Race day details

The marathon is this weekend!

Sunday, May 27, is coming fast. Several of you have asked me about where to watch the race. Let me just say that I watched the marathon for a few years, then joined relay team, and now I'm running the whole deal. So, just beware of what you're getting yourself into: this is a really fun, inspiring community event.

People to watch for
The wheelchair racers are pretty amazing. A guy runs the race every year dressed as Flash Gordon -- look for the tall guy in head-to-toe red spandex with gold lightning bolts on his head. Make sure you see the elite runners at the head of the race at least once, they are so cool to watch. At the bottom of Battery Hill the Taiko drummers are set up to provide plenty of motivation for the big climb up to Battery Park. Runners' bibs are different colors for marathoners, half-marathoners and relayers. Except for the elite runners, the bib numbers are assigned at random.

I will be wearing a dark pink t-shirt, a tan and gray baseball cap, sunglasses, and black shorts. I haven't decided yet whether to put my name on my shirt - any thoughts on that are welcome.

Logistics
About 7,600 runners will be on the race course Sunday - marathoners and relayers included. I've heard that as amany as 40,000 spectators will be out as well. Hopefully the information below will make it easier for those of you who plan to be in the city for the race:

Parking:
Do not attempt to park near the Waterfront or near Battery Park. If you can bike in, that's probably a good choice. (Secured "valet" bike parking is available at Battery Park and Waterfront Park.) Drivers should look to park near or east of downtown - the city garages on Cherry Street are a good bet. Meters will be off because it's Sunday.

Starting line:
The wheelchair racers start at 8:00 a.m. sharp. The gun for the marathon goes off at 8:05 a.m. The race starts at Battery Park, with runners facing south down Battery Street and then turning the corner onto Pearl Street. I will be around Battery Park somewhere by 7:20. The starting line will be a frenzy, but if you want to say hi before the race, you can find me for sure at the gas station on the corner of Park and Battery at 7:45 a.m. After that, I'll be lining up on Park Street for the start. Along Park Street, they'll hang signs for different paces -- I'll be up near the 12-minute pace sign.

Finish line:
The elite runners will cross the finish line around 10:30 a.m. I will not be among them. Look for me closer to 1:30 p.m. No joke.

The race course makes a big loop of Waterfront Park: it comes in from the Coast Gard station on the bike path, follows the boardwalk nearly to the Echo Center, makes a sharp left onto the grass, then loops back a 1/4 mile on the walking path to the finish line. The "infield" area created by that loop is a fun place to watch the finish, but I've heard they're going to be stricter about crowd control this year.

There will also be a large video screen set up somewhere at Waterfront Park that lists the names of runners who have finished - so if you miss the actual finish line drama, you can find me soon after.

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 blankets. I think the party goes till 3 p.m.


Where to find me during the race
These are the times you can expect me to cross through popular spectator locations. I could be late arriving at any points - especially later in the race.

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 - downhill (Mile 9)
10:41 a.m. Oakledge Park, south end (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)

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

Helpful links:
Vermont City Marathon web site
Race course map
Race day weather from WCAX

Also!
On Saturday there's a Sports and Fitness Expo at the Sheraton - open to the public, lots of vendors giving out free stuff and some cool speakers and presentations. At 11 a.m. and 1:00 they're giving a slide show of the race course. More info