THE BEST LONG RUNS YOU’VE NEVER DONE

Burlington. Leaf Peepers. Covered Bridges. Trapp’s many marathons… Vermont’s classic marathons and half-marathons are so popular they are often sold out. But if you want gorgeous scenery, great after-parties and interesting courses (many are off-road or on dirt roads and several are point to point), each of these delivers. And all are good ways to discover new parts of the state. So start training.

OVERLAND TRAIL RUN, WEST WINDSOR, MAY 6

The Overland Grand Prix has become one of the nation’s top gravel races, attracting pros from as far as California and Colorado. Last year, Overland race director Ansel Dickey introduced the Overland Trail Run. This spring the 15-mile (or 6-mile) race takes runners across all types of terrain at Ascutney Trails. With some major sponsors, the event now offers a $5,000 prize purse for the top 5 men and women on the long course. Vermontoverland.com

DANDELION RUN, NEWPORT, MAY 20

We’ve written about this race before. We’ve also run it and no joke, this should be on everyone’s list, whether you do it as a half-marathon (as well as shorter distances). Do it for the fields of dandelions you pass, the fiddlers who play along the route, the goofy lake-side awards ceremony and party. Anything race organizer Phil White of Kingdom Games puts on (think the February Lake Memphremagog swim races) is always a bit zany. Kingdomgames.co

MAD MARATHON, WAITSFIELD, JULY 9

This classic marathon (it’s celebrating 12 years) is one that folks training for spring or fall races tend to overlook. Covered bridges, rolling pastures with grazing cows, classic Vermont barns and mountain views are some of the reasons to run this, one of the most scenic marathons in the state. It’s also U.S. Track and Field sanctioned and the course is USATF-certified. There are also shorter routes, from a 1 mile to a 13.1 race, and a relay option. Madmarathon.com

SLATE VALLEY SCRAMBLE, POULTNEY, AUG. 12

Slate Valley Trails have quickly become known among mountain bikers as the “Southwest Kingdom,” for their wide variety of singletrack and sometimes gnarly terrain. The Slate Valley Scramble is a half-marathon (or 8-mile) running race on those same trails. After, cool off or camp out at nearby Lake St. Catherine State Park. Slatevalleytrails.org

GREEN RIVER MARATHON, MARLBORO, AUG. 27

Most runs in Vermont involve a lot of running uphill. The Green Mountain Marathon is unique in two ways: for starters, there’s a net 1,400 foot elevation drop from start to finish. That drop helped the marathon earn a rating as the fastest in New England and one of the top 20 fastest courses in the U.S. It is also one of the few that crosses a state border: start in Marlboro and follow Green River Road much of the way (including crossing a covered bridge) to the finish in Greenfield, Ma. newenglandgreenrivermarathon.com

WESTMORE MOUNTAIN CHALLENGE, ISLAND POND, SEPT. 23

Though it’s billed as a 26-miler, the key word in this event is “challenge.” The point-to-point course covers five mountains with a 5,912 ft elevation gain.

Summit all five (Mount Hor, Mount Pisgah, Haystack and Bald Mountains) or take one of the half-leg or 20-mile shuttles. Start is at Moose Mountain and finish is at the NorthWoods Center. northwoodscenter.org

FLY TO PIE, NEWPORT, OCT. 7

Another way to see the Northeast Kingdom at the height of fall foliage is this point-to-point marathon (with options for a 17-mile, half-marathon or shorter distances) that starts near Newport and finishes at Parker Pie in Glover with an all-you-can eat pizza fest and Hill Farmstead beer on tap. Kingdomgames.co.

CHAMPLAIN ISLANDS MARATHON, SOUTH HERO, OCT. 22

Flat, fast and USATF-certified, this is the marathon (or half-marathon) to run if you want to set a PR. The course starts near the home where seven-time Boston Marathon winner Clarence DeMar once lived and runs along the west shore of South Hero past orchards, farms and Lake Champlain. One of the longest-running events in the state, this will be the 52nd edition of the race. gmaa.run

MIDDLEBURY MAPLE RUN, MIDDLEBURY, NOV. 5

Going into its 14th year, this USATFcertified half-marathon moved from spring to fall so it serves as a perfect finale of the running season . The course goes through the heart of Middlebury and past rolling and scenic farmland. Best of all? Winners get a sweet prize, maple syrup, and all finishers are treated to a post-race pancake breakfast. Middleburymaplerun.com