Training Hood #2 - Shelburne Farms, VT

January 27th, 2009 Posted in Training

Here is one of my early morning routes on Shelburne Farms, VT - a heaven-on-earth 400 acre farm located on the eastern shore of Lake Champlain, just south of Burlington, Vermont.

<br /> <a href=”http://www.trailguru.com/wiki/index.php/Track:3S6H” mce_href=”http://www.trailguru.com/wiki/index.php/Track:3S6H”>Shelburne Farms, VT (Trail Running) | Shelburne, VT 05482, USA</a><br />

Aside from being one of the MOST frigid places in New England to run trails in the winter, Shelburne Farms is as good as it gets for a trail runner.  Absolute beauty, serenity, no traffic, lots of trail choices and I live right in the middle of it all during the week!

Shelburne Farms is a membership-supported, nonprofit environmental education center and National Historic Landmark on the shores of Lake Champlain in Shelburne, Vermont.

It was created in 1886 by William Seward and Lila Vanderbilt Webb as a model agricultural estate.  In 1972, it was founded as an educational nonprofit. It has a grass-based dairy which supports a herd of 125 purebred, registered Brown Swiss cows. whose milk is transformed into cheddar cheese right here on the property.

I’ll let the pictures do the talking, but it is fair to say I’ve experienced first-hand much of the beauty shown below through the early fall, vivid autumn and brisk winter so far.  I’ve also grown accustomed to wearing three layers of clothing and have tried numerous foot traction devices.  The Kotoolas take the cake.

Since I run very early I’ve gotten more night running practice than I bargained for but do get to witness the sunrise over Camelback Mountain in the east Green Mountains and occasionally the sunset across the western Adorondack Mountains.  No complaints other than being separated during the week from my love and partner.  We’ve adjusted and by March I should be back in the Commonwealth of Mass.