Enter your goal time. Get hill-adjusted, mile-by-mile splits built from real GPX data — including the Assault on Battery, the Lake Champlain bike path, and the mile-20 climb that decides every race.
The Vermont City Marathon runs two identical 13.1-mile loops through Burlington, Vermont, with 10 miles of Lake Champlain bike path, Church Street Marketplace, and four parks. The views of the Adirondacks across the lake are legitimately beautiful. The hills are legitimately hard — and you face them twice.
Battery Street comes at mile 2 of each loop. The main climb comes at mile 7 of each loop. That second pass — at miles 15 and 20 of the full marathon — arrives when your legs have already absorbed 14-19 miles of work. The mile-20 climb is over 100 feet in a single mile, which is more than enough to collapse a race that's been paced too aggressively through the flat lake sections.
This calculator helps you solve that problem by giving you an exact, step-by-step plan built on research, experience, and data. Enter your goal time, set how aggressively you want to handle uphills, and you'll get a target pace for every mile that closes exactly to your goal — accounting for every foot of climb from the Waterfront Park start to the Waterfront Park finish.
Enter your goal time and effort level. Your personalized mile-by-mile splits appear instantly.
Results appear below. No email required.
| Mile | Elev | Effort | vs Goal Pace | Target Pace (min/mi) |
Pace Bank | Elapsed |
|---|
Elevation data from official Vermont City Marathon 2024 GPX course file. Uphill penalty applied above +0.4% grade; downhill benefit applied below −0.75% grade. Math closes exactly to goal time.
Where the hills are manageable, where they destroy race plans, and why mile 20 has ended more goals here than any other single factor.
The race starts at Waterfront Park along Lake Champlain in downtown Burlington. The opening mile rolls gently before the course hits Battery Street at mile 2 — 6 steep blocks climbing away from the lake into the city's upper streets. This is the Assault on Battery, and it's sharper than it looks on a map.
After the Battery Street climb, the course descends back toward the lake and picks up the Champlain bike path for the next several miles heading south. This is genuinely one of the prettiest stretches of any marathon in New England. The path runs along the shoreline with the Adirondack Mountains visible across the water on clear days, and traffic noise drops away entirely.
Mile 7 delivers the first major climb of the race. The course rises roughly 98 feet as it loops back up from the lakeshore toward higher ground. This is the hardest first-half mile on the course, and arriving here under control makes the second loop possible.
After the mile-7 summit, the course begins its long return to the waterfront. Miles 8 through 13 are net downhill, losing about 109 feet total as the route winds back through Burlington's streets toward Lake Champlain. This is where a lot of runners make their biggest mistake: the downhill feels like free speed, so they open up the throttle.
The crowd support through here is excellent. Church Street Marketplace near mile 12 generates real noise, with spectators lining both sides of the pedestrian corridor. The energy can mask how fast you're moving relative to your plan.
The halfway mark at Waterfront Park is one of the best spectator spots on the course. Your crew will be there, the crowds are strong, and the energy is high. Use it. Then settle immediately back into your second-loop pace.
Loop 2 is identical in geography to Loop 1, which means the hills hit in the exact same order but with 13 miles already in your legs. Battery Street returns at miles 15–16 — the same 6-block climb you handled at mile 2, except now you're deep into the race. It's steep enough to demand respect on fresh legs. On tired ones, it costs real time if you fight it instead of yielding to your target pace.
The lake path through miles 17–19 feels different on the second pass. The early-race wonder of the Champlain views gives way to the math of how many miles you have left. Keep your focus on your target pace rather than how your legs feel.
The mile-20 climb is the most race-deciding mile at Vermont City. Runners who paced the lake path sections conservatively have glycogen and leg strength left when they hit it. Runners who ran the flat miles hard arrive here empty. The calculator splits through miles 3–6 and 16–19 are specifically calibrated to get you to mile 20 with something left.
After the mile-20 summit, the course commits to bringing you home. Miles 22 through 26 lose 127 feet net as the route descends from the upper city back toward Lake Champlain. The terrain is your ally now — provided your legs can handle downhill mechanics after 20-plus miles.
Church Street appears again near mile 25, delivering the loudest crowd noise of the entire second loop. The Marketplace spectators know this is close to the finish and cheer accordingly. Soak it in and keep your cadence high rather than letting the downhill open your stride too much.
The finish at Waterfront Park brings you back to where you started, with the lake and the Adirondacks as the backdrop. If you ran your calculator splits through the two loops, you'll arrive exactly when you planned.
Memorial Day Weekend in Burlington, Vermont can be gorgeous spring weather or a warm humid surprise. Here's what recent years delivered.
Vermont City Marathon runs on Memorial Day Weekend in late May, when Burlington's weather is still transitioning out of spring. Start temperatures typically range from 50°F to 65°F, with humidity often elevated due to the proximity of Lake Champlain. The lake also moderates temperature swings — you rarely get extreme cold, but warm humid years arrive with some regularity. The bike path sections have limited shade, which amplifies heat on warmer days.
| Year | Start Temp | Finish Temp | Humidity | Wind | Conditions | Notable |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 58°F | 72°F | 74% | 8 mph SW | Ideal | Overcast start kept temps manageable. Mild southwest breeze on the lake path. Solid conditions for goal-time attempts. |
| 2024 | 55°F | 70°F | 70% | 7 mph NW | Ideal | Cool, clear, and low humidity for Burlington in May. One of the better weather years in the race's recent history. Strong finish times across the field. |
| 2023 | 62°F | 75°F | 80% | 5 mph S | Warm | Temperatures climbed faster than forecast. High humidity on the exposed lake path sections added stress to the mile-20 climb for many runners. |
| 2022 | 52°F | 64°F | 65% | 10 mph NW | Ideal | Cool start with a brisk northwest wind on the lake path. Temps stayed comfortable through the finish. Good year for BQ attempts. |
| 2021 | 64°F | 78°F | 82% | 4 mph SW | Hot | Unusually warm and humid for Burlington. The unshaded bike path miles were particularly taxing. Finish times ran 10–20 minutes slower than goal for much of the back half of the field. |
The practical read for Vermont City: in cool years (start below 58°F, humidity below 72%), the hills are manageable and goal times are very achievable. In warm or humid years, add 5–10 minutes of buffer to your target and don't chase pace on the flat lake sections — the hills will collect that debt with interest. Whatever the forecast, the hill adjustments in this calculator remain accurate.
Vermont City has a roughly 11% BQ rate. It's achievable here, but the two-loop design and the mile-20 climb require very specific pacing to deliver.
Vermont City Marathon's near-zero net elevation (-4 feet) makes it look like a flat course on paper. The 300 feet of cumulative climbing spread across two loops tells a different story. You climb every significant hill twice, and the second pass hits at miles 15 and 20 — exactly when your legs have the least to give.
The BQ success rate of roughly 11% reflects the course's real difficulty. Runners who execute a conservative first loop and arrive at mile 20 in control can absolutely qualify here. Runners who run the flat lake sections like it's Chicago and trust the net-flat profile to carry them typically fall apart in the second half.
These are the BAA's official qualifying times. Meeting the standard gets you into the registration window; actually getting in requires running 5–6 minutes faster than the standard based on recent cutoff history. Check baa.org for the current cycle's cutoff data.
| Age Group | Men | Women | Non-Binary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18–34 | 3:00:00 | 3:30:00 | 3:30:00 |
| 35–39 | 3:05:00 | 3:35:00 | 3:35:00 |
| 40–44 | 3:10:00 | 3:40:00 | 3:40:00 |
| 45–49 | 3:20:00 | 3:50:00 | 3:50:00 |
| 50–54 | 3:25:00 | 3:55:00 | 3:55:00 |
| 55–59 | 3:35:00 | 4:05:00 | 4:05:00 |
| 60–64 | 3:50:00 | 4:20:00 | 4:20:00 |
| 65–69 | 4:05:00 | 4:35:00 | 4:35:00 |
| 70–74 | 4:20:00 | 4:50:00 | 4:50:00 |
| 75–79 | 4:35:00 | 5:05:00 | 5:05:00 |
| 80+ | 4:50:00 | 5:20:00 | 5:20:00 |
Enter your actual BQ target into the calculator — not your qualifying standard, but the time you need to get in, which is typically 5–6 minutes faster. Your splits will show slower target paces at miles 7, 15, and 20, with faster paces through the descents.
The most common Vermont City BQ failure is treating the two loops as separate races. Runners who "bank time" on Loop 1 and then try to survive Loop 2 almost always blow up between miles 18–22. The loop 1 lake path sections (miles 3–6) run about 12 minutes total for a 3:30 runner — there's very little actual time to bank, and the cost of running them too fast at mile 20 is enormous.
One timing note: Vermont City runs Memorial Day Weekend in late May, which means your qualifier is valid for the following April's Boston registration window — an approximately 10-month gap. That's plenty of time to register in September when the window opens, provided you hit your goal.
Vermont's largest single-day sporting event brings 5,000 runners, 20,000 spectators, and 800 volunteers to Burlington every Memorial Day Weekend.
The Health & Fitness Expo runs at the Sheraton Burlington Hotel and Conference Center on Friday and Saturday of race weekend. Packet pickup is available both days. Saturday typically has a shorter wait than Friday afternoon — most experienced runners pick up packets Saturday morning and spend the rest of the day off their feet.
The marathon starts Sunday morning at 8:00 AM from Waterfront Park. The relay exchange zones are along the course. Arrive at your start corral by 7:15 AM — the course fills quickly near the start and the Waterfront Park area is more congested than it looks on the map.
The start and finish are both at Waterfront Park on the shores of Lake Champlain in downtown Burlington. If you're staying downtown, you can walk to the start. Parking fills early — the Church Street Garage and the Marketplace Garage on St. Paul Street are the closest options, but plan to arrive by 6:30 AM if you're driving.
Burlington is a small city with limited road options, and Memorial Day Weekend adds significant traffic. If you're coming from out of town, consider staying within walking distance of Waterfront Park rather than driving in race morning.
Corrals are assigned by projected finish time. The Waterfront Park start area is spacious and well-organized, with the Lake Champlain waterfront as the backdrop. Gear check is available at the start and transported to the finish area — use it if you bring a throwaway layer, which is worth it given Burlington's variable May mornings.
The relay exchange zones are clearly marked on course. Solo marathon runners continue straight through each exchange while relay runners hand off their timing chip. Know the exchange zone locations so you're not surprised by the crowd surge at those points.
Aid stations are located approximately every mile throughout the course. Water and electrolyte drink are available at every station. Gels are provided at selected miles — confirm the current year's gel brand with RunVermont in advance if you're brand-specific about your fueling.
The two-loop design is genuinely spectator-friendly. Your crew can see you at Waterfront Park at the start, near the halfway point, and again at the finish — all within a short walk of each other. Church Street provides another great spectator spot twice per loop. Burlington's compact downtown makes logistics easy for everyone watching.
The finish is at Waterfront Park along Lake Champlain, steps from where you started. The backdrop of the lake and the Adirondacks makes for a memorable crossing. Post-race food, medals, and gear retrieval are all in the park.
Burlington's compact downtown means family meetups are straightforward — designate a specific gate or landmark at Waterfront Park in advance. The post-race celebration in Burlington is genuinely good: the city embraces this event and the weekend energy around it is worth experiencing beyond just the race itself.
Downtown Burlington hotels book out months in advance for Memorial Day Weekend. The Hilton Burlington Lake Champlain, the Courtyard Burlington Harbor, and the Residence Inn Burlington are all within walking distance of Waterfront Park. Book as soon as your registration is confirmed.
Burlington is served by Burlington International Airport (BTV), which has direct flights from major Northeast cities. Amtrak's Vermonter runs from New York and connects to buses for Burlington. If you're driving from Boston, the trip is about 3 hours. Memorial Day Weekend traffic on I-89 can be slow on Friday afternoon — plan accordingly.
Vermont City climbs about 300 feet total over 26.2 miles on a near-zero net course. That's significantly less climbing than Boston (roughly 800 feet) or Big Sur (over 2,000 feet), but more than flat majors like Chicago or Berlin. The course is harder than the numbers suggest because all the major elevation comes in concentrated single-mile climbs at miles 7 and 20, with Battery Street as a warmup at miles 2 and 15.
The two-loop design amplifies the difficulty. You hit the same hills twice, with the second pass arriving at the most fatigued point of the race. Think of Vermont City as a moderately hilly course that requires more disciplined pacing than its elevation profile suggests — especially through the flat lake sections, which runners consistently run too fast.
The Assault on Battery is a 6-block climb up Battery Street in downtown Burlington, starting near Battery Park on the lake and heading up into the city's upper streets. It appears at roughly mile 2 on the first loop and mile 15 on the second. Each climb gains about 30 feet over half a mile — steep enough to notice but short enough to recover from within the next mile.
On fresh legs at mile 2, most runners handle it fine. At mile 15, with 14 miles already in the legs, it requires real discipline to run your target pace rather than grinding. The good news: the crowd support on Battery Street is consistently excellent. The "Assault on Battery" name and the hill's role in the race have made it one of the better-supported spots on the course.
No. The lake path miles (roughly 3–6 and 16–19) are flat and fast, and the scenery is beautiful enough to make you want to open up. They're also the miles that feed directly into the two major hill climbs at miles 7 and 20. Every extra second you push on the flat path miles is a loan that collects interest at the summits.
The calculator splits for the bike path sections are already accounting for the fact that the terrain is favorable — you're running faster than your average goal pace on those miles without doing anything extra. Running faster than the calculator calls for means you'll arrive at the mile-7 and mile-20 climbs carrying more fatigue than the plan assumed.
The calculator uses elevation data from the official 2024 Vermont City Marathon GPX course file, scaled to 26.2 miles and processed into mile-by-mile net elevation deltas. The uphill penalty (12–15 seconds per mile per 1% grade, user-adjustable) and downhill benefit (8 seconds per mile per 1% grade, applied below a -0.75% threshold) are based on published research on grade-adjusted pace.
The math is algebraically closed: the sum of target pace times distance for every segment equals your goal time to the second. Real performance varies with fitness, temperature, and fueling, but this is the most accurate free pacing framework available for this course.
