Author: Splinter

Eleven pollen pushers embarked on a well known route. Directions were unenthusiastically announced and then off we went.

The Route

• Summit the mound
• Around the baseball field, left on college, right on Lakewood, right on Wood, left on Baldwin
• Right on Westham, left on Baldwin, wave to Marv sleeping, left on Rock Creek
• Left on Forest, right on University
• 4s: Arlington circle then return
• 5s: Continue up University to Glenwood then left on Julian to the top
• 6s: add Arlington on the way out and back

Numbers, names, prayer requests before YHC took us out.

Moleskin

Two PAX members, one wearing jeans and the other bitter from a loss in the March Madness pool, somehow shared they were wearing the same underwear. I’m glad I missed the setup for that one.

Prayers for those in our PAX dealing with a variety of concerns, Frankie, Lockjaw, Faceplant, and others unspoken.

Fifteen humans and one dog collected in the commons basin to this fabulous Tuesday edition of Spider Run. No complaints from anyone so off we went.

The Route

• Loop in front of the commons then up the stairs and beside the chapel
• Make another left then back to the bat cave direction before heading up Ridgeway
• Collect ourselves at the bottom of Ridgeway while letting the other gaggle of runners go by
• 2 intervals up Ridgeway, continuing on the second to a left on Roselawn
• Stop halfway down Roselawn for 2 more intervals, continuing on the second to a left on Campus
• Collect at the bottom of Old Mill for 2 more intervals, then continue down Campus
• Collect at the bottom of Bostwick for 2 more intervals. Actually, we had time for 3.
• Easy mosey back to the VSF via the most direct path

Numbers, names, YHC took us out.

Moleskin

Even though the hype almost skipped Spider Run, the energy level was high. Pretty much everyone knew what was going on, Anthrax being the least surprised of the bunch. We may not have confused the dog, but we certainly confused all those runners we passed on Ridgeway.

There were various comments from the PAX that they figured something was up when I put out the poll a few weeks ago. Turns out there were no clear and decisive victors. So what does a strong leader do when there are no clear winners? Dictate of course. So we chose 4 hills that received no votes and did intervals on them. While we may have reached the top of two of them, it was still a great combination of hill repeats.

Anytime someone wants to surprise me one day and plan some intervals, feel free. Seems unfortunate I am the only one able to give out this much joy on a regular basis.

Two highlights of the day for me, both on Bostwick. While running beside Chippendale, we made the first turn and his expression said it all. No words, simply a grunt and a groan. Yes, Bostwick sucks.

Second highlight was on the second interval on Bostwick. Faceplant didn’t break story for the entire 1 minute interval. YHC made sure to indirectly call him out by reminding the PAX that if you can tell stories on Bostwick, you aren’t doing it right.

Enjoy the day fellas.

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.

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

• 4s: https://onthegomap.com/s/3ra0mqoj
• 5s: https://onthegomap.com/s/kmn9i6ff
• 6s: https://onthegomap.com/s/850p3g3f
• Walkers did their thing

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.

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

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.

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.