9 runners and 4 bikers convened for this week’s edition of RAMM and RAMM Gears.
The bikers planned their route and YHC reviewed the routes posted last night which consisted of several hills south of Cary before crossing back to Grove / Patterson and returning to the flag.
Three cycling professionals and 4 semi-pro runners gathered at RAMM today, hoping for just the right amound of rain but not too much. Cyclists were pleased, runners were not. After Offshore looked at Phonics and Phonics asked, “are we riding today? ok.”, a theme appropriate route was called and off we went.
The Route
Gears crew did their thing, crossing paths with the runners a few times. We will call their route the “Flock of Gnats” route.
Runners, after some discussion of what was forwards and reverse, did the Reverse Carillon route.
Numbers, names, no announcements before YHC took us out.
Moleskin
There was a lot of discussion this week about amateur RAMM gears so YHC was expecting a large crowd today. When I arrived at 522 to see nary a soul (except TYA wandering around on his bike), I began to wonder if I had the wrong day? Apparently the weather scared away the amateurs, leaving only professional bikers.
Since no one grabbed the RAMM Q, YHC sat for a minute or two thinking about an appropriate route to complement the (apparent lack of) RAMM Gears participants, I was reminded of a classic Marv incident that got Saab all riled up back in the day.
You see… there was a period of time where RAMM Qs got lazy. Someone would just show up and call out a well known route and off we would go. Saab, in his peak of youthful running shape, would go out early for a pre-run and then show up back at the launch (when someone actually had the Q), expecting a well thought out route that would possibly bring in virgin ground. At least something unique. When someone didn’t think of something unique, Saab would express his disdain and off he would go with the rest of the PAX. If words could describe his facial expression when this would happen, it would be:
Looks like I completely wasted my time coming back to meet up with these nincompoops. I should have just kept running by myself.
Saab. circa 2021
Which brings us back to the main part of the story. During an amateur RAMM gears outing a few years ago, Marv had signed up to Q RAMM proper. YHC texted him the night before and said, “ditch RAMM, find a bike, and let’s go ride.” So he did just that.
Marv, sticking with his MO, shows up about 2 minutes prior to launch, hurriedly getting his bike prepped, before sticking his head into the circle of runners and shouting two words. “Reverse Carrilon”. Given the context above, you can imagine how excited some people were. Trust me, read Marv’s backblast from 2021 and you will see my memory is actually pretty sharp on this one.
That that brings us to today. With very little time to plan a route and it being amateur RAMM gears day, YHC thought it would be a fitting tribute to call out reverse carillon. So that’s what we did. And it was kind of funny for a few seconds.
I don’t know why I felt like calling out Saab so much in this backblast because he actually wasn’t even there today. He will also likely not read this backblast so it will fall on deaf ears. But as Paul Harvey used to say,
The summer return of RAMM gears has been a great return indeed. 6 of us met at 5am, and 5 of us rode out River to Robious and back. Saw a deer, a fox, a beautiful sunrise, and had an all around stupendous time. Total mileage around 21 miles. HBD to No Tools for his 56th bday. His father having passed at age 56, TYA reminded us to appreciate every day.
12 runners/walkers and a 5 bikers strung themselves together in the latest edition of THE Run at Mary Mumford (RAMM). Air, land, and sea conditions held constant at 70 and sunny. According to the pack of tomatoes running on Grooooove, the following might have happened:
Parking lot south on Commonwealth to the gravel track / dirt track / quarter mile loop / whatever any PAX member calls it. Run 1/2 of the loop to Westhampton. North on Westhampton to Grove.
Left on Grove. Left on Lexington. Choose your own adventure going either left (Lexington) or right (Albemarle) and complete the loop back to Grove. Right on Grove. Right on Westhampton.
Left onto the gravel track / dirt track / quarter mile loop / whatever any PAX member calls it. Return to Westhampton and repeat the above loops back / forth for the 45 minutes.
Finish at 6:15 at the parking lot.
Numbers, names, (cyclists return), more names, and Marv was gracious in taking us out.
Announcements:
Summer Tour. Get out there. Meet some new guys. See some new places. Learn to navigate Hutton’s spreadsheet.
Prayer requests:
We have at least two guys whose loved ones are fighting tough battles with challenging diseases. It can be easy to rattle off names, but let’s think hard about how we can help our friends and their families. Fudd’s sister is going through a second battle with breast cancer. Splinter’s mom has just 2 weeks ago been diagnosed with leukemia. Leadership is about helping other people. For those who remember Inky Johnson, “It’s not about you.” Let’s get after it and support our pals.
NMS:
Yo-Yo Route today. T-claps to Wedding Singer and Hitch for remembering the greeting.
Good chat after the run with some guys about appreciating what we have and learning that a lot of modest things can be overcome and make us stronger.
Seven by foot and about that many on bikes converged on the OG of running AOs. A nice little venture seeing new streets with shade, peace, and conducive to a great run.
Somewhere between 8 and 16 RAMM’ers of various styles, gathered today for a Q-less RAMM. Prior to departure from home, YHC came up with the following, just in case. In case was needed.
The Route
South boundary was Grove
4s North boundary was Franklin
5s North boundary was Monument
6s North boundary was Cutshaw
West to Bunting, cutting over to Chantilly, right at your cross street
Right on Westmoreland
Left on Grove, left on Commonwealth, right at your cross street
Right on Sauer, left on Grove, left on Antrim, right at your cross street
Right on Malvern, right on Grove, BTTVSF
Numbers, names, Marv took us out.
Moleskin
Some people did this, others missed a turn. Overall, pretty successful morning.
Gears galore this AM. Well done fellas.
Announcements
Pickleball at Batteau starting this (also next) Monday. 0530.
7 runners and 10 riders showed up for this week’s edition of RAMM and RAMM Gears. While the riders planned their route, YHC told the runners we were headed to Monument. Everyone takes Commonwealth to Monument and then turns right on Monument. 4s turn right on Arthur Ashe Boulevard to Grove, and then back to the flag. 5s turn right on Meadow to Grove and then back to the flag. 6s turn right on Harrison to Grove and then back to the flag.
7 runners and 8 riders showed up for this week’s edition of RAMM and RAMM Gears. While the riders discussed their route, YHC explained the route for the 5s and 6s (no 4s this week) which were also posted to Slack the night before.
Once 5:30 rolled around, we headed off south towards Cary and on our way. Everyone made it back to the flag at time and YHC took us out giving thanks for the ability to be outside exercising with friends.
An assortment of 13 individuals + 2 pulling out early gathered for a mixed bag of RAMM today. Lots of gears, walkers, and runners afoot. According to the tomato with a massively flat tire, here’s the route the runners took.
The Route
4s & 5s north on Commonwealth to east on Monument
6s west on Grove, Bunting to Chantilly to east on Monument
4s turn right on Boulevard, back to Grove and home
5s turn right on Meadow, back to Grove and home
6s turn right at Allen, back to Grove and home
Numbers, names, YHC took us out.
Moleskin
Last minute route means simplicity. When YHC left the house no one was on the Q sheet, so this is what you get. Monument was especially busy today. At least 5 busses by my count going westward. Sorry, kind of.
Cool morning and thick pollen made for ample post ride/run/walk chatter. Good luck to all the runners this weekend taking on the “Hills of Monument”.
