Author: Splinter

  • We Just Passed Some Perfectly Good Hills

    Seven very suspecting gentlemen gathered in Spider Run’s perfect hiding spot for the last hill workout of the year. Given the Q signed up with clear intent for what was in store today, YHC was glad to see 7 show up. 0530 rang and off we went:

    The Route

    Mosey to the end of the bat cave and back, passing the start and heading up through the path towards Towana. Pucker was offered the choice of left or right, he chose left so the first three intervals were up Towana. 1 minute up with a 1:45 recovery back down.

    Next three intervals were up Roselawn. Given YHC is a man of the people, Wedding Singer was offered the choice of left or right when we did our third interval up Roselawn. He was indecisive so we waited for a decision until it was necessary. After pressure, he chose left, so we continued on Roselawn then took a left on Campus.

    This was a slightly longer jaunt than remembered, so by the time we got to our last interval hill, we only had time for 2. We made these our best effort up Bostwick, last one leaving nothing on the table.

    Slow mosey back down Campus to UR Drive then BTTVSF.

    Announcements, no wait, numbers, names, announcements before YHC took us out.

    Moleskine

    The PAX was sincerely confused this morning, passing perfectly good hills to take the flat path through the bat cave. Multiple comments were made before we turned around and headed back towards the fun. These three hills are good ones, with the last being one of the steepest around.

    Props to Doozy who ran 8 yesterday and followed it up with hill repeats today.

    Until next year!

    Splinter out

  • It’s clo-VELL’-ē. Perhaps French?

    Twelve of the most loyal fellas east of Parham road gathered in the most well-lit parking lot in the city for today’s edition of RAMM. Route was posted early so there weren’t many questions. In fact, even Faceplant generally knew where he was going.

    The Route

    https://onthegomap.com/s/hg080or6

    Everyone go east on Grove then south on Malvern into Windsor Farms. Begin the horseshoe, veering left at the triangle park onto Clovelly for some virgin ground. Touch the bottom then reverse course. 4s turn around at Park, 5s at Broad, 6s all the way to Top Golf and inspect the parking lot there.

    Everyone returned on time before numbers, names, and YHC took us out.

    Moleskin

    YHC hadn’t Q’d RAMM since the summer so was well overdue. Creativity was lacking yesterday so the good ole topographic map of Richmond was consulted to try to find a strong contrast of red/green while keeping us generally close to the AO. Clovelly was found and thus the route was created using that road as inspiration.

    It was virgin ground for YHC. Even if I saw 4 gentlemen exit the depths of Clovelly as I was entering, that’s still new ground for me. Post run mumblechatter was generally positive, with comments on how that road could be combined with other hills over there to make a better route than out and back on Malvern. Regardless, seems like a keeper.

    YHC ran solo today but still had great conversation. You’ll have to ask what we discussed.

    Announcements

    • Visit Dogpile tomorrow for special recognition of Hitch. See Slack for details.
    • Breaking bread is covered for 2024 but 2025 dates are open.

    Splinter out.

  • Club of Months, Jelly Edition

    Ten enthusiastic and insightful human beings gathered in the post-broga gloom for this week’s edition of First Watch SZN of Giving. After some debate on whether or not Gomer was early or late, Handshake rolled in and off we went, determining that only our guest would be late today. Short mosey over to the not dry patio for:

    COP

    • 10x Helicopters – choose your own direction
    • 10x Don Quixotes – apparently too fast at first, but just slow enough to greet our guest
    • 25x SSHs – to perfection
    • 10x Mountain Climbers – with no comments
    • 10x Inverted Scorpion Kicks – to much fanfare
    • 20x LBCs – just enough to get the joints lubed

    The Thang

    Slow mosey to the small back parking lot, ignoring a request from one PAX to show everything the AO has to offer. Up for debate, but the AO proper is the church. Everything else is bonus territory. Go ahead, change my mind.

    We (read YHC) decided to do escalating 4 corners, compounding style. What does that mean? It means what I decided at the time. Small lot 4 corners, repeating previous exercises at each new corner. 10x merkins, 20x jump squats, 30x SSHs, 40x LBCs. Bear crawl between stations.

    Use the full parking lot for round 2. HRMs, monkey humpers, plank jacks, reverse crunches. Bernie between stations

    Use the full AO for round 3. Diamond merkins, lunges, mountain climbers, american hammers. Run between stations.

    Mosey to the triangle park for a variation of triple check, competition style. Two partners run to the light and back while the 3rd does an exercise. If you beat your partner, guess what, you get to run again! Swap out a number of times. Exercises were american hammers, squats, something else everyone was excited about. Even thought the Q never said stop, the PAX eventually stopped. So we meandered back to the launch site for one quick round of ROF, dealers choice.

    Numbers, names, YHC took us out.

    Moleskin

    YHC has missed this crew the past few months. Good to see everyone and to share in the season with some partially home-baked goods.

    Thanks for coming out. Glad it never rained on us till the end.

    Announcements

    • 12 Days @ NoToll next Tuesday. Too late to participate in Secret Santa unless you get a waiver from Hutton.
    • Clown car to the Bridge this Saturday. Regrets to Upchuck.
    • Gomer & Pigskin accepting donations for Barnabas, see Slack.

    Splinter out.

  • Just Because

    Eighteen early birds gathered at various times to tackle the first challenge of this week of giving thanks. After some confusion as to whether the 5 milers or 6 milers did their math correctly, everyone departed and paid respect to the old UR turkey trot. Two left sometime prior to 0500, a gaggle left at 0500, then two more gaggles at 0515, followed by another duo at 0525. All in all, no one got lost. Even Anthrax guided a group successfully.

    The Route

    10k for everyone. Unlike the perennial discussion on which one was the first Thanksgiving, no arguing that this is one of the most difficult 10ks around.

    Turkey Routes

    Moleskin

    This route has been reused for 4 years in a row. This year, YHC didn’t even have to walk through the directions for anyone as each group navigated the course with minimal difficulty.

    As mentioned during COT, credit to Bleeder for first introducing the official turkey trot route to the spider runners, way back on October 17, 2017. You’ll have to ask Bleeder what inspired him to prescribe that route that day. Perhaps it was good marketing? Did he learn his race marketing skills from Singer? Only Bleeder knows…

    Dog gone Turkey Trot

    Turns out, YHC tried this back in 2016 but we never finished it. Apparently it rained that day.

    The Turkey Drowned

    Apparently, Saab really didn’t appreciate it being canceled the first year of COVID, as was evident with his backblast title Thanksgiving week of 2020.

    A Middle Finger with a Secular Close

    I digress. What I do know is this is the fourth consecutive year we have brought this route back on the week of Thanksgiving. COVID may have killed the UR turkey trot, but our spirit keeps it alive.

    Backblast title is a reminder of why we have Thanksgiving. It doesn’t matter where the first Thanksgiving was held (we all know the answer to that). The purpose of Thanksgiving is to give thanks to those around us. Why? No real reason. We shouldn’t even have to wait until Thanksgiving to give thanks. We should always be seeking ways to thank those around us, do a good deed, and to help our collective humanity lick our self-inflicted wounds.

    As I was driving away from Spider Run today, this song was just finishing up on Lithium. Tom Morello came on and described how this song was about doing a good deed. For no real reason other than to do it. Just because…

    Splinter out.

  • Football Fans Galore

    The Splinter abode planned and prepared a meal for Breaking Bread this past Sunday. After much discussion, chicken parmesan, green beans, biscuits, and cookie brownies were offered. After the aroma wafted through the car for the 17 minute drive to belt boulevard, we unloaded and served for this week’s guests.

    Moleskin

    Who knew there would be such passion towards football this Sunday? Prime Time appeared in his Eagles sweatshirt, prompting much discussion about the close games of the afternoon. Especially pleased was the gentleman wearing the Chiefs jacket, happy his team squeaked out yet another win.

    Oyster and Upchuck say this plenty, this is an easy #3rd F opportunity for you and the rest of the family.

    Splinter out.

  • A Haunted Precursor

    Fourteen able bodied thrill seekers gathered for today’s launch of Spider Run. After routes were posted at a reasonable time yesterday afternoon and no one saw them, YHC quickly breezed through the following:

    The Route

    • West around the lake and through the path to University
    • Up University, cross Ridge, right on Ralston then quick left back on University
    • Resist the urge to veer right on Ziontown and instead head down the driveway past the not-so-haunted house and down through the park
    • Right on Roslyn Hills then left on September
    • 4s: left on Melwood, left on Roslyn Hills
    • 5s: September to Countryside to left on Ruggles, left on Roslyn Hills
    • 6s: September to Countryside, right on Higginbotham, left on Running Cedar, left on Ruggles, right on Charnwood, left on Standish, left on Roslyn Hills
    • Everyone right back through the park and back whence they came

    Numbers, names, and YHC took us out.

    Announcements

    • The Next 43 webinar next Tuesday 10/22 5-6 EDT with special guest Richard Reeves. See post on Slack that OBT shared.
    • Breaking Bread spot open for October. See the Q sheet.

    Moleskin

    YHC missed the daylight opportunity to throw this route in the mix. Most of the time the PAX prefers to pass the haunted house in the daylight hours. Not so haunted today although the trail continues to provide tripping hazards. Good route in not-oft-used roads west of the park.

    6s mumblechatter centered around college essays and how to piss of administrators at the Richmond International Airport. If you see one of our PAX being detained by security for unknown reasons, just walk the other way.

    Splinter out.

  • Legit OTB

    Two of the earliest watchers gathered in the light mist. One hoping for broga, the other planning on intervals. Intervals won the day.

    The Route

    • Down South Ridge to Westham Station
    • Run to Starbucks and turn around
    • On the way back hit a few intervals up Highland
    • Continue up Highland to River
    • BTTVSF where we greeted the birthday boy

    Moleskin

    Didn’t take much convincing to have EF Hutton join the run. The only request was no intervals up South Ridge. So we did them up Highland instead.

    Great fellowship along the way. Glad to officially write a BB for road hoe since someone joined me.

    Splinter out.

  • Strength in Numbers

    The elite of the elite gathered in the church parking lot at 0430 for pre-game exercises. One chose one path, the other chose another. Those same two gathered again at 0500 for today’s First Watch edition.

    Traveling COP

    • Mosey to the bottom of south ridge, stopping at various points for
    • SSH
    • DQ
    • IW
    • Copperhead Squats
    • Helicopters

    The Thang

    Partner up for Dora 1,2,3,4. 100 burpees, 200 squats, 300 mountain climbers, 400 LBCs. Travel back up south ridge after each increment of 100 by playing catch me if you can with 5 HRMs and bernie sanders.

    We made it most of the way through before shuttling back for 3 minutes of mary.

    Numbers, names, Handshake took us out.

    Announcements

    • Don’t miss 10 year this weekend. The only one that matters is 7am at Dogpile.
    • Prayers for those around us for various reasons.

    Moleskin

    A workout of two offers an opportunity to slightly modify planned approach while engaging in coffeeteria throughout the entire workout. Great to catch up with Handshake as we navigated down and back up south Ridge.

    YHC will assume the weather scared people away and it wasn’t that my workouts are too soft.

    Splinter out

  • Impeccable

    Fourteen Tuesday regulars woke up to zero excuses, rolled out of bed, and made it to the Commons in time for impeccable instructions and a double serving of horse’s pens. After a more methodical instruction set, a 15 second recap was offered before launch mode was triggered. There were a few, “you know where you are going?” comments leaving the parking lot with subsequent “I got this” comments. Marv ran off course early with his noble steed at his side, but they eventually found the main part of the route. Route was prescribed as follows:

    The Route

    • East side of the lake, up around the baseball field and through fraternity row. New fraternity row, not old fraternity row.
    • Right on Hampshire to Horsepen
    • Horsepen to right on Patterson, right on Ridge Top
    • Ridge Top to the bottom then right on Horsepen back up
    • 4s right on Devon to Ridge Top
    • 5s all the way to the top then add Chandler up and down
    • 6s add Waveny to Westham & back, Durwood Crescent to Westham & back, and Chandler up and down
    • Everyone take a left on Wheeler, right through the path, straight across on Campus
    • Right on UR drive and take the right loop by the football field BTTVSF

    Numbers, names, YHC took us out followed by more names.

    Announcements

    • Kind of a big deal this Saturday. Someone in the PAX was as giddy as a school girl. Can’t wait to see what’s in store. 7am @ Dogpile.
    • Training for the 10 year anniversary of the inaugural F3RVA BRR team has started.

    Moleskin

    Always a pleasure to lead this group of stallions, especially as we tackled Horsepen not once, but twice. Turns out the 4s felt shafted by short circuiting the second loop. 5s felt like 4s, and 6s got lost early. Sounds like a normal Tuesday morning.

    Maybe this route should be named the Double Stallion, if we are still naming routes. A few tweaks and this one could be a regular addition.

    Challenge yourself today fellas.

    Splinter out.

  • Flying EH Almost Secured

    Three star gazers arrived for pre-launch activities but none were shared. One ran, one walked, one broga’d. All came back together to wait for the cavalry to arrive. Once the clock struck five, away we went for an audible Q. Mosey to the back parking lot for:

    COP

    • 10x Helicopters
    • 10x DQs (Last Call approved)
    • 10x IWs
    • 15x Arm Circles
    • 10x Copperheads
    • 10x walk backwards over the fence each leg

    The Thang

    Three is a perfect number so triple-check was the theme of the day. A few strides over to the corner of the parking lot. Burpees, mountain climbers, run a loop.

    Slowsey to the eastern corner of the triangle for merkins, squats, skip to the mailbox and run back.

    Attempted flying headlock. We will see this guy soon.

    Zig-zag back to the launch parking lot for WWIIs, lunges, karaoke to Kubota’s truck and back.

    BTTF for something, something else, and 5 burpees for the pace car.

    A few minutes of mary with APDs, Freddie Mercuries, American Hammers.

    Numbers, names, YHC took us out.

    Announcements

    • Labor Day convergence at the Knuckle

    Moleskin

    Small numbers makes for great mumblechatter. Triple check is a tried & true F3 exercise. It wasn’t what YHC had planned for today but it seemed appropriate given the numbers. You know you are a true F3er when you can carry on two different conversations depending on who you are mixed with while the pace car does his thing. Today was perfect evidence of this.

    Thanks y’all. Will save the actual workout for another day.

    Splinter out.