The Great Race is Great!

Dear Friends, I Can't Imagine a Fourth of July Weekend WITHOUT the Great Race  For the first five years we lived in Franklin County we celebrated the Fourth of July like all but 500 Americans. We did the BBQ, the beer, the Red-White-Blue shirts and the great bay fireworks. Very patriotic - we didn't know any better. Then we found out about The Great Race and now we celebrate like the other 500.

Community 200 teams and about 500 participants in and of itself is enough reason to want to be part of the 35th Annual Great Race. But when those same 500 are your friends, neighbors and great visitors from out of state, well then there is no place better to be. If you look around and can't find your neighbor on the Sunday morning of the Fourth weekend - then they are probably at the bay. The sense of joy and community brings people back year after year.   Camaraderie Friends and families come together to form teams and participate in one of the three legs - running, cycling or paddling while the die-hards take on all three in the Ironman or Ironwoman categories. Don't like the water - try the Duathlon and skip the paddling. No matter what category you choose, you will be participating right next to another close friend or family member. There is no other time of the year when this many people are all gathered in one place just to have fun and be together.   Competition It wouldn't be a race if we didn't have a little competition. I mean, we have trophies, we have mugs, we have glasses and we have ribbons. Somebody is going to win something. Each year I tell myself; "self, take it easy, enjoy the scenery, no big deal." And then the gun goes off and self says; "yeah right, I want a glass." I am at it working as hard as I can to catch that person who is right in front of me, like we are racing for the goldest of gold.   Count Me IN! For the past 15 years we have made the Great Race a part of our Forth of July family tradition and that is what makes the Great Race - GREAT! Interested? Stop by the Chamber office and pick up a registration form or register on line at ACTIVE.COM (key word: Great Race XXXV). Don't want to race but would love to help out - call (802) 524-2444.

Thank you for your continued support of the Chamber in your community.

Dave Southwick Executive Director  802 524-2444