To get 4 marathons in 4 states I accepted the New England Challenge for 4 days. Six days ME NH VT MA CT RI were offered however I will defer Maine and New Hampshire until October. Having now done 4 in 4 days here and in the southwest I would attempt 5 or 6. But that is not on the plan to finish my 50 state quest. For sure everything in life is a great attitude and a little effort.
The drive from Boston to Springfield VT was charming. The town became prosperous because of the 5 waterfalls dropping in the Black River. Power was provided to make things. I believe shoes was an early highlight. The plaques are included.
The town had a bike path along a rushing river, a covered bridge and more charm than this Florida girl could shake a stick at. There was little sign of spring and the day I arrived there had been snow the previous evening.
The folks who had run that day (In NH) had a cold drizzly day. It took 2 layers just to drive the car from Boston. Brrrr. I gues that what the running was for to stay warm.
The race route was in a nature preserve with rushing streams, a lake, a steep grassy knoll and the best race crew dishing out support with an all day buffet. Look for an hysterical I mean historical marker on the trail. On this spot May 15 2019 the Nancy was invented.
(Insert a bronze statue of a dill pickle slice on top of an Oreo).
Do not judge until you get that sweet/sour/salt craving in the middle of a long mileage day.
I was a fancy girl doing lots of fast shuffling and keeping track of pace and broke 7 hours. JC the RD puts on a great series and makes each person’s finish feel special and spectacular.
After a diversion to a very cute town Bellows Falls to find a bus station for a wayward runner, it was on to Springfield in western MA. I recall it to have been approx 2 hour ride. Mr. Hank was so spot on to return to the race to deliver chocolate milk and pizza. Bliss.
Epsom salts and Dr Teal bath soak stuff are wonderfully restorative along with lots of great Italian food.
My share with Hank whom I did the 4 Corners states with in December went perfectly. I have lots of hotel room quirks and thank goodness Hank shared all of them. Go figure. Miracles do happen.
Here is your USA 4 corner crew From L to R: Hank -Maine, Tina-Alaska, Nan-Florida, Tina’s Mom -AK, Ed-Hawaii. 
Hank is far left. The man can race walk brilliantly and I challenge any back of the packer to out run his pace. Hank was doing halfs to get 100 of them by fall. Tina was doing halfs and taking the rest of the day to see the sights with Mom. Ditto for Ed. What a brilliant concept to see something other than 26 miles in a day. Brilliant.
Robert Frost spent lots of time in Vermont and is buried in Bennington about an hour from Springfield. His epitaph reads “I had a lover’s quarrel with the world.”
Whomever writes my epitaph something about miles to go before sleep would be very appropriate.
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
R. Frost
Thank you for taking the time to follow the blog.
Every road is a blessing,
Love to all,NW
Nanadventure 
Dear Dill Pickle:
You must be “feeling the Bern”(ie Sanders) after that?
You wrote a swell one-liner: “life is a great attitude & a little effort.”
But your efforts are HUGE, too!
Maple-Syrup Mike ☺
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