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Latest reviews by Rachel Drew
Rachel Drew recommends this race
(2015)
"Challenging, But Not Impossible"
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
Parking/Access
Race Management
Pre-Race:
Registration was available online and increased in price incrementally as race day approached. I had a 20% off code and registered at the early bird rate, so I ended up paying only about $80 (I ran the shortest available course, the 5ish mile Spartan Sprint). Race day registration was available, but quite expensive.
Parking was a breeze--I arrived an hour before my scheduled heat (10:15 am) and had minimal traffic to deal with, and got a parking space pretty close to the start/finish line. Shuttle buses ran every few minutes to carry runners from the further away lots. The registration area was very well organized--tents were set up for specific bib number ranges, and I had my packet within minutes of arrival. Extra waivers were available if you forgot to fill yours out in advance, and bib numbers were listed in case you forgot yours. My only gripe at this point was that spectators had to pay a $25 fee just to watch the race, which to me seems like blatant money grabbing. No one should have to pay to stand around and watch a race.
Waves of runners were released every 15 minutes, and there was a brief warm up before each wave. Plenty of porta-potties about 200 yards from the starting line, all of which were relatively clean and had LOTS of extra TP. Several vendor tents were in the area as well.
During the Race:
Overall, the toughest part of doing any Spartan race at Killington is the fact that you essentially have to go up and down the mountain. The elevation gain/drop is no joke, and since it rained on Saturday night, the trails were quite slick and muddy at times. The views, however, were absolutely gorgeous. The course was supposed to be about 5 miles and have 20+ obstacles, but I sat down after the race and even though I'm confident I remembered every obstacle I came up against, I only came up with 16 total. I guess you could count the mountain itself as an obstacle or two.
The obstacles we faced were not as challenging as I initially feared--climbing up and over things at about 4-5 feet high was a common theme, along with climbing up a rope, rock climbing walls, a spear throw, sandbag carry, jumping over fire, barbed wire crawl, tire pull etc etc. The penalty for any obstacle you're unwilling or unable to complete is 30 burpees, but nobody is really watching you and counting unless you're in a competitive heat, so you could totally just skip them if you didn't feel up to it.
The "up" portion was very grassy, as we were going parallel to a lift line. The "down" portion was a lot of single track trail--muddy, rooty, and rocky. My second complaint is this: there are often Sprinters, Beasters, Ultra Beasters, and "elites" on the course at the same time, and those who are more competitive tend to yell and push around those who are just out there to finish. I witnessed several near collisions and one instance where an "elite" runner was so focused on pushing past a group on the single track trail that he went off track and ended up tripping and falling, hard. I strongly feel that there should be completely separate competitive and non-competitive days, to avoid situations like this. I know it's hard, particularly because the Beat and Ultra Beast courses take so long to complete (anywhere from 7-11 hours), but it's not safe to have people pushing other people around like that, especially when the course is already so challenging.
Third complaint: there wasn't a water/hydration station until mile 3.5. Most sprinters didn't bring Camelbaks or water bottles, assuming that there would be hydration available on course, as advertised. Thankfully, it wasn't a super sunny or warm day, but even so, by the time I reached the water station, I was already dehydrated, and ended up getting some ferocious calf cramps at several points during the race, to the point where I couldn't even walk. If the day had been any hotter, I doubt I would have made it through the entire course.
Post-Race:
Immediately upon finishing and receiving my medal, there was a Clif tent where they had several flavors of Builder Protein bars available. I also got a really delicious, Paleo-friendly, gluten-free recovery drink called FitAid, and half a banana. There was a tent for post-race photos, and then there was a beer garden set up in the center, and each runner got a free beer, either Shock Top or Goose Island on tap. There was a large area for hosing off, but no actual showers, and changing tents for men and women. Killington Resort had also opened up their lodge and was selling food, but it was incredibly expensive. The shuttle buses continued to run every few minutes to bring runners back to their cars, which was very helpful.
In addition to the medal and beer, each finisher received a "Finisher" shirt, which was a nice cotton/poly blend. I was just disappointed because they were a unisex fit, and I would have liked something cut a bit nicer for women. I also felt rushed in making the size decision and wish I'd taken a bit more time, because the shirt I ended up with is far too big to wear other than around the house. For the price of registration, a tech shirt would have been nice, too, but what can you do?
Overall:
Spartan events seem to be very well run, and I only had a few complaints, which I will reiterate here:
- MUST have more hydration on course for Sprinters
- For safety reasons, I would prefer separate days and or times for competitive runners so they're not pushing non-competitive runners around
- Regarding t-shirts, gender specific sizing is always preferred, and I would have loved a tech shirt I could actually run/train in rather than the cotton/poly blend
- Charging spectators $25 to watch the event is NOT OK
Otherwise, it was a challenging, but totally doable event for someone who is reasonably athletic, and I had a lot more fun than I expected to.
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Rachel Drew recommends this race
(2015)
"Nice Little Trail Race"
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
Parking/Access
Race Management
Registration/Pre-Race:
Registration was available online until a few days before the race, and then race day registration was available as well, but was $10 more. Packet pick up was available at the Local Fleet Feet for a few hours the day before the race, but I just made use of race-day pickup.
There were no lines, and plentiful parking within a quarter mile of the race start. Things were a bit more congested than usual because there was a dog agility show happening at the Field House at the same time, but runners still had access to indoor space in case of inclement weather, as well as real bathrooms. There was a very small turnout (probably about 50 for the 5k and maybe 30 or so for the 10k), so I never really had to wait for anything.
The race directory always makes announcements before the races, which could have been significantly shorter, but c'est la vie. There were no corrals or wave starts; the 5k and 10k started at the same time.
Race
This race is an out and back mostly on trails; only the first and last little chunks are on the road. You start out running down Harbor Rd, then turn onto the Ti-Haul Trail, which is a mostly flat, and pretty well-shaded crushed gravel trail. The 5k turnaround was just before the end of the Ti-Haul, while 10k runners continued on across Bay Rd and onto the Shelburne Bay Rec Path. This trail is also mostly well-shaded, but has some challenging rolling hills. To get to the turnaround point, one has to get up a pretty brutal incline. The water station was at the turnaround point, and there were three volunteers handing out water and electrolytes. Unfortunately, the hills go both ways, so you don't really get a break on the way back, but it's quite beautiful.
Post-Race
The race is not chip-timed, but there are multiple volunteers standing by watching the clock to ensure that results are as accurate as possible. Bottles of water were available right at the finish line, and there were also quartered oranges, bananas, and bagels with cream cheese or peanut butter. There was a local chiropractic office on site offering free stretches, and a couple of massage therapists offering free massages.
The 5k race was RRCA certified, so there were a lot of awards for that. For the 10k, there were awards for the overall male and female winners, as well as first place in each 5 year age group. The prizes were pretty good--a Vermont Teddy Bear wearing a race shirt for 1st overall, bottle of wine for 2nd overall, and RaceVermont pint glasses for age groups. Because the results are not "official," there was some confusion during the awards ceremony. This is something that RaceVermont needs to work on, because I've witnessed this issue at their races before. After awards, there was also a raffle with some great prizes: Tifosi sunglasses, Balega socks, various pieces of running apparel, and gift certificates to Fleet Feet and the chiropractic office that was on site.
Overall
If you are a speedy runner looking for a possible age group award, this might be a good race for you due to the small turnout. Keep in mind that the trail has a lot of rolling hills and you'll be fine. RaceVermont may not have the most streamlined process, but they're small enough that they really care about their runners, and do their best to put on events that people can enjoy. Most of their races start and end at the Shelburne Athletic Field House, so there is a place to get indoors, and real bathrooms, which is always a bonus. And registration fees are very reasonable--$20 for a 10k is pretty good.
Rachel Drew recommends this race
(2015)
"Fun Event, but Needs Logistical Improvement"
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
Parking/Access
Race Management
This was the inaugural event for this race, and it definitely needs improvement. The race is a fundraiser for Martha's Barn, Inc, an organization dedicated to "providing a therapeutic environment for individuals with autism and developmental disabilities." This is a new organization that is trying to get the start-up capital to actually open. Martha is one of my sister's students, so it was a cause I was happy to support.
Registration/Pre-Race:
Online registration was available until the day before the event. There were no bibs; your cotton race t-shirt marked you as a participant. There was plenty of signage and plenty of parking at the Champlain Valley Expo. Upon arrival, it looked like things were still being set up, but there were lots of fun activities--bubble wands, badminton, volleyball and other games. Super Sounds DJ was there playing music and making announcements. We also had access to real bathrooms, which was nice.
The race started almost 45 minutes late, because they were waiting for some family members to arrive and participate. It seemed like most of the people at the event were friends or family of the organizers, so not one minded much.
Race:
The course was two loops through the Expo fairgrounds, which are not terribly scenic. The course was well-marked with balloons, and was relatively flat. Unfortunately, the course was almost a full mile short; my Garmin measured it to be about 2.3 miles, which was a bummer. There was a water table at the start/finish line, so runners could grab water as needed, but there were no volunteers handing cups out. Timing was very unofficial, there was just a guy at the finish line calling out times. Times were not recorded, and there were no Age Group or Overall placement awards.
Post-Race:
There was plenty of water and food on hand after the race, all by donation, which was a pretty good deal. Nectar's was there serving up their famous gravy fries, plus hot dogs and hamburgers. There was also watermelon, iced tea, lemonade, and Ben & Jerry's ice cream. The DJ continued playing music, so it was a fun atmosphere. There were some great raffle prizes available as well.
Overall:
This could be a really great race with just a little bit of extra knowledge and effort on the part of organizers. As I stated above, it seemed like most of the participants were friends and family, but I think with better organization and some additional perks (bibs, accurate course, official timing, AG and overall awards), they could draw in more runners from the community and ultimately have a more successful fundraiser. Regardless of the limitations, it was a fun event for a good cause, and I'd run it again.
Rachel Drew recommends this race
(2015)
"Great Race for a Great Cause"
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
Parking/Access
Race Management
This is the second year in a row I've run this race, and I still love it. My only complaint is that the parking situation was not great this year--there was a lacrosse tournament happening at the school at the same time, so parking was tight, especially if, like me, you arrived 15 minutes before the start. Registration is only $20, and in addition to the timed 5k, there is a 5k "fun run" option, which allows dogs, strollers, bikes, hula hoops... anything you want. Bib pickup is only offered on race day. This is an annual fundraising event for the Vermont Respite House, so you have the option to use a fundraising website, but you don't have to raise funds in order to participate. All proceeds go directly to the Vermont Respite House, providing end-of-life care to terminally ill Vermonters.
Pros:
- Friendly, enthusiastic volunteers
- Party atmosphere pre-race--DJ'd music, face painting etc
- Access to real toilets
- Indoor space pre- and post-race in case of inclement weather
- Mostly flat course that measured pretty true with my Garmin
- Multiple water stations
- Generous, varied post-race spread--fruit, bagels, granola bars, coffee, juice, water and more
- 1st and 2nd place medals for each 10 year age group
- Free folding water bottle
- Supports a great organization
Cons:
- Parking was pretty full
- Cotton t-shirt
This is definitely a race worth running, and I plan to keep the tradition alive as long as I live nearby.
Rachel Drew recommends this race
(2015)
"Late Start = Too Hot to Race"
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
Parking/Access
Race Management
Pre-Race:
Registration started out with early bird pricing of $50, and went up to $60 for race-day registration. There were also tickets available just for the Brew Fest, or for designated drivers. Parking/traffic were a bit tough, but if you got there early enough you wouldn't have an issue. Even though we didn't get into the parking area until 15 minutes before the start, we ended up parking pretty close to the registration tent.
Registration was a bit of a cluster. There were 6 "lines" for different bib number ranges crammed into a really small area, so it just became one big, disorganized clump. You also had to find your bib number on a sheet of paper on a table on the opposite side BEFORE you could get in line, which was a little confusing. I wish they had emailed our bib numbers in advance, because I think that would have helped eliminate confusion and congestion.
There were plenty of port-a-potties, which was nice, but the confusion at the registration tent caused a lot of people (myself included) not to get to the start line on time. By the time I got to the start area, the crowd had already started moving, so I missed any pre-race announcements or pump up stuff they may have done.
Race:
The noon start time was rough due to the temperature--it was in the 80's and very humid. I understand they needed the later start because of the Brew Fest, it was just tough. The course itself is pretty nice--a few rolling hills on roads and a bike path around Stowe, VT. We even ran by some cows who were mooing as we ran by, and a family set up an unofficial "beer station" in their front yard, complete with fun signs leading up to it.
There was one official water station at about the halfway point, but it was set where the route turned from the road onto a narrow bike path, and in my opinion, the table wasn't big enough/there weren't enough volunteers, because when I ran by, there was a line of runners stopped and waiting in line for water. Running on the bike path was difficult at times because it was narrow, so passing people was tough if people were running more than 2 abreast, and I definitely got stuck a couple of times.
Post-Race:
There were volunteers right at the finish line handing out bottles of water and medals. I had one volunteer totally ignore me and turn away from me when I tried to get my water and medal, but another volunteer swooped in immediately to help me out. The medals are really nice--they're bottle openers, and the ribbons have the location and date on them.
The post-race brew fest was VERY nice. Most of the breweries were under a large tent, which offered a refuge from the sun. There were several food trucks around so that runners could get food, and there were about 40 breweries in attendance, most of which were local Vermont breweries. There was also a cornhole pitch set up in the middle of the field, and some Adirondack chairs scattered around.
Results were posted on the side of a truck shortly after the finish, and they were also emailed out to runners within a few hours. I have no idea if they did any kind of awards; I was too busy sampling beer. In addition to the medal, all runners received a Craft Brew Races pint glass.
Overall:
Despite the registration table issues and late start, I really enjoyed this race. I would just recommend getting there early enough to park and get through registration in time, and remember that a later start equals a hotter race.