Gavin Boyles: email

I've been running - and loving every minute of it - since about 1988, when I went out for spring track my freshman year of high school. My mother was a marathoner, my father ran track in high school and college, and my sister was the captain of my high school track team; running's in my blood and in my soul! I still remember watching Joan Benoit win the '84 Olympic marathon with my family the summer before fourth grade.

I was a miler and two-miler in high school in New Jersey, with a brief and ill-fated junior-year foray into hurdling and pole-vault. Then I ran cross-country and track for four years at Haverford College in Pennsylvania, where I learned a lot from coach Tom Donnelly and a whole bunch of dedicated and amazing teammates.

My marathon PR is 2:40 (Boston '08) and I've also run 2:50 ('13), 2:57 ('07), and 3:39 (2015, on trails around Burke Mountain). My racing years recently have revolved around road relays with college teammates, road and trail races in central VT, and trying really hard to improve my PR on a loop going up and down Camel's Hump.

I live in Montpelier with my wife and two kids, and do a lot of my running at lunch and in the early mornings. I've never been much of a cross-trainer, but I do go rock-climbing two days a week with my daughter!

I'm really looking forward to doing what I can to help folks reach their goals in this race, and I'm totally happy to be in touch by email beforehand about training, etc. (or find me on Strava). I look forward to meeting and running with you all!

Ludo Bruyere: email Where are you from? US citizen born in Paris, France and currently living in Montreal, Canada.

Occupation: IT Project Manager

Marathon PR: 2:48 in Albany, NY in October 2015 Number of marathons and ultras completed before VCM 2016: 28 Training regimen: Running, biking, hiking, and xc-skiing in the winter. Training food: Oatmeal with maple syrup or jam, nuts and  fruits or breakfast pita with almond butter and homemade jam before going out in the morning. How old you were when you started running? 14 Who do you train with? My wife, my friends and my dog Why do you run? It’s a life-long commitment to health and fitness. Along with healthy habits, running is keeping us in great shape allowing us to enjoy life stress-free to its fullest. Why do you pace? Pacing is an opportunity to share experiences. We are lifelong learners, learning from each others successes and failures. Why should someone run in your pace group?: Whether you want to qualify for the Boston marathon, set a personal best, learn from the experience or simply want to have fun, let’s run the marathon together. Pacing is a proven approach to maximize your chances to achieving your marathon goal.  I have been pacing at VCM since 2012 and finished each year less than a minute ahead of target time. I adapt the pace to the course, slightly slowing down going up hills and loosening up the pace going down hills. I am committed to run as close as possible to an even pace from the first mile to the last one. Any tips for runners about to join your group? I run marathons for the journey, not just for the finish time on D-day. I like the benefits of training with my family and friends, I enjoy each of the 26 miles on the D-day, as well as all the post-marathon celebrations. I recommend you listen to your body during training, during the event, and after your marathon. Start visualizing your perfect race: are you well rested at the start, running tall, feeling strong and focused on your objective? Then decide which pace group might help you achieve your dream.  Adjust your final race plan to your mind and body fitness level the days before the race.  Be realistic. My four year plan to complete a 50 mile ultra: After completing my first trail marathon in Chamonix, France in July 2012, I felt renewed and happy crossing the finish line and decided I was ready for the trail challenge.  In September 2013, I ran my first 50K trail race in the Mauricie National Park, Québec. In 2014, I ran the grueling Saint-Donat 60K in June to prepare for a successful Tour de la Grande Casse, a beautiful 39 mile trail race in the Vanoise National Park, France in late August. In 2015, I completed the first edition of the Whiteface, NY sky marathon in June, the Mont Sainte Anne Mega trail in July, completed the overall podium on the Jay Peak, VT 50K in September, ran my fastest road marathon in October in Albany NY, and finally completed my first 50 mile ultra ''at home'' in a ''Beat the sun'' challenge format on November 21, 2015.

What's next? In 2016, I am returning to the Gatineau Loppet, VCM, Whiteface, Jay Peak and Albany marathons and ultra-marathons.  What's new? I will be exploring outside my comfort zone at the vertical Courchevel X-Trail 54 km alpine trail race with 4400 m of elevation gain in early August. A quotation you like…Jean de la Fontaine: “Rien ne sert de courir, il faut partir à point”. Slow and steady wins the race.