By Tyler Maheu, Staff Sportswriter
The calendar has flipped to June, signaling it’s time for the 34th Covered Bridges Half Marathon (CHBM) on June 7.
The race, pitched as “The Best 13.1 Miles in New England,” has been a fixture at the beginning of summer since 1992, with the current course layout established in 1997. In that first race, approximately 400 runners took to the streets of Pomfret, Quechee Village, and Woodstock, as well as along the banks of the Ottaquechee River, before concluding at the Quechee Polo Field.
In 2026, race co-director Nancy Nutile-McMenemy claims the number has climbed to 2500 registered athletes, although raceday typically sees an 18-20% drop in terms of actual attendance, to around 1800-2000, a statistic that does not bother her. “The good thing for us is that we don’t offer refunds because the bib is so coveted,” she said. “We say that if you commit to purchasing this bib and taking it off the market, it’s yours.”
Each year, the race is a hot ticket, with registration beginning on the first Monday in December of the previous year. But for Nutile-McMenemy, fellow co-race director Mike Silverman, and other support staff, the work begins much earlier. “We start our prep in August of the year before,” she explained. “As soon as we put the race to bed, we start doing website updates and reaching out to vendors. The nitty gritty for me starts in January, applying for permits, setting up road closings and police. Mike lines up operational stuff.”
The CHBM always attracts runners from all corners of the planet, and this year is no different. Four runners will be coming to Vermont from Canada, one from Ireland, one from the United Kingdom, one from Chile, and one from Grand Cayman. Many of the 50 states will be represented as well, although a bulk of the runners come from Massachusetts. “Most of our runners come from Mass,” said Nutile-McMenemy. “It has always been the way for this race, although I’m not sure why.” Out of the 2500 runners registered, 794 are from the Commonwealth, with 500 from each New Hampshire and Vermont.
With such a large reach, Nutile-McMenemy was asked what attracts all these athletes. “I think it’s because the race course is absolutely gorgeous,” she said proudly. For some, the course’s three covered bridges may be the draw, or maybe the 13 live bands, one for each mile crossed along the trek. According to the co-director, the race also has particular appeal for two distinct demographics: older runners and women.
Forty-seven percent of the race’s athletes are between 40 and 64 years of age, with five percent over age 65. This year, the two oldest women running, Sarah Hicks and Sue Sharkey, are 76 years old, while the oldest man, William Josler, is 84. On what brings an older crowd to the CHBM, Nutile-McMenemy chalks it up to the course’s relatively flat terrain.
“Of all the possible courses in Vermont, I guess it’s because it’s downhill,” she said. “Runners actually lose 90 to 100 feet over the course of the race. A lot of people think ‘it’s Vermont, there’s hills,’ but we go down all the way. The only hill is after Taftsville Bridge, our mini heartbreak hill. The course is challenging, but not difficult.”
Women have historically shown up for the race in droves, and 2026 is no different, with women accounting for 59% of all runners. According to Nutile-McMenemy, there are frequently large groups of women running together, sometimes in costumes, and getting together to exercise.
“From people that I spoke to in the past, what they told me is that a lot of times the women get together after being couch potatoes all winter and want to get back in shape,” she explained. “They usually do a couple of 5Ks before, and then this is their goal for getting ready for summer. It is definitely a girl get-together kind of race, and our numbers have always reflected it.”
Several top performers from last year’s race will return in 2026. They include: Margaret Donovan (2025 no. 1 woman), Ben Szuhaj (2025 no. 1 man), Sarah Tully (no. 2 woman last year), Emily Tully (no. 3 woman), Isabella Hastings (no. 6 woman), Scott Machinist (no. 7 man), Andrew MacGibbon (no. 9 man), and Zebekiah McNaughton (no. 10 man). Running bib numbers one and two will await last year’s returning winners.
While competing to win the race is important, the causes CHBM supports are the real stars of the show. According to the event’s website, upwards of $75,000 a year is donated annually to local non-profits and community organizations. “My favorite thing about this event is the involvement of the communities,” said Nutile-McMenemy. “Pomfret, Woodstock, and Quechee are amazing. We mess up their Sunday morning, and I’m so thankful they let us do that. Then we donate $75,000 a year back to the community.”
According to Nutile-McMenemy, even more is routinely fundraised for the event’s chosen non-profits. “We donate six bibs to non-profits, which they sell to help fundraise,” she said. “Through that, we can raise another $150,000.” This year’s non-profit partners are David’s House, The Family Place, Positive Tracks, Upper Valley Haven, Wise, and Zack’s Place.
Hundreds of volunteers help coordinate the CHBM, and 90% of them are high school students. Each year, local school groups sign up to volunteer for the race and are compensated in return. “We pay and donate to all of our volunteers,” she explained. “All school groups, libraries, communities. Instead of begging all these people, we write them a donation check. I often get calls in January from groups looking to volunteer.”
Individuals who would like to help with the race can sign up online on the volunteer page at chbm.com.
To Nutile-McMenemy, the spirit of the race lies in the community. She cited a recent memory that speaks to this. “Three years ago it was blisteringly hot,” she remembered. “Homeowners along the course did water sprays with their hoses for runners. They’re just good people. They tolerate us for that one morning, and it puts so much money back into the community where it’s needed.” She concluded. “It’s a big family.”
The race will kick off on Sunday, June 7, at 8:15 a.m. at the Saskadena Six Ski Area and is expected to last approximately three hours.
