Mount Washington Hill Swillers

A group of friends just booked the Silver Lake Vacation House for the Mount Washington Road Race weekend. What? A road race around Mount Washington? No--a road race up Mount Washington!

Typically held in mid-June, the Mount Washington Road Race opens up the auto road for a unique and exclusive experience allowing a few hundred runners from around the world to climb 6288 feet in 7.3 miles. Anyone who knows Mount Washington knows this is a totally unpredictable weather site, adding to the adventure of planning and training for race day.

I completed this race in 2012--and while the race itself is incredibly well organized and awesome, it was one of the worst races of my life. I felt very well trained for the experience having come off recovery from the very hot Boston Marathon. I did a lot of my training running loops of the Stonetower Hill in Lynn Woods. I was mentally and physically in the best shape of my life, but race day had other plans.

The race is a real mind-twist. Experienced runners tell you it's relentless and grueling but you really don't know what that means until you are about a mile in and you look up, down, and around and just see hills everywhere. Don't get me wrong--the scenery is breathtaking--but woof. It doesn't help that I was swiftly passed by the majority of runners including this man who was 92 at the time (and one of the friendliest guys on Earth!)

If you want to learn more about the race, click here. We're wishing our friends a happy training season and a great stay in Silver Lake this June!