Why Run Vermont
| February 5, 2013 | Posted by Emily under Uncategorized |
Per usual, the selection process for my spring goal marathon was an involved one. Marathon guides were consulted, calendars were studied, and family and friends were subjected to in-depth conversations about elevation profiles and average annual temperatures (“conversation” being a generous description given the one-sided nature of these talks).
In the end, Vermont City Marathon was the indisputable favorite. For many, many reasons:
1) Timing is everything.
A few things on the whole timing front. First and foremost, I’m recovered from my rib injury in time to give myself16 weeks to train (a critical component of my “Stop Training Like an Idiot” marathon plan). I seem to have contracted a mild case of the plague over the weekend, but as long as that goes away quickly, we should be right on track for a full training cycle of running hard to set me up to go after a marathon PR on Memorial Day weekend.
Second, and of near equal importance, the marathon is 6 days before what will undoubtedly be one of the biggest and best days of 2013.
Arshad, one of my best friends, will be walking down the aisle (or, knowing him, skipping, prancing, or bounding down the aisle) to marry an extraordinarily fabulous guy.
I am honored to be in the bridal party (groomal squared party?) and have no desire to spend the wedding weekend worrying about how to fit in my long run or if my heels will make my calves too tight for my next workout. Arshad is known, not just in Vermont, but around the country, for his unparalleled ability to throw a good party. Proof: his residences usually come equipped with a fully functioning bar, appropriately called Barshad, and routinely hydrate the masses of the greater Northeast region.
When he was in town last month, he convinced me to abandon all workout plans for two days straight to go bridesmaid dress shopping and bottomless brunching, I can only imagine the unhealthy temptations that will surround his wedding.
Not shit I want to deal with during marathon training, but the perfect situation for zero week following a goal race.
Bonus: I will be making him cheer me on as a break from wedding planning. I have high hopes for his cheerleading potential given his performance last year and his realization that the “hottest marathoners finish around 3 hours.”
2) Home Field Advantage.
I know every inch of this course. Every turn. Every incline, big and small. Every slight descent. Every pothole. Every change in surface. Nearly every mile of training for my first four marathons was run on this course and I’ve “raced” VCM every year since 2009. I know where to expect crowds of runners and where to look forward to kids doling out freezer pops. Forget PEDs, my performance enhancer comes straight from the freezer in 8 delicious flavors.
I’ll have friends running, friends cheering, family racing, family cheering. It’ll be like when the Giants head to the Super Bowl in 2014 and it’s held at MetLife Stadium. Unstoppable home field advantage.
3) Sentimental Value.
If you’ve been reading this blog for a while you know the story: girl has mom, well, I guess actually it’s the other way around, mom has girl, mom raises girl (and boy) on field trips to McDonalds and the local bakery, mom has health problems directly related to her weight, mom changes life around to lose weight and get fit, starts walking, then walking 5ks, then running, then runs a marathon (VERMONT CITY MARATHON) to celebrate turning 50 with girl cheering her on and crying her eyes out at the finish line, girl obviously gets hugely inspired and launches unbreakable addiction to marathoning.
So yeah, there’s that.
It’s also the finish line where I started to harbor my ironman dreams.
And we all know where that led.
Straight to triathlon retirement. Talk about sentimental and inspirational.
4) Sub-X Success.
VCM made sub-4 happen in 2009.
And obviously that had everything to do with the magic of the race and nothing to do with my physical preparedness. So sign me up for more.
5) Course Perfection.
This is the definition of a Sweaty-Approved course profile.
Slight elevation changes, a couple of hills, and a fast finish.
Add spectacular views, hoards of very enthusiastic (and very loud) spectators, and amazing local bands to power you through 26.2 miles with some extra pep in your step and you’ve got serious PR material here.
6) Undeniable Chemistry.
To me, goal race selection is a lot like dating. You have very specific qualities you’re looking for in a match. Sometimes these qualities are not so different between races and potential dates. For instance, I like both my men and my goal races to be fast. And sometimes, candidates for either can be good on paper but something just doesn’t click. Other times, you just know. Butterflies, zsa zsa zsu, fireworks, all that good stuff.
That’s how it is for me and VCM. Other events may fit all of the criteria that I want in a goal race, but they just can’t hold a candle to the level of excitement that I feel when I picture myself on the start line in Burlington. Butterflies, serious, serious, butterflies.
7) We’ve got History.
I grew up cheering random strangers on from the sidelines well before I was familiar with the sport, let alone hopelessly addicted.
And every year since 2009, I’ve joined the crowds of runners to actually race the course myself.
Only I haven’t actually race-raced it since that sub-4 finish in 2009. I run it. For fun and with friends or family. And every year, I pledge to make it my goal race in the very, very near future.
And this year, it’s finally time to Run Vermont
and make that happen.
Let’s chat: what is it YOU look for in a goal race? Chemistry? Proximity? Good SWAG? Plentiful finish line beer that is not Michelob Ultra?
Seems like the Vermont Marathon is the perfect race to crush your PR this year! I haven’t found out how to pick a goal race yet, mostly because I haven’t raced that often yet. Nevertheless, I have tried to find a good race for my first marathon, but guess what? It’s very hard to find the perfect place on earth to do something as ridiculous as running 26.2. miles, even though the thing that scares me the most is not the race, but the training.
You’re setting the stage :) It’s going to be awesome!
Obviously I love this post. I keep telling everyone how great this race is. I hope to do the relay but I’ll do the first half so I can be there cheering for you at the finish!
DUDE NO WAY!!!! Your Mom is Age Groups Rock?????? I EFFING LOVE HER FACE. Ok, that’s it. I’m running VCM with you guys because you are so damn cool and kickass. Wow, blogger worlds collide…. :-)
Sounds like an awesome race…too bad it’s on the opposite side of the country, I guess I’ll have to add it to my running bucket list.
You said it perfectly! This race is just magical, and I miss Burlington running SO MUCH. I cannot wait til May to run this again and share this awesome course & town with never-been-to-VT friends running the half with me. The only thing that would make this race better is my request (submitted via their survey last year) to add some Magic Hat #9 to the beer tent this year. I hope you & everyone meets their goals at this race!
Wow! I have no connection to Vermont or the Vermont City Marathon, but this post made me want to run it in the near future! Never mind the fact that it’s a 12 hour drive from where I live in VA.
When I look for races, one of the first things I look for is if it’s driving distance (less than 6 hrs is my definition). Then I look for campground near the race start/finish, so that we can bring our dogs with us. THEN I read reivews, check out the race website, etc. Priorities :)
I’m currently in training for KBVCM – see ya there!
Awesome! Good luck gearing up for the best race ever!
Apparently proximity is most important … I had my spring goal race whittled down to either Buffalo or VCM and ended up going with Buffalo because it’s closer. This post makes me mega regret it. Someday, Vermont. Someday.
I recommend making it happen. It’s worth a few extra hours in the car, trust me.
Were this race not Memorial Day, I’d be signing up right now. Instead, I am putting some serious thought into canceling my annual OBX plans…
Did an OBX brewery just get ranked best in the WORLD? Didn’t think so.
state Vermont is the best state…looking forward to following along as you crush this goal!
That wedding sounds like so much FUN! And I have a half marathon that is a perfect fit for me. OBX. I will do it again. I know I can kick that courses ass.
The Kidless Kronicles
This is my write up of my “VCM”, which is actually the Shamrock Marathon at VA Beach. Add it to your list, it’s fabulously fast! http://www.pghrunner.com/2013/01/the-shamrock-marathon.html#.URHa0qXd4lI
Can I stay and party with Arshad and be part of his cheer squad?
I love your racing and dating analogy–you’re so right! There are races I run every year because they’re fun, and I enjoy them, but I’m still looking for that one, big race “love.” ;)
Vermont City is the best marathon ever! I can’t wait to run it this year
Love, love, LOVE Vermont – it was my very first marathon ever (after careful research to pick a good one), and I have gone back every year since to pace the 4:30 group. I’ll obviously be way behind you, but perhaps we can meet up for craft beer (somewhere other than the beer tent) this time around? I already told Steph J that we have to hit up American Flatbread! And I will work on Theodora…
YEAH! My friends/family and I are trying to get into the relay again! I think we find out soon. #ilovermont
While I can’t say I will ever run Vermont marathon (never say never though I suppose) this post just totally got me amped to run my first stand-alone marathon. There is just oh-so-much ~feel goodness~ going on.
So, thank you for that.
I love VCM! As a local Vermonter, I’ve never done the full, but I’ve done the 1/2 3 times and the 3-5 person relay once. The crowds are fabulous and the energy is so fun. Running through Church Street gave me goosebumps, and the Taiko Drummers are awesome! Have fun :)
[...] should all follow her while I temporarily unsubscribe so I don’t cancel my ticket to Vermont in exchange for a one-way flight to San [...]
[...] There is a time and a place to let your competitive drive help fuel your race strategy. Like goal races. Competitive urges are most definitely invited as VIP guests to my start line party in Vermont. [...]
hey! de-lurking to let you know that I’m linking to this post on my blog b/c I think the story of your mom is ridiculously awesome :)
[...] This morning was the RRCA 10 Miler. The race that I planned to try and run at MGP (marathon goal pace) with my friend Tris as part of a long training run for Vermont. [...]
Oh man! I am so stocked I came across your blog! I am currently training for my first VCM this year. You defiantly just helped my anxiety with what this course will be like. Good luck with reaching that sub 3 hour goal SO inspiring!