If you’re like me this time of year, you are dreaming about your summer racing schedule — and skimping on the actual training. Well lucky for you, in addition to the GMAA racing schedule, you can pencil in even more dates on your calendar with the 2020 GMAA Team Racing Program!

The GMAA Team Racing Program has a fantastic line-up of races this year and an awesome group of runners who are waiting for you (yes, YOU!) to join them. 

• Looking for a tuneup race before Boston or VCM?
• Love the GMAA races, but want to toe the line in even more races around New England? 
• How about registration & transportation for 8 races, a shiny USATF membership for 2020, and a speedy GMAA racing singlet for the incredibly low price of $100?* 

Join the Racing Team today! We welcome runners of all ages and ability — seriously, you could be brand new to running and we guarantee you’ll have a blast at these races. Tell your non-GMAA friends, such as folks who did cross-country or track (or any sports) back in the day, that may want a competitive outlet and to be part of a fun team environment.

*Note: a pass is not required to travel with the team and participate in these races. All USATF races do require a USATF membership, which is provided by the pass but can be purchased separately here.

Find the full details on the Team Racing Series and how to buy your pass today here.

Team Racing Series

• April 5 – USATF Frank Nealon Boston Tune Up 15k Upton, MA
• June 6 – CVR Capital City Stampede 10k Montpelier, VT
• July 4 – GMAA Clarence Demar 5k South Hero, VT
• July 12 – Stowe 8 Miler Stowe, VT
• August 29 – USATF NH 10 Miler Auburn, NH
• September 20 – USATF Lone Gull 10k Gloucester, MA
• October 18 – GMAA Green Mtn Half Marathon South Hero, VT
• November 8 – USATF NE XC Championship Franklin Park, MA

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to either of the Team Racing Coordinators (Seth Kutikoff or Silas Talbot) if you have any questions about program details. 

Seth and Silas
GMAA Team Racing Coordinators
Email: teamracing@gmaa.net 

The 2019 GMAA Turkey Trot was quite a bit warmer than last year’s race, which is to say that, without the wind chill, it was still just below 30 degrees Fahrenheit.  The course was slick in some spots with some good-sized puddles in others.  Despite less-than-ideal conditions, we had more than 500 runners between the kids’ race and the 5K.

As always, the run benefited Feeding Chittenden (formerly the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf).  Approximately 500 pounds of food and $2,942 in cash and checks was donated to Feeding Chittenden! 

The top male finisher this year was Brendan Copley of Colchester with a time of 17:17.  He was followed by John Stanton-Geddes of Burlington with a time of 17:23 and Teage O’Connor, also of Burlington, with a time of 17:49. Brendan and John were also winners of gift certificates for a pair of Hoka One One shoes.

The top female finisher was Adrienne Brueckner of Swanton who crossed the line at 20:40.  She was followed by Elizabeth Simak of Burlington with a time of 21:35.  There was a tie for third-place women between Katie Barker of Burlington and last-year’s champion, Katherine Cook of South Burlington.  Katie and Katherine ran a 22:29. Adrienne and Elizabeth won Hoka One One gift certificates as well.

The race was co-directed again this year by Tom Nuovo and Howard Kalfus.  Mike Kennedy organized this year’s kids’ race with an estimated 35-40, high-energy participants!  As usual, a cadre of additional outstanding volunteers made setup, registration, the kids’ race and 5K as well as the raffle a smooth venture.  Those volunteers were Liz Champagne, Mark and Anna Ferrara, Anna and Josh Kalfus, Lee Krohn, Carlie Krolick, Joe, Mike and Nancy Landry, Allie Nerenberg, Erin Randall, Wayne Reisberg, Bob Sayers and Kirsten Wiley.

Local businesses again generously donated cash and valuable prizes which were raffled off.  Each volunteer and each runner received one free raffle ticket.  Many thanks go out to those generous businesses:  Bauer Gravel Farnham, LLP, Ben & Jerry’s, Hoka One One, RunVermont, Ski Rack and Kirsten Wiley Massage Therapy.  Thanks also to the Nuovo family for donating local maple syrup and Cabot Whey Powder!

There were some fierce rivalries this year in the GMAA Team Racing Series, but after 8 races the final rankings have been reached. Drum role please… The winners are:

• Women’s <40 – Kasie Enman
• Men’s <40 – Ian McCallum-Cook
• Women’s 40-49 – Tracy Benedict
• Men’s 40-49 – Tim Richmond
• Men’s 50-59 – Binney Mitchell
• Women’s 60-69 – Rose Bergeron
• Men’s 70+ – Gordon McFarland

A few highlights: In the men’s open category, it came down to a final head-to-head battle on the Franklin Park 10k XC course this morning and in the end Ian McCallum-Cook pulled to the narrowest of leads – .03 points ahead of Charlie Schaefer.

Binney Mitchell, Gordon McFarland, and Kasie Enman were all undefeated in their respective age categories, posting 500 out of a possible 500 points in the best 5 out of 8 competition. Kasie, was in the tricky position of aging from open to masters for the final 2 races of the series, but it was determined that she would finish out the year where she began, in the open category.

In all, 109 GMAA members took part in series races over the course of the year, making for a great turnout. Well done to all! We will be soliciting feedback and posting a slate for the 2020 series over the next couple of months.

Final GMAA Team Racing Series Standings can be perused here.

The weather for the Hills Are Alive XC 5K on Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019 was amazing! Thirty degrees to start at set up and about 45 at start of race. Minimal wind, and with cider donuts and hot cider, it was easy to be outside!

We had a successful turnout under friendly skies. Even though we were unable to get on the NE USATF XC Grand Prix Calendar, the race still pulled in about 80 runners! The course proved true to its name, and the Hills Were Alive with the sound of trail runners breathing hard as they went up and down.

Silas Talbot was the overall race winner with a blazing time of 19:23, and Kasie Enman was first for women with an equally-impressive 20:31.

Complete Race Results can be found here.

Race Directors: Laura Ryan and Tim Richmond

Round of applause for our Volunteers: Carol Ann Jones, Debra Fraser, Anne Treadwell, Alex McHenry, Russ Cooke, Harry Curth, Maki Jones, Lorraine Ryan, Greg Larsen, Martha Nowlan, Jan Leja, Brenda Macy, Brett Macy, Mark Duchaine

Generous Donations from: Ski Rack – (2) $25 Gift Cards; Edelweiss – $25 Gift Certificate; Darkside – Hat; HOKA/Jack – Hats (6) Mugs (2) Rubber Cup (1); Eric Harper- Honey and Maple Syrup; McCarty’s – $20.19 Gift Cert; Exit 18 Equip Bike Locks (2); Laughing Moon Chocolates – 4 pack truffles; Ben Durant – 15 Cases of Wine!!; Stowe Bowl – $60 Gift Cert; Movement Mortgage – Cups and Backpack with cool stuff in it; BTV420 – CBD Runner Salve; Dianna Benoit, Clarity Real Estate – Maple Syrup; Carolyn Weaver – KW Vermont, Realtor/Coach – Red Barn Gardens – Pumpkin Bread and 2 Pumpkins; Body Lounge – Arnica Salve (2) CBD Runner Salve (1); Mike and Carol Boivin – Blueberry Jam and Runner Bib Belt Holder; Sports and Fitness Edge – 1 Month Membership; Tim and Laura – cookies and apple sauce, 6 pumpkins, bacon deviled eggs!

The 49th Annual Green Mountain Marathon and Half Marathon brought out over 200 half marathoners and over 100 marathoners. While milling around the school, past race directors Ray Allen (’78-’85) and Howie Atherton (’86-’02) met and caught up a little bit. After a flurry of activity at the school, runners lined up on South Street just north of Allenholm Farm to start the race.  The weather was perfect – a perfect October morning for racing with brilliant blue skies and bright sun with the temperatures in the 50s and a light breeze.

For the men’s marathon, Casey Carroll, from Dover, NH, crushed his 18th marathon attempt by finishing in 2:47:39.  For the women, Lindsay Martin, from Arlington, Mass, won with a 3:22:17.  Amy Fredericks completed the feat of running a marathon in every state when she finished this race wearing bib 50!

The half marathon was a sweep by the Enmans! Eli Enman and Paul Wagner led the men’s race with Eli running a stronger couple miles at the end to finish in 1:19:18.  Kasie Enman flew through the course breaking her own course record and posting the win for the women’s race in 1:22:03.  Of special recognition, Paul Huyffer celebrated his 81st birthday by running the half marathon with his daughter KJ, son Eric, and nephew Cliff. 

Complete Marathon results are here.
Complete Half Marathon results are here.
Race photos coming soon.

Runners enjoyed donuts from Hackett Orchards; apples and cider from Allenholm; bagels from Myer’s; and chili made at the Center of Technology at Essex High School.  

Race Directors: Jessica Bolduc and Bob Monette

Thank you to all the many volunteers: Damian Bolduc, Adrian Wadsworth, Camille Bolduc, Jeremiah Wadsworth, Sarah Pribram, Meredith White, Karen Bohmann, Carlie Krolick, Tanya Smith, June Golato, Laura Neville, Harry Curth, Jennifer Dickinson, Paul Huyffer, Anne Treadwell, Ruth Blauwiekel, Kevin Bessett, Dave Huffman, Scott Nichols, Nik Ponzio, Richard Priest, Scott Springer, Kristian Omland, Carole Coggio, Adam Bulakowski, Tom Green, Liz Champagne, Jeannie Quintin, Barb Capen, Dave Capen, Matt Mitchell, Marjorie Hollocher (and daughter), Jan Leja, Maricela Acosta, Audrey Acosta, Leah Acosta, Jackie Bombardier, Mike Early, Rose Bergeron, Laura Ryan, Zachary Acosta, Russ Cooke, Derek Rodriguez, Peter Mitchell, Forrest Lemoine, Jim Morris, Mike Bessette, Liz Hollenbach, Tim Richmond, Kirsten Wiley, Cari Causey, CVU XC Team, Caelan Keenan, Dave Delibac, Monte Pappas, Simon Powhida, Jennifer Nachbur, SB XC Girls – 10, Judth Craig, Werner Zehetner, Geoffrey Miller, Jason Storms and family, Michael Mashtare and family.

Cold conditions overnight turned into a beautiful Fall racing day! Ninety-eight runners toed the line for a fast, scenic course from Shelburne Beach to Charlotte Beach and back. The race was won on the men’s side by Charlie Schaefer running a very impressive 33:17 for the overall win. The winner for the women was Kate Leugers with an equally impressive time of 39:35.

Fast times appeared throughout the field given the fantastic conditions, and the race went smoothly due to the many volunteers manning the course and finish line. A festive post race celebration capped off the day with age group awards presented for both GMAA and the Vermont Senior Games, finishing with a post race raffle well supplied by our generous local sponsors.

Full results can be found here.
Race photos can be found here. (Credit to Nik Ponzio)

We were also featured in Stuck in Vermont!! You can watch the video here

A huge thanks to our sponsors and donors: The Ski Rack, Hannaford, Bove’s of Vermont, Burlington Beer Company, Shelburne Orchards, and Bog Road Honey.

Big thank as always to our many volunteers: Ramsey Hazbun, Jim Adkisson, Harry Curth, Russ Cooke, George Moltz, Tom Howard, James Lehneman, Diana Wood, Andy Klem, Norm Larson, Paul Wagner, John Izzo, Charlie Nokes, Julie Mullowney, Nik Ponzio, Alex McHenry, Gordon McFarland, Georgi De Rham

Race Director: Ian McCallum-Cook

Eight GMAA runners spent the past weekend in Gloucester, MA competing in the Lone Gull 10k. This race served as the USATF-NE 10k Championship, and the second to last race in the USATF-NE Road Grand Prix Series.

Liz Champagne overcame much adversity to get to the finish line – first cracked cheek bones sustained in a race earlier this month threatened to prevent her from racing; not to mention an impending flight to Germany departing just four days post-race for the Berlin Marathon; forgotten socks necessitating her to race in a mid-calf floral patterned pair borrowed from her 84 year old mother (at least they were Darn Tough!); and finally confusion over her entry being listed as Liz Champlain instead of Champagne (the wine not the lake!). Liz persevered valiantly to finish in a level 8 min/mile pace, good for 8th place in the 60-69 age group – and keeping her in the running for the Ironrunner competition. Good luck in Berlin, Liz!

Ian McCallum-Cooke, with far less adversity to overcome, ran the fastest time of the the day amongst his GMAA peers in a ***NEW PR*** of 32:51. Ian has earned himself a spot farther toward the front of the start line for next year. Ian would like to give all the credit for his success to his fantastic BTV training partners and teammates.

Two club members with Septembers birthdays, Nick Persampieri and Kasie Enman, drew the short and long sticks of the age group lottery, respectively. Kasie turned 40 just before the race, so was the youngest Masters age grouper in the field and took full advantage of her comparative youth by winning the Masters title in what is rumored to be a masters record for the course. Nick (pictured above with the nipple bandaids), on the other hand, would be turning 60 the day after the race, so had to battle it out as the very oldest runner in the 50-59 group – as a 59 year 364 day old. Even so, he did manage to finish in the top third of his field besting many young whippersnappers.

Speaking of whippersnappers, Gordon McFarland and Allan Bates represented the GMAA with pride coming in 2nd and 3rd for 70+ age group. This was a rare defeat for Gordon who was playing it conservatively with a nagging achilles.

Other GMAA runners in the mix were Andy Klem and Alex McHenry. Thanks to Alex for driving half the crew down in his Nissan Versa!

GMAA runners posted fast results at the Pine Street Mile on Sunday, Sept 8 at 9:30 AM. The event was hosted by RunVermont and was the sixth race in the 2019 GMAA Performance Series.

Kasie Enman (5:14), Jess Marini (5:22), and Zoraya Hightower (5:28) finished third, fourth, and fifth for women in the Challenge Mile.

Out of 15 male finishers with times under 5 minutes, 6 were GMAA runners, led by John Stanton-Geddes (4:34) in third place and Ian McCallum-Cook (4:38) in fourth.

Click here for the complete results for all Pine Street Mile events.

For updated Performance Series standings, click here or go to the Team Racing page.

It was a near perfect late summer morning, when 53 runners lined up for the 51st Archie Post 5 Miler. After acknowledging the Archie Post as Vermont’s oldest continuous footrace, named for the talented athlete and coach from UVM, the new race directors Ruth and Liz sent the runners off on the fun, but challenging course.  The field included Russ Cooke and Bob Sayers – retired AP race directors – for the first time in 10 years!

Charlie Schaefer crossed the finish line first in 26:58, followed closely by Neal Graves in 27:26.  Allie Nerenberg was the first woman to finish posting a time of 35:35. Congratulations also to our youngest finisher Taylor Carlson, and our oldest finisher Peter Mitchell. Delicious fruit pies from Adams Farm Market were awarded to our overall and age group winners. Overall winners also earned a $25 gift card from SkiRack.  Every runner and volunteer left with a coveted pair of Archie Post socks and jar of Bove’s tasty pizza sauce. 

Overall everything went very smoothly, in large part due to our team of awesome volunteers – we really cannot thank you enough.  Shout out to our faithful sponsors: SkiRack and Boves and to Hannafords and The Bagel Place (Williston Road) for generous fruit and bagel donations.  The AP post-race snack table wouldn’t be complete without Ben & Jerry’s – special thanks to Russ Cooke (and Cathie) for sharing their stash.  

Happy Labor Day to all – we hope to see you again next year!

Full Race Results Posting
Race Photos by Nik Ponzio

Volunteers:
Karen Allen , Bill Allen , Karen Bove, Lyman Clark, Russ Cooke, Harry Curth, Sam Davis, Joy Dubin Grossman, Ira Gardener-Morse, Sue Hackney, John Hackney, Hillary Holmes, Paul Huyffer, Martha Keenan, Kristi Kilpatrick, Forrest LeMoine, Ray Mainer, Karen Oppenheimer, Jim Rudolph, Bob Sayers, Randy Sightler, Chuck Spear, Paul Wagner