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Bennington Daze: Triple B Race Starts Saturday Off With A Bang

2–4 minutes

By Baylor Detjens

A group of children running towards a large inflatable finish line banner during a race event, with spectators and houses in the background.

The second day of Bennington Daze started off with a bang – literally! Saturday marked the third annual Triple B Race, which consists of the Big B (a five-mile solo run), the Middle B (a five-mile run with teammates) and the Little B (a one-mile run around the Bennington Elementary Track). Before the racing started though, our very own executive director Marisa Dawson kicked off the day by singing the National Anthem. After that came the bang of a shotgun at 7:45 and the runners were off. 

After only about half an hour, the first runners of the Middle B came in for a finish. That squad was made up of Bennington High School students Oscar Andersen, Lucas Barney, Alexander O’Connell, Thomas Morgan and Tyler Dent. This quick finish symbolized a “legit, timed, sanctioned, safe race close to home” according to Bennington Public Schools Foundation Executive Director Blake Thompson.

Not too long after came the final runners of the Big and Middle Bs and then began the Little B. Thompson added that the Little B was much more of the “family’s deal,” where many kids ran, walked, were pushed in strollers or even rode on a scooter. 

A group of children in blue shirts racing on a track at an event, with cheering spectators in the background.

The real superstars of the day though, weren’t the runners, but all of the community members that made it possible. The Big and Middle B course extended from Bennington Elementary all the way down to 180th Street. With this distance, many people who organized and coordinated the event needed transportation, so that led some community members to bring their golf carts to help.

Bennington Public Schools Foundation Board Member & Race Organizer Kim Rohe said, “I had a guy jump on a golf cart and another girl who owns her own golf cart. They just saw people needed rides and were shuttling people back and forth and I was like ‘Hey, who are you, you know, nice to meet you.’” Rohe added, “I think that just is a little snippet of what our community is. It’s like seeing something that needs to be done, seeing somebody needs some support, and then jumping in and happily doing it without asking for any recognition… We knew the race was going to go off without a hitch for that reason.” She smiled and said actions like this are just “so Bennington.” 

Five young athletes stand together, wearing medals and race bibs, in front of a branded backdrop from the Bennington Public Schools Foundation.

In only three short years, the Triple B has become a “family tradition” to “several people who have done it all three years” according to Rohe. She claimed that “it’s fun to see parents doing it, [and] grandparents doing it with their grandkids.” She went further stating, “It also has fit nicely into Bennington Daze so people can enjoy the race and then grab a spot and watch the parade.”

Rohe even concluded with a personal anecdote by sharing that “My family moved here roughly 14 years ago because both my husband and I wanted to be a part of something that felt small and even though Bennington has grown, things like this, like Bennington Daze and the tradition of what happens on Bennington Daze helps us stay small. It’s why we grow. It’s the things we make time for, we make time for this every year to participate in one of more ways in Bennington Daze, just because it is special to us. It has this small town feel that people look forward to, and that’s why people want to live here.” 

A group of runners participating in a race on a suburban road, with houses and green grass in the background.
Two female runners celebrating as they approach the finish line of a road race, with a rural backdrop and spectators in the background.
A woman is jogging on a track wearing a pink tank top and yellow shorts, with sunglasses and a fitness watch. In the background, there is a large inflatable arch with 'TRUE TIME RACING SERVICES' branding.
Participants receiving awards after a race at a finish line, with a digital display and event banner in the background.
Five athletes in blue t-shirts pose together, smiling and wearing medals after a relay race, with a backdrop featuring the Bennington Public Schools Foundation logo.
Runners crossing the finish line under a large inflatable finish arch during a race, with an American flag in the background.
A woman and a young girl running through an inflatable arch at a race finish line, with spectators in the background.
An outdoor fitness event featuring an orange tent for Orangetheory Fitness, with staff and participants engaging in activities in the background.
A female runner crossing the finish line under an inflatable archway with 'FINISH' written on it, at a racetrack. A small child watches nearby, and an American flag is visible in the background.
A man and a woman walk on a track, pushing a stroller with a toddler inside. The woman holds a small bag, while the man wears a cap and sunglasses. In the background, there is a large inflatable arch marked with 'True Time Racing Services' and a house with a yard.
Children and an adult running on a racetrack during a community event, with spectators in the background.
A man receiving a medal from a woman at a race event, with spectators and a registration area in the background.
A young boy in a blue shirt and black shorts smiles while holding a medal on a running track, with a 'TEAMMATES MENTORING' banner in the background.
Four young runners celebrating at an event, each wearing blue shirts with race numbers, standing in front of a backdrop that reads 'Bennington Public Schools Foundation'. Three of them hold medals.
A young girl receives a medal from an older girl during an award ceremony, with two women in blue shirts watching in the background.
A smiling family posing together in front of a backdrop featuring the Bennington Public Schools Foundation logo. The group includes two children wearing medals, a man in a blue branded shirt, and a woman with sunglasses.
A smiling woman and a boy with glasses, both wearing medals, pose together in front of a backdrop featuring the Bennington Public Schools Foundation logo.
A man speaking into a microphone at a race event, displaying results on a screen, with a True Time Racing Services banner and an American flag in the background.
A female speaker stands at a microphone wearing a sports outfit, preparing to address a gathering at a running event. An inflatable arch and an American flag are visible in the background.
A runner in a gray athletic outfit and sunglasses is jogging along a road with houses and lush green grass in the background.
A police officer on a motorcycle assists a runner on a road near residential houses, with a sign for Bennington Daze in the foreground.
A woman jogging on a road near a sign that reads 'Newport Landing.' She is wearing a tank top and shorts, with sunglasses on, and has her hair tied back.
Two female runners participating in a race on a residential street, with houses and trees in the background.

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