EVERYONE SHOULD RUN A MARATHON i STARK RAVING MUD i CALENDAR OF OUTDOOR EVENTS i CLASSIFIEDS VVERMONTERMONT SSPORTSPORTS MAY 2011 MAGAZINE VOLUME XX | NO. VII 2011 MOUNTAIN BIKE SEASON PREVIEW Death White-Knuckle Vermont City Race Water FREE!Marathon ALSO p. 16-17 p. 22-23 p. 26-27 2011 utdoors O olverine W © REFUGEREFUGE PROPRO VENTVENT Every day brings new adventure. That’s why versatility is key to everything Merrell does. Take our Refuge Pro Vent. Built with a combination of super stable Split™ heel technology and airy uppers, these pinnacle performers deliver serious comfort and shock absorption. Your next outdoor mission will be a breeze. So wherever you want to go, Merrell shoes and clothing will get you there. Find out how at merrell.com DEPARTMENTS CONTENTS 4 From Vermont Sports First and Last 22011011 MMOUNTAINOUNTAIN BBIKEIKE SSEASONEASON PPREVIEWREVIEW 6 Sign In 114–154–15 TTrailrail uupdates,pdates, nnewew bbikes,ikes, MMTBTB eeventsvents News, Views, and Ideas From the Outdoor Community 7 Retail Junkie Superstar YYOUOU MMAYAY DDIEIE IINN PPITTSFIELDITTSFIELD Stark Raving Mud TThehe oonlynly knownknown inin thethe DeathDeath RaceRace isis excruciation.excruciation. 116–176–17 8 Sports Medicine SSoo howhow dodo participantsparticipants pprepare?repare? Everyone Should Run a Marathon GGREENREEN GEARGEAR FORFOR THETHE OUTDOORSOUTDOORS 9 Out and About 118–218–21 OOurur aannualnnual rrevieweview ooff ssustainablyustainably mmindedinded pproductsroducts Biathlon Bookends for the Season 10 18 & Under 40 Youths get the WWHITEHITE KKNUCKLENUCKLE WWATERATER Running Start of a 222–232–23 A pphotohoto eessayssay ooff tthehe BBliss-Stickliss-Stick UUSS NNewew HHavenaven OOpenpen Lifetime 13 Muscles Not Motors Messenger bag, solar A SSWORDEDWORDED AFFAIRAFFAIR charger, OG skates A growinggrowing nnumberumber ooff VermontersVermonters areare fallingfalling fforor ffencingencing 28–29 Reader Athletes 224–254–25 Jack Pilla Victoria Hill 29 Vermont Sports 5 KKEYBANKEYBANK VVERMONTERMONT CITYCITY Business Directory 226–276–27 MMARATHONARATHON RRUNNERSUNNERS TOTO WATCHWATCH 30 Classifi eds 30-31 Calendar of Outdoor Photo by Stephen Mease Events On the cover: David Brochuraski performs a 360 over the Ide Ride Gap during the Burke Mountain Bike and Brew Fest. Photo by Aaron Codling. Experience when you need it most Vermont Sports is owned and “I had not one, but two hips replaced by Dr. Bryan Huber of Mansfield VERMONT operated by Vermont Sports Orthopaedics. I was extremely impressed with the respect with which Publishing LLC, a Vermont I was treated, and the way he answered my questions. I absolutely limited liability company. It is recommend Dr. Huber and his associates at Copley Hospital.” SPORTS published 11 times per year. Established in 1990. Pixie Loomis MAGAZINE Vermont Sports subscriptions Hyde Park in the US: one year $25. Canada: US funds, please add Publisher & Editor This month’s Sky Barsch Gleiner contributing writers $5 per year postage. Other [email protected] Mark Aiken, Aaron Codling, international subscriptions, Emily Johnson, Ryan Leclerc, please call (802) 754-2997 for Art Direction & Production Patrick Kell, Chris Keller, information. POSTMASTER: Shawn Braley Brian Mohr, John Morton, Please send address changes to [email protected] Phyl Newbeck, Tim Reynolds, Vermont Sports Publishing LLC Rob Rindaldi, DPM 19 High St., Orleans, VT 05860 Advertising Sales and Classifi eds Story and article submissions: Tristan Von Duntz This month’s contributing Vermont Sports welcomes Sales Representative for photographers writers and photographers businesses north of Route 4 Aaron Codling, Caleb Kenna, [email protected] Brian MacDonald, Stephen to submit article queries and (802) 454-1737 Mease, Curtis Savard, photographs. We accept only Jamie Stenger electronic submissions, mailed Greg Meulemans to [email protected]. Sales Representative for Editorial and Please send a query letter; do businesses Route 4 and South Production Offi ce not send complete articles. For [email protected] photographs, please send low- (802) 366-0689 Vermont Sports Publishing LLC 19 High St., Orleans, VT 05860 resolution jpegs. Response time can take up to one month. A Practice of Copley Hospital Reader Athlete Editor (802) 754-2997 (offi ce and fax) Phyl Newbeck (802) 279-0077 (mobile) • Joint Replacement • Arthritis Care • Arthroscopic Surgery We welcome unsolicited • Hand, Ankle and Foot Surgery • Sports Medicine • Fracture and Trauma Care [email protected] PROUD MEMBER OF material but cannot guarantee 555 Washington Highway, Morrisville Project Coordinator its safe return. Materials Josh Gleiner submitted will become 802-888-8405 property of Vermont Sports. mansfieldorthopaedics.com May 2011 VERMONT SPORTS 3 PPUBLISHERUBLISHER COMMENTARY BY FIRST AND LAST SKY BARSCH GLEINER about a race he had just competed in. In The support I received reinforced other words, he was no novice. how special our athletic community Eek. is. While we do have the über-compet- I thought about running for my car itive types here and there, in general, and heading home, but it was too late. I there is a wonderful sense of cama- tried to calm my nerves by telling my- raderie among those who participate self I would enjoy the ski—a chance to in outdoor sports. Even the most elite try out Jay’s new Nordic trails on a glori- athletes show up for hometown events ous spring morning. But the race jitters and cheer on the not-so-competitive were getting to me. Would the other par- participants. We’re lucky to live in ticipants, or the race organizers, laugh such a place. at me? As I struggled for good form, with That supportive environment is tight legs from the previous day’s down- one of the elements that make the hill adventures, I worried I was embar- KeyBank Vermont City Marathon so Photo by Jamie Stenger rassing myself. As I took it too slow down successful. I have interviewed many the hills—rattled from my Craftsbury or some reason, I showed up at the I just didn’t count on how few com- marathoners over the years, and wipeout—I beat myself up for not being inaugural Jay Peak Nordic Sap petitors would be there. Four other rac- aggressive enough. when I ask them what their favorite Run 10k race on April 3. ers and I showed up for the start. My F As I passed the timing area, on my aspect of the race is, many say the I’m a slower skier, and I hadn’t skied plan to hide in the middle or back of way toward the fi nal two loops, I saw cheering crowd. I’ve been told that it since the Craftsbury 25k Tour on March the pack wasn’t going to work. Not only Susan and Jim catching their breath, was the cheering that helped runners 5. I took some time off after Craftsbury, were there only four other racers, but the already fi nished. When I passed by the push through the urge to give up, and where I wiped out trying to get out of the caliber was incredible: Susan Dunklee, area again, ready for the fi nal lap, I saw cross the fi nish line. tracks, spraining three fi ngers. a world-class biathlete. Jim Fredericks, everyone had fi nished. I tried to yell to In this issue, Tim Reynolds pro- So what possessed me to enter the head of the Catamount Trail Associa- them, “You don’t have to wait for me!” fi les fi ve VCM runners to watch, in- Sap Run, I’m still trying to fi gure that tion. Bob Primeau, who owns his own but someone motioned to complete the cluding a barefoot runner and an out. I suppose I knew it was a distance Nordic trail network (that he graciously loop—maybe they thought I wasn’t sure aspiring Olympian. Make sure you I could fi nish, even if I skied slowly. I shares with the rest of us through the which direction to go. I felt terrible that check out his feature and then try didn’t see the race advertised anywhere Memphremagog Ski Touring Founda- everyone had to wait around. to spot these runners on the course. except the Jay website, so I counted on tion). And there was another guy, who’s On the fi nal loop, I could sense a ski- Chris Keller, our 18 & Under writer, few competitors, which eased my nerves. name I didn’t catch, but I heard him talk er behind me. I asked him if he wanted introduces a very cool RunVermont to pass, and it turned out it was Bob, who youth running program. The pro- came to introduce himself (I’ve written gram started as a way to introduce about his trails before, but never met fi nancially disadvantaged kids to the him) and told me he wanted to keep me wonderful world of fi tness, and it has company on the last stretch. grown to include kids from the full And as I approached the fi nish economic spectrum. If you’re inspired line, everyone began cheering me on. by these stories and want to train for “Throw the hammer down,” Jim yelled. I a marathon, Rob Rinaldi, DPM, has a laughed, thinking how I got a speed gov- truly educational piece that will help ernor instead of a hammer, and crossed you prevent injuries during your race the fi nish line with a smile on. I was so touched by the support I preparation. received. No one was upset they had to I realize we’re not all runners, so stand around an extra 15 minutes. No for those who prefer a pair of fat tires one made me feel slow or poor about my to a pair of Asics, check out Vermont performance. And no one laughed at me. Mountain Bike Association Director I skied some new trails and got a killer Patrick Kell’s 2011 mountain bike workout.