The Spring Team Springs Forward!

Since we formed the beginning of November, our Spring Team has been training in decidedly unspring-like weather for the most part. That changed today, dramatically! Spring has sprung!

A few days ago, this was the scene. Now it is this, our 11 inches of snow melting away starting Wednesday afternoon after a low of 10 degrees F. that morning.

Snow has been replaced with early spring flowers, such as these daffodils seen during training today.

Paul gave a great mission moment today. He talked about how he has now run over 2,000 miles since joining TNT about 18 months ago. Then he talked about an incredibly inspirational young man, Terry Fox, who lost a leg to bone cancer but started running across Canada with one leg to raise money for cancer research and to raise people's awareness about cancer. He started in Newfoundland and started running towards the Pacific Ocean, calling this "The Marathon of Hope". He ran for 5,373 km (3,339 miles) in 143 days, averaging 23.3 miles each day on one leg and his prosthesis. Unfortunately, at Thunder Bay, Ontario, he had to give up his quest, as the cancer had metastasized into his lungs. He died a year later, exactly one month short of his 23rd birthday. Canadians kept giving to his cause, and his dream of raising one dollar for every Canadian citizen was reached after his death.

Our route today combined the scenic and the kind of ugly, but it was mostly scenic. We crossed three of Richmond's four interstates, and went through some industrial areas, but most of the 12 miles went by parks and pretty neighborhoods. It felt great to be out in shorts and my purple race shirt from last year's Arizona Marathon. At the end, we got to meet some of the Summer Team and had a nice breakfast get-together at Kitchen 64, which has tasty meals. Here are some photos from training today. (PS: thanks to my mentor Theresa for the nice note and the fund-raising prize! She is the best mentor!)

Our route led up Boulevard past The Diamond, former home of the Richmond Braves, who have moved to Georgia.

Confederate General Ambrose Powell Hill, eternally watchful, guards the intersection of Hermitage and Laburnum. I think the general's remains actually rest underneath the statues base, but would not bet a million bucks on it. (Actually, I would - I just Googled him and that indeed is his burial site).

Nicki and Donna running up Hermitage

Future TNTers? These kids were preparing for a race on this gorgeous spring day.

Waterfall in Bryan Park. The park's famous azaleas are still about a month or so away from blooming.

Pond in Bryan Park.

After miles of running and walking through neighborhoods and along busy Dumbarton and Staples Mill Roads, our route entered the beautiful Windsor Farms neighborhood, starting by going down Locke Lane.

Homes in Windsor Farms

Beautiful Agecroft Hall, now open to the public. This Tudor mansion was taken down one brick and one timber at a time, transported across the Atlantic from England, and reassembled here in the Windsor Farms neighborhood.

Here I am, back at the park, displaying my new recommitment hat (along with the one I currently wear). On my purple race shirt are the names of dozens of people who had to battle cancer. I felt pretty tired today, but it is nothing compared to the exhaustion that cancer patients face daily, 24/7. Also, despite being tired, my knees didn't bother me too much, unlike the last couple of days after running like a hamster on a treadmill.

Chuck, Nicki, and Donna finish their 12 mile run. Chuck, as a coach, probably ran closer to 14 or 15 trying make sure he got to train with different people.