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Apr 29, 2024

Vermont City Marathon Runner Comments

Back to Vermont City Marathon Information & Reviews

Course 4.2

Organization 4.4

Spectators 4.7

Number of comments: 300 [displaying comments 51 to 61]

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R. S. from Boston, MA (5/26/2013) "Too big a race for a little town" (about: 2013) 3 previous marathons \| 1 Vermont City Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 Just ran this today and am still recovering. It was only my third marathon, but VT City's was easily the biggest field I've run in, and I thought it was just too crowded to run the pace I wanted for the first couple of miles on Burlington's city streets. I also realized today I don't like running in marathons that have relay configurations happening simultaneously. It's just an annoyance. The overcrowded aspect of this race was also was evident at the finish line, where the 'reunion area' was along a little park path down which perhaps two people could walk abreast. So getting out of the finishers area was a chore, and being unseasonably cold, wet and windy, the marathon overall wasn't very pleasant. Burlington is a pretty town, but I won't run this event again.
Ariel Hessing from NJ, USA (2/5/2013) "I ran Vermont City Marathon for charity." (about: 2012) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Vermont City Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This is a scenic marathon that is run through the hills of Vermont. I ran it for charity, to support the 'American Heart Association' and 'Bread for the World'. It was fun. The weather was warm. I recommend some hill training before you run this race. Organization is good. Fans are wonderful, although they line only part of the route.
L. T. from Boston area, MA (6/15/2012) "Beautiful with challenges" (about: 2012) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Vermont City Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 This was my very first marathon, and what a humbly experience the last 7 miles were! Not having any previous 26.2 experience, I can only comment on this course. It had a lot of beautiful scenery, and great spectators for the majority of the run, which seems to be two major factors why this race gets positive reviews. There were hills but nothing horrible. I don't think the hills would have bothered me if the sun wasn't getting so warm. End of May makes for chancey weather. The sun and warmth of 70s doesn't sound too bad until you are 17 miles in and it's your first run of the season in such weather. Also, I feel like it should be noted to prepare yourself that the last miles (until mile 25) you are literally in a wooded bike path. No spectators besides a handful spread across the miles. Mentally horrible to hear ambulances, see people struggling around you in the woods and just feel very 'alone'. I would expect in other marathons that is where crowds would get good. My only other gripe is the cotton shirts (with a big 2012 KBCVM and tiny font marathon and relay on it...no one in Boston besides a marathoner knows what KBCVM is) that were given to both marathoners AND relayers. Maybe I am a sore sport, and I know none of us do it for the shirt... But I can't help but have a chip on my shoulder that someone who is running 5 miles gets the same shirt that I had to train since January to get myself to 26.2 miles. I think the race directors should make the marathoners feel a little bit more special than that, don't you think?
D. S. from Dayton OH (6/6/2012) "One of my all-time favorites" (about: 2012) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Vermont City Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 What an incredible race! The only detractor was heat...and there's nothing you can do about that except train for it and push through it. The Good: Where to start? 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! The bad: I'm reaching here because I loved VCM. Cotton T-shirt? The massage tent could be a lot closer to the finish line. Please keep crowds away from the finish area exit chute and back at the reunion flags...I want to keep walking after I get done with 26.2 miles. I don't want to stand in a line to exit. The ugly: The men-in-drag...motivated but definably ugly. I'm really reaching here. All-in-all, this is a race I'd come back to. Burlington is a great town with damn near the best city support for the runners I've ever seen. Some people don't like the cloverleaf course layout but I could tell the people who had personal cheering sections were glad they had multiple chances to see their fan-base. Special props to Boves Restaurant. It's a small family run establishment and I highly recommend it. The food was incredible pre-race. If I had more time before flying out I would have gone again just to try another sauce on my pasta.
A. D. from Saratoga Springs, NY (6/4/2012) "Great first marathon" (about: 2012) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Vermont City Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my first marathon and I very impressed. Course design allowed my wife to spot me go by a total of five times. I didn't find the hills to be that substantial. I considered the hills very much in line with what I might expect on a training run in the northeast. Great crowds that made this experience increadable. Burlington is a really nice town as well.
T. R. from PA (6/4/2012) "I just don't get it ..." (about: 2012) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Vermont City Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 5 If this were a Rock & Roll event, the reviews on this site would complain that for the price of this race you get: (1) A dangerously over-crowded race course: The streets on this course are simply too narrow to accommodate the number of people that run it. I guess because the course runs back and forth through the start area a couple of times fairly early in the race they can't do any sort of wave/corral start. Additionally, there are stretches of the course with speed bumps on the road that you cant see because there are too many runners packed on to the course. Runners went down. (2) Lacking official support/water stops: The locals were great, they were the ones handing out bananas, oranges, watermelon, frozen pops etc in their front yards and the ones providing sprinklers for the runners. Im glad I didnt need any Vaseline because the way the race organizers provided it looked completely disgusting to me. Rather than passing out popsicle sticks with a bit of Vaseline on the end like every other race does, they had a big piece of cardboard with a communal gob of Vaseline on it for runners to scoop off with their hands. That cant be sanitary. (3) Lacking post-race amenities: After Ive run a marathon, I have no interest in WARM chocolate milk. The bananas were good, but I didnt see any other offerings. Also, putting the finishing line/area 0.25~0.50 miles downhill from the suggested parking garages seemed odd. This was a tough course and the last thing I wanted to do after finishing it was walk uphill to get back to my car. (4) A not very scenic race course: A few parts of the course are nice, but many parts are boring or just outright horrendous. Zig-zagging back and forth through the start area 3 times seemed like overkill, arent there other parts of Burlington to see? (5) A very plain cotton t-shirt. (6) A very plain medal: My medal looks like they forgot to finish painting it. If they were going for an unfinished look, they nailed it. But I guess since this isn't a Rock & Roll event, the reviews on this site give it a free pass on what are very obvious and fixable flaws. This race isn't awful, but in my opinion it is average at best. What you read in reviews here about the crowd support is true, the locals are great. But there are plenty of other May races that are better managed events and also have great crowd support. If you are considering this one, I'd skip it.
D. C. from Massachusetts (6/3/2012) "Great way to spend a weekend!" (about: 2012) 3 previous marathons \| 1 Vermont City Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was such a great way to spend a weekend! The expo was easy and smooth. The woman's shirt sizes were extremely small so I opted for a men's medium, it's a nice shirt and made in the USA. The pasta dinner the night before was a great way to spend time with family. And a HUGE bonus for us was that they offered gluten free pasta that was safe for celiacs! This was awesome because I brought my kids, who are also celiacs, and they didn't have to eat salad and watch others eat. I didn't think I would like the course, but it was perfect for seeing family several times...kids loved this part! And the fan support was awesome. I couldn't believe how many people had fruit, sprinklers, water, etc right in front of their homes...so generous and such a huge morale booster! One of the highlights for me was that there was gluten free bagels at the finish. Having run for over 4 hours, I was starving and water and a banana are not enough. THANK YOU for thinking of those of us with severe allergies! And meeting up after was so easy. The hotel we stayed at allowed us to check out late, at no extra charge! So we went back and relaxed while kids swam before making the long drive home. All in all, this was an absolutely ideal race/weekend! My family has already said they'd like me to run this one again, as would I. Wonderful weekend with great memories.
W. S. from New Jersey (6/1/2012) "Great Marathon" (about: 2012) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Vermont City Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This is a great marathon. The course has variety and beauty. The hills are not bad. There's really only one hill that stands out (Battle). The crowds are awesome. The volunteers are awesome. If you're willing to accept the extra weather risk of a late May marathon, this one is hard to top.
J. R. from Alexandria, VA (5/30/2012) "Great race, but what a cluster at the end!" (about: 2012) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Vermont City Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 5 This was one of those end of the season races where you look at the forecast DAILY, and it looked like it'd be a hot, humid day to run. This is not cool, crisp leaf-peeping weather here, folks. Vermont in May can be tough. But it worked out: sunny, high 50's at the start, mid-70's at the end. And in many ways, this is a great run: 1. Think about it: late May and you've got nice spring day. Even the WI and MN marathons were canceled or running in 80+ temps. You just need a few long training runs in the heat- and who hasn't had those by May? 2. Good variety on the course: neighborhoods, 'city', bike path; green & shady in many parts (but not all). Lots of lake views. 3. Challenging hills, particularly 15-16. But this IS the Green MOUNTAIN state. 4. Incredible fan support, especially from 17-23ish. Did everyone have a hose/sprinkler out for us? Lots of 'homemade' aid stations- oranges, FlavorIce, etc. 5. Easy accommodations in Champlain College. Very modern and clean for a 'dorm'- more a suite of 4 rooms with a common kitchenette you share with other runners. Very quiet- we're all getting up early. There were a few negatives, and for me, these were all at the finish line. For some unknown reason, there was absolutely NO dedicated runner area at the end: you went straight from the chute to a seething crowd of families. Even the runner food was on the other side of the park- which involved weaving through a crowd of disoriented families and runners thrown into the melee. I compared it to getting off a plane at O'Hare during the holiday season during a snow storm. Horrendously poor organization. So to the RD, a personal plea: REDESIGN YOUR FINISH AREA to give runners the chance to decompress, get a bite to eat, get medical attention, and then allow them to meet family/supporters AFTER. So much safer for everyone. Would I recommend? Yes. Not a personal favorite, but an enjoyable run notwithstanding the horrible finishing zone. Hopefully they'll overhaul that mess by the time you do the VCM, but you should do it for all the plusses.
S. C. from Westchester County, NY (5/30/2012) "Must do!!!!" (about: 2012) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Vermont City Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 A must for anyone who want to check off Vermont or just experience a wonderfully run marathon!!! The course is challenging... I was headed for a PR and then hit the hill mile 15...never recovered my mojo BUT I still enjoyed every mile!! THANK YOU'S to all the neighborhod folks who came out on their own and sprayed us all down, gave us refreshing treats and yelled encouragement right to the end...I really enjoyed the course..but I do like hills...The race director was incredibly organized and I never felt like I didnt know what to do...We opted not to take a shuttle bus from the hotel and as long as you give yourself time, there was plenty of street and lot parking! Post race was well organized and the race volunteers really moved things along so there were no finish line 'traffic jams'. Its obvious that the city of Burlington really supports the race and are very happy to have the runners take over their turf for a weekend!

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