Hi Tammy-
Glad you're finally coming up to Vermont, hope you enjoy the trip and the race. For a map of downtown parking check out:
http://www.burlingtonvt.gov/docs/2902.pdf. The Cherry St garage is the closest parking to the start, but all the downtown garages are within 1/2 mile of the start and finish so no worries wherever you end up.
As for hills on the course, yes the one at mile 15 is 6 blocks long, +85'. Sorry we couldn't get you a real Vermont mountain! When I ran VCM that one was not too bad, the one at mile 8 was harder. Mile 8 also gains about 85', but it's about 3/4 of a mile long. Overall the VCM course can be a fast one, it was a 3+ minute pr for me. It's a net downhill of about 100', and the last 4.5 miles are nearly dead flat along the lakeside bikepath. This course, if you get to mile 20 in good shape you can really move coming in.
Joe Connelly
RunVermont Technical Coordinator