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Vermont > Dandelion Run Half Marathon, 10K & Relay
Derby, VT • Saturday, May 18, 2013 • Course Map
Imagine a run through rolling green fields filled with thousands upon thousands of yellow dandelions in full bloom, and that's exactly the picture of what you'll see along the course at the Dandelion Run Half Marathon, 10K & Relay, which typically draws a few hundred runners each year for its annual springtime running, here in the region of the state known as the Northeast Kingdom, along a course that unfolds mostly along dirt roads between the towns of Derby, Holland and Morgan, Vt.
The event hosts both the 13.1-mile event for runners and a five-mile event for walkers, both of which start at the Derby Beach House on the town's 4-H Road, near Lake Salem. From there, those running the half marathon route follow what is mostly a counter-clockwise loop course, along Dumas Road, Derby Gore Road, and back along Bates Hill Road on the way toward the finish line back at the Derby Beach House.
With the exception of some paved stretches, particularly at the start and near the end of the race, most of the race course takes runners on the hilly dirt roads to the east of Derby, which gives participants the chance to really run in and among the dandelion fields, for which this area is well-known around the world. The course's relay changeover stations will be just after the mile 3-, 6- and 9-mile markers.
Overall, the course features an elevation gain of more than 500 feet; after a mostly flat first three miles, the course begins a slow but steady climb from about the mile 4 marker to the mile 7 marker, where the course reaches its peak elevation of about 1,500 feet above sea level. After mile 7, runners then begin a long, steady descent back to the start/finish elevation by the time they finish the race, to about 950 feet above sea level.
Scheduled starting times for the race are: 9:00 AM for the half marathon, 9:10 AM for the 10K and 9:20 AM for the one-mile fun run. Race organizers note that for runners who aren't up for the hillier 13.1-mile race, the 10K offers a less hilly run -- they expect up to about 600 runners total for the race, with a maximum of 400 in the individual races and 200 entrants for the relay races.
Race Weather & Climate
Located in northernmost Vermont, just a few miles from the border with Canada, Derby typically experiences mild to moderately cool weather conditions in the late spring; the summer months are usually the area's wettest season.
In May, the town's average monthly temperatures range between 69°F and 43°F -- on the day of the race (May 18), the average high is 70°F and the average low is 44°F -- while rainfall totals average just over 3.6 inches for the month.
Course Map
View the race route map for the Dandelion Run Half Marathon
Fees
$50 for the individual half marathon, if registered by January 1, 2013
$65 between Jan. 1 - May 1
$85 between May 1 - 17
$100 on the day of the race
Special registration rates also apply for students and younger entrants (18 and under); see website link below for more info.
Registration
To reserve your spot in the late spring 2013 running of the Dandelion Run Half Marathon, 10K or Relay, visit the event website.
Official Race Website
www.dandelionrun.org
Leave a Comment
Ever run in Vermont's annual Dandelion Run Half Marathon? Share your impressions, stories and tips from the event.
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