Each year, the Vermont City Marathon welcomes runners with decades of experience as well as those new to the sport. Junior Milers is a volunteer-run group dedicated to providing access to running for all children, culminating in Marathon Sunday. “I benefited a lot from running groups and organized activities when I was a kid,” Scott Woodnorth said. He is one of many volunteers who gather at the Burlington Police Department on Wednesday to train for the big race. This year, the squad, made up of about 30 middle and high school students, began training weekly throughout the winter. The highlight for many children is the excitement of new beginnings thanks to new running shoes. Junior Milers has partnered with a running shoe company and Ski Rack in downtown Burlington to provide new sneaker outfits for all kids. Scott Ramose is the current Executive Director of Junior Milers, which has seen more than 500 kids walk through its doors since 2004. In recent years, the program has also partnered with the Burlington Police Department to secure gathering space for children and volunteers. . In addition to providing a meeting place for the group, many of the volunteers work in police departments and help unite the community over the same love of running. “They got to know the police officers as people, and we've known them since they were kids,” said the BPD detective. Eric Kratochville. “They feel more comfortable contacting us.” The group is ready for five-team or two-team relays, and many are already excited about next year's junior miler program. “I think we'll do it again next year,” said Saish Dahal, a student at Edmonds Middle School. “I’m going to keep doing it until I can’t anymore.”
Each year, the Vermont City Marathon welcomes runners with decades of experience as well as those new to the sport.
Junior Milers is a volunteer-run group dedicated to providing access to running for all children, culminating in a marathon on Sunday.
“I benefited a lot from running groups and organized activities when I was a kid,” Scott Woodnorth said. He is one of many volunteers who gather at the Burlington Police Department on Wednesday to train for the big race.
This year's group, made up of about 30 middle and high school students, began training weekly throughout the winter. The highlight for many children is the excitement of a new beginning thanks to their new running shoes.
Junior Milers has partnered with a running shoe company and ski rack in downtown Burlington to outfit every child with new sneakers.
Scott Ramose is the current executive director of the Junior Milers, which has seen more than 500 kids run since 2004.
In recent years, the program has also partnered with the Burlington Police Department to provide gathering space for children and volunteers. In addition to providing a meeting place for the group, many of the volunteers work at the police station and help unite the community over the same love of running.
“They're getting to know our officers as people, and we're getting to know them as kids,” said BPD Lt. Eric Kratochville. “They feel more comfortable contacting us.”
This group is ready for five-team or two-team relays, and many are already excited about next year's Junior Milers program.
“I think we'll do it again next year,” said Saish Dahal, a student at Edmonds Middle School. “I’m going to keep doing it until I can’t anymore.”