CVR Birthdays Jan 27 – Feb 23
Happy Birthday to: April Farnham, Sue Hackney, Morgan Lloyd, Peter Luyckx, Jamie Shanley, Diane Jones, Drew McConville, Michael Jakob, Richard Boisseau, Colin Clifford (new age group!), Roger Cranse, Sandy Ferno, Tim Heney, Nathan Suter, Heather Voisin, Laury Saligman, Ali Lopez, Nick Lamson, Callum Sherriff, Meghan Meyer, Tom Bachman, Sawyer Tottle, Jacob Jancaitis, Randy Jones, Judith Thurlow, and Alex Martinez!
Hello from Montpelier,
January felt like it was 5 years long (just me?), and you may have noticed that I did not get a newsletter out somewhere in the last couple weeks so I hope I didn’t miss any birthdays. As I get back on track, I was reflecting last week especially about what a joy it is to be part of this club. It’s been a bright spot for me this winter, and as I got to see so many friendly faces at last week’s annual awards dinner, a reminder that our running community is special. Thank you all for making my role so rewarding, and I look forward to seeing you all out on the roads and trails as we turn the corner on this winter and start thinking ahead to spring!
I hope you enjoy some tidbits below, including some highlights from the dinner, a quick recap of this past weekend’s snowshoe race (I know as president, I’m not supposed to pick favorites, but that Millstone Madness race just sneaks up on me and it is just so much fun – if you haven’t done it before, mark your calendar for next February and join us!). More on unofficial fun runs, and sign up to host a Winter Group Run, maybe even this weekend? And, save the date for our annual club meeting – March 16! And if you thought we’d forgotten about a new logo…..stay tuned, something is cooking and we’ll have more about it very soon!
Happy (winter) running,
Heather
CVR Annual Awards Dinner Highlights
The club’s 2025 awards banquet was held on February 6 at Montpelier’s recently re-opened Capitol Plaza hotel. The awards dinner is an opportunity to take stock of the prior year, celebrate members’ many accomplishments, reward volunteers for their critical support, and look at what’s in store this coming year. Attendance was less than expected due to the arrival of an unfortunately timed mid-winter snowstorm, which snarled roads up enough to keep many members at home. Thanks to emcee Joe Merrill, the awards program was a laughter-filled occasion, punctuated by recognizing and sending healing thoughts to several CVR members not in attendance due to health challenges.
Find an overview of all the award winners and other fun prizes awarded here. And, a few photos of the festivities below. Thank you again to Bob Murphy and Tim Noonan for all their help, especially in selecting the venue and working with the staff to make the event such a success. 
Millstone Madness Snowshoe Race a Success!
A few early snow squalls did not stop a great group from showing up to run/walk/hike through the lovely Millstone trails in Websterville this past Saturday! And, along with the toasty fire, hot cocoa, and eventual sunny skies, this race proved as always to be a friendly and welcoming venue for all participants, all ages and abilities. Great work race director Jackie Jancaitis, and thank you to all our critical volunteers! All race results are posted here. 
Upcoming Races and Club Volunteer Needs
What’s on deck:
(More info on the 2025 CVR/ORO Race Series, and a poster is in the works from ORO so will share that in the coming weeks!)
- Shamrock Shuffle – March 15. This race, organized by the Upper Valley Run Club, is part of the CVR/ORO Race Series so if you’re chasing status in the series for 2025, this is a great race to help stack up some points early in the season.
- Kaynor’s Sap Run – April 6. This race is also part of the CVR/ORO Race Series again this year, the Green Mountain Athletic Association (GMAA) puts this one on and is a popular race for CVR members to get the lead out before our bigger spring race (Paul Mailman) sets off a few weeks later.
- Paul Mailman 10-miler and 5K – April 19th. Get ready for the 50th Anniversary Paul Mailman race! More information to be shared closer to the date but now is a great time to start training.
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CVR cannot put on races without volunteer support, and your help is always needed. Please volunteer now to help the race directors fill necessary jobs and plan for full race day support. Volunteer now online using the Volunteer link on the CVR website homepage at https://cvrunners.org OR by email to the race directors above.
Save the Date – Annual Club Meeting – March 16
Please save the date for our annual club meeting, coming up in a little over a month. Agenda item ideas are welcome! We are also looking for a meeting host – reach out if you can host us at your home, or can suggest a community meeting space at no cost!
Winter Group Runs – Host Needed for Feb 15! Winter Group Runs (WGRs) have begun! The pic above is from a chilly morning in Brookfield a few weeks back, and since then we also had a lovely run in Middlesex in the sunshine, but skipped last week for the snowshoe race. We are still looking for a potential host for this Saturday (February 15th), so reach out to Katie if you’ve got an idea (see below). If you’d like to join for this run, please sign up in this Google sheet which will have more details about the meet up as details come together. About WGRs These social group runs rotate locations throughout central Vermont on Saturdays from December through early April. A few distance options are offered for each WGR, and walkers are always welcome. We most frequently meet near coffee shops to enjoy a treat and each other’s company after the run. To make these events diverse and interesting, we call on the knowledge of our club to pick locations and routes, and any CVR member is welcome to volunteer to host a WGR. “Hosting” doesn’t have to mean inviting everyone to your home, though that is an option and always a lovely time for those who are open to doing that. If you’re interested in hosting or simply want to share an idea for a WGR, please reach out directly to Katie Hulbert at kagirmus@gmail.com. Receive more information about WGRs Additional communications about the WGR schedule and a weekly email for each Saturday’s plan will be sent out to those on the WGR distribution list. If you would like to opt in or out of these emails, please send a note to Donna Smyers at dosmyers@gmail.com. |
Unofficial Tuesday Night Fun Runs – February at the Bear Naked Growler
From Darrel: As 2025 kicks off, there are a few die-hard runners that like to get out and get some mileage in, no matter what the weather. For the month of February, a few of us are going to continue meeting on Tuesday evenings at 5:30 pm in front of the Bear Naked Growler (186 River St, Montpelier, VT 05602) to go for a fun run or walk. The bike path is usually plowed, salted, and mostly lit with street lights making it a little safer than running on the roads. Another option is to go out the more secluded Old Country Club Road for a peaceful trip along the river. Head lamp and reflective vest are recommended. Some people will walk a mile or two, just to keep the legs going, others will run 3, 4, or 6 miles (or more) to keep in shape for the spring races. After the run, the group can go into the Bear Naked Growler to warm up, socialize and have a drink (both non-alcohol or a large selection of craft beers). Everyone is welcome (not just CVR Members). Bring a friend or non-running spouse. It is a good place to hang out while you are waiting for the long running buddy.
CVR Running Book Club – Review!
Anne hosts the Bill Mares Memorial Running Book Library, loaning books to club members and other interested readers. Email her (ac98@cornell.edu) for the list. Readers are welcome to submit brief running book reviews for occasional inclusion in this newsletter.
Mini Book Review
BETTER FASTER FARTHER, How Running Changed Everything We Know About Women,” by Maggie Mertens (2024)
Quoting Kara Goucher – “A look behind the curtain that all women who love running and sport should read.”
This book tracks historical obstacles to women’s acceptance into running. It debunks long-standing myths like the proposition that running may result in your uterus falling out or that running while pregnant would kill your fetus. It includes behind the scenes stories of problems faced by talented runners like Mary Decker. It identifies barriers and diagnoses which have impacted the ability of gifted female runners to succeed in sports and in their personal lives. Examples include: the Female Athlete Triad which can be fatal (disordered eating, amenorrhea and osteoporosis), Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (Red-S), mosaicism (the biological complexity of determining sex), and sex testing including genetic mutation and the search for “masquerading males.” These concepts and realities are mind-boggling.
Although the book is often scientific, it is interspersed with fascinating and revealing stories and experiences of record-setting women runners like Decker, Mary Cain, Annet Negesa, Mia Brahe-Pedersen and Kara Goucher, to name a few. Some of these women were relatively unknown due to the challenges to their female identities and treatment and training methods. You will read about unhealthy coaching highlighted by the training regimens and expectations of Boston Marathon winner Alberto Salazar, and particularly a long-standing fixation on weight. It is shocking to read what female athletes have been put through and to learn about surgeries conducted on them for diagnosed conditions like gonadectomy. Mertens discusses the continuing fears of competitive female runners not being “real women” especially when they beat men. Unlike men, women have and continue to be subjected to random testing and treatment, as well as a myriad of questions when they appear strong and powerful as opposed to sinewy and graceful. Alas, as Mertens writes, current fears continue around losing the distinction between genders, and the policing of gender deviance.
The book ends with the heart-warming story of British Fell Running Champion, Jasmin Paris. In 2019 Paris was a new mother who won the 268-mile Spine Race on the Pennine Way in England in 83 hours, 12 minutes and 23 seconds. Paris won overall, finishing 15 hours ahead of the previous 3-time male winner and smashing the course record by 12 hours. At race checkpoints she pumped breast milk. Paris was and is a testament to the continuing accomplishments of women in fell-racing and ultrarunning. As Mertens’ book cover notes, “For women runners, the race has just begun.”
—Dot Helling
Reminder about Committee Openings
As a note, there is a general call for committee members for a few issues, please reach out to me (by replying directly to this email) if you’re interested in joining any of the below!
Club Anniversary Event Planning Committee – 2025 marks the 45th birthday of CVR – Merill and Donna are heading this up – won’t you join them? The idea here is to come up with some ideas for how to celebrate the club’s anniversary, whether with one event next year or possibly several. If you want to shape what this looks like, join this committee!
CVR Special Edition – Did You Miss It?
So far we’ve had quite a few great stories come our way that we’ve put out in these special editions. We hope you have been enjoying them! Do you also want to tell your story or share a profile you’d like to have featured? Please reach out and send details to Heather. You could be our next special edition! Stories could cover anything running or club related, such as:
- Club history – how races started or stories from past decades of members’ accomplishments
- Your achievements – did you tackle your first marathon? Your 15th? Your first 10k? Race stories are inspiring, whether you triumphed, set a personal record, or did not finish but learned a lesson. Tell your fellow members about it!
- Personal history – how did you get into the sport of running?
- Other ideas!
All stories welcome – pitch me or just send something along with a picture or two to go with! Deadline is rolling!
| News, Races, and Updates from around the Region *New this week* – Heritage Family Credit Union Shamrocks 5K Fun Run It is that time of year again when Heritage Family Credit Union invites everyone to give winter the boot by bringing a wave of green to downtown Rutland. CVR has been invited to join the Heritage O’Family’s Shiver Me Shamrocks 5k Fun Run. The race is Saturday March 15th at 1pm and will start on Center Street in Rutland, VT. You can get more details and register from a link on our website http://www.hfcuvt.com. Sign up today with a special Club code, LOVE2RUN for a 10% discount from now thru the 28th. Calling all Runners – Survey inputs needed! A few Dartmouth students are working on a startup and want your inputs to contribute to their research on how runners purchase, use, and assess the condition of their shoes. The anonymous, 3-minute survey can be accessed here. FOR SALE For sale: Runner’s World Training Journal for Beginners: 52 Weeks of Motivation, Training Tips, Nutrition Advice, and Much More for Runners Who Are Just Starting Out. Like-new condition, 100% unused. https://www.amazon.com/Runners-World-Training-Journal-Beginners/dp/1609615395/ $10. Contact Graham Sherriff at graham.a.sherriff@outlook.com 10% off Opened in October 2022 in Waitsfield Vermont The Mad Rover carries lifestyle and outdoor apparel for all seasons. We carry STIO, KUHL, PRANA, JETTY and FAIR HARBOR to name a few. We stock backpacks and bags, Sunglasses, Jewelry, Socks, Hats and Hydration vessels of all sizes. All CVR members get 10% off. Owner Steve Kenny has been an avid runner for 20 years. |
| Club Needs, Opportunities, and Reminders Quarterly Newsletter Support – Now “Special Editions” Rather than publish a newsletter, we will plan to send out the periodic “special editions” – see above for a call for stories! Membership Renewal – Reminder Stan is sending out a reminder to folks about renewing. Renew so you can continue to receive these amazing newsletters! It takes less than 5 minutes. Check your status! There’s a link to RunReg at https://cvrunners.org/join-cvr (“JOIN CVR”). This page also has a printable form for those who prefer to mail their renewal. Renewing with a multi-year membership means fewer year-end renewals for you and less administration for the club. CVR Equipment Use Anyone wanting to use equipment send Sal (and cc myself) a request that includes 1) Date equipment to be removed from the shed, 2) Itemized list of equipment being removed; including quantities, 3) Date equipment will be returned to the shed. Please send Sal (and cc the club president) and email to let us know when the equipment has been returned. Race Series – 2025Stay tuned for a new poster in the new year! We agreed on some new rules for the next year so check out the Race Series site for more details. Link above. |
Current Club Membership Benefits:
Don’t forget that you get many benefits to being a member!
Meet, run with, and socialize with other area runners of all abilities.
Keep up-to-date on area running races and events.
Receive a regular newsletter with race results and club news.
Be eligible for the Central Vermont Runners/Onion River Outdoors Race Series.
Join a club that’s part of the Road Runners Club of America organization.
RRCA is invaluable for insuring CVR races.
Become eligible for discounts at these area businesses:
Mountain Valley Lotus Massage Therapy — 15% off massages
Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel — 10% off running shoes.
Ski Rack — 15% off running shoes and running apparel.
Onion River Outdoors – 15% off all running gear, including running shoes, running apparel and socks, reflective gear, run vests, etc. Special orders of Hoka and Altra running shoes included.
Club Info:
Elected Officers
President – Heather Tomlins
Vice President – Tim Noonan
Finance – John Valentine
Secretary – Cheryl Lasell
At Large Executive Committee: Anne Treadwell & Dot Helling
John Hackney: website and timing
Donna Smyers: timing
Sal Acosta: Equipment tracking/storage
Stan Brinkerhoff: club membership tracking
Jackie Jancaitis: Race director support
TBD: Winter Group Run organization
Mark Howard: Summer Trail Runs organization
Jeff Prescott: MailChimp Administrator
Ann Bushey: Youth Running Program Grants
Joe Merrill: Race Series Tracking and Awards Dinner MC
Darrel Lasell and Jim Flint: CVR Facebook page managers
CVR Sponsored by
