RUNNING IN NH: A TOP 10 LIST

 "Spitting off the edge of the world

Winds from the sky

Never had no chance

Will watch us rise"

'Spitting of the Edge of the World', Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs

Our family has a place up in Sugar Hill, NH.  It's a small, quiet town; population 577 back in 2019 and that's the latest count I could dig up.  It's notably busier in the winter (skiing) and summer (hiking) but during the shoulder seasons?  Crickets.  And we love it.  This past Sunday I did a long run out on the mountain roads and trails near our cabin.  It was an absolutely perfect day; crisp, clear and a little cool and I could think of nowhere that I would have rather been.  As I ran, I thought about running up in NH, or any remote area for that matter, versus running back at home in the Boston area.  Obviously they are very different and they both have pros and cons, but I have to say I might enjoy the NH running a bit more.  Not that I'm complaining about running in the city.  I'm happy running anywhere, really.  But there are some key things about running in NH that make the experience such a treat for me and since I was out there for over two hours I made a mental note of each one which I ultimately decided would be fun to share.  Maybe you have a favorite place to run that's different from home so you can relate.  And maybe you don't but this post makes you want to make a trip up to NH or some other far away place to experience it for yourself, which I highly recommend.  And if neither of these apply, well, that's okay, too.  Sit back, relax and enjoy some NH photos.  

WHY I LOVE RUNNING IN NH: A TOP 10 LIST

1. First and foremost, the views from almost every location are stunning and more often than not they stop me in my tracks.  Pun intended.

2. The drivers are nice.  For real.  All of them.  Even the truckers.  And they tend to move far over to the other side of the road as they go by nodding or waving as they pass.  It's lovely.

3. Hills are more like mountains and they are everywhere.  So basically, every run has the added bonus of a strength workout within it.  Can't beat that.

4.  Nature is also everywhere.  Literally.  So if nature calls, you're good to go.

5.  In Sugar Hill, and likely in many other small towns, there is a single traffic light.  So, there is little, if any, stopping mid-run for anything other than bears or skunks.  Which you don't really even stop for, you just change directions.

6. There is some form of water.... lake, creek, river, pond.... along every route.  Thus a mid-run splash on the face or a post-run soak is always an option.

7. There are rarely other runners out on the road.  So when they are out there its really exciting and they're probably going to become your friend as you will likely stop and have a conversation.

8. If you get lost, which happens often, there is no stress.  You just use the force to find your way back to a main road.  Or you can safely wave your hand at the aforementioned nice drivers who will kindly let you know where to go.

9. Shade is in abundance.  Because trees are in abundance.  Which is particularly great in the summer months.  And it's not a problem to run on the wrong side of the street for the shade as people don't really care.  They still nod or wave.  Because they're nice.*  

*If you're wondering, yes, I get honked at and yelled at often when I'm running in the city, especially in the winter when I have to share the road.

10. And last, but certainly not least, unlike some of my days at home, there is truly not a day that goes by when I'm not genuinely happy to lace up and get outside when I'm up in NH.  And that's pretty awesome.

Listen to this:

Spitting Off the Edge of the World - Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Secretly Canadian · Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Spitting Off the Edge of the World (feat. Perfume Genius)