Green Mountain Running Camp Lyndonville, Vermont
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Green Mountain Running Camp offers the perfect mix of learning, training and recreation.
We run on quiet, back-country dirt roads and soft grass and dirt cross country trails that meander through peaceful evergreen and maple forests . After a stimulating training run, we recover by soaking our legs in a clear, cold mountain stream.
International campers may combine individual sessions together for a three week camp experience. Weekend stay overs inbetween sessions are available.
Highlights Include
- Celebrating our 38th year!
- Outstanding camp experience including daily runs, informative breakout sessions and outstanding nationally recognized featured speakers.
- Top notch high school and college coaching.
- Advanced Placement (AP) Cross Country Class is offered during all camp sessions for those elite runners who desire college level instruction about the Art & Science of Running.
- Video taping with personal form analysis.
- Travis Landreth Memorial Graduation run.
- Last day Awards and Graduation Ceremony and then kicking up our heels and celebrating at the Graduation Ball.
- Nike Running Camp T-shirt & Certificate.
- Middle school running program with specific youth curriculum is offered July 29 - August 4.
Located at Lyndon State College, in Lyndonville, Vermont, in the beautiful Northeast Kingdom, the Green Mountain Running Camp is one of the oldest in the country. Campers stay in the college dormitories, 2 per room. (we do have a limited number of triples.) Campers run on backcountry dirt roads, cross country trails in evergreen forests and sun drenched meadows...and jump into a mountain stream to cool down.
Meet your coaching staff
Camp Director
John Holland
Founder & Director of Green Mountain Running Camp. Former cross country/track coach, Yorktown, NY. Coached Yorktown High School to 2nd in the New York state championships. Open Marathon PR 2:33, NYC. Masters Mile 4:36.
Camp Director
Roy Benson
Co-Founder/Co-Director of Green Mountain Running Camp.
Roy T. Benson, MPE, C.F.I., is an exercise scientist and distance running coach.
He earned a Master's Degree in PE with an emphasis in exercise physiology from the University of Florida.
Since 1976, he has held a national certification as a Fitness Instructor from the American College of Sports Medicine. He has presented several hundred professional papers and lectures for academic and popular audiences.
He currently serves as a Special Contributor for Running Times magazine with a monthly readership of over 250,000 serious runners. His newest book "Heart Rate Training" was published by Human Kinetics in the Spring of 2011.
Coach Benson ran competitively for over 45 years with personal bests of 1:52.7 for 800 meters and 4:19.8 for the mile. As a master's runner, he ran 36:06 for 10k, 17:22 for 5k, 4:52 for the mile and qualified for the Boston marathon with a 3:09:05 PR at age 40.
He coached at the U of Florida from 1969 to 1979 as head X-C coach for seven years and head T & F coach for three years. For 16 years, 1993 to 2008, he served as Community Coach at Marist School (a 2A size private school) in Atlanta where his girls and boys teams won 16 state class 4A X-C championships and individual runners won a total of 20 state titles in x-c and track.
He also founded and has directed the Smoky Mountain Running Camp for 40 years.
Mike Cohen
Coach Cohen coaches cross-country as well as indoor track and outdoor track and field at Simsbury High School in Simsbury, Connecticut. He has coached five state champion teams, two state class champions and twice was named Coach of the Year for Cross Country for the State of Connecticut.
Mike Flynn, Assistant Director
Coach Flynn is the Cross Country and Distance Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field Coach for Griswold High School. Named Norwich Bulletin Eastern CT Coach of the Year in 2010 & 2011 and New London Day Eastern CT Coach of the Year in 2010 for X-C, he has coached 3 State Championship and 2 State Runner-Up teams, 139 Conference All-Stars, 6 Individual State Champions, 9 New England qualifiers and 3 All-New England Athletes, 14 All-State Athletes, 22 ECC Divisional/Conference Championship Teams, 50 Individual/Relay Teams to Individual Conference Championships and 2011 Individual X-C Conference Champions.
Some of Griswold’s outstanding individual athletes include 9 qualifiers for Indoor/Outdoor Nationals including Jason Cusack 11th place finish in the Mile in the US in 2008; Alyssa Brehler named Norwich Bulletin and New London Day Eastern CT Runner of the Year-2011; Mark Mackin named Norwich Bulletin Eastern CT Runner of the Year-2011; and a former Griswold student who holds the Virginia Tech Steeple chase school record.
Coach Flynn’s competitive running in high school and college includes two time Individual 1600M State Champion, member of 3 State X-C Championship Teams at Griswold, 4 runs at Junior Olympic National X-C Championships, and Div 2 X-C Nationals while attending Southern CT State University.
Theresa "24/7" Apple, Associate Director
Coach Apple is the Girl’s Cross Country Coach for Pittsfield High School, MA. She is an avid athlete who has run marathons and several 200 mile relay races. Marathon PR 3:18. In addition to running she bicycles, canoes, and is a snowshoe racer – winning the 2011 National Snowshoe Racing Masters Gold Medal.
Coach Apple has been an RN for 25 yrs, currently working in OR as a robotics nurse, and also performs wellness and cardiac rehab nursing. Her coaching philosophy is closely tied with her profession as a nurse, instilling a love of a healthy, active lifestyle, and proper nutrition. At camp she coaches during the day, is one of the camp nurses (on-call 24/7), and brightens everyone’s days with her wonderful sense of humor.
Kelley Cullenberg, Associate Director
At Mt. Blue High School in Maine, Coach Cullenberg has had 5 state team and 10 individual championships. High School: Boy's XC Coach of the Year: 1999, 2002, 2004, 2005; Girl's XC Coach of the Year: 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005. College: NAIA Region 10 Women's XC Coach of the Year: 2002; Sunrise Conference Women's XC Coach of the Year: 2002.
Mark Olsen, Associate Director
Coach Olsen coaches at Thomaston High School in Connecticut. In XC, he has had 6 State Class Champion teams (4 boys, 2 girls) and 11 Berkshire League Champion teams. He has coached athletes to 68 BL all-star, 26 all-state and 6 all-New England performances. In Track & Field, he has coached 18 individual Class Champions and 2 CT State Open Champions.
Celebrating our 38th year!
You’re invited to join us in that runner’s heaven, the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont for the Nike Green Mountain Running Camp. Learn why the founder John Holland and co-director Coach Roy Benson love the area enough to return for 38 straight years. In this incredibly runner-friendly setting, camp offers young runners the “Pre Challenge” to give nothing less than their best.
Guest speakers such as Jeff Johnson provide our campers a personal look at the great Steve Prefontaine’s legendary and inspirational life, and also his University of Oregon coach, the late Bill Bowerman, who developed the model we base our training runs on: hard, but smart workouts. We teach young runners how to train intelligently.
Whether you are a rookie, veteran, or championship caliber athlete, pick one, two or all three of our great weeks to see why the best and brightest high school runners return year after year. You’ll be challenged by our trials of miles, but also enjoy our miles of smiles.
Featured and Guest Speakers
In past summers, our guest speakers have included Jason Vigilante of the University of Virginia; Vinnie Lananna of Oregon; Barry Harwick and Maribel Souther of Dartmouth College; Pete Farwell of Williams College; Beth Sullivan of Penn State; Kim McCreevy of Michigan State; Declan Connelly; and Brian Cain. Our past Nike guest speakers have included Joan Benoit Samuelson, the 1984 Olympic Marathon Gold Medal winner.
In addition to our featured speakers, we have guest speakers, staff coaches and guest experts such as Dr. Hank Glass and Dr. Robert Rinaldi, who present the mini-topics during our daily Breakout Sessions on topics that range from biomechanics to physiology to psychology. In short, our runners learn everything they need to know to improve and run at their best.
Advanced Placement Cross Country Class
One of the unique features of Green Mountain Running Camp is our AP X-C Class, which is a separate hour of instruction offered within the regular camp day curriculum to veteran campers and elite runners. Coach Roy Benson covers college level instruction on the Art & Science of successful distance running. To participate in this class, you must meet the performance standards listed below, be attending your third year of camp, or preparing to serve as team captain in the fall or spring. No need for advanced sign-up, Coach Benson will provide further details during camp registration.
Middle School Program: (July 29 - August 4 only)
We have modified our high school program and created a separate curriculum and activity schedule that will be offered concurrently with the high school schedule. We feel extremely confident that this will provide a satisfying experience for these younger runners.
This is an instructional camp and not a week of "normal" training. The middle school runners will be running twice a day, but it will be instructional based running. Think of a playing lesson with a golf pro. The intent is not necessarily to shoot your best round but to gain insight and knowledge on how to be your best over time.
MIDDLE SCHOOL RUNNERS MUST ATTEND WITH THEIR TEAM.
Coaches Workshops July 29 - August 4, 2012 only
Coaches are encouraged to accompany their cross country teams and attend the Coaches Workshop covering the latest in training and racing techniques. The workshop runs concurrently with the youth camp session.
Sample Daily Schedule
- 6:45 am Revelry - Wake up & hit the deck running
- 7:00 - 7:30 am Report to parking lot for easy endurance run
- 7:30 - 8:30 am Breakfast - Stevens Dining Hall
- 8:00 - 8:30 am Staff Meeting - Alumni Dining Room of Stevens Dining Hall
- 9:30 - 9:45 am Announcements - Main Theater
- 9:45 - 10:30 am Guest Speakers - Main Theater (see schedule)
- 10:40 - 11:55 am AP X-C Sessions in HAC 126
- 10:40 - 11:15 am Breakout Sessions - attend 1 of the 4 or 5 topics offered
- 11:25 am - 12:00 pm Breakout Sessions - attend 1 of the 4 or 5 topics offered
- 12:00 - 1:00 pm Lunch
- 1:00 - 2:00 pm Video Analysis (see schedule); R&R for everyone else
- 2:10 - 3:00 pm Guest Speakers (see schedule)
- 3:15 - 3:30 pm Pre-Run Stretching on Knoll
- 3:30 - 5:30 pm Afternoon Run & Creek Soak
- 5:30 - 6:30 pm Dinner - Stevens Dining Hall
- 6:30 - 7:00 pm Video Analysis - Burke Mt Room, LAC400 and T202
- 7:30 - 9:45 pm Recreation - Games & Movies
- 10:15 pm Curfew! Be in your dorm
- 10:30 pm Be in your rooms getting ready for bed
- 10:45 pm - 6:45 am LIGHTS OUT! Quiet Hours
Camp Check-in & Check-out Details:
Check-in: TBA
Check-out: TBA
Ages:
Session 1: Entering 7th grade and up, coed, all skill levels. We will only accept 7th and 8th grade runners who come to camp with a coach.
Sessions 2 & 3: 14 and up, coed, all skills levels.
Dorms:
Campers stay in dorms on campus, 2 per room. Limited number of triples are available. We will make every effort to honor roommate requests. Requests must be made two weeks prior to the start of camp.
Stay-Over Session Option:
Campers have the opportunity to double or triple their training by attending more than one session with a weekend stay in between. The cost is $50 for overnight stay and all meals, except Saturday dinner. We recommend $50 to cover Saturday evening and any other off campus meals.
VO2 Max Testing:
Want to train like the elite and use cutting edge technology to train, determine intensity, and rest? Then consider a VO2 max test at camp this year.
GMRC is pleased to offer the most advanced, state of the art fitness testing at our camps. For a small additional fee, campers can elect to have a VO2 max test performed at camp using the same equipment used at Olympic Training Centers around the World. Receive VO2 max, anaerobic threshold, maximum heart rate data and much more. All testing is performed by Dr. Declan Connolly of the University of Vermont‘s Human Performance Lab and Vermont Fit. Dr. Connolly is a past invited speaker at GMRC.
A VO2 max test is normally $350.00 but at GMRC the pre-registration fee is $120 if you sign up for a session during camp -- and include payment with your camp application. Pre-registration for camp ends July 15th.
For more information please contact: Declan.Connolly@uvm.edu
"Since my arrival at The University of Vermont four years ago, Dr. Connolly has had a major impact on the resurgence of our hockey program. Both from a strength and conditioning perspective as well as educating our student/athletes on sports nutrition, Declan has had a direct influence on the success of our hockey team. He has the utmost respect of athletes, students and coaches alike. He is truly insightful."
Kevin Sneddon, Head Men's Ice Hockey Coach, University of Vermont
"Declan Connolly has developed a world class exercise physiology program backed by unlimited knowledge and vision. He is a true pioneer in his field."
Mike Torney, former Professional Ice Hockey Player, ECHL, AHL
"Where do I start with Declan, he's an amazing talent with incredible credentials and knowledge, but also the unique gift to deliver this level of understanding and scientific data with such clarity and ease. He is helping our student-athletes learn things about themselves that they'll take with them for the rest of their lives. We are blessed to have him with us. He is absolutely instrumental in our success."
Jesse Cormier, Head Men's Soccer Coach, University of Vermont
Extra Activities:
There is a camp dance each week, plus nightly skits, games, and movies.
Travel:
Buses:
Round trip bus service will be available to/from several locations for all three weeks of Green Mountain Running Camp!
RESERVE YOUR SEAT NOW! Don’t “miss the bus!” You must have a confirmed reservation to ride to camp. Payment must be made at the time of the reservation. Space is limited and available on a first come/first serve basis.
To reserve your spot on the bus, please give us a call at: 800-645-3226. We offer only round trip travel.
When:
Buses leave all stops on Sunday (July 29, August 5, and August 12). You MUST be checked in for the bus 30 minutes prior to departure time.
Where: Please read carefully as some pick-up locations are only available for specific weeks.
Session 1: July 29 - August 4
CB East HS, PA:
Leave CB East HS, PA 6:45AM on Sunday, July 29
Return to CB East HS, PA at 6:00PM on Saturday, August 4
Westfield HS, NJ:
Leave Westfield HS, NJ 8:30AM on Sunday, July 29
Return to Westfield HS, NJ at 5:00PM on Saturday, August 4
Hillsborough, NJ:
Leave Hunterdon Central HS, NJ at 6:45AM on Sunday, July 29
Return to Hunterdon Central HS, NJ at 6:00PM on Saturday, August 4
Simsbury HS, CT:
Leave Simsbury HS, CT 10:00AM, Sunday, July 29
Return to Simsbury HS, CT at 1:30PM on Saturday, August 4
White Plains HS, NY:
Leave White Plains HS, NY at 9:00AM on Sunday, July 29
Return to White Plains HS, NY at 3:30PM on Saturday, August 4
Session 2: August 5 - August 11
Cheshire HS, CT:
Leave Cheshire HS, CT 10:00AM, Sunday, August 5
Return to Cheshire HS, CT at 1:30PM on Saturday, August 11
Ridgefield HS, CT:
Leave Ridgefield HS, CT 9:00AM, Sunday, August 5
Return to Ridgefield HS, CT at 3:00PM on Saturday, August 11
St. Anthony's HS, NY:
Leave St. Anthony's HS 8:00AM, Sunday, August 5
Return to St. Anthony's HS at 4:30PM on Saturday, August 11
White Plains HS, NY:
Leave White Plains HS, NY at 9:00AM on Sunday, August 5
Return to White Plains HS, NY at 3:30PM on Saturday, August 11
Session 3: August 12 - August 18
Hunterdon Central HS, NJ:
Leave Hunterdon Central HS, NJ at 6:45AM on Sunday, August 12
Return to Hunterdon Central HS, NJ at 6:00PM on Saturday, August 18
White Plains HS, NY:
Leave White Plains HS at 8:30AM on Sunday, August 12
Return to White Plains HS at 3:30PM on Saturday, August 18
Cost:
Roundtrip fee: $115 for all CT stops and $130 for all other stops. A fuel surcharge may be added, based on fuel costs at the time of camp.
Return Trip:
Bus will leave Lyndonville, VT to return to stops on Saturday (August 4, August 11, and August 18).
Air Travel:
Lyndon State College is located within a few hours drive of several international airports. We recommend that campers fly into the Manchester, NH airport and use Upper Valley Ride to the Airport transportation service for the 2 1/2 hour trip from the airport to Lyndon State College.
For more information, contact Randy Heller at Upper Valley Ride to the Airport directly: Phone: (802) 356-9320
Email: Randy@UVRideToTheAirport.com
Web site: http://www.ride-to-airport.com/
CAMP ADDRESS FOR MAIL
c/o Green Mountain Running Camp
Lyndon State College
Lyndonville, VT 05851
Attn: (name of staff/camper) -- NIKE Running Camp
Made me a better runner!
From the scenic runs to the breakouts about anything and everything, I enjoyed absolutely every minute of GMRC. The campers and staff were always welcoming and seemed to enjoy the experience as much as I did. I was able to incorporate a ton of things I learned into my training. Immediately I found that I was becoming a more efficient runner and performing better.
The Nike team really made camp one of a kind as we, the campers, were able to experience Nike on a whole new level. I was also introduced to different types of runs and different ways to make myself better. (I can now give my teammates actual reasons why it can be better to go slow.) Ultimately GMRC helped bring my running career to places I would have never imagined. I couldn't imagine myself not running on the dirt roads in Vermont next summer. Thank you so much for making camp a part of my life I know I'll always remember.
Way of life!
Camp has always been something that I looked forward to every summer. Not only are the runs up and down the mountains of Vermont beautiful and exhilarating, but also the campers and counselors at GMRC are truly kind and wonderful people. Green Mountain Running Camp is a place for all who love running. The counselors and campers never judge; there is a spot for everyone. Running is so important to me; it’s my passion. As long as I can run, I know that I will always find happiness somewhere in my life. Most people who go to camp love to run. It’s more than just a sport. It’s a part of who they are.
Amazing experience!
The three weeks of the last three years I spent at camp have been nothing short of amazing. Three years ago, going into my first cross country season as an incoming sophomore, I was pretty skeptical about the whole concept of running camp. The idea of running all day didn’t seem very appealing, but when I arrived on campus that first Sunday night all of my skepticism and doubts faded as quickly as it came. That first week at GMRC sparked a new found love for running that I have had ever since. I highly recommend GMRC!