SHELBURNE, Vt. — October 2, 2026 — The 2026 Apple Harvest 10K brought 132 runners to Shelburne Town Beach on a beautiful fall morning, with temperatures in the upper 50s, an overcast sky, and brisk winds from the north.
The 10K started at 9 a.m. from Shelburne Town Beach and followed the lakeshore to the turnaround at Charlotte Town Beach before returning to the finish. Runners benefited from a strong tailwind during the first three miles, while the north wind made the return trip more challenging.
Amos Karlsen of Burlington led the field, winning the men’s overall race in 33:57. Kate Nourse of Essex Junction was the first female finisher, crossing the line in 39:07. Avery LaPlante of Burlington, N.C. was the first non-binary finisher in 48:59.
The Apple Harvest 10K also featured some traditional post-race treats and prizes. Finishers were welcomed with apple crisp and ice cream, while age-group winners received apple and other pies. A random prize drawing added another opportunity for participants to take home a little something from the day’s festivities.
Race Director Ruth Blauwiekel credited the race’s many volunteers with helping make the event a success.
“It’s a tremendous amount of work to put on a race like this, and we couldn’t do it without our volunteers,” Blauwiekel said. “We’re grateful to everyone who gave their time to make the Apple Harvest 10K such a great event.”
This year’s volunteer crew included Sal Acosta, Steve Andrews, Tony Bates, Liz Buchanan, Russ Cooke, Patrick Henry, Seth Kutikoff, Gordon MacFarland, Jess Marini, Ian McCallum-Cook, Alex McHenry, Nik Ponzio, Elle Scollard, Ila Sewell, Kristina Sweet, Silas Talbot, and Curt Taylor.
The race was also photographed by Lee Krohn of Lee Krohn Photography, whose images captured the day’s runners, scenery, and community atmosphere.
