Tag: RAMM

Mary Munford Elementary

  • The Taxman Came

    30 road warriors coverged and ran towards the dark to welcome the Tax Man.  Would they take the Standard Deduction? Or face the threat of Compounding Interest, or suffer the Tax Lien?  We took it all on and then some!  But according to the guy sky-hooking newspapers on Grove avenue, it went a little something like this:

    The routes were:

    The Standard Deduction is a delightful 6.39 mile romp that begins at Mary and takes Groooooooove toward Three Chopt, right on Henri, left onto Towana, left on Roselawn to UR Drive, UR Drive till it ends at River Road, and reverso back to Mary. 

    The Compounding Interest is an intoxicating 8.28 mile jaunt that begins at Mary and takes Groooooooove toward Three Chopt, right on Henri, left onto Towana and stay on it till it becomes Campus, Campus to UR Drive, UR Drive till it gets to the Bat Cave, take the Bat Cave and pass the shops on River Road, take Westham Station Road till it becomes S. Ridge Rd, take S. Ridge Road to Westham Pkwy, Right on Glen Pkwy, take Westhampton to Keller to Westhampton, Left on UR Drive back to the Bat Cave, head up Ridgeway and hug the golf course to Iris, Iris ends at Three Chopt, Right on Three Chopt back to Groooooooove, take Groooooooove back to Mary.

    The Tax Lien (I apologize for releasing this one so late.) is an enchanting 9+ mile balderdash that begins at Mary and takes Groooooooove toward Three Chopt, right on Henri, left on to Towana and stay on it till it becomes Campus, Campus to the woodland trail by the UR entrance near College and Boatwright: the trail brings you to Wheeler Rd., Left on Wheeler, left on Hampshire, Hampshire becomes Baldwin, Stay on Baldwin till you get to Westham Pkwy, Left on Westham Pkwy and take it till it becomes S. Ridge Road, S. Ridge Road becomes Westham Station Road, Take Westham Station Road till you get to the Bat Cave trail, the Bat Cave trail takes you to UR Drive, Right on UR Drive, Right on Campus—it turns into Towana and will cross over Three Chopt and become Henri Road, Straight on Henri to Grooooove, Left on Grooooooove and it’s a straight shot back to Mary. 

    I got to Mary at around 3:45, and I proceeded to get my gear together and stretch out for the run ahead. I was about to get started, when I saw TYA with his dog. I was very happy to see him, because I wanted to go for a personal best today and who better to conquer the Tax Lien route with than the man who cut through all of my excuses and got me into running–so conquer we did! He is always a pleasure to run with!

    There’s running, and then there’s F3 running.  F3 running comes with some therapy sprinkled in, some support, fellowship, safety, all from your brothers who are trying to get better just like you.  There is nothing like it!  The gifts that come from running with your brothers are the gifts that change lives and prevent complacency.  We need each other and one day each of us will be called on to pay those gained gifts forward.  I hope each of you experienced some of the same gifts when you ran with your brothers today!  

    I thank you all for the impressive turnout and for the support over the years and now!  It was a privilege to rise this morning and conquer with all of you!  I’ll end this backblast with one of my favorite poems in its entirety:

    For Every Hill I’ve Had to Climb

    For every stone that bruised my feet,

    For all the blood and sweat and grime,

    For blinding storms and burning heat

    My heart sings but a grateful song—

    These were the things that made me strong!

    For all the heartaches and the tears,

    For all the anguish and the pain,

    For gloomy days and fruitless years,

    And for the hopes that lived in vain,

    I do give thanks, for now I know

    These were the things that helped me grow!

    ‘Tis not the softer things of life

    Which stimulate man’s will to strive;

    But bleak adversity and strife

    Do most to keep man’s will alive.

    O’er rose-strewn paths the weaklings creep,

    But brave hearts dare to climb the steep.

    L. E. Thayer

    I am Bone Thugs, and I will see you at the crossroads.

  • If There Are No Turns, Will There Still Be Questions?

    11 two-leggers and one two-wheeler (yeah, RAMM Gears, we see you!) braved the heavy air and avoided the flooding on Groooooove to take in the ever-challenging routes that are an everyday part of the RAMM. Conditions were ever-constant at 70 and sunny. According to the woman reading her phone while driving and turning and nearly running over Bodo’s (VA Plate: 1 MOBJAK), the following likely happened:

    Route: Commonwealth. 45 minutes of Commonwealth. If you are not on Commonwealth, you have made a wrong turn.

    Marketing Distraction (the PAX saw through this): run a giant suicide on Commonwealth. Grove to Franklin to Grove to Wythe to Grove to Cutshaw to Grove (something like 4 miles). Repeat Grove to Franklin one more time (5) or two more times (6).

    Numbers, names, Marv was kind enough to take us out.

    Announcements and Prayer Requests:

    Ukraine. We are fortunate in the US that it is unlikely we will ever wake up to face the historical wrath of an autocrat with no moral limitations who runs a neighboring country with a large military and nuclear weapons. Ukraine does not have that luxury. Prayers for all of those who stand against aggression and wanton destruction, and further prayers for those whose lives are endangered as a result.

    Our pals are running this morning. Bro code. Not the West End, once-a-month bro-code. This is the it’s-only-two-hills-in-the-Grand-Canyon Bro Code. Good luck, fellas. The PAX are pulling for you.

    NMS:

    The PAX clearly, universally, and emphatically appreciated the simplicity of today’s route. Inspired by our “it’s only two hills” brethren, today’s route strove for simplicity: no hills, and only 3 turns, all 180 degrees. And, ever steadfast in their inquisitiveness, some sought to clarify, while others quickly realized that it was really just 45 minutes on Commonwealth. Nothing gets past the PAX.

    UpChuck spits the bit.

  • Reminiscence

    A gaggle of runners and a resurgence of bikers convened at RAMM for some running and cycling. No one had signed up so YHC quickly plotted a simple route. Only 3 turns, yet Hitchhiker somehow asked more questions than there were turns. Classic Fan route today.

    The Route

    • East on Grove
    • 4s left on Boulevard
    • 5s left on Shields
    • 6s left on Plum
    • Left on Monument
    • Left on Westmoreland

    Numbers, names, swarming by cyclists before YHC took us out.

    Moleskin

    Today, post run/cycle, we reminisced with stories of a former PAX member. While not a regular and not recent, he always had a way of bringing some excitement to the group. Prayers for all of our PAX that are going through difficulty, current or former, that they find the necessary peace to carry them forward.

    Prayers also go out to TYA, Shakedown, and the rest of the crew heading to the Grand Canyon for their race next week. Go get it!

    My thanks for the day go to Faceplant and Marv for the thought provoking social discussion this morning.

    Spiders (and Rams) still playing! Cheer for your local teams!

    Splinter out.

  • Preblast: Run, The Taxman Cometh!

    On April 15th, the road demands it’s pound of flesh. Pay your bill with the six or eight mile route that begins at RAMM and weaves its way through the hills of Spider Run. If you wish to give the road more, each route will have extra credit. Plan to arrive at RAMM at the amount of time it would take you to complete six or eight miles; we will still wrap at 6:15. Hope to see you there!

  • In College There Was A Girl We Called Sharrow

    In College There Was A Girl We Called Sharrow

    A relatively light crew of 8 launched from RAMM for some fun around the city streets. Two launched at 5, the rest quickly huddled prior to 530 for the following instructions. YHC was reminded that today was Friday and we were only supposed to run. Regardless, this is what we did:

    The Route

    • 4s go north on Commonwealth to a right on Monument
    • 5s / 6s go west on Grove
    • 5s take a right on Lexington, right on Patterson, left on Chantilly, right on Monument
    • 6s take a right on Roslyn to Harlan, left on Patterson, right on Willow Lawn, right on Monument
    • Everyone take Monument to a right on Boulevard
    • Right on Floyd
    • On Floyd, every time you passed a “Sharrow” you had to do a burpee. There were many.
    • Right on Nansemond, left on Grove BTTVSF

    Numbers, names, YHC took us out.

    Moleskin

    Light crew today, must be either spring break or the UVA fans didn’t want to show up after a 13 point first half last night. Either way, those who showed up ran.

    YHC was inspired the other day while driving down Floyd to somehow incorporate this road into a workout, given the ample number of Sharrows that were painted on the road. Faceplant proceeded to disclose his company is responsible for many of the bike lanes that now exist throughout the city. He also disclosed any of the Sharrows that have a painted background are not federally recognized, so we skipped those burpees. Pays to have someone on the inner circle in your running group.

    While sitting in my car at 515 looking to see who had the Q and realizing it was open, YHC took the opportunity to introduce the PAX to all the Sharrows on Floyd. Everyone rejoiced.

    Good luck to everyone running this weekend, wherever they may be running.

    Announcements

    • Prayers for Roger Roger and his family as they navigate the next few weeks of recovery
    • The port-o-jon that the city installed at the bus stop on Monument near Willow Lawn is locked. Apparently only bus drivers have the key.

    Have a great weekend gentlemen.

    Splinter out.

  • Blank Slate

    In a choose your own adventure style, everyone chose their route, destination, and partner. Great conversations along the way and the great work shout out goes to Doublemint for an extra long run!

    Doublemint took us out.

  • Short Backblast

    Windy Day and Warm

    Historic Wilton House Tour

    Respect Charmaine’s Hill

  • You Choose!

    0500-A group showed up and got in some extra miles and training.

    0530-Wedding Singer decided on Serpentine Route. Faceplant, Marv, and FICO headed out on Carilion Route for 6ish miles. Upchuck, YHC, and Bodos, Carilion Route too.

    Numberama, Namerama.

    Announcements: Doublemint was presented a wedding gift and donated the proceeds to Virginia Home. Gypsy is looking for some help on Feb 26 to unload a trailer of goods for Virginia Home for Boys and Girls. 2/26, Vinny has the Q at the Bridge. YHC is a clown car will travel. IF you have not been, it is a must attend.

    YHC took us out!

    NMS: Upchuck and Bodos, thank you as always for the fellowship mid run! Yes, movies and music offer great verbage for life. “Only a penitent man will pass.” Sean Connery, Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade. And, “…faith, hope, and love…” Alan Jackson. Credit where credit is due! For my Friday is off to a great start and I am blessed to run and workout with you men!

    Loud and Proud,

    Flatline

  • Professional and Succinct

    With no one on the Q sheet, YHC offered up a hot potato run. With no takers, YHC called Reverse Carillon and off we went.

    The weather was toasty and unseasonably warm. The rain held off due to another successful no rain dance.

    Bodos took us out.

  • Viking Funeral

    The 530 crew header out Hamilton to Westwood and hang a left. Westwood turns into Malvern. 4s take Malvern to Grove and back to the AO with 5s hanging a right on Patterson, a left on Lexington, and a left on Grove.

    The crew took a sidebar to admire the Carvanna facility and search the pockets for some change to get a car out of the machine.

    YHC took us out.