As I get ready to pack the essentials, get in those last easy runs and try to stay off my feet, I realize that I am anxious for this day to be here. How exciting for the weeks and weeks of training to finally be put to the test. It is the light at the end of the tunnel. I look at all the information from the ACS and from Zeke at VCM elite runners and put my timing together…. here it is all below. Wish me luck – – and click the link on the side bar of the blog if you haven’t already and support my efforts for the American Cancer Society!
Vermont City Marathon
May 22& 23, 2009
Sheraton Hotel & Conference Center
Burlington, VT
Nancy Cook & Family Agenda:
Saturday am – leave home by 9 am arrive by 12:30 pm
1:00 – Course preview
3:00 – Technical meeting in Hospitality Suite
3:45 – Walk to Hope Lodge
4:00 – Hope Lodge Reception
5:00 – Leave Burlington for Georgia
6:00 – Dinner and Relax!
Sunday am
5:15 am – Leave for Burlington
6:00 – Arrive to start line (details below)
8:00 am: Start
11:15 – Finish!
11:30 – Find Steve & Family
12:30 – Lunch / Brunch with Family
(unless I win first master?)
Friday
Expo
Friday 4 – 8pm & Saturday 9 am – 7pm
AT THE SHERATON HOTEL AND CONFERENCE CENTER
Burlington, VT
Saturday May 23rd
10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. & after the pasta dinner – Hospitality Suite open.
9:00 a.m. to 4:50 p.m. – Seminar Sessions in the Diamond Ballroom at the Sheraton. Just upstairs from the Expo.
* 11:00 to 11:50 – Mile by mile course preview slide show
* 1:00 to 1:50 – Course preview again
3:00 to 3:45 – Technical Meeting in Hospitality Suite
Note: Before and after the meeting you are welcome to prepare your special drink bottles. Please bring your own bottles if possible, but we will have some available, along with decorating materials and markers.
8:30 p.m. – Deadline for turning in special drink bottles at the Hospitality Suite. You may place your bottles at any or all of these six specified locations: miles: 4.9, 9.3, 13.0, 16.9, 20.9, & 24.6. They will not be refrigerated and we will put them out on the course early in the morning.
Sunday May 24th
5:45 a.m. Meet in Sheraton main lobby for Transportation which DEPARTS PROMPTLY at 6:00 (Or you may drive your own car) to Main Street Station for pre-race preparations and bag drop. (Note: You will be in a quiet location at On Track Fitness, on the lower level, with only invited runners and close access to bathrooms.) From here it is a 3/8 mile walk up a steep hill to the start, for which reason we will be shuttling back and forth from 7:00 to 7:20. Leave your gear bag here; you will be coming back for it after you finish and there are showers and towels available for you.
Up near the start we have a collecting point which is between, and close to both, the start line and the facilities. We have ‘guarded’ bathrooms in the bandstand, where you will have front-of-the-line privileges. After we walk you out to the start, we will collect your sweats and take them to the finish line.
8:03 a.m. – Runners’ Start at Battery Park
10:10 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. – Finishers and Festivities at Waterfront Park
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American Cancer Society Information:
Bill Rogers at Fleet Feet
Marathon Pro Bill Rodgers will be speaking and signing books at Fleet Feet Burlington (our Running Store Partner) on Friday from 1pm to 3pm! He is truly an inspiration and sure to get you excited for Sunday’s run. If you do make it, tell the crew at Fleet Feet you are with American Cancer Society and get a free pair or running socks! Fleet Feet is at 76 Pearl St, Essex Junction, VT
EXPO
We will have an American Cancer Society booth at the expo this weekend (Booth #20) Please make sure to stop by and say hi – it’s also a chance to turn in any offline funds raised, collect your goodie bags and learn more about all the great work you are supporting in your fundraising efforts!
Hope Lodge Reception
We are hoping you, along with your family and friends can all join us on Saturday at 4pm for a small reception at the Hope Lodge in Burlington, VT. A group of us will walk over from the Expo at 3:45pm (it’s a quick and easy walk from the Sheraton)
We will have some light refreshments and a few speakers you don’t want to miss! It will be a terrific chance for all of us to get to know each other a bit better and get excited about the big day ahead. Our reception will be over in time for you to make it to the VCM Pasta Dinner at 5:30 and begin your official carb loading.
Hope Lodge is located at 237 East Ave in Burlington. Please RSVP as soon as possible so we can plan accordingly.
Cheer Stations
Look for a Team of American Cancer Society Volunteers cheering you on just past mile 10! They will have water and orange slices and the ever popular cow bells and thunder sticks! Please invite your family and friends to join us – the more the merrier! Info below:
LOCATION Mile 10.5 – Corner of Locust St and Pine St
DIRECTIONS Recommended to come in from 1-89 as to avoid downtown traffic/road closings
Take exit 13 off 1-89, merge onto I-189 W toward US-7/Shelburne/Burlington – 1.6 mi
Take the exit toward Burlington – 249 ft
Turn right at Shelburne Rd/US-7 – 1.0 mi
Make a U-turn at US-7/S Willard St – 95 ft
Turn right at Locust St, Road Dead Ends into Pine St.
PARKING On Street Parking along Locust Drive and surrounding side streets
Finish Line Tent
The American Cancer Society has a tent set up at the marathon finish line at Waterfront Park. We will have onsite massages, collateral distribution, giveaways, raffle items, and more! We hope you will come see us after your finish. Feel free to make it the meeting spot for friends and family.