Vermont Overland 2023 Registration Day and Updates

Friends!

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Every time I get to sit down to write one of these emails, I’m hit with a wall of gratitude. Vermont Overland is run out of pure passion and a lot of grit – contributed by a long list of amazing people.

We don’t send many emails but when we do, they’re important. This communication contains registration day announcements, important updates to The Overland Bike, The Overland Run, a new charitable partner, and our newest challenge, THE OVERLAND TROPHY. So grab your coffee, toss some eggnog in it, and thoroughly read this!

“Our actions may be impeded… but there can be no impeding our intentions or dispositions… The mind adapts and converts to its own purposes the obstacle to our acting. The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way, becomes the way.”

It’s a quote from the ancient philosopher, Marcus Aurelius, that has occupied our minds a lot lately. This year has been rough in a lot more ways than one. Creating a bike race this big is NOT easy, and as it has grown over the years the hurdles seem only to get bigger. We’d be lying if we said “throwing in the towel” hasn’t crossed our minds. Honestly, it’s why we’ve been rather quiet online lately. We love this sport and the good we’ve witnessed it brings. We truly believe that the positive impact these events have on people, places, and the industry far outweigh the negatives. The key is just keeping it sustainable — to all involved, even the crazies deep in the woods with artistic sign-making talent. (for those in know: #cancelansel)

With Registration Day coming up FAST, we wanted to update you on how we’re moving forward this coming year. Please give our info and updates below some thoughtful consideration.

The Overland Bike – August 26th, 2023

The 2023 Overland Bike will have a hard cap of 1000 participants (down from about 1500 last year). We feel that this is the ideal size for us, our towns, and ultimately rider experience. Juniors race for free (always), West Windsor locals have a guaranteed spot and we’re reserving space for women. All other aspects of the event, especially aid stations, will improve. Registration is not a lottery. First come, first serve. We hope you understand and will help us spread the word.

The Overland Run – May 6th, 2023

Our first-ever trail foot race in 2023 was a smashing success. We hope to build upon that upward momentum in 2023. Similar to our bike race, The Overland Bike, registration for The Overland Run will open on January 1st at 9 AM. It will also have a hard cap of 1000 participants. We don’t expect it to fill as rapidly as the bike race, but we are seeing more demand for this running event than ever before.

THE OVERLAND TROPHY

We’re drawing inspiration from a couple of key sources here for this one. Back in the day, when we still hosted 4x4 Land Rover events, we had an event called the Vermont Overland Trophy. Only the most well-rounded, knowledgeable, capable, and daring people were able to complete or even win it. Since we’ve fallen in love with running, and still enjoy ripping through the countryside atop bicycles, we wanted to create something that rewarded people with the passion for both. Enter THE OVERLAND TROPHY – an overall competition for those brave enough to complete both our Overland events on foot and on bike. We’ll have a leaderboard that’s weighted based on the estimated winning time of each course and how far back each participant lands. The only way to compete in THE OVERLAND TROPHY is to sign up and complete both events: The Overland Run and The Overland Bike. We’ll host an overall awards ceremony and present the Trophies to both male and female winners on the evening of August 26th after the bike race finishes. Stay tuned for more details forthcoming.

WAMBA (Woodstock Area Mountain Bike Association) joins as our fourth charity partner!

We are very excited to welcome WAMBA as our fourth charity partner! They’ve been a key source of volunteer support for Vermont Overland since the very beginning and with the amazing work they’ve done for youth mountain biking and all the trails around Woodstock, we thought it’s about time to start giving back. The Overland Bike will directly benefit them in 2023 but you can help more by signing up for VMBA and listing them as a chapter or leaving an extra donation to them on BikeReg upon checkout.

Well, if you’ve made it this far in this email, I thank you. We wish you nothing but the best. Have a wonderful holiday season and a truly epic New Year. Set your goals high and when things get bumpy, remember that “What stands in the way, becomes the way.”

All the best,

— Ansel and The Vermont Overland Team