to 700 3-5 person relay teams and 700 2-person teams. In 2010, relay participants will be selected via lottery (sells out annually). Registration for the lottery is open January 1-31, 2010. Relay teams will be randomly selected by February 15th. For more information, visit http://www.runvermont.org/marathon/relgeneral.html.

The Expo, the Goods and the “Even Betters”
The Sports and Fitness Expo, located at the Sheraton Hotel and Conference Center (only a few blocks form the start, finish, and on the course near mile 16), occurs Friday, May 28th from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and on Saturday, May 29th from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Admission is free to all visitors. Runners must attend the expo to pick up their race packets and T-shirts. Since all racers will be wearing the D-Tag Timing System this year, there’s no need to get your chip programmed as in other years. This means there’s more time to check out all the great vendor booths—from running merchandise to nutrition information to gait analysis services to FREE Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. To see a list of last year’s vendors, visit http://www.runvermont.org/expo/vendorlist.html.

At the expo, runners can also listen to a course review that explains various twists and turns experienced on the roads. Saturday will feature the Outdoor Adventure Film Series of short films chronicling stories of running, unique endurance events, and great moments in racing history. Films in 2009 included the award-winning The Spirit of the Marathon and Running the Sahara. A celebrity runner will also be on-hand at the expo to speak and sign autographs—stay tuned for that announcement.

Spend Memorial Day Weekend in Burlington
Late spring in Burlington, Vermont is the perfect time to run. Usually the temperature is ideal and the scent of blooming flowers and budding trees fills the air. And with all that the city has to offer for the entire family, the KeyBank Vermont City Marathon becomes the ultimate destination race. Spend Memorial Day weekend in Burlington. Take a boat tour of Lake Champlain on Saturday, run the KeyBank Vermont City Marathon on Sunday, and spend Monday visiting one of the many local attractions—Ben & Jerry’s, Vermont Teddy Bear Company, Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, the Church Street Marketplace, the Green Mountains—the list goes on. And it’s a great way to actually keep that New Year’s Resolution! Sign up early and start your once-in-a-lifetime experience today.

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