TESTIMONIALS 

"High School coach and good friend Derrick Spafford kept me involved in running through high school by putting less emphasis on training hard and more on having fun. Derrick believes that is a necessity for long-term development of young runners, and that’s why I still enjoy running today." - Taylor Murphy 5,000m (14:32) & 10,000m (29:54) Canadian National Team Member

 "I'd like to take the time to thank you. I am one of the many people you helped to realize I can run. I took the Learn to Run program in the Spring of 2003, and ran my first 5K ever... The Wolfe Island Classic. Before that, I had never run, jogged, barely walked, for that matter! I still continue to run on a regular basis. I am proud of myself, and have you to thank." - Kimberly Fiset
 "Your kind and caring style has inspired many people to take a much more proactive look at exercise, fitness and general well being. I personally know I would not have continued on to complete two half marathon and two marathons without your guidance and smiling personality meeting me each week or couple of weeks." - Catherin Ernst-Spindler
 "Where does one start with describing someone of such incredible inspiration and knowledge regarding fitness. I have known Derrick since I was a small child watching him run down a long country road in front of my house. The whole time struck with childlike awe. Who would guess that Derrick would inspire me to run and more than a decade later coach me for 5 years in high school and then on in university. Derrick has been a coach, mentor, motivator, and inspiration. Derrick has always been number one on my list of people to seek advice from, with regard to any running/fitness questions." - Charley Murphy
 "I have known Derrick for over 10 years now, as a coach, a training partner, an employer, a colleague, and a good friend. I can honestly say that Derrick is one of the most dedicated, down-to-earth, and interesting people I know. His knowledge and passion of running and the great outdoors ignited a fire in me, back in highschool (when Derrick coached our cross-country and track teams). He has been a great source of enouragement and motivation for me, and continues to be a role-model in my life. I can't thank him enough." - Joe Turner (running on a trail somewhere in New Zealand - circa 2005)