BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – The 35th annual M&T Bank Vermont City Marathon and Relay kicked off in Burlington Sunday.
Throngs of people made their way down Lake Street into the early morning sun. “It was just immediately uncomfortably hot, so kind of redlining in terms of heartrate and effort,” runner Robin Hewson of Providence explained.
The race sold out, with nearly 5,000 people hitting the pavement, slightly more than last year. Jack Leitch of Boston ran with a group of strangers, sharing breathy words of encouragement when the course got steep. “I actually couldn’t tell you their names unfortunately,” Leitch laughed. “It was one of those weird bonds you have with a group of guys that you’ve never met before and will probably never see again.”
Some ran the full marathon on foot, others handcycling or running on a relay team. It’s Kathy Swigon’s sixth year competing relay-style with her family. “Just hoping I don’t slow down too much! I’m the slowest link on the team,” Swigon smiled, adding, “It’s fun no matter what.”
The course consists of two laps around a 13.1 mile loop along the bike path and Church Street Marketplace. That’s double the cheering on from friends and family, something many racers used as motivation. “Coming through and the crowds building back up again, you just kind of get this momentum even though everything hurts and everything is telling you to stop,” Hewson said.
Race organizers estimate some 20,000 spectators. Megan Speck was one of them, there to cheer on her mother’s half marathon debut. “It’s really exciting. It’s always been a goal of hers and it’s been really fun to watch her hopefully accomplish that and be able to cross that finish line,” Speck said.
Cheers and cowbells encouraged sweating, smiling racers through the home stretch. “Thank god I can start walking!” Leitch said, fresh off the finish line. “I was just so happy to be done with it and happy that it went ok.”
