Leg 44 - Jan 2, 2023 - Warner to Henniker / 8.37 Miles ... To Date: 342 miles/57 hrs 23 min

Sometimes timing is everything - that was the case with this leg.  Two special challenges with this run.  The first was knowing the first 2 1/2 miles were up and more up.  While I like to get hills out of the way, it's very hard to settle into a longer run (for me these days anything over an hour is a long run) when you need to expend a lot of energy early on.  True, the first stretch from Main St down Mill is a pleasant downhill - but that lasts only 1/4 mile.  From there on it's uphill, with the first mile on North Village Rd over a stretch ( I'd previously enjoyed running down.

The second challenge (and this is where timing comes into play) is that just over 2 miles (while still climbing) the route continues on to Henniker Rd that is closed from Dec 10th through April.  Two weeks ago there was a foot of snow and ice on the road, but fortunately with the recent thaw and rains the dirt road was very manageable for running.  Warmer temperatures today certainly helped. When first entering Henniker there's a huge rock with "Slow Down" written on it.  All I could think is - you're kidding me, I can't go any slower.   Over the 2 mile stretch through conservation woods on Henniker there were icy sections, but nothing like it would have been had I tried navigating even just a day or two earlier.

Nancy met me on the other side of the closed road section where Henniker becomes, what else, Warner.  I know I'm on the most direct route between two towns when I'm on the name of one of the towns I'm running to/from.  Not always a maintained road, but a good sign it is the most direct route.  Perfect spot for support at the 5 mile mark.  I took the opportunity to place this leg's golfball bread crumb, and then it was off for the last third of the run.

​Warner empties onto Rush and from there it was mostly downhill and flat / paved road to Henniker.  Rush ends at Main downtown section and it was a zig zag onto 114, across the Bridge and within 1/2 mile finished at Henniker Town Hall after passing by New England College campus.

Next up -- Henniker to Hopkinton 

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