Search this site

Shires Home Race Detail Registration Course Travel Lodging Sponsors BKVR Home V OLUNTEERS Thank you for your interest in volunteering at the Shires of Vermont Marathon, connecting the Shire towns of Bennington and Manchester! Race-Day Volunteers are needed in the following categories: Race Packet pick-up Course Marshall Water Stations Mile Mark Timers Parking Information Booth Hospitality Tent Awards Finish Line We are looking for local groups to offer 10 or more people for 4 hours. Volunteers are encouraged to promote their charitable causes while performing their volunteer tasks. BKVR will make a donation of $125 to each group of volunteers. Volunteers under 13 years old should be accompanied by an adult. Click here to sign-up! © 2012, Shires of Vermont Marathon · Bennington, Vermont · i nfo@shiresofvermontmarathon.com

Shires Home R EGISTRATION I NFORMATION Entry Fees: On-Line Registration: Mail-in Entries: Register in advance No walk-in registrations will be accepted on race day. Cancellation policy: All entry fees are non-refundable and non-transferable. © 2012, Shires of Vermont Marathon · Bennington, Vermont · shiresmarathon@gmail.com Race Detail Course Travel Lodging Volunteers BKVR Home Sponsors

We'd love to hear from you! Please email us with any questions you may have regarding membership, ideas for a group gathering, or anything of interest. President: Judy Raffone Vice President: Ruth Bolster-Jones Secretary Gail Wood Treasurer: Anita Gabalski Website Manager: Judy Raffone Board of Directors: Mark Kelsey Robert Raffone Jennifer Sharp Select an item ($) Membership, single or 2-person househould - $20 Membership, family (3 or more) - $25 Your details were sent successfully! Go to Checkout Batten Kill Valley Runners 823 County Route 61 Shushan, NY 12873 802-430-2722

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

NEXT MEETING: June - date/time TBD Meetings are held at least quarterly on Zoom or Arlington Community House. Contact us if you would like to join and need the Zoom link. Links to previous minutes: 11/12/2024 12/10/2024 03/11/2025 05/13/2025 09/29/2025 12/16/2025 02/15/2026 04/15/2026 *if you desire minutes for earlier minutes please email BKVR President. BKVR Bylaws Race Director Code of Ethics BKVR Sponsored Race Requirements Road Runners Club of America