Tag: RAMM

Twenty three skaters (no healthy scratches) and 4 men of gears came forth from The Fart Sack to celebrate Lord Stanley’s version of the morning after party.  While what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, what happens at RAMM the morning after a CAPS victory in Vegas goes into the backblast.

The Thang:

Hockey Stick Route…Grove (the blade) to Malvern (the shaft).  Continue as Malvern becomes Westwood which in turn becomes Saunders.

Forwards (4 milers) turn around at top of railroad bridge
Defensemen (5 milers) turn around at Saunders and Laburnum
Long-shifters for the 6 milers…right on Laburnum to Hermitage (site of The Punisher).
Double shifters… (TYA, Swirly, any others?) put in eight on another route.  Well done.

Reverso back to the Flag.

COT: Number-ram-a, Name-a-rama, YHC took us out.

Announcements:

June is TYA Clothing Drive Month.  No better way to give back than to help a brother in need.  Special focus on size-large shirts and shorts/cover-ups (NO NUT-HUGGERS).

June 15 at RAMM: Huffy Gears…bring your poor, tired, huddle mass of a bike…Huffy, Schwinn, Big Wheel…have an orange flag on a bike?  Bring it.  Have a playing card clothes-pinned to the spokes?  Bring it.

June 16 at Dogpile.  Field Day workout.  Wear a shirt relevant to your elementary school experience.  See Vinny for details (or see the Pre-Blast).

June 23 Puppy Pile, Part Deaux…BYO 2.0s.  Sippy Cup has the Q.

July 4 Convergence at Tredegar at 7 a.m.  Kubota leading…

Summer Challenge…visit every AO between the Saturday prior to Memorial Day and Labor Day.  Bonus points for hitting the Convergences.  Double-bonus points for posting to an out of town AO.  Triple bonus points for Nomad / Down Range with at least one non-family member.  Note: there are no official Bonus Points.

Get your BRR training started…hit a running workout.  Sunday Funday, Wednesday Hill Run, RAMM, or any workout with the words “Twin Team” in the title…

Moleskin:

Great morning for a run.  Perfect weather, with even the humidity mildly cooperative for YHC’s Second Anniversary with F3.  YHC has been with F3 so long and he’s now so old that he even botched the facts of his own first post today during the COT.  Why wait to get old to tell stories incorrectly when YHC can start now?  For the record, first post was a W-Dog with Bleeder having the Q, and Hardywood nursing YHC back to the Flag with the age-old question,”How you doing, pal?” on the run back….  With apologies to both Virginia Slims and Fatboy Slims, YHC has come a long way, baby.  Thank you, fellas, for pushing my mind, body, and spirit.  It’s been a pleasure to have you all as role models.

As for the route, rumor had it that YHC’s beloved Washington Capitals exorcised their demons and won Lord Stanley’s Mug last night.  YHC is not creative enough to design a Stanley Cup Route, so the Hockey Stick Route will have to do.

As many are aware, YHC basically gave up watching CAPS hockey on TV due to stress, anger issues, superstition, hair loss, and biting of finger nails.  Other than that, YHC loves the CAPS.  Some of YHC’s fondest memories of growing up are of listening to the CAPS on AM radio with his brother, who introduced him to the team when the family moved to the DC area in 1982.  Don’t get YHC wrong, he is happy to have a full Capitals Bandwagon…but here are a few things YHC remembers from the days of old…why Yvon Labre’s jersey is retired, #5, Bobby Carpenter getting pummeled while covering his head on the ice like a baby, Mike Gartner’s mustache, Dale Hunter trying to kill another player well after the game ended, losing to the Islanders in like 27 overtimes, thinking Jagr was the savior, watching three of the best players on the team get shipped out for sexual misconduct (then watching some of them win the Cup elsewhere), Ron Hextall, Pittsburgh, the Rangers, Martin St. Louis (think: Bucky F-ing Dent), Filip Forsberg, being up 3-0 or 3-1 in the playoffs, owning the President’s Trophy, losing every overtime playoff game ever, and, of course, being tweaked by Kubota and Vinny this year for being a Nervous Nelly.

Prior to last night, there was exactly ONE stellar Washington Capitals moment…YHC’s first real date with his M was to a CAPS playoff game.  Because the CAPS have been able to foul up any situation, why stop on that evening?  The Penguins eliminated the CAPS from the playoffs that night with Darius Kasperitis even returning to the ice to give the whole stadium the bird.  YHC’s M is not a big hockey follower, yet considers herself a Pittsburgh fan because of the civic spirit of the community and how good a guy Mario Lemieux is.  Seriously.  It’s been a living penance.

YHC has managed three times to watch games, or portions of games, alone, usually in a hotel, often with a piece of plexiglass installed between the TV screen and YHC.  (No actual screens were harmed in the creation of this back blast).

So, with that, YHC is really darn happy today.  And, YHC hopes BT’s tits feel better.

And, Big Data wants to know if 6 milers get to count today as visiting The Punisher.

Seven by foot, two on wheels, and 1 taperer arrived at Munford, ready to cut through the humidity and tackle today’s edition of RAMM.  Huddle up and question who had the Q before YHC gave the following directions:

West on Grove.  Left on Oak.  Cross Cary to Hillcrest.

4 milers:  3 Hillcrest loops
5 milers:  4 Hillcrest loops
6 milers:  5 Hillcrest loops

Everyone return the same way.

Numbers.  Names.  Marv took us out, giving thanks to topography.

Moleskin
Flatline contacted YHC yesterday afternoon indicating he was planning to fartsack and needed someone to cover.  His excuse was his M had secured tickets to see Faith Hill and Tim McGraw last night.  The closest theme YHC could come up with on short notice is for us to put our faith in our abilities and tackle hills today.  Thus the idea to celebrate Faith Hill by running loops around Hillcrest.  You can thank Flatline for the result today.

The air was thick this morning.  Sorry for slowing you down today Marv, YHC wasn’t quite feeling it.  Fudd was in his prime having consumed a few scotches and a few glasses of wine.  That’s akin to spinach for Popeye.

Great to see everyone today.  YHC can only assume the lower RAMM numbers were due to the PAXs desire to see Faith Hill or to drink Flashdance’s coffee at Twin Team.

Enjoy the day.  Splinter out.

22 of RVA’s Finest Road Scholars came forward to tackle distance with speed.  Four early bird runners, and six bikers did their thing, and the remaining runners did the following routes:

• East on Grove and North on Hamilton.
• Hamilton to Westwood and take a left.  Westwood turns into Malvern.
  • 4s take Malvern to Grove and home.
  • 5s and 6s head west on Patterson.
    • 5s take a left on Lexington and a right on Albemarle.  Left on Grove to the VSF.
    • 6s take a left on Seneca and a left on Grove to the VSF.

Marv took us out.

NMS

Perfect weather for top speeds this morning.  The 5s set a nice pace with Shakedown doing so despite this being his 4th straight day of running.  BT dropped it in low gear for the last half mile using Grove as his personal passing lane.  Offshore and Swiper make running fast look effortless.

YHC note:  Google brings back quite a few meanings for “doubel deuce”.  YHC was referring to the quantity of Pax in attendance today, however one member may have provided an additional interpretation with two Fudd’s en route.  Nice.

Announcements:

• Memorial Day Convergence – Be there!
• Summer Challenge begins tomorrow.  See Phonics backblast on the matter.
• YHC and Shakedown are going to meet our summer challenge with an amateur bike ride RAMMS.  Dust off the Schwinn and stay tuned.

Stay safe this weekend, have fun, and appreciate good friends and family.

Lockjaw

Eleven of RVA’s finest left the fartsack for what was certain to be a wet day.

We did the Kingpin route from Tuesday’s Spider Run, except we launched from the Mary.  We headed west on Grove to Granite and a left on Granite to Cary.  Dogleg left and take a right heading down Tempsford.

• 4s take the left fork and retrace their steps back to Grove to the AO.
• 5s do the left and right forks and then Granite to Patterson to Westmoreland to the AO.
• 6s do the left and right forks twice each (!) and then Granite to Patterson to Westmoreland to the AO.
• The three amigos showed up early and did a longer route.

YHC took us out.

NMS

A few observations:

• I have never seen so much standing water on Grove before.  Ran a bit down the median to take higher ground.
• In the dark on the Kennondale hill, I could hear whitewater rapids in the ditches.  If I had a creek boat, I could get to the bottom a lot quicker.  Also, one had to keep a lookout for tripping hazards (someone’s driveway spilled into the road) and cross currents similar to riptide running across the road.
• Sippy Cup suggested that this route could be aptly renamed Snake River since there is both a river and a fork.  Plus there is a bite to the hills.
• There was some deep water on Patterson.  Prior to today, I have never described my running style like a displacement hull.  I wonder if you can hydroplane while running?
• At one point, I waterboarded myself breathing in through my nose.

Announcements

• Puppy Pile is tomorrow.  Water, mud, and kids.  Its going to smell like a wet dog.
• Golf tournament today.  The heavy stuff probably won’t come down for some time so they are good for a few holes.

Time to Taper,

Lockjaw

17 men were almost rudderless with Lockjaw not manning the Q.  A few jumped on their bikes with the remaining (15?) taking off toward the Carillon or thereabouts…

• Welcome to Hitchhiker on his virgin RAMM.  According to Goose, he really enjoyed it…but apparently not enough to stick around for the COT
• Shakedown wants to join the ranks of the hairless for a very worth cause.  Let’s show him both our love, and our desire for him to stop having to ask:    https://www.stbaldricks.org/participants/mypage/984556/2018
• See BT on how to properly apply a merkin (not the exercise, but the device used to cover one’s dong)

Saab abides

Twelve smugglers attempted the Kessel Run today.  Three more runners opted for extended distance pre-workout and another four were on bike.

Here is how we celebrated this “May the Force” edition of RAMM.

As a group, run a warmup through Windsor Farms for about 2.5 miles.  The route roughly resembles the Millennium Falcon in shape.

As we return to the VSF, the Kessel Run commences from the corner of Commonwealth and Grove.

4 milers – Head north on Commonwealth to Augusta and back for 1.7 miles.  Target a 11:20 pace or better.

5 milers – Head east on Grove to Belmont and back for 2.6 miles.  Target a 8:20 pace or better.

6 milers – Head west on Grove to Three Chopt and back for 3.1 miles.  Target 6:45 pace or better.

Labrat took us out.

NMS

With the Solo movie coming out and a RAMM Q on May 4, how could YHC pass this up?  It was good to run the first portion as a group.  Pax who never run together on a normal day did so today.  The 6 milers got the full Labrat experience.  Windsor Farms was perfect this morning.

The tempo work impressed me.  The 5s were 8:00 or less for their run.  6s dominated their route and I am certain the 4s crushed it as well.

Announcements:

• See Shakedown’s prior post for information regarding children’s cancer and his fundraising activities.  Wheelie has a similar effort (feel free to share that information here) involving biking many miles in June.
• Labrat mentioned something about drinking beer and being cornholed for money.  On his second pass at an explanation, it sounded more like a F3 corn hole tournament at his house in which teams would put in few dollars as the winner’s purse.  He would also brew some beer for the event.  Sounds a little different now, doesn’t it?
• The Ghost Flag will be at Hoedown on Monday, May 7.  Any challengers coming to take it?

Always Be Tapering,

Lockjaw

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:

• May 18 – Wilson’s golf tournament – for a good cause.  See him for details.
• May 19 – Puppy Pile for 2.0s – see pre-blast or Upchuck
• June 18 – Shakedown is raising money for a good cause and will throw in a haircut.

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