A lucky 7 arrived for a route and individual means of locomotion.
Saab abides
RAMM-CARILLON
https://onthegomap.com/s/huaedhb7
Tag: RAMM
Mary Munford Elementary
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Questionable Cause and Effect
Why 11 pax you ask…because it’s one more.
Biggest takeaway was TYA’s apparent hobby of identifying obscure patterns in society…such as identifying a relationship between degrees of prejudice and penis size.
YHC is still not clear which comes first….
Saab abides
RAMM Routes
6.1 mile route
5 mile route
4 mile route -
To save or not to save daylight….
Among the 6, both 4 and 5 mile distances were chosen.
Saab abides
RAMM 1800
We will head out to Lafayette then W Franklin and loop back toward Grove at varying locations depending on distance.
4s: https://onthegomap.com/s/5eha4kmp
5s: https://onthegomap.com/s/3tsk0njm
6s: https://onthegomap.com/s/0g6mfb69
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North, West, East
Eleven, including 2 on two wheels, gathered in our usual spot for this week’s Q-less edition of RAMM. Never fail, 5:24 route creation from the warmth of YHCs heated seats resulted in a plan.
Even with one of the gear heads (but not the actual gear head) annoyingly circling and distracting the relaying of the instructions, instructions were provided and understood. Marv, questioning what time it was, prodded the group to get started for:
The Route
North on Commonwealth then back to grove.
West on Grove then back to Commonwealth.
East on Grove then back to Commonwealth.
4s turn around at Cutshaw, Lexington, Thompson.
5s turn around at Augusta, Oak, Nansemond.
6s turn around at Broad, Seneca, Roseneath.
Moleskin
Seems like many of the PAX have emerged from hibernation, YHC included. Great to see some kotters Kebab and Garbage Plate.
The gears guys actually came back for COT this week. This offered a chance for a someone crude but nevertheless funny joke to be told with reference to Lewinsky and a cigar. Had to be there to hear it.
Great fellowship post run, even without free coffee. Which, by the way, sounds like a great idea for RAMM…
Announcements
- Hitch is a royal celebrity, read his article posted on slack
- Hitch and family also helped out with the Valentine museum on their latest exhibit Dissent! I clicked through, and wow! Some pretty amazing work there. Nice work M Hitch!
Splinter out.
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Absence makes the heart grow fonder
Out of the mists of a 70 and sunny day, three strong emerged to get their day off to a running start. The team of three had all the normal distances covered although YHC may not have made 4 exactly but hard to know as my watch died.
Saab and YHC went off as the only two at the start. Vigorous conversation ensued but then abated as we could not keep up the pace of conversation some of our experienced pax members (and certainly not of the most recent addition to the pax). But more importantly Saab is faster than me even when returning from injury. General route was west on Grove, right on Granite (for 4) and right on Maple (for 5), all took a right on Patterson, left on Willow Lawn, right on Franklin, right on Lafayette then back up Grove.
Sippy had arrived just after we left and made his own route in search of porta potties but without the use of Hitch’s PortaDash app. Which is so 2025. Not sure of his exact route but it involved Windsor Farms and I’m sure his pace was much greater than mine and likely Saab’s.
All three returned to the AO at the appointed time and were happy to see one another again after our solo runs.
YHC took us out. Peace to all those supporting family members and friends in their time of need.
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That’s not my handlebar
RAMM. No Q on the sheet. No master plan. Just men showing up in the gloom and choosing movement.
It was decided let’s run towards U of R
Sippy Cup and Marv headed toward campus to send some good juju toward the Rams.
Chippendale, YHC and Swiper followed also toward University of Richmond, though we didn’t complete the full stadium loop. Swiper rolled out with us for a bit before dropping back, hope you’re good.
Saab walk out for a walk, but we saw him running back!
TYA was the lone biker — no pack, no draft, just grinding solo. Respect.
One of the best parts of the morning was the conversation with Chippendale. Miles make space for real talk. We covered family, vacations, world travels, stories about his dad, and the complicated, humbling reality of parents aging. It was honest, reflective, and exactly why these runs matter. The miles were slow, the conversation was better.
Notable moment: As Chippendale and I trailed Marv and Sippy Cup, we noticed a lone stranger standing on a corner. Looked like he was cheering them on… until they passed and he started jogging behind them. Protective instincts engaged. We eased back to keep eyes on it. Situational awareness at its finest. In the end, no incident. No headlines.
We regrouped and closed out together.
Praises:
TYA shared gratitude for all of us showing up and putting in the work. Early mornings don’t happen by accident.
Prayers:
For Marv’s wife.
For Marv’s friend Allison.
Marv took us out with thoughtful, kind words that grounded the morning in purpose.
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On a Scale of 1-10
Seven of Westmoreland’s finest gathered for what may be the last running meetup for a while. Consensus was no one wants to run on crunchy black ice. Regardless, YHC called a route that was only partially stolen from Marv. That’s what you get when you sit in a car and plan a route before stepping out.
The Route
- Meander over to Malvern and right into Windsor Farms
- Do the back loop around to left on Dover
- Cut through to Lock Lane
- Inspect to see if we can sneak past the guard gate
- Right on Charmian
- Left on Charmian
- Right on West Hillcrest
- Left to Cary then cross to Oak.
- 4s Oak to Grove then back home.
- 5s/6s Oak past Grove, past Patterson to a right on Park
- 5s right on Commonwealth (a little short)
- 6s right before 195 then back on Grove
Numbers, self-rating, YHC took us out.
Announcements
- Pigskin still going to the Bridge tomorrow, see Slack
- Blank Space VQ at Dogpile tomorrow
- Frozen Triangle coming up Super Bowl weekend
- F3 is open to everyone once, then men
Moleskine
There were some crazy bikers heading east on Cary when the 5s crossed Cary into Windsor Farms. I mean, who bikes when it’s that cold, doesn’t stop at stop lights, and has music playing on a bluetooth speaker while riding? Must have been some of those millennials. We put them in their place.
Conversation in COT centered around rating scale of rabbits and how accurate it can be when it’s 0530 and dark.
Stay warm my friends.
Splinter Out
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Frozen Carillon Triangle’ish
10 total at RAMM/RAMM Gears this morning. 4 6-mile rabbits (well, Faceplant and the Respect Rabbits), 2 5-milers, 2 ruckers and 2 bikers braced for the windchill.
YHC posted routes last night – heading to the Carillon through WF and the 6-milers were supposed to continue around Park to Shirley to Spottswood to BURPEE LAKE, but Faceplant took them around Swan Lake (an acceptable alternative), then back to Arthur Ashe to Grove.
5’s hit the Carillon and then headed up Blanton to Sheppard to Grove.
All back on Grove.
The Ruckers spent more time in Windsor Farms searching for Marcel Marceau. Still no luck.
The bikers minimized any flesh showing and avoided frostbite – I think.
We counted, announced and prayed. Then dispersed for heat. Thanks for coming out gents!
No More Gumbo For You!
PS – YHC will be giving the porta-potty at Richmond Little League a positive review on Hitch’s Porta-Dash. 5 stars for right place, right time!
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Average Respect
7 bipeds of average age hit the streets of Richmond. Ruckers covered a variety of interests and topics as the miles passed by.
YHC took us out.
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Faceplant Was Supposed to Do It
Five of us were there. Two walkers, one thought he was solo until two more showed up. Walkers tried to get lost in Windsor Farms, runners did something easy (directions wise).
Faceplant apparently owes Bodos another backblast from somewhere…
Coffeteria at Libbie Market was excellent as usual.
Splinter out