Earlier this week, as a consequence of record-setting rainfall and disastrous flooding, the 2023 Vermont 100 Mile Endurance Run, scheduled to start on July 15, was canceled. This was notably tough because the race was additionally canceled in 2020 and 2021 as a result of pandemic. In her electronic mail to the entrants, race director Amy Rusiecki had this to say:
“It breaks my coronary heart to put in writing this, however as a result of devastating flooding that hit the race course yesterday and the lasting injury as a consequence of this climate occasion, the race committee has reached the unlucky determination that this 12 months’s occasion should be canceled. The second worst factor a race committee needs to do is cancel an unimaginable occasion. Nonetheless, the worst factor a race committee needs to do is to conduct an unsafe race for the runners, volunteers, and communities. Our highest precedence is the protection of each runner, volunteer, path, and highway that this occasion impacts.”
Sever flood injury on the route of the Vermont 100 Mile, with the yellow arrows indicating the course. Picture: Vermont 100 Mile
Sadly, over the previous a number of years now we have seen an rising variety of race cancellations as a consequence of harmful situations. Extreme climate, wildfires, and now flooding have all impacted path working occasions world wide. Whereas it has at all times been one thing that we runners know may occur, it appears to me that the rising frequency of these kinds of cancellations is a rising concern.
Within the case of the Vermont 100, one of many historic North American 100 milers and a real gem of the east coast working scene, Amy and her group actually had no alternative however to cancel. With roads washed out, water ranges dangerously excessive, and a state of emergency declared throughout all the state, it was clear that an occasion of the dimensions and scope of the Vermont 100 couldn’t happen. They thought of alternate dates, potential totally different venues, and even making it a digital occasion — however ultimately determined the prudent factor to do was to cancel.
The floods, which have ravaged a lot of the Vermont 100 course and surrounding space. Picture: Vermont 100 Mile
Remarkably, and befitting the beneficiant nature of the ultrarunning group, inside 24 hours of the cancellation announcement three occasions — the Burning River 100 Mile, the three-day Ragged Stage Race, and the Redpoint 50 Mile — all provided Vermont 100 runners free or discounted entries into their races.
Lastly, this cancellation hits me personally. As a five-time finisher of the Vermont 100, and somebody born and raised in New England, my coronary heart hurts for Amy and her group. Understanding how tough it’s to maintain volunteers motivated, work with native businesses and landowners, and conduct an occasion just like the Vermont 100 each 12 months, three cancellations over a four-year interval is a tough tablet to swallow. Simply final month at Western States, the place Amy was out crewing and pacing a pal, I had the chance to speak together with her extensively and I may hear the passion in her voice and see the glint in her eye as she appeared ahead to her occasion this 12 months. And now, that’s all been washed away.
I’m assured that Amy and her group will return stronger in 2024. I’m assured that the Yankee hardiness that’s a lot part of the Inexperienced Mountain State will assist of us rebuild from these harmful floods and permit the race, and all the area, to as soon as once more shine in that particular approach that solely these rugged rolling hills and deep hollows can.
Bottoms up!
Amy Rusiecki directing the 2010 Vermont 100 Mile Picture: Nancy Nutile-McMenemy
AJW’s Beer of the Week
This week’s Beer of the Week comes from Otter Creek Brewing Firm in Killington, Vermont. One of many extra established craft breweries in a state full of them, Otter Creek has been making distinctive brews for the reason that mid-90s. Not too long ago, I had an opportunity to style their Day by day Dose IPA, one they invoice as sessionable, and I used to be impressed. Balanced, west coast-ish, and bursting with taste, Day by day Dose actually lives as much as its identify.
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- Have you ever run the Vermont 100?
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