Tag: RAMM

Mary Munford Elementary

  • Oven Mitts, All-Stars, and Car Music

    Some number more than 15 gathered by foot, bike, or peg leg to scatter out and cause a ruckus in the neighborhood. After most everyone made it back, we gathered up and had great fellowship. But first, the route.

    The Route

    • North on Commonwealth
    • East on Patterson
    • Turn right at 21 minutes
    • Turn right on Grove
    • BTTVSF

    Numbers, names, Marv took us out.

    Moleskine

    Solid showing for Mary this AM. Bikers may have outnumbered runners, they certainly outnumbered the walkers. Great to see some of the All Stars show up this morning so we could all dance to the inspirational music during COT.

    For the record, TYA had gloves on today.

    Splinter out

  • Ten Strong for the Reverse Caroline Challenge

    Ten Strong for the Reverse Caroline Challenge

    Ten enthusiastic runners showed up this morning for a nostalgic route—the reverse Caroline with a few creative tweaks. But this wasn’t just any ordinary run.

    The Mission

    Today’s special challenge: count every port-a-jon along the route. The PAX member with the highest count would earn bragging rights and a special prize at the end.

    The Results

    After the run, we gathered to reveal our counts. The competition was tight:

    • Splinter and Chippendale each spotted 9 port-a-jons
    • Sippy Cup took the victory with a total of 10

    The Prize

    YHC is currently developing a port-a-jon tracking iOS app (because why not?). As our winner, Sippy Cup will receive a lifetime subscription complete with an exclusive promo code when the app launches.

    Congrats to Sippy Cup on the sharp eyes, and respect to all ten who posted this morning! 🏃‍♂️

  • Talk Soup

    Seven RAMM regulars stiff-armed the impending storms and gathered for the 529th iteration of RAMM. Instructions were offered, then emphasized to avoid the 195 on ramp, then off we went, perfectly on time.

    The Route

    • East on Grove, over 195 then right on Berrington
    • Berrington to Floyd
    • 4s left on Strawberry, 5s left on Vine, 6s left on Tilden
    • West on Hanover, getting around the museum the easiest way before finding Hanover again
    • Left on Thompson then right on Grove

    Numbers, names, Marv took us out.

    Moleskine

    Lots of discussion about the weather today. Not because we didn’t have much else to talk about, but because it sucked. We are all ready for fall to return.

    Have a great Friday everyone!

    Splinter

  • TYA – 0, Splinter – 2

    Seven + 2 + 1 RAMMers + RAMMGearsers + massively LIFO Bodos, gathered under the moonlight for this morning’s iteration of RAMM. No one signed up so YHC came up with a quick route while “preparing” for the run this AM. Gumbo attempted to suggest a repeat of Sippy’s 50th run from last week so we could see the route this time. YHC suggested a flatter route. Everyone rejoiced.

    The Route

    • East on Grove to North on Hamilton
    • Turn left (see below)
    • Left on Lafayette, right on Grove
    • Right on Antrim, turn left
    • Left on Sauer, right on Grove
    • Right on Commonwealth, turn left
    • Left on Westmoreland BTTVSF

    4s were supposed to turn left at W Franklin. 5s turned at monument. No 6s today.

    Numbers, names, announcements, Chippendale took us out.

    Moleskine

    Time for a little history lesson. Back in the early years of F3RVA lore, there existed a man, brimming with confidence at every turn. Some may say it was overconfidence, some would simply say it was his Massachusetts shining through. Regardless, confidence erupted on every opportunity to demonstrate his skill and knowledge.

    Until that fateful day in November 2019, during the perennial stupidity challenge that was Merkin November. YHC had educated the PAX on Carl Guass’ famous formula a few years back. In fact, it was YHCs second week as a PAX member when that golden nugget was shared with DK on the instant messaging platform for Dominion Energy.

    That wonderful day in November, there was a legendary exchange between TYA and YHC. YHC had the Q, and proceeded to run up a bunch of merkins in a pattern that was conducive to young Carl Guass + a few extras. As we gathered for COP, the confident gentleman from the north proclaimed to the PAX that he knew how many merkins were performed that day. YHC, trying not to call out a fellow PAX member when they may be at their weakest point, simply offered that TYA rethink his calculation. After his recognition of his mistake, TYA acknowledged and slowly walked away. The backblast has it all.

    That leads us to today. While driving east on Cary towards RAMM this morning, YHC couldn’t help but notice the crescent moon and a vibrant bright star directly beside the moon. Upon TYAs arrival to the AO, YHC suggested that it was likely Venus up by the moon. TYA quickly replied, “Saturn. The radio said Saturn is the closest it has been, so it’s bright in the sky.” Hmmm, YHC expressed.

    Meanwhile, the second of today’s RAMMGear heads arrived with his normal jovial self. No Tools wheeled up as we were talking and immediately declared, “Venus!” Once again, TYA quietly but confidently suggested it was Saturn. Not even after No Tools suggested “Venus is the bright morning star” did TYA back down.

    So, YHC went along his way and described the routes above and off we went.

    Every time we went north on a road today, YHC gazed up at the moon and couldn’t help but wonder who was right? YHC is no astronomer but does spend a lot of time looking at the stars. Could TYA be right this time? If only there were a way to tell…

    Post run, YHC was walking to his car and saw the crescent moon, and that silly planet once again. YHC whipped out his cell phone from the car, popped open the SkyView app (free version), and pointed it at the night sky.

    To my surprise, what did my trusty free celestial app tell me? Why it told me it was Venus, of course!

    Splinter 2. TYA 0.

  • Foggy Farms Fifty

    We gathered in the gloom on a surprisingly foggy morning to try out a new route on the roads less traveled in Windsor Farms.

    4s–South across Cross Cary onto Berkshire which turns into Sulgrave. Out and backs on Long Ln, Stockton Ln, St. Davids Ln, Marston Ln. Return on Gun Club, L on Queen Charlotte to Cary, Malvern to Grove back to flag.

    5s–Same as 4s, but add in Clovelly Rd. with a fork on Lynton Ln.

    6s–Same as 5s, but from Berkshire turn R onto Dover and then L on Lock Ln to end. R on Park which takes you to Sulgrave.

    Moleskin. YHC’s goal was to find a hill within reach of MM that we had not yet run in the 10 or so years of RAMM. After scoping out the underbelly of Windsor Farms with his dog a week ago he uncovered Lynton Ln. It is “Charmian steep” and when coupled with Clovelly gives a long burn. (Side note: the bottom of Lynton is also a great spot to catch the sunset over the river). This new route stitches together a bunch of north-south out and backs off of Sulgrave Rd so it is fairly easy to follow. It is certainly worth a second go in the coming weeks.

    Running in the fog creates a sense of timelessness, and YHC and Marv agreed the route seemed long and particularly tough (even though our watches disagreed). It is hard when you can’t anticipate what’s in front of you.

    YHC can’t think of a better start to his 50th birthday. My glass is full, and F3 has been a big part of the filling. My 40th BD was at the BRR, and it is fitting to start my 50th with the Pax this morning. I’m so grateful to have been headlocked so many years ago.

  • RAMM – Simple Directions

    Out-and-back on Grove toward VCU. 23 minutes out, 22 minutes back. Simple directions, even I could remember them. But you have to do a negative split so keep the pace in mind.

    The Groups:

    • The Sixes (Splinter, Marv, Sippy Cup, Garbage Plate): Made it all the way to Belvedere. Probably the furthest any RAMM has ever gone. At this rate, they’ll be in New Kent by the holidays.
    • The Fives (YHC, Splinter, Chippendale, Saab): Nearly hit VCU. Topics of conversation included traffic signals, diverging diamonds, roundabouts, and the delicate social differences between “butt dial” and “booty call.” Productive, as always.
    • The Fours (Gumbo and Hitchhiker): Kept it steady. Gumbo gets extra credit since he ran from home.

    Observations:

    • The Sixes returned huffing, puffing, and looking like they’d just wrestled a bear, but they liked it.
    • Saab’s favorite shirt remains in France. RIP. His Garmin keeps it company.

    Announcements:

    • F3RVA’s 11-year anniversary is around the corner. Check Slack for details you’ll immediately forget.

    Prayers:

    • For Marv’s dad, as he recovers from a hospital stay.
    • For TYA, recovering from an infection caused by a literal splinter (not Splinter the human).

    YHC took us out.

  • Hitch Can Do 6s

    Ahhhhh….the weather continues to be splendid on these late August mornings as a handful of F3 stalwarts gathered at Mary Munford’s elementary school for a jaunt around the near west end.

    As always, our good friend Hitchhiker showed up as the crew was leaving…with no 4s to join. It was mentioned that Hitch can do a triatholon so there’s really no reason he couldn’t easily keep up with the 6s. Especially wiht Phonics in the house. (Great to run with Phonics this morning, by the way! Best of luck to his crew this weekend in a intercollegiate cross country meet at Pole Green Park.)

    Above is the route. It’s Bodo’s all time favorite…and now probably Hitch’s as we saw him running down Charmian in a direction that wasn’t necessarily part of the original plan.

    I hope everyone has a really good Labor Day weekend.

  • Last Minute Route

    YHC picked up the Q late last night after a long week of work knowing he needed to get out and run. Short on a time to plan a route, a run down Monument was in order.

    Route

    Everyone: Commonwealth to Monument and head east towards downtown. All return on Grove. 4s turn on Arthur Ashe Boulevard. 5s turn on Meadow. 6s turn on Harrison.

    We all made it back.

    Numberama / Namerama.

    Announcements

    Applesauce has his VQ at Dogpile tomorrow morning. Show up at the appropriate time.

    YHC took us out.

    Riders

    Bone Thugs was the only rider back in time for COT, but there were a number of riders that launched about the same time as the runners. Hopefully they all found their way back.

  • Professional Hour?

    Five runners, six professionals, and 4 amateurs set off toward the Carillon and other parts unknown. 

    The Routes

    Runners – Reverse Carillon

    Pros – T-Pot, War Memorial, elsewhere

    Amateurs – Carillon, Burpee Lake, Insect Hell

    Numberama, Nameorama, COT

    MOLESKIN

    The real gearheads seemed surprised to find 3 schlubs ready to cruise.  Bone joined a bit late to make four.  The schlubs were cruising too, at least until they circled Burpee Lake and passed through the 3rd and 4th plagues of Eqypt.  No less than 268 Gnats were swallowed per man.  Nevertheless all made it back safely.  The amateurs covered 7.42 miles, the runners 5-6, and rumor has it the pros went about 14.

    ANNOUNCEMENTS

    • The Bridge
    • Homegrown Half

  • V02 Max, Christie, and Richmond’s Finest

    Somewhere between 12 and 16 able-bodied pavement warriors gathered in the forbidden parking lot for today’s RAMM/RAMM Gears. The few runners were quickly swarmed by the gears crew prior to launch. Luckily, a few more runners arrived right as we launched so numbers were relatively even.

    Variations of the Clovelly route were called:

    4s:  https://onthegomap.com/s/evbak6d6
    5s:  https://onthegomap.com/s/gfkphqr3
    6s:  https://onthegomap.com/s/3f7djt48

    Fartleks weren’t even discussed.

    Numbers, names, YHC took us out.

    Moleskine

    The runners all remembered that darn goon Clovelly being much longer and deeper than experienced today (here come the jokes). It is still a good alternative offshoot to throw in there from time to time.

    Discussion today centered around blissful colonoscopy naps, what the hell is VO2 Max and it’s theoretical limit, Christie Brinkley’s current status, and whether or not to buy condoms with diapers.

    Great to see Richmond’s finest represented in the Mary parking lot today. Thank you Florence for all that you do!

    Splinter out.