Green Mountain Marathon - Race Reviews

Following a pattern of races cutting costs this once original beautiful loop course went to an out and back for years and more recently to a double out and back. The best marathons offer a new view the whole way so this is no longer one of the best marathons. The original loop course around Grand Isle was fantastic.

You won't get a fancy medal, a fancy shirt (though both are nice) or any swag -- fancy or otherwise -- but this race is an inexpensive ($60) and wonderful way to spend a New England fall morning. The out-and-back course is beautiful, both along Lake Champlain and in rural areas. Because it is on the same road, you know what you're going to get on the second half. So while smiling as you zip down a big hill between miles 1 and 2, you can look forward to trudging up the same big hill between miles 24 and 25. I hate to give low ratings for spectators because the ones that were there were great. There just weren't too many of them, but it's a small race and you can expect that. And the water stop volunteers were enthusiastic. It helped that the weather was close to perfect, especially since the year before there were 40 mph winds and the day after this year was cold, rainy and windy. It was often quite lonely after the half-marathoners split, but that was OK for me. And we did see marathoners coming back after the 13.1 turn who were encouraging to us slower types. This race was great and I certainly recommend it, but one of the best things was before the race: the pasta dinner. Not only was the food great and inexpensive, but it benefitted the local middle-schoolers, who were delightful servers.

This was my 14th marathon and definitely a favorite!The course was beautiful and pretty much just as described. It was rolling hills...a couple rolled a little higher than others but nothing too challenging.It was an out and back on scenic country roads and by Lake Champlain. There were water/Gatorade stations every two miles with super friendly volunteers. One of the things that I loved about this race was that it was low key and low waste but had everything you needed. Packet pick up included a shirt and a bib, no wasteful plastic bag filled with coupons that will just get thrown away. The expo offered some great running clothes from the Green Mountain Athletic Association. The after party had delicious Veg chili which made the vegans at the race very happy! Start and finish were at a school and there were more than enough porta-potties. The only drawback of the day was the wind. It gusted up to 40 mph in some points. It's just part of running on an island in Vermont. It made for an interesting and fun running experience! The race was about 20 minutes from Burlington which is full of friendly people,cool shops and restaurants. I would definitely recommend this marathon!

A very nice, scenic, low frills, inexpensive race through beautiful country with striking views of Lake Champlain. Logistically, a very easy run with parking just steps from the start/finish and a simple packet pick-up at the middle school. Don't miss the pasta dinner the night before. Very tasty and served by sweet middle schoolers. Ample water stations with water and gatorade, but bring your own food. No food, that I noticed anyway, at the finish and nothing on the course. But for $55 how much can you expect? The out and back course had a few gentle hills, but the real challenge this year was the wind, with 40mph gusts and much headwind through the back half. At least it helped to offset the humidity. Under good weather conditions, a fast time could be achieved here. A solid medal and shirt. Overall, a good way to get Vermont for 50 Staters. After the race head to Switchback Brewing and Magic Hat in nearby Burlington for great beer and fun atmospheres.

I ran the half marathon. Weather was warm but incredibly windy- 25mph+ steady with 40mph+ gusts. Course is described as 'rolling hills'; it's more like steady up and down hills. My Garmin measured 414 feet of elevation gain, with 115 feet of that in mile 12 alone. Mile 12 has 1 short steep uphill and 1 long uphill that are tough. Spectators are sporadic but fun. Aid stations were every 2 miles, some with just water, some with water and gatorade. There was limited food at the end served by nice volunteers, and no freebies besides a tshirt. Well worth that for the registration price however. The race is also described as packed dirt... it no longer is, except for maybe 1 mile of it. Most of the road was recently paved.

I actually ran the half marathon this year, but wanted to leave my comments because I believe they apply to the full marathon, too. This was a fantastic race! The course is a simple out and back. Rolling hills, asphalt in parts and hard packed gravel in parts. There are beautiful views of Lake Champlain and the Adirondacks in New York for part of it. The rest is farm land and is gorgeous, as well. The volunteers were all very friendly and helpful. The water stops were organized with the volunteers announcing whether they were holding Gatorade or water. Frequent water stops approximately 2 miles apart. The race is very simple, no frills. Packet pickup is basic, no expo. Highly recommend the pasta dinner the night before that is put on by the school. You can definitely tell this race is put on by runners. It was very well organized and communication prior to the race was appreciated. Spectators were sparse on the course, except where side streets met the road on which you were running, but if you don't need a lot of crowd support, it's just fine. If you like to have cows cheering for you, this is the race for you.

This was my first-ever marathon in 2011, and I am coming back this year after doing others because I loved it so much! The course is flat, scenic, and on packed dirt. It's a perfect size race, and the organizers are so enthusiastic and have planned everything extremely well. You should definitely check it out!

This was such a nice race. Beautiful scenery (especially running by the lake... wish the weather would have been better that day though), and most of it is on hard-packed dirt trail rather than pavement. Much kinder to the joints and no post-race pain. Plenty of water stops. Course was just challenging enough: some hills that presented a nice challenge, but nothing too painful and steep. The volunteers and race organizers were amazing, always shouting encouragement to runners as they ran by. It was extremely well-organized, and I would DEFINITELY do this race again.

First time running this race, couldn't recommend a better race to run. Gorgeous scenery, even despite the weather we had on race day (40s, 15-20 mph gusts off the lake, rain). Great views of the Adirondacks in NY, as well as the surrounding farms and estates of the island. The race was well organized, everyone I met and dealt with was friendly and helpful, and the spectators were very supportive and stuck out the foul weather for us runners! Many aid stations with gels and various drinks was a nice surprise despite carrying my own fuel. It had all the amenities of a large marathon with none of the headaches, confusion and lack of personality the bigger ones often have. The course is tougher than the average road marathon, but that is why I ran it. Could not recommend more!

GMAA put on a nice race. The 7th &8th graders put on a fine pre-race pasta dinner. All volunteers were helpful and friendly. Packet pickup was very flexible over three days. I love the design of the race shirts. A specific shirt for the marathon and for the halfer. Obviously some thought and care went into making them. The medal, unfortunately, is cheap and disappointing. A generic medal with a plastic sticker over it denoting both the half marathon and marathon. I would rather have paid a little more for the entry fee to have received a nicer keepsake that says MARATHON, the race I completed. If you are planning to run this race, beware of the potential weather conditions around Lake Champlain. This running included temps in the 40s, rain, and relentless, howling headwinds over much of the out-and-back course, in both directions. Despite the stunning, off-season, rural setting, there was a surprising amount of traffic to watch out for. To be fair, it was difficult to hear cars coming from behind due to the strong, steady wind. Spectators were few, and hanging in numbly, but super friendly and encouraging. Mile markers were large and visible, more than abundant water stops with Gatorade, gels, and that Hammer sports drink that I wish I'd learned about earlier(loved it). I would recommend this race.

This is a small and very well organized race. The scenery is awesome and the course is not too hilly. The breeze from Lake Champlain is very welcome. The race location is very easy to get to from both NY State and nearby Burlington, VT. The race doesn't attract a huge amount of fans so if you are looking for an ego boost all along the way this may not be your race. I ran poorly and I still loved it.

I have nothing else to say that this was the greatest marathon I ever ran. The organization was super and the course was awesome. Great views on the lake all along. The spag diner was so nice and enjoyable. I will be back next year for sure.

Very nice old school marathon, pin on your bib, walk to the start and go. As advertised, the unpaved portions of the course were pretty smooth and well packed. Water stop crews were great, very enthusiastic. I passed the last water cup at one, and asked a young lady 'is that water?' (it would be nice if races used green cups for sports drink and white for water...) When I heard 'no, sorry, Gatorade' I just kept running and figured I would just wait until the next waterstop. From behind I heard 'I got ya' and turned to see one of the volunteers chasing me down with a cup of water. Absolute awesomeness. Cold at the start in singlet and shorts, but temp was great once you warmed up. There was a good headwind after the turnaround. I'll take those conditions anyday over heat and humidity. Personally, I would go without a shirt if if meant an upgrade to the finisher's medal, but for the price I can't complain at all. I've already recommended it to friends, I thought it was great. Thanks very much to GMAA for a nice run.

This was my second marathon. Very easy to get to. Very well organized. Great volunteers. Beautifull course. I will return.

This was my first Vermont Marathon and it is one that I would recommend doing. The course was for the most part very scenic. There was minimal traffic on the course, although you have to be alert at times. The course was mostly flat with a few hills. There was a short but steep hill somewhere around mile 23. I walked it. A longer hill, but more gradual to contend with around mile 24. When you get to the 25 mile mark it's flat to slightly downhill to the finish. This is a great destination for those who would like to do a mini-vacation. Bring your bikes and try to get one of the B & B's in South Hero if you can.

Course was as advertised...rolling. It isn't super hilly, but there are some challenging grades. The only awful hill is unfortunately the last half of mile 25 - ugh. But the last 1.2 miles are a straight, flat shot! I got back up to my goal race pace for it - it was fun to sail in that way. The course is LOVELY - water, farms, lots of animals, and the dirt is great to run on. The parts that are paved are well maintained, too. No crumbling or uneven surfaces. Everything is well organized, packet pickup is easy. All runners were very friendly, and supportive to each other. Lots of cheering each other on. Support stations are enthusiastic and VERY well done. Not a lot of spectators, which I don't care about, but those that were out there were awesome. I loved this small, uncrowded race, and would very much recommend it, and hope to do it again. I BQ'd - its a pretty fast course overall. Weather was slightly chilly, but not really bad, and the sun was out off and on. Beware the wind, though! The veggie chili they offer after was fabulous.

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! The mixed running surfaces of the course were great-I really liked the packed dirt roads. Awesome job! Highly recommended event.

Packet pickup was easy, though there was no expo. There were quite a few chain hotels in Colchester that were affordable and were an easy commute to Grand Isle in the morning. Parking was a little tough in the morning, but shuttles were provided from the designated parking lots to the starting line. The course is really scenic and quite enjoyable. There are nice views of the Adirondacks across the lake and the course deals with very little traffic. The hills aren't too bad considering it is VT, although the one at Mile 25 is a doosie. Fortunately the last mile is completely flat, so you can recover from the Mile 25 hill and finish strong. This is a quiet race with very few spectators, though the ones who were out there were very much appreciated. The volunteers were wonderful and the post race gathering inside the school provided food and drinks. The homemade vegetarian chili was awesome and really hit the spot after a chilly run. This race is well organized, really enjoyable and has a nice small town feeling to it. You can't beat the inexpensive entry fee and the shirt and finisher's medal are nicer than those from some more expensive races. If you're looking for a race in VT or a mid-October marathon, you should consider this one. It's definitely a feel good race that will not disappoint.

I chose this marathon for its proximity to my home and also for the relatively flat course. It was definitely hillier than I expected (rolling hills - especially near the end), but it was really nice. I loved that about 10 miles of the course were run on packed dirt. It really helps with recovery and feels a lot better on the legs while running the race. The volunteers at the water stops were great: well prepared and very friendly/enthusiastic. Would do this marathon again. VT in the fall was beautiful, even on an overcast day.

Great marathon. The most important aspect for me was that half of the course was packed dirt - very foot-friendly. Relatively little post-race leg trauma. The marathon has grown significantly in numbers but the race officials handled the "crowd" easily. I never felt "squashed." I also like the out-and-back feature. I could see (and cheer for) my wife. Lastly, VT in October is beautiful!!

Support staff was well organized. I saw the same people throughout the course encouraging us. The runners were a joy to each other. Course was picturesque. It was relatively flat and it would have been fast if I were. If your goal is 50 in 50, then I would put this race in for your Vermont stop. Inexpensive, but not a cheap experience.

This year the race grew to over 400 but the organization and value were terrific. The rain from the previous two days finally stopped the night before and race morning tempatures were in the low 40's. We were able to wait in the Folsom School right until race time. The scenery included apple orchards, wineries and great views of the massive Lake Champlain. The course had rolling hills and some very appreciated unpaved roads that had just been grated the day before. Not many spectators but those who came were supportive. Great race just to enjoy the scenery and enjoy Vermont. The fall colors were spectacular.

A great, old-country marathon. No crowded field. No headphones, baby strollers, or pacing groups. Organizers do a great job of getting the essentials. Don't change anything, but the wind and that last hill should be made optional.

In some ways, this marathon felt like a small-town 5K. The pre-race pasta dinner was hosted by local students serving good food in a school cafeteria. There was plenty of parking close to the starting line, and the small field of runners made it easy to herd us all into place. The course was clearly marked in chalkline throughout, with some small hills along the way, and portions along a packed dirt road. There had been some rain the days before, but the road held up without getting muddy or too rutted, and was well graded without large stones or gravel. The water stops were well organized and staffed, and I didn't mind the miles between them. This is a quiet area, and not too many spectators, but the few that were out were cheering us on. The route runs along the west side of an island on Lake Champlain. Temps felt like 40s, but there was a strong, cold headwind from mile 22 to 25. The last mile was straight, flat and fast. Changing facilities are limited at the finish, and I could have used more water and Gatorade after the race - we got one bottle of water with our medal. Overall, I liked the course, and it's a beautiful time of the year to see VT. The price was right, and I'd rather run more races like these than the 30,000-plus marathons that tend to get the most attention. The organizers and host club did a great job.

Very friendly and efficient organization. A true Vermont experience! This race was super, and for $23, you can't get any better. But don't be fooled by the low registration fees; this race is very well organized and has everything you need. Notes of interest: Nice course with rolling hills, but not too hard as it allowed for a PR. Some very appreciated unpaved roads. Great post-run lunch that would be the envy of many much larger marathons. Cool weather, roughly 300 participants so not that many spectators, and beautiful scenery. Will run it again.

I've run this race the past two years: The first time to make a final effort to qualify for Boston, and this year because it was so much fun the year before. Beautiful course (the rural scenery and lake view distract from the out-and-back aspect of the course), small groups of supporters along the route, and a great post-race spread make this race a delightful break from the big-city marathons I've also run. I'll be back next year.

The course is absolutely awesome. The lake, the farms, the orchards and the wildlife are fantastic. The dirt roads give you a nice break from pounding on the pavement. A little chilly in the morning but turned out to be a perfect fall day.

This marathon was advertised as '...a quality marathon at an affordable price in a relaxed setting...' It certainly met these criteria, and it was very worthwhile. But being from the Rocky Mountains, I wondered where the Green Mountains were. It looked like pretty flat farm and orchard country to me. We certainly knew about Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys of Vermont, from the history books. Perhaps I was looking for tall and rugged mountains like those closer to home. I was surprised when I heard that this was a relatively flat marathon course. Still, I wanted to come to Vermont, run this marathon, and experience the Green Mountains. And at $23.00 it was one of the better deals around the country for a marathon event. The packet pickup was held in the evening the night before the race, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Food was available starting at 5:30 - true to their word until they run out of food. I arrived at 8:00, and they had just served up the last meatball. I would have to find another place to eat. Still, Race Director Sandra was there handing out T-shirts and numbers. So that part was successful. And the volunteers were back in the early morning, handing out numbers and T-shirts again. Overnight, the mercury fell to 27 degrees F. Everything was frosty in the morning. This might have been my coldest start in 46 marathons, though a couple of races were close at 32 degrees. Runners hung out in the gym at the school trying to stay warm and waiting for the start of the race. The race started a block or two south of the school (the old-fashioned way - voice command - with manual timing) heading south for the first mile. There was a significant drop the next mile, as the course turned northwest and headed up the shore of Lake Champlain - still on the country roads though. There were orchards, farms, small spread homes to country home estates, and the scenery was beautiful. The colors of the trees were mostly green and yellow - it seemed the red fall colors were already past, due to the colder weather in the area the previous week. Still, this was a lovely fall marathon. The sun was obscured by clouds early, and then later in the race too, so it was slow to warm up. But we did have sun for the middle part of the race. It probably warmed to the upper 40's by early afternoon. The wind was light and variable, but you could feel it working against you from time to time. Aid stations volunteers were most of the fan support the runners had, but as always, the volunteers filled a key role in serving the runners. Gels were not available on this course. The course stayed on the back roads, and there were a few cars driving the course, but a local fellow told me that, had there not been a marathon event going on, the road would have been absent of all vehicles. So there were a few spectators in automobiles. Still, safety was never jeopardized by the car traffic. There were a few turns and road changes along the way, kind of following the west shore. At the turnaround point we were on the northern part of the island, kind of in the middle. Folks there were checking and recording times and numbers as we headed back. There were small hills along the way, but they were more like swells on the sea than hills you might associate with mountains. Of course, coming back, there was the hill from mile 24 to 25, but it was not too bad either. Coming back, local workers were in the orchards picking apples, so the cold must not have hurt the fruit still on the trees. And of course, timing personnel were faithfully recording times as runners crossed the finish line. The finish line was right in front of the school, so we did not have far to go to get refreshments. The post-race event was in the gym. There were bananas, local apples, poppy seed bagels, yogurt, and apple cider. This small and low-key event was well supported by the local community.

This was like the marathons of yore, like a race is supposed to be. Scenery just for you (because you will likely be alone for various segments). Little pockets of supporters to keep you going. Camaraderie among runners. Country roads. Boston qualification. Relatively minimal post-run pain (yes, it's true!). If you NEED the crowds, this is not for you. If you NEED the hype, or the expo, or the pre- or post-race partying, ditto. (I gave three stars for spectators; that said, I PREFER the quietude and sparse but highly individual enthusiasm.) But, if you like to run... Sure, it's far away; sure it might be cold (which might be perfect for you); but the friendly folk, efficient administration, and inimitable, honkin' good time left me all bubbly to be a runner. Thinkin' about it? Then: do it! Oh, and a plug for the unfairly maligned "By The Lake" motel: thanks for puttin' me up and for puttin' up with me! Your lonely outpost should be THE place for the unaccompanied GMAA marathoner.

I ran this race to get the state. I was so happy to find that one - it was dirt cheap! Also, it had a nice route, with a lot of soft-surface running! I got in a bit late for all of the food; that was a drag, as it all looked and smelled wonderful. I "saw" the monster of the lake, saw hundreds of colorful birdhouses, and enjoyed my little tour of part of the island. What was really a treat was that the eighth grade class put on the pasta dinner. It was also very affordable, and about the best that I have ever had... and I have paid four times as much! The students took your order off the menu, and brought you your food (real plates I might add - not paper). There were a ton of yummy desserts too! Very well done and worth much more than we paid. I think the SWAG was a long-sleeve cotton shirt - green, not white. Thank you! We also got a finisher's medal worthy of the price that we paid. So a nice route. Pretty modest actually. Good food, but they did run out (it was cool/cold, so everybody stayed inside). We were in the school, so we had a place to stay warm before the race and flush toilets. Actually this was a good event in a lovely location. This is the best deal that I have found out there. Green River is free, but no shirts, no medals, no hot food.... This is a great way to handle Vermont. Made for a nice trip, and a decent double. Most of us did Rhode Island, but some went to Maine, some to New Jersey, and some the Boston area. Lots of good choices, and very nice people. You need to come do this race even if you are doing doubles or are a 50-stater.

From the spaghetti dinner the night before, to the race itself, to the awards ceremony and post-race food, this was a first-class race. It grew to 300 runners this year, and as word gets out, it will continue to grow. The water stops seemed to be mostly handled by kids, and they were tremendous! Every runner I spoke to was raving about the quality of the race - not just because it's really inexpensive, but because obviously this race is put on for runners, by runners.

I grew up summering in a camp along West Shore Road, so the marathon was full of nostalgia for me. I also grew up knowing that South Hero, Vermont is among the most beautiful places in the world. It still is. Amazing fact: I had NO soreness, NO pain after the race or any day after that. NO recovery. My first marathon was on city streets, and I was stiff for days. The packed dirt roads, I discovered, are perfect for running. The Green Mountain Marathon is such a pleasure, with great people, and collegial runners.

Very pretty course with much of the race run along Lake Champlain, with bright red and orange leaves as your backdrop. There were some rolling hills throughout the race, but no "heartbreak hills." It definitely helped that temps were in the mid-40s, it was sunny and there was little wind. I have run big-city marathons, and this is the antithesis. Both are great, but different. I would highly recommend it.

This is a beautiful scenic course. The course has nice, rolling hills throughout, but the last five miles are the most challenging. Very well organized and the entry fee of $22 is unreal. Runners are very friendly. Weather perfect! I'd do this race again.

At this price, it is steal. Great race, great setting. However, the course is a bit more difficult than presented. Hilly course. The setup makes up for a lot of climbing. I finished the race a few hours ago and I would do it again. A great race!!!!

An uncrowded event where the beautiful scenery of the course compensates for some very tough hills and gusty weather. Traffic is light and courteous. The out-and -back allows you to greet returning runners but the almost 100-foot drop in mile 2 is a grueling incline on your return. Fantastic that you do not have to compete with half marathoners, relay runners, walkers, etc.! Course map could be improved by showing actual road names (AS1 is really W. Shore Rd, and the turnaround is at the end of Simms Pt. Rd.) and an elevation chart. Forgiving asphalt and crushed gravel surfaces. Water stations could be closer together, but okay considering the small size of this marathon and the fact that volunteers were very well trained and did a great job. Spectators were understandably sparse, but enthusiastic. Overall a tough, but well organized, high-quality event and great way to experience Vermont in the fall.

What a steal - $22 gets you a marathon, a shirt and a finishing medal! Pros: 1. $22 - should I say anymore?? 2. Beautiful scenery augmented by the time of the year. 3. Very well marked. 4. Dirt roads help recovery. 5. Race director(s) very nice and helpful. Cons 1. The course is deceptive. A lot more hills than advertised.... I even drove the course and didn't see many hills - until I ran it the next day! 2. The wind was a factor and always will be, although judging by previous comments, we got lucky this year! 3. Didn't really seem like a marathon - not sure if that is a knock or not. Overall, you will be hard pressed to find a better deal and better-run race!