Overcast, grey & humid – but no rain…yet.

Mile-half sleeps from today’s school bus Start allowed a last minute get up-n-go.  Locked the key inside my room.  No chance for a hotel shower today (luckily, nabbed one in NH).  Small marathon field, just one single school bus load to Bennington College.

Green.  Everything in Vermont.  Scenic Sunday morning.  I dig New England.

Marathon’d in Burlington, my first time ’round the States.  Why THIS race?  Why southern Vermont?  Local race supported by local runners/local businesses – AND the course description pasted below.  Couldn’t go wrong.

26.2 mile, picturesque point to point journey through 5 beautiful southern Vermont villages… 

Couple speeches thanking volunteers, then paved road we ran.

Humid thick air first hour, then caught a light breeze before day’s rain settled in.  Easy rolling HILLS.  Country pasture, small New England farms.  Quiet Sunday morning.  Cows, draft horses, pens of chicken.  LOVE LOVED.

Comfortable steady pace first Half.  Saved the COVERED BRIDGE for my second 13.1 – LOVE shared with the Halfers.

3 strong squalls of heavy water, but sure beats summer humidity.  Crazy; after years of dreading race day precip, now I embrace inclement.  Bring on da rain!  LOL>  UPBEAT positive folks manning (& wo-manning) today’s aid stations.  Aside from EVERYTHING GREEN, the day’s UPBEAT Vermonters I’ll remember long (HUGE praise RD/local organizers).

2^nd Half: BIGGER rain, BIGGER hills.  But also, even more GREEN, more uncluttered COUNTRY.  Cows huddled in thickets during the heaviest downpours.  Horses however continued to graze, lift their heads occasionally, watch the people parade.

Mile 24.  Late BIG HILL, UP UP Manchester Center.  New England marathons love their Heartbreak Hills.  Head down, arms pumping, steady climbed to the Aid Station [24 mile top].  Kicked my butt.  Walked the next quarter-mile.  Whew!

Main Street two miles more (Highway 7a).  Left on Hunter Park Rd, half-mile FINISH at Riley Rink (town’s hockey pond).  Laid down, breathed hard, eyes scanned the arena.  FOOD!  Not just food, fully-loaded BAKED POTATOES.  The Vermont LOVE fest just continues.  BIG BIG FAN.  EVERY 50 Stater should run this race.

Lotta hills, lotta rain.  One of my sub-4 friends ran a 4:45 – maybe a 5-hour finish & a SMILE, not so bad 🙂

SHIRES OF VERMONT MARATHON RESULTS

BENNINGTON TO MANCHESTER BATTENKILL VALLEY ROAD 05/20/2018

330 78 M HAGA, K R  LOUISVILLE CO 5:01:35.5

“​The medals themselves are so very Vermont, beautifully rustic ceramic pieces. Just across the board it was an awesome experience. If you live in the area and you want a challenge, do this race. If you’re a 50 stater and you’re looking to cross Vermont off your list, DO THIS RACE! You won’t find a better encapsulation of the spirit of Vermont!”

Shires of Vermont Marathon