We answer our most frequently asked questions below. If your questions are not answered below, please review the detailed Marathon information. You may also email our office.
Before the Race | Registration/Packet Pick-Up | Hotel & Transportation | Race Policies
Before the Race
When should I register for the Marathon?
When do you fill up?
Many runners want to know “when” they should register for the race so that they don’t get closed out. We cannot predict how quickly our field will fill for the Vermont City Marathon, but we will provide news updates on our website indicating when we have reached significant milestones, such as having only 1000 or 500 marathon spots left. At that point, registration fills up quickly.
RunVermont is a registered 501(c)3, not for profit organization, which means we’re not in this business to make money. Nearly all of your entry fee goes towards producing the Marathon. While the Vermont City Marathon enjoys tremendous support from many sponsors, sponsorship income does not cover the cost of race production. Expenses beyond the scope of sponsorship include all the elements that each runner actually touches, items like your shirt, bibs, timing services, race bags, cups, food, medals and so on. Additionally, we expend significant funds to provide a safe event, in terms of both course safety and emergency medical services. It takes close to 100 police officers to provide traffic and pedestrian safety all along the course. The course also requires miles of fencing, cones, sawhorses and other supplies. And one of the more important elements of the event…port-o-lets.
As the largest one day sporting event in Vermont, we often have to go outside the state to acquire the level of support required for the race. Items such as course barricades have to come from out of state. We also spend a significant amount of money for tents and venue rentals, permitting fees and shirts for the volunteers. And did we mention port-o-lets?
Other significant expenses include event marketing costs and staff compensation. RunVermont is a year round organization offering programs and services in addition to the marathon. Most of these other programs and events are self-sustaining. The one RunVermont offering that is not self-sustaining are the youth programs. Consistent with the mission of RunVermont, any and all proceeds that are recognized from the marathon support the presentation of RunVermont’s youth running programs including Mini Milers, the Timberlane Dental Mini marathon and the Junior Youth Relay.
How does Runner Tracking Work?
Everything you want to know and more about how Runner Tracking works is here in this blog post.
Registration/Packet-Pick-Up
Can someone pick up my race packet for me at the EXPO?
We do allow a proxy – they will need to present a copy of the runner’s photo ID or a copy of the runner’s confirmation email. Please understand that without ONE of these documents we will not be able to release the race packet to anyone other than the registered runner. Thank you for your cooperation.
I cannot attend race packet pick-up on either Friday or Saturday. Can I pick up my packet on Sunday?
Yes. Packet pick-up is available at the RunVermont offices, One Main Street, Suite 304 in Burlington (2 blocks from the Start) from 5:00-6:00 a.m. Pick-up will close at 6:00 a.m. SHARP, and packets will NOT be available at the Start.
Why are shirt sizes not guaranteed?
Despite our efforts to correctly estimate the number of shirts we will need in each size, we are not able to guarantee shirt sizes; shirts are ordered from the supplier months in advance of the race, long before final registration numbers are available. Shirts are available on a first-come, first-served basis at packet pick-up. Come early to ensure you receive the size of your choice. Sizes may not be switched at packet pickup.
Hotels & Transportation
What hotels do you recommend?
Which hotels have shuttle service to the race?
Please check our Lodging page for a list of hotels in the area. This list includes information about room rates, minimum stay, distance from the Start and shuttle buses.
Can non-runners use the hotel shuttles to the start?
The shuttles are reserved for runners – if there is room before the shuttle leaves, then family and friends may take it. However, please keep in mind that runners with race bibs are given priority.
Race Policies
Is the VCM a Boston qualifier?
Yes. We send our results directly to BAA.
What is the minimum age for participating in the full Marathon?
All participants in the Marathon must be 16 years old or older on race day.
Are headphones allowed?
We strongly discourage the use of headphones. If you must wear them, please wear ones that allow you to hear your surroundings. Please note that use of headphones is not allowed for competitors competing for prize money and RRCA/USATF awards. If you choose to wear headphones and finish in a money-winning place, you may be subject to forfeiture of prize money and RRCA/USATF awards.
What do you use for a timing device? How do I wear it?
We use the ChronoTrack B-Tag to time the race. B-Tags are attached to the back of each runner’s bib and transmit data as the runner crosses the timing mats at the start, finish and various areas along the course. Please read these instructions on how to wear your bib/B-Tag.
Can a marathoner also run on one or more relay teams?
Yes. The registered marathoner must also be registered as a teammate on whichever team(s) s/he is running on. Please read our Relay-Marathoner Scenario INFO SHEET for everything you need to know about which bibs to wear and where to exchange.
Does VCM offer designated “pacer groups”?
Yes, VCM offers pace groups. We will have additional, specific information about our pace leaders closer to the race. For the most up-to-date information, visit the Pace Teams section of the Runner Essentials page.
Can I sign up to be a pacer?
If you are an experienced runner and would like to lead a team of runners who are trying to hit a certain time goal between 3:15-5:30, please contact Joe Connelly and asked to be considered as a pace team leader. This program generously supported by The Run Center at SKIRACK and Hoka ONE ONE.
Does the course have a time limit?
Is the Vermont City Marathon “walker friendly?”
Do you allow early starts for walkers/slower runners?
Our course time limit is 6 hours which is equivalent to a 13:45 minute-per-mile pace. This is a condition of our city permits which set up our police and medical coverage and allow us to close streets for a certain period of time. For slower participants, the main issue is to get past the 8.5 mile mark close to the deadline. That is the spot on the course where you will be off the highway (Rt 127). We have a sweep bus that picks participants up starting at mile 6 if they are well behind the timeline. We don’t like to use the sweep bus but it’s a safety issue.
Our goal is to provide first class service to all our entrants, but we also want to be fair to the hundreds of volunteers who staff our aid stations and provide traffic control at the intersections. We guarantee that a 6:00:00 finisher has access to the same services that our first finishers receive both on the course and at the finish area. After 6 hour pace we do not guarantee that aid stations will be available, medical services will be in place, or that finish area services will be available, but we do have a crew on hand to take care of later finishers. As part of that crew I think that the response from later finishers has been overwhelmingly positive over the years for what we are able to provide.
