[quaker02]

I am going to Vermont tomorrow night (Killington) for a long weekend. I want to do a 26 mile run on Friday morning (early...starting around 5 am) and I would ideally do the majority on trails but I would be just as happy doing my miles on roads also.<br><br>
Does anyone have any suggestions of a good route or trail that I might want to try out?<br><br>
Thanks!

 

[Gingerbread]

Trails? They'll probably be covered in snow, and it might be deep. I'm not sure about that, since it's farther south than where I am. I'm barely in the Northeast Kingdom, and we still have a lot of snow here. I hope someone more familiar with that specific area chimes in for you.

 

[Sherpa John]

Trails?... TRAILS?!<br><img alt="laughing1.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/laughing1.gif"><img alt="laughing1.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/laughing1.gif"><img alt="laughing1.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/laughing1.gif"><br><br>
Ok.. I'm done. At last check in the Killington Area, the trails are literally buried under 3-5 feet of snow still. HOWEVER... you MIGHT be able to catch a run on some of the maintained snowmobile trails in the area. If you have yaktracks I'd check it out... not sure you'd be up for 26 miles of that...<br><br>
I'd say be prepared to run the roads. And Be careful! Snowbanks are HIGH and huge the road. No shoulders anywhere

 

[RunLongVT]

John, might he be able to follow the Peaks snowshoe course in Pittsfield for as many laps as he was up for? I know it was well-marked on race day, so perhaps it would be packed enough to be followable, even without the tape? I guess the turns on the snowmobile trail crossings would be an issue.<br><br>
Does Killington have a XC ski center that might have a snowshoe trail system?

 

[quaker02]

alright so i guess i underestimated the snow fall.<br><br>
I am going to just plan on running roads then...I really need to get this mileage in and i should be fine with running on roads I will just need to scout out some roads with some room on the sides.<br><br><br>
Thanks everyone.

 

[Gingerbread]

<img alt="biggrin.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/biggrin.gif"> Good luck with the run, but be very careful. The Burlington area has some clear road areas, so some places at lower elevations down near Killington might also.

 

[quaker02]

I am kinda a wuss when it comes to safety so unless I feel safe that I am not going to be hit by a car, I wont even try to run...which would suck because I really need to get a long run in...

 

[RunLongVT]

I present to you <a href="http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/united-states/vt/killington/1082223451" target="_blank">The Killlington Killer</a>, a monstrous half-marathon loop.<br><br>
Two solo laps of this beast would be a major accomplishment. This will be great training for Pittsfield. Total elevation gain and loss is about 1000' per lap, primarily gained and lost in one single withering climb and one punishing descent. Even better, and probably safer because of the size of Rt. 100, would be to run the heart of this loop, miles 6-12, as a double out and back. This would double the elevation figures and keep you off of Rt. 100.<br><br>
The Mountain Road is tight and twisty, and very steep, at the south end, and commercially developed at the north end. Two shortcuts can tighten the loop to about ten miles. Rt 100 is a major road. It should have a very broad shoulder, but expect downshifting trucks.<br><br>
Otherwise, feel free to explore the minor roads with MapMyRun.com or G-MapsPedometer.com.

 

[Sherpa John]

That part of the ski area access rd Paul?

 

[RunLongVT]

Yeah. Killington is so big that there are separate access roads for separate sides of the resort, I gather. The Mountain Road provides access to a couple of the base areas that are well off of Rt. 100. It starts and ends at Rt. 100, but I'm not sure if you can pass from one end to the other in the dead of winter, even though it only skirts a short way up the mountain. There are extensions off of it to two different base areas, so even if the middle is closed, running from either end all the way up these full access roads would be a good, solid hike. Depending on ski conditions, there could be an annoying amount of traffic even on the mountain road, or it could be vacant.