Saturday morning we arose at the exceedingly early time of 7:30 am to run 6.2 miles in the cold pouring rain. Yes it's true and no I'm not crazy. 29,998 other Richmonders joined us in our 10k trek down glorious Monument Avenue. Each runner motivated to run by their independent desire to accomplish their running goals but running together with a sense of community. Michael Paul Williams sees the race as both a terrific example of the entire Richmond region coming together with a common community spirit , yet at the same time a metaphor for our regional failings to cooperate as a team.

He's stunningly right on this point. Richmond, Chesterfield, Henrico and Hanover have the unfortunate tendency to compete with each other as runners do, striving for their own successes instead of seeking the broader goals of a team, a team Richmond.