Author: 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.

  • 19th Century British Lit

    Thirteen budding scholars slipped and slode their way to the Commons for today’s Spider Run. Directions were once again impeccable, listening on the other hand could use a little work. Activate launch mode for:

    The Route
    – Around the baseball field then left on College
    – Right on Lakewood then right on Westham
    – Left on Lindsay to a right on Forest
    – Left on University Boulevard
    – Left on Arlington Circle
    – 4s return back via University & Forest
    – 5s and 6s take a left on Sawmill
    – Sawmill turns into Shelley
    – Right on Keats which intersects University after a name change to Sharon
    – 5s take a right on University and return via Forest
    – 6s take a left on University to a right on Henrico to the top before returning via University and Forest

    Numbers, names, YHC took us out.

    Moleskin
    Ample confusion this morning as apparently Pucker doesn’t know the difference between the two Universities and EF Hutton and Bodos had their fill of British Lit after Shelley. Regardless, there appeared to be general positivity towards this route today. Enough so that we may try it again when the sun slowly emerges from her winter slumber to kiss our cheeks with the dawn of the new day.

    Who knew we had so many English majors. No time for stopping by woods on a snowy evening, this PAX yearns for early 1800s British prose.

    No announcements today.

    Cheerio!

  • The Love Hammer but no Glamour

    Ten of Tuckahoe’s finest huddled around the pine cone parking lot for a little banter prior to today’s excursion. Some even hurled pine cones. Better than hurling other projectiles. Regardless, this is what we did, for the most part:

    The Thang
    Short mosey to the front of the church for disclaimer and light warm up COP:

    15x Invisible Jump Ropes
    15x Imperial Walkers
    10x Knee Pulls (with ample form description)
    10x Donald Quixotes
    21x SSH, 5 in cadence, 16 in silence
    5x Burpees b/c Honeydo chose not to count

    Barely a shimmy to the north parking lot for COP 2

    Bolt 45s
    15x Leg Thrusts
    Repeat one more time

    Stroll over to University via River, stopping at Gaymont for the start of today’s favorite exercise series. Three exercises with decreasing (then increasing) reps, stopping at three places on University. Gaymont, bottom of the hill, then Ralston. Exercises were Jump Squats, Cross Leg Mountain Climbers, Ball Dippers. Back and forth until we did the following sets of reps:

    11/20/20
    9/18/18
    7/16/16
    5/14/14
    3/12/12
    1/10/10
    2/11/11
    4/13/13
    6/15/15
    8/17/17
    10/19/19

    Stroll back Gaymont, stopping at the bottom for random American Hammers while we collect the 6. Continue up Gaymont, back to the pine code lot for triple check. Peoples Chair, Calf Raises on the curb, 10x single leg APDs as the pace car.

    Circle up for 10x Monkey Humper ROF.

    Numbers, names, no announcements, and an attempt by YHC to take us out.

    Moleskin
    YHC believes everyone was anticipating more oversharing given our proximity to Valentine’s Day. No takers this week, in fact, there was limited mumblechatter throughout the workout. Therefore, YHC is awarding OSOTW to YHC. Yes, I give myself an award. Narcissism is in vogue.

    (Fake) apologies to those that experienced both Hoedown and Heartbreak followed by this workout. I was reminded yesterday of how Bleeder punished us with a full-on merkin workout on 12/1 one year after everyone just completed Merkin November. So I said to myself, “SELF!!! Why not continue the leg punishment this week for those that have experienced it”.

    Adiós muchachos. Viajes seguros, UpChuck.

  • Retnilps Strikes Back(ward)

    A random assortment of participants distance huddled where the COVID vessel normally parks wondering what was in store for the day and who Retnilps was. Some figured it out in advance, others figured it out during the route, eventually everyone was enlightened. The route was:

    • Around the baseball field down to a left on College
    • Right on Lakewood
    • 4s continue on Lakewood to a left on Westham
    • 5s/6s right on Wood which turns to Waveny then left on Westham
    • Continue on Westham, cross river, down South Ridge then left on Westham Station
    • 6s go left up Old Bridge then back down
    • Everyone continue on Westham Station, cut through the parking lot then return back via the UR entrance on River
    • Stop at the intramural fields for backwards running intervals
    • After 5 iterations across the field, return back to the VSF via various sidewalks

    Numbers, names, and significant announcements before Retnilps took us out.

    Moleskin
    YHC thoroughly enjoys running; however, sometimes a slight change of pace breaks up the monotony of slogging through miles. Today was YHCs latest attempt to break up the regular routine.

    Comic relief of the morning was the early huddlers learning that Upchuck is now randomly texting PAX members quotes in their native tongue. Today was Hitchhiker’s disclosure that he received a semi-accurate Korean text from Upchuck the other day. This is just Upchuck being Upchuck, keeping those brain cells active.

    The other comic relief moment was listening to Wedding Singer try to pronounce Retnilps, which came out as Wet Nipples, or something similar.

    Appreciate the 6s slogging through while listening to my random stories about parents and streaming services.

    Here’s the story about the backwards mile record holder: https://www.menshealth.com/fitness/a33936566/backwards-mile-world-record-aaron-yoder/

    A good time was had by most.

    Retnilps out.

  • Unproductive

    Unproductive

    A dominant duo plus the Q convened for today’s Currahee. Not knowing many of the back road cut throughs, the Q called for:

    West on Old Prescott to Ridgefield
    Left on Ridgefield
    Left on Cambridge
    Left on Stonequarter to do the loop back to Cambridge
    Right on Cambridge
    Right on LL Drive
    Meander through Tuckahoe LL and emerge at the back of the shopping center
    Left on John Rolfe
    Right on Pump back to VSF

    Numbers, names, YHC took us out.

    Moleskin
    Good fellowship with a small crew today. Ample time to be with our thoughts which for YHC today ranged from schooling to vaccines to other various challenges in life. I gave up running with music years ago so I could just let my thoughts take me where they would. Now running is one of YHCs most serene moments of the day.

    BB title is a reference to Gomer’s motivational tool. Always reminding him of his unproductive workouts.

    Come on out to Currahee.

    Splinter out.

  • South on Southampton on the Southside

    South on Southampton on the Southside

    A not so lively 14 able bodied runners skipped manly stretching for this morning’s iteration of Spider Run. Those that arrived by 5:27 received instructions and made some left turns, others were destined to follow.

    The Route
    – South through the batcave and continue South on Huguenot
    – Loop around the exit ramp and turn left on Riverside
    – Turn left on Southhampton (also south)
    – 4s turn around at the first intersection which should have been Old Spring Road and return the way you came
    – 5s & 6s continue South on Southampton until Cherokee and turn around
    – Head north on Southampton until you reach a fork in the road. Take the left fork which is Butte.
    – 1st left on Rivercrest which eventually intersects Riverside
    – 5s take a right on Riverside and head back home
    – 6s take a left on Riverside then a left (also south) on Waumsetta
    – Continue south until intersection of Cherokee and then return back to Riverside and return home

    Numbers, names, YHC took us out over the not-so-quiet LP powered GRTC vessel.

    Announcements
    None. Quiet bunch today. Dry January is challenging some of the PAX. Clear the fridge party at Saab’s sometime in the future.

    Moleskin
    Once again, Splinter beat Saab to the Q sheet signup. YHC wonders if this is simply Saab’s way of goading others to sign up. Regardless, we ran across the river today and will have to wait a week for Saab’s well planned route.

    Faceplant disclosed he never looks at the Q spreadsheet. He treats 530am like Christmas morning every morning. Always a surprise. Kind of like when my kids open their presents on Xmas morning, it’s always a surprise to me as well.

    Lockjaw has a resolution to keep his Q ratio even at 50% this year. For the record, he posted to Spider Run and he wasn’t even the Q. On track so far this year.

    Mileage estimates seemed a little off today. Some short, some long. Screw it, we ran.

    Splinter

  • Take a Left Turn at Albuquerque

    Take a Left Turn at Albuquerque

    Twelve frosty followers gave the fart sack the stiff arm and posted for this week’s Spider Run. The soon-to-be PAX waited for TYA’s shirt to emerge before hearing these instructions.

    The Route
    Around the lake, over the hill, and down the gravel path. Slight diversion for those at the front before crossing College and heading up University. University across Ridge then left on Ralston. Wave to the Grinch then take a right on River and a Right on E Glenbrooke Circle. Left on W Glenbooke Circle and Right on Summit.

    4s go to the top of Summit and return via the same route.

    5s come down Summit and take a right on Glenbrooke Circle, complete the circle and then return via the River and Ralston.

    6s follow the 5s route but add a jug handle via Hillare and Twin Lake then add Windsor on the James loop before returning via Ralston.

    We waited for Gomer and Bodos to arrive before numbers, names, and announcements.

    Moleskin
    YHC arrived and parked beside Hitchhiker’s car. Come to find out Hitchhiker is getting extra miles this AM by running back and forth in front of the cars. He was eager to launch this morning!

    Everyone followed the route today with the exception of Gomer and Bodos. To Bodo’s credit, he was simply following Gomer. So this one is on Gomer. Regardless, the 6s took an unannounced (but planned) jughandle off of Glenbrooke to add a small bit of mileage to get to 6. Gomer followed suit but then lost sight of those in front of him. The map above is what Gomer sent me post run. He thought he went wrong at the blue arrow, he actually went wrong at the pink arrow, and he realized he went wrong at the red arrow. Ever the wayfinder, Gomer led Bodo’s and found his way back!

    Announcements
    – HDHH Wednesday @ Hardywood West Creek. Come get it while you can.
    – TYA is leading a reprise of his Mary Q this coming Thursday.

    Nice run this AM gentlemen. Enjoy the day.

    Splinter

  • Mount Three Fingers

    Mount Three Fingers

    Fourteen able bodied adventurers plus one bunny chaser gathered for instructions for this week’s Spider Run. Instructions were provided and everyone was thrilled. Variation of Mount Henrico with a few fingers and maybe a thumb thrown in there for good measure.

    Route
    West around baseball field, left on College, right on Lakewood, right on Wood, left on Baldwin, quick jog across Westham, left on Baldwin, left on Rock Creek, cross Forest to University.

    First right to ascend and descend Essex. 4s return home.

    Fives and Sixes take right on University and ascend and descent Dinwiddie and Nalla. Fives return home while sixes repeat Dinwiddie and Essex on the way back.

    Numbers, names, no announcements. Silence for prayer this morning.

    Moleskin
    The blood was cold but flowing this am. By all accounts it seemed to be a vibrant group. YHC enjoys these routes as you get to see everyone multiple times regardless of your pace.

    Instructions were perfectly clear; however, Singer decided to chase the bunnies down an alternate path for a while. Others commented on the preciseness of the 5 mile route (or inprecision of BTs watch). Either way a good time was had by most.

    Splinter