Author: Saab

  • Bear Creek 2018

    On a day  presenting weather that epitomizes “The Gloom”, 7 sturdy steeds descended upon the Bear Creek 10 miler to see what the adverse conditions had in store…none were disappointed.  Observations and commendations were as follows:

    • Conditions at BC offered a new and unique challenge.  Cold, extremely damp conditions were coupled with trails that were covered in (deep) mud and made for some cold stream crossings.
    • Newly “installed” obstacle course involved over 50 to 100 downed trees that had to be climbed or jumped over (or crawled under).
    • To say the mud was deep and omnipresent is not an exaggeration.  One had to be extremely careful going down hills.  Also, we had two PAX (TYA and Flipper) have their shoes sucked-up by the primordial ooze.  TYA said it took two hands and leverage to extricate his shoe.
    • Flip-Dog ran his first 10 miler ever.  What’s equally more impressive is that it was under these conditions.
    • Per usual, Gomer Pyle made others blush in his running tights.  YHC is convinced he must have prosthetic inserts in those pants…no-one absent an NFL-Running Back has definition like that.
    • Olivander was ninja-like, as he managed to advance ahead of Shakedown without being seen.  His outfit, which resembled something whey would wear on the space shuttle, may have had something to do with it.
    • Bootleg was all business as he smoked the trail run and came in with an impressive time.  Amazing what he continues to accomplish.
    • It was great seeing TYA race another woman for placement in the females-over-50 category.  Here’s to hoping he is still in the top 3.
    • Circle K put it well…Absent hanging with us knuckleheads, Col-Beer and Chicken Bog was his main reason for being there.
    • HUGE shout-out to Shakedown for presenting the PAX with a post-run tailgate.  His Lab-Rat-esque Chicken (and sausage) Bog stood on its own and took the chill out of a very chilled and worn-out PAX.  He also offered some to a number of passers-by out of good fellowship – for which Shakedown is well known.
    • Feel free to add anything I missed fellas

    Saab Abides

  • If Only a Pax of ONE Posts…

    The length of the (PROMPT) backblast is commensurate…

    HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!

  • Reverse Haiku (a TYA Special)

    A naughty 19 descended upon Spider Run for a route snapped from TYA’s vast portfolio….(an adjustment was made on account of the entrance blocked by a tree.)

    Out of parking lot towards Ridgeway to Iris.  Cross on 3 Chopt, left on Grove.  4 miler turn around at Oak and back, 5 milers take a loop around Lexington/Albermarle and back and 6 milers do Lex/Abermarle loop and take a right onto grove and turnaround in the Mary Mumford bus loop.

    Announcements:  CSAUP, Coat Collection, and Bear Creek Trail Run

    Saab Abides

  • Sweet Sixteen and a Splinter Special

    With no official Q identified, YHC begrudgingly took the reigns and called “Mount Henrico” to the 16 runners and bikers (Spider Gears anyone?).  Those desiring directions were told to ask a friend.

    Announcements:

    • CSAUP on 10/20.  Run, bike, walk to TYA for additional details.
    • Double-dip opportunity on Saturday.  See Swiper to join the running team supporting those recovering from addiction.

    Saab abides

     

  • The Whole Fist

    A naughty 19 descended upon UR commons to tackle copious hills.  4, 5 and 6 milers covered similar routes extending up to Three Chopt and back.  The route was a familiar one but no less forgiving.  Great work by all.

    Announcements:

    • TClaps to Bootleg and Pipeline for their recent completion of a half-marathon.  Way to go fellas!
    • Labor Day convergence at 3-Lakes park.  See Lab Rat for directions.  Best start preparing for the long drive to North East Henrico county.
    • Wednesday Hill Run (at Hillcrest) followed by get together at TYAs for some pre-BRR banter.  All are welcome.

    Saab abides

  • Carillon the Right Way…

    24 descended upon Mary to see where their legs and wheels would carry them.  After Splinter provided a quick translation of the Belizeian word for “Hello”, we were off.  Runners covered distances ranging from 4 to 8 miles, and every distance in between.  Bikers covered all that is RVA.

    YHC’s Lab Rat-esque apology goes to the 4 and 5 milers, who got slightly lost – but gained extra distance – thanks to poor instructions from the Q.

    Announcements:

    • Puppy Pile next Saturday
    • Dirt Church coming to a back blast near you

    Saab Abides

  • WDog Grabs the Potato and Runs

    The potato was warm and buttery as 15 descended upon WDog.  While many were expecting to find CircleK and his beloved Tire, it was Swirly who had the superior alarm clock and started off the HP-Q.  (There was speculation that Mechanicsville PAX haven’t yet adopted modern day alarm clocks and still rely upon roosters…which can be unpredictable.)

    Those who took the potato were Swirly, EF Hutton, Rosie, Saab, and Sippy Cup respectively.  This is what went down…

    First Q:  COP (lots of good stuff), Touch a tree while other partner does series of exercises….WWII’s, Plank, Burpees.

    Second Q:  Circle up for series of rotating ab and upper body exercises while PAX rotates bear-crawling outer perimeter.

    Third Q: 6 pack at rusty cage.  Rotate between pull ups, run to hydrant and perform crunchy frogs

    4th Q:  Run up and down the bowl while performing ascending merkins and J-Squats.  Stop at 10

    5th Q:  Amphitheatre.  Perform series of merkins with alternating legs held high (very difficult), then decline merkin/Carolina Dry Docks off steps….

    Back to Flag.

    Announcements:  According to Swirly, having a hot potato Q at WDog was a first, if not a rarity.

    YHC has to keep this brief since he had to deal with a dead battery this morning.

    Saab abides

     

  • Take (Up To) Five Fingers…Mind Swirly’s Hole

    A luck 13 showed for a favorite route of YHC’s…taking (up to) 5 stretches through the neighborhood (Iris, Tapoan, Ridgeway, Tawano, Old Mill).  Each stretch offering ample elevation toward its peak at Three Chopt.

    NMS:  In preparation for the BRR, YHC wanted to re-visit his preferred hill workout around the UR campus.  Great work by everyone today….hills in this kind of heat is no joke.  Apologies for my poor instructions (per usual).

    Announcements:

    • TYA Classic Ultra (Oct 20) and HoneyDo 6 Pack (Oct 20)
    • Last day to start the Summer Tour (Hah!)

    Saab Abides

  • PROPER Dora…Mind the Flora

    A naughty 9 descended upon WDog to greet the day.  This is what transpired more or less…

    COT:  Helicopters, DQ’s, Imperial Walkers, WWII’s, HR Merkins

    Descending Merkins and Bear Crawl:  7 Merkins, Bear Crawl to Center of circle, 6 Merkins, Crawl Bear Back.  Repeato until down to 1 Merkin

    Run to base of hill past far circle.  5 burpees on bottom, run to top, to 20 of stated exercise, run back down, Repeato:  15 Minutes.  Excercises were WWII’s, JSquats, Merkins.

    PROPER Doras:  100 Merkins, 200 M-Climbers, 300 LBC’s.  Partner runs to Flower pots and does 10 Decline Merkins and runs back.

    Burpee Ring of Fire, COT

    Moleskin:

    Great morning with only a few complaints about the humidity.  Not much mumble-chatter which YHC chalks off to the PAX staying focused on the task at hand.

    YHC did appreciate Bleeders all-in face-first approach to the flowerpots…..

    Announcements:  I’m sure there are some in another backblast somewhere.  You should read them.

    Saab Abides

     

  • APDs?…Someone call an Amber Alert

    4 Gents and 1 Lady shook off the post-holiday reverie and posted to what appeared to be the lowest attended 45MOM in recent history.  That said, it’s not the quantity but the quality so here’s what transpired – more or less….

    COT:  Helicopters, DQ’s, Merkins, Flutter Kicks

    Run from tree to tree performing 5 Merkins at each

    Doras:  100 J-Squats, 200 Mountain Climbers, 300 Flutter Kicks.   Partner runs to bars and performs 10 dips

    Triple Check (sort of):  10 Donkey Kicks, Bear Crawl, 10 WWII’s, run to end of court, 5 Burpees.  Return running backwards.  Repeato (double each number)

    Crawl the Courts:  Bear Crawl, Crab Walk, Crawl Bear, Polar Bear.  Perform designated exercises between each court.

    21’s (short lived):  Dry Docs and APD’s…more about that later

    Catch me if you can:  Bear Crawl while partner traverses field and back.  Switch until both reach end of field.

    Few Minutes of Mary, COT

    NMS:

    Small but solid group today.  Amber Alert (Saab’s 2.0) showed for her second official workout and performed as though it was her 30th.  When YHC got to the 21’s he asked Honey Do for two exercises.  HD responded with APD’s…which left YHC having to (uncomfortably) explain and demonstrate and APD to Amber Alert.  While all the PAX acknowledged her good humor about it, lack of time and the slight embarrassment of performing APD’s with his daughter left Saab ditching the 21’s and moving on to another exercise he wanted to squeeze in.

    Saab Abides