Vermont is repeatedly ranked the Healthiest State in the nation. From its chiseled farmers to Olympic skiers and riders and mountain biking mommas, it shows. In the Green Mountain State, there’s an ultra-marathon, adventure race, century ride, distance swim or yoga-fest for all athletic appetites. Sports enthusiasts come to train, race, compete, tour and experience the state’s beautiful landscape. Of course, Vermont’s farm to plate culinary scene also plays a large role in fueling and tantalizing visitors and local athletes alike.
Vermont’s sports events schedule is proliferating; plus, the caliber of the events and participation continues to increase and appeal to destination-savvy athletes. Seventy-five percent of marathon runners in the KeyBank Vermont City Marathon, the state’s largest marathon, come from out of state. Other races like the Half Marathon Unplugged doubled in participation in the last two years and the 24th annual FirstRun 5k on New Year’s Day saw 107 percent growth from 2009 to 2012. The fact that the 5k race is growing most quickly, followed by the half marathon, reveal a welcomed increase of new runners regionally, reports RunVermont.
This season's events “run” the gamut from gentle to grueling; the choice is yours:
MAY
Tour of the Dragons: Shires of Vermont - Cycling
Middlebury Maple Run – the Sweetest Half - Running
Mad Triathlon & Kids Triathlon: Mad River Valley - Triathlon
Shires of Vermont Marathon: Bennington & Manchester - Running
KeyBank Vermont City Marathon: Burlington - Running
Killington Stage Race - Cycling
JUNE
Tour de Kingdom: Northeast Kingdom - Cycling
Tour de Heifer: Brattleboro - Cycling
Wanderlust: Stratton Mountain - Yoga
Long Trail Century Ride to Benefit Vermont Adaptive Sports: Killington - Cycling
LAX Bitter Lacrosse Tournament: Stowe - Lacrosse
Northern Champlain Century: Champlain Islands - Cycling
New England Tri Fest: Fairlee - Triathlon & Duathlon
JULY
Kingdom Swim: Newport - Swimming
Mad Marathon: Mad River Valley - Running
The Great Race Triathlon XXXIV: St. Albans - Triathlon & Duathlon
Vermont Mountain Bike Festival: Ascutney - Mountain Biking
Stowe 8 Miler - Running
The Biggest Loser RunWalk: July 28, Killington - Running
AUGUST
Catamount Classic: August 3-4, Williston - Mountain Biking
Tough Mudder: August 10-11, Mount Snow - Obstacle Race
Harpoon Point to Point: August 10, Windsor - Cycling
The Vermont Challenge: August 15-18 - Cycling
100 on 100: August 17 - Running
SEPTEMBER
Grizzly Triathlon, Stratton Mountain Resort: Sept. 1 - Off-Road Triathlon
Green Mountain Stage Race: Aug 29-Sept. 2 - Cycling
Spartan Beast Race: Sept. 21-22 - Obstacle Race
Vermont Sports & Outdoors Scene by the Numbers:
50+ Vermont State Parks
273 miles of the Long Trail
7,000 miles of rivers and streams, including part of the 740 mile Northern Forest Canoe Trail
50+ alpine and Nordic ski areas
212 miles of Vermont shoreline along Lake Champlain, the nation’s sixth largest lake
200 Vermont Outdoor Guide Association (VOGA) outfitters and services ready to assist
223 Mountains
18 Mountain Bike Clubs in the Vermont Mountain Bike Association
626,000 Residents
9,200 sq. miles of land; 76 percent forested
Bonus: Local brews to toast your athletic endeavor? One for every mile of a marathon, plus some: 27 breweries.
Happy Training!