Lace up your running shoes for the best 13.1 miles in New England. The 33rd Covered Bridges Half Marathon (CBHM) is taking place on June 1. “I’ve been involved with Covered Bridges Half Marathon for 25 years, so I’m excited we’ll be celebrating our 33rd anniversary. The community has embraced our event with their support and economic benefit,” says Mike Silverman, race codirector along with Nancy Nutile McMenemy.

Established in 1992, the race is sponsored by CBHM, Inc., a nonprofit that organizes running events and donates the proceeds to charity in addition to four local youth recreation programs in Woodstock, Hartford, Hartland, and Lebanon. This year, CBHM is partnering with other organizations, including David’s House, The Family Place, Positive Tracks, Upper Valley Haven, and WISE. “Their runners pledge to raise a minimum dollar amount, so we have the opportunity to raise money for their individual causes,” explains Mike, noting last year the five nonprofits combined raised $125,000. “We’re proud to have them work together to help each other’s missions.”

 

Beautiful but Challenging

The award-winning Point-to-Point race, covering the best running routes around Woodstock, begins at 8:15am at Saskadena Six Ski Area in Pomfret, meanders through Woodstock Village, and finishes at Dewey Mills Field in Quechee. A new course record was set last year by Adam Martin Caldwell at 1:06:28. The course was uniquely designed around four covered bridges, with runners passing through two of them. “With live bands along the course and community members cheering them on, runners are inspired by them and the wonderful landscape of farmlands, New England homes, dirt roads, and the river,” says Mike. “There are many other half marathons these days, but not many take place on such an amazing scenic course. It’s probably the flattest course in Vermont with a few little hills along the way, so it can be fast and challenging,” he adds, noting it’s a competitive race that also draws runners not only from Vermont but also from New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New York, and Connecticut, among others. “The race brings in over 3,500 individuals to the area who are introduced to Woodstock and surrounding towns. Many are tourists who come back, and some even buy homes here.”

To maintain its small-town feel, CBHM works with local groups, including the Upper Valley Running Club, and limits the number of entrants to 2,300 general public and 250 nonprofits. “But we expect about 2,000 at the start line,” says Mike, noting that registration is closed, but people can sign up with a nonprofit and contact them directly. “Although we could handle more runners, we don’t want to disrupt the local population and roadways with our spectator traffic.”

 

Food, Music, and Fun

The night before, the Woodstock Chamber of Commerce hosts a prerace pasta supper prepared by Woodstock Inn & Resort and local restaurants at Saskadena Six Ski Area. The community food event is serviced by local volunteers from Change the World Kids, a local nonprofit in Woodstock comprised of middle- and high school–age youth undertaking humanitarian and environmental efforts.

To add to the festivities, local bands from the Upper Valley will be playing live at the pasta supper and along the racecourse and at the finish line. An awards ceremony will be held at the finish line and will feature free beer from Harpoon Brewery of Windsor and ice cream from The Lazy Cow of Baltimore. Medals and prizes along with commemorative T-shirts and hats will be distributed by the Hartland Boy Scouts.

“Being an annual event, the marathon offers many community members something to look forward to, to gather along the sidewalks in the towns we pass through and cheer on the runners,” says Mike. “It’s a community race that supports all the communities we travel through and represents the best of what a Vermont community is.” For more information, visit cbhm.com.

 

Covered Bridges Half Marathon (CBHM)  

http://cbhm.com/