Author: Marv

  • Dog Days of Winter

    You are looking live at an unseasonably warm December day on the campus of the University of Richmond. This morning, fourteen men, and an energetic K-9, have gathered by the duck pond of one of the Southeast’s most expensive universities. Over the next 45 minutes, they will motivate themselves to run for forty-five, yes, forty-five consecutive minutes…beginning right here at 5 Richmond Way, and ending right here at 5 Richmond Way.

    Some of these men will decide to run six miles. Other’s four. Another group will trundle for five miles.

    But the story of the day is the addition of a two year old mixed breed, aptly named Onions. Onions will not start with the PAX, but there’s no doubt that she’ll finish with them and drag MARV along with him…down the hill from Baldwin.

    It’s a tremendous atmosphere here among the trees of the University of Richmond…we’ll take a break, when we come back, we’ll start the race, the race we call Spider Run.

    The Thang

    Start at Richmond Way. Take a right at the baseball field…for the fours & fives…left between Robins Center and Football Stadium…for the 6s right beyond the right field wall of the baseball field.

    Everyone left on college…right on Lakewood…left on Westham…right on University.

    4s get to Ralston from University and then turnaround and double back.

    5s and 6s take a left on Ralston, run by the Grinch Christmas Mobile to River Road. 5s turn around and double back from River Road.

    6s take a right on River, then a left at Windsor on the James. Take the “first class loop” all the way around their neighborhood (commented that there weren’t a lot of Christmas lights on).

    6s double back but take a left on Ridge. Then Right on Rock Creek. Right on Baldwin. That’s when we stopped to grab MARV’s Onions. Baldwin across Westham and then across Wood…cut through Fraternity Row, back to the Flag via the Robins Center parking lot where more people had the chance to caress MARV’s Onions.

    6s Coversation Topic of the day–Rodents of different sizes. Humor Genes.

  • Eight Men Out

    Baseball has always been an enormous part of my life. Since as long as I could remember I loved playing the game, watching the game and generally being around the game. I have no idea where the passion came from, neither my Mom or my Dad had any interest in it at all when I was growing up. I don’t remember an uncle or a friend introducing it to me. I guess I just found it when I was young, and it stuck.

    I was incredibly blessed to be born left handed. For that reason, and really that reason only, I was able to play baseball in college. Left handed pitchers are hard to come by, and I was one…and I guess, all things considered, I was good enough for some college coach to recruit me and want me to play for their team.

    Spending four years on a college baseball team was pretty much like spending four years of my life in a sitcom. It was non-stop laughter. Not stop jokes. And absolutely non-stop ball busting. I mean, Professional Ball Busting.

    Look, no doubt, we can give eachother a hard time at an AO…and it’s funny and we all get a kick out of it. But it PALES, dramatically, to somewhat intelligent baseball players in college…many of whom were from above the Mason Dixon Line.

    Not surprisingly, it took some time to get used to. Early on my freshman year…and, honestly, throughout my whole career, I was a pretty easy target. Put a non athletic left handed pitcher with a big nose on the squad with those guys and it’s like throwing chum in shark infested waters.

    I can distinctly remember calling home and lamenting to my Mom. (Who else are you going to lament to, in that case…the strength coach?) And Mom would remind me about her first job when we moved to NOVA when I was 16. Mom worked for the Fairfax Government in the adoption services division. Here she was, this distinctly southern woman working with all these government working grizzled veterans. What she would tell me is this…

    “David, you just have to keep being yourself. Keep loving on them. Keep ‘killing them with your kindness’ and they’ll soon figure out that you are genuinely that nice…and they won’t help but like you.”

    At the time, it was counter to the advice I wanted, which was “just punch them in the face”. But in the end, it was about the only way I knew how to handle the situation (do you know any un-athletic left handed pitchers who could win a fight? Me either.)

    There were times during college that I was close to pulling the rip cord and wanted to transfer. It just wasn’t worth it in the end, I thought. But I heeded Mom’s advice and did what she told me to do.

    All those guys are really good friends of mine now. Mom was exactly right. I go to football tailgates and it’s all laughs and hugs and chuckles. They still bust my balls…but usually pretty funny and well deserved. Again, Mom was exactly right.

    So here’s to you, Sandy Robinson…here’s to you bee-bopping into that 5th floor in Fairfax County with a smile on your face…just loving on those county government workers until they loved you right back. I hope you know how much I miss getting a bit of that love here on earth.

    The Thang

    Donald Quixote X12

    Helicopters X9

    Side Straddle Hops X42

    Arm Circles X15, Reverso X 15 (did this twice)

    Russian Soldiers X12

    Hillbillies X15

    Arm Circles X15, Reverso X 15 (twice)

    Mosey to the west end of the TES Blacktop for baseball-esque agilities.

    Head East at your own pace on the Blacktop. At the end do 5 burpees. Head back and do 5 mercans.

    PAX then did the following agilities Kareokes

    Ballerinas

    Straight Steal of 2nd

    Left Handed Pickoff Move Steal (Needs to be a better tutorial on this) (twice)

    Tag Up at Third

    Mosey to the Bottom of Lindsay

    Explained “Bat Pole’s” to the PAX. A Bat Pole is when you run with your hands over your head, as if you were holding a bat over your head. The Genesis of this was when our team got caught violating curfew one night and the next day we had to run with a weighted bat over our head for about 45 minutes.

    Bat Pole run halfway up Lindsay and Back

    42 Lunges to halfway up Lindsay and Bat Pole Back

    Bat Pole Arm Circles…clockwise, counter clockwise…X9

    Bat Pole run halfway up Lindsay

    Partner Up….Partner Bear Crawls while other runs to the top of Lindsay. Rotate

    Bat Pole Arm Circles, clockwise/counterclockwise…X9

    Bat Pole run to the bottom of Lindsay

    42 Lunges up Lindsay, Bat Pole run to the top

    Arm Circles X15

    Back to the Flag

  • “Daddy, it’s Push Yourself, Don’t Hurt Yourself.”

    A hearty 26 1.0s and 2.0s descended on Dogwood Dell for the WTBS SuperStation 7:05 start of Puppy Pile on the first Saturday in July, which today happened to be the last Saturday in June. Due to a team building email from Marv for his Little League All Star team, we had a good amount of FNGs that are preparing to take on the likes of Tuckahoe, Huguenot, Mechanicsville and more starting next week.

    The Thang:

    Mosey to the big circle west of the Carrilion. Our good friends at the City of Richmond haven’t mowed that grass for awhile…kind of reminds the QHC of his current yard status.

    COP

    Fifteen Side Straddle Hops. Ten Donald Quixotes. Ten Imperial Walkder. Fifteen arm circles, forward and fifteen backwards (don’t drop your arms). Ten Hillbillies. Five ‘mercans.

    Mosey to the big field (called Mr. Tumnus’s field. A few years ago I was walking back to my car with some friends after a concert at Dogwood. My friend was complaining that Dogwood Dell could be better, more engaging with more things to look at…”like a statue park” he said. I replied “Like Mr. Tumnus and the animals in the Lion, the witch and the wardrobe?” Anyway…

    Partner carries back and forth to the end of the field. Two sets. If a 1.0 had 2 X 2.0’s then he carried one to the end and the other back. This is not easy no matter the 2.0 size. Also, should be noted, it may be easier to carry a 170lb dude who is holding on tight than an 80lb dude who is just acting as dead weight.

    Mosey to the south side of the Carrillon.

    We played HTF. Or…Hide the Frisbee. 1.0s would take two frisbees and hide them behind trees while 2.0s would do LBCs. Upon the finishing of the hiding the 2.0s would go look. When they went to a tree that didn’t have the frisbee, they were required to do 5 Side Straddle Hops. They were really bad at following this particular instruction.

    We then played HTD….or Hide the Dad. Dad’s would hide behind the trees and 2.0s would come find. If they came to a tree that wasn’t their 1.0, they owed 5 SSHs. Again, not all that compliant.

    Fifteen monkey squats when we returned to the home base. The Q was then flipped to Sippy Cup.

    Sippy Cup takes us back to Mr. Tumnus’ field and sets out four cones.

    1st Cone-Crabwalk and Back

    2nd Cone–Bear Crawl and back

    3rd Cone–Bunny Hop and Back

    4th Cone–Sprint and back

    Four different legs…do whatever you didn’t do the last time so you complete all four. (Bunny hopping 30yards and back is a bit of a grind).

    Break Out the Whammo. Toss the whammo and run until it hits the ground (staying in the Tumnus Field). Once it hits the ground you have to do an exercise until you get there. Exercises (in no particular order)— Skip, Frog Hop, Bunny Hop, Sprint.

    Mosey to the roundabout east of the Carrilon. Circle up shoulder to shoulder in plank position. Cup, Sippy gives instructions on moving forward, right, left, back…all whilst planking.

    Then the 1.0s lineup to install a 2.0 Tunnel of Love Army Crawl style. Activate that.

    “The Farmer and the Dell” is playing tonight in the amphitheater…to celebrate there were random cutouts of wooden vegetables around the roundabout (and some fruit as well). 2.0s and 1.0s had to find their favorite food and take a lap around. Then had to do it again…get to their favorite food..then another lap to their least favorite food. (QHC did cucumbers and cabbage. How everyone didn’t end up on cabbage, I’m not sure).

    Back to the flag for a ring of fire of 10 mercans.

    As much as I love all the Qs…or at least all of the ones I’ve been to…none of them compare to the 2.0 workout. To get the kids out there having fun, exercising, pushing themselves and spending time with their 1.0 is the highlight of the week. Thanks to all the guys who showed up today, I hope your brood enjoyed it as much as mine did.

    PostGame Notes–

    Congrats to Splinter’s son’s Little League all star team. They won the prestigious District 5 10 year old tournament and will now advance to the state tournament in a few weeks in Norfolk.

    Hahahaha, very funny on all the comments below about me writing up a backblast.

    Splinter and I both enjoyed our little tour of SOJ this week…ya’ll were right nice to host us. It started off by just us wanting to get a run in and also home run derby…after Splinter’s LL team kept winning…we decided we couldn’t break the streak. Plus, we were fascinated by the rotting carcass of the deer on Huguenot road. Originally the thought was to stand it’s rigor mortis-ed body up in the median with an F3 shirt on. That plan was punted and then we just couldn’t wait to see how much it had rotted. Anyway, thanks for the SOJ hospitality.

    Finally, and I can’t believe it was my Q that it happened…but was told afterwards by Fudd that “this was it.” This was truly his last F3 in Richmond, at least as someone that wasn’t truly visiting. What can we say about Fudd that hasn’t already been said? Obviously he is a terrific father and a really good friend. Considering my only interactions with Fudd, really, have been between 5:30 and 6:15 in the morning, it’s incredible how many funny memories I have of him. Fudd, may you and your family bloom where you are transplanted in Denver. Best of luck out west and don’t be a stranger.

  • All Kinds of Suck Right Here

    Terrific trot today for a hearty group of Spider Runners. It is the opening of college basketball season, and prior to F3, my ritual would be to try to run around the arena where the Rams were playing. F3 punted that ritual, but I wanted to give it a go this morning, somewhat modified, as we essentially circled El Center de Robins.

    Busy day for me, so here’s the quick MOLESKIN.

    Richmond Way to Claiborne Stadium. Left there to Boatright. Boatright to Lakewood to Wood to Baldwin (modified Fudd Runn here). Baldwin all the way up to Hollins. Right on Hollins, Right on Woodberry.

    4 Milers take a right on Westham and head back to the Commons from there (Baldwin, Wood, Lakewood, south of Robins Center).

    5 & 6 Milers Head to the dead end at Horsepen. Right on Horsepen, hairpin turn on Patterson to Ridge Top.

    Then we all get to do Chandler.

    5 Milers do it twice and 6 Milers do it three times. It came a bit out of the vault, did Chandler, and it hasn’t gotten a lot easier since we did it probably a year (or more!) together. Chandler to Gardiner, through the woods and home.

    6 Milers went back to Ridgetop, then to Hempstead, to Wood, to Lakeside then home.

    Pretty hilly run.

    Now to more important stuff. I’ve got a suite open tonight for the VCU game, one of the few times all year it has been unsold. If you would like to go, shoot me an email rrobinson@vcusportsproperties.com and I can leave you tickets. Pretty much could be an F3 night at the suite if enough of you want to go. Either way, if you want to go to the game tonight…tip off at 7pm, let me know.

  • KYP

    A hearty 8 1.0’s and 2.0’s made it out to October’s rendition of PuppyPile. After an all night Nor’easter and a legit threat of rain in the area, the normally robust group of 2.0s and 1.0s shrunk a little bit…mainly because most of us exercised the sports adage–KYP. Know Your Personnel. You see, I know my personnel (AKA, my 2.0s) and rain and low 50s wasn’t going to make anyone happy. For us, “Push Yourself, don’t hurt yourself” is a challenge, a badge of honor, a motto to get us to do one more Merican or Burpee. For 2.0s, well, it doesn’t mean the same thing.

    That said, the thought of TYA or Swirly or anyone giving me a hard time for not showing up for a Q was too much to take, so I found myself 2.0-less but out there at 7:05, ready to roll with 7 others who’s personnel has no problems whatsoever with a little rain and cold weather.

    The THANG

    Moseyed to The Carrillon bricks and got into the COT.

    15 Side Straddle Hops
    11 Helicopters
    8 Don Quixote’s
    15 Arm Circles (forwards and reverso)
    Burpees OYO (either your age or 1/4 or your age to the nearest even number)
    Hillbillies

    We then had a quick demonstration on how to do the following exercises…
    Monkey Squatters (verbiage cleaned up for 2.0)
    Polar Bears
    Bear Crawl

    The Pax then moseyed to the activity trail (not sure what the name of that trail is that we did the race on last month) and started at the two chin-up bars. The goal was to do exercises that got us all around the trail, one full lap.

    We started by doing “Relay 11s”

    Pair Up (fortunately, Sippy has two 2.0s at the Q, so I grabbed Blue Collar as my partner)

    One Partner Does 11 Mericans while the other broad jumps (or bunny hops) down the trail. Once the partner catches the jumper/hopper, they switch off. 2 sets

    The Combos–
    Monkey Squats / Broad Jumps
    Mericans / Lunges
    Burpees / Polar Bears (3 sets)

    The Burpee / Polar Bear combination was surprisingly brutal. Could possibly have taken it to a new level for a 2.0 workout.

    From there, we did an Indigenous Person run for about an 1/8th of a mile. Following that, we did the same thing while carrying their partner. Hat tip to Tyson, our 13 year old 2.0 of Sippy, who carried Sippy for that 1/8th of a mile.

    After gathering back up, we did a ‘still trying not to get really wet’ version of Touch a Tree. But this time, we used the exercise stations on the trail which included, but were not limited to…

    -climbing up and over bars around 8 feet in the air
    -parallel bars
    -squats while holding on to a pole

    More indigenous running until we happened upon monkey bars. The Q traversed those with ease.
    More indigenous running until we got to a wall. We all jumped over the wall with relative ease.

    Back to the flag for the Burpee Shuffle. Kudos to our FNG Gamer for calling out three burpees on a day where we did quite a few. Very much throwing down the gauntlet in his 4 1/2 year old 2.0 way.

    After looking at Big Data, Vinny remarked how Puppy Pile, pound for pound, gets the most attendance each time we have it. And he’s right. We have been averaging around forty or so each Saturday that we do it. That number, with the rain and the cool climes, will take a bit of a hit after this weekend. That’s ok, however, as all of us don’t have to worry about sniffles or sick days because we followed through on “push yourself but don’t hurt yourself.”

    Here’s to the weather looking good at the end of November for us to continue Puppy Piles into the winter.

  • 47 1/2 Hour Grace Period

    Were there times over the last 47 1/2 hours that I could’ve written this PuppyPile Backblast? Absolutely? But that time would’ve taken away from weekend family time…time sitting on the couch watching football, time where the family is watching me do yardwork, time where I’m sitting on the couch watching the US get hammered in the Ryder Cup. And ultimately, wouldn’t that crush the spirit of PuppyPile? Spending quality time with our kids, not on the computer typing away like we do all day.

    Which leads me to this handy new revelation–the new IOS on my phone has a “screen time” measuring app–so it tells you how long you’ve been on the screen. It’s scary! Did I really spend 4 hours on my screen? That seems a bit excessive. Maybe it counts my son’s IPad time as well? I hope so.

    All that being said, a hearty crew of 34 dads and their beloved 2.0s gathered at PuppyPile 47 1/2 hours ago to grind out a 55 minute bootcamp.

    The THANG

    COP
    Twelve Side Straddle Hops
    11 Helicopters
    10 Donald Quixotes
    15 Arm Circles Forward
    15 Arm Circles Backwards
    15 Hillbillies
    5 Mercans

    Mosey to the large field in front of the Carrillon (which was half mowed, for those wondering)
    Partner Carry (2.0s on the backs of 1.0s) to the end of the field (traversing the 2 feet of grass). Run back. Head North again on the field. Partner Carry Back. If more than 1 X 2.0, the other 2.0 does side straddle hops while the partner carry is going on.

    5 X Boo-yah Mercans

    Relay race–Down and Back X 2 while partner(s) are doing a mini Bernie Sanders up and down the small hill in front of the Carrillon.

    5 x Boo-yah Mercans

    Hot Potato to LockJaw

    Partner Up someone of similar size. Wheel Barrow from west and back east on the halfway mowed field. At the far west side, 5 X Boo-yah Mercans.

    Wheel barrow back east and do 20 PLTs (I think, I mean, it has been 47 1/2 hours).

    Mosey to wooden stage behind the Carrillon.
    At this point, Splinter does this really peculiar interpretive dance, on the stage, to a Lady Gaga song that none of us knew. It was definitely something different, and its up for debate on how it fit into the Q, but it did allow us some time of reflection and it may have brought me closer to my Veep, my 2.0. Either way, thanks Splinter for that 4 1/2 minute rest.

    Touch a Tree–
    Touch 5 trees while doing donkey kicks
    Touch 6 trees while doing scissor kicks
    Touch 7 trees while doing WW2 sit ups

    Hot potato to Splinter
    Did a triple check variation with only two people. So a double check
    Run to the Carrillon fence while partner is on the stage doing WW2 sit ups
    Run to the Carrillon fence while partner does XXXXX
    Run to the Carrillon fence while partner does “Man Ups” (A Man Up is where you hoist yourself onto the stage and then jump back down. It’s like a box jump but you use your arms).

    Mosey to the half mowed field.

    Separate teams to 2.0s vs 1.0s. And what would a PuppyPile be without a vigorous game of sharks and minnows. This variation was that the sharks were bear crawling and the minnows were crabwalking. This made it extremely challenging for the minnows as a bear is much quicker and more agile than a shark. Splinter called an audible, extended the field and we all went back to the old school bear is the minnow and the shark is crabwalking.

    Back to the flag.

    Burpee Lake was pretty dry…so didn’t have a chance to use that one this time.

    Sorry for the late, Q, everyone…thanks again for coming out. It’s terrific to get the kids out there in the gloom.

  • “As It Turns Out, I Can Keep up With a 4 Year Old”

    It is late in the month, it is 7:05am on a Saturday, and we were at Dogwood Dell…that can only mean one thing, it’s PUPPYPILE! We wake up our 2.0s a little earlier than normal (especially on a Saturday) and battle the gloom for a 55 minute beatdown, of a bunch of kids between 4 and 16. A total of 34 as it turns out.

    MARV had the Q, admittedly, his first Q in a long, long time. Between LockJaw scheduling Carrillon runs on a weekly basis on Friday and just general laziness, MARV has been pretty much freeloading on the PAX over the past few, um, years. But nothing motivates MARV like youth sports, so count me in to lead PUPPYPILE when needed.

    The Thang:

    It was good to see the 6am DOGPILE-ers show up with cinder blocks. The Q had a thought to grab the blocks and try his luck with the 2.0s and 15lb cement blocks…but decided against it. Meanwhile, a 7:05am tip of the hat to the guys who were up at 6 on a Saturday and got to carry bricks.

    Moseyed to the grass circle just east of the Carrilon.
    Twelve Side Straddle Hops
    Eight Donald Quixotes
    Ten Helicopters
    Ten Hillbillies
    Three Burpees
    15 arm circles forward
    15 arm circles backward
    Five Mercans
    Ten two count LBCs

    Off to a good start!

    Then we all went to the outer circle for “Hot Potato Animal Walks”

    Sippy–Bear Crawl to the Center
    Fudd – Crabwalk to the Center
    Vinnie — Lion Lunge to the Center
    Rosie — Alligator Walk (no fun)
    Unnamed — Snake Walk (equally no fun)

    Moseyed to the stage behind the Carrillon for a game of 2.0s vs OG Hide and Seek.
    2.0s do 15 Side Straddle Hops while the OGs go out and hide behind a tree. While hiding, the OGs have to do copper head squats. Shout out to Sippy…found a good spot behind a tree that eluded 2.0s Blue Collar and Tyson. We had to go as a group to find him. Switched it up to have the 2.0s go find dad.

    Moseyed to the front of the Carrillon for a little triple check. Not a big triple check, mind you, but a little one. First person ran around the fencing around the Carrillon (from Hardywood: “I’m looking forward to getting the Carrillon back.” Yes you, and all of RVA, Wood). 2nd person was spelling their last school attended with straight legs (overheard “how do you spell Hard Knocks?”) 3rd person does SSHops.

    Introduced our 2.0s to the Indigenous Person run around the Carrillon field.

    The broke the old standby “Bearcrawl/Crabwalk Sharks and Minnows”. For those scoring at home, it has been six months since the grass has been mowed at the Carrillon. We actually lost two 2.0s in the grass over the course of the workout, including the first round of Sharks and Minnows.

    Back to the flag for a three minute round of Burpee Shuffling. Shout out to The Wonderer for calling out the three burpee shuffle.

    Closing word from MARV then many off to Elwood Thompsons.

    It was fitting to do the 2.0 workouts as the Little League World Series is concluding this weekend. There are some fabulous sporting events throughout the year…from the Super Bowl to the Final Four to The Masters…every couple of years we get the Olympics. You can have all of those, I’ll take the Little League World Series any day. The MARVinsons are good for about 30 hours of Little League baseball watching for the 10 or so days that it is on. I can’t tell you how flat out good these 12 & 13 year olds are. Maybe it is because it comes at the end of a baseball filled summer, maybe because I have an 11 & 8yo, or maybe because there’s so much junk you have to sift through these days in the world of sports…but my eyes get consistently sweaty through the tournament in Williamsport. I encourage you to take your afternoon tomorrow to watch the final game.

    We’ll pinpoint a September date for the next PUPPYPILE sometime soon. No matter when it is, count me in.

  • They’ll Drop in Mid-July

    Seriously. 9 degrees? It was 9 degrees this morning? However, in what has to be an unprecedented F3 Event, I am proud to say that there were more PAX at a workout than the actual temperature. 11 men showed up to trundle around the beautiful Tuckahoe Elementary, Tuckahoe Middle, Freeman District.

    QIC-MARV

    PAX-Bleeder, Totahnka (FNG), The YA, Wedding Singer, Swirly, BT, Fudd, Splinter, Saab, Sippy Cup, Marv

    Name of the Run– First Class Run

    The Thang:

    4 Milers– Lake to Boatright via the northside of the Robins Center (including somewhat of a killer hill that is very rarely used). Boatright to Lakewood. Lakewood to Wood. Wood to Baldwin. Baldwin to Stuart Hall (pausing to genuflect on Lally Construction’s latest masterpiece). Stuart Hall to Forest. Forest to Rock Creek to Baldwin to Westham. South on Westham to University, north on College and then through the parking lot of the Robins Center back to the lake.

    5 Milers– 4 Mile Course beginning but straight on College to University. Right on University to Ralston. Left on Ralston. Cross River to Windsor on the James. Take the WOTJ loop back to River to Ralston to University back to the lake through the Robins Parking Lot.

    6 Milers– Same beginning as four mile but go south on Westham as opposed to crossing and going to the Lally Project. Westham to University where they would pick up the 5 miler trail and go from there.

    It had been awhile since we had run the “First Class Run” of the Windsor on the James. There’s nothing quite like running in the wide streets of the WOTJ with no cars parked on the streets to get in your way. A tip of the hat to the folks that occupy the houses in WOTJ, as they spent their entire weekend taking down their Christmas lights. QIC took his family around that loop (in a vehicle) late last week and it was lit up like the Griswolds. Those folks definitely move on.

    We really can’t emphasize enough how cold it was. QIC isn’t sure his legs ever got warm, and he was wearing TheYA approved NIKE tights. Shout out to the Head ski gloves sold by Costco this fall…they did the trick and then some. BT debuted a cool ensemble that included a neck guard and a hood…and something for his ears.

    The first hill up by the Robins Center was a pleasant little gassing surprise. Nothing like asking your body to try to regulate it’s temperature while climbing up a steep hill. I’m not one to use foul language, but my body was pretty much ripping me a new one at that point.

    It does beg the question that may or may not be debated in the comment section below… Would you rather run at 9 degrees or at 77 and unbelievable humidity? Think before you react as the latter is pretty brutal too. I’d actually throw my vote in for the 9 degrees over the sweltering heat run…at the very least, my car doesn’t smell like a wet rhino after the 9 degree run. I’m interested to see what everyone else thinks.

    Other notes–welcome to Totahnka, son of Snowden. So, in Iceland, his name would be “Totahnka Snowdenson”. He’s a freshman at Bucknell, studying economics. QIC isn’t really all that concerned about Totahnka Snowdenson taking his radio gig based on his first impression…but it was super having the 18 (or 19) year old out there.

    All time shortest post huddle conversation time. Ever. QIC literally had to chase The YA into his car. Speaking of The YA, good to have him back healthy…wasn’t the same without him.

    Overall, it was a terrific way to break in the first work day of the New Year. God Speed, gents, and make sure you bundle up the rest of the week.

  • PRE-Blast Puppy Pile 8/19/17

    PRE-Blast Puppy Pile 8/19/17

    The second “Puppy Pile” is set to kick off at 7am this Saturday after Dog Pound. If you aren’t familiar with “Puppy Pound” it is a 2.0 centered workout…so bring your kids and we’ll go for an hour. As of right now, we are doing it the third Saturday of each month, right after Dog Pile. We started it in July and it was a ton of fun…definitely quality time with the 2.0s.

    Unfortunately, I’ve gotta get out of town this Saturday. Can anyone commit to hot potato-ing it from 7-8? I think we are going to have a good crew out there as it was very well received last month.

    If you can take an exercise or two, please post below so we know that there will be someone there to lead the 2.0s through the gloom.

    Thanks,
    MARV

  • I Can See My House From Here

    It’s crazy how much time flies, doesn’t it?  For a decent stretch in the winter, the Mt. Henrico Spider Run was a relative mainstay.  Introduced by Splinter in the fall of 2016, the run begins at the bottom of The UofR and extends to what is known as the highest elevated point in Henrico County…right there on the corner of Parham and Julian Rd.  During the winter months, you could count on Mt. Henrico showing up once every four weeks or so.

    Until it didn’t.

    For whatever reason, ol Mt. H got on the bad side of the Spider Run PAX.  Fudd Run?  Still popular.  Grandma’s Over the River Run?  Mainstay.  Even Saab’s Finger Runs near CCV have received a pretty consistent call.  But Mt. Henrico, for whatever reason, lay dormant since, well, since anyone can remember.

    Until Today.

    Fourteen men, dodged the alligators and the manatees in what has officially become “Swamp Richmond” as they bounded around the near west end as we revisited the Mt. Henrico Run.

    The Thang
    Take Richmond Way to the Robins Center Parking Lot
    Realize it’s been three years since the VCU Rams have lost in that building
    Head West through the Robins Center Parking Lot, down to College Road
    Left on College Road
    Right on Lakewood
    Right on Wood
    Left on Baldwin
    Left on Rock Creek by the big church
    Left on Forest
    Right on University
    6 Milers take a right on Arlington Circle and rejoin University
    Right on the name of the Road where the Arizona Cardinals play and where the NCAA Basketball Championship was this past April (Glenside)
    Right on Julian Road
    Get to Parham and Backtrack.
    Other than that, it is pretty much a straight shot.

    The PAX got to see an update on the latest handiwork from Lally Construction at the prodigious 705 Baldwin Road. Needless to say, at 5:40 and 6:08 no one had shown up to 705 Baldwin yet to work. We’ll all keep that in mind around Thanksgiving. All joking aside, Baldwin is starting to take shape as the framing is in full force.

    Think about inspirational views that you’ve had during your life. Maybe you’ve seen the Grand Canyon, or sunrise at the Outer Banks, or the Final Four Banner at the Siegel Center.

    For us today, the inspiration came from seeing Sippy Cup out there running with us on a Tuesday. Can you believe its almost been 3 1/2 months of rehab for one of F3RVAs most elite runners? Tip of the cap to the patience of one Cup, Sippy as he has slowly but surely worked his way back.

    Also good to see Pele and Theta out and about this morning. Not 100% sure the route that Pele, Swiper, Sippy and LugNut took on the way back from the Henrico Peak but all is well that ends well…even if the ending is at 6:25 in the morning.

    Happy New Shoe day to Swirly. Jeff Bezos appreciates your business. (Fun fact…who had more revenue in 2016…Amazon or Apple?)

    Finally, the PAX took a brief moment to think about Circle K’s father. Let’s all keep him in our thoughts and prayers as he handles the services this week to honor his dad.

    See everyone in the gloom.

    PS–It was Apple? I missed that one when I first heard it. Who would’ve thought that?