Author: Splinter

  • A Different Kind of Serpent

    A fleet of thirteen convened at the corner of Grove and Commonwealth for an unexpected variation of a serpentine route. Directions were started early to leave ample time for repeating (if necessary). It was necessary (x2). Here was the route:

    6 Milers:
    – East on Grove then left on Hamilton
    – Left on Grace then left on Lafayette back to Grove
    – Right on Grove then right on Antrim back to Grace
    – Left on Grace then left on Commonwealth back to Grove
    – Right on Grove then right on Westmoreland to Grace
    – Left on Grace then left on Chantilly (which turns to Bunting) back to Grove
    – Grove back to MM

    5 Milers:
    – Same as above except your north border was Wythe (not Grace)

    4 Milers:
    – Same as 5 milers except turn left on Hanover when you get on Hamilton. Everything else the same

    Numbers, names, YHC took us out.

    Moleskin
    Fantastic morning for a run and thanks to the PAX for sticking to the directions. Sounds like everyone hit the route spot on.

    Great to see everyone, including Lab Rat and Ronnie who YHC hasn’t crossed paths with for a while. And Kudos to Pigskin who keeps ‘planting’ his shovel flag at every AO he attends. Keep it up!

    See everyone soon.

    Splinter

  • Triple Potato

    Nine of this region’s finest gathered under the waning crescent for an impromptu hot potato. Very little mumblechatter pre-launch, so we just stared at each other. EF Hutton had enough and said, “time to go”. Mosey to the newly sectioned off black top for a Hutton led COP.

    COP (EF Hutton)
    12x Copperhead Squats
    10x Imperial Walkers
    10x Helicopters
    10x HRMs
    20x Suzanne Somers
    10x Something or others
    20x Suzanne Somers
    10x Mountain Climbers

    Prostitute (EF Hutton)
    5x Burpees, 20x Merkins, 20x Jump Squats, 20x WWIIs, 20x Mountain Climbers. Work around the 4 corners repeating said exercises a number of times.

    Triple Check (Handshake)
    Mosey up to the field for people’s chair, WWIIs, run across the field for 5 pull ups.

    Triple Check (Splinter)
    Mosey to the parking lot for jump squats, plank, bernie sanders across the parking lot and up the hill to the fence for 10 derkins then run back.

    Mary
    Ring of Fire (Duck-duck-goose style) with 10x dealer’s choice followed by a lap around the ring. Thanks for the audible Pigskin! Finish off with a minute and a half of american hammers.

    Numbers, names, YHC took us out.

    Moleskin
    Quiet bunch for Hoedown today. Maybe it was all the counting, or just recovery from the weekend. YHC detected 3 or 4 different language counts by Pigskin today. Regardless, great to get out with the gang and to push each other this AM. Sorry to hear Upchuck is battling his knee. Get well soon brother!

    Announcements
    HDHH next Wednesday at Honeydo’s
    Field Day 9/18
    Retreat 9/25

    ¡Adiós muchachos!

  • Stonefaced Anger

    Three of the area’s finest runners, including a visitor, sat in their cars until the rain faded for today’s Currahee. The route was a simple 5 miler with some bro code mixed in. Old glory made an appearance today and it was passed amongst the three of us. One of Henrico’s finest acknowledged the stars and stripes with a flash of the lights while driving past. All in all, a great run with a small group of dedicated individuals. Thanks for making the effort so YHC didn’t have to carry that flag solo.

    Handshake was clearly steaming when he got out of the car and realized he would likely be running solo. That energy fueled him today. Way to crush it.

    Marv took us out in a way only Marv can do. Well said.

  • Generally Successful

    Fourteen mostly aware PAX huddled in the new gathering spot for this week’s Spider Run. The call was snake river. 4s did one, 5s did two, 6s did four. Numbers, names, announcements, YHC took us out.

    Moleskin
    Almost everyone remembered, some were unaware, of the newly declared gathering spot for the AO. Shakedown appropriately suggested after the run that we should place a scout at the previous location for a few weeks. Noted and we will make that a practice for the month of July.

    Quick note about parking in the new location. After a brief discussion with a UR staff member, here are the key notes:

    • Do not park in the “reserved” parking spots closest to the dry creek on the downside of the dam
    • If possible, park in the spots facing the road or the spots in the middle of the lot
    • The staff try to park in the parallel spots on the road so try to keep those open. They have to be there by 630 so it may be less of a big deal.

    Snake river run sucked today. I think everyone would agree with that.

    We will stick with this new location for the near future to see how it sticks. So far, so good.

  • Moist Potato

    Six, wait seven… no eight, hold it, nine boot campers plus two circumnavigators gathered for a Q-less Mary. Upchuck stole the potato and off we went for:

    COP (Upchuck)
    SSH, ROF, DQ, IW, APD, LBC, ROF

    Upchuck
    Mosey to the collection of high quality plastic picnic tables for partner exercises. Run, dips, deline merkins. Run, dips, incline merkins. Run, dips, squats. Upchuck offered the potato and Faceplant took it before it being passed to him.

    Faceplant
    Back to the parking lot for escalator exercises. WWII escalator on one side of parking lot and single count flutter kicks on the other side. 1-21 with bear crawls between each line. Passed to Oyster.

    Oyster
    Triple check. Running, jump squats, peoples chair. Pass to Malpractice.

    Malpractice
    Stay in teams (for no good reason) and run the bases. 10 at each base of an exercise. 5 burpees at each. 15 something at each. Pass to Splinter.

    Splinter
    Tennis court line drill. 1,2,3,4 burpees at each mid-court. 2,4,6,8 squats at each court. 3,6,9,12 HTH at each court. Line of fire before back to the flag.

    Announcements
    – Puppy pile this saturday after dog pile
    – HDHH 6/23
    – Clear the attic at upchucks some day soon

    Numbers, names, YHC took us out.

    Moleskin
    Soupy day but great mumblechatter this morning. Also great fellowship post COT. Enjoy the day gentlemen.

  • The Bridge to Nowhere

    Six of our finest gathered at the home of the Eagles to question if anyone wanted to take the Q. After YHC arrived and declared he signed up, forgot, then was reminded this morning of his volunteer for the Q, we discussed the route and off we went. Goal was negative splits

    The Route
    – Meander through Glen Eagles over to Ridgefield
    – Left on Ridgefield
    – All the way to Tuckahoe Creek Park and across the bridge
    – Go as far as you can in 23 minutes then return in 22 minutes
    – Grunt and groan up the 4 hills back to Godwin

    Announcements
    – Memorial Day convergence 7am @ Tredegar

    Moleskin
    The goal today was negative splits. Handshake quickly dismissed his result as 22 out and 23 back but upon further review, realized he indeed accomplished negative splits. Well on your way to the 6 mile group.

    There was some interesting banter pre-BoM about attention to detail on a series of texts from yesterday. Post prayer, the record was checked and accusations of lack of attention to detail were recanted. All is now well in the world. Some of us may make mistakes, but we are always confident in them.

    Great running today men. Thanks for letting me lead.

    Splinter out.

  • A Couple of Fingers Down Butte

    A Couple of Fingers Down Butte

    Seventeen of Tuesday’s finest gathered on a near perfect morning for some fun on the southside. One FNG was late so missed launch and wandered for 40 minutes before finding some of the PAX to finish. FNG made 18 total. For Dr. Ruth, here’s what really happened:

    The Route
    4s / 5s / 6s
    – Through the bat cave and across the river
    – Take the loop and turn left (west, upriver, LEFT)
    – Left on Southhampton heading south

    4s
    – Turn around at the first intersection and return the way you came

    5s
    – Continue south on Southhampton, through the 5 way intersection to Cherokee
    – Reverse course and head north on Southhampton
    – At the first intersection, take the left fork on to Butte
    – Right on Riverside and return via the bridge

    6s
    – Follow the 5s on the left on Butte then a left on Rivercrest
    – Left on Riverside
    – Left on Waumsetta and meander up to Cherokee
    – Return via Waumsetta and Riverside to the bridge and back

    Numbers, names, announcements and YHC took us out.

    Moleskin
    Absolute perfect day for a run this morning. When EF Hutton showed up, we knew the world was in balance.

    Apologies to the FNG for launching on time. However, one minute late is one minute late… I’m sure that won’t prevent you from making a repeat appearance.

    Lots of great mumblechatter about bachelor parties and the appropriate pronunciation of Butte. Those, combined with Saab’s comment about a 5 finger version on the southside led to today’s backblast title.

    Enjoy the day gentlemen and thanks for letting me lead.

    Announcements
    – Breaking bread needs summer volunteers, talk to Upchuck or just sign up on the Q sheet

    Splinter

  • Sippy Cups and Adirondacks

    Sippy Cups and Adirondacks

    Eleven of this area’s finest gentlemen gathered in the near daylight to howl at the supermoon. A mysterious waist lamp bounced in the distance and when he arrived, off the PAX went for:

    The Route
    – Traverse by the ball field, left on College, right on Lakewood
    – 4s take a right on Wood
    – 5s take a right on Old Oak then right on Beachwood and left on Wood
    – 6s take a right on Westham, right on Hillsdale, left on Old Oak, right on Beachwood
    – Everyone take a right on Baldwin and meander up Horsepen and convene at Waveny

    Intervals were next, and no shit, everyone was excited about them today. By my watch, it had been since November we iteratively tackled these near west end hills. Three times up Waveny, 1 minute up, 1:45 down. 80% or so for those tracking.

    Short jaunt up Horsepen, stopping at Shrewsbury. One interval of 100% up to the next intersection, waving at Toga’s former abode.

    Left on Ridge Top for a slow saunter to the base of Chandler. Three times up Chandler at 80%, with the final iteration taking a hard right up Gardiner.

    Everyone wandered back to the flag via the well lit path and Campus drive.

    Huddle up for names, numbers, golf wave to Keymaster before YHC took us out.

    Moleskin
    Not that anyone is counting; however, today’s attendance was likely outside one standard deviation from the Spider Run recent mean. Full appreciation to the eleven that shook off the fear of the Splinterval Sack and posted for this most recent variation.

    If there is a single F3 workout YHC tries not to miss, this is the one. Thanks to all who post and lead for making this one of my highlights of the week.

    Go rest Gomer. Splinter out.

  • Sparrow or Swallow?

    Sparrow or Swallow?

    Seventeen sharp witted gentlemen tossed around stories of high brow and tea until one of our brethren destroyed that aura. With no apparent segue, YHC quickly transitioned to today’s route.

    The Route
    – 4s head out through the batcave over to Westham Station
    – 5s & 6s take a right after leaving the commons then take a right on Westhampton to complete the loop before being dumped back on UR drive. Right on UR drive then left on River, right through lot, and meetup on Westham Station
    – Everyone continue on Westham Station, up Ridge, across to Westham
    – 4s & 5s take a right on Baldwin, right on Wood, left on Lakewood, left on College back around the baseball field
    – 6s take a right on Devon, right on Crenshaw, left on Waveny, right on Wood, left on Lakewood, left on College back around the baseball field

    Numbers, names, LNG exhaust fumes, before YHC stepped to the center and took us out.

    Moleskin
    One of our PAX came in today strutting his tail feathers about the endless possibilities now that he is fully vaccinated. Can he be an antibody spreader? I believe the studies are still pending on that one. Regardless, it offered a great comic relief opportunity this morning.

    Enjoy the day fellas.

  • Whatever your Motivation

    Nine early birds, including one First Watch neophyte, gathered under the waning gibbous for a moderately heckled Q. After the board minutes were approved, off we went down South Ridge stopping at Country Squire for:

    COP
    SSH x15
    Helicopters x10
    Imperial Walkers x15
    Copperhead Squats x15
    WWIIs x10
    Merkins x10

    The Thang
    Short jaunt around the bend, stopping at the first mailbox for descending count burpees. Run to first mailbox, 5 burpees, run back to where we started 4 burpees, continue until 1 burpee. Yes, that’s correct, 15 burpees.

    Putter up Country Squire, across River, to a right on Club Vista. Stop about a third of the way for descending merkins. Run to lamp post, 10 merkins, run back to where we started for 9 merkins, continue until 1 merkin. You guys count well, 55 merkins.

    Promenade the rest of Club Vista, with Handshake resisting the urge to jump on a 9 year old’s bike, left on College then left on Glen Parkway up the left fork. Stop about half way for descending jump squats. Run to lamp post, 20 jump squats, back to where we started for 15 jump squats, 10, 5, then Al Gore. No one counted, but that’s 50 jump squats.

    Stroll up Club Vista, stopping at Westham for 30ish count helix squats before continuing north on Westham. Left on Pinetree, stopping about half way for LBCs. Run to lamp post, 40 LBCs, back to where we started for 30 LBCs, 20, 10, then Al Gore. I doubt anyone really cares, but that’s 100 LBCs.

    Drift back to the north church parking lot for 4 corners. 10 burpees, 20 merkins, 30 jump squats, 40 LBCs. Repeat with 10 burpees, 20 merkins, 30 jump squats, repeat with 10 burpees, 20 merkins, repeat with 10 burpees. That’s 40 more burpees, 60 more merkins, 60 more jump squats, and 40 more LBCs, but who’s counting.

    Saunter back to the south parking lot, avoiding additional burpees, for 2 minutes of American Hammers and Flutter Kicks.

    Numbers, names, YHC took us out.

    Moleskin
    We all have our reasons for consistently posting, some spoken, some unspoken. Today we celebrate those spoken reasons including a PAX member that has lost nearly 40 pounds in 3 months. Another for taking Dryuary to the next level, for no other reason than to make himself a better person. We are all motivated in different ways. Today my motivation was to lead. To lead us to do things that some may not particularly enjoy, or that seem hard at first glance. Today, we did those things to make each other better men. Let’s not waste that energy and go out in the world and make those around us better people as well.

    Enjoy the day gentlemen. Always a pleasure.

    Splinner, eh. hem… Splinter. Out.