Tag: RAMM

Mary Munford Elementary

  • Working on That Lunar Tan

    A bunch of early morning runners and a biker or two embraced the gloom and excellent running weather. The stars were out, the moon crescent, and Upchuck had his shirt off and was working on his tan….basking in the moonlight.

    Routes – West on Grove with 4s turning right on Libbie and 5s/6s taking the Henri access road to St Chris. Both routes exit on Patterson where you head east. 4s/5s take Antrim back to Grove and 6s take Nansemond.

    YHC took us out.

    Good luck to those running the BRR next week! It will be an epic of a great time.

  • Two Fingers – Repeat as Necessary

    A lucky 13 arrived for a run around Mary. This is what transpired more or less…

    Run West on Grove to Greenway. Take Greenway to Cary then cross over to Ampthill.

    Take Ampthill to bottom then climb up Paxton to Cary. Repeat down-and-ups depending on 4, 5, or 6 mile options. Return by crossing over Cary and then back on Grove.

    Saab abides

  • Deal with the Carillon

    A lively and plucky bunch, most of whom were looking for some relief of the humidity by way of a bicycle, showed up at Mary Munford’s Elementary School on Friday. It’s been really, really hot lately…like, the kind of heat that when you walk outside you just get mad. It’s August, so it’s really no one’s fault that it is so hot, but when someone recommended an Amateur RAMM Gears, it seemed to make sense to a good amount of people.

    YHC originally signed up to lead the PAX on a jog around the near west end…maybe a new route that no one would follow, maybe an old route that no one follow, maybe something that no one has any idea what it is. Upon hearing from Splinter on Thursday that there was an Amateur RAMM Gears on Friday, YHC figured most would be up for that and the runners would be a small number (as they’ve been lately at Munford).

    So YHC borrowed a bike from a buddy and woke up five minutes earlier than normal to tighten up the seat and get it into the car. Why didn’t I do all that the night before? I’m not sure, but I’ll keep that in mind this fall when I get on my 14yo so about being lazy.

    Or maybe I won’t.

    Anyway, shockingly, the bike didn’t originally fit in the back of the 2015 Honda Accord. Who saw that coming? After a few tries I decided to see if I could open the window and stick the wheels out. Sure enough, that worked. Eureka! Of course, that left 7 minutes to get to Munford, normally a 9 minute drive. So YHC did about 75 down River and up Cary…smart move.

    Fortunately, I didn’t get caught behind any lights or slow cars and pulled in with about 45 seconds to spare to give the runners…of which there were more than normal…the route. “Carillon”. That was met with some considerable consternation, for reasons passing understanding. YHC feels like it’s been a bit since we’ve run that nostalgic route.

    So off they go and YHC grabs his bike and begins the breeze feeling RAMM Gears Amateur hour. About 50 yards into the trip one of the more experienced Gear guys mentions that I have a flat tire and “You’re not going anywhere on that thing.”

    Nice.

    Dumped the bike, went for a reverse carillon run, YHC thinking I’d meet up with the regular carillon runners who, you know, theoretically should be running in my direction. Yet I never ran into them. No one saw that coming.

    Awesome to have 25 guys out there in some way shape or form. Next time, Saab, I’ll put together a new and intricate route that will make up for this one.

  • A Different Kind of Serpent

    A fleet of thirteen convened at the corner of Grove and Commonwealth for an unexpected variation of a serpentine route. Directions were started early to leave ample time for repeating (if necessary). It was necessary (x2). Here was the route:

    6 Milers:
    – East on Grove then left on Hamilton
    – Left on Grace then left on Lafayette back to Grove
    – Right on Grove then right on Antrim back to Grace
    – Left on Grace then left on Commonwealth back to Grove
    – Right on Grove then right on Westmoreland to Grace
    – Left on Grace then left on Chantilly (which turns to Bunting) back to Grove
    – Grove back to MM

    5 Milers:
    – Same as above except your north border was Wythe (not Grace)

    4 Milers:
    – Same as 5 milers except turn left on Hanover when you get on Hamilton. Everything else the same

    Numbers, names, YHC took us out.

    Moleskin
    Fantastic morning for a run and thanks to the PAX for sticking to the directions. Sounds like everyone hit the route spot on.

    Great to see everyone, including Lab Rat and Ronnie who YHC hasn’t crossed paths with for a while. And Kudos to Pigskin who keeps ‘planting’ his shovel flag at every AO he attends. Keep it up!

    See everyone soon.

    Splinter

  • For the Records

    A much delayed account of a RAMM run and bike ride for big data.

  • Pea Soup For All

    While it was reported to be an extra muggy morning, it was actually 70 and sunny as always.

    A smaller group launched at the standard time and ran 4 or 5+ miles. Group ran across Commonwealth, down Monument and turned at the appropriate point and returned up Grove.

    A larger group continued their prep for the BRR with an earlier start and knocking out 8+ mile runs. Good work!

    RAMM Gears posted as well – if I missed anyone please let me know.

  • Relative Humidity

    High humidity made today a sweatfest, but 14 Pax came out to tackle some miles.

    East on Grove, left on Nansemond, right on Kensington. 4/5s turn left on the Blvd and 6s on Strawberry with all turning left on Monument. Take another left on Lafayette and a right on Patterson. 4s turn left on Commonwealth and 5/6s turn left on Lexington and another left on Grove.

    Marv took us out in the way Marv does well.

    Welcome to Pigskin who just moved from Charlotte this week.

    Go forward and be your best today!

  • No Leader, No Problem

    Without Lockjaw’s presence and his arsenal of routes, a Q was quick established and an out and back was chosen: Commonwealth to Monument (east)…23min out and 22 back. Some chose to reverse those times. Bikers biked, early risers did reverse-Patterson, and others just rolled their own.

    Saab abides

  • Bo Don’t Know Where He’s Going

    9 formed up in 2’s and 3’s to forge a path through the raging waters at the most recent edition of RAMM. Conditions were sunny and 70 with a slight drizzle below the cloud layer. According to the silent female runner on Grove, this is more or less what happened:

    All Runners

    Commonwealth to Berkshire.

    Left on Dover.

    Right on Portland.

    Right on Douglasdale to the bottom of the hill.

    (Do not get close to the quarry entrance, which is guarded closely).

    4 Milers

    At bottom of Douglasdale, reverse direction. Run to top of Douglasdale. 

    Return to MM via Portland, left at Dover, right at Berkshire and straight onto Commonwealth.

    5 Milers

    At bottom of Douglasdale, reverse direction. Turn left onto Loch Lomond and run to the end. Reverse and run the length of Loch Lomond, then reverse back to Douglasdale (this makes a cross in the neighborhood).

    Right on Douglasdale. 

    At the top of the hill, right on Rothesay and run the Rothesay loop.

    Return to MM using Portland to Dover to Berkshire to Commonwealth.

    6 Milers

    At bottom of Douglasdale, reverse direction. Turn left onto Loch Lomond and run to the end. Reverse and run the length of Loch Lomond, then reverse back to Douglasdale (this makes a cross in the neighborhood).

    Right on Douglasdale to the top of the hill.

    Reverse down the Douglasdale hill and repeat the above cross shape in the neighborhood.

    On the second lap, turn right on Rothesay and run the Rothesay loop.

    Return to MM using Portland to Dover to Berkshire to Commonwealth.

    Number-am-a, Name-a-ram-a, YHC took us out with a message about enjoying the day and being an honorable person.

    Announcements:

    Convergence on Saturday July 3 to celebrate July 4, coincidentally a day many of us will also get together. YHC hereby invites the OTB group to Converge, in person or in spirit, on Sunday. Start time is 7:00.

    Hitchhiker hosting a funfest at his place at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 17. Dudes only. Finger food provided. BYO Beverages.

  • July 2 RAMM Routes

    July 2 RAMM Routes

    This run is over to the small neighborhood off Douglasdale and the Powhite Parkway. The route in the neighborhood forms a cross. Sippy led this a few years back, and it poured. Tomorrow looks like a good day for a redux.

    All Runners

    Commonwealth to Berkshire.
    Left on Dover.
    Right on Portland.
    Right on Douglasdale to the bottom of the hill.
    (Do not get close to the quarry entrance, which is guarded closely).

    4 Milers

    At bottom of Douglasdale, reverse direction. Run to top of Douglasdale. 
    Return to MM via Portland, left at Dover, right at Berkshire and straight onto Commonwealth.

    5 Milers

    At bottom of Douglasdale, reverse direction. Turn left onto Loch Lomond and run to the end. Reverse and run the length of Loch Lomond, then reverse back to Douglasdale (this makes a cross in the neighborhood).
    Right on Douglasdale. 
    At the top of the hill, right on Rothesay and run the Rothesay loop.
    Return to MM using Portland to Dover to Berkshire to Commonwealth.

    6 Milers

    At bottom of Douglasdale, reverse direction. Turn left onto Loch Lomond and run to the end. Reverse and run the length of Loch Lomond, then reverse back to Douglasdale (this makes a cross in the neighborhood).
    Right on Douglasdale to the top of the hill.
    Reverse down the Douglasdale hill and repeat the above cross shape in the neighborhood.
    On the second lap, turn right on Rothesay and run the Rothesay loop.
    Return to MM using Portland to Dover to Berkshire to Commonwealth.