How do I register for Vermont City Marathon?

Vermont City Marathon uses open registration, so there is no lottery or qualifying standard required. Relay team options are also available for 2-person and 3-5 person teams, and a virtual race option exists as well.

Is Vermont City Marathon a Boston qualifier?

Yes, the course is USATF certified and qualifies for Boston Marathon entry. The rolling terrain means a BQ is achievable but requires disciplined pacing throughout.

What is the time limit?

The time limit is 6.5 hours from the start.

What is the elevation profile like?

The course is nearly net flat but accumulates roughly 855 feet of gain across its multi-loop layout. No single climb is severe, but the rolling terrain adds up over the second half of the race.

What is the weather typically like on race day?

Late May in Burlington brings mild conditions, with cool mornings and average highs around the low 70s. Expect low humidity and the possibility of light rain, though temperatures can climb noticeably by mid-morning.

How big is the field?

Recent editions have seen around 1,500 finishers in the full marathon, giving the race a community feel without the logistical scale of the very largest events.

Is the course USATF certified?

Yes, the Vermont City Marathon course is USATF certified.

May 2027 · est.Burlington, VTSince 1989

Vermont City Marathon

Vermont City Marathon takes you through Burlington on a multi-loop course in the mild air of a northern New England spring. It rewards patience and honest pacing.

RollingOpen

Register on RunSignup Visit race website

VERMONT CITY · US

Vermont City

MAY 2027

estimated

UNLOCK YOUR FIT SCORE

How does Vermont City stack up for you?

Answer 6 questions, and we’ll score this race honestly and compare it against every other marathon in our directory.

Take the 2-min quiz

Race Overview

EST. 1989

Vermont City Marathon runs through Burlington in late May, and the city genuinely shows up for it. The multi-loop format means you'll see the same stretches of downtown and the waterfront area more than once, which is either reassuring or a test of your mental game depending on how your day is going. The course rolls the whole way. Nothing climbs hard enough to break you outright, but the hills add up across the loops, and by mile 20 you'll feel every one of them. Don't go out fast on the first loop just because you feel good. The course will remind you it's still there.

This is a Boston qualifier, but the rolling terrain and potential for warm late-morning temperatures mean it rewards honest training and conservative early pacing more than raw fitness. Registration is open, so getting in is straightforward. Relay options exist if you want to bring a team. The weather is usually pleasant in the morning, but it can warm up quickly, so hydrate early and don't wait until you're thirsty. It's a genuine community race with a real downtown finish, and the size of the field keeps things personal. Worth the trip to Burlington.

Field size

~1.5k

1,521 finishers

BQ rate

11%

Above national average

Time limit

6:30

Standard cutoff

Entry

Open

First-come registration

Course records

Men

2:17:03

Michael Khobotov

2001

Women

2:33:40

Maegan Krifchin

2023

The Course

855 ft total gain

Total ascent

↑855 ft

Total descent

↓856 ft

Net elevation

↓1 ft

Highest point

232 ft

Lowest point

98 ft

Course shape

Multi loop

Start and finish in one place

The course is essentially flat by elevation numbers, but 855 feet of cumulative gain spread across multiple loops means you'll feel rolling terrain throughout. No single climb is severe, but repeated short pitches in the back half accumulate. The highest and lowest points differ by only about 134 feet, so dramatic grade changes aren't the concern. What demands attention is pacing discipline on loops: familiar terrain can tempt you to push early. Surfaces are paved roads with standard turns. Late-May temperatures can push into the low 70s by mid-morning, so heat management on later loops matters more than any single hill.

DIFFICULTYHILLYPR-FRIENDLYNO

View official course map Past results

Race-Day Weather

10-year median

Low

48°F

High

71°F

30°MARATHON-IDEAL 45–60°80°

What to expect

Late May in Burlington gives you a cool morning at the gun, but it can warm up more than you'd expect by the back half. You'll likely start in layers you want to ditch, then find yourself managing heat and some humidity as the temperature climbs into the 70s. It's not reliably fast-weather territory. Hydrate from mile one and don't let the comfortable start talk you into going out too hard.

Entry

OPEN

Vermont City Marathon accepts open registration with relay team options available (2-person and 3-5 person relay teams). Participants can also run virtually.

Register on RunSignup

Logistics

For runners travelling in

Closest airport

SYR

172 mi

from the start

≈ 272 min transferLonger haul

What to expect

Most travelling runners fly into SYR, about 172 miles from the start, a longer haul by rideshare or transit, roughly a 272-minute trip. Stay close to the start in Burlington, VT so you're not fighting race-morning closures and transit on tired legs. Arrive a day early to clear the expo and bib pickup, and build in buffer for gear-check and corral entry.