40th Annual
Green Mountain Athletic Association
Archie Post Five Miler

Saturday, September 6, 2008 at 8:30 a.m.

"Oldest race in Vermont!"

Read about the history of the Archie Post Five Miler and Archie Post himself in this August 2003 Vermont Sports Today article.
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COURSE: Certified (VT02003WN) point to point course has sweeping views of the Green Mountains and is entirely on bike path. Start is off Dorset Street on Holbrook Road (near VT. National Country Club) and then follows the South Burlington bike path network along Dorset, Swift, Farrell and the Burlington Country Club finishing at Gutterson Field House.
photos - an on-line course tour
REGISTRATION: Pre-registration encouraged (see address below). Race day registration at Gutterson Field House at UVM in Burlington, Vermont. (7:15-7:50 a.m.)
DIRECTIONS: Take Interstate 89 until exit 14. Get on route 2 west. Turn south onto Spear St. (via "jug handle" on right). Field House is on the right after 1/4 mile.
ENTRY FEE: $7 Pre-registration/ $10 race day (GMAA members subtract $1)
optional shirt $6
GETTING TO
THE START:		 The start is 3.5 miles from registration on Holbrook Road. Participants may take the provided bus or run the start. Bus will leave Gutterson at 8:05.   PLEASE DO NOT PARK AT THE START.
PRIZES: $20 gift certificates to top male and female. Prizes to age group winners.
INFORMATION:  archiepost@gmaa.net
History of the Archie Post 5 Miler including past results and age group records
Past photos: 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007
GMAA weather policy
KID'S RACE A free 1/4 mile kid's race will be held at the Archie Post fields at the end of the 5 Miler at 9:30a.m.
SPECTATING: All runners can be seen at the 1.5 mile mark (the intersection of Spear and Swift) with plenty of time to get back to see the first runners finish. Park on the north side of the intersection near the church. The end of the race is fun to watch as the runners wrap around the Archie Post fields in full sight for the last quarter mile.
LODGING: Hotels within 1/2 mile of Gutterson Field House (exit 14 of I-89):
University Inn  1-800-808-4656
Sheraton  1-802-865-6600
Best Western  1-800-528-1234
Holiday Inn  1-800-465-4329
Historic Inns of Burlington-a bit further away, but still a short run:
Lang House on Main Street  1-877-919-9799
Willard Street Inn  1-800-577-8712
ALL PARKING AT UVM!   PLEASE DO NOT PARK AT THE START!
(WARM UP CLOTHES WILL BE BROUGHT BACK TO THE FINISH)

REFRESHMENTS FOR ALL RUNNERS AFTER THE RACE!

NOTE: GMAA/insurance rules prohibit running with a baby jogger, dog, or headphones during the race.

COURSE FEATURES:
Link to course photos

  • Certified 5 Miler with all miles marked
  • Start and finish at 390' elevation
  • Max elevation 429' (0.7 miles)
  • Min elevation 194' (2.7 miles)

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  • Water stop at 2.6 miles (Farrell Park)
  • Paved bike path first 3.5 miles with choice of cinders/paved last 1.5 miles
  • Course varies from deeply forested to wide open with sweeping views, including a section alongside the VT Community Botanical Gardens 

 
A few notes about Archie Post (1904-1994)
Archie Post had a distinguished career as both an athlete and coach at UVM. After earning 8 varsity letters and graduating in 1927, Post became track and field coach and cross country coach in 1929. He retired in 1969 after 40 years as a coach. His most memorable moment may have been the 1937 ECAC track and field championship, but the event he was most proud of was the 1958 cross country team that went undefeated and won the New England Championships with a seven man team consisting of five Vermonters. He didn't like to recruit, saying any Vermont kid interested knew what UVM was about. Archie Post was also against Athletic Scholarships, and his philosophy was "It is better to mold youngsters' talent both physically and mentally than to mold only a fine athlete to build a dynasty in sports." He stated in a 1931 Burlington Free Press article, "Proper track training is the best body builder possible for all sports. It is the greatest known building exercise for speed and stamina. And track itself is the cleanest of all sports." In the same article, he predicted track would overtake baseball as a spectator sport. Ah, love is blind!

Print out the registration form and mail in to pre-register! 
Click here for the registration form

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