Ninety-nine percent of the time, Burlington’s Lakewood Estates is just like every other small, tightly-knit Vermont neighborhood. But that other 1% is Marathon Sunday, when Sciatica: The Burlington Marathon Band takes center stage.Repeat runners of the Vermont City Marathon may remember hearing these guys before seeing them. The kicker: they don’t have a lot of music experience, or any at all.They suit up each year and perform a five-hour set anyway, while trying not to miss a beat, to help motivate runners and push them through the homestretch of the 26.2-mile road race. The concert’s not just for the runners. Their neighbors also get a front row seat to the show.”Everyone’s jamming out, everyone’s cheering on the runners. I was able to run part of the relay last year, and it was hands down the best neighborhood to run through,” said Leeann Tiffault.The course takes runners through the Estates twice. One at mile 9, and then again at mile 23.Their rock and roll has become tradition. It’s an unofficial summer kickoff in Burlington’s North End. They plan to reunite once again in 2027, as they have for over a decade.
Ninety-nine percent of the time, Burlington’s Lakewood Estates is just like every other small, tightly-knit Vermont neighborhood. But that other 1% is Marathon Sunday, when Sciatica: The Burlington Marathon Band takes center stage.
Repeat runners of the Vermont City Marathon may remember hearing these guys before seeing them. The kicker: they don’t have a lot of music experience, or any at all.
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They suit up each year and perform a five-hour set anyway, while trying not to miss a beat, to help motivate runners and push them through the homestretch of the 26.2-mile road race.
The concert’s not just for the runners. Their neighbors also get a front row seat to the show.
“Everyone’s jamming out, everyone’s cheering on the runners. I was able to run part of the relay last year, and it was hands down the best neighborhood to run through,” said Leeann Tiffault.
The course takes runners through the Estates twice. One at mile 9, and then again at mile 23.
Their rock and roll has become tradition. It’s an unofficial summer kickoff in Burlington’s North End. They plan to reunite once again in 2027, as they have for over a decade.
