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Friday, Mar 29, 2024

Runners rock 13.1 at Middlebury Maple Run

Roughly 800 runners gathered at the Middlebury Volunteer Ambulance Association on Sunday, May 1 in preparation for the 13.1-mile challenge before them — the 2011 Middlebury Maple Run. The event, which is now in its third year, drew a crowd from across New England. About 40 percent of the participants live outside the state of Vermont, and some even traveled from California and the state of Washington.
Sue Hoxie, co-director of the marathon, also called “The Sweetest Half,” was immensely pleased with the day. A resident of Brandon, Vt., Hoxie works for the Addison County Chamber of Commerce, and she has been involved in the half-marathon since the get-go.
“No one is hurt, there is good weather and everybody seems to be happy,” she said. “It is a great community event.”
All funds generated from registration fees are donated to charity organizations: 75 percent of the proceeds are given to local groups, including the Girls on the Run programs in Middlebury, Vt. and Brandon, Vt., HOPE and the Open Door Clinic. The other 25 percent is donated to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, as the disease has affected residents of Middlebury. While the specific amount to be donated is still uncertain, the bills from the event had not come in at oress time, a set donation of $1,000 will be contributed to cystic fibrosis.
Andrea Solomon, donor relations event manager at the College and the other co-director of the Maple Run, and said the inclusion of a national organization was done in an effort to attract people from different regions of the country.
“The half-marathon was phenomenal,” she said. “People were psyched to run and the route is really, really beautiful. The fact that it raises money for charities and everyone here is a volunteer is really unique.”
Solomon stressed the importance of the preparation needed to ensure the event ran smoothly. She said the planning process takes an entire year and each month there is a comprehensive list of things to accomplish. A planning committee of eight members, each specializing in a different aspect of race organization, helped Hoxie and Solomon run the event with ease.
“I just feel so lucky to be able to show people the beautiful place we live and raise money at the same time, which is great,” said Solomon.
Several students from the College volunteered at the Maple Run. The track and cross-country teams were especially influential in the successful execution of the day. Terry Aldrich, former track and cross-country coach, is in charge of recruiting volunteers, who worked at the finish line and at the water stations along the course.
“The best part of volunteering is getting to see all the other runners in the area kicking it,” said Cailey Condit ’11, who runs track and cross-country at the College, in an email.
Teammate Sarah O’Brien ’13 agreed.
“It’s fun for us to get to support and cheer on the efforts of other runners,” she said in an email. “The atmosphere of road races is always so positive and it was equally nice to get a lot of thanks from the participants for volunteering.”
Participation has increased each year, and the Maple Run’s popularity continues to grow. In 2009, the event’s first year, there were 250 runners; last year, 500 individuals participated; this year, 800 runners registered. Solomon believes there were an additional 2,000 people watching the race as well.
Angelo Lynn, editor of the Addison Independent and a resident of Middlebury, Vt., is on the organizing committee for the half-marathon and also ran the course, which twists and turns through the town and College campus and past UVM’s Morgan Horse Farm. He believes the team is getting better at planning the event each year and is pleased with the improvements implemented for this year’s race. For the first time, several roads were shut down to vehicular traffic, ensuring a more pleasant running environment. Lynn acknowledged and appreciated greatly the cooperation from the town.
“In my opinion, this is a must do running event,” said Gale Parmelee, who works at WVTK radio, on the Maple Run’s website. “The energy and spirit of the organizers and participants is very positive. As you run through the majestic Middlebury and Weybridge scenery you can’t help but smile and feel great.”
“It’s a great sense of community that showcases very well what life in rural New England, especially Addison County, is all about,” Parmelee said.

It brings people from all corners of New England together. It’s good for the whole town.
-Kim Cook, Weybridge, Vt.

I ran the last mile in conversation with a coffee roaster from across the Green Mountains.
-Misha Gerschel ’13

I’m wiped out, I didn’t train enough.
-John Lyons, West Rutland, Vt.

I know many runners weren’t from Middlebury, but I felt a nice sense of community at the event.
-Grady Trela ’13

Our trainer talked us into it; that’s a nice way of putting it.
-Deb Rathburn, Plainfield, Vt.

I also really appreciated all of the town and College supporters that were cheering us on - they definitely made me smile and reminded me why I was running.
-Lauren Sanchez ’11

I remember looking at this sea of people in front of me and this sea of people behind me as we all moved in a big pack through the heart of Middlebury.
-Emily Mathews, athletic trainer

I just totally love Middlebury and I feel really strongly about HOPE and giving back to the
community.
-Andrea Solomon, donor relations event manager

We liked it so much we came back.
-Dot Martin, Montpelier, Vt.

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