Great Time Running the Covered Bridges Half-Marathon

On June 8, 2015 By The Running Griffin2 Comments

Yesterday morning was an absolutely great day to tackle the Covered Bridges Half-Marathon in the Woodstock/Quechee area of Vermont and the ideal race conditions made for some really good running. I have run the Covered Bridges Half-Marathon twice previously and shaved 12 minutes off my PR there finishing with a time of 1:47:42 good for 8:13/miles.

The Covered Bridges Half-Marathon is consistently ranked one of the top most-scenic runs and the fact that the race sells out in record time is a true testament to the desire of many runners to get into this race. The course takes runners through some idyllic New England streets, along a brook, through the woods and even over a covered bridge indeed. The race kicks off bright and early at 8:15 from Suicide Six Ski Area and takes runners along 13.1 miles of truly some of the best scenery you can find. Though I was hoping to see a moose or a bear with a trout in its mouth along the course, nothing could disappoint when running this course and the fan support is of the highest caliber with people cheering, ringing cow bells or busting out some beats on pots and pans or old paint buckets.

The night before the race we opted to carbo-load at Harpoon Brewery just down the road in Windsor and enjoyed food, a pint and live music with the fresh Vermont air really making you consider to grab the real estate listings before heading back home. A microbrew around a fire pit with some live music playing is about all this runner needs to get into a good pre-race mindset, that’s for sure.

The race directors for the Covered Bridges Half-Marathon do a really nice job getting the logistics right from busing runners to the starting line where number pickup takes place to funneling runners into the chute post-run to gather the race medal and tech-shirt. Live music is present on the course ranging from polka bands to drum corps and a band rocked the finish line after-party where runners could refuel with plenty of snacks and fresh offerings for those over 21 from our friends at Harpoon Brewery. The only down side to the post-race party was the line for the massage tables was moving at a snail’s pace and there weren’t enough hands to keep up with the demand.

The Covered Bridges Half-Marathon is sort of a bucket list race that those who love running and those that love the half-marathon distance need to tackle. Registration sells out fast so you need to be sure to follow the race on Twitter and Facebook to ensure you don’t miss registration announcements.

Stowe Trail Race Series

On July 28, 2014 By The Running GriffinLeave a comment

On Saturday, July 19th we were able to parlay a weekend getaway in Stowe, Vermont into the ability to finish a trail run while we were visiting the area. The Stowe area is perhaps best known for the winter snow events that take place in the region however the trail run was a great way to highlight the scenic beauty of the region during the summer months, as well.

We headed off to the Nordic Center at Stowe Mountain and took place in one of the Stowe Trail Race Series runs. The race is a full trail run that offers both a 5k and 10k option on some beautiful trails in the woods that in the winter serves as cross country skiing and snowshoe trails. It was great to see how well maintained the trails were for the running series.

Though I traditionally am a pavement runner , hitting the trails was an interesting transition. Needless to say, a city boy hitting the pavement comes with its fair share on dangers inclusive of falling down the trails…twice.

Money from the race series benefits Friends of Stowe Adaptive Sports. Friends of Stowe Adaptive Sports is a Vermont-based non-profit founded in 2012 on the belief that access to sports and recreational programs are a powerful means for people with disabilities to develop independence as well as physical and mental well-being.

The race series has a couple of other races coming up so if you live in or will be visiting the Stowe, Vermont area please be sure to check out their website and join the race today.

Saint Michael’s College Knight Striders Virtual 5K

On July 13, 2013 By MattLeave a comment

Depending on where you’ve moved on to since college, coming home for homecoming isn’t always easy. But thanks to the magic of the Internet, alumni of Saint Michael’s College in Vermont have a way to take part in a Homecoming Weekend event and raise money for their alma mater. This fall, St. Mike’s alumni, their friends and family, and anyone else who just wants to run in support of a great school can sign up for the Knight Striders Virtual 5K.

Knight Striders will take place September 20-22 to coincide with St. Mike’s homecoming weekend. Alumni who happen to be in Vermont at that time can get together for a run on a mountain trail or alongside beautiful Lake Champlain – there’s no shortage of scenery in the Green Mountain State. Those who can’t make the trip can still participate from absolutely anywhere and are encouraged to find other alumni in the area to run with. Just because this race doesn’t have a fixed location doesn’t mean it has to be a solitary event. Find a fellow Knight in your area and run together.

The registration link will be available soon. In the meantime, you can like the race’s Facebook page to stay up to date. Let’s show some Purple Knight pride!

Based in Lexington, Kentucky, Reno Race Promotion offers a range of promotional services to help race directors reach a larger audience for their events.