In this edition of the RunVermont Pulse:
1. Registration is Open for Spring Races
2. Island Vines: Rain Can't Stop Us
3. Spooky Youth Fun Run (10/31)
6. Join Gordon MacFarland, Author of Staying With It (10/27)
Island Vines Participants, Lee Krohn Photography
Registration is Open: Fall into Your 2027 Race Goals!
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October has arrived, bringing crisp autumn air, vibrant peak foliage, and the moment we’ve all been waiting for: registration for the M&T Bank Vermont City Marathon & Relay, with Relays presented by Darn Tough Vermont, as well as Half Marathon Unplugged, presented by Switchback Brewing Co. As of October 1st, registration is open! Your next race goal is officially waiting for you.
Here is what’s new and exciting for 2027:
- Half Marathon Unplugged (Saturday, April 10, 2027): We’re bringing back the two-wave start, but with a twist—Wave 2 now launches at 10:15 AM (45 minutes earlier than last year!). A shorter wait between waves means everyone gets to the post-race party at Switchback Brewing Company that much faster. This continues to be the Ultimate Spring Tune-Up. Whether you run the full 13.1 miles or opt to split the distance via a 2 person relay team, sitting 7 weeks before Marathon Weekend, Unplugged is the perfect test run for your legs before Memorial Day weekend.
- Big Marathon Weekend Upgrades (Sunday, May 30, 2027): We’ve revamped the big weekend! 2027 features a redesigned course, wave starts, and the premiere of a standalone Half Marathon alongside the full marathon and relays. Check out the press release to learn more about these exciting new offerings.
From the Saturday Youth Events on May 29th to the full 26.2 on Sunday, there’s a distance for everyone! For more info on these events and to register, visit runvermont.org.
We look forward to seeing you!
Island Vines 2026: Rain Can't Stop Us
We first produced the Island Vines race in 2014, and for nearly all of its first 12 years we were blessed with the best late-summer and early-fall weather we could have asked for. A brief shower in 2022 and a spooky fog in 2024 were the only exceptions. And then came 2026! Congratulations to everyone who raced in the rain this year, and a huge THANK YOU to all the volunteers who came out to support the race.
Our 682 entrants were the second-highest total in the race's history, and our 556 finishers ranked third for all time. On top of that, more than 100 kids registered for the Fun Run around the vineyard, up almost 50% from last year.
Start line of 2026 Island Vines, Lee Krohn Photography
We hope you enjoyed the race and, as my old coach used to say, "had a good time and a good time." Congratulations to former Essex Hornets standout Kate Nourse, the overall 5K winner, whose 18:57 set a new women's course record. And in the 10K, 12 men and 2 women finished under 40:00, making this one of the most competitive 10Ks in the state!
Here's to more fall races. It's a great time of year to dig into your training without the oppressive summer heat. Good luck with your miles, and we'll see you on a start line soon!
~ JoeConn, Chief of Race Operations, RunVermont
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1. Youth Fun Run Participant 2. Musician, Ryan Sweezey 3. Bib Pickup Volunteers
Lee Krohn Photography
Spooky Youth Fun Run on Saturday, October 31st
Get into the Halloween spirit with RunVermont and Downtown Saint Albans at the Spooky Youth Fun Run, part of Spooky Saturday! Youth of all abilities are invited to put on their favorite costume and join us at Taylor Park for a FREE morning of movement, Halloween fun, and community.
The 1/3-mile course stays within Taylor Park, making it a fun and family-friendly way for young runners to get moving. Parents and guardians are welcome to join their child on the course and do not need to register. After the fun run, stick around for the rest of Spooky Saturday, including a costume contest, the famous Witch’s Dance, the Monster Mash, trick-or-treating, and more!
Fun Run Info: Bib pickup begins at 10:00 AM at the RunVermont tent, with the fun run starting at 10:30 AM. Come early to color in your bib! The event is FREE, but youth registration is required.
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2025 Halloween Howl participants, Champlain Productions
From the Blog
In our last newsletter, we wrote about the good habits we have built after a year of blogging. This newsletter, we’re tooting our own horn with a bit of a reminder of the great blog posts that we have put up recently.
We reintroduced (and re-blogged about) the RunVermont Company Health & Wellness Initiative, which is a wonderful way for businesses to cover registration costs for their employees. We can easily create a code for employers to give out to their employees—with certain set parameters, like number of registrations, what races are covered, etc.—and then the employees register, free of charge, while we invoice the employer on a set schedule and with a discount for clearing agreed upon registration thresholds. No saving of receipts, no submitting expense reports, and plenty of opportunities for company bonding.
We also talked about how running can help kids develop confidence, especially through goal setting, overcoming obstacles, fostering an inclusive community, and developing positive body appreciation. Topics that are near and dear to our hearts as we continue to grow our year-round youth programming through Mini Milers and free youth fun runs, in addition to the M&T Bank Vermont City Two Mile and Mini Marathon.
And we had one of our best and most well-rounded posts ever, one that makes the case for being a multi-sport athlete. Finding fun ways to cross-train will not only introduce you to more communities to belong to, but it will also inspire, motivate, and get you in far better shape than if you just devoted yourself to a single sport. While some of us are really just RUNVermont, others are MANY-SPORTVermont.
Family Run/Bike, Photo by Anthea Dexter-Cooper
The Best of Partners
I am so spoiled that I get to interact with some of the most awesome brands and companies in Vermont. I find myself looking at what I am wearing or doing and see representation from multiple RunVermont sponsors and partners. I basically live in Thuja hoodies, except for when I am running. And when I am running, I am usually in lululemon shorts, a Paradis Sport sports bra (with pocket!), Darn Tough socks (most recent pair purchased during bib pickup at Skirack for Island Vines), and Altra shoes, and carrying UnTapped (either salted cinnamon spice in a soft flask or salted raspberry in an individual serving). I got my mom the most delicious sampler pack of Vermont Brownie Company brownies for her birthday (and didn’t manage to try one of the Vermont Cookie Love collaboration brownies before they were all gobbled up), and when I am out in South Hero/Grand Isle I always try to frequent our Island Vines food vendors. Whether that is stopping by Allenholm Farms to visit The Hive Café, getting a whoopie pie from DonnaSue Bakes+Cooks, getting bagels from Wally’s Place four times in one long weekend, or stopping by Snow Farm Vineyard for a glass of wine and live music. I could go on and on because, in a place as small-feeling as Vermont, these connections are part of the fabric of my daily life.
I was once again reminded of the amazing connection that I feel to the businesses that are part of this community when I stopped by Wally’s with my kids one more time on Monday morning before heading back to our house from my parents’ house after Island Vines. It was a bit quieter than your typical weekend morning, and I had the chance to chat with staff about how they noticed that our kids always order for themselves. It felt nice to be recognized for something like that, and to be supporting a business that fosters connection and not just efficient line movement.
So cheers to all of the great companies (and if you want to join their ranks, drop me a line at anthea@runvermont.org so that we can discuss partnership/sponsorship opportunities).
Island Vines winners displaying their awards from our partners; Vermont Flannel Company and DonnaSue Bakes+Cooks, Lee Krohn Photography
Join Gordon to talk about his book, Staying With It
Join RunVermont Hall of Fame inductee Gordon MacFarland for an evening at Phoenix Books on Tuesday, October 27, at 7 PM. Gordon will be in conversation with Dr. Karen Westervelt about his new book, Staying With It: Reflections on Running and Aging.
Gordon has been a longtime advocate for running in Vermont. In 1988, he was one of five founding members who envisioned creating a marathon in Burlington and went on to serve as the first Race Director of the Vermont City Marathon. Inducted into the RunVermont Hall of Fame for Advocacy in 2008, Gordon continues to volunteer at races and contribute to the running community, especially as the founder of The Senior Runner.
The event will take place at Phoenix Books, 89 Church St. in Burlington.
RSVP in advance (AND get $3 off Staying With It)
Freezy Cheeks 2027 info coming soon!
