May 2026 / NEWS BRIEFS

GMAA’s Pump It Up! is One for the Records

On May 9, three loose ponies wandered onto the course just as the men’s leader came into the final stretch at today’s GMAA Pump It Up! 5-Miler on the roads in Jericho and Essex. What followed was a finish line moment nobody will forget: competition, chaos, and pure Vermont charm all in the same frame. Men’s winner Neal Graves held strong through the final corner to take the win in 29:11 and the women’s winner Heather Feldman followed in 31:30. 

And then there was the deeper story of the day. Three athletes over the age of 80 took on the full five-mile course and finished with grit and determination that defined the event. Ted McKnight, 81, 51:02; Bob Murphy, 86, 1:00:47; and Peter Mitchell, 86, 1:07:02. From front-runners to first-time racers to veteran finishers in their 80s, the same roads carried everyone. That is the heart of this race. Held under clear May skies on the roads of Jericho and Essex, 73 runners crossed the line at this year’s race: gmaa.run. 

Adirondack Paddling Symposium

The Adirondack Paddling Symposium, scheduled for Friday-Monday, June 12-15 in Saranac Lake, NY, is designed for beginner and intermediate paddlers and offers immersive instruction across multiple disciplines, including kayaking, canoeing, stand-up paddleboarding, and pack boating. 

With so many beautiful places to explore by paddling, becoming more efficient, gaining confidence, building skills, you’ll further your enjoyment. This was the simple goal when the symposium was founded in 2019 by Danny Mongno with support from NRS and many others in the paddling industry, and it’s now part of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail organization. 

Beginners will have the most to gain from instruction. For the intermediate paddler, you’ll learn how to paddle with your whole body. You’ll learn how your body and boat work together to get the most from yourself. Advanced courses are also available. 

The weekend kicks off with an evening welcome party at the historic Harrietstown Town Hall in Saranac Lake, followed by two days of classes taking participants to local waterways for instruction, demos and clinics. Throughout the weekend, catered meals are shared. Evening presentations on a variety of topics, plus guests from the paddling industry round out each day. The final day, Monday, June 15 is an optional “Tour Monday” – taking the skills that were learned over the weekend and putting them to practice. Lodging and boats are not included. Bring your own paddlecraft or you can rent from a local outfitter. Registration closes on June 1: adirondackpaddlingsymposium.com. 

Vermont Sun Triathlon Series

Nestled against the Green Mountains in the lake region is a pristine place to swim, bike and run. Novice and experienced athletes will enjoy the mountains, lakes and streams of Central Vermont. On Sunday, June 28, triathletes will have two options to race at Bransbury State Park on Lake Dunmore. The Vermont Sun Triathlon is a 600-yard swim, 14-mile bike, and 5K run. It’s also the USA Triathlon Vermont Championship and Vermont Senior Championship races. The second option allows you to skip the swim and paddle instead at the Branbury Classic Triathlon with a 1.5K kayak, canoe or SUP, 14-mile bike, and 5K run. Both races offer relay options for two or three person teams. The tri series continues on Aug. 2 and 30: vermontsuntriathlonseries.com.

Ascutney Mountain Run

Challenge yourself at the Ascutney Mountain Run on Saturday, May 30 at Mount Ascutney State Park in Windsor. The race starts at the park entrance, as you run up the paved Auto Road for 3.7 miles and 2,300 vertical feet. The race finishes at the summit. The race offers great views of the Connecticut River Valley and Green and White mountains. The race is USATF-sanctioned. There’s limited parking at the summit lot near the finish line which is also the location of post-race festivities with awards, food, and more. First come, first served. Mt. Ascutney State Park requires dogs to be on a leash and they must have a rabies tag: runsignup.com.

Onion River Events

Join the Birdland 5K Trail Race on Saturday, May 30 at North Branch Trails in Montpelier. The race is rain or shine as you enjoy the beauty of the park with its rolling singletrack, lush, forested hills and babbling brooks. It’s a mass start for all loop distances and all categories. The top three finishers in each category with receive Onion River Outfitters gift cards and top three overall will receive a unique prize. In the spirit of conservation, the race will be cupless. Bring your own hydration pack or bottle. While the course is marked and signed for runner safety, the trail will still be open to bicyclists and pedestrians. 

Their Tour de Creemee is also coming up on Sunday, June 14. It’s the OG gravel grinder (previously called the Central Vermont Cycling Tour) and among the best one-day bike tour routes in New England. Mountain vistas backdrop farm fields while you pedal past white-steepled churches, historic barns, waterfalls, and lakes. The signed route includes aid stations and at the finish, riders enjoy a lunch and a Morse Farm Maple Creemee.

The Tour has three routes, from the family-friendly short course with quiet roads meandering through small villages and past serene ponds, to the challenging 59-mile long course with lots of gravel and 6,000 feet of elevation gain. Start/finish is at Morse Farm Maple Sugarworks in East Montpelier, VT with routes running through towns of Calais, East Montpelier, Middlesex, Woodbury, and Worcester: onionreiver.com.