The "Mad Half" starts at the Mad River Green in central Waitsfield village, and the course travels north on Route 100 for a short 0.6 mile before turning onto first secondary road and through a covered bridge on... yes, Bridge Street. Participants will face the first climb about one mile into the race running up past an aid station and hitting a second station at the top of the climb on Joslin Hill Road and 2.2 miles into the race. Joslin Hill meets North Road and rolls along gently downhill for about another 2.5 miles, through Pine Brook Covered Bridge to the third aid station at Meadow Road. Runners are now traveling within Neill Farm on dirt roads and an absolutely fabulous introduction to Vermont's farmlands. Just before the junction of Meadow is the turnaround at 4.5 miles. Back along North Road participants retrace their path up North Road until the junction with Trembley Road. Just before hitting the Common Road intersection, and like the "Mad Marathon", there is a short out-and-back section on East Road and back to Common Road. Common Road is a lovely dirt road with more extraordinary views of barns, farms and country homes all in a delightful rural setting. This stretch of the run is just under 3 miles and joins East Warren Road which is 9.6 miles into the race. Runners will then turn right onto East Warren Road beginning a gentle rolling downhill slope back to Bridge Street and then a short mile sprint to the finish line.