Author: Speakeasy

  • The Mechanicsville Nine

    The ruckers both respectful were the first to heed the call,

    And they set out at 5 sharp to the wonderment of all.

    The runners next took off and ran, four this way and three that,

    On a route made for speed, all paved and generally flat.

    The runners four struck north then west, moderate in pace,

    With 4 plus miles the goal they reached, contentment on their face.

    The runners three sought 5 that day so through the gloom they sped,

    “This ain’t my pace,” said Holland. “I’m off,” M. Polo said.

    As runners neared the end they all felt their muscles strain,

    yet they knew they would be back out soon to test themselves again.

    All 9 and more should gather two days hence at PBR,

    for fellowship, good food, and beer, plus drinks mixed at the bar.

  • 2 for 295 Route

    When YHC jogged up to the start right on time, the AO’s parking lot was empty. Marco Polo then came in hot, and the two runners took off on a route generally getting as close as possible to the course of I-295 S. The route goes to the back of Giles via Halifax Green Dr., coming back up the hill on Giles Pond Dr. and Janeway Dr. Runners then took a right into the court to connect into Craney Island’s Cudlipp Ave. In order to approach 295 again, the route goes right on Aeroe Dr. and then left on Ashlar Pl. to run down and back up the cul-de-sac’s hill. The route returned to Cudlipp via Caleb Dr. and Hudnall Rd. before looping back towards 295 again down Craney Island Rd. and back up Westone Rd. to Cudlipp. A left turn on Cudlipp, a right on Dewitt, and a left on Atlee Station took the PAX back to the start. Marco Polo hit around 4.5 miles, and YHC just over 7 with the run to and from the AO. Numbers, names, and Marco Polo took us out.

    I’m not sure if the cold, the advertised route, or just the power of the fartsack kept numbers down today. This portion of 295 roughly parallels the Chickahominy River. 295’s routing provides a significant hill out of what is essentially a river valley for the PAX to climb after each approach to 295. Keeping up with Marco Polo made the challenge even more rewarding. Thanks for pushing me, and it was good to catch up after we had not crossed paths in a while.

  • Tour de Cool Springs West

    4 runners launched from the Rutland clubhouse, quickly meeting Bulkhead, running towards the start, to make 5 runners. The Pax took the long way to Cool Springs West, via Oakham, Fox Hill Farm, Colvincrest, and Hughesland. Runners then completed an outer loop around the Cool Springs West trail and an inner loop around the southern part of the neighborhood. Spit, Bulkhead, and Opus took the short way back, down Crestfield, for between 4 and 4.5 miles. YHC and Whitesnake took a longer route, including all of the trail prep Whitesnake will need for his Bear Creek 10 miler, for between 4.5 and 5 miles. The ruckers, who ambitiously covered 5 miles, were running late, so we counted them off in absentia. No announcements, but good luck to the west end folks in their race this weekend. Opus took us out. Notably, there was actual sunlight by this time. Just say no to daylight savings time!

    YHC was trying to avoid duplicating recent runs and to take advantage of the relatively bright conditions we would have. I think that may be enough Cool Springs West for a while, though. It was great meeting and running with Whitesnake. The 200 yards of unpaved trail we ran have you good to go for Sunday.

  • Say Hello to My Little Trails

    The running Pax took a generally northwesterly route paralleling Atlee Station Road up to Kings Charter Road. After taking the connection to Honey Meadows, the PAX broke into smaller groups to limit or increase their mileage. The Pax seemed to enjoy the new route, which incorporated seven separate (paved) trail segments along with the usual neighborhood running. YHC, Mr. Holland, and Opus hit about 4.7 miles, and Corned Beef and Bulkhead covered just over 4. No Idea and Yardsale rucked for about 4.5. YHC had jogged an additional 1.15 miles prior to the start. Numbers, names, and Opus managed to clear the cougars from his brain to take us out.

    Happy hour is planned at a new spot, Piggy’s Deli and Pub, Thursday night this week. I believe the agreed-upon time was 6:00, but workouts are too early for those details to be reliable. Confirm with Corned Beef before showing up then if you are interested.

  • Giles Side Entrance

    With the ruckers apparently sleeping off their President’s Day festivities, 3 runners set a brisk pace just over 8:30 per mile on a new route. Runners went behind the schools down to Honey Meadows, turning right at the roundabout and looping around the front of the neighborhood to avoid the culdesacs. The runners then took Meadow Pond to Peach Blossom, eventually exiting the front of Taylor Farms on the trail running along Atlee Station Road. After crossing Atlee Station, the PAX explored Staple Ln, hooking a left into a too-new-to-be-mapped trail entrance into Giles. The PAX finished with a bit of looping around Giles, getting in about 4.75 miles and finishing early. As we returned, we spotted Circle K cycling in the perfect workout weather. Numbers, names, and Phonics took us out.

    The route was flat, and the nice weather made the pace less uncomfortable than it could have been. A lot of good mumble chatter about Phonics’ major life (running shoe) decision, statuary, and race-day pacing. Full credit for finding the Giles side entrance goes to my middle 2.0’s insistent navigating during a weekend double-stroller run. She was right. That trail did go somewhere. That will of course be the only time her Dad is wrong about something.

  • Respectful PAX

    Without a set route, YHC and Opus toured the Honey Meadows cul-de-sacs, covering about 4.5 miles. Yardsale and No Idea rucked for about 4.5 miles as well. YHC did a short pre-run and an extra parking lot lap to get to a happy, round 6 miles. YHC was the young whippersnapper this morning, enjoying the respectful company.

    YHC likes to send out a route the night before to try to rally runners to AHS. YHC also, in the interests of family harmony, thought it would be a better idea to use the kids’ crayons and paper to make them valentines. YHC’s kids take their holidays seriously. We missed Mr. Holland, who had used a time machine to travel to Thursday and was at the wrong AO. I hope he travels back for the rest of Valentine’s Day to avoid any family harmony issues.

  • Someone Would Lick It

    Three brave runners tested their ambition and pacing with a 23 minutes out, 22 minutes back run into Kings Charter. All three successfully returned in time, though in some cases with slightly less skin than they had when they started. YHC was thinking to himself, in Trent Reznor’s famous words, “I’m gonna run, til I can’t no more.” YHC and Mr. Holland covered 5 miles, and Opus covered 4.8 miles. The runners then circled up with the ruckers, who covered somewhere between 4.5 and 11 bajillion miles. Numbers, names, and Opus took us out, praying for and thinking of Corned Beef and his family’s loss, those suffering in Turkey and Syria, and No Idea’s family’s recovery from covid.

  • Choose Your Own Adventure

    6 early-rising Davillians enjoyed this spring-like weather the right way. YHC sent out a route the night before. The route was meant to be flexible to make it either a 4-mile loop or a 5-mile out-and-back. YHC underestimated the PAX’s creativity. While YHC and Hash took the advertised 5-mile route, the rest of the PAX improvised. Opus and Mr. Holland found a 4.2-mile route there somewhere, and Corned Beef and Boo Boo did a run/walk for 3.5 miles. Numbers, names, and Mr. Holland took us out.

    While we missed the ruckers today, it was good to see Boo Boo out running for the first time since joining our nanoregion. The foot must be feeling better.

    A lot of good chatter about upcoming 2nd F events. Tuesdays and Thursdays were mentioned as possible recurring events, and Marty’s and PBR were mentioned as possible locations. It was great running with everyone today, and thank you to Hash for pushing me.

  • I See What You Did There

    3 Davillian runners (initially) followed the route planned by the Q-in-absentia. After one loop around Kroger, the PAX added in a few laps around the Rutland townhouses and a Bojangles loop. YHC covered just over 5 miles, including getting to and from the start, and Corned Beef and Mr. Holland were probably around 4.5 or so. Corned Beef wisely started the numbering to leave YHC with the backblast. In return, YHC had Corned Beef take us out. It was good to see Corned Beef back out. We’ve been thinking of him and his family. Always good to see Mr. Holland as well.

  • Davillians Answer the Bell

    After a solo run last week (shout out to the ruckers who were there!), YHC was heartened by the strong turnout of runners this week. A PAX of 6 stuck together to the farm house loop in Kings Charter, taking the short way there, and the run walkers completed their loop taking the short way back to the start for about 4, depending on your choice of GPS technology. The runners continued NW to Castlewood, crossed Atlee Station, and ran bac to the start along paths and through neighborhoods on the SW side of Atlee Station Rd for about 4.3 miles. The ruckers got a late start and covered about 3.5 miles. Numbers, names, Opus took us out, remembering Corned Beef’s mother.

    It was good to see Anchovy. We had apparently met before at a different group run, but this was the first time we’ve met at F3. It was also good to see Phonics out for a run in the first time in a while and Bulkhead getting back at it. A lot of good discussions, especially about the Fall Line Trail and Atlee Station improvements. See you all back next week.