Terry Shearer Earns 2026 VT100 Stoney Award: For the Ultimate Volunteer
Featured image: Terry Shearer on his way to accept the 2026 Stoney Award at the 2026 VT100 pre-pace meeting. Credit: Judith Gibson-Okunieff.
Each year, the Vermont 100 gives the Stoney Stone Award to the VT100 Volunteer of the Year. This award is given in memory of Stoney, who was a dedicated volunteer during the early years of Vermont Adaptive. Stoney was always there, no matter the conditions, or what needed doing, or who needed help. He couldn’t imagine a life without the Vermont Adaptive program and they couldn’t have done it without him.
For 2026, we honored a volunteer who has contributed to the VT100 for over for 2 decades, Terry Shearer.
Terry has worn nearly every ‘behind the scenes’ hat at this event…from aid station supply sorting, course clearing, trail marking, restocking, aid station clean-up, chem lighting, and the list goes on. He’s the ultimate ‘can do’ guy, that is always available, always says ‘yes’ to any task that needs to be done.
Most years, once he’s done with these tasks, he pins on a pacer bib to support a runner towards their 100k or 100-mile goal … And then quietly goes back to whatever behind the scenes task needs his help next.
By the time of this year’s pre-race meeting, he had already spent the day staging water for the second third of the race, and after, he left immediately to get a few hours of sleep before getting up at 1am to start setting up all the aid stations in the first half of the race ahead of all the runners. Of course, he also paced a runner after that, and again filled in with whatever other gaps needed a helping hand.
Events like the VT100 happen because there are countless people behind the scenes that our participants don’t know and never see. Some are here for a year or two, some are lifers. The VT100 is so lucky to have Terry Shearer as a lifer volunteer and an enduring supporter of this event. If there’s something you need done, skip Ghostbusters and give Terry a call.
Terry, we are so grateful for all your many years of service, energy, passion, knowledge, and contribution to the Vermont 100. You have made an amazing and lasting impact. Thank you!
mile. For the Pretty House aid station at mile 21.1, multiply 16.8 min. x 21.1 mi. = 354 min. divided by 60 min./hr. = 5.91 hrs. or 5:54. Since the race starts at 4:00 a.m., you’ll get to Pretty House at about 9:54 a.m. You can do the same for any aid station, and I suggest especially for those you’ll be reaching in the evening, in order to figure where to place your night gear so that you have it at least a half hour before the sun sets at 8:25pm. When I have a crew, I make a table of expected arrival time at aid stations where they’ll be meeting me, based on a range of finish times. I might choose 26 hrs., 28 hrs. & 30 hrs. I’d do the first one for Pretty House, since that’s the first place that my crew can meet me. If I arrive at 9:45, we can all see that I’m just a bit ahead of a 28 hour finish pace, so they should plan on meeting me at Stage Road, the next Handler Station, about 20 minutes earlier than what the sheet says for 28 hour pace. As the day goes on, you and they can develop a good feel for what kind of pace you’re maintaining.
provided some distraction and made the event that much more special.Will they run over you? The answer is no. On the contrary, they want to slow down to your pace, though their riders may not like it.Horses love people and really ‘respect’ humans who run. (In most instances their owners don’t run) On running with horses, there’s one simple word to keep in mind: Communicate. When a horse can’t see you (i.e. you coming up from behind or at night), it doesn’t know you’re a person until you say something. Then, the steed immediately calms down. This is doubly important after dark, when the horse senses your presence well before the rider does. Regardless of the time of day, start chatting with the rider as soon as you’re within voice range. You’ll find that the riders are most friendly, and basically in awe of you because you’re doing 100 miles ON FOOT! If they want to pass you on the road, they’ll say so. If you want to pass them, usually on a trail section where they’re moving slowly and carefully, converse with the rider and ask if you can pass. They’ll tell you when you can do so
and includes some trail miles. It’s a small price to pay to ensure that you don’t trip early and mess up the whole race. Trying to ‘parasite’ off of others’ lights is inviting trouble. If you wear a headlamp, and plan on keeping it, keep in mind that the first place you can stash it isn’t until Pretty House at 21.1 miles. 
Pin your bib on now, because that’s one of the most nerve-racking tasks if you wait until the morning just before you run. I suggest on your shorts, rather than your shirt, because you’re less likely to be changing shorts, and may be wearing a second layer on top when and if it gets cool. You may not sleep well, or much at all or for many hours (The 4:00 a.m. start means getting up rather early, the 100k start at 9am can seem early to some), but do your best to relax and remember that it’s the rest you got on Wednesday and Thursday nights that’s much more important. Even if you hardly sleep (that happened to me one time), just relax and know that your body is getting rest from the fact that you’re reclining.
At the end of the day, The Vermont 100 is not responsible for lost, stolen or damaged bags or belongings.
