Dandelion Run Half Marathon

Saturday, May 20, 2023 • Derby, VT • 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 & 4-Mile, which typically draws a few hundred runners each year for its annual springtime running.

The race unfolds 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 shorter, less hilly distances 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.

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.

On race day (May 20), the average low is 45ºF and the average high is 71ºF.

Past Results

• 2017 Dandelion Run Half Marathon Results
• 2016 Dandelion Run Half Marathon Results
• 2015 Dandelion Run Half Marathon Results
• 2014 Dandelion Run Half Marathon Results
• 2013 Dandelion Run Half Marathon Results
• 2012 Dandelion Run Half Marathon Results
• 2011 Dandelion Run Half Marathon Results

Course Map

See the race route map for the Dandelion Run Half Marathon here.

Starting Time

9:00 AM

Fees

• $45 – $95 for the half marathon
• $25 – $65 for the 10K
• $10 – $50 for the 1-, 2- or 4-mile
• $10 – $25 for youth

Registration

To reserve your spot in the 2023 running of the Dandelion Run Half Marathon, 10K or Relay, register online at RunReg.com here.

Official Race Website

kingdomgames.co/dandelion-run/

Comments

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See more races in: May, Vermont