Author: Splinter

  • 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.

  • 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.