Spring brings showers, May flowers and great trail running conditions. Midcoast Conservancy’s Hidden Valley Nature Center offers self-guided running loops so anyone motived by warmer weather and unfurling forest life can take to the trails for bucolic, and challenging, runs. Nearly 30 miles of trails wend through the 1000-acre preserve in Jefferson.

Two well-marked loops, one 2.6 miles and the other a hilly 3.6 miles, provide options to runners at any experience level. Trails include wide logging road-style ones, as well as single-track trails with twists, turns and elevation. Runs begin, and end at the kiosk near the barn. Well water to replenish water bottles is available near the kiosk.

To up the camaraderie, there will be two meet-up runs each week: Tuesdays at 7 a.m., and Wednesdays at 5 p.m. Midcoast Conservancy staff and volunteers will be on hand to lead a pre-run stretching time and facilitate connections between runners. Every time a participant attends a meet-up run, they will receive a raffle ticket for a drawing. The winner receives a pair of running shoes from Lamey-Wellehan Shoes, a loyal supporter of Midcoast Conservancy running events, including the Race Through the Woods on September 24, 2022.

The meet-ups will begin on May 3 and run through June 1. The final day will include a pizza and beer wrap-up gathering at the  HVNC Barn. The last event also includes a ,Lamey-Wellehan gift certificate raffle.. For more information on Hidden Valley Nature Center, go to https://www.midcoastconservancy.org/hvnc.