Course is out and back. 1/2 dirt roads, 1/2 paved. Mostly tranquil Vermont countryside through Grand Isle, a large Island located in the middle of Lake Champlain. Small rolling hills and beautiful apple orchards and farm lands in the peak foliage season. Wind off the lake can be challenging on any given day. Not much for crowds, but none needed. Well organized by the local running club. Course record is 2:32 run on a windy day. Accompanying 1/2M has been dropped for this year.

I loved the course with the rolling hills, fall foliage and Lake Champlain to view while running. I also enjoyed the out-and-back feature as you get to see everyone in the race and the views twice! The course was marked very well with mile markers and the aid stations were well stocked and volunteers were cheerful. I also like a small marathon, so you're not stressed about tripping over other people or placement in the field. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment in South Hero and hope to return again soon!

This was my first marathon experience in New England and the morning of the race provided ominous weather which undoubtedly held down attendance (the number of finishers for 2002 was down by about 30% from the 2001 race). Steady 30-mph winds, rain and occasional sleet meant that this would be my first marathon to be run in a Gore-Tex jacket! The volunteers and race officials could not have been friendlier or more helpful and the small size of the race meant that you could get to know other race participants well.

This was by far the lowest-cost marathon I have ever run and well worth every penny (you even get a nice l/s shirt and a finishers medal for your entry fee).

If you can, plan to spend a few days in the area prior to the race to view the foliage, Shelburne Museum and other local attractions. Definitely a good 'destination' marathon.

I loved this race for the course and
the race organization. Wind can be a
factor, but you know ahead of time,
if it's at your back going out. It will
be in your face finishing.
Small town country race.

You can't beat this course for scenery! Held on Grand Isle in Lake Champlain during the fall, the views are just beautiful. You get New England charm from start to finish & I love the feel of a small but well-organized race.

There are few hills on this course, but the final hill at mile 24 is definitely a challenge not welcome at the end of a marathon. The weather can be a determining factor on running time in this race. When I ran it in 1999, we had some of the most brutal winds I have ever run in, making the race much more challenging than it would have been otherwise. I think the aid stations are about 3 miles apart, so runners might want to carry their own water if they like to hydrate more frequently.

I definitely recommend this race for anyone looking for a small, scenic fall marathon in the northeast!

The Green Mountain Marathon is a beautiful race to run, as it falls at the peak of foliage season in Vermont. The out-and-back course, which runs north and then south, starts and finishes on a paved road that runs between apple orchards, and follows both dirt and paved roads along the lake, along farm fields, and past homes. While the roads are generally flat, with a few rolling hills, there is a long downhill at about mile 2 - the same long uphill at mile 24 or so.
You get to know most of the very few spectators by the end of the race, as they tend to travel just ahead of the runners, and then wait for their favorite to run by. After passing them five or six times, they cheer for you too!
This is a low-key race, very well run, good aid stations, good refreshments at the end, and one of the most friendly running environments I have experienced during and after the race.