Team Travels

Before each season, the cross country team takes a short camping trip to a Florida park.  This year, the team decided on trekking to Fanning Springs State Park.  No one on the team had been, but it met the trip requirements: a place to run, a place to swim, and cabins because the women's team isn't the most outdoors-y this year.  I know, I know, this is cross country, but a handful would likely complain if there weren't showers or air conditioning. 

The journey to the park was perfect: no air conditioning, windows down, good music, and good people.  I love driving through the small towns of central Florida, as the few teammates in the car learned.  "How do you know all of these places?"  How do you not?

When we arrived in the park, we tossed our duffel bags in the cabins, stripped down to almost nothing, and, naturally, ran to the spring.  Up on the banks, I heard screaming and splashing.  A few teammates were already in and apparently it was colder than expected.  When I hit the water, I felt like I was in a picturesque full-body ice bath.  No one was in the water but a pair of locals, two great egrets, and many glistening fish.

I would love to tell about the running, but my hip has been acting up lately and it's better to be cautious this early in the cross country season.  I got in a good five hours of pool running along with 30-35 miles last week.  Water running in a spring was a welcomed change from the campus pool, although after about forty-five minutes the cool temperature of the water starts to become very apparent.

By the end of the trip, there was hair braiding, team games, and a little harmless havoc.  Goals were made and we left a stronger team than we have been in a long, long time.

I plan on returning to this park soon.  But with a tent and my running shoes.