New President’s Note

I look forward to my second go-around as CVR President. My first tenure spanned 1988 and 1989. Yes, that was a long time ago – 38 years have passed since I first served as CVR President. That is a CVR record that will be difficult to beat! Maybe Donna will be motivated to break it. Back then, we sponsored only 5 races. These races and Tuesday fun runs were the focus of the club. One event during this time that sticks in my head is Gordon MacFarland attending a CVR meeting to garner our support for a new marathon in our backyard he was founding – the Vermont City Marathon. Many CVR runners including me were thrilled to participate in the inaugural marathon in 1989.

CVR has grown by leaps and bounds over the ensuing decades. We have well over 300 runners, sponsor around 20 races (including the CVR-ORO Race Series), continue to do Tuesday fun runs (both officially at our traditional site and unofficially beginning at Bear Naked Growler), gather for winter runs and trail runs, support local running programs in the schools and community, etc. It is energizing to be part of such a vibrant group spanning all ages. When I agreed to succeed Heather as president, it was with the condition that I would not be responsible for putting out CVR News and Notes every other week. This of course was convenient for me given my limited technological skills but I also thought the growth of the club in size and activities placed too many responsibilities on the president to also handle this vital communications tool. Thankfully, Addie Hedges has come forward to fill the new role of Communications Coordinator and Heather will add her expertise to work with Addie during this transition.  We are fortunate to have them.

Sincerely,
Tim Noonan

Newsletter Changes are Coming!

As a note, our new Communications Coordinator, Addie Hedges, will be taking over the newsletter in the coming weeks. Be on the lookout for a new format and also ensure your membership is renewed, as we will be changing from our MailChimp system to sending out the newsletter via RunSignUp. To ensure that you continue to receive this newsletter, check your membership status and renew if needed today!

Newsletter Highlights and Contents – March 22-April 4

• Race Updates and Volunteer Needs
• CVR Annual Meeting and New Board Members
• CVR at the Shamrock Shuffle
• Winter Group Runs Updates
• Fun Run – at Bear Naked Growler through end of April
• Other News, Opportunities, and Classifieds
• CVR Birthdays

Race Updates and Volunteer Needs

March Events:

*This Saturday* March 28 – The GMAA Sap Run is this weekend – part of our CVR/ORO Race Series, check out this fun 10K.

On deck for Spring 2026

• April 18 – Paul Mailman 10 miler and 5K – Register here. Meanwhile, volunteers are still needed – Volunteer using RunSignup at RSU Volunteers OR on the CVR homepage at https://cvrunners.org OR email John Hackney at info@cvrunners.org.  
• April 26 – the Mutt Strut – Get out there with your pup! And help raise money for Potter’s Angels again on April 26 for this fun 3-miler for a great cause. Register here.
• May 3 – Adamant Half Marathon – Register today! Use your Paul Mailman training to seamlessly head toward this wonderful race. Donna also needs volunteers, please sign up on the website below.
• May 17 – Barre Town Spring Run – more info to come on this 5K soon!
• June 6 – Capital City Stampede – registration now open as well! More to come for this fun, fast 10k!

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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.

CVR Annual Meeting and New Board Members

Thank you to all who gathered last Sunday for our busy annual meeting at the Four Corners Schoolhouse in East Montpelier. Minutes are posted on the website here.

New Club Board
Welcome and congratulations to our new board members! Though the positions of President and Vice President are term-limited and typically turn over every 1-2 years, unusually this year we had openings for Treasurer and Secretary as well. Say hello to your new board:

President – Tim Noonan
Vice President – Nick Becker
Secretary – Jennifer Dickinson
Treasurer – Graham Sherriff
Members at Large – Dot Helling, Hannah Brown
(Most recent past president Heather Tomlins also serving on the board for a time per the bylaws)

Other Roles/Committees
We also created a Finance Committee to provide recommendations to the club on finances and budget, consisting of past treasurer John Valentine, as well as members Jim Flint and Gordon McFarland, joined by the President and Treasurer.

We also welcome some new faces to our appointed roles, including Mark Howard (memberships coordinator), Sean Sheehan (youth grants coordinator), and Addie Hedges (communications coordinator). Thank you to all for your support and willingness to provide additional duties to make the club successful!

CVR Represents at the Shamrock Shuffle

An incredible time was had by a wide swath of CVR members at the annual Shamrock Shuffle in Lebanon, NH (also for the last few years, part of our CVR/ORO Race Series!), with so many CVR members getting podium spots (especially in the 50+ age groups) that we found ourselves pretty much constantly cheering for a familiar name. All results and race photos can be found here. Congratulations to all the participants and age group winners!

Winter Group Runs Updates

This past weekend, a group braved the slushy yet somehow also icy AND muddy roads of East Montpelier and Adamant (never forget March contains multitudes) – thank you to host Nick Becker for suggesting the adventure!

Hosts needed for a few more weekends – we go until the weekend before Mailman! Get details on the weekly runs as they come together on the Google sheet here. Note that WGRs will be taking off at 9:30am on Saturdays this winter. Sign up to host at this google sheet, or email Jessica Ball, our WGR coordinator, at jessica.petrino@gmail.com. 

Email Heather or Donna ASAP if you not getting our Thursday WGR emails! We send out a Thursday blast with details of the coming WGR in a special note. You can also always find details on the google sheet above! 

Fun Run – Still Unofficial!

Unofficial Fun Runs are still happening at the Growler until May! Meet at the Bear Naked Growler on Tuesdays for a run along the bike path at 5:30pm. Good news: you can put that reflective gear in the closet again – yay for later sunsets!

Other News, Regional Opportunities, and Classifieds

The 9th Annual Saints Shuffle 5K Fun Run/Walk fundraiser benefiting St. Monica – St. Michael School will take place on Friday, May 29th at Millstone Trails (59 Little John Rd., Websterville, VT). The Kids 1K will start at 5:00 PM, followed by the 5K at 6:00 PM. Participants who complete the race will receive finisher medals, and the event will also feature food trucks, refreshments and a raffle. You can register online at https://runsignup.com/Race/VT/Websterville/SaintsShuffle. Those who sign up online by Monday, May 11th will receive a free souvenir t-shirt.

CVR Birthdays – March 22 – April 4

• Meg Allison
• Bob Emmons
• Celia Riechel
• Tom Mowatt (new age group!)
• Richard Wiswall
• Kevin Mudgett
• Katie Hulbert
• Jennifer Gordon
• Isabella Meyer
• Daniel Keeney
• Julia Matte
• Dawn Scott
• Arielle Tatar

Club Details and Information on Benefits

Member Benefits – don’t forget your benefits! All details on benefits and how to access them can be found here.
 

Membership Renewal – Reminder 
Mark Howard is our new membership coordinator. If you want to renew your membership, check on the details on the website here. 

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.

CVR/ORO Races Series details

Elected Officers
President – Tim Noonan
Vice President – Nick Becker
Finance – Graham Sherriff
Secretary – Jennifer Dickinson
At Large Executive Committee: Dot Helling, Hannah Brown

John Hackney: website and timing
Donna Smyers: timing
Sal Acosta: Equipment tracking/storage
Mark Howard: club membership tracking
Jackie Jancaitis: Race director support
Jessica Ball: Winter Group Run organization
Mark Howard: Summer Trail Runs organization
Jeff Prescott: MailChimp Administrator
Sean Sheehan: Youth Running Program Grants
Joe Merrill: Race Series Tracking and Awards Dinner MC
Addie Hedges: Communications Coordinator / Instagram manager
Darrel Lasell and Jim Flint: CVR Facebook page managers