In the heart of Vermont there is history, culture, beautiful scenery, and marathons! Read on to learn what marathons in Vermont made the cut to represent the “Green Mountain State”.
Vermont City Marathon- Burlington
An interesting fact about marathoners is that they run in packs- fast runners stick together. This marathon offers a program for participants to get evenly matched with competitors at their experience level. Even slower paced athletes.
Vermont packs many punches with this event: sports and fitness expo, festival, great swag, all with the help of over one thousand community volunteers. The cost starts at $99 and this includes a secured gear check and post race massage. Click here to see other bonuses included in the registration.
The Course
This beautiful course overlooks Lake Champlain and the Adirondack Mountains. The elevation peaks around 300 ft, but it’s not super hilly-the most challenging hills come around mile 7 and mile 15.
This excerpt is from the marathon’s course description, “Mile 15 brings the Assault on Battery; 6 blocks climbing Battery Street. You’ll see musicians and throngs of spectators to inspire you up the hill… A steep downhill at mile 21.5 brings you to the Burlington Bike path, which provides beautiful lake views and flat to slightly downhill terrain over the last 4.5 miles.”
Image Source: VermontCityMarathon.org
Reviews
“Motivated, helpful staff. Great expo. Great course with clear markers and enough challenges to keep you going. Absolutely incredible crowd support (Thanks for the hoses, sprinklers, Popsicles, and cheers+beers!). One of the best laid out finisher areas I’ve seen. Showers post-race a few blocks from the finish (no need for late check-out). Beautiful scenery, WOW!” D.S., MarathonGuide.com review
“After last year I told my friends to do this one, even if you have decided or been forced not to do another marathon, bring some friends and do the relay. This Georgia boy loves the area and the folks that live here!” Charles Stoyle, Facebook review
Mad Marathon- Waitsfield
Mad valley is home to many areas of sports- skiing, kayaking, golf- and since 2010 Waitsfield has been running mad. The race has a great community and director behind it to deliver the that small town country feel.
To preserve the one most gorgeous marathons in Vermont, mad partners with local watershed groups to neutralize carbon emissions and runners can contribute as well. Click here to learn how you can be apart of the solution when you register.
The course
This awesome race has some tough hill challenges. According to the marathon’s website, “You will face your first climb about one mile into the race running up past an aid station and hitting a second station at the top of your climb on Joslin Hill Road and 2.2 miles into the race.”
Source: MadMarathon.com
Reviews
“The hills are abundant, frequent, and merciless. But a BEAUTIFUL course, and for such a small race in such a small town – really good crowd support and really good organization.” G.S. MarathonGuide.com review
“Great Marathon in an awesome small town environment. The locals are great and are happy to encourage you along. The hills are no joke though…you don’t get it…they’re NO JOKE.” Kenney O., Yelp.com review
GMAA Green Mountain Marathon
The Green Mountain Marathon belongs to one of the longest race series in history. With the event capping out at 750 runners, the spots fill quick. Cost starts at $55 and you don’t want to miss the awesome Infinite Pasta-bilities Dinner.
The athletics association provides scholarships, free workouts, and membership options. Click here to learn about GMAA membership discounts.
The course
The certified course travels through orchards, cottages, and farms- expect some flat and light rolling terrains. Course aid stations are set up every two miles. Runners have six hours to finish. This out and back finishes at the Folsom School, near the home of 7 time Boston champ, Clarence Demar.
Image Source: MapMyRun.com
Reviews
“Wow! This is one of the best organized, small, local events that I have run. Kudos to the Race Director-your volunteers and course support were superb!” S.B., MarathonGuide.com review
“I love this course! A good portion of it is run along Lake Champlain, one of my most favorite places in the world. South Hero and it’s sister islands are so different than the rest of Vermont. It’s more like being by the sea and less like the mountains.” Vttrailgirl, MustLoveJogs.com comment
CircumBurke Mountain Challenge- East Burke
It’s not often that biking and running are side by side for a race, the mountain challenge is the exception. Running the Kingdom Trails, in honor of Dave Blumenthal, is a challenge marathoners say gets “better” and “tougher” every year, but runners should brush up on running etiquette when passing slower cyclists.
The marathon’s about us page proudly states, “Trail runners and bikers alike have embraced the event, because it is a great opportunity to race through a wild corner of the northeast kingdom primarily on single-track. Very few sections of dirt road or cart trail are used on the course.” Click here for participation rules.
The course
The race runs along kingdom trails- a scenic route along Vermont mountains, Burke and Umpire. The race is meant to be a fun adventure so we don’t recommend that you try to reach a PR on this course. In fact, the timing results, a courtesy of the volunteers, are unofficial. Feed zones along the course provide bagels, bananas, and chips. If you get lost on the trails follow the route with red markings.
Image Source: Marathons Facebook
Reviews
“Thank you for the excellent event this weekend. The weather cooperated while I was out there, the food was excellent, only got off track once (because I followed other people off track,lol), beautiful territory, just a great time by all.” Steve Meunier, Facebook review
“This event is tough but fantastic.Each year the course gets better, the mud pits thicker and the smiles bigger. See ya next year!” Alan Hebert, Facebook review