Tag Archives: New Hampshire

Best. Series. Ever.

willrunforbeer.com

Now this is a goal I can meet. http://www.willrunforbeer.com.

Although I’ve been on a bit of a running hiatus during my sojourn Down Under, there will be no rest when I get back to New England (which during my five-week absence has nastily decided to morph from late-summer bliss to early-fall bone-chill). I will scarcely have time to draw breath before I am back scarcely drawing breath in a nose-hair-freezing 5K run.

But that’s OK, because Hubby has discovered something wonderful: the Will Run for Beer 2012 Race Series.

That’s right. Will. Run. For. Beer.

Now, I’m more of a G&T girl myself, but I say cheers to any event that combines running with post-race glass-hoisting (experts say you need to stretch out those arms, after all). This series, which has been going since 2008 (the Before Time), is put on by a New Hampshire company called Loco and sponsored by Portsmouth, N.H.’s Smuttynose Brewing Co. Need I say more.

There will, of course, be updates from the series as I go along, but our presence will definitely be felt at the Smuttynose Palooza in Milford, N.H., on January 14. One, because it’s a relay half-marathon (I can just run a bit!) that’s indoors; and two, because the website asks the probing question: “What is a Palooza?”

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Two runs, one weekend: Tanger Outlets 5K

Tanger Outlets 5K Run/WalkThere are so many races going on every weekend across New England that it’s almost impossible to choose. But many of them have one thing in common: boobs.

Or breast cancer, to be more precise. Yes, the Pinking of America is alive and well in running-land. That’s not to take anything away from the cause, of course, and we were happy to sign up for the Tanger Fit for a Cure 5K Run/Walk in Tilton, NH, which raised money for LRGHealthcare.

However, at the risk of sounding completely shallow, there was another reason for committing to this particular event: shopping.

You really can’t go wrong with a run that provides coupons and encourages post-race consumerism. Can you?

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The New Hampshire hill from hell: Covered Bridge 5K

Covered Bridge

Looks pretty, yes? But this idyllic start and finish belied a truly murderous run.

This running gig certainly takes you to uncharted territory. Such as teeny, tiny Henniker, NH (pop. 4,850) – hardly a tourist draw, but a lovely town nonetheless. The Covered Bridge 5K supports the athletic programs at New England College, whose campus hosted the race.

It was a small event, with fewer than 100 runners, that started under the covered bridge from which the race gets its name. I was convinced I really would be last this time, as I’d never run among such a small field. That turned out to be the least of my worries.

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