Vermont City Marathon: Pacing & Race-Day Strategy
A scenic Lake Champlain course with a famous mid-race hill and a festive Burlington atmosphere.
- Where:
- Burlington, Vermont
- When:
- May
- Course:
- Rolling · scenic · loop
- Best run as:
- Even pace
Course & elevation
Vermont City is gently rolling with one well-known sting: the climb up Battery Street (“the Assault on Battery”) around the midpoint. Otherwise the course tours Burlington’s waterfront, neighborhoods, and a bike-path section along Lake Champlain.
Key moments
- Mile 8–9An out-and-back on the beltline — useful for a pace check.
- Mile 15The Battery Street climb — short and steep, with drummers to pull you up.
- Mile 20–26.2Lakeside bike path to the finish — exposed if it’s warm.
Pacing strategy
Run the Battery Street hill by effort, not pace, and don’t overspend chasing it. Save energy for the exposed lakeside miles late, which bake in a warm year.
Plan your mile splits
Enter your goal time to get a mile-by-mile pacing band for Vermont City Marathon. The even pace option is pre-selected to suit this course.
| Mile | Pace | Elapsed |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9:09/mi | 9:09 |
| 2 | 9:09/mi | 18:18 |
| 3 | 9:09/mi | 27:28 |
| 4 | 9:09/mi | 36:37 |
| 5 | 9:09/mi | 45:46 |
| 6 | 9:09/mi | 54:55 |
| 7 | 9:09/mi | 1:04:05 |
| 8 | 9:09/mi | 1:13:14 |
| 9 | 9:09/mi | 1:22:23 |
| 10 | 9:09/mi | 1:31:32 |
| 11 | 9:09/mi | 1:40:41 |
| 12 | 9:09/mi | 1:49:51 |
| 13 | 9:09/mi | 1:59:00 |
| 14 | 9:09/mi | 2:08:09 |
| 15 | 9:09/mi | 2:17:18 |
| 16 | 9:09/mi | 2:26:28 |
| 17 | 9:09/mi | 2:35:37 |
| 18 | 9:09/mi | 2:44:46 |
| 19 | 9:09/mi | 2:53:55 |
| 20 | 9:09/mi | 3:03:05 |
| 21 | 9:09/mi | 3:12:14 |
| 22 | 9:09/mi | 3:21:23 |
| 23 | 9:09/mi | 3:30:32 |
| 24 | 9:09/mi | 3:39:41 |
| 25 | 9:09/mi | 3:48:51 |
| 26 | 9:09/mi | 3:58:00 |
| 26.22 | 9:09/mi | 4:00:00 |
Fueling & hydration
Aid stations roughly every 2 miles with water and sports drink. Late-May warmth can raise fluid needs — drink early and keep gels on schedule.
Weather
Late-May Burlington is usually mild, but a warm, sunny year on the exposed lakefront is the main risk.
Train for Vermont City Marathon
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