Author: Splinter

  • Glen and Ross, No Garry

    Quince celebratory dudes plus one early departing Flatline gathered at our standard Tuesday launch point to witness a surprise in the sky. Was it a shooting star, or was it Big Blue securing the AO? Both were there this AM, going to be a great day! Route was seemingly uncomplicated, a loop with offshoots, but looks can be deceiving!

    The Route

    • Right out of our hole to a right on UR drive
    • Right on Westhampton, passing by the Greek Theatre, alumni center and back to a right on UR drive
    • Left on River then right through the parking lot and right towards the bridge
    • Right on Westham station
    • 6s take a right on Old Bridge and right on Highland up to River and back
    • Continue on Westham Station to a right up South Ridge
    • 5s and 6s take a left (YES LEFT) on Ross. Down to the bottom and back
    • 6s do a loop around Cameron before rejoining on South Ridge
    • Cross River to Westham
    • Second right onto Glen Pkwy
    • Straight across into Westhampton campus
    • Straight on Keller, under Modlin arch
    • Right on Westhampton back to the VSF

    Moleskin

    Lots of right turns. In my head this was simple, as it was a big loop, but I realize some of the PAX has difficulty with navigating non-straight roads in the dark. But hey, no one was lost. AGAIN YHC WINS!!!

    I’m sure other AOs will report on this as well, but the meteor this morning was a pure spectacle. I would say breathtaking but that was likely the fact that I was on South Ridge. A slow, large burn, with bright colors that seemed to disintegrate as it headed east.

    Keep looking upward gentlemen!

    Announcements

    • 12 days of Christmas 12/21 at that other AO on the southside that doesn’t run as much as we do
    • Gypsy is collecting gently used shoes of all sizes and purposes

    Out goes Splinter.

  • We Trotted

    Sixteen mostly suspecting gentlemen launched at various times for today’s special edition of Spider Run. A few unsuspecting individuals arrived expecting instructions but only received the brief version. In all, 16 people launched and 16 people came back. SUCCESS!!!

    The Route:

    Turkey Routes

    Moleskin

    Today was different. Different is good. We all launched at various times to attempt to finish at the same time. I’ll declare success.

    Congrats to TYA who crushed the JFK this past weekend. Dude continues to be an inspiration (on the pavement).

    Will this be an annual tradition? We have plenty of happenings over Thanksgiving week but this one just might make a repeat appearance next year.

    Announcements

    TYA owns the rest of the week. Thursday 6am @ Mary. Friday 7am @ Forest Hill Park Shelter 1

    Happy Thanksgiving fellas!

  • Turkey Routes

    This Tuesday at Spider Run we will be running a 10k. The link to the route is below and I’ll also describe it for individuals that have not run this route previously. The trails are slightly modified from the official route but everything else is the same. Headlamps strongly recommended.

    It’s 6.2 miles with plenty of elevation. Ideally, we will all be finishing at the same time, right around 615. If you think you need an hour and 15 to finish a 10k, play your departure for around 5am. I’ll be there just before 5am to assist with any questions.

    Feel free to ping me for any questions.

    https://onthegomap.com/s/fmrolial

    spider run route

    Section 1 – Looping Around Towana

    This section starts by heading back towards the lake, taking a right, and then up behind the football stadium before exiting campus by taking a right on Campus. Continue up Campus until you hit Roselawn and then make a U-Turn to head back down Towana. When you get to the bottom, take a left and head up Roselawn. First right onto Ridgeway then back to the Commons.

    Section 2 – Trails Through Campus

    Once you pass the start, take a left at the commons and head across the lake, veering right onto the path around the lake. After you pass the cafeteria, take your first left up the path. At the top, take an immediate right on the path and head behind the Greek Theatre. Once you pass behind the Greek Theatre you will see tennis courts ahead of you. Take a hard right down the well lit path back to the lake. Don’t cross the bridge. Take a left, watching your step on the gravel and take the path over to College. Right on College.

    Section 3 – Westham

    This part is pretty easy (directions wise). Once on College take a left on Lakewood. Lakewood all the way to Westham. Left on Westham. Left on Club Vista (last road before River). Left on College and an immediate right on Westhampton Way.

    Section 4 – The Westhampton Campus

    Continue on Westhampton, straight across the first intersection onto Keller. Right on Westhampton Way then right on UR drive. First right onto Crenshaw. This next part is in my mind arbitrary but nevertheless part of the route. Go up Crenshaw until you get to the Modlin Center parking lot. It’s essentially at the top of the hill. Then turn around and come back to a left on UR drive.

    Section 5 – The Big Finish

    Continue on UR drive like you are heading back to the starting point. Except, you have to finish with the big loop. Up Gateway to the top, left to head back behind the football field and back down to the lake. Long downhill finish back to the parking lot.

    The END

    I’ll come up with some turn by turn directions that can be printed for those that may be completely confused at this point.

    UPDATE: Turn by Turn Directions available here!

    Turkey-Trot-Turn-by-Turn DirectionsDownload

    If 6.2 is too much there are two options for you. One is to eliminated the Roselawn/Ridgeway loop and just return back to the start via the path at the bottom of Towana. The second is to eliminate the Crenshaw out and back and just head back to the finish. The final is to cut off the hill loop at the end but I wouldn’t recommend that as it is a fantastic finish.

    Complaints will be taken from 9:00 – 9:01am on Tuesday. Yes, this is after the run.

    This should be fun. See everyone on Tuesday!

  • 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