Author: Splinter

  • Celebratory Crash Landing

    Somewhere along the line this BB was deleted. Recreating for continuity. Happened before School of Rock.

  • Was that Oval Ohs?

    Twelve accomplished gentlemen fought off the allure of a warm fartsack for today’s drizzling edition of Spider Run. Even though there were complaints offered on Slack last night, directions were spot on so off we went.

    The Route

    • 4s: Refuted impeccable instructions and went across the bridge and back
    • 5s: Up along the lake by the baseball field
    • Across the parking lot to College
    • Right on Campus
    • Left then hard left on West Bostwick to the parking lot and back
    • Up Bostwick proper back to Campus
    • Left then hard left on Old Mill to the end and back
    • Up Old Mill proper back to Campus
    • Cross Campus to Towana to Roselawn up to Campus
    • Back Roselawn to a left on Ridgeway
    • Left on Fairway and left on Tapoan to Three Chopt
    • 6s added a little more
    • Everyone else BTTVSF

    Numbers, names, YHC took us out.

    Moleskine

    After a few weeks of flatter routes, YHC was feeling spicy. With no one on the Q sheet after coming home from volleyball last night, YHC conjured up a perfect route for this morning.

    Lots of great mumblechatter amongst the 5s group. A particular highlight was Bodo’s recollection of his most recent concert, The Oh Hellos. Everyone else heard the Oval Ohs, which was close but not accurate. Either way, worth a listen!

    Have a great day everyone!

    Splinter out.

  • The Thing

    No idea what happened. Backblast seems to be lost.

  • Oven Mitts, All-Stars, and Car Music

    Some number more than 15 gathered by foot, bike, or peg leg to scatter out and cause a ruckus in the neighborhood. After most everyone made it back, we gathered up and had great fellowship. But first, the route.

    The Route

    • North on Commonwealth
    • East on Patterson
    • Turn right at 21 minutes
    • Turn right on Grove
    • BTTVSF

    Numbers, names, Marv took us out.

    Moleskine

    Solid showing for Mary this AM. Bikers may have outnumbered runners, they certainly outnumbered the walkers. Great to see some of the All Stars show up this morning so we could all dance to the inspirational music during COT.

    For the record, TYA had gloves on today.

    Splinter out

  • Talk Soup

    Seven RAMM regulars stiff-armed the impending storms and gathered for the 529th iteration of RAMM. Instructions were offered, then emphasized to avoid the 195 on ramp, then off we went, perfectly on time.

    The Route

    • East on Grove, over 195 then right on Berrington
    • Berrington to Floyd
    • 4s left on Strawberry, 5s left on Vine, 6s left on Tilden
    • West on Hanover, getting around the museum the easiest way before finding Hanover again
    • Left on Thompson then right on Grove

    Numbers, names, Marv took us out.

    Moleskine

    Lots of discussion about the weather today. Not because we didn’t have much else to talk about, but because it sucked. We are all ready for fall to return.

    Have a great Friday everyone!

    Splinter

  • Quartile of Seasons?

    Twelve spiderlings found our secret lair and took on today’s navigational challenge. Even the one cherry popper managed to find his way back today. After EF Hutton aggressively repeated himself to week 2 cherry popper Noodles, YHC offered disjointed directions before off we went.

    The Route

    Countryside lollipops.

    4s: https://onthegomap.com/s/4osd9kdk
    5s: https://onthegomap.com/s/knmuauuv
    6s: https://onthegomap.com/s/6odnu0hj

    Numbers, names, announcements before YHC took us out.

    Announcements

    • CSAUP this Friday, the non-frozen triangle with rucking involved. See slack for details.

    Moleskine

    Under normal circumstances, YHC tries to avoid the driveway trail over to Roslyn Hills Park except for the summer months where there is ample light. Luckily, plenty of man-made light was available today and no one succumbed to the roots on the trail. What happened after the trail, event though it should have been the easiest part, was more confusing. Oh well, we all made it back.

    After doubling back on Countryside to ensure the rest of the 5s knew what they were doing, YHC and Spine joined the 5s mid-conversation. A question was asked if we always do the same route. Not a chance, and according to Upchuck, we don’t repeat in the same moon cycle or quartile of the seasons. Sounds good Upchuck.

    We are currently in prime running weather so come out and join us. As we say at Spider Run, no where to go but up.

    Splinter out.

  • TYA – 0, Splinter – 2

    Seven + 2 + 1 RAMMers + RAMMGearsers + massively LIFO Bodos, gathered under the moonlight for this morning’s iteration of RAMM. No one signed up so YHC came up with a quick route while “preparing” for the run this AM. Gumbo attempted to suggest a repeat of Sippy’s 50th run from last week so we could see the route this time. YHC suggested a flatter route. Everyone rejoiced.

    The Route

    • East on Grove to North on Hamilton
    • Turn left (see below)
    • Left on Lafayette, right on Grove
    • Right on Antrim, turn left
    • Left on Sauer, right on Grove
    • Right on Commonwealth, turn left
    • Left on Westmoreland BTTVSF

    4s were supposed to turn left at W Franklin. 5s turned at monument. No 6s today.

    Numbers, names, announcements, Chippendale took us out.

    Moleskine

    Time for a little history lesson. Back in the early years of F3RVA lore, there existed a man, brimming with confidence at every turn. Some may say it was overconfidence, some would simply say it was his Massachusetts shining through. Regardless, confidence erupted on every opportunity to demonstrate his skill and knowledge.

    Until that fateful day in November 2019, during the perennial stupidity challenge that was Merkin November. YHC had educated the PAX on Carl Guass’ famous formula a few years back. In fact, it was YHCs second week as a PAX member when that golden nugget was shared with DK on the instant messaging platform for Dominion Energy.

    That wonderful day in November, there was a legendary exchange between TYA and YHC. YHC had the Q, and proceeded to run up a bunch of merkins in a pattern that was conducive to young Carl Guass + a few extras. As we gathered for COP, the confident gentleman from the north proclaimed to the PAX that he knew how many merkins were performed that day. YHC, trying not to call out a fellow PAX member when they may be at their weakest point, simply offered that TYA rethink his calculation. After his recognition of his mistake, TYA acknowledged and slowly walked away. The backblast has it all.

    That leads us to today. While driving east on Cary towards RAMM this morning, YHC couldn’t help but notice the crescent moon and a vibrant bright star directly beside the moon. Upon TYAs arrival to the AO, YHC suggested that it was likely Venus up by the moon. TYA quickly replied, “Saturn. The radio said Saturn is the closest it has been, so it’s bright in the sky.” Hmmm, YHC expressed.

    Meanwhile, the second of today’s RAMMGear heads arrived with his normal jovial self. No Tools wheeled up as we were talking and immediately declared, “Venus!” Once again, TYA quietly but confidently suggested it was Saturn. Not even after No Tools suggested “Venus is the bright morning star” did TYA back down.

    So, YHC went along his way and described the routes above and off we went.

    Every time we went north on a road today, YHC gazed up at the moon and couldn’t help but wonder who was right? YHC is no astronomer but does spend a lot of time looking at the stars. Could TYA be right this time? If only there were a way to tell…

    Post run, YHC was walking to his car and saw the crescent moon, and that silly planet once again. YHC whipped out his cell phone from the car, popped open the SkyView app (free version), and pointed it at the night sky.

    To my surprise, what did my trusty free celestial app tell me? Why it told me it was Venus, of course!

    Splinter 2. TYA 0.

  • Kicking Frogs

    Four spiderlings waiting as long as possible to disembark from their chariots to hear the concise but clear instructions. 2 launched early (for some reason). Off we went for something like this:

    The Route

    • Batcave to shopping center to westham station
    • West on westham station, north on south ridge to the light and turn around
    • 4s return
    • 5s hit Highland and Old Bridge on the way back for 5.3 total.

    Numbers, names, quick COT to keep the rain off the backs of our necks.

    Moleskine

    Small group today. YHC expected it with a thousand servings of Gumbo happening at NoToll. Plus the weather was a good deterrent.

    Water was pooling today. No matter where we stepped it was there. Sippy kicked a frog mid-hop somehow and YHC barely missed the landing. Lucky for that frog today.

    Great to see Noodles out again. The Kotter committed to Bodo’s and didn’t let the weather scare him away. Come back again. Normally it’s dry at the bottom of the mountain.

    Splinter out.

  • He’s Having a Baby

    Eleven port-o-jon fanatics huddled in our favorite Tuesday morning gathering spot for this 9/9 edition of Spider Run. After warning shots were fired on multiple slack channels yesterday, to minimal grumbling, brief instructions were offered. Only one dissenter today. By all accounts he still had fun.

    The Route

    • West around the baseball field and through New Fraternity Row
    • Supposed to be a right on Ridge Top (which is actually Hampshire right there) but we missed it so we took a right on Shrewsbury, then left on Ridge Top
    • Collect the 6 at Chandler
    • Intervals
    • 2x up Chandler
    • 2x up Ridge Top
    • 2x up Chandler / Gardiner
    • 1x all the way to the top of Chandler
    • Mosey BTTVSF via Gardiner, Wheeler, Hampshire, New Fraternity Row, etc

    Numbers, names, announcements, YHC took us out.

    Announcements

    • Birthday weekend for Sippy. Come to RAMM for promised uncharted territory or DogPile for a celebration.
    • Glad to see TYA back on the bike
    • Prayers for Marv’s dad
    • 9/20 convergence for 11th anniversary

    Moleskine

    Mumblechatter was quite high today as the grouped up format of intervals is conducive for conversation. Someone in the PAX was pleased that the first interval had a blue box. This resulted in a few recovery interval discussions of airtag placement in blue boxes and whether that was a good business model.

    Marv and Bodos brought out the dueling scripture metaphors during COT today. All EF Hutton could come up with was an infection reference.

    Hopefully all that are on the mend recover quickly! SYITG.

    Splinter out.

  • Your Mom Plate Frame

    If you are reading this, you know there is a prank going around. Beware!