News and Notes

Spring is Here!

I was lucky enough to take a short trip to Ireland recently, and since I’m training for some spring races, I allocated space in my luggage for my running gear. I’m so glad I did. I got out on two great runs, one in Dublin through the spectacular Phoenix Park, and another along a well maintained greenway in County Kerry. Spring has sprung in Ireland already, and it was a nice preview of the coming weeks as I saw daffodils blooming and more greenery than we’ve seen in our region for quite some time. I cam home to the spring stick season, but I know the green stuff is coming soon! I hope you’ve also gotten your training miles in, even if the snow and ice haven’t quite finished with us yet.

And with the arrival of spring, a flurry of new activities as our race season starts to heat up. See below for updates on the race series and our volunteer needs. I’ll still be sending this lengthier newsletter every two weeks, but starting next Monday the 14th, I will start to re-run an interim “events update” email with quick updates on races, volunteer needs, or short requests on the “off” Monday. If you have info to send out, just send me an email and I’ll tuck it away to add to either the regular, longer newsletter, or the shorter events update email. Either way – we’ll get your info out! Some other housekeeping:

Next Club Meeting – Save the Date for May 19 (also looking for suggestions on a location!)
Summer Trail Running – the trail season will be upon us before we know it, trail coordinator Mark Howard is looking to make some changes to the trail series so if you’re interested in helping shape the trail season, reach out to him (howardms@gmail.com) and me (hetomlins@gmail.com) to learn more on how to contribute!
Double Dirt Challenge – many of you have wondered if this is coming back in 2025, and the answer is, likely! But, we’re still waiting on a few details to shake out with Craftsbury. Stay tuned, I should have enough info by the next newsletter to fill you in.
New apparel and kits – Info will be forthcoming in the next few weeks on getting kits and apparel with the new logo – stay tuned as we get organized on our end.

Now, on with the newsletter – table of contents below:

Race Recap: GMAA Sap Run!
CVR Members in the region – Lake Morley Ice Breaker 5K
Race Updates and Volunteer Needs – Paul Mailman on 4/19 is still in need
Winter Group Run Info – last WGR this weekend in Waterbury!
Fun Run and Meetup Info – Bear Naked Growler Tuesdays thru April 29
OLLI Program on April 15 Confirmed – Still Time to Register
CVR Book Club – We Need Reviews!
Other News and Opportunities from around the Region
CVR Birthdays – April 7 – 20

Race Recap: GMAA Sap Run

CVR members take on the Lake Morey Ice Breaker 5K

The CVR members who weren’t representing at the Sap Run were too busy in Fairlee getting their race fix at the Lake Morley Ice Breaker 5K, including Dot Martin who placed third in her age group (F60-69), and Darrel Lasell who placed third in his (M60-69). We also had a CVR sweep of the M70+ category with John Valentine, John Martin, and Bob Murphy taking the full podium (it doesn’t matter that they were the only three in the age group – it counts!). A great showing from Megan Valentine (F40-49) taking second place, and April Farnham in fourth (F50-59)! Congrats to all finishers, looks like it was a fun race!

Race Updates and Volunteer Needs

Upcoming April races:
(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! The poster was just awaiting the new logo files!)

Paul Mailman 10-miler and 5K – April 19th. Registration is now open. Volunteers are still needed – We just need TWO more people. Please volunteer now! We need help with number pickup and with bib recording at the finish line. It’s very important to fill all of the volunteer jobs as soon as possible, so please step up and help us! Email John directly to express interest: jhackney67@gmail.com.
Mutt Strutt 5K – April 27th. Bring your pups and run 3 miles in Waterbury! Race registration is now open. Volunteers needed, sign up on the website!

Coming up in May and June:

Adamant Half Marathon – May 10. It’s not too late to start training for this phenomenal race (or 2-person relay, if you can’t get your mileage up in time!). Registration is open. Volunteers needed, sign up on the website!
Barre Town Spring Run – May 18 (note the date change from Saturday to Sunday!). More details to come on this race.
Capital City Stampede – June 7. This fast and flat 10K and (for the 2nd year now) 5K power walk is back! Also a Vermont Senior Games event. Registration is now open. See the flyer below, volunteers also needed!
ORO Birdland Trail 5K – June 21. A part of the CVR/ORO Race Series, this fun but challenging trail run is a favorite of many CVR members. Check out the details here. Registration is now open!

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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.

Winter Group Run Info – Last WGR is this weekend in Waterbury!

We had runners out last weekend in the snow, and this past Saturday in Middlesex, chasing that winter away as best they could. The WGR season is fast closing down – this weekend will be the last of the season, and hosts Matt and Heidi Dugan are offering up some options in Waterbury. If you want the scoop, more info will come out in the Thursday email, but note the start time this Saturday will be at 8am (an hour earlier than our usual 9am) to avoid traffic issues so take note! After this weekend, officially WGRs are over as Paul Mailman is the following weekend, which signals the end of the WGRs. Please sign up in this Google sheet which will have more details about the meet up as details come together.

Fun Run and Meetup Info – April Meetups at Bear Naked Growler Continue (May 6 – back to the DoL)

From Darrel: For the month of April, 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. 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.

Note that on May 6 (the first Tuesday in May) we will re-convene at the DoL Parking Lot as usual for the Fun Run official season!

OLLI Program on April 15 Confirmed – Still Time to Register

On April 15th Gordon MacFarland is presenting a workshop sponsored by the UVM OLLI (Osher Lifelong Learning Initiative) program entitled Running Strong Past 50: Strategies for Lifelong Fitness. This 90-minute workshop is being held at the Miller Center in North Burlington from 10:30 a.m. to noon. It will be interactive and include some exercises. The intended audience are runners 50 and older who are currently running. Reach out to Gordon with questions at gordon.macfarland@gmail.com. If interested, please register by March 31 as this will ensure there are sufficient numbers to hold the workshop. The registration link can be found here.

CVR Book Club – We Need Reviews!

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!

Other News and Opportunities from the Region and Beyond

Muddy Onion – April 26th
Don’t forget our sponsor Onion River Outdoors’ annual spring gravel ride is back April 26! Registration and details can be found here, and if you aren’t up for a ride but want to volunteer, sign up here!

The Mucker! April 27th

Green Mountain Community Fitness invites you to a fun outdoor trail adventure: The Mucker – an exciting event rounding out a full weekend at this year’s Montpelier Mudfest! This isn’t your typical trail event – oh no! You get to choose your adventure through the beautiful Hubbard Park. Will you Hike, Haul or Hustle? Whether you want to take a leisurely 5k trek, test your stamina with a 5k ruck, or lace up those running shoes for a speedy 5k run, there’s fun for everyone – even the kiddos, with our kid friendly pricing and a Mini Mucker around the statehouse lawn! And for the true trail enthusiasts, don’t miss the Double Hustle for a 5 mile run!

GMCF would like to invite CVR runners to join us with a coupon code for 20% off registration. Entering code “cvrmucker” will get you 20% off registration. This code can be used up to 30 times.
Here is the registration link: https://www.runreg.com/mucker/

Eau Claire (Wisconsin) Marathon – April 27 – Discount Code for CVR!
CVR members interested in this marathon (among other races that weekend) should contact me for the discount code (50%) before registering. This is a Boston Qualifying marathon! See details here.

Saints Shuffle 5K Fun Run/Walk, Friday May 30 – Millstone Trails in Websterville
Scenic trail run past historic granite quarries. Start and finish at the field across from Millstone Lodge. Register by May 10, 2024 to get a t-shirt! All entrants get a raffle ticket and post-race cook-out. More information can be found here.

Hit the Trail! a 5K Run, Bicycle Ride, and Walk for Healthy Aging on September 6, Morrisville
Central Vermont Council on Aging (CVCOA) is hosting Hit the Trail! a 5K Run, Bicycle Ride, and Walk for Healthy Aging on Saturday, September 6th, 2025 on the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail in Morrisville, VT. This event raises funds to support CVCOA’s innovative programs for healthy aging and individualized support for older adults and caregivers in Central Vermont. This event begins and ends at Oxbow Park in downtown Morrisville. Our bike route heads west from this location, encouraging riders to reach Hyde Park for a 5-mile round trip or Johnson for a 15-mile round trip. The more avid riders can make it to Cambridge and back. The 5K run and walk heads east from Oxbow on an out-and-back course. Following the activities on the rail trail, participants will meet back at Oxbow Park for lunch, lawn games, prizes, and music. Register today at http://tiny.cc/HitTrail.

CVR Birthdays – April 7 – 20

Michael Chartrand
Patty Foltz
Jackie Jancaitis
Gordon MacFarland
Jane Miller-Arsenault (new age group!)
Mike Giberti
Daniel Sherman
Luke Miller (new age group!)
Michael Giammusso
Katy Chabot

Club Details and Information on Benefits

Member 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
- Mad Rover – 10% off

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
John Hackney is our new membership coordinator and is spearheading a change in our membership signup system, stay tuned for more details in the coming weeks. However – you can still renew membership via the link on the website at any time!

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 – 2025

Stay 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.

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
John Hackney: club membership tracking
Jackie Jancaitis: Race director support
Katie Hulbert: 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