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River Glen, Sugarbush and Stowe. And the minute I said that, I realized
How I got into this business? It was a that’s what the Northeast Kingdom is UPCOMING RACES CONNECTED TO THE

happy accident. My only experience in and always has been – a Mecca for out- KINGDOM GAMES:
organizing anything like this was coach-
door activities year-round. And it’s not
ing my kids’ soccer teams for 10 years. just for our events, there are plenty of
I never made a varsity team in my other runs and rides. We have the roads
life. But, I’ve always loved pickup, intra- with low traffic and the pristine lakes Run The Kingdom www.dandelionrun.org June 14, 2014 – Sixth Annual Son of a Swim
mural, low-key recreational sports. Just with very little boat traffic. Plus, it’s as July 5 - The Harry Corrow Freedom Run,
July 12, 2014 – Sixth Annual Kingdom Swim
August 2, 2014 – Fourth Annual Seymour
October 5 - Kingdom Marathon Run,
for the fun of it — skiing, running, easy a drive as you could ever ask for.
Swim Bike, and Hike
swimming, softball, sail boarding, hik-
ing. And I love being outdoors in any VS: You spend a lot of time every year August 9, 2014 – Crystal Swim
October 25 - Halloween Hustle,
kind of weather. I’m not afraid of the
organizing and running these events. August 10, 2014 – Island Pond Swim December 5 - Newport Santa Run,
weather. I embrace it. What’s the most satisfying part? August 11, 2014 – Green River Reservoir
I was appointed Orleans County
August 12, 2014 – Lake Seymour Tour De Kingdom – www.tourdekingdom.org
PW: The most exciting thing is to help August 13, 2014 – Lake Massawippi June 4 thru June 8 – June Tour,
State’s Attorney in May of 1980. I had people stretch themselves and to be part
been working in St. Johnsbury. When of that stretching process. You can see August 14, 2014 – Lake Memphremagog June 7 & 8 – Double Century Challenge
I first drove over Sheffield Heights and they’re taking on a challenge, they’re August 16, 2014 – Fifth Annual Willoughby
September 12 thru 14 Connecticut River
came down into Barton, Browning- Swim Camping Tour
ton, Derby and Newport I felt I was afraid and they know it’s filled with risk August 17, 2014 – Caspian Swim
September 24 thru 28 - Fall Foliage Tour,
for them, but they train for it and they September 6, 2014 – In Search of October 5 - Doin’ the Dirt,
home. This is one of the most beautiful grab it. When they finally achieve it, the Memphre IV
places in the world. It is no accident that excitement is incredible.
this area was one of the very first geo- I’ve watched people use our events to October 4, 2014 – Georgeville or Bust
Swim The Kingdom – www.kingdomswim.org
tourism areas specially designated by
National Geographic.
launch them to bigger things. This one
woman by the name of Bethany Bosch partners helps tremendously with your length of Memphremagog and this year
did the 10-mile swim a few years ago and motivation each day. There’s a woman she’s swimming the English Channel. To
VS: What makes the Northeast King- she was the last one back to the barn. We see that progression is the most gratify-
dom a great location to hold these were in the middle of the award ceremo- in Barre named April Rodgers Farn-
events? ny when she showed up and everyone ham. She signed up for all of our run- ing feeling.
PW: When I started at IROC and we ning events and she got all of her bud-
stood up and applauded her as she came dies to sign up as well. They’re doing the VS: Do you have any tips for partici-
were looking at the problems they were out of the water. She said it was at that whole series, training for the marathon, pants considering their first open-water
having, people said, “We can’t get peo- moment that she knew she was a swim- swim or marathon in the Northeast
ple in the summertime.” And I said, mer. She was the highest fundraiser for but they’re out running every day for
“Summers are miracles in Vermont and that year and she won a trip to Ned Den- maybe five days a week. They inspire Kingdom?
you’re never going to get people going each other and that’s a great way to pre- PW: Once you visualize the comple-
nison’s swim camp in Cork, Ireland. She pare for your first marathon or first half tion, dedication to training is really the
into a building unless they absolutely went to the camp, came back the next key to it all. I would suggest getting a
have to. We have to be an indoor and year and chopped an hour and a half off marathon.
outdoor recreation center.”
her time. Last year she swam the 25-mile
training buddy because having those

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