Wednesday, Oct. 1 at 7 p.m. — RUTLAND — The Rutland Free Library presents a Vermont Humanities’ “First Wednesdays” lecture on Oct. 1, in the Fox Room at Rutland Free Library. Middlebury College artist-in-residence Julie Emerson will discuss the fashions worn by Lady Mary and her family in the popular PBS Series “Downton Abbey.” Her talk,…

By Maxx Steinmetz Throughout the ages, there have been civilizations that now stand as the paragons of military might in the annals of history. Legends such as Alexander the Great, The Roman Empire, the Golden Horde of the Mongols, or even the Vikings of Scandinavia. One Greek city-state precedes and outdoes the others in time…

By Cristina Kumka BENSON — Kaleb LaRock doesn’t look any different than anyone else on the obstacle course — he wears the same clothes, does the same stunts and keeps up with the rest of the pack. He’s just half everyone’s age (or more) and twice as capable (as some.) LaRock is the 18-year-old phenom…

By Evan Johnson BENSON — At the Shale Hill Adventure Farm in Benson, a group of weary runners attempt to cross a 20-yard-wide pond using thick ropes strung six feet above the water. Some hang like monkeys, gripping with their hands and ankles; some drag themselves along the top of the rope — others prefer…

By Cristina Kumka KILLINGTON — Beth knows best. For many in training this summer for this weekend’s 15-plus mile Spartan Beast obstacle race, Killington trainer Beth Roberts replaced mom in the old adage. How does she know how to train women and men from all walks of life to do one of the most extreme physical…

The importance of carbohydrates before a race is not a myth, says William Kelly, owner of Pyramid Wellness in Rutland, but ideal nutritional practices are much more complex than simply “carb-loading.” Kelly recommends complete proteins from diverse sources including beans, nuts and meats, leading up to the race. Salts are also important, he says, recommending…

By Amy Lewis You’ve decided to go for it, challenge yourself, and find out what all the buzz is about obstacle racing. You’ve been training hard for the big day, but fueling up has left your head spinning as you search for the perfect way to fuel your body and mind. To help you sort…

By Tom Poole, DPT Why should I stretch? What is the point of stretching? What kind of stretch is best? When should I stretch? These are some of the most common questions I field when working with athletic clients. There are unlimited factors that can lead to injury including a range of training errors and…

Even if you’re pretty sure the mud and mountains aren’t for you, you don’t have to miss out! Watch the race Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 20-21 from four “spectator locations:” the K-1 deck, the Roaring Brook Umbrella Bars, the Snowshed area and the Snowshed Pond. Spectators will be charged $25 at door, cash only (or…

September 20: Vermont Beast World Championships Begins: 7:30 a.m. with waves of 275 athletes every 15 minutes across five heats (elite, confirmed, morning, late morning, afternoon heats). Distance: 12+ miles. The fastest time should be around 180 minutes. The World Championship in Killington will also serve as the first round of the 2014 Reebok Spartan…

Cal Garrison (a.k.a Mother of the Skye) writes weekly horoscopes for The Mountain Times. If you would like the horoscopes to be emailed to you weekly, sign up for the newsletter, below. Horoscopes for September 11 - 17, 2014     Aries March 21 - April 20 You keep yourself in a better groove when…

By Tom Brown, VTDigger.org Republican Lieutenant Governor Phil Scott answered challenger Dean Corren’s call for at least 10 debates Tuesday with a number of his own—four. Scott’s campaign manager, Rep. Patti Komline, R-Dorset, said the three-term incumbent lieutenant governor would rather travel the state listening to voters than champion his own views in exchanges with…

By John Herrick, VTDigger.org Vermont has raised more than $300,000 in private donations since May to help it defend its GMO labeling law, Act 120, in federal court. SumOfUs, a nonprofit issue advocacy organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., made the largest donation—$78,000—to a defense fund to help the state pay its legal bills. National trade…

By Anne Galloway, VTDigger.org Democratic Governor Peter Shumlin declared at his campaign launch on Monday Sept. 8 that he has put Vermont on a “progressive path” through a “bold” leadership style and investments in job creation, renewable energy, early childhood education and opiate addiction treatment. Shumlin touted the new GMO labeling law and his single…

Washington, D.C.–Tuesday evening, Sept. 9, the House of Representatives approved by a voice vote legislation authored by Rep. Chris Gibson (R-NY) and Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT) to address the growing problem of Lyme disease. The incidence of this debilitating disease has increased dramatically in recent years in Vermont and across the Northeast region. The Vector-Borne…