Karen Morris: email

Hi I'm Karen Morris.  I started running 12 years ago after seeing the registration form for the Vermont City Marathon in the Burlington Free Press.   Having never made it longer then a mile on the treadmill , but always wanting to start running ,  I decided to register for the marathon to make me start training.  I was going to do that first one and be done.  This year's Vermont City will be my 40th marathon, 11 of them being VCM.  3 1/2 years ago I started pacing for races to help others meet a goal and have fun along the way.   Of all the states and countries my husband & I have run,  VCM is our favorite.  Looking forward to meeting you in May and spending 4:44:45 enjoying the great crowds and beautiful course that VCM is known for.

"If you are losing faith in human nature, go out and watch a marathon." - Katherine Switzer, women's marathoning pioneer

The Vermont City Marathon was my first marathon in 2001.  Before I completed it, I actually thought it would be my only marathon. However, I trained and ran with Team in Training, and was quickly hooked by the camaraderie that comes from training with a group.  VCM became an annual tradition, and I look forward to this hometown race, as well as the entire VCM weekend, each year.  This year I am thrilled to be celebrating my 50th marathon as a pace leader for this event!  It is an incredibly inspirational running tour of the Queen City, and the crowd support, event organizers and volunteers are sure to impress you!

I love running with people, meeting new folks out on the course, and helping others meet their running and fitness goals.  I am a mentor for Team in Training, as well as First Strides (a beginning walking and running program for women).  In my work life as an elementary ELL teacher, I am a co-leader for our school’s Ready, Set, Run Program. I am also involved with the YAM Scram event during marathon weekend. I have paced individuals and groups at a variety of distances, from the half marathon to ultra distances.

In the words of Mary R. Wittenberg, president of the New York Road Runners Club:  "A marathoner is a marathoner regardless of time. Virtually everyone who tries the marathon has put in training over months, and it is that exercise and that commitment, physical and mental, that gives meaning to the medal, not just the day’s effort, be it fast or slow.  It's all in conquering the challenge."  I’m looking forward to running with you on Sunday and conquering the challenge together!