Vermont Adaptive Named Finalist in 2023 “Defender Service Awards”
Headphones, Drop Bags, Car Tags, Tattoo Oh My!
This is VT50 dedication…Nice ink Michael D.
11 days until our 30th race!
All race registration is CLOSED-except our FREE FUN KIDS RACES! (see below)
PLEASE SHARE THIS WITH YOUR CREW/SPECTATORS SO WE’RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE COME RACE WEEKEND
Are your READY?
HELP US REDUCE WASTE
If you need to DROP, please email MIKE, to help us plan for race weekend water and food
Bring a water bottle to refill during race weekend.
CARPOOL (share gas cost, reduce traffic)
VT50 Rules UPDATE for Mountain Bikers and Runners
The use of electronic music players, radio communication devices, cell phones, and similar items is allowed at this event but ONLY if the earbuds, headphones, bluetooth bike helmets are NOT IN your ears or COVERING your ears; you need to hear cars, bikers, runners, etc. Failure to comply shall result in disqualification. REVISED 9/11/2023
Drop Bags
Drop Bag Table located in the BIG Operations Tent, open noon-7 PM on Saturday 9/23
Drop bags are allowed at three (3) Aid Stations.
For the 50M
#3-Skunk Hollow ~12 m
#7-Greenall’s ~ 31.5 m
#10Johnson’s ~ 47.5 m
For the 50K
#2K-Ralph’s ~7.1 m
#7-Greenall’s ~13.4 m
#10-Johnson’s ~28.5 m
–Bring your bags to the Drop Bag Table BEFORE 7 PM on Saturday evening-we will deliver them to your designated aid station. ~OR~
Have your crew carry your drop bags (and your “shedded” clothing) and you won’t have to wait around at the finish line to pick up your stuff before heading home.
–At the Drop Bag table, your bag will be weighed (less than 10 lbs./4.5 Kg) and measured- no larger than 9”x 9” x 16” (23 cm x 41 cm x 23 cm)
-You will be asked to label your bag with the name of the aid station you want it dropped at, your name and most importantly, your bib number on colored duct tape
Biker-Lime Green Tape
Runner-Yellow Tape
–Drop bags will not be returned to the Finish Line until 30+ minutes AFTER the aid station closes.
Check out our Drop Bag Page to see what we suggest you put in your bag use this LINK or QR code below
You are allowed to “shed” clothing at the start and at Aid Stations on course
-EXCEPT at two (2) Aid Stations–NO Shedding of clothes at #4 Garvin Hill or #5 Cady Brook.
–Aid Station Volunteers will bag up your clothes when their aid station closes
-Clothing and Drop Bags ARE NOT returned to the Finish Line, until an aid station is CLOSED, plus 30 minutes travel time.
–Your clothes will be in BIG piles outside the Operations Tent
–There will be aid station signs for each pile.
-Your Crews/Spectators can collect your “shed” clothing and carry your drop bags for you at the designated aid stations-see below. And you won’t have to wait to head home.
Their vehicles MUST be registered and display a valid Car Tag
CAR TAGS–Crew/Spectator Vehicles at the Vermont 50
Our race allows ONE crew/spectator vehicle per participant and one vehicle per relay team.
This vehicle must be registered with us (Car Tag Table) on Saturday noon-7 PM.
-We will need your license plate number and the participant’s BIB #
–The vehicle driver will be given directions to the designated aid stations (don’t use GPS-you might get lost)
-The vehicle must stay on these designated routes
-No aid or contact is allowed ANYWHERE except at the designated aid stations-failure to comply is ground for being DQ’d.
Designated Aid Stations are:
For the 50M
#3-Skunk Hollow ~12 m
#7-Greenall’s ~ 31.5 m
#10Johnson’s ~ 47.5 m
For the 50K
#7-Greenall’s ~13.4 m
#10-Johnson’s ~28.5 m
VT50 2023 Course Updates
—There are a few course changes, which will be revealed at our mandatory race meetings on Sunday 9/24 at 5:30 AM for 50M and 7:30 AM for 50K
Part of this re-routing is the result of a landowner not allowing us on their property any longer.
That said, YOU MUST NOT RIDE OR RUN ON ANY OF OUR RACE COURSE PRIOR TO RACE DAY
In addition, there are horse trail rides planned for Saturday 9/23-so stay off our course, please.
We don’t want to lose any more of our sweet trails-and I’m sure you don’t want this either.
–Aid Stations
We’re still tweaking the mileage on our aid stations because of the re-routing mentioned above but this QR code will get you to the page as it gets updated.
******************************
Race REMINDERS
–On-Site Camping
Make sure you bring cash for camping ($40) payable at the camping entrance
Email Mike to make your reservation.
Things that would help us out on race weekend:
—
–Come earlier on Saturday to pick up your bib, or plate number (before 7 PM)
–Sunday morning leave plenty of time to park and get settled for our 5:30 AM racer pre-race meeting/briefing.
–If camping onsite, please bike or jog over to the 5:30 morning meeting at the BIG TENT/Ascutney Outdoors Building Race Staging Area (a nice warm-up!).
–When driving in and around Brownsville-OBEY all the speed limits, please
–When driving around the mountain (Ski Tow RD) PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE drive slowly-you will get noticed and could jeopardize our future races.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Volunteers
Fence Days are Tuesday 9/19 and Wednesday, 9/20
If you can help out, please meet at Ascutney Outdoors at 9 AM each day
Directions 449 Ski Tow Rd, Brownsville, VT 05037
We’ll be setting up our fencing around Ascutney Outdoors and around the VT50 Finish Line.
Bring work gloves, water bottle, snacks.
Lunch will be provided.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
14th Annual Kids FREE FUN Races
Register your child/children using this QR Code-one from per child please.
VINTAGE T-SHIRT CONTEST
Can you beat this 1997 “Vintage” Vermont 50 t-shirt?
Bring your shirt to the Merch Table on Saturday 9/23 before 7 PM to collect your prize, if you can show us the “OLDEST” Vermont 50 t-shirt.
Please support our athletes who are fundraising for
Vermont Adaptive
DONATE HERE
Our current donation level is: $54,042
Can we hit $80K (50 miles in Km)
VT50 Less than two weeks to go
13 days until our 30th race!
All race registration is CLOSED-except our FREE FUN KIDS RACES! (see below)
WOW, 13 days until our 30th race. How’s your training going ?
History Lesson…back in 1993
In 1993 Laura Farrell (blue jacket above) and a handful of runners started The Vermont 50 Mountain Bike or Ultra Run in West Windsor, Vermont.
While the VT50 was conceived as a qualifying race for the Vermont 100, there was local interest in a mountain bike race, so six (6) bikes started with the runners in the race’s first year.
After that, the mountain bike visionary, Lou Schmertz took the mountain bike portion in hand and was the driving force behind creating what we know and love today.
It was through Lou’s dedication to the sport of mountain biking and his belief that biking should be accessible to all that we have this amazing race. More than a few of us think of Lou every time we’re pedals up.
Thanks, Lou. 
Our race has grown from a small group of runners, mountain bikers and volunteers to over 1300 Ultra Runners and Mountain Bikers and 100+ volunteers.
Thank you for being here with us as we celebrate 30 years.
Course Updates
–THANK YOU to EVERYONE who came out for our Trail Day Sunday, Sept.10
And THANKS to Ascutney Trails Association for organizing the event.
There have been a few course changes, which will be revealed at our mandatory race meeting on Sunday 9/24 at 5:30 AM for 50M (7:30 AM for 50 K).
Part of this re-routing is the result of a landowner not allowing us on their property any longer.
That said, YOU MUST NOT RIDE OR RUN ON ANY OF OUR RACE COURSE PRIOR TO RACE DAY
In addition, there are horse trail rides planned for Saturday 9/23-so stay off our course, please.
We don’t want to lose any more of our sweet trails-and I’m sure you don’t want this either.
–Aid Stations
We’re still tweaking the mileage on our aid stations because of the re-routing mentioned above but this QR code will get you to the page.
–Race Weekend Schedule
We’ve got lots planned for you during race weekend Sept. 23-24, this QR Code will take you to the Schedule Page.
—Things that can get you DQ’d
–On race day, ANY contact with racers ANYWHERE but the designated aid stations is grounds for removal from our race
–Absolutely NO HEADPHONES. If you are seen, you will be asked to leave the course on the spot.
—DIRESPECT anyone during race weekend.
******************************
Race REMINDERS
–On-Site Camping
Make sure you bring cash for camping ($40) payable at the camping entrance
Email Mike to make your reservation.
–PLEASE, OBEY ALL SPEED LIMITS!
When in doubt-drive slowly!
Please Review our Race Handbooks:
Mountain Bike Handbook
Runner Handbook
Crew Handbook
Things that would help us out on race weekend:
—Carpool
–Come earlier on Saturday to pick up your bib, or plate number (before 7 PM)
–Sunday morning leave plenty of time to park and get settled for our 5:30 AM racer pre-race meeting/briefing.
–If camping onsite, please bike or jog over to the 5:30 morning meeting at the BIG TENT/Ascutney Outdoors Building Race Staging Area (a nice warm-up!).
–When driving in and around Brownsville-OBEY all the speed limits, please
–When driving around the mountain (Ski Tow RD) PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE drive slowly-you will get noticed and could jeopardize our future races.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Volunteers
We are always look for volunteers to help out at our race, before, during and after the race. If you have a few hours to give, we’d love to put your energy and skills to good use! More info on our Volunteer Page
Fence Days are Tuesday 9/19 and Wednesday, 9/20 9AM
If you can help out, please meet at Ascutney Outdoors at 9 AM each day
Directions 449 Ski Tow Rd, Brownsville, VT 05037
We’ll be setting up our fencing around Ascutney Outdoors and around the VT50 Finish Line.
Bring work gloves, water bottle, snacks.
Lunch will be provided.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
14th Annual Kids FREE FUN Races
Bring your kids so they can enjoy our Kids Fun Run or MT Bike Races, followed by a Hay Bale Treasure Hunt (always a BIG HIT!)
Register your child/children using this QR Code-one from per child please.
******************************
Help out our friends–Lucy Mac 5K9 Sept. 16th
Our friends at Lucy Mackenzie Humane Society are hosting The Lucy Mac 5K9, one of their largest fundraising events of the year, offering a great opportunity for animal-lovers to have fun on the trails while raising critical funds to support the work of Lucy Mackenzie.
The 5K9 offers both a 5K route as well as a 1-mile option. Runners and walkers can participate solo or as a team while enjoying the thrilling and beautiful trails of Ascutney Mountain. As always, dogs are welcome to join in on the fun!
The registration fee is $30 for the 5K and $20 for the 1-mile. All participants completing the 5K9 will receive a custom Lucy Mac 5K9 medal!
**The first 50 participants to register for the 5K9 will receive a free race-day t-shirt!**
Click here to register now: https://runsignup.com/Race/VT/
Check-in and registration will be 9-10AM at the Ascutney Outdoors Center, located at 449 Ski Tow Road, Brownsville, VT 05037.
The 1-mile race will kick-off at 10AM, and the 5K race will start at 10:30AM.
Please contact them at [email protected] or 802-484-5829 with questions.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please support our athletes who are fundraising for
Vermont Adaptive
DONATE HERE
Our current donation level is: $53,107. Can we hit $80K (50 miles in Km)
VERMONT50.com
Our Participant list has been updated-please visit our website.
VT50 Trails and Stuff 9/6 UPDATED
18 days until our 30th race!
All race registration is CLOSED-except our FREE FUN KIDS RACES! (see below)
HELP US REDUCE WASTE
If you need to DROP, please email MIKE, to help us plan for race weekend water and food
Bring a water bottle to refill during race weekend.
CARPOOL (share gas cost, reduce traffic)
VT50 Trails Remember when I said we might recruit you to help out with the VT50 Trails.. welp, it’s this Sunday folks!
Trail Day Sept.10
Ascutney Trails Association is hosting a Trail Day on Sept. 10 to help clean up some of our course trails.
From ATA blog:
https://www.ascutneytrails.com/post/vt50-trail-day
UPDATE!!
Joe’s Jungle needs a bunch of clean-up, as do other sections of the Vermont 50 course. Meet at “The Triangle” where Bryant Road meets Silver Hill Rd. (about 1600 Silver Hill Rd., West Windsor) at 8:30 on Sunday, 9/10. Bring string-trimmer, leaf blower, loppers, or rake (and, of course, water, gloves and snack).
We’ll organize into small crews and head out from that central location, working until about noon.
This year’s tasks are way more than normal, due to the storms earlier this summer. We’ll reassess progress at the end of the day, and may need to reconvene for another trail day on Saturday the 16th.
Brings gloves, bug spray, water and any trail tools you might have.
THANK YOU for helping us get ready for our 30th Race!
Course Markers
And speaking of trails…when you are on course Sunday, September 24th look for these trail markers to guide you along to the finish line.
50 mile course
50 Km course, where the two courses overlap we DO NOT double mark
Pop quiz–do you know what these markers mean? If not, please attend the mandatory race meeting on Sunday Sept. 24th!!
Even if you KNOW what they mean please attend the race meeting as new and up-to-date info on the course will be revealed…
******************************
Race REMINDERS
On-Site Camping
Make sure you bring cash for camping ($40) payable at camping entrance
If you are camping, please bike or run to start to avoid traffic jams and it’s a nice warmup!)
Email Mike to make your reservation.
We want to keep our race community/landowners happy, so PLEASE, don’t ride/run on our course anytime before Sunday, Sept. 24th.
No one is allowed on the course at any time during RACE DAY, even where some of our course is on public roads. PLEASE Stay OFF the course.
If you are driving an approved Crew Vehicle (you have a crew hang tag!!) please use the directions given to you when you register your vehicle and PLEASE, OBEY THE SPEED LIMITS!
Please Review our Race Handbooks:
Mountain Bike Handbook
Runner Handbook
Crew Handbook
Things that can get you DQ’d
–On race day, ANY contact with racers anywhere but the designated aid stations is grounds for removal from our race
–Absolutely NO HEADPHONES. If you are seen, you will be asked to leave the course on the spot. )
—Disrespect anyone during race weekend.
Things that would help us out on race weekend:
—Carpool
–Come earlier on Saturday to pick up your bib, or plate number (before 7 PM)
–Sunday morning leave plenty of time to park and get settled for our 5:30 AM racer pre-race meeting/briefing.
–If camping onsite, please bike or jog over to the 5:30 morning meeting at the BIG TENT/Ascutney Outdoors Building Race Staging Area.
–When driving in and around Brownsville-OBEY all the speed limits, please
–When driving around the mountain (Ski Tow RD) PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE drive slowly-you will get noticed and count jeopardize our future races.
******************************
14th Annual Kids FREE FUN Races
Bring your kids so they can enjoy our Kids Fun Run or MT Bike Races, followed by a Hay Bale Treasure Hunt (always a BIG HIT!)
******************************
VENDORS and MERCHANDISE
Vendors “A Taste of new England”
Come and enjoy the Expo of about 10-12 vendors on Saturday, Sept. 23 noon-5 PM
Visit our VT50 Merch Table for some SWEET 30th anniversary gear
******************************
Oh those Miles and Years,
THANK YOU for Supporting Vermont Adaptive.
And speaking of the Merch Table, if you’ve been racing for a LONG TIME with us, stop by the Merch Table either Saturday or Sunday to pick up your Years/Mileage Beer Mug.
The List is on our website of all the folks who will be honored this year!
These people have REALLY gone the EXTRA miles supporting Vermont Adaptive.
Todd Alexander-28 years
Tyler Merritt-26 years
Mark Condon-25 years
Alan Moats-25 years
Robert Brungraber-25 years
Bobby Farrell-25 years
Zane Wenzel-24 years
Bob Kogut-24 years
Dave Kogut-24 years
Jared Katz-24 years
******************************
Help out our friends–Lucy Mac 5K9 Sept. 16th
Our friends at Lucy Mackenzie Humane Society are hosting The Lucy Mac 5K9, one of their largest fundraising events of the year, offering a great opportunity for animal-lovers to have fun on the trails while raising critical funds to support the work of Lucy Mackenzie.
The 5K9 offers both a 5K route as well as a 1-mile option. Runners and walkers can participate solo or as a team while enjoying the thrilling and beautiful trails of Ascutney Mountain. As always, dogs are welcome to join in on the fun!
The registration fee is $30 for the 5K and $20 for the 1-mile. All participants completing the 5K9 will receive a custom Lucy Mac 5K9 medal!
**The first 50 participants to register for the 5K9 will receive a free race-day t-shirt!**
Click here to register now: https://runsignup.com/Race/VT/
Check-in and registration will be 9-10AM at the Ascutney Outdoors Center, located at 449 Ski Tow Road, Brownsville, VT 05037.
The 1-mile race will kick-off at 10AM, and the 5K race will start at 10:30AM.
Please contact them at [email protected] or 802-484-5829 with questions.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Volunteers Are NEEDED
We are always look for volunteers to help out at our race, before, during and after the race. If you have a few hours to give, we’d love to put your energy and skills to good use!
More info on our Volunteer Page
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please support our athletes who are fundraising for
Vermont Adaptive
DONATE HERE
VERMONT50.com
Our Participant list has been updated-please visit our website.
The 30th Vermont 50 is a GO!!!
The 30th Vermont 50 is a GO!!
The Vermont 50 Race Committee met this past Monday and reviewed all our concerns: Trails / Course, landowners, and community, then we voted unanimously make this Vermont 50-2023-30th anniversary go full steam ahead.
Conditions Could Change
We all need to be adaptable if conditions change. We do not think we will be looking at slower times, but everyone will be challenged with the conditions, so go slowly and safely, watch for caution signs and follow the course marshals, race officials and police officer’s instructions.
This has been the wettest June, July, and August in recent memory in our race communities AND we are heading into hurricane season!
Aid Stations and possible Changes
We have three aid stations on course where participants may have contact with their crew and ONLY at these three locations. Skunk, Greenall’s and Johnson’s
Please review: Aid Stations
We may need to alter the middle crew station, Greenall’s, it might be eliminated as a crew station.
You will know this in plenty of time to adjust your support through drop bags.
This aid station is also a relay race transfer point, we will have new transfer options for you, if we do have to eliminate this as a crew station.
REMINDER
No one is allowed on the course at any time, even where some of the course is on public roads.
This is a must as some of the roads are now narrow and have caution areas as a result of previous washouts.
Also contact with racers anywhere but the designated aid stations is grounds for removal from our race.
This all said, we hope you will ride or run with safety in mind and respect for others with you.
Please Review our Race Handbooks:
Mountain Bike Handbook
Runner Handbook
Crew Handbook
Absolutely NO HEADPHONES. If you are seen, you will be asked to leave the course on the spot.
Things that would help us out:
–Carpool
–Come earlier on Saturday to pick up your bib, or plate number (before 7 PM)
–Sunday morning leave plenty of time to park and get settled for our 5:30 AM racer pre-race meeting/briefing.
–If camping onsite, please bike or jog over to the 5:30 morning meeting at the BIG TENT/Ascutney Outdoors Building Race Staging Area.
–When driving in and around Brownsville-OBEY all the speed limits, please
–When driving around the mountain (Ski Tow RD) PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE drive slowly-you will get noticed and your behavior could jeopardize our future races.
On-Site Camping
Make sure you bring cash for camping ($40) payable at camping entrance
Again, if you are camping, please bike or run to start to avoid traffic jams. Email Mike to make your reservation.
14th Annual Kids FREE FUN Races
Bring your kids so they can enjoy our Kids Fun Run or MT Bike Races, followed by a Hay Bale Treasure Hunt (always a BIG HIT!)
Sing up HERE, one registration per child. More info about these race, please Visit: Our Kid’s Page
Vendors “A Taste of new England”
Come and enjoy the Expo of about 10-12 vendors on Saturday noon-5 PM
Visit our Merch Table for some SWEET VT 50 30th anniversary gear
Oh those Miles and Years
And speaking of the Merch Table, if you’ve been racing for a LONG TIME with us, stop by the Merch Table either Saturday or Sunday to pick up your Years/Mileage Beer Mug.
The List is on our website of all the folks who will be honored this year!
Trail Day Sept.10
Ascutney Trails Association is hosting a Trail Day on Sept. 10 to help clean up some of our course trails. Details to follow but please mark your calendar to help us out.
Lucy Mac 5K9
Our friends at Lucy Mackenzie Humane Society are hosting The Lucy Mac 5K9, one of their largest fundraising events of the year, offering a great opportunity for animal-lovers to have fun on the trails while raising critical funds to support the work of Lucy Mackenzie.
The 5K9 offers both a 5K route as well as a 1-mile option. Runners and walkers can participate solo or as a team while enjoying the thrilling and beautiful trails of Ascutney Mountain. As always, dogs are welcome to join in on the fun!
The registration fee is $30 for the 5K and $20 for the 1-mile. All participants completing the 5K9 will receive a custom Lucy Mac 5K9 medal!
**The first 50 participants to register for the 5K9 will receive a free race-day t-shirt!**
Click here to register now: https://runsignup.com/Race/VT/
Check-in and registration will be 9-10AM at the Ascutney Outdoors Center, located at 449 Ski Tow Road, Brownsville, VT 05037.
The 1-mile race will kick-off at 10AM, and the 5K race will start at 10:30AM.
Please contact them at [email protected] or 802-484-5829 with questions.
Volunteers
We are always look for volunteers to help out at our race, before, during and after the race. If you have a few hours to give, we’d love to put your energy and skills to good use! More info on our Volunteer Page
All for now…
Bring LOTS of smiles so we can celebrate our 30th and forget about all the wet weather we have had this summer.
“I am excited we are going to celebrate our 30th anniversary with all of you. We have some great music, great food, great support from Cannondale, Craft clothing, many New England craft vendors and the community. Let’s end the summer with the start of fall foliage with another Vermont 50.” Mike Silverman, VT50 race Director.
Please support our athletes who are fundraising for
Vermont Adaptive
DONATE HERE