Author: Splinter

  • Pre-Turkey Trot

    Twenty tryptophan trekking titans turned loose at various times to attempt to all finish a 10k by 0615. The route was well rehearsed and published in advance. Most everyone got it. One group left at 0510. After Saab recognized the stranger standing beside him, Hutton called 0515 and a large group took off. Four more of the fast gobblers took off at 0525.

    The Route

    https://onthegomap.com/s/fmrolial

    Authentic Turkey Trot Routes

    My watch had exactly 6.2.

    Moleskin

    Great to see a wide variety of the region’s best join us at Spider Run today. Always good to catch up with the broader PAX. Best to all with their Thanksgiving Day festivities and celebrations.

    Announcements

    • Faceplant has the Q at Dogpile on Saturday. Turns out it is his Dogpile VQ he’s been planning for 6 years. Seems suspicious but he did offer to buy breakfast for anyone that brings an FNG. So bring an FNG, get a free breakfast. No questions asked. Saab already claimed the person at the corner of Parham & Patterson.
    • Know a great man that needs some assistance? See Fudd’s post on Slack.
    • 6am @ Mary Munford this Thursday for an authentic Virginia lesson on thanks and giving.
    • HDHH 12/6 @ 6PM @ Final Gravity. Humidity is guaranteed to be high.

    Have a great week everyone

  • Confused by Cold Cellars

    Eight First Watch regulars, including one who declared it may never get cold enough to wear his Patriots beanie, gathered in the parking lot waiting for some natural light. Since no natural light existed, we made our own fireworks. Off we went to the front of the school for:

    COP

    • 20x SSH
    • 1x Merkin
    • 10x Copperhead squats
    • 2x Merkins
    • 10x Mountain Climbers
    • 3x Merkins
    • 20x LBCs
    • 4x Merkins
    • 10x Hellicopters
    • 5x Merkins
    • 10x Monkey Humpers
    • 6x Merkins
    • 15x Arm Circles
    • 7x Merkins
    • 10x Lunges
    • 8x Merkins
    • 10x Something or others
    • 9x Merkins
    • 10x Heels to Heaven
    • 10x Merkins

    The Thang

    After a few PAX members dried off after COP, we moseyed back the other direction toward Lindsay. Despite a PAX suggestion for 31 minutes of Don Quixote’s, we did a downhill version of Love Hill. Partner up, one runs to the bottom then back up while partner is doing exercises. Exercises were crab walks, lunges, broad jumps. YHC drew the lucky straw and had Garbage Plate who apparently does crab walks on wheels.

    10 count then 11 Merkins.

    Different partner then back up the hill. Exercises were polar bears, duck walks, broad-jump burpees up to the top.

    10 count then 12 merkins

    Scurry back over to the parking lot, waiting for teachers to arrive, but no teachers today. We did 11s instead. Bernie sanders across the lot, then backwards up the hill for WWIIs. Forward run down the hill and across the lot for jump squats. Either Mr Rogers & YHC miscounted or everyone else cheated.

    13 merkins.

    Quick circle for 20x Freddie Mercuries before numbers, names, and Garbage Plate took us out.

    Announcements

    • Shoe drive has begun. Mr Rogers will collect at Dogpile. Ask around for other POCs for other regions.
    • Thanksgiving convergence @ Mary. More details to follow.
    • Tuck-a-ruck Friday @ Hoedown @ 18:45. See Lockjaw for deets.

    Have a great day fellas!

  • Back Third of the Spider

    Fourteen astute listeners gathered for a pre-published but somewhat complicated Spider Run today. The route included the last half of the turkey trot route in 2 weeks. Something like this (read in micro-machines format)

    The Route

    • Up around the baseball field then left on College
    • Right on Lakewood
    • 4s left on Westham
    • 5/6 right on Wood to Waveny
    • 5s left on Westham
    • 6s right on Westham, left on Woodberry, left on Sweet Briar, left on Baldwin, right on Westham
    • Everyone south on Westham to left on Club Vista
    • Left on College
    • Right on Westhampton which turns into Keller if you go straight
    • Right on Westhampton
    • Right on UR
    • Right on Crenshaw
    • Uturn at Modlin parking lot
    • Left on UR
    • Counterclockwise loop on the big hill for a downhill finish

    Numbers, names, YHC took us out.

    Moleskin

    Everyone has been thrilled with the ample turns the past few weeks. YHC is sure you have them all memorized for 2 weeks from now.

    Announcements

    • Dogpile needs a Q this weekend for those not running Richmond
    • Richmond marathon this weekend for some
    • Tuckaruck Friday 11/17. See Lockjaw/slack for details
    • 11/21 10k @ Spider Run. Arrive as early as necessary to finish a 10k by 615. Route is here.

    See ya’ll.

  • Halloween Havoc

    Eight of the area’s finest gathered in the light mist for today’s Spider Run. With no one reviewing routes prior to launch, one round of instructions didn’t suffice. YHC had enough and off we went, offering traveling instructions for the sixes. Today was the middle section of the turkey trot route, everything up through going south on Westham. Here are the instructions, typed out as complicated as possible.

    The Route

    Left out of parking lot and left in front of the Commons. Veer right around the lake and take your first left up the hill. Right at the top of the hill, behind the Greek Theatre, then right at the tennis courts, down the hill, dumping you out at the lake bridge. Left through the path, right on College, left on Lakewood then left on Westham. That’s mile 1 folks, and the end of this week’s turkey trot preview.

    Everyone turn right on Sunset (aka the fake university according to Wedding Singer). Left on Ridge, right on Holmes to Ziontown. 6s go right on Ziontown to Ridge then turn around and head back, following these directions. Ziontown to University, right on Ralston. 6s continue on Ralston and do a loop around Windsor on the James before heading back on Ralston. Turn onto Rose Hill, right on Kingston, left on Gaymont, right on University. Back University, through the path, left across the bridge and BTTVSF.

    https://onthegomap.com/s/d2ep2a1j

    4s did 4. 6s did 6. YHC was the only 5 so mother goose it was.

    Apologies for the number of turns this morning. There was good intent.

    Announcements

    • Turkey Trot 11/21 @ Spider Run. Launch whenever needed to finish a 10k by 6:15. Full route will be posted soon

    Be safe out there today everyone.

    Splinter out.

  • Just a Taste of the Turkey

    Seventeen or so young lads gathered to discuss what a non Lockjaw Q may look like. We waited for Lockjaw to appear but he never did. The only directions this morning were that we were tackling the first third of the turkey trot route. Off we went, ready for some intervals.

    The Route

    Warm up run by the lake, veering right up the first hill. Pause for brief instructions. Two intervals up the first hill with the first treated as a warm up and the second continuing up the hill and out Campus.

    Continue up Campus then u-turn down Towana. 1 mile marker is right at the u-turn. Collect ourselves at the intersection of Towana & Roselawn. Two intervals up Towana and two up Roselawn. Recover uphill after the second interval on Roselawn to a right on Ridgeway.

    Continue down Roselawn, briefly disturbing the peace, earmuffs for “shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit”, then collect ourselves at the corner of Ridgeway and Fairway. Two intervals back up Ridgeway plus a bonus interval for Bodos to try to prove himself.

    Recover back to the VSF for numbers, names, and YHC took us out.

    Moleskin

    Great turnout for the first non-Lockjaw run in these parts since August. The thirteen or so runners today shouldn’t have any difficulty remembering the first 2.25 miles of the Turkey Trot on 11/21.

    Prayers out to our PAX members that are dealing with difficult times, whether work, personal, or physical.

    Good luck to Bone Thugs as he tackles his first half marathon this weekend. You will crush it!

    Peace out fellas.

    Splinter

  • Lock Blocked by the Tennis Team

    Eight early risers convened in the RRCB parking lot for this week’s iteration of First Watch. After questioning Wojo’s mode of transportation and celebrating the news, off we went, some with one headlight.

    The Thang

    Traveling COP as we worked toward campus. Various dynamic exercises at various stops until we reached the tennis courts by the greek theatre. Apparently those courts are for the exclusive use of private school attendees, possibly singularly for the elite tennis team. For the record, JMU has the all-time series record against the mens team and won 8 in a row against the ladies team. Nevertheless, after being blocked by the lock, we shifted over to the greek theatre for an altered tribute to the US Open.

    Commence 5-set match. 3 separate exercises in 15/30/40 rep sequence, with a run to the top of the theatre and back between sets. Sets were something like:

    • Merkins, mountain climbers, LBCs
    • Shoulder tap merkins, jump squats, WWIIs
    • CDDs, lunges, don’t know
    • Werkins, donkey kicks, flutter kicks
    • Burpees, reverse lunges, american hammers

    Run back to the top and work our way BTTVSF with traveling lindsay, starting with squats/lbcs and switching to monkey humpers/heels to heaven.

    One final stop at the park for 2 burpee ring of fire with Señor Frog attempting a mutiny.

    Numbers, names, YHC took us out.

    Moleskin

    Mumblechatter was intermittent today, due to all the counting, but it was still strong. It was a great day for Ronnie yesterday, let’s celebrate the wins… even if models sometimes get swapped out for librarians.

    Best of luck to all our pax that are on the mend, especially prayer requests for Mr Frog as he hopefully gets a diagnosis that helps.

    Celebrate the wins everyone! Getting up and working out is a great start! Have a great day all.

  • Phonics Intervals, Reprise

    Seventeen Oyster-50th-beatdown dodgers gathered in the sludge to see what sort of shadows could be cast. Even though warning shots were fired, no one took the bait. A different kind of intervals were called this morning.

    The Route

    Slow mosey in front of the commons, up by the chapel, across the slick bridge to the multi-purpose field. one quick lap so everyone knew what we were doing then instructions were called.

    Partner up with someone of equal ability. One partner runs around the field hard (80-90%) while the other recovers. Tag team for about 28 minutes before slow moseying back to the flag.

    3 minutes of light stretching as the street lamps cast light that glistened off the pooling sweat.

    Numbers, names, Bone Thugs tooks us out.

    Moleskin

    YHC remembers this being a good change of pace from typical routes and intervals. Good thing UR replaced that barely worn activity field with fresh turf. It was lush.

    The recovery period offers time for mumblechatter. Discussion of gas chambers, nascar drivers, pouring milk before cereal, and friday night UR parties dominated the discussions YHC heard.

    Somehow EF Hutton had a dime sized spot in the middle of his shirt that was still dry. I’ll give him the opportunity to explain how that could be possible.

    Happy 50th Oyster!

    Announcements

    • Labor day convergence 7am Dogpile

    Enjoy the Tuesday everyone!

  • The Devil went down to the Taint

    Fourteen able bodied gentlemen huddled to hear early instructions. Barely a question was asked, although perhaps there should have been a few more.

    The Route

    Through the bay cave, across the perfectly designed new Starbucks parking lot then west on Westham Station. Veer right past the lost CSX truck then head up South Ridge to the light.

    • 4s turn around and come home
    • 5s and 6s take a right on Ross and go into the darkness. Returning back up the same hill.
      6s were supposed to take Highland but they got lost on Ross.

    We all made it back before YHC took us out.

    Moleskin

    Someone mentioned to me a few weeks ago that we hadn’t run up ridge in a while, thus the inspiration. Modified pitchfork to include the taint. Everyone was thrilled.

    Glad to see we still have a strong group of walkers. Personally, I was thankful for Fudd and his willingness to pull me along today. Thanks!

    Have a great day everyone!

  • Are we ‘At’ or ‘Around’ Mary?

    Eleven of the best the commonwealth has to offer gathered on the pavement this time for some running at/around (but not in) Mary. Route was posted last night but there were still ample questions, primarily questioning whether this was a variation of the reverse or regular Carillon route. I called reverse, but on second thought maybe it was forward. Only the cowgirl truly knows.

    The Route

    https://onthegomap.com/s/ok664otj

    5s don’t do the loop at the beginning, just head down grove

    4s head down grove and right on Auburn and ditch the falcon at the end (no takers)

    Walkers did this in reverse and got in 2.75.

    Moleskin

    Say what you want about our lack of ability sometimes to consistently post at Mary (either 45 or running) but when this group gets together, comedy ensues. YHC never knew there was such disagreement on the preposition in the middle of this AOs moniker. TYA birthed it, so he gets to make the final call.

    Discussion included whether we should revert back and do another year of Grove or if Marv will mutiny again. Perhaps we should sign up Lockjaw to Q for the rest of the year again. All great memories that will likely not be repeated.

    Welcome FNG Frankie! Aptly named as Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons was his first concert. Frankie is 28 so he probably saw the real Frankie when he was 75 years old.

    Have a great weekend y’all.

    Splinter

  • Temple of the Dog

    Seventeen dog lovers plus six unexpected human lovers huddled in the waning darkness for this week’s Spider Run/Walk. Directions were repeated a few times before launching promptly on time.

    The Route

    Numbers, names, announcements, YHC took us out.

    Announcements

    • According to Shakedown (via southern Seattle), we do things differently in RVA
    • Prayers for Kubota’s family

    Moleskin

    YHC posted he was going to be walking yesterday but didn’t realize there was going to be so much company. 6 walkers (if my count is correct), 11 runners, 6 perros. Conversation amongst the walkers consisted of vacation recaps, the proliferation of 2 week vacationers, hr sensitive topics, and of course baseball. We made it back a little late, only because we were having so much fun.

    Kudos to the runners today, some of whom were almost thwarted by an apparent theft of the Pepper Ave sign. Probably those crazy St. Chris kids who think a missing sign is going to prevent them from going back to school. Glad (most) everyone enjoyed the route and made it back on time.

    Enjoy the day fellas. It promises to be a great one.

    Splinter out.