Meet Joe

Ok, so in our previous posts we introduced you to the team members and to half the coaching staff. Today we'll wrap this up with a bio on 10th year head coach Joe Connelly.

Hometown: Burlington, VT. Grew up in upstate NY (Glenville, Rotterdam, Schenectady). Born in Tacoma, WA.

High School: Scotia-Glenville, class of 1983

College: Saint Michael's, 1987

Major: Accounting

Occupation: Prior to coaching I was an accountant for 13 years. These days, in addition to coaching I'm Technical Coordinator for RunVermont. We produce the KeyBank Vermont City Marathon, First Run Burlington, and Half Marathon Unplugged. I do a lot of course design and race implementation.

Preference - Skate or Classic: I like a mix. I probably ski classic more often these days because the terrain we train on seems more suited to good classic skiing.

Favorite distance: I don't race enough any more to have a "favorite distance". For training I love long classic days.

Favorite ski venue: Sleepy Hollow in Huntington, VT (everything except the driveway)

Favorite trail to ski: So many choices, tough to choose so I'll give you a bunch...At Trapps: Hare Line and the 40 Year Trail...At Sleepy Hollow: Hinesburg Hill Loop...At Jackson: Ellis River Trail

Favorite race course: Oak Hill

This season I am most looking forward to: Lary and I nailing the wax every time out. For the team, I'm really looking forward to seeing everyone racing to the best of their ability late in the season.

My most memorable race: Lots of great choices from back in the day, but I'm going to go with the 2010 Ichabod's Revenge at Sleepy Hollow. I always say that coaches should have to race at least once a year so that we remember what it is we're asking the athletes on our teams to do, but I definitely don't race enough. Ichabod's last winter was the first race I actually tried to ski a good race (for me, it's all relative these days) in quite a few years. It hurt! But my form held together and even though I was slow I felt like I accomplished what I set out to do.