Long known in Vermont as a collection of premiere triathlons, The Vermont Sun Triathlon Series is steadily growing into one of the nation’s top triathlon venues as well. One race in the series, the Lake Dunmore Triathlon, held this year on August 2, was recently named the USAT Northeast Region Club Championship race, as well as the Vermont qualifying race for the Best of the U.S. Amateur Triathlete Competition. Both designations are new for the Lake Dunmore Triathlon, which consists of a .9-mile swim, 28-mile bike, and 6.2 mile run.
“It’s definitely something we’re happy about,” said race director Jerrod Rushton, who has been with the Vermont Sun Triathlon Series for a decade. The USAT Northeast Region Club Championship designation means that if an athlete qualifies at the Dunmore triathlon he or she can go on to compete in the regional USA Triathlon competition. The Best of the U.S. designation means that the male and female winners can go on to compete in a national championship.
These designations are big news for the Middlebury-based Vermont Sun group, which started the triathlon series in 1991, making it one of the longest-standing series of triathlons in the U.S. The number of competitors at these races, all of which take place at Branbury State Park, is growing steadily, with the number of participants doubling since 2005. There have been some other changes to the race series over the years. The number of races each summer has been scaled back to focus on quality over quantity, said race director Rushton, and digital chip timing was recently introduced.
Steve Urish of Burlington said it’s the location that has drawn him back to compete year after year. “The absolute best part of the series is the location,” Urish says. “Branbury State Park is the ideal triathlon venue. The lake swim is protected on three sides by mountains and trees, so even on the windiest days, the waves are bearable. There are no zebra mussels or craggy rocks to tear up your feet and no steep hills to climb up to the swim-bike transition. The transition area is very flat and compact, so there is not really much of an advantage of one bike rack assignment over any other. The bike and run legs are absolutely gorgeous with lake and mountain views. Branbury State Park is also the best place to have an après-race picnic with the family.”
Urish participates in the Shelburne Athletic Club series as well. “The Champlain Valley is very fortunate to have two very strong triathlon series and many single event races, along with an active population that supports them,” he says. “I have seen a drastic increase in participation in the local races, which is a testament to Vermont Sun and the other fine organizations that sponsor and organize these races.” Urish’s only wish for the Vermont Sun series is that it return to giving out pint glasses instead of medals for awards.
“At the risk of starting a flame war between the beer glass and medal camps, I would just like to state for the record that I do prefer the old pint glasses,” Urish says. “There is nothing sweeter than having a victory beer in a pint glass that you just won as an award.”
Christine McKnight, a 60-year-old competitor from Schuylerville, N.Y., was a longtime runner before delving into triathlons at a Vermont Sun sprint triathlon in 1997, when she was 50. She was hooked, and now competes internationally.
“The Vermont Sun triathlons are exceptional in every way,” said McKnight. “They offer a safe, well-organized opportunity for triathletes of all abilities to compete in a breath-taking setting in central Vermont. I have been competing in this series for 10 straight years, and I build my racing season around the Vermont Sun triathlons because of the strong organization behind them, the experienced staff, and the triathlete-friendly atmosphere.” She adds that the value for the entry fee is outstanding.
“I have competed in an estimated 100 triathlons since 1997, from local events to world championships in Cancun and Madeira, but the Vermont Sun races remain my favorites. They’re the gems of the triathlon world, in my book!”
Sky Barsch is Vermont Sports’ reader athlete editor. She can be reached through her website, www.skybarsch.com.
Ready to Compete?
For more information on the various Vermont Sun triathlons, including the Half Vermont Journey, a half Ironman on Saturday, August 23, visit www.vermontsun.com/triathlon.
For a complete listing of triathlons in Vermont, check out the Calendar of Events on pages 18-23, or go to www.vtsports.com.
