GIVEAWAY THURSDAY!

by leandre on November 1, 2012 · 134 comments

Registration for the KeyBank Vermont City Marathon opens today! It’s possible (albeit doubtful) that you haven’t heard that 2013 marks KBVCM’s 25th Anniversary. What better way to kick off the registration season than with the return of GIVEAWAY THURSDAYS here on The RunDown!

Before we get to the Giveaway, did you see this video? It’s hard to imagine anyone watching it and NOT being inspired. For all of us behind the scenes at KBVCM each May, it gives us a rush to see and hear what the runners experience.

Today’s giveaway is everything a track jacket should be, and then some. The thermal stretch fabric is made with 58% landfill-busting recycled PET and it features an unstructured shaped hood, soft and fuzzy interior, subtly textured matte face, draft-stopping and chafe-preventing windflap, and binding along the sleeve cuffs and bottom hem. We have a men’s (green) and women’s (light blue and turquoise) version of this coat.

If you’re not familiar with how our Giveaways work, all you have to do is answer our question by leaving a comment below. We’ll draw the winner next Wednesday night and announce that person on Thursday. We’ll even give you bonus entries for sharing the Giveaway on FB and Twitter (you just have to follow the rules for sharing as outlined below).

With that…enter away!

To Enter:

Tell us what inspired you to run your first marathon. (If you haven’t run the full 26.2 that’s ok; tell us what inspires you to make running a part of your life.)

PLEASE NOTE: In order to claim extra entries for Tweeting or FB’ing the GIVEAWAY, you must follow the rules below. Thank you!

The GIVEAWAY closes at 11:59pm Wednesday, November 7; we’ll announce the winner on Thursday, November 8.

* If you’re a follower of The Run Down, tell us so in an additional comment. (If you’re not a follower, subscribe using the RSS feed on top right of the blog and then leave a comment telling us you did it.)

* Tweet about the giveaway using hashtags #rvt and/or #vcm and leave one additional comment.

* Share the giveaway by clicking the “share” button just below the GIVEAWAY post on our Facebook page and leave one additional comment.

That’s right; you have the opportunity to get 4 entries into this giveaway! (If you choose to take advantage of the extra entries be sure to submit an additional comment for each one.)

The rules/fine print:

* We use Random.org to select all winners…at random, from all the comments posted.

* There is no limit on the number of times a single person can win a prize.

* We ask that if you’re local, you pick up your prize. If not, we’ll mail it (US and Canada only.)

* We contact all winners via email each Thursday; you have one week to reply to arrange pick-up/mailing of your prize. If we haven’t heard from you within one week, we reserve the right to re-list the prize or choose another winner.

* Have some product you’d like to get in the hands of a great group of runners? Contact Leandre.

{ 134 comments… read them below or add one }

← Previous Comments

101 Kate November 2, 2012 at 6:49 am: I am running towards the finish line… not from anyone or anything. This race is for myself and myself alone.
102 Kevin November 2, 2012 at 11:12 am: I subscribed and am a member of the Run Down
103 Kevin November 2, 2012 at 11:16 am: Working the Vermont City marathon for a couple years gave me the running bug, and I figured the following year instead of working at it I would run it. 2011 Vermont City Marathon was my first and I have gone on to complete 2 others. Going from never thinking about running a marathon to running 3 (hopefully 4 after 2013 VCM) all because of Vermont City Marathon.
104 Steve November 2, 2012 at 12:38 pm: Coworkers were looking for people interested in running the Vermont Corporate Cup Challenge this year. I’d written myself off as unable to run after a few years in track and cross-country in middle school and high school with abysmal results, but I thought I could struggle out a 5k and call it quits if it was as terrible as it had been when I was younger.

Well, I finished the 5k and did better than I thought I would, so I signed up for a couple more 5k’s, a tri-sprint, then a 10k, then a half-marathon. Now I’m registered for the marathon next summer just to see if I can do it–it’s all about competing with myself and seeing what I can coax my body to do.
105 Elizabeth November 2, 2012 at 1:07 pm: Running a leg in the 3-5 relay and watching a lady probably almost three times my age cross the finish line – with a marathon bib! If she could do it, I had no excuse.

That, and working with your lovely organization a few times made me a firm believer in the power of running .
106 Megan November 2, 2012 at 1:57 pm: Turning 30! Running a marathon had always been on my list of things to do and I figured what better time than celebrating my 30th birthday. I absolutely planned on it being my first and last marathon but have completed two marathons, a half-marathon and have just signed up for the upcoming VCM!
107 Megan November 2, 2012 at 1:58 pm: I subscribed and am a member of the Run Down
108 alison November 2, 2012 at 2:02 pm: I was inspired by the idea of spending 5 hours running along the coast of Lake Michigan. So I guess the answer to the question is “nature.”
109 alison November 2, 2012 at 2:03 pm: also a follower of The Run Down via rss feed.
110 Skyler November 2, 2012 at 3:24 pm: I run for healthy life! heart problems plague my family but not this runner!
111 Jessie November 2, 2012 at 3:55 pm: I’ve run 5 half marathons, but never a full marathon. My dad died last year, and I want to dedicate this to him, to imagine him cheering me across the finish line.
112 Jessie November 2, 2012 at 3:59 pm: … and I facebook shared!
113 Jessie November 2, 2012 at 4:04 pm: I subscribed to follow the blog on wordpress!
114 Lauren F. November 2, 2012 at 9:11 pm: I was inspired to run my first marathon after running the relay so many years & seeing the marathoners finish. I’ve always wanted to go for the full after a few halves, so last spring, I did!
115 Hillary B. November 3, 2012 at 6:01 am: Running gives me purpose. I love the feeling of working my body and mind to the max during a race.
116 Chad November 3, 2012 at 3:38 pm: High blood pressure and stroke run in my family…I started running to break the cycle. I will be the 1st person in my family to complete a marathon. VCM is my 1st marathon as well.
117 Nancy White November 4, 2012 at 12:07 pm: I decided to run my first marathon last year. I had run about six half marathons. When I finished my first half marathon I said “Why would anyone want to run any farther than that?” And I kept to that opinion for another few years. Then as I completed more halves, a couple of my friends were going to run a marathon – and I thought, if I’m ever going to do this, now is a good time. Now whenever I run or see people running it makes me smile inside. I am looking forward to running KBVCM in 2013 for the second time.
118 Nancy White November 4, 2012 at 12:12 pm: I just subscribed to the RSS Feed for the Run Down
119 Nancy White November 4, 2012 at 12:14 pm: I just tweeted using the hash tags: #rvt and #vcm
120 Nancy White November 4, 2012 at 12:18 pm: I just shared the link on facebook.
121 H November 5, 2012 at 10:32 am: I started running less than 6 months ago for weight loss and got addicted to it ever since. 30-pounds less in 3 months and I just enjoy this simple sport. Finished my first half-marathon last month. I just cannot wait for marathon debut in Vermont!
122 Michelle Young November 6, 2012 at 12:36 pm: As I sit in my ice bath, reading this it made me think of why I started running & what keeps me running. Believe it or not my true love for running stemmed from graduating grad school, couldn’t fund a job, so I told myself I needed to have an ultimate goal to work towards… So on that day, I decided I’d run a marathon….. Kind of a lofty goal for a non-runner. I started running that day & never turned back! And while that was why I originally ran a marathon, that is not why I will be running this one. I have been told I would never run long again due to Back & foot problems…. I have run a couple half marathons, now it is time to prove them wrong & run the full one. I will do it carefully & conservatively….. But the key being I will do it! Bring on marathon #2 adventure!
123 Monica sheets November 7, 2012 at 11:00 am: 17 years ago I ran my first marathon! I did it because I LOVE to run and a marathon was a way to challenge myself and reach that goal of finishing a marathon. Each of the subsequent marathons I have run have been for one reason or another. Whether I’m running to lose weight; to get a Boston qualifier; to raise money for the Leukemia Society; or to see an incredible destination -//marathoning and running has opened the world to me.
124 Monica sheets November 7, 2012 at 11:02 am: I posted to facebook
125 Monica sheets November 7, 2012 at 11:03 am: I subscribed to the rss run down feed.
126 Tracy Bushee November 7, 2012 at 11:15 am: I wanted to prove to myself that I could do it… And I did!
127 Catherine Moller November 7, 2012 at 11:21 am: I ran my first marathon just because I could. It was a humbling and challenging experience. It’s been nearly 10 years since I ran the full marathon and I’m considering doing it again.
128 eric m November 7, 2012 at 11:33 am: It was my first and i will be back this year to better my time…
129 Holly November 7, 2012 at 11:57 am: I was challenged by co-workers to do one for my 50th. Birthday. So five years ago, I ran the VCM. That was 7 marathons ago ! I just quallified for my third Boston , which I will run for my 55th Birthday!:)
130 Holly November 7, 2012 at 11:57 am: I am a Follower!
131 Tony M November 7, 2012 at 12:04 pm: This will be my first marathon. I started running this year in an effort to keep my blood pressure out of the stratosphere. After running for most of the year,(including several races up to a half-marathon), it still doesn’t seem to have done much for my blood pressure. However, being a stubborn sort, I’ll keep plodding away through the winter and be ready to run even further in the spring.
132 Skip Harris November 7, 2012 at 12:53 pm: This will be 6th Key bank Marathon. I run because it keeps me healthy, keeps me engaged in a vibrant community and it feels really good to have and complete a running goal!!
133 John Strout November 7, 2012 at 9:56 pm: I run because it clears my mind and helps me focus. I try to be mindful of everything about me and around me while pushing myself to go further. I have done 5k’s and HM but this will be my first marathon.
134 John Strout November 7, 2012 at 10:00 pm: I joined the rund down as well!