I took an impromptu trip out to Western Massachusetts to visit some friends whom I haven’t seen in way too long. Knowing I had my 15-mile run scheduled for Saturday, I packed my running gear along for the ride. 

After settling the excitement for this overdue visit, I decided to plan my trail. The one thing I was concerned about most was not being familiar with the area, and not only having to focus on completely the distance, by finding my way back. Fortunately, my friend suggested a pretty easy route that was a straight shot from Agawam all the way through Connecticut. Yes, I crossed state lines yesterday.

Running this route was completely different, since I’m used to the hustle-and-bustle of the Boston streets to keep me entertained for the entirety of my run. However, I passed Six Flags and saw some gorgeous Connecticut farmland and scenery that I would never have known existed had I not ran all this way.

Moral of this story: I successfully ran 15.14 miles, and enjoyed a little change of pace on the way. My knees are shot today, so I’ll be using this day for a little R&R to myself. I’ve also felt a little boost of confidence towards my ability to complete the Boston Marathon, because if I can run 15+ miles with no one around, I think the crowds of people lining the streets in April will help push me towards the finish line.

How was your run this weekend?