CVR Birthdays February 24 – March 9
Happy Birthday to: Grace Acosta, Ava Shanley, Don Singer, Stan Brinkerhoff, Jonnie Dunne, Carl Etnier, Kae Zaino, Ruth Hannah Brown, Peter Maurais, John Diebold, Ariane Kissam, Cal Hale, Peter Weeks, and Alex Lahr!
Hello from Montpelier,
If you take a look down below at the pic sent to me by Darrel Lasell from last week’s Tuesday night informal fun run from the Bear Naked Growler, you can see that it’s still pretty light at 5:30….February always makes me start thinking about springtime, even though I know this is treacherous thinking in Vermont because we all know spring doesn’t really come until almost Memorial Day. But never mind – we can still celebrate more light and later dusk – don’t throw those headlamps into the bin just yet, but we’re getting closer to that point in the year when you can do a post-work run and not have to think about too much extra gear! But, speaking of winter running, check out Matt Dugan’s report from this past weekend on Mount Washington…that is definitely a place winter continues to reign!
Meanwhile, the annual meeting is coming up fast. We are still looking for a hostfor the afternoon of Sunday, March 16 – can you help us out? Please reply to this newsletter to offer your home, or suggest a no-cost community space that may be available to host us. Agenda will be circulated in the next week but agenda items are always welcome!
Happy (winter) running,
Heather
Foolish Frozen Four Engage in Frosty Mount Washington Follies
by Matt Dugan
As if 12 degrees at the start, intermittent snowfall, and slick powdery uphill surfaces weren’t enough, there was the blasting headwind near the finish that threatened to push you backwards as you clawed your way toward a timing strip which was held in place by large rocks so that it wouldn’t fly off into the valley off the Mount Washington Auto Road.
For those who’ve looked at this winter and say, “Meh. I want more winter,” you missed your chance if you weren’t in the White Mountains of New Hampshire on Sunday, Feb. 23 for the Ski, Shoe & Fatbike To The Clouds race, which bills itself as “North America’s Toughest 10k.”
Supporting this claim was one snowshoe runner whose cheering squad caught sight of him coming down the mountain after the race and shouted out, “How did it go?!” to which he responded with a three-word sentence, the first word starting with “f” and the third word starting with “s.”
Yet perhaps the truest testament to the challenging nature of race is evidenced by the fact that it was Darrel Lasell’s only race of the weekend.
(L to r) Darrel, Matt, Heidi, and Laura after the race … huddling together for warmth
Darrel was joined by fellow CVR-ers Laura Lapierre and Heidi and Matt Dugan in the snowshoe category. Because the race does not offer rides back down the mountain from the finish line, snowshoe runners get an extra bonus in that, for free, they get to run back down to the start.
Heidi finishing (Photos courtesy of Darrel, as Matt’s hands were too frozen to work a camera)
However, fine local beer and delicious chili awaited the participants so they could have the opportunity to gather and tell each other, “Never again” while thinking they’ll probably see each other again next year.
Laura finishing!
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 still 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 March 1!
This past weekend, the crew got out on some new routes in Marshfield! Thank you to host Mark Howard for the suggestion and for sending folks to Outer Spice in Plainfield for coffee and treats after. We are still looking for a potential host for this Saturday (March 1st), 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.
Look at that LIGHT!!!! The days are indeed getting longer!!!
CVR Running Book Club – Reviews Wanted!
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. If you have a submission to share, send to Anne or Heather anytime for publication in the next newsletter!
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 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: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.Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel — 10% off running shoes.Ski Rack — 15% off running shoes and running apparel.Mountain Valley Lotus Massage Therapy — 15% off massages |
| 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 Katie Hilbert: 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 |
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