Author: Gomer Pyle

  • You are the light in the darkness

    Prayers for those facing Covid and other darkness in their life.

    We explored the power of light in the darkness, how God created the light and gave us the Word. He also gave us the power to choose the right path AND also the power to bring our light to others. How can you be a light in the darkness for others?

    Genesis 1:1-5 1 In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, ​2the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. ​3Then God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light. ​4And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. ​5God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

    John 1:1-8 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ​He was in the beginning with God. ​All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. ​The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. ​There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. ​He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. ​He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light.

    Matthew 5:14-16 14 ‘You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. ​16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

    Thanks for letting me lead.

    Gitty Up!

  • ukiaH – 0202 fo nur redips tsaL

    8 runners gathers for the end of an upside down kind of year – The reverse haiku.

    Out of parking lot towards Ridgeway to Iris. Cross on 3 Chopt, left on Grove. 4 miler turn around at Oak and back, 5 milers take a loop around Lexington/Albermarle and back and 6 milers do Lex/Abermarle loop and take a right onto grove and turnaround in the Mary Mumford bus loop.

    Prayers for all that are sick or ill right now.

  • Hardcore

    Three Titans gathered on a crisp clear morning to see what would be in store prior to the holidays.

    Thang

    Run to Einstein’s parking lot. Triple check: WWIIs and squats.

    Run to Short pump Park. Triple check LBC’s and swing crunches.

    Run to West broad village East parking deck. Triple check Freddie Mercury’s and decline merkins or shoulder taps.

    3.25 miles. 1.25 pre run.

    BTTF. Probation took us out.

    NMS

    After a quick warm up and gear check we got on the way. Quiet clear morning with frost on the ground. Not too many people around until we got over to WBV. Lighthouse remarked at how much traffic there was – it’s no wonder, we were on the ACAC gym backyard. Several comments from the passers buy about working out outside in the cold including one kind lady who said “yall are hardcore”. Yes ma’am, we are.

    Get some!

  • Dodging bullets. Better than sweating bullets?

    Four of us went out to see just where we might end up. This route cut some corners from the original, and still comes in at 5.5 – but there is no point in running to the lake if you dont run around the lake – come on man!

    Pinto took us out. Prayers for the world.

    .

    NMS – YHC was heartened today by one of our west end neighbors that is always out of Friday when we are. “Run with the Lord!” he always shouts as we run by. We need to get him to a COT to bestow an F3 name. (sadly, Milkshake is taken now) Trying not to be disappointed in our other neighbors… of 2 other runners we got zero reaction our well placed good morning – maybe our lighting was too dazzling, or maybe we just need more RHL leadership examples from Upchuck – HBD brah.

    Most importantly:

    Hot Wash of Pinto’s flawlessly executed far ambush response: return fire and break contact.

    • @WeddingSinger, that means that if you are being shot at while driving on Parham, you should get low and keep driving, ideally laying down suppressive fire, err I mean, shooting back, and Pinto told us the story.
    • The actual story is rather amazing, including Pinto telling Henrico’s finest 911, “Ive been shot” (while meaning his car), and Pinto having to convince the responding officer of said finest that he might have evidence lodged in his personal conveyance, blue in color.
    • Turns out good ol’ M196 5.56/45 mm NATO moves quite well from the top A frame and down the side to the bottom. Good thing the perps know that slightly more powerful 62gr M855 green tips are not allowed on the range. Unfortunately due to pesky court cases, Pinto does not get to keep his ballistic souvenir.

    Sadly one of the shootout victims died. We are very grateful that Pinto can talk about it. Our prayers go out to all involved and their families.

    .

    Currahee!

  • What does a Gypsy weigh

    Seven svelte stallions gathered in the gloom to shake out the cobwebs and enjoy a 3C clear morning. We ran the Brookmont route in reverse.

     

    NMS – This is a solid route and we have not run it since we moved the start so it’s a tad long at 5.5. The good thing is that it should be pretty easy to make into a 6 and 5 for next time. YHC backup headlamp died at 550 in DRP – It’s dark in there and a reminder that headlamps and vests are a good idea at Currahee.

    Mumblechatter on par today, including a debate about the displacement of Gypsy at sea level and the impacts of pesky gravity on saddlebags. Some call them age spots I call them ugly, what’s a woman to do?

    Prayers for us all as we enter a new phase of concern, worry, fear, and government response.

    Let’s reach out to our gym and non gym friends and get them right.

     

  • Rabbit Warren

    5 West end warriors gathered for a perfect running day.

    NMS – The temperature was perfect but the wind and the lack of warm up in the beginning had most of the pax feeling a little rusty. We powered through and our closer to reaching our goals.

    There is something about the neighborhoods just south of Gayton that make YHC feel like we are in a rabbit warren. Just enough gloom and twisting streets that change names do not help. We will figure it out.

    Prayers for today go out to Greenbow and his family and also the people in Central America dealing with back-to-back hurricanes.

    See you’re in the gloom

    Currahee!

  • The art of running in the rain

    8 men lept from the fartsack and into the gloom for a rain. We finished in a downpour. HOOah.

    4 milers – Old Prescott, Glen Eagles, JRP, Ridgefield, Pump

    5 milers – Old Prescott, Glen Eagles, JRP, Gayton, Turnbridge, Weather Vane, Green Mount/Oakney/Clarisbrook, Pump

    NMS – shoes and clothes got a good washing today. Nothing better than that. Route planning at Curahee is a bit challenging because unlike RAMM, where you can just extend or shorten a block to get a precise distance, small changes can swing the distance by 1/2 mile. Missed turns create chaos – like drivers backing down the Jersey Turnpike, if you dont go back you could be going 10 min out of the way. YHC has to admit to second guessing a planned turn that shortened the planned route by .2 miles. This is a good thing because now we have a solid 5 mile loop. YHC favorite occurrence, after coming out of warren den of a neighborhood, is hearing the PAX (Handshake ?) saying something like “Oh THATs Pump”. Its even better when just moments before you can pick up side comments like “where the f*$k are we”. Temporarily misguided on a blue moon, but never in doubt. Thats the way to do it.

    Looking forward to the track opening up.

    Announcements

    • CSAUP 10/23 – need 2 more for a pan Richmond team
    • Shoe drive – gently used shoes for men and boys
    • Beer(x4) mile(x1) at the Carillon 10/17

    Get Some!

  • Take that hill! Hill 341′

    13 warriors braved the last humid day of 2020 to take a little jaunt to the published top of Henrico Shire according to: https://www.peakbagger.com/peak.aspx?pid=23150

    4 milers: around baseball field, College, Lakewood, Wood, Baldwin, Rock Creek, Forest, University, Sawmill, Coleridge, Ridge, Sunset, Westham, Glen, Keller – or just go do what you want.

    5 milers: 4 mile route but stay on University to Henrico (not Glendale), Ridge, Lakewood, Westham, Glen, Keller

    6 milers: 5 mile route with no charge extras: add Arlington off University, add Glendale + Julian (instead of Henrico). add Lindsey off Ridge (instead of Lakewood), then Crenshaw + UR Drive (instead of Keller)

    NMS –

    Prayers for healing and recovery today.

    Good to be back at Spider Run after a IPC sabbatical – YHC realized its been quite some time. Swipers beard is so full, we had to do a double take – its like a mine is missing its forty niner. TYA then rolled up saving the planet with his pedal powered conveyance, Saab, BT and Swiper ran in – Gents the Lorax thanks you. We would love to see the extra credit route that Singer and Shakedown took – is ten minutes the extra credit record?

    YHC was curious if Mount Henrico really was – top researchers confirm that the highest point in Henrico is 340′ in a few places around the county, with hill 341 shown on ridge in the pic above. There is something about the little slog up Henrico Ave that takes it out of you on a humid day, then you turn left on Ridge and there is just a little more. We came, we saw, we conquered.

    Gitty up!

  • Another OTB run

    Nice run on a cool morning. Gypsy and I set out to explore more wed morning run options. Route below.

  • What time? GMT of course

    A fearless five ran off into the gloom on a cool and quiet morning in another installment of breakfast club. Total distance including DogPile is 6 miles.

    NMS – one car on the entire outbound route allowed the PAX to spread out along the roads – quite nice on a cool morning.

    Some discussion of the merits of a fitness device.