Continuing this non-traditional spring and summer season, most of MNCs contingent has now graduated. Whether from 8th grade into high school or from high school out into the rest of the world…the crew is going places! We’ll end the post with a little shoutout to the college-bound skiers, but first here is the week in order, with media to share.
We hit it big with a volume week, meaning high total hours, a few double session days and a big epic adventure on the weekend. Very impressed to see a good-sized crowd on morning run or bike days: in years past, it was like pulling metal off a kickwax tin just to get people to try a 2nd training session in one day. With some steamy weather on Tuesday, intervals mixing the CVU track and the hillier running trails were pretty tough…but for the most part it was just a beautiful Vermont summer week.
A college contingent has begun rolling in, so athletes from UVM, UNH, and SLU are mixing it up with the squad. On Thursday we had some skate speeds and while we’re kind of getting sick of the Southridge neighborhood for rollerskiing (looking at you and tapping the watch, Camp Ethan Allen Training Site…) the quality of work has been high.
The weekend was reserved for running long distances. With a lot of grad ceremonies on Saturday we split it up to have the U16 crew out on Saturday and the older kids on Sunday. Everything centered around what some people call the “Triple Crown” section of trail networks in Hinesburg/Huntington. The three networks are:
-Sleepy Hollow
-Hinesburg Town Forest
-Carse Hills
Each of these networks is its own small hill, bisected by dirt roads between Huntington Road and Richmond Road/116. A connector trail from each network leads down to a dirt road where you can pick up the next network…
-“Yoda” at Sleepy Hollow leads to Texas Hill, where you can pick up Hinesburg Town Forest
-“Back Door” at Hinesburg takes you down to Lincoln Hill road, where you can pick up Carse Hills
-“Front Door” at Carse takes you onto Hollow Road, where a few miles of pavement lead you back to Sherman Hollow Road/Sleepy Hollow
I hadn’t planned to accomplish the whole Triple Crown loop with the group on Sunday. But it was an amazing day, and the mood just felt right. People had shown up with running vests, good spirits, and focus.
First stop, the cabin at Sleepy
Perry was with us on a bike and with easy car access, so we had numerous bailout options along the way. But the crew made it happen and to my unbridled excitement there was not a complaint to be heard. The trails were dry and the air was cool. Mountain bikers were getting after it as well, but it was actually pretty quiet out in the woods despite the nice weather.
Texas Hill/Hayden Hill East the connector between Sleepy and HTF
That includes the 6 miles of pavement we had to slog through after being on beautiful trails for the 2.5 hours preceding. Probably my promise (which I delivered on) of picking up some Red Bull and potato chips at the general store in Huntington kept the spirits just above water. When you’re doing an “ultra run” you’re allowed to have the common items in play at ultramarathon aid stations around the world, I say.
Vermont is looking its best right now!
During the last few miles the pace was still consistent and you could tell that the energy was coming from 30% fitness and 70% endorphins, but that’s what a big ski training week SHOULD feel like. The connection was made, and the “Strava loop” was completed for a full 17 miles, 3.5 hours, and 2,200′ of elevation.
Psyched to have a great squad accomplish that and still be pumped at the finish!
Big congrats to the 6 who underwent this epic run journey! Silas, Julia, Rose, Isabelle, Jessie, and Hanna! Here are 2 maps that show the route…the left is from Trailforks, which highlights the individual trail networks. The right side is the Strava data which shows where we went and the loop itself!
And, on a graduation note…this is far from a comprehensive list given the wide number of athletes our club has. BUT here are many of our high school graduates and their upcoming adventures!
Ali Priganc (Bates)
Julia Oliver (Bates)
Lily Porth (UVM)
Rose Clayton (Colby)
Sammie Nolan (SLU)
Silas Brown (Bowdoin)
Charles Martell (St Mikes)
Jax Lubkowitz (SLU)
Isabelle Mittelstadt (U of MN)
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