Author: Splinter

  • No Scaredy Cats Here

    Nine dudes, including the dude himself, posted for today’s Spider Run. Route was posted yesterday in an alternate channel but everyone still got it. Devil’s pitchfork for all that braved the rain.

    Route

    • Everyone stay on the road and head to River
    • River to Westham Station up South Ridge to the light
    • 4s return
    • 5s hit Highland on the way back
    • 6s hit Highland, Old Bridge, and Panorama

    Numbers (clockwise), names (also clockwise), and YHC took us out.

    Moleskin

    Thanks for all that posted today. Gloomy day for a run. Everyone enjoyed it. EF Hutton even thanked me and told me how much he loved me when we passed on Highland.

    Hitch’s streak was broken today. Bodo’s is the new streaker at Spider Run.

    Announcements

    Heal up everyone!

    Splinter out.

  • Have you Seen Henrico’s Libraries?

    Thirteen survivors of leap day gathered to discuss various rituals that occur on leap day. Since that was such an enthralling conversation, YHC almost forgot instructions. Almost.

    The Route

    • South on Commonwealth into Windsor Farms
    • Berkshire to Sulgrave for 3/4 of the loop then right on Dover
    • Right on Portland then left on Douglasdale
    • Douglasdale changes to McCloy which dumps you into Carytown
    • Work north with 4s turning left on Grove, 5s turning left on Patterson, 6s turning left on Monument
    • Everyone worked their way back to Mary

    Numbers, names, YHC took us out after Hitch’s story of comparing city libraries to county libraries.

    Moleskin

    YHC needed a flat route today. Despite the calls for intervals, we stuck to the route. Nice work all.

    Have a great weekend everyone.

    Splinter

  • Watch Out for that VooDoo Magic

    Twelve misty eyed pavement pounders y un perro gathered in the gloom to hear what was in store today. Luckily, everyone either saw the routes posted or payed attention as no one go lost. Even Hitch made his way back (eventually).

    The Route

    Numbers, names, YHC took us out.

    Moleskin

    Thanks to Saab for entertaining us with yet another slightly off-color joke.

    Unrelated Announcements

    • Ash Wednesday service at the mall tomorrow

    Have a great Tuesday gentlemen.

  • Essex is Sneaky

    Fifteen able bodied athletes gathered in the grey moonlight for a great spider run experience. After blazing through instructions, as almost everyone saw the route posted last night, of we went. Routes were heavy so almost everyone was late. Some more than others.

    The Route

    • By the lake, around the baseball field, left on College
    • Right on Lakewood, right on Wood, left on Baldwin, right on Westham, left on Baldwin, left on Rock Creek, left on Forest, right on University
    • 4s, 5s, 6s all do Essex
    • 5s, 6s do Dinwiddie and Nelson
    • 6s do Nalla and Glendale
    • Return on University via the instructions above

    https://onthegomap.com/s/0hlq4ijj

    Numbers, names, YHC took us out.

    Announcements

    • Sign up for Breaking Bread in your birth month

    Moleskin

    We haven’t gone northwest in a while, saving Henrico’s summit for warmer days. Today’s route used Patterson as the iron curtain, knocking a few times but never crossing.

    6s discussion centered around vacations, offshore/nearshore engineering, and how parents are living the retired life. We almost got picked up by someone on College on the way but, but he was just turning into a driveway. Then we almost got picked up by a gaggle of other runners, but they were just being kind and informing us of ice on the bridge. Maybe one day someone will try to pick up Faceplant.

    Enjoy the day fellas.

    Splinter

  • It Sounded Like a Good Idea

    Thirteen on foot gathered for multiple purposes at today’s Spider Run. Most runners were fully aware of what was in store, and they still showed up. Some runners opted for rucking. Then there were walkers. If you chose the run portion, here’s what we did.

    The Route

    Slowsy as a group on the main road, crossing 1 bridge (sorry Upchuck), before convening on the far side of the intramural field. After a few trips across the turf at 60% and then 80%, instructions were given.

    Line drill intervals. Sprint across the turf to a predetermined position depending on your usual pace. Touch the turf then turn around and sprint back. 4 milers went across to the far side of the midfield soccer circle. 5 milers to the snow man. 6 milers the full length. We rested about 1:15 between intervals.

    Oh yeah, we did 12 of these.

    Slowsy back to the VSF a few minutes early so we could throw snowballs at the ruckers/walkers.

    Numbers, names, YHC took us out.

    Moleskin

    YHC truly appreciates those who knew what was in store and still posted. It was a wild hair idea that I figured I’d try on a day where the roads may be a bit slippery. Turns out the field was likely more slippy.

    Kudos to Bodos who made it maybe one interval before he started making snowballs. YHC is honestly shocked it took that long.

    For the record, he’s also a sandbagger of a sprinter.

    Enjoy the day fellas. My quads and hamstrings are toast!

    Splinter out.

  • SZN of GVN: Coffee Codewords

    Six of the area’s finest departed their vehicles as late as possible for the final week of First Watch in 2023. According to the the man with the broken down Subaru, this may or may not have happened. Quick mosey around the triangle park then back in front of the church for COP.

    COP

    • 20x SSHs
    • 10x HCs
    • 10x DQs
    • 10x IWs
    • 10x HRMs
    • 20x LBCs
    • 15x MCs

    The Thang

    Short mosey to the back porch to pick up the first round of gifts. Turn on the lights then listen to instructions. 4 stations. 20 SSH, 10 WWIIs, 20 Jump Squats, 10 burpees. Between each station run back to the porch for 10 merkins. We did this for ~23 minutes.

    Oh yeah, since we started the year with Leeroy Jenkins we ended with it as well. Everyone except Kubota and Handshake (again) participated.

    Grab the box of Macho Man glasses then head back around the church. Curb crawls to 3 and back. Upchuck offered glasses to the man on the bike but was politely declined.

    Mosey back to they parking lot for 2 rounds of triple check. LBCs, flutter kicks, and run to the light and back. One more opportunity for Leeroy but no one took the bait.

    Numbers (1.5 times through), names, YHC took us out.

    Distribute gifts, there were plenty for each to grab two, then off to coffeeteria.

    Moleskin

    At some point between laps 2 and 3 of the circuit YHC retorted an inappropriate response to Upchuck. Sincerest of apologies.

    YHC caught a little bit of grief for regifting Ukrop’s butterstar cookies. Given it’s after christmas, regifting seemed appropriate.

    Thanks for a great year at First Watch everyone!

    Splinter out.

  • Just the Tip

    Five post xmas spider run stallwarts stared at each other for a bit before instructions were shared and off we went. One did his own thing whereas the others did the prescribed 5 mile route.

    The Route

    • By the lake, over the pavilion, right through the path
    • University to Ralston to River
    • River to Glenbrooke
    • Up Summit
    • Right on Glenbrooke to finish the loop
    • Back the way we came

    Numbers, names, YHC took us out

    Moleskin

    Not a lot of takers for runners this AM. YHC thought there may be a few more that wanted to burn off some xmas calories. Extra dose of hills this AM. Job well done to those who posted.

    Five milers had christmas storytime of yesteryear. Storytime was going great until YHCs story of shutting the door on a new puppy’s tail when YHC was 10 or 11. Luckily for the dog, just the tip was caught, requiring a half dozen stitches. Apparently Saab didn’t appreciate the story as his dinner almost resurfaced.

    Great to catch up with Boberry and to hear of the number of hams he basted and baked this year. Livin’ high on the hog!

    Have a great day gentlemen.

    Splinter out.

  • Q*bert Makes a Comeback

    Thirteen runners and two riders took advantage of a fantastic morning to get some exercise. No haiku run today as YHC beat Lockjaw to the signup sheet. Instead, a retry of the Q*bert run. Strange sounds were emitted from Sippy then off we went.

    The Route

    Numbers, names, YHC took us out.

    Moleskin

    Trumpet nose appears
    Q*bert provides a great run
    Marv limps back to flag

    Great camaraderie at coffeeteria post run. Enjoy the holiday’s everyone.

    Splinter out.

  • Kotters Don’t Like Owls Either

    Sixteen spiderlings gathered on campus, wondering if there was still time to sign up for F3 secret Santa. The route was tried and true… Spider Run’s version of Grooooooooove.

    The Route

    • Through the bat cave, across the bridge, and head upriver
    • 4s turn around at Rivercrest (a little heavy)
    • 5s turn around at Cherokee (a little heavy)
    • 6s go up Rustic, left on Oakleaf, left on Elm, left on Hickory, back down to the river

    Numbers, names, announcements, YHC took us out.

    Moleskin

    Apparently every time Shakedown comes back from an extended Spider Run break, he walks into intervals. Sorry to disappoint today! As Pucker said it, it’s about as flat as you can get at Spider Run.

    Welcome back to Moon Pie after a one year hiatus. Turns out he came back out because he found running by himself near St. Chris to be too scary for him. An owl dive bombed him a few weeks back and he just knew he needed to find a group to run with. Never fear Moon Pie, the owls clearly are scared of us!

    Everyone loves running across the river. The traffic was loud and plentiful today, otherwise it was an enjoyable run. Thanks to all you guys for showing up every week, even if it’s becoming arctic-like.

    Announcements

    • Last day to sign up for F3 secret santa is today
    • 12 days of xmas at No Toll next Tuesday. Let’s try to do something special at Spider Run next Tuesday to honor the tradition. Sign up!
    • Watch out for those potholes on Hickory!

  • You Breathe Too Much

    Fourteen Beaver Moon gazers gathered to share Thanksgiving driving stories as a means to delay launch this AM. Launch was not delayed. Instructions were shared and off we went for:

    The Route

    Everyone did the following loop, depicted in the attached map: https://onthegomap.com/s/mrjrduro

    • Batcave
    • Right on Westham Station
    • 6s only: Up Highland to River and back
    • Right up South Ridge
    • 5s & 6s: Left on Ross to the bottom and back
    • Continue on to Westham
    • Right on University
    • Left on College
    • Right on Campus
    • Right into the college
    • Take the right loop by the football stadium BTTVSF

    Numbers, names, and YHC took us out.

    Announcements

    • Great year for Breaking Bread. Thanks to Oyster for coordinating and all the people who volunteered. 2024 slots are open.
    • HDHH on 12/6 @ the wonderfully smelling Final Gravity @ 6PM. Lockjaw will be there.

    Moleskin

    Mumblechatter was at a minimum until everyone warmed up this AM. As the 5s emerged from the cave, stories started about the power of breathing. Bodos may not be our resident pulmonary specialist; however, he has studied a lot about breathing. Singular takeaway from this AM, don’t breathe too much.

    Many a comment about the November Full Moon, a.k.a. The Full Beaver Moon. No beaver sightings this morning but we were all looking!

    For all y’all holiday travelers. Make sure you double strap your roof torpedo before heading out on the road!

    See ya!

    Splinter