Catamount 25K

Stowe, Vermont

Saturday, June 21, 2025

This was my 2nd time running this race.  My first Catamount was back in 2021, when I ran 2:01:42, 11th overall, and 1st in my age group.  This would also be my final training race before Laugavegur 55K three weeks later.

Matthew and I stayed in an Airbnb the night before in Montpelier, which made for an easy half-hour drive to the race on race morning.  Parking was real easy in a dirt parking lot adjacent to the start/finish.

Beautiful clear sunny day, with temps at a comfortable 59°F at start

Race start:  After a warm-up with Matthew and Steve Brightman, I took a Untapped waffle and was quickly ready to go.  I lined up a few rows back with Maine Jeff Walker, and we chatted for a bit waiting for the race to start.

Start of the 2025 25K
You can see Matthew and Steve Brightman
(the latter is shirtless on Matthew's right)

I do remember passing and getting re-passed by the 
Notch girl.  I don't remember this shirtless guy.

Early first few miles in the race

The first few miles are rollers, but I know the biggest climb of the day is coming at about 2.5 miles.  The climb is only 700' and it's spread out over two miles, but hill climbing is not my forte relative to others.  A few runners go by me easily on the uphill, including Maine Jeff Walker.

From miles 6 to 10, we drop about 800'.  Honestly, this is where I was hoping to catch back up to Maine Jeff Walker.  I feel like I'm running well, but it is not to be.  In retrospect, comparing my times here to 2021, I'm actually running 60 to 90 seconds slower per mile.  I know, I shouldn't compare my 60-year-old times to my 56-year-old times.  It's not helpful.  But I think it's natural?

By Mile 11, we are so close to the finish line that I can hear the announcer.  But it's deceiving as you're sent further away from the finish line and into a several-mile loop in the woods before you reach the finish.  I'm doing what I can to hold on here, and I'm both passed by several runners as well as passing several runners myself.  

Final result:  2:18:37, 30th overall (of 95), 1st in age group.  Full results here.

Coming into the finish line.  Glad to be done!

The good news is I took 1st place in my new 60s age division.  The bad news is I end up 17 minutes slower than four years ago, or just over a minute per mile slower.  I take it all in stride.  Matthew is out on a cool down that I don't have the energy for, so I grab a veggie taco kind of bowl (it's either that or pulled pork), and since I'm not much of a beer drinker, I try the kombucha they are offering.  It's not my thing, but I did try.

The best think about the kombucha wasn't the
kombucha itself, but rather that it was
served in this take-home race glass.

Fun race overall.  Would I run it a 3rd time?  Yes, probably, but there are so many good trail races out there, and I'd like to mix it up.