Sunday Runday: Running Spring

Tomorrow is the first day of spring.  Although, to be fair, it's been feeling awfully springy around these parts lately already.

It started on my run a couple weeks ago, when I noticed giant patches of vibrant purple flowers.  It was just after some heavy rains and it was a nice reminder of the beauty that comes after the storm.

And then L&O posted some pictures of the flowers around her campus, taken during one of her walks.  And I was inspired.  I started keeping my eye out along the paths and trails I run for blooms of my own.

Over the course of the past week I saw flowers of so many shapes and sizes.  Small clusters, giant petals, flowers that reached up to the sky, and others who covered the ground in their brilliant hue.

One of the things I have openly admired about SDMom is her ability to always be grateful for her surroundings.  She takes nothing for granted.  Giving myself a floral scavenger hunt of sorts while I ran accomplished a similar feat.  Sometimes I complain about running the same routes.  It gets boring.  It's a bit suburban without beautiful views of mountains, rivers, or oceans.  But seeing so many flowers made me appreciate the beauty of the neighborhood and how unboring my scenery really is.

Have you found something unique about your favorite running route?
Do you ever stop to smell flowers?