Daily Runs in Burlington

We’ve had outrageously perfect weather for the past 3 weeks of CRT daily runs, which has given us the chance to explore some great routes.  Usually we have about 4 to 8 runners when we take off at 5:15 for our runs, which are either at the waterfront, UVM bike paths, or the new Prospect Street Loop that we tried last Tuesday, which turned out to be a fairly flat 3.25 mile course through residential neighborhoods.  On Thursdays we do a community run starting at SkiRack on Main Street.  The weather looks like it will be rainy this coming Monday for practice, but hopefully it will clear up later in the week so we can enjoy these great autumn temperatures for our daily runs!

Catamount Purple

Five runners arrived at the Catamount Race in Williston, VT seven minutes before the starting gun. With paperwork to fill out, safety pins to attach, and the decision whether or not to run to the bathroom; the race began before we knew it. Imagine 140 runners in a single file trail for 3.1miles (5K) running in 5-7min miles. David Mortner took an early lead, and having not run the course before, placed 5th overall. Other runners, Jeffrey Campell, Adam Tinker and Bret Dewhurst all finished in under 20 minutes in what was the fatest race the CRT has seen yet.

The absence of bees swarming the course was a positive, but the trails made this course difficult, and tunnel vision kicked in for most of the runners. Ever been chased by a bear in the woods? This course will teach you what it's like. And for those of you who want to experience this mind-numbing course, with a challenging hill, and more wraparounds and turns than the backroads of Vermont, you have one last shot. On September 22nd, 2009 at 6:15pm, you better believe the CRT will tackle Catamount one last time. Will it be the Purple Course we ran this week? Maybe the Blue or the Invitational? Or will it be the dreaded Pink Course; which synonyms include hell, terrifying, and catastophic. Only time will tell.

Archie Post 5 Miler

            CRT hit the ground running with out first race this Saturday, September 12^th.    CRT members Janine Allo, Jeff Mandell, Craig Pepin, Bret Dewhurst, and I faced the Archie Post 5 miler (that’s right 5 miles, not K) among about 150 other runners.  The race was a casual affair.  There was no gun at the start and the starting line itself was at seemingly random juncture in a quiet neighborhood next to the Burlington Country Club.  For most of the race, we ran on a beautiful bike path that winded through some forest areas with giant pine trees to finish at the UVM Gutterson Field House.  If you missed the race, I would recommend doing a long run on the course, because it is a great route.  The two biggest bonuses to the race, though were that 1) it was a surprisingly (and for most of the race, unnervingly) flat course for Burlington, with only one long, gradual hill over the last mile, and 2) there were $10 FleetFeet gift certificates for all finishers!  With our upcoming 5ks, CRT plans to have even more representation at races, so keep checking you email or Champlain Running Team on Facebook for updates.     

CRT Kickoff

            If you’ve run before, you know that a beautiful city; fun, interesting people; sick t-shirts; and pasta parties make powerhouse teams.  This Tuesday, September 8^th is going to kickoff the Champlain Running Team (CRT) for 2009-10, and we’ve got all the necessities to crank through the year, as well as bonuses like cheap (or FREE) race entries and the opportunity to meet 50 other Champlain College students and staff who are as dedicated to running as you are.  The team is open to athletes who are strapping on their first pair of running shoes this fall and seasoned runners, so make sure to be there on Tuesday, no matter what your ability.  The meeting starts at 5 at Skiff Hall, but if you can’t make it and would like some more info, email Bret Dewhurst and bdewhurst@champlain.edu.   Also, make sure to come dressed for an easy run at the waterfront after the meeting!