A July 4 Tradition, A Community Celebration

by Christopher Bartlett

"What exactly do you mean by sustainability?" It's a question that anyone associated with Sustainable Woodstock has heard a dozen times. But the answer sometimes surprises the questioner.


Because we live in the midst of such natural beauty, most people instinctively understand our commitment to environmental stewardship. And because we all value the quality of life our town affords, community members are also supportive of our objective of developing a healthy and responsible local economy.

But it is the third element of Sustainable Woodstock's mission that sometimes catches people by surprise. In addition to our environmental and economic objectives, Sustainable Woodstock is committed to nurturing our town's social connections, civic engagement, and sense of caring - the very characteristics that distinguish a "lovely town" from a "thriving community."

Which brings us to this July 4 weekend. In terms of engaging the community, there is one Woodstock tradition that has been doing just that for 34 years. Again this weekend, the John Langhans Road Race will bring together runners and walkers of all ages and abilities to enjoy each other's company and the beautiful Woodstock environment along the 7-mile course.

But pause long enough to learn about the history of the race, and you will find an encapsulated story of how this community comes together. From the earliest days of the event, a young fourth-generation Vermonter named John Langhans looked forward to running it each year. Not only did he have close connections to the race as assistant director of the Rec Center, he also saw it as useful in his role as coach of the WUHS cross country team.

"The runners just loved him," recalled Candace Coburn, John's wife through this happy time. "He didn't just tell them what to do, he ran with them and showed them."

But tragically, on July 2, 1991, John was killed when his UPS truck flipped. Two days later, the race was renamed and dedicated to his memory. "The outpouring was amazing," said Colburn. "Through his running and as the local UPS driver, he had touched so many people in this community."

Since that time, sponsorship of the race has passed from the Rec Center to the Spectrum Teen Center, for which it has become a major fund-raising activity. "It's great how the youth of the community now own this event," said Jim Grossman, Outreach Coordinator of the Ottauquechee Community Partnership. "That's real sustainability!"

The event begins on the Woodstock Green on the morning of July 4, with walkers starting at 8:30 AM, runners at 9 AM, and the Kids Fun Run at 10:30 AM. And your $25 online registration ($25 by July 3, $30 on the Green before the race) will also get you a cool T-shirt.

So even if you are not running, come down to the Village Green on Sunday to cheer on the runners, see who wins the award for the most patriotic costume, and enjoy the post race entertainment provided by high school band known as KKMon. It's a way to remember a community contributor, support a great community youth organization, and celebrate the holiday with your neighbors.