By Aaron Rubin, Standard Correspondent
The month of June has arrived, and that means throngs of runners from Vermont and across the world will once again gather here for the 31st Covered Bridges Half Marathon. The popular marathon, which takes place on June 4, saw its registration fill up completely in December last year. The event brings runners from all over the country and Europe to experience “13.1 miles of fabulous sightseeing along Ottauquechee River and throughout the heart of Windsor County,” said co-director Nancy Nutile-McMenemy. “I think [through] word-of-mouth, people know that it’s like this amazing course. And in addition to having all this great scenery, the communities are so behind us,” said Nutile-McMenemy.
The 13.1 miles-long race will begin at Saskedena Six ski resort in South Pomfret at 8:15 a.m., taking runners down Pomfret Road for over three miles before turning onto Barnard Road. They will reach the midpoint along a looping path at the eighth mile from Mountain Avenue to River Street near The Woodstocker B&B. Runners will continue along the Ottauquechee River from Woodstock into Hartford, where the finish line and applauding spectators greet them at Quechee Polo Field. Stops for water and Gatorade will be at several points along the route after reaching the sixth-mile mark.
As a nonprofit organization, Nutile-McMenemy said CBHM raises approximately $60,000 for its over 40 volunteer groups and racing community. She said the message of keeping things local by donating participation fees back to the community was a big push for this year’s event.
“I was really pushing with the emailing that I sent out to the runners, saying, ‘Hey, [co-director] Mike [Silverman] and I aren’t going to the Bahamas with your race registration fee. We actually give that all back to our race community,” said Nutile-McMenemy. “When the runners come through, they get cheered by the residents.”
Support from the community all along the racing route will come in the form of the volunteer groups cheering on runners and numerous local bands will provide musical motivation for them.
Nutile-McMenemy said the race course this year will not be any different from previous years, and will follow the same path as usual.
The day before the race on June 3, an information tent with race details will be set up at Norman Williams Public Library in Woodstock from 1-4:45 p.m. A pasta supper fundraiser hosted by the Woodstock Chamber of Commerce for participants and volunteers will be held later that evening at Saskadena Six with seatings at 5 p.m., 6 p.m., and 7 p.m.
Spectator and volunteer parking will be at the finish area at the Quechee Polo Field at 643 Quechee Main Street. Signs and directions from police and CBHM volunteers should help spectators locate spaces. Deweys Mills Rd and the Spectator Parking Lot will be closed to traffic and parking at 10 a.m.
Registration for the pasta supper can be found at tinyurl.com/mryejska. For more information on all race and parking-related details, visit cbhm.com/race-info.
2023 Half Marathon sponsors
Gold Level sponsors:
- Butler’s Bus Service
- Harpoon Brewery
- The Quechee Club
- Upper Valley Running Club
- Great Eastern Radio
- Allan’s Vending Service
- Vermont Tourism
- Casella
- Quechee Gorge Village
- W.B. Mason
- King Arthur Baking Company
- Woodstock Inn & Resort
- Local First Alliance
Silver Level sponsors:
- Local Windriver Environmental
- Shackleton Thomas
- Sugarbush Farm
- Top Acres Farm South Woodstock
- Woodstock Farmers Market
Bronze Level sponsors:
- Woodstock Recreation Department
- Hartland Recreation Department
- Hartford Area Chamber of Commerce
- Woodstock Chamber of Commerce
- Quechee Lakes Landowners Association
- Towns of Hartford, Pomfret & Woodstock
- Villages of Quechee and Woodstock
2023 Half Marathon nonprofit partners
- David’s House
- The Family Place
- Positive Tracks
- Upper Valley Haven
- WISE
ROAD CLOSURES:
The following road closure will occur on June 3 starting at 7:50 a.m.
In Pomfret: Stage Road from 7:50-8:30 a.m., Pomfret Road from 7:50-9 a.m., Route 12 from 8:15-9:15 a.m.
In Woodstock: River Street, Mountain Avenue, Elm Street: 8:30-9:30 a.m. Route 4 will remain open. River Road from 8:40-10 a.m.
Quechee Club House Road: Closed to westbound traffic, open to eastbound traffic.
Quechee Main Street: 9-11:30 a.m. The Taftsville Covered Bridge will be closed to traffic from 9-10 a.m.
All traffic from Hard Road to Deweys Mills Road will be closed from 9:30-11:30 a.m. More information on road closures can be found at cbhm.com/road-closings.
WHERE TO WATCH
Woodstock — Iron Bridge
You can view your runner twice in Woodstock. Park in the Billings Farm Visitors lot on Route 12 and Old River Road (on the left) then walk towards Rte 12 on the sidewalk and take a left towards Woodstock. The runners pass onto River Road and then return after running through Middle Bridge on Elm Street over the iron bridge.
Woodstock — Middle Bridge
Go for a coffee, stop for breakfast, shop, but if you want to see your runner come through Middle Bridge on the Woodstock Green you’ll need to park at a meter no later than 7:30 a.m. before the spots are all taken.
Quechee — Dewey’s Mills Polo Field
For Finish Line spectator viewing, parking opens at 8 a.m. and continues through 10 a.m. From there, it’s a short walk to see your racer cross the finish.