VT100: Meet The Crew

21st Annual Vermont 100 Mile Endurance Run
July 18-19, 2009
Woodstock, VT
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Running 100 Miles in One Day is no easy task. As a runner, the task at hand can at times become overwhelming. Thankfully, the lucky runners can recruit a few dedicated souls to spend an entire weekend waiting on them hand and foot. They sit patiently by the side of the road or dusty trail for their runner to appear from the course. They wait in the frigid air, they stay awake through the night, and all to deal with a cranky runner and his/her endless needs. After running this years MMT100 with no crew or pacer, my appreciation for those who I have suckered into this event has grown immensely. Without them, Sub 24 is just a pipe-dream. These guys keep the engine oiled and spinning like a top. So without further adieu, here is my crew for the 2009 Vermont 100.

Crew Chief - Sarah Chretien

Crew Experience: 2007 VT100, 2008 McNaughton Park 150, 2008 MMT 100, 2008 Run Across New Hampshire and 13 other Ultras.
Other Experience: Works the daily grind in having to put up with me.
Info:The title crew chief comes with few perks. You're in charge of the entire operation. You have the crew binder, you know what to expect and you know how to assemble the station for the runner. Sarah does all of this with perfect precision. It took her a few years of watching other crews operate and honing her own "momma loves you" skills to get it down to a science. So perfect in fact, that when Sarah is missing, its well noticed with longer station times and slower overall run times. She's the engine that runs the machine and she's got the magic touch.

Crew Member - Mike Robinson

Crew Experience: 2007 and 2008 VT100
Other Experience: Served dual role as pacer in 2008 VT100.
Info: Mike is the glue that holds it together. In all of my years on this earth, I've never met anyone with so much enthusiasm and positive energy. And thats exactly what a weary 100 Mile Runner needs late in a race. In 2007 he watched the VT100 unfold in Amazement, In 2008 he got his hands and legs dirty by diving into pacing duties. And now with two previous years experience and an insiders look at what goes down during the last 30 miles, Mike is that missing gear that keeps the other gears turning.

Pacer - Steve Van Orden

Ultra Experience: 2008 Pisgah 50K Chesterfield, NH; 2009 MacDonald Forest 50K, Oregon.
Info: Steve is your casual runner doing it the RIGHT way. Take one good look at the Tarahumara and the way they run happy, and you'll see the same in Steve. He doesn't like to run because he has to.. he run's because he wants to and it's fun. In early 2008 he listened to the wrong guy while buying a pair of shoes. Before you know it, he was training to run his first 50K. After surviving his first dance with the devils in a rain and mud soaked mess, Steve trained through the winter and made his way to Oregon to run in 50K number 2. Now Steve takes his better knowledge of our sport, his happy nature to run and his contagious determination to bring the buckle home through the foggy Vermont night.

And as always my crew for the Vermont 100 Mile Endurance Run will enjoy a fine and bountiful selection of beers from our sponsor: Long Trail Brewing. This years suds will include Double Bag, Blackberry Wheat and Belgian White. If you've never tried a Long Trail Ale, we welcome you to meet the staff of Team Sherpa and ask em for a free sample. They'll be happy to share the foaming brew from the back of the crew vehicle and we ENCOURAGE IT!


And of course... there are still one or two spots available on this years VT100 Crew. If you want a front lines look at what it takes to run 100 Miles or even just curious to see what it's all about, please e-mail me for more information on how you can join the party! sherpajohn@gmail.com