IROC’S Summer Series in the Kingdom 2011
Running – Biking – Swimming
In the heart of the Northeast Kingdom
IROC’s Summer Series of running, biking, and swimming events offers
challenging, fun, well organized and well supported recreational and competitive athletic events for all ages and all levels of ability. They take place in one of the most beautiful
areas of the nation, the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. The NEK is one of only a few geotrourism areas in the world specially designated by National Geographic. The buzz is out and they
are growing fast. Participation in these events has steadily grown from 50 in 2007 to 97 in 2008, to 550 in 2009, to 851 in 2010. They are now drawing participants from 32 different
states, DC, four Canadian provinces, Mexico, Great Britain and as far away as Mumbai, India.
The Summer Series is hosted by Indoor Recreation of Orleans County, a 54,000 square foot sports, fitness and recreation facility and pool in Derby, Vermont. They are charity fundraisers
for IROC’s Healthy Changes Initiative, a ground breaking and highly effective exercise program for people suffering from Diabetes, Obesity, Heart Disease and Rheumatoid Arthritis as well
as Cancer patients and survivors and seniors aged 65 and older. These “premier events” have been featured in Vermont Sports Magazine in a number of articles including one on
the entire series: Rock and Race at IROC, see http://www.vtsports.com/articles/rock-race-iroc
May 21, 2011 – The Third Annual Dandelion Run – www.dandelionrun.org “The Dandy” is a hilly and challenging half marathon (with relay options and a five mile alternate running and walking course). The course is laid out largely on dirt roads and is run at the height of dandelion season, when the fields of Derby, Morgan, and Holland are blanketed with millions of dandelions for as far as the eye can see. Vermont Sports has selected the Dandelion Run as one of the five most scenic running races in Vermont. http://www.vtsports.com/articles/vermonts-most-scenic-running-races A Dandelion Festival of blue grass and old country music is beginning to evolve around this event, offering a great celebration of spring in the heart of the Northeast Kingdom. Our YouTube video slide show is at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSCFwfkwpkw It’s May! It’s Time to Run! Just for the Fun of it!
June 1 - 5, 2011 – The Fifth Annual Tour de Kingdom – www.tourdekingdom.org The Tour has grown from a one day Century Ride in 2007 to a five day event in 2011. We will be offering three days of touring (Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday) with longer and shorter options and faster and slower groups on each day. Each of these days is guided by riders from the Kingdom Velo Group, White Mountain Velo, Barebones Racers, and Live Strong – Massachusetts Army who join with IROC in hosting this event. The Village Bike Shop in Derby and the Littleton Bike Shop are teaming up to provide technical support for the Tour’s riders. The Tour culminates in two days of supported Century Rides on Saturday and Sunday. Each of these days offers optional routes of varying distances. Two years ago we added the Double Century Challenge as a “timed event” on Saturday and Sunday which is now drawing the interest of serious riders from all over the northeast and as far away as Great Britain. Cyclists are invited to sign up for anywhere from one day to all five days. Couples and friends can ride at different levels each day and return to the same lodging each night. Here’s the schedule of the 2011 Tour: Wednesday: Orleans Central; Thursday: Moose Loop with a NH Twist; Friday: Around Lake Memphremagog; Saturday: Western Hill Country; Sunday: Legendary Lake Region.
Our YouTube video slide show can be seen at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gG-XwGv0EWY
July 9, 2011 – The Third Annual Kingdom Swim – www.kingdomswim.org On Lake Memphremagog, the Swim now offers 10 mile, 6 mile, 3 mile, and 1 mile swims for adults and youth, along with ¼ mile and 100 yard swims exclusively for kids. The swim is hosted in conjunction with Kingdom Aquafest, which includes a Pet and Swimmers Parade on Friday, July 8, 2011 followed by the Montgomery’s Café Swimmers and Yackers Pasta Dinner. This past year the event drew 195 swimmers from all over the nation and as far away as Mumbai, India. Lake Memphremagog has been named one of the 50 greatest open water swimming venues in all of North America. See, http://www.dailynewsofopenwaterswimming.com/2010/05/50-great-open-water-swimming-locations.html Our YouTube videos covering the Swim and Friday’s Pet and Swimmers Parade:
2010: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNJqKDNqmyU
2009: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgJuo0tJ7vU
Our open water rallying cry: No Lanes – No Lines – No Limits.
August 6, 2011 – Fourth Annual Kingdom Triathlon – www.kingdomtriathlon.org We now offer two triathlon events, a radically different Aquaman Even Up and a traditional Sprint. Our Even Up Aquaman Triathlon is a challenging half iron type tri, but with a twist. The run is a traditional 13.1 mile distance. The bike route has been shortened to 30 miles. And the swim consists of a 3.5 mile course in Lake Seymour. Say what? Yep. It is designed so that strong triathletes spend an equal time on each leg. It has been organized in response to what we call “The Swimmers Lament”— that triathlons are stacked against them. The rally cry: “Swimmers of the world, unite and fight for an Even-Up Aquaman Triathlon.” 2010 was the first year of this race and we attracted some members of the Boston Triathlon Team, as well as strong triathletes from other parts of Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Quebec. They enthusiastically “field tested” the course and had a blast. Some said they’d been waiting most of their adult lives for this type of event and they are already helping organize and promote the Aquaman Tri for 2011. IROC also offers the more traditional, runner friendly Sprint on the same day -- a 500 yard swim, a 13 mile bike, and a 5 mile run.
August 20, 2011: The Second Annual Willoughby Swim – A no-nonsense, 4.75 mile magnificent swim on one of the cleanest, most spectacular lakes in North America. No falderal with this one, just one of the best swimming experiences you’re ever going to have. www.kingdomswim.org
This series has been made possible by the strong support of a wide variety of sponsors. Major underwriting has been received from Community National Bank, Vermont Highland Cattle Company, Jay Peak, Paul Decelles Investment Planning, Wilson & White, P.C., The EastSide Restaurant, Poulin Lumber, Community Financial Services Group, Jennifer Nelson, Esq., Pick & Shovel, and Montgomery’s Café, as well as Louis Garneau, Boston Sports Club, Hammer, XTerra Wet Suits, Swim Art, and Swim Vacation and numerous local sponsors donating a wide variety of goods and services and smaller cash sponsorships.
IROC itself has demonstrated its capacity to provide the staffing and infrastructure necessary to host these events. Its facility offers parking, restrooms, showers, and access to the pool, a therapy pool, and a 94 foot water slide. Camping on site is also available. IROC is also able to marshal the additional volunteers necessary to support these events and has partnered with other non-profit organizations to raise money for a wide variety of causes. This has increased the volunteer pool available for these events and helps to give them a real community feel that participants seem to enjoy. We frequently hear from participants that these are some of the best run events they have ever been to. It explains why, even as we grow with new participants, over 2/3rds of the previous year’s participants return.