Author: Splinter

  • Nature and Nurture at its Finest

    Nine lunar zealots plus two in search of blinking red lights convened via multiple parking spots for a variation of an oldie. Most everyone listened and followed the instructions that started with East on Grove:

    • 4s & 6s right on Sheppard
    • 5s right on boulevard
    • everyone south on boulevard
    • 4s right on Grant
    • 5s right on Douglasdale
    • 6s do the pump house loop then left on Douglasdale
    • Right on McCloy
    • Left on Cary

    Numbers, names, and YHC took us out.

    Moleskin

    I am sitting here in the early am, unable to sleep, trying to think of something witty to write as part of a backblast.

    As I began to write this, I was reminded of Bone Thugs announcement post run today. So I fired up SoundCloud and started listening to his story. The typing stopped and I just sat and listened… In the dark… I felt like he was in the room with me telling his story. Nothing I can write would even come close to the power of his words.

    Sit back and listen PAX. It’ll be the best hour you spend this year.

  • Parking Form Patrol

    Fourteen gentlemen, all but one in generally a good mood, met in the recessed parking bowl for today’s Spider Run. YHC waited as long as possible to call the route, then disclaimed Mount Henrico. Short instructions and then off we went.

    We ran up the mountain and then back down. Absolutely marvelous morning for a run. Pre-launch, an older gentleman in a crown vic rolled up and asked where the polling place was located. After some brief instructions, off he went. Great reminder that with the luxuries we all enjoy and take for granted, many of our population are still luddites and rely on the kindness of our fellow man to make it through the day.

    Announcements

    • See Shakedown or Gomer about a Friday escapade down to HR for their 5 year celebration

    Post workout, YHC witnessed Lockjaw’s stellar parking job at the Hoedown parking lot. There wasn’t anyone around to inspect, but by all accounts he was centered all around.

    Enjoy the day. Go vote.

    Splinter

  • The Great Fall Oversharing Feast

    Eight scholars and gentlemen gathered in the dimly lit parking lot for today’s edition of First Watch. Little did we know that the first New Moon of Fall would bring such abundance of oversharing. After four questions that went something like, “Is that Ronnie? Where is the Miata?”, the top of the hour struck and off we went. Mosey to the brick patio for…

    COP

    • SSH x25
    • IW x15
    • Mountain Climbers x10
    • Merkins x20
    • LBCs x10
    • APDs x10 (while awkwardly staring at the steeple)
    • Copperhead Squats x10

    The Thang

    We traveled today, near and a little farther from near. Started on Gaymont with driveway roulette. 5 jump squats for every driveway on the right. 5 merkins for every driveway on the left. Continue up to University. 5 penalty burpees for all since Handshake skipped the contested driveway on the right.

    Scurry down University to the bottom of the bowl for 11s. It was during this scurry that the first OSOTW was anointed. 11 up the hill to Ralston and back down. HRMs + Lt Dans. Bernie Sanders back up to Ralston when complete.

    Second round, but this time mailbox roulette. 5/5 just like before. Stop at Kingston. Bernie to Longwood.

    Partner up for 100… make that 200 WWIIs, audible to 100. Partner runs to Rose Hill and back while the other WWIIs.

    Third round, lamp post roulette. 5/5 just like before, only lit lamp posts. Turning left on Rose Hill to Kingston. OSOTW #2 happened here. More stories about semesters abroad.

    Slow mosey back to the flag from there where we learned about 25 YO French teachers in a 900 headcount boys school. OSOTW #3.

    Numbers, names, YHC took us out.

    Moleskin

    So much pent up oversharing this week. Always good to meetup with this crew and see what trouble we can cause at 0500. Kubota may have to apologies to his neighbor for us waking up his dog, twice. He had to have woken up the whole house.

    Additional apologies to the kind gentleman who had to weave through us while bernieing up University. YHC can’t believe no one tried the flying headlock.

    See everyone next week.

    Splinter out.

  • Pucker’s Route

    Just over half the normal number of Spiderlings gathered in the maintenance bowl for today’s route. At least 3-4 people were expecting intervals and I assume all the normal attendees that didn’t post also assumed the same. So when Pucker’s route was called, there was massive disappointment. Either way, we had fun while running in the thick humidity on the following route.

    The Route

    • Through the cave, across the bridge, around the cloverleaf, and head downstream
    • 4s pass Rattlesnake Creek and turn around at Stratford
    • 5s take a right on Stratford then quick right on Stratford and continue up to Cherokee
    • 6s continue on Riverside to a right on Rockfalls. Turn around at some strange spelling of cello.
    • Everyone reverse back the same course

    Numbers, names, YHC took us out.

    Moleskin

    It must have been because of the wonderful (sic) running weather this morning, as there was post-run coffeeteria (sans coffee) that continued until almost the top of the hour. Always great catching up with those that you do not run with on a regular basis.

    Apparently this route is Pucker’s namesake. It’s at least Corned Beef’s favorite Spider Run route. May have to dig through the annals to see who first called ‘downstream’.

    TClaps to TYA and Shakedown who doubled back to pick up Bone Thugs, only to find out Bone Thugs was not lost after all.

    All in all, a great morning.

    Announcements

    • Best of luck to Bone Thugs who is navigating his 3rd interview today. Crush it today!
    • See slack for Beer Mile
    • See slack for volunteering for blood drive on 10/20
    • See slack for other random notices that serve as comic distraction from the daily routine

  • We Didn’t Forget the Bread

    We cooked. Ziti, salad, brownies, + BREAD. We arrived to deliver a hot meal only to see Barbara was taking deliveries for the rest of the week. She was excited for our meal however, as it was HOT and ready to go.

    Sign up gentlemen. Couldn’t be any easier and rewarding + it’s a good deed for some people who desperately need a break. We are looking forward to when serving is an option back on the table.

    Kudos to Shakedown for following through Sunday even though his day went a little sideways.

  • Farting through Raintree

    Four scholarly gentlemen gathered at Currahee wondering who had the Q. YHC had a plan so off we went.

    The Route

    • Around the school and through the woods towards Raintree drive
    • Right on Raintree
    • 15 minute warm up
    • 10 – 1 minute fartleks with a 30 second recovery
    • Turn around after 5 reps
    • 15 minute cool down

    Numbers, names, light announcements before YHC took us out.

    Moleskin

    Great camaraderie this morning for another soupy run. Thanks for the positive attitude for something different this morning. Great catching up with the crew. See everyone soon.

  • Just Grab Hold

    Twenty five well dressed gentlemen met in the parking lot of Hoedown for this year’s Labor Day Convergence. There was ample poking and prodding at PAX members pre-launch; one can only assume it was due to the extra hour and a half of sleep. Or it was the anticipation of free coffee and croissants. Regardless, 0700 clicked and off we went. Short mosey around the drop off loop then up to the blacktop sea for:

    The Thang
    SSH x20
    Burpee x1 (Pattern detected by TYA, incorrectly)
    Russian Soldiers x10
    Burpee x2
    WWII x10
    Burpee x3
    Merkin x10
    Burpee x4
    Arm Circles x15
    Burpee x5
    Copperhead Squats x10
    Burpee x6
    LBC x20
    Burpee x7
    Monkey Humpers x10
    Burpee x8
    This or That x10
    Burpee x9
    That or This x10
    Burpee x10

    Mosey up to the field for Dora. Partner up for 100 HRMs, 200 squats, 300 LBCs.

    Saunter over to Bodo’s parking lot for traveling 4 corners. Corners were CDDs, Jump Squats, WWIIs, American Hammers.

    Slither back to the drop off loop for triple check. People’s Chair, Plank, run around the loop.

    Huddle up for a few minutes of Mary including the prescribed APD, box cutters, american hammers.

    YHC called enough is enough and back to the parking lot for Numbers, names, FNG naming, coffee, and socializing.

    Thanks to Marmaduke for taking us out.

    Moleskin
    Thanks to those that traveled far and to convene on relatively short notice. Great to see men from all over attend. Special thanks to Wilson for giving his sage wisdom for how to avoid human trafficking at 2am in the mountains of NC.

    Welcome to FNGs Whitesnake and Fire Elf. YHC took the liberty of modifying Fire Elf’s name per suggestion post workout. Hope to see you guys out there soon.

    Thanks to all and hope everyone had a great ending to summer.

    Splinter

  • Look! A Perfectly Good Track!

    Four of the finest you will ever meet at 530am gathered in the eagles parking lot for today’s Currahee. Pinto dusted off the headlamp and vest for today but was told they wouldn’t be needed. 0530 abruptly hit and off we went.

    • Loop around the school and shimmy through the fence by the track
    • One lap around the track to continue to warm up as it was needed today
    • 200m repeats with 100m recovery
    • Repeat x10
    • Mosey down Old Prescott and another long loop around the school and we called it a day

    Numbers, names, some light “stretching” before YHC took us out.

    Moleskin

    Great morning guys. It’s been probably 3 years once I’ve done track work like that today and I’m sure I’ll feel it the rest of the day. Really enjoyed the fellowship while in the track. Let’s do it again sometime.

    Hoedown Monday at 7am followed by coffeeteria. Hope to see you there!

  • Labor Day Convergence

    Labor Day Convergence

    Monday Labor Day Convergence will be at Hoedown. It’s a small(ish) AO but there is ample parking! YHC will bring mobile coffeeteria for post workout enjoyment. 7AM start!

  • A Strangers Fist

    Sixteen men on a mission to better themselves huddled around the hood of a blue truck, trying to decipher the pre-posted routes on a 4 inch mobile screen. The PAX was forewarned on Slack of the Qs anticipated hot arrival. YHC arrived with three minutes to spare. Plenty of time to review the routes (twice) before launch.

    The Route
    4s, 5s, and 6s all took basically the same route today, with the only variation being the number of Horespen/Ridge Top loops.

    • Head west around the baseball field and left on College
    • Right on Lakewood to Westham
    • Right on Westham to Baldwin
    • Right on Baldwin and continue on Baldwin across Wood with runs by the backside of fraternity row
    • Slight left and the road turns to Horsepen
    • Up Horsepen to right on Patterson
    • Right on Ridge Top
    • 5s & 6s continue down Ridge Top and take a right on Horesepen and repeat the loop, with 5s only going halfway up before taking a right on Devon. 6s go all the way to Patterson
    • On the final descent down Ridge Top, left on Chandler, right on Gardiner, left on Wheeler, through the lit path and back to the VSF via Campus/Gateway
    • 6s touched the top of Chandler before finishing on Gardiner

    4s: https://onthegomap.com/s/e94dq1oe
    5s: https://onthegomap.com/s/l5sgp73g
    6s: https://onthegomap.com/s/jrsi1569

    Numbers, names, announcements, before YHC took us out.

    Announcements

    • BRR next weekend. Still not too late.
    • Field Day on 9/18.
    • Sit & Sip & Cornhole on 9/25.
    • NEW: Labor Day Convergence @ Hoedown. 7AM start.

    Moleskin

    By all accounts, the route was successful. Sixteen started and sixteen finished (relatively on time). YHC had the pleasure of being in the company of Saab during the run and he quickly proclaimed this route was like another fist but with the middle appendage extended. Hence the name of this BB. Not the normal fist, but a stranger’s fist.

    Great catching up with Sippy today. Congrats on the recent achievements.

    Enjoy the day fellas.

    Splinter