Running New England Book Test Drive #3

I have been working for five years on getting the green light from a publisher for a running/health/travel book I am calling Running New England.  It will feature fifty of the most beautiful running routes in New England.  It will include details of the running route itself, where to start, where it goes, what you will see, and photos from the route.  It will go deeper and share other nearby attractions, where to eat, places to stay, nearby road races, and some general history of the town where the running route is.  

   In order to pitch the book to some of the larger publishers I first need a literary agent.  Many of them want samples from the proposed manuscript sent along with a query.  That being said what follows is another example of a 'chapter' from the possible book. I am creating three, this is the second, which I will then send to various agents and see what happens.  I hope that you enjoy this taste of what I am hoping to create in the near future.

Running New England

A Guide to the 50 Most Beautiful Running Routes and more

#3 - Kancamagus Highway - Lincoln, New Hampshire

Starting Line: Kancamagus Pass, Kancamagus Highway (GPS: 44.026390, -71.494864)

The Basics:  This run is 7.5 miles in length beginning at the Kancamagus Pass overlook parking area.  It is an out and back run, 3.75 miles out, returning back to the

sign for the Pass with the Elevation listed at 2,855 feet.

         

The Route:

Being in the heart of the White Mountains the grade of the highway at this location is steep.  This makes this run very difficult.  It is downhill on the way out, and uphill on the way back.  This makes the first half of the run easy, and the second half extremely difficult.  Save some energy for the run back, which is completely uphill with a grade as high as 9% in some spots.  The highway itself is a normal-sized road with regular areas on the sides for bikes and pedestrians.  There can be cracks and chunks taken from the road due to the harsh winters.

          Cell phone service is nearly nonexistent.  The luxuries of daily life are not readily available along the entirety of ‘The Kanc’ which is 34 ½ miles total in length.  Due to the remoteness of this route it is wise to pay attention to the surroundings at all time.  About 2.7 miles out from the beginning is Lily Pond on the left side of the road.  There is a trail leading to it, though it is visible from the road.  There is always a chance of spotting moose or bears so keep any music low.  That being said it is not a congested highway and most vehicles can be spotted from a distance keeping the runner relatively safe.  Continue on until you reach 3.75 miles to make it the 7.5 miles in total.  There is no marker for turnaround, so run downhill as far as you would like, remember though that the return trip will be much more difficult.

The 9% Grade along The Kanc.

Attractions:  

Ice Castles: 64 Railroad Street, Lincoln, NH – This is a highly popular winter attraction.  More than 10,000 icicles are created and colorfully lit in a maze of beauty.  There is a princess on duty at times for kids and ample opportunities for spectacular photographs.  It is open weather-permitting.  IceCastles.com

Franconia Notch State Park:  260 Tramway Drive, Lincoln, NH - More than 6,600 acres in size this park is in the White Mountains.  It contains the spectacular Flume Gorge which rises up 800-feet near the foot of Mount Liberty.  It was also once home to the iconic ‘Old Man of the Mountain.’  This was a natural rock formation which protruded from Cannon Mountain until it collapsed in 2003.  The old man’s profile has been New Hampshire’s state emblem since 1945.  NHStateParks.org

Clark’s Trading Post:  110 Daniel Webster Highway, Lincoln, NH - A family-friendly spot this attraction includes trained bears, a steam-powered train ride through the scenic countryside, the Anaconda Escape water raft ride, and much more.  ClarksTradingPost.com

Heading up along Flume Gorge.

Food:

Flapjacks Pancake House:  149 Main Street, Lincoln, NH - Set in a cozy New England farmhouse this spot is known for delicious pancakes, omelets, and other breakfast items.  It has been family run since 2004.  Flapjacks.biz

Gypsy Café:  117 Main Street, Lincoln, NH – Incredible food with an equally incredible atmosphere.  The menu has unique recipes from scratch containing items from all across the world including Greece, Japan, Morocco, Peru, and more.  GypsyCafeRestaurant.com

Black Mtn. Burger Co.:  264 Main Street, Lincoln, NH - Their highly rated burgers have helped them secure Certificates of Excellence from TripAdvisor four times.  Serving lunch and dinner within sight of the White Mountains their menu includes such unique items as homemade Buffalo Mac and Cheese Balls.  BlackMtnBurger.com

Lodging:

Pemi Cabins:  460 US-3, Lincoln, NH - A cross between roughing it and modern amenities, these cabins are located right on the Pemigewasset River.  There are 16 rooms and it is open year-round.  PemiCabins.com

The Old Man of the Mountain Profiler, showing how it used to look.

Mt. Coolidge Motel: 386 US-3, Lincoln, NH – A highly rated, family-owned motel open seasonally from April through October and located near the entrance of Franconia Notch State Park.  
MtCoolidgeMotel.com

Nearby Races:

Mount Washington Road Race:  Held annually in June this race traverses up the auto road of the mountain to the summit, more than 6,000 feet above sea level.  First held in 1936 this one-hill race is capped at 1,300 runners in 2017 and only eight have ever broken an hour in the 7.6-mile race.  MtWashingtonAutoRoad.com/Mount-Washington-Road-Race

Loon Mountain Race:  Recognized as one of the most difficult races in the Northeast due to its steep uphill climb, parts as much as a 40% incline.  This 10K has won several national accolades.  Nearly 600 people took part in the 2016 race.  AcidoticRacing.com/Loon-Mountain-Race

About Lincoln:

A small mountain town of less than 2,000, Lincoln was incorporated in 1782.  A former logging town it is home to the popular Loon Mountain and Flume Gorge.  In addition to skiing the winter brings the spectacular Ice Castles which are icicle designs colorfully lit up for walks and photographs.  Lincoln lies two hours south of the Canadian border, two hours north of Boston, and 90 minutes west of Maine.  

The Kanc Route at Map My Run.com