Advice for spectators (it's all about you)

I really appreciated all the support and cheering you guys gave me last year during the race. Hopefully you will feel like coming out again this year, and hopefully you won't have to stand in the pouring rain while waiting for me to show up at the finish line.

Here's information to make your spectator experience as enriching as possible:


SATURDAY:

There's a Sports and Fitness Expo at the Sheraton: scores of vendors with outdoor gear, running gear, freebies, samples and deals. Note the nervous runners all around you. Shops your hearts out, then check out some of the short films, speakers and slide shows that are going on upstairs from the exhibition hall. More info here

SUNDAY:

Logistics

About 8,000 runners will be on the race course Sunday, and up to 40,000 spectators will be watching them. (That’s the whole population of Burlington!) Here’s some advice for joining that crowd:

Parking:
Do not attempt to park near the Waterfront or near Battery Park, unless you feel like getting there at 7 a.m. Best to park downtown, the city garages on Cherry Street are a good bet. Meters will be off because it's Sunday.

Starting line:
The starting gun for the marathon goes off at 8:05 a.m., after the wheelchair races at 8:00. The race starts at Battery Park, with runners heading south on Battery Street briefly, then turning left onto Pearl Street. I will be somewhere in Battery Park by 7:20 a.m. Let me know if you want to meet up for coffee and donuts.

Finish line:
The elite runners will cross the finish line a bit after 10 a.m. I will be right behind them at 1:30 p.m.... maybe 2:00 p.m. The end of the race course makes a big loop of Waterfront Park: runners come in by the Coast Gaurd station, follow the boardwalk the Echo Center, make a sharp left onto the grass, then loop back a 1/4 mile to the finish line. The "infield" created by that loop is a good place to watch the finish. Just listen carefully to the crossing guards who keep spectators out of the way of runners, and do what you're told.

Party:
In Burlington's tradition of every-weekend-a-festival-for-something, there should be plenty of good times in Waterfront Park for the finish line party: food, ice cream, music, tons of people laughing, crying, passing out in their aluminum blankies.

Marathon “I Spy”

The wheelchair racers are pretty amazing; Flash Gordon dressed in red spandex with gold lightning bolts; elite runners at the head of the race - they are super fast; Taiko Drummers at the bottom of Battery Hill; random guy in Speedo with an accordion, on Pearl Street in the first mile.

Where to find me during the race

I will be wearing a black running skirt (love it!), pink tank top and possibly a blue shirt if it’s chilly, tan and gray baseball cap, sunglasses. I won’t be wearing my name on my shirt, but I’m not judging those who do.

You can look for me at the popular spectator locations at the times below. This is a really rough estimate – I might be faster, or I could be much, much slower.

8:05 a.m. STARTING LINE, Battery Park
8:40 a.m. Church Street - going uphill (Mile 3)
9:53 a.m. Church Street again - going downhill (Mile 9)
10:41 a.m. Oakledge Park (Mile 13)
11:05 a.m. Top of Battery Hill, Battery Park (Mile 15)
12:11 p.m. North Ave, Flynn School (Mile 20.5)
1:17 p.m. Waterfront boardwalk (Mile 26)
1:20 p.m. FINISH LINE - Waterfront Park (Mile 26.2)

I should definitely make it to the finish by 2:00 p.m.

The area around Battery Park-Church Street-Waterfront Park is ideal for seeing the runners several times without having to walk too far yourself.

Helpful links:

Vermont City Marathon
Race course map