DANDY 2010
IT’S SPRING! IT’S TIME TO RUN!! JUST FOR THE FUN OF IT!!!
Repeat for Andy Decelles – Woodchucks Defend Their Home Turf
Runners Run Wild – Walkers Beat Their Way to the Finish
Turns out Dandelion Fever is HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS and the spirit of the day was just plain crazy fun. The Dandies held their ground in all their glory high on Bates Hill. (Notwithstanding
a very early spring, they stuck around just long enough for the run and then turned to puff balls within a day or two later). And, runners and walkers ranging in age from 6 to 75 crashed
the gates with a rush of last minute registrations. They walked and ran the race their way – any way they wanted. We had a blast. Did Frank Sinatra proud, we did.
A group of adult runners experiencing recent physical issues that precluded a full frontal attack on Bates Hill were not to be deterred – shortly after the start, they stormed the Five
Mile Youth Course and were “outed” only when they crossed the finish line with crazy times. Our line judges – two pink flamingos – spotted them immediately and
so a new division was created right on the spot. The five mile adult run.
Then there were the Mud Runners who swarmed the registration list as the biggest group. Just before the Shuttle Busses were scheduled to depart, they simply decided which leg they
wanted to run and did a “cluster” relay, with each cluster relaying with the next cluster. Figure that one out. And then, as if that didn’t add enough “fun” to
the event, many third leg runners became overwhelmed with excitement, said “No” to the shuttle vans, and just ran their way back into the beach house, crossing the line, getting
a time, and driving race officials (and our ever watchful flamingos) crazy nuts trying to figure out what the heck was going on. One Dad said the best part of the day was spending two
hours running side-by-side with his twenty-something son. His son commented with a smile, that it was the slowest half marathon he’s ever run … but one of the best.
Music was in the air with the sound of bluegrass and Scott Campbell’s incredible fiddle at the half way relay station and at the beach house. And just a touch of a shower to cool
down runners during the last leg of the race. Perfect!
What a day. In all of the wonderful excitement and craziness, there was some serious running going on at the front of the race. Andy Decelles, Age 17, of Newport, Vermont successfully
defended his Title as King of the Dandelions with an impressive time for this very, very challenging course: 1:28:01. And, the Bates Hill Girls, Jennifer Nelson, Age 41 of Derby,
Vermont and Monica DeLabruere, Age 39 of Derby, Vermont, claimed a shared title of Queens of the Dandelions by passing our Pink Flamingo Race Officials in a spirited “photo finish,” each
with a time of 1:50:03. We’re very proud of our local woodchucks, with their spirited defense of home turf. They have trained hard on our hills. And besides, we’ve
been running the back roads of Derby, Morgan, and especially Holland for centuries. Only thing missing this year was a revenuer chasing our sorry tails. But, up here in the heart
of the NEK, hard by the Canadian border, we’ve learned to be fast – only way to stay out of jail in these parts.
So here’s the “official” recap.
They Came: The total number of runners and walkers and registrants closed in on just about 250 before all was said and done. (Up from 118 last year) They came from eight
states: Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Missouri, and New Mexico plus two Canadian Provinces, Ontario and Quebec. 50
walkers and 50 youth runners.
They Saw: More like, experienced, our World Famous Dandelion Fields of Derby, Morgan, and Holland. As some of our friends from that cold and forsaken state of New Hampshire reported:
The course itself was simply breathtaking. It was also very challenging. … When we first heard that the North East Kingdom of Vermont actually celebrates the blossoming of dandelions, to be rather peculiar, but after seeing for ourselves the beautiful yellow blankets that garnish the open fields and meadows, it now makes perfect sense.
It is why The Dandy has been selected as one of the five most scenic running races in all of Vermont by Vermont
Sports. You can see for yourself by checking out our YouTube Video Slide Show of the event. And a
few years ago the Northeast Kingdom became one of only ten geotourism areas in the world specially designated by National Geographic. Couldn’t be a better place in the northeast
to run, bike or swim. At least, that’s the way we see it.
They Ran: Boy-oh-boy, did they run. Every which way but loose. The out of area folks challenged hard. But, in the end, the locals generally prevailed. Andy
Decelles, our fleet footed Champion, bested his course record by 10 minutes. Jen Nelson and Monica Delabruere fended off challengers half their age. (Sorry to say that to the Bates
Hill Girls. Yes there are adult runners half your age). Hey! It’s really not that much of a surprise. We train on these hills every day. We know these hills. We
are not deterred to come over one crest and see another climb dead ahead. Some said The Dandy is as challenging as any marathon they’ve ever run. Others said they just didn’t
respect the course until it was too late. But they finished -- all the better for the run.
Relay Teams: Locals also prevailed in the relay teams as well. Chris Shaffer and Tyler Alexander were the fastest two person relay with a time of 1:26:56. Julie and Cory Poulin were the fastest multi-sexual team at 1:44:49. While Angela Fuller and Halley Tetreault were the fastest female team with a time of 1:47:37. And the fastest four person relay team was actually the three person youth team of Joseph Bourgeois, Adam Viens, and Trevor Howell with a blistering time of 1:24:43. With all of these local youth runners beating back the “adults,” we’re thinking some state championships during the next couple of years.
The times for all runners are posted separately.
They celebrated: We started the Dandelion Festival on Friday evening with the WDEV Radio Rangers at The Dandy Dinner hosted by Dena and Pauline and all the wonderful folks at the
EastSide Restaurant. Scott Campbell, one fancy fiddler, and a renegade band of musicians serenaded runners at the 6 mile relay station and again back at the Beach House during lunch following
the run. And the “official” after-party at Lo’s Tavern was a great way to finish off the day.
Awards
Performance Prizes
Top Finishers received jugs of maple syrup from the Couture Maple Shop and B&B of Westfield Vermont and pictures of themselves in their Dandelion Crowns. !st place individual male and female received a ½ gallon “jug” and a gift certificate to RoadID. 2nd place individual winners received a quart each. 3rd place individual winners received a pint. The winning two person team and four person team received quart jugs all around.
Other Prizes Awarded
Fastest Female Impersonator -- goes to Channon Bernstein of Jericho, VT, initially awarded the Individual Female Winner with a time 1:48:57. But after the routine DNA testing and skillful video analysis of the finish, it was determined that “Channon is a Man!” He was summarily stripped of his Crown of Dandelions as the fastest woman, but will always hold an enduring (and endearing) title as the Fastest Female Impersonator, at least until such time as we establish that as an official category of the competition. His prize -- one of our very own, “award winning” Dandelion Run Water Bottles.
For the Love of the Run Award – an autographed copy of Howard Mosher’s newest novel, Walking to Gattlinburg – went to Vickie Prue. Last year, The Dandy 2009 was Vickie’s first road race. She was planning to do a single 3 mile relay leg but ended up surprising herself by running three legs. This year she conquered the course by running “the whole damn thing” in a time of 2:31:04. And she got her kids into the five mile run. You gotta’ love her love of the run. Congratulations, Vickie.
Last One Back to the Barn Award – a complete autographed set of the works to date by Howard Mosher – went to Mary Chamberlain of Montreal, QC who was running this year with her friend Jennifer Rogers from Bryn Mar, PA. To us, the completion of the race is the triumph and to us the last one back is as cherished as the first. It’s no small feat to “Run with the Dandies” and tame Bates Hill and Mary is a worthy recipient of this award – demonstrating gritty persistence and that “fist in the face of reality” so prevalent among the residents of the Northeast Kingdom.
The furthest travelled to the event: Beth Utton of Aztec, NM. Beth joins an increasing number of out of area participants traveling from 28 different states, four Canadian Provinces, Great Britain and as far away as India to run, bike, and swim in the heart of the Northeast Kingdom. And no wonder. Awesome venues, great spirit, well supported, and well organized events. I know, we’re too modest. Just can’t help feeling the local pride of living in one of the most beautiful areas of the world, bar none.
Most “Mature” Participant – Wayne Wheeler, age 75, of Newport, Vermont was awarded a copy of Paul Lefevre’s Perimeter Check. His time of 1:25:58 on the five mile walk showed that he has been diligent in his training for this event.
The Biggest Team – Those crazy Mud Runners literally took the prize – some pints of Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream – by out recruiting the runners from Lo’s Tavern. Furious recruitment competition was underway throughout April and May, with Lo’s Tavern not far behind in the end. Better luck next year Lo!! Between the two teams there had to be at least 20 to 25 local participants stirred on by their buddies and their friends to run and walk. Not far behind were the Cosmo Girls, the largest team of walkers. They brought their plastic Cosmo glasses with them on the walk so that they could be ready for our free fruit smoothies immediately upon their return.
The Largest Out of Area Team – The Dartmouth Dandies. A group of seven female runners from the northernmost Ivy decided to celebrate the end of the school year with a run through the Dandelions. Looking at the pictures, time was clearly not the top priority. Having a blast with each other clearly was. Their reward – Seven Dandelion Run Water Bottles (to remind them where they need to be next year on May 21st). They join a growing group of post secondary school athletes who are showing up at more and more of our Summer Series of running, biking, and swimming events.