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 clear, cold mountain streams.
Highlights Include
- Celebrating our 39th 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 Green Mountain Running Camp T-shirt.
- Middle school running program with specific youth curriculum to be offered one week.
- Round trip bus transportation available from PA, NJ, NY and Connecticut.
The Green Mountain Running Camp is located at Lyndon State College, in Lyndonville, Vermont, in the beautiful Northeast Kingdom. We are one of the oldest running camps in the country. Campers stay in the college dormitories, 2 per room. (We do have a limited number of triples.)
We provide bus transportation to and from camp from schools along the Northeast corridor. To reserve a spot on the bus, please call 800-645-3226. Transportation fees are NOT included in your tuition. Spaces are limited.
Congratulations to two former GMRC campers making the Olympic team: Shalane Flannagan & Don Cabrall!!
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 three State Championship and 2 State Runner-Up teams, 139 Conference All-Stars, six Individual State Champions, nine New England qualifiers and three 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 nine qualifiers for Indoor/Outdoor Nationals including Jason Cusack 11th place finish in the mile in the U.S. 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 three state X-C championship teams at Griswold, four runs at Junior Olympic national XC 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 five state team and ten 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 ten 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 six state class champion teams (four boys, two girls) and 11 Berkshire League champion teams. He has coached athletes to 68 BL All-Star, 26 All-State and six All-New England performances. In track & field, he has coached 18 individual class champions and two CT State Open Champions.
Camp code: RNXRGM
Celebrating our 39th year!
Congratulations to two former GMRC campers making the Olympic team: Shalane Flannagan & Don Cabrall!!
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 39 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 at his University of Oregon coach, the late Bill Bowerman, who developed the model on which we base our training runs: 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 2013:
Session 1:
- Marcus O'Sullivan: Director of Villanova Track & Field; Villanova men’s cross country and track & field coach; four-time Olympian and three-time World Indoor champion in 1500m.
- Roy Benson: Co-Director of Green Mountain Running Camp. Exercise scientist, author coach. Coach Benson directs the AP XC class at GMRC.
- Nick Roosa: Head boys XC/Track coach at Bronxville High School, NY. Elite regional runner with a NYC Marathon PR of 2:30 in 2011.
- Jack Martin: Former head XC/Track coach Westfield High School, NJ. Coached numerous state championship teams and individual qualified for NXN in 2011.
- Ian Brooks: Celebrity announcer, The Armory, NYC.
Session 2:
- Marcus O'Sullivan: Director of Villanova Track & Field; Villanova men’s cross country and track & field coach; four-time Olympian and three-time World Indoor champion in 1500m.
- Scott Bliss: Head women’s coach Champlain Valley High School, Vermont. Coach Bliss has guided his team to multiple state championships and multiple trips to Nike Cross Nationals.
- Roy Benson: Co-Director of Green Mountain Running Camp. Exercise scientist, author coach. Coach Benson directs the AP XC class at GMRC.
- Matt McCue: Author of “An Honorable Run;” former runner, University of Colorado. Frequent contributor to Running Magazines.
- Andrea Grove McDonough: University of Connecticut head women's cross country and assistant track coach. Coach McDonough guided the Huskies to a top ten finish at the 2012 NCAA XC championships.
- Nick Roosa: Head boys XC/Track coach at Bronxville High School, NY. Elite regional runner with a NYC Marathon PR of 2:30 in 2011.
Session 3:
- Andrea Grove McDonough: University of Connecticut head women's cross country and assistant track coach. Coach McDonough guided the Huskies to a top ten finish at the 2012 NCAA XC championships.
- Matt McCue: Author of “An Honorable Run;” former runner, University of Colorado. Frequent contributor to Running Magazines.
- Jim Mitchell: Bronxville High School, NY. One of the most successful high school cross country programs in the state, if not in the nation. Four national championship relays, ten state cross country championships.
- Nick Roosa: Head boys XC/Track coach at Bronxville High School, NY. Elite regional runner with a NYC Marathon PR of 2:30 in 2011.
- Don Hennigar: Head cross country/track coach Newburyport High School, MA. Has coached many state title teams and individuals, including Travis Landredth.
- Henry Phelan: Head girls XC/Track coach at Lincoln-Sudbury High School, MA. Has coached many state championship teams which have qualified for NXNs.
Other hopefuls: Mark Coogan: Dartmouth women's cross country coach and former Olympic marathon runner (1996). Jason Vigilante: Princeton University head men’s cross country coach and assistant track & field coach.
The lineup is subject to change based on unforeseen conflicts in speakers’ schedules.
In past summers, our guest speakers have included 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 XC 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 have attended 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 28 - August 3
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 run twice a day, but is 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 Workshop: July 28 - August 3
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 Reveille - 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
- 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: 2-4pm Arnold Dormitory
Check-out: 9-11am Arnold Dormitory
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 suites on campus, 2 per room, 7 rooms per suite with a shared kitchenette. Two suites share a bathroom. 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. We recommend $50 to cover Saturday evening and any other off campus meals.
VO2 Max Testing: August 4 and August 11 sessions only.
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. Dr. Connolly is a past invited speaker at GMRC.
A VO2 max test is normally $350. 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, University of Vermont head men's ice hockey coach
"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, University of Vermont head men's soccer coach
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 28, August 4 and August 11). 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 28 - August 3
CB East High School, Doylestown, PA: $130 round trip
Leave CB East HS at 6:45AM on Sunday, July 28
Return to CB East HS at 6:00PM on Saturday, August 3
Westfield High School, Westfield, NJ: $130 round trip
Leave Westfield HS at 8:00AM on Sunday, July 28
Return to Westfield HS at 5:00PM on Saturday, August 3
Hillsborough High School, Hillsborough, NJ: $130 round trip
Leave Hillsborough HS at 6:45AM on Sunday, July 28
Return to Hillsborough HS at 6:00PM on Saturday, August 3
North Hunterdon High School, Annandale, NJ: $130 round trip
Leave North Hunterdon HS at 6:45AM on Sunday, July 28
Return to North Hunterdon HS at 6:00PM on Saturday, August 3
Simsbury High School, Simsbury, CT: $115 round trip
Leave Simsbury HS at 10:00AM, Sunday, July 28
Return to Simsbury HS at 1:30PM on Saturday, August 3
White Plains High School, White Plains, NY: $130 round trip
Leave White Plains HS at 9:00AM on Sunday, July 28
Return to White Plains HS at 3:30PM on Saturday, August 3
Session 2: August 4 - 10
Cheshire High School, Cheshire, CT: $115 round trip
Leave Cheshire HS at 10:00AM, Sunday, August 4
Return to Cheshire HS at 1:30PM on Saturday, August 10
St. Anthony's High School, South Huntington, NY: $130 round trip
Leave St. Anthony's HS 8:00AM, Sunday, August 4
Return to St. Anthony's HS at 4:30PM on Saturday, August 10
White Plains High School, NY: $130 round trip
Leave White Plains HS at 9:00AM on Sunday, August 4
Return to White Plains HS at 3:30PM on Saturday, August 10
Session 3: August 11 - 17
Hunterdon Central High School, Flemington, NJ: $130 round trip
Leave Hunterdon Central HS at 6:45AM on Sunday, August 11
Return to Hunterdon Central HS at 6:00PM on Saturday, August 17
White Plains High School, White Plains, NY: $130 round trip
Leave White Plains HS at 8:30AM on Sunday, August 11
Return to White Plains HS at 3:30PM on Saturday, August 17
Cost:
Roundtrip fee: $115 for all Connecticut 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 3, August 10, and August 17).
Air Travel:
Lyndon State College is located within a few hours drive of several international airports.
Want to fly to camp? Session 1, July 28-August 3: Fly into Manchester, NH Airport. We may have a bus leaving Manchester Airport on Saturday, July 27. Staff will meet campers at baggage claim and will ride on the bus with the runners to camp. A return bus to the airport leaves campus on Saturday morning, August 3. Call for times and more details. 800-645-3226.
Alternately, campers can 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!
We do a lot of learning, a lot of running, and have a lot of fun, and somehow the camp manages to bring all three of those elements together for a very productive and fun week. Parents, if your son or daughter is serious about being the best runner that he or she can possibly be, this camp is IT! Every bit of this camp is worth the price..
Improved performance!
Great! I had a great time, met new people who I'm still talking to, and feel so much more experienced and safe going into a new cross country program! They focus on all aspects of running. You don't just go to camp and run, you learn the technique and all that goes with the sport. The GMRC provides focus on the little things that can improve performance. Camp was a great experience! GO!
Full immersion!
It is good at incorporating everything to do with running. We run, hear from guest speakers, learn about running, and just get fully immersed in the culture of running. I found the week motivating, with great instruction & instructors- some former Olympians!. Camp got me really pumped up for the season, gave me lots of self confidence. Beautiful runs and fun creek soaks!
Great trainig, great staff!
The GMRC provides a great place for training and also has a good staff to educate and make it a really fun environment to make you just love and appreciate the sport. My favorite soak was at the lake. It was big and a great way to end the run, not to mention the view was beautiful. I am motivated for running and look forward to making an impact on my XC team.
Phenomenal
I have done the morning yoga and water workouts over the years. I find that I really enjoy them and that the morning yoga makes me feel better if something aches and the water workouts were great and just right when I had shin splints last year. They gave them a nice break from the morning run. At GMRC you get great workouts, hear great talks, hang with an amazing staff, participate in fun activities, and in general it was just a phenomenal week.
Summer highlight!
Green Mountain Running Camp was definitely the highlight of my summer, and if you are a serious runner you SHOULD come to this camp. You'll not only learn and understand so much more about the sport of running, but you'll also learn and understand more about yourself as a person and find your TRUE identity. It's also very fun and you meet so many friendly and great new people that share the same passion for running as much as you do.