Virtual Covered Bridges Half Marathon gets underway Sunday

Team TuTu Much Fun walked the Covered Bridges Half Marathon race course on Friday, June 4, and is shown here at the Taftsville Covered Bridge at about mile 8. From left: CBHM Race Co-director Nancy Nutile-McMenemy, of Weathersfield; Gidget Lyman, of South Royalton; Trish Gallagher of Dorchester, Mass.; and CBHM Race Co-director Mike Silverman, of Hanover, NH. (Nancy Nutile-McMenemy Photo)

The first virtual race of the Covered Bridges Half Marathon is set to begin on Sunday, with over 1,300 participants running the 13.1 miles wherever they are in the world any time from June 6-13.

A number of people locally and outside of Vermont will be participating, according to Race Co-director Nancy Nutile-McMenemy, who said a total of 1,342 runners were signed up.

This nonprofit half marathon, one of the most-anticipated races of its kind, is usually held in the scenic Vermont area of Woodstock, Pomfret and Quechee, and includes several historic covered bridges along the way. After the race's first-ever cancellation in 2020 amid the pandemic, race organizers set up this virtual event to maintain everyone's health and safety, and also keep the race going for the long-term. Race co-directors Nutile-McMenemy and Mike Silverman noted the event’s major community impact over the years: It typically raises $50,000 to $60,000 for dozens of area school groups and nonprofits like libraries, community clubs and social service agencies.

“We want to make sure that we’re here and that we can support as many organizations as possible,” Silverman said in a prior interview.

Overall, the race usually has a $1.2 million economic impact in the region. On Sunday, of course, there will not be any official events or set-up at the usual start or finish locations. However, Nutile-McMenemy and Silverman will record a message for social media at 8 a.m. Sunday, when the race traditionally starts. Stay tuned for that via the CBHM Facebook page.

At the 2022 race, CBHM plans to celebrate its 30th anniversary — which is actually this year. Runners and organizers alike are looking forward to a return to the in-person experience they've all cherished for over three decades.

— Gareth Henderson