Journeys of The Key West Southernmost Walker

Mad Half Marathon

Waitsfield, Vermont

Sunday, July 8, 2018

On Sunday, July 8, 2018 I race walked the Mad Half Marathon in Waitsfield, Vermont, located in the Green Mountains. I was a nice day for the event as the temperature varied from 52 to 73 degrees with sunny skies and no breeze. The course was very challenging on paved roadways and dirt/gravel roadways that was not closed to traffic but had almost none during the event. The start/finish area was at about 700 feet of elevation and was the only relatively flat part. The first mile dropped to 600 feet of elevation and the next mile had the participant climb to 1100 feet of elevation. The next mile was a steep downhill followed by another mile of rolling hills ending at 600 feet of elevation. The half marathoners turned around and returned to the 1100 foot point. From there to miles 9.5 was a series of shorter up and downs of varying degrees of steepness that crested at 1300 feet of elevation. From there to mile 12 was a continuous downhill of varying degrees of steepness bottoming out at 600 feet of elevation. The rest of the course returned to the start finish area. Water/Gatorade stations were located between 1 and 2 miles apart at either a top or a bottom of a hill. There were plenty of friendly efficient volunteers at each station taking care of the needs of the 265 half marathon finishers, 247 full marathon finishers, 15 half marathon relays, and 12 full marathon relays. My friend, Bart Yasso, who retired from Runners World entered as a participant in the full marathon and finished in 5:59:15, indicating that his Lyme disease must really be bothering him. Another of my friends, Chuck Engle, who has won a marathon in each of the 50 states, was fourth overall. This is the first time that I have done this event which was well organized and fun to do saw me score second in my running age group even though I walked the entire way.