1999 Covered Bridges Half Marathon


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Race Facts:

The 13.1 mile route of the marathon starts at the Suicide Six Ski Area in South Pomfret, just outside Woodstock. It runs through open farmland past the Meadow Covered Bridge into Woodstock, where it crosses the Covered Middle Bridge. It then follows the Ottauquechee River downstream to the Taftsville Covered Bridge and on into the village of Quechee, past the Quechee Covered Bridge and ends up at the Quechee Polo field.
The race normally starts at 9:50 am and finishes around noon. It's somewhat of a social occasional for not only the runners but also local residents. About 300 of them help out with water cups and traffic control.
There is usually an "all you can eat" pasta supper put on by Woodstock the night before.
1999's contestants came from 23 states and two countries.

If one thing dominated the 1999 Covered Bridges Half Marathon it was the story of Tony Bates. This was his last run before turning 40. Mr. Bates is considered by some as one of Vermont's best long distance runners. The marathon was his last run before his age division changed...a major event in a runner's life. Mr. Bates ran the 13.1 miles in 1:12:17, and won second place.

The winner was Jason Porter, age 29 of Vermont. He came in with a time of 1:11:42. Nicholas Conway from New York came in third with a time of 1:12:22.

The temperature was in the mid sixties and it was slightly overcast for the May 8th race perfect conditions for the more than 2,300 runners. It brought about 400 more of them out than the year before.

Near the finish

Timothy Palmer-Benson
Scenes of Vermont


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