Author: Upchuck

  • She’s Using Stretchy Bands

    One PAX launched into the south Florida Gloom. Conditions were remarkably close to 70 and sunny, albeit with a lump of humidity. According to the 80-year old man on a bicycle, the following more or less happened:

    Route: South on the Hollywood Boardwalk, then north. R/T just about 3.5 miles. Walking pace, due to calf injury. Number, name, YHC took himself out.

    NMS: YHC has been nursing a recurring calf injury since mid-November. It’s painful (see Pyle, Gomer). In addition, it’s a downer. Walking trumps doing nothing, but nothing trumps being fit enough to work out. Important lesson to remember. YHC is glad he jump out of the Fart Sack and made something of the morning.

    And, then this gem: YHC came upon a woman with stretchy bands. Good thing she was not strong enough to pull the pole over.

    Shortly after this video, YHC came upon the scene of a felony, or at least a misdemeanor serious enough to merit crime scene tape, 6-8 police officers, and a camera man, etc. YHC assumes it was an actual crime scene, not a TV show. But, it’s south Florida, so who knows?

    Never boring.

  • Let’s Talk Hernias

    5 men plus two pooches launched on three routes. Conditions remained seasonally exceptional at 70 and sunny. According to Walter, the following happened:

    Route: Bridge, Buttermilk, bridge, North Bank (Pigskin does a 4 mile out and back; YHC and Walter do a 25 minute out and 25 minute back):

    Results:

    Walter started out in the lead.

    Walter was passed by Doublemint, then Pigskin and Rip Cord.

    Walter was passed by Sally and Offshore.

    Walter was passed by Helix.

    Walter passed Offshore and Sally.

    Walter was passed by Offshore and Sally.

    Walter reached the midpoint of the Nickel Bridge.

    (1.5 miles of walking and 23 minutes later…)

    Walter watched Pigskin returning. Walter turned around. Pigskin passed Walter.

    Walter returned BTTVSF.

    Pigskin was gone.

    Walter counted to 2. YHC took us out.

    Announcements:

    Rip Cord is expecting to add 2 live humans to his crew on Friday. Best wishes to him and his family on a safe and easy delivery. As is our tradition, F3RVA treats all PAX members and their families as though they are our family. And, we name everyone. So, whoever has the Q on Saturday will name the two new children. Apparently, Mrs. Rip Cord is fine with this, though the grandparents may feel slighted.

    NMS:

    Nice, crisp morning for a run / jog / walk. YHC was glad to get outside and work the heartbeat up to 80 BPM while walking. Walter thinks the trails are the best.

    Doublemint and Pigskin chatted about hernias.

  • Barbara Can’t Be 61

    2 delivered for 8 at this evening’s version of Breaking Bread. Temperatures remained steady at 70 and conditions after dark remained sunny. According to Veers, YHC’s 15-year old, the following might have happened:

    Dinner of warm ham, buttered green beans, homemade mashed potatoes, King’s Hawaiian rolls, chocolate chip cookies, and some tea / lemonade. YHC and Veers were even allowed inside briefly to drop the food. Several appreciative guests thanked us.

    NMS: Barbara thanked us for the successful weekend meals (last night via Pucker as well as this evening). She remains exceptionally appreciative of this group. She mentioned that the charity of this group adds a bit of joy to the guests at the holidays. Well said.

  • Walter’s Prostate

    Eight on two feet and three on four-feet launched at 7 with temps sunny and 70. According to the fur-lined lady, the following may have happened:

    Route: 3 plus Sally and PETA took on Buttermilk to North Bank, while 4 walked Buttermilk to Reedy Creek, back on the gravel path with Walter.

    Note: Offshore is concerned about Pigskin. YHC apologies. Pigskin ran out and back – YHC believes his normal 20-20 out and back loop.

    Announcements: Walter’s prostate is clear.

    NMS: Plans well underway for a next set of ultra tests in the spring. Nice to see Ollivander again.

    YHC has been rehabbing a couple of nicks. Nice to get out there for a solid hike and to bring along Walter for his first F3 post. With a solid 3 miles today, Walter was appreciative of the journey and the fellowship.

    Good chatter at ETs. Quality of food remains a COVID-casualty.

  • Rumblin’, Stumbin’, Bumblin…

    Six men, or seven as Saab ran a brutal route, posted – or hit the post and then posted – to the latest edition of Sunday Funday. Conditions everywhere other than crossing the Nickel Bridge, were 70 and sunny. According to the 40 or so bushes that Peta pee-tad on, here’s what might have happened.

    Route was decided incrementally – live-in-the-moment style.

    Initial Route: let’s go over the bridge first.

    Next Turn: Take a right at The Lariat, unless YHC is the runner, then take a left and win the prize for “first to the water fountain.” Never hesitate in life to win an event that others do not know they are participating in.

    Next Turn: Around, if you are Pigskin. BTTVSF. 4 mile round trip.

    Next Turn: T-Pottersfield Bridge.

    Next Turn: Sippy / Helix do the hill up to the War Memorial. YHC again goes left along the railroad tracks.

    Next Twist (or perhaps turn): Something in YHC’s left achilles.

    Next Turn: Left at the Texas Beach Parking Lot to stay on the new trail, which is several years old.

    Next Turn: Sippy Cup RIGHT at the wooden walkways and BTTVSF / off to worship. Nice to run with Sippy. All others LEFT towards the tracks / river / parking lot.

    Numbers, Names, YHC took us out.

    Announcements: TYA is hosting some sort of walk-about on Friday at 7 a.m. at the really big hut in Forest Hill Park. Run on the trails, walk fast on the trails, run on the road, bike on the trails, or bike on the roads, or all of the above. If you want to win, clear your schedule for the day or be ready to pull a Gillooli. Last person to complete a full loop wins. Bring kids, spouse, family, friends, friends of friends, special friends, friends with privileges, girlfriends, boyfriends, or someone else’s friends. Regardless of the outcome, rest assured TYA will come in third in the female, 50-59 age group. He always does.

    NMS: Quite a day. “Sunday Funday” is not precisely the term. Sunday Falling Apart Day is more like it.

    Someone give Pigskin a hug. His interactions with solid objects were numerous today. First, there was a car meets fence post incident and later a couple of diving plays while on the trails. Vaya con Dios, ese. Ten cuidado.

    Congrats to TYA on completing the JFK 50 miler without breaking a leg, an ankle, your nose, etc. Sounds like a battle of attrition.

    YHC thanks those who made him laugh today at ET’s.

  • Sea Terrace Community Park

    ONE pax again sallied forth to take on The Gloom. Conditions were 70 and sunny with a layer of Pacific fog and solid darkness. According to the wild rabbits in the park, the following quite possibly happened.

    COP
    Jog around hotel grounds exiting into the park.
    SSHs
    IWs
    DQ’s
    Hillbillies
    HRMs
    LBCs

    Mosey to the concrete trail. The trail meanders through the park with alternating light poles on the right/left sides every 30 yards. The park is extensive – estimating 1 mile wide. Lotta poles. The trails roughly make a triangle.

    Outbound: 5 HRMs on the right; 5 WWIIs on the left.

    Base: Five 4-count flutter kicks on right, five 4-count reverse crunches

    Return: Five “Make Helix Great Again” squats on the right, five 4-count Freddy Mercuries on the left.

    COT: Number, name, message was ‘find a person to help today’

    Announcements: Honestly, any announcements would feel like YHC was just muttering to himself in the darkness of a public park. THat’d be weird.

    NMS: Perfect weather along the Pacific Coast. No humidity and somehow a little moisture in the air from the fog. Bizarre. Also, YHC honored his friend EF Hutton who is a little under the weather by making extra sure to tuck-in his shirt today. Boom.

  • One Guy Didn’t Have a Surfboard

    ONE pax shot out of bed, formed a circle of one, and ran off into the early Pacific Gloom. Temperatures were 70 and sunny. According to the wet suit wearing wave riders, the following may have occurred:

    Route: Niguel Road west across Pacific Coast Highway. Left at the Beach Access Staircase. Down the access road to Salt Creek Beach. South the jetty. Two laps up and down the beach. Return up (it’s about a 15% grade, so literally up) the Access Road to the stairs, and reverse the route BTTVSF. Call it 5-6 miles.

    For efficiency purposes, number, name, and COT while in line for coffee and breakfast.

    Announcements: After Thanksgiving run at 7:00 am. Loop after loop. Bring family, friends, etc.

    NMS: YHC absolutely loves running on the beach. In the dark. Today was a wet one – not rain, but high tide. Water temp of 63, and air temp of 53. For those who track these things, it was one of those weird California days where water was warmer than air. 63 is still not warm, thus the surfers in the Gloom wearing full suits, but darn fun. Cold, wet, and sandy. Great morning.

  • Derkins at the Buffalo; Flutters at the Cattle

    Derkins at the Buffalo; Flutters at the Cattle

    One PAX answered the bell and took on the challenge of a 15th and Dodge beatdown. Temperatures, at least for the moment, were 70 and sunny. According to the two ladies walking their dog downtown, the following quite possibly occurred.

    COP – Jog two blocks to the federal building, conveniently offering fully mirrored windows, thus giving the COP the feeling of a bar class. A circle of one did the following:

    SSHs, DQs, IWs, DMH, WWIIs.

    Run up/west on Capitol to the top of the hill (about 6 long blocks). When the road ends, turn around. Mosey back down the hill, saying hello to the two ladies walking their dog at 4:45 a.m.

    Staying on Capitol, head east / downhill. Starting with the first bench, alternate 10 derkins and 10 four-count flutter kicks at each bench that is parallel to Capital. YHC estimates 20 benches. Some benches, inexplicably, are perpendicular to Capitol. Do 10 WWIIs. Figure there were 8 of those.

    If any of that sounds odd, consider that, roughly at 16th Street and continuing to 14th, there is a life-sized art display on westward expansion. Do 10 squats at each large animal (bison, horse, cattle). Don’t do any exercises at the geese suspended from a light pole. That would be stupid.

    Notwithstanding any of the above, in the event YHC becomes confused, the option is available to perform derkins at the buffalo or flutters at the cattle. It’s YHC against YHC, and YHC hasn’t had his coffee.

    After the benches, run about 1.5 miles up and down Capitol.

    Light stretching at 15th and Dodge to conclude.

    Number, name, YHC took himself out with a reminder to practice a smidge more patience and a bunch of kindness. Oh, and a thank you to those who have served as Marines (today) and in general as veterans (tomorrow).

    NMS:

    YHC is in Omaha for a few days, and it was nice to have one morning when the wind was only blowing 15 MPH with no rain. YHC thanks Kubota for the wake-up text, but notes that with DST and the time zone change, YHC has been up for hours.

  • We’re Going to Orlando

    8 male, 2-footed runners joined one somewhat standoffish 4-footed female for a saunter around the trails. According to Gopi, who is prepping for the Richmond Marathon, here is more or less what happened:

    Route:

    Buttermilk, T. Pottersfield Bridge, North Bank, except that some runners did the Long Way around Belle Isle and some runners did out and back 20 minutes each way.

    Numbers, Names, YHC took us out.

    Announcements:

    TYA has a race set up at 07:00 on the day after Thanksgiving. 4 mile loop every hour. Start a new loop every hour until you cannot or do not want to continue. Anthrax and Swiper are ready to challenge for the title of Incredibly Fit Man with the Least to Do on the Day after Thanksgiving.

    Offshore is looking for chaperones for a last minute trip to an engineering conference in Florida this week. Reach out to him if you speak technical Spanish.

    NMS: Cooler temps and somehow a slog around the trails. YHC thanks Gopi (dude YHC met running today) for the solid push. Good luck on the Marathon.

    ETs was excellent as always.

  • Loops and Lariats

    Hard to say, but something like 6 showed up for this week’s version of Sunday Funday. Temps remained at exactly 70 with sunny skies. According to Anthrax’s dog, PETA, the following all happened approximately 2 minutes before Anthrax showed up.

    06:57 : Saab launches.

    07:00 : Shakedown, Sippy Cup, Lab Rat, and UpChuck launch. Route was Buttermilk (+Lariat), Forest Hill, then fire road with Shakedown and Lab Rat returning via North Bank.

    07:03 : Anthrax and PETA launch. They ran what they ran.

    Sippy and YHC circled, numbered, named, and COT’d thinking others were going much further. YHC apologizes for under-estimating the speed of the remaining PAX (or over-estimating our own speed).

    NMS: Great to catch up with Sippy Cup for today’s run. YHC always learns something with Sippy; today was no exception. Thank you.