Notes from our last Club Meeting BKVR Meeting 4/15/2026 – 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm Zoom Present: Judy Orton, Ruth Jones, Gail Wood, Jenn Sharpe, Pat Zemianek, Kathy Zemianek, Tim VanOrden, Anita Gabalski Review of Minutes: 2/24/25 – approved Membership Status: Membership is up to 38 including a new family. Treasurer’s Report: Balance as of 3/31/26 is 16,335.60 plus the new memberships. Race Updates: ZemBenn – 5/3/26: details of the race were discussed Venue: Park McCullough has been secured and needed items (tables, chairs, microphone, trash receptacles) will be available the morning of the race. May need to use the bathrooms in the carriage barn. Tents will be provided by BKVR. Some furniture on veranda will need to be moved. Registration: a) BKVR website has been updated; online registration available. As of meeting date there are 22 registered plus one kid. b) Question if Mike emailed past participants to encourage registration. Race Promotion: Race is being promoted in USA Running as a premium listing; Upstate Sports, Vermont Sports and shared on Facebook. Prizes: Amy Chambers is donating maple syrup. The group agreed on the green cooling towel for the age group prize. Volunteers: Some course marshal spots need to be filled. Food: Green Mountain Pediatrics will donate up to $75. Cups will be used not bottles. Water jugs will be at the bridge, finish line and refreshment area. The usual bananas, oranges, bagels and cream cheese will be available. Members are encouraged to bring homemade goods. Shirts: Kathy will work with Crae on ordering. Entrants must be registered by April 16 for a guaranteed shirt. Sponsors: Letters have been sent out to several businesses. Judy will check with Henry’s and L’il Britain. Pat will check with Madison’s. Timing: Tim has developed his own Timing System which will be made available at no cost to BKVR. He will also mark the Start/Finish with tape. Steps Toward Home The race date has been changed to June 13th. One sponsor to date. Scholarships: Two – three have been received. The deadline to apply is April 30. Decision will be made in early May. Moonlight and Other Runs: There are two full moons in May; the 1st and the 31st. The group decided to have the full moon run closer to the 31st. VT Walk/Bike Summit – A reminder this event is being held in Bennington this year. BKVR is a sponsor. Members were invited to attend if possible. Track Shoe Funding: Dara Zink had approached group members to determine if BKVR could be a resource for helping students get running shoes. The group agreed this is a good cause but would probably work best partnering with the school nurses and coaches. A spreadsheet could be developed to keep track of shoes available. NEXT MEETING: TBD Respectfully Submitted: Gail Wood

Shires Home Race Detail Registration Course Travel Volunteers BKVR Home Sponsors L ODGING O PTIONS Casablanca Motel Address: 5927 Main Street, Manchester Center, VT 05255 Email: CasablancaMotelVT@gmail.com Phone Number: (802) 362-2145 or toll-free 800-254-2145 Website: www.CasablancaMotel.com Run & Stay Package: 2 Night Special for race participants & their families - $119/night plus tax based on double occupancy. Children under age 13 stay for free. Pets allowed in select cabins for additional charge. A short walk through the woods from the Northshire Civic Center/Riley Rink Description: Yankee Magazine calls the Casablanca Motel “Vermont’s best retro escape.” What’s the secret? Ten charming, restored cabins offering a vintage vibe with modern amenities, friendly innkeepers, and realistic rates, recalling the heyday of American travel. Pets welcome in select cabins. Breakfast provided: No breakfast is provided however, each cabin offers 4 cup coffee/maker, small fridge & microwave oven. Located only one mile from the center of town where you will find many dining options. Charcoal grills are available on our side lawn should you choose to cook out while here. www.vermontvacation-rentals.com Address: P.O. Box 343 Email: andy.jt53@gmail.com Phone Number:802-362-3170 Website: www.vermontvacation-rentals.com Run & Stay Package: two night minimum Description of your property: Why stay in a room, when you can rent an entire home and stay with friends or family? These homes are exclusively designed for vacation rentals! Every bedroom has a in suite full bathroom! These homes are handicap accessible with a ramp and a zero threshold tile shower. They are less than a miles from Riley Rink the end of the race in Manchester! Breakfast provided - No but FULL KITCHEN! © 2012, Shires of Vermont Marathon · Bennington, Vermont · shiresmarathon@gmail.com

A 26.2 mile, picturesque point to point journey through 5 beautiful southern Vermont villages. The half starts at the second half of the full, so no one misses out! The Shires Marathon was last run in 2018. We loved it and who knows, never say never. Thank you for your support for our races and the Shires communities. “I have raced plenty of marathons and other races in many states, but this was exceptional.” The race begins at Bennington College, a small private liberal arts school, heads through the small town of North Bennington before entering into the back roads of Shaftsbury. The half-way point is at the Federated Church in East Arlington, which is also the Half Marathon start, and then the route heads toward the Chiselville Covered Bridge and onto Sunderland Hill Road with spectacular views of mountains and meadows while protected by a canopy of trees. The course takes you through Manchester's back roads before emerging onto downtown Manchester. The course concludes with a run through the downtown area of Manchester and on to Hunter Park finishing at Riley Rink with plenty of amenities including showers for all participants. Train for the Shires of VT Marathon on the actual course with Training for More , a Southern Vermont running group under the leadership of Road Runners Club of America Certified Coach and two-time Shires finisher, Andrea Malinowski. Visit www.tfmvt.com for group information. Contact Andrea and mention you're a registered 2018 Shires of Vermont marathon participant to receive 15% off training fees. Race Details Course Volunteers Travel Sponsors "The medals themselves are so very Vermont, beautifully rustic ceramic pieces from a local pottery. Just across the board it was an awesome experience. If you live in the area and you want a challenge, do this race. If you're a 50 stater and you're looking to cross Vermont off your list, DO THIS RACE! You won't find a better encapsulation of the spirit of Vermont!" - 2017 Marathon Participant 2018 Race Results 2017 Race Results 2015 Race Results BKVR Home © 2012, Shires of Vermont Marathon Bennington, Vermont shiresmarathon@gmail.com

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Shires Home Registration Race Detail Travel Lodging Volunteers Sponsors BKVR Home Course Detail Marathon Start: Bennington College, 1 College Dr., Bennington, Vermont (50 min from Albany) Half-Marathon Start: Federated Chuch; 102 Ice Pond Road; Arlington, VT Finish: Hunter Park/ Riley Rink, 410 Hunter Park Road Manchester Center, Vermont 05255. Course Map: These maps give approximate distances. The Full marathon course is an officially USATF-certified (VT14002JK) Boston-qualifier marathon. Click here for an interactive/detailed map. Course Description: T he marathon is a point-to-point race from Bennington to Manchester Center, Vermont. The course follows mainly secondary roads through the villages of North Bennington, Shaftsbury, Arlington, Sunderland, and Manchester. Sections of the course will be closed to traffic. About eight miles consist of hard-packed dirt, with the remainder of the surface paved. Shuttle Busses to Start: Full: Depart Hunter Park at 6:30 a.m. (40 minutes travel time). Half: Depart from Hunter Park around 7:50 a.m. There will be NO post race shuttle to the race start. Please plan on parking at the race finish an using the shuttle to the race start in the morning. Parking: A vailable to runners and their support teams at the start and finish. Pre-race shuttle buses transport runners from the finish area (Hunter Park) to the start. Aid Stations: Water will be available at Miles 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, and 25. Sports drink will be offered beginning at Mile 5, with gels/GU available at Mile 13.5 and Mile 21.3. Finisher's Medals: Commemorative handmade medallions to all finishers locally made by middle school students at Mountain School at Winhall. Baggage Check: Available at Start. Timing: By Underdog Timing Portajohns: A t start, finish, and at regular intervals along the course. © 2012, Shires of Vermont Marathon Bennington, Vermont shiresmarathon@gmail.com

T HANK Y OU TO O UR 2018 S PONSORS ! Volunteers Lodging Travel Course Registration Race Detail Shires Home Thank you for your interest in being a sponsor for the Shires of Vermont Marathon. Your sponsorship benefits over 40 local non-profit organizations throughout the Shires region, supports the BKVR scholarship program, and helps us promote running and fitness in the region. For more information on sponsorship opportunities, email Race Director, Chrissy Blaylock. © 2012, Shires of Vermont Marathon · Bennington, Vermont · shiresmarathon@gmail.com BKVR Home

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