Mary Munford Elementary
Haiku run for all
Upchuck is Cali dreaming
Workout on the beach
Shakedown feels better
Going to Beck – Odelay!
Got Devil’s Haircut
Labrat saw Flipper
He said he has hinging ribs
Is that possible?
YHC took us out.
Announcements:
Time to Taper,
Lockjaw
Eleven relatively on-time steeds plus three early birds convened post-run to celebrate this week’s RAMM. Routes were given to a small group while others filtered in:
The Route
Everyone work their way over to Monument. West on Monument to Willow Lawn. Left on Willow Lawn then right on Patterson. Left on Libbie then left on Grove. Back to the VSF.
4 milers went up Commonwealth to Monument.
5 milers went east on Grove to Hamilton to Monument.
6 milers went east on Grove to Cleveland to Monument.
Numbers, names, announcements, and YHC took us out.
Moleskin
Chatter was lively in the 6 mile crew today with many questions centered around the CSAUP and its potential next year. Phonics was keen to identify the luck we had in avoiding the NASCAR event this weekend. That was not on YHCs radar when the date was picked. That could have made Meadowbridge that much more interesting.
About half the PAX strolled in right at 5:30 and YHC did not feel compelled to repeat himself as representation was had from 4, 5, and 6 milers. Hope everyone found their way accordingly.
I will state that the 6 mile route was clocked at 6.00 miles on the garmin this morning. I can only assume the other routes were equally as perfect.
YHC is extremely thankful for being dragged out to F3 three years ago. It’s a great story if you haven’t heard it and I’m thankful to Fudd for the persistence. There are times I reflect on the people I know and the things I have done and realize none of them would have happened had I not discovered this group. We rib each other constantly and push our physical abilities into new territories. Sometimes I think the biggest benefit of this group are things we don’t talk about on a regular basis. Sure, we make each other better by pushing ourselves to new heights but there is more to it than that.
My previous circles of influence were family, work, church, and perhaps my neighborhood. If we didn’t share one of those circles it was unlikely an interaction would stick. F3 is a new circle for me and it’s broader and more diverse than I expected it to be. The F3 circle isn’t really a circle. It looks more like our CSAUP route than a circle, weaving through different cross sections of age, industry and beliefs. It’s those unspoken things that I think about from time to time and I’m thankful for all of it.
Announcements
– Dopile tshirt orders open to the end of the month
– Extra CSAUP tshirts available for those that want one. I have a few M/L left. No Schmediums.
– Colonial relay is off! Think about them as they traverse the roads from Cville to Wburg.
Splinter out
15 by foot and 1 by wheel descended upon the AO ready to roll. YHC used a new tactic to lay the route; a map. We did the Setauket route today in the 4 and 5 mile variations. 6 milers were all sunning themselves on a beach, college tour, or whereabouts unknown.
Today’s pace was at a quick clip today. I think Flatline and Spit were pushing the first pack and setting the tone for the rest of the 5s. No one got permanently lost today and all returned to the AO. YHC did see some take a slide down the hill as we cut through the tree line to Dover. Note to all, there is a mulched path at the turn.
Wilton House seems to be doing well, through there is a construction site next door. An empty lot where a house once stood? What will they build? Pax speculation includes a Wawa or Dollar General. I have my money on the Waffle House.
Labrat should be renamed the “Spy Hunter” after the video game from our youth. I don’t know about any machine guns out front, but the oil slick and smokescreen combo produced by his flatulence left many gagging 30 feet back. A couple weeks ago, EF Hutton got poked in the eye by a stick on the Grayson Allen route. This week he choked down a direct hit of Labrat’s finest crushing his olfactory senses. Perhaps we will plan on damaging the rest of his senses on future runs?
Labrat, somewhere out there Keymaster, Wilson, and Fudd are filled with a sense of deep pride.
Flatline took us out.
CSAUP is upon us. One week and game time.
Time to Taper (when is it not?),
Lockjaw
A score of runners converged today for the first Spring RAMM of 2018. YHC called the Grayson Allen route (Grace and Allen) in 4 miler, 5 miler, and 6 miler variations and the Pax was off.
Fudd did a fine job taking us out.
NMS:
YHC posts the Grayson Allen route around key Duke games as a rally against them. The inaugural route was the day after Carolina’s victory and today’s was intended to give Syracuse a little extra edge. This strategy worked somewhat, with the score within four points last night.
The 5 milers started off as a great pack for the first mile or so and then started to spread out. We witnessed several omens, coincidences, and happenstances that YHC felt certain would lead to a Syracuse victory. Perhaps these jinxs go both ways.
First, EF Hutton took a tree in the eye. Not a twig, nor a branch, but a tree limb. He seems ok. Second, YHC called out what appeared to be a dead weasel or opossum on the side of the road. Labrat confirmed it to be a dead hawk that we almost stepped on. Further along the run we came across a Delorean parked on the side of the road. Very rare citing, much less so on the side of the road.
Speaking of parked cars, Labrat is a fanatic about punch buggy. Usually he prides himself about getting one or two in. Going down Grace and back through the Fan armed him with so many opportunities he eventually grew tired from his arm workout of taking swings at YHC. I did get him on the Delorean though.
It’s great to see the turn out like this for RAMM. While RAMM is always a crowd pleaser, a cool 20 runners is an impressive turnout. CSAUP training in full bloom.
Anything interesting happen on the 4 and 6 mile routes?
Time to Taper,
Lockjaw
A mighty 16 woke up this morning, to be greeted with maps with squiggly lines representing this morning’s route. This was Lab Rat’s 4th try to make the Serpentine route an instant classic.
4 Milers- follow 4 mile map
5 Milers- follow 5 mile map
6 milers- do what you like. Just kidding, follow your map.
NMS- All mileages were represented today, along with No Tools and Ricky Bobby on the bikes. Great morning for a run, and it showed by the splits. Nice to run with Singer and Pucker for a bit, then catching up with Swirly.
Wedding Singer’s baby #2 is coming any day! Keep us updated, Singer!
Moment of silence for the runner who was struck in Atlee last week, who died a couple days ago.
Apology of the week goes to Hardywood for presenting him with a Geography test before his second cup of coffee. I should have just said “run with Saab”.
Lab Rat apologizes…
18 of RVA’s finest runners showed up for perfect running weather to get some miles in for an array of upcoming events. Cool and rainy, but not too cold, means optimal running.
Today we did the Hamilton route. All parties east on Grove and North on Hamilton. At Westwood, 6s take a right while 4s and 5s take a left. 6s loop around to the Blvd and then Grove back the VSF. 4s/5s take Westwood/Malvern to Patterson and head west. 4s turn on Westmoreland back to Grove. 5s continue further to Lexington/Albemarle to Grove.
TYA took us out.
NMS:
It was good to see the great turn out today, especially from 2Kanne and the D-ville contingent. The 5s ran today as a pack of wolves, pushing the pace along the way. Spit set the tone for the last half mile as he found a higher gear and took off.
For those unfamiliar with this route, it passes by a large Woodfin complex illuminated like an advertisement for WDog. This route is officially sponsored.
Post run discussion centered around CSAUP teams, Breaking Bread (see Kubota), and TYA’s favorite New England hotel.
ABT,
Lockjaw
Yep, It’s Ground Hog’s Day. A day to celebrate the signal of a spring to come, or know the winter still has us in it’s grasp for a little while longer. I chose to go with the Bill Murray theme and celebrate an infinite loop.
The route posted above is two miles in length. 4 milers do it twice, 6 milers do it three times, 5 milers do it twice with a one mile bonus loop (Grove to Malvern to Cary to Commonwealth to Grove). Black Widow is the name of the route considering the resemblance to it’s namesake.
NMS:
Pre-run, YHC was sitting with Swirly in Big Blue chatting about life. Saab walks out in front of the beams of our headlights and begins to do burbees. The time to run approaches. Saab is still doing burbees. The Pax talks some more. Saab is still doing burpees. Finally, he concludes at 42.
Even though Big Data was updated weeks ago for the renegades who supported #trackworksucks, Saab felt obligated to continue through with the challenge. Well done Sir!
Windsor Farms was quiet and tranquil affording a great running route. It seems the only newspapers that are delivered in Richmond are in this neighborhood. Has the internet not made it south of Cary?
Runners were strong today with the eye on the prize: whether a CSAUP victory or an upcoming ultra. YHC will note that the bikers may have been apparitions. No cars in the parking lot nor bikers in the COT at the end. However, there was a sighting of bikers. It’s easier to include Labrat in the backblast then to receive a backblast comments prodding throughout the day. If No Tool’s companion was someone else, let me know and I will update for Big Data.
Announcements:
ABT,
Lockjaw
Sixteen Runners and Ruckers came to cover ground by foot today. This is the first no bikes RAMM in a while.
YHC announced speed work at the track and four Rogue Runners disembarked on their own adventure. The rest went to the TJ track for an epic workout, partially due to the fact that everyone wanted to be there and whining was nonexistent. I am sure the other group was assailed by a group of rabid raccoons in the darkness.
We did laps in the snow, wind sprints on pavement, and the longest indigenous people run YHC can remember. Good times.
Fudd took us out.
Announcements:
Time to Taper,
Lockjaw
It was raining hard
Will it clear for us to run?
No fear, off we go!
Deep pools of water
Labrat requests job advice
Pax provide insight
Down campus we go
Singer’s beacon flashing on
But where did he go?
Onward through darkness
Iris never disappoints
Grove to shovel flag
Yes, we did the forward Haiku route today. YHC took us out.
The CSAUP is building momentum and many are excited. More information will be available soon, but in the interim get your miles in and start forming your teams. (DK – you can camp after the run, by the way.)
ABT,
Lockjaw
A Great 8 came out for an arctic run in the neighborhood.
The Route
YHC took us out.
NMS
It was a cold start to the run, but once we acclimated, it was fine. There was talk of football, bowl games, and UVA’s domination of the first minute of the Military Bowl. Scott’s Addition was desolate as expected with the exception of a motorist who shouted out to F3. We presume this to be Shakedown en route somewhere.
The pace quickened down the Blvd with Swirly leading point. Upchuck announced our presence to an upcoming pedestrian who leaped out of our way effortlessly. Upchuck gets points for his follow up EH on the fly.
Talk was brief after the run as we elected to continue discussions for some third F at the Starbuck’s down the road. Good discussion all around including 80’s hair bands, Saab’s dislikes, and a sundry of topics.
Announcements:
This concludes a year of Friday Qs. Its been a pleasure to lead the way and pilot routes out of the infinitesimal options that area of town offers. A special thanks to TYA who signed me up for three months to recharge my running commitment and the Pax should look forward to 52 new routes next year!
ABT,
Lockjaw