Tag: RAMM

Mary Munford Elementary

  • What’s Her Middle Name?

    7 sort of “tapering” runner showed up for YHC’s RAMM VQ.

    This is how it went down:

    ROUTES

    ALL PAX: Head east on Grove, Left onto Malvern, Right onto Moument

    4 Milers: Right onto Boulevard, Right onto Grove

    5 Miler (YHC solo): Right onto N Meadow, Right onto Grove

    6 Milers – No shows

    MOLESKIN

    Knowing that must of the PAX would be taking today off with CSAUP this evening, YHC took this Q weeks ago since he is still training for the Colonial 200. As part of his training, this the would be the first run of three over the next 28ish hours. Leg 2: See you fellas at the MANNDate tonight. Leg 3: monument 10k

    YHC asking if anyone was “tapering” and needed a 3 mile route. Swirly quickly responded; “Nope we are Men!”. YHC should have know better to ask

    Circle K had planned a 7.5 miles this morning but got up late. Glad to still have you out this morning brother.

    Bleeder had to make a “stop” at the Woodfin building. This started a start who conversation on different slings used to describe this action. Including Swirly sharing “Dropping the Browns off at the Super Bowl”. Good laughs enjoyed by all

    Two Can shared he is currently training for PT testing coming up next month. This somehow lead down the road to him sharing his daughter’s name which has two first names. TYA asked “What’s her middle Name?” and Two Can replied “That is her name, there is no middle name”. As must things go, you had to be there to enjoy it.

    ANNOUNCEMENTS  

    Good luck to everyone running in the CSAUP tonight and tomorrow morning!

    SPIT ON THAT!!

  • Spy Hunter

    15 by foot and 1 by wheel descended upon the AO ready to roll.  YHC used a new tactic to lay the route; a map.  We did the Setauket route today in the 4 and 5 mile variations.  6 milers were all sunning themselves on a beach, college tour, or whereabouts unknown.

    Today’s pace was at a quick clip today.  I think Flatline and Spit were pushing the first pack and setting the tone for the rest of the 5s.  No one got permanently lost today and all returned to the AO.  YHC did see some take a slide down the hill as we cut through the tree line to Dover.  Note to all, there is a mulched path at the turn.

    Wilton House seems to be doing well, through there is a construction site next door.  An empty lot where a house once stood?  What will they build?  Pax speculation includes a Wawa or Dollar General.  I have  my money on the Waffle House.

    Labrat should be renamed the “Spy Hunter” after the video game from our youth.  I don’t know about any machine guns out front, but the oil slick and smokescreen combo produced by his flatulence left many gagging 30 feet back.  A couple weeks ago, EF Hutton got poked in the eye by a stick on the Grayson Allen route.  This week he choked down a direct hit of Labrat’s finest crushing his olfactory senses.  Perhaps we will plan on damaging the rest of his senses on future runs?

    Labrat, somewhere out there Keymaster, Wilson, and Fudd are filled with a sense of deep pride.

    Flatline took us out.

    CSAUP is upon us.  One week and game time.

    Time to Taper (when is it not?),

    Lockjaw

  • Cross route or a t ?

    19 strong posted for the run this morning and here is how it went down.

    TYA gave the instructions – fella’s we are doing the cross route in honor of Good Friday. Commonwealth to Monument left on Monument to Staples mill – back down Monument left on commonwealth to Broad – back down commonwealth to monument left to Belmont – back up Monument to Commonwealth.  Yep this is the 5 mile route cause YHC did not listen to the streets for the 4 and 6. YHC is assisting with writing the BB for TYA today…

    19 is awesome to have @ RAMM – let’s keep that up dudes!

    So this all started after Splinter texted TYA last night and asked if he was doing the cross route… Yep it was gonna be old school but after brief consideration TYA went with the cross route or as Marv like to say oh we are running a t  – 🙂 The parking lot was coned off so YHC parked on the street – wow been awhile since YHC has done that – but figured that was the right call – gotta keep the school happy – no moving the kindergarten cones..  Everyone seemed to have a good and safe run other than my man BT – who tweaked that back again and was walking like a 90 year old man…. Good news is he went to see our brother Flipper and got that sucker worked on – Flipdog will have him back in action in no time – atta baby Flip! Glad to hear you are feeling better BT! Splinter allowed his daughter to see Feris Bueller’s day off and she did not laugh in the first 15 min which concerned Splinter cause when he walked in and sat down he was rolling with in seconds – hey Splinter try Fletch next man  no way she can’t laugh at that one or maybe Caddyshack – weird science, Major league any of those are sure to have her laughing immediately dude  🙂  Fuudski took us out with some very appropriate and powerful words. We indeed have much to be thankful for but most of all we are thankful for the love and the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior. Good Friday is a time of reflection – Easter is a time of celebration – let us reflect and celebrate this weekend.

    Well done today guys – each of you encourage and inspire me everyday.  See y’all in the gloom..

  • Cyclops, a Dead Hawk, Punch Buggy Beatdown, and a Delorean

    A score of runners converged today for the first Spring RAMM of 2018.  YHC called the Grayson Allen route (Grace and Allen) in 4 miler, 5 miler, and 6 miler variations and the Pax was off.

    Fudd did a fine job taking us out.

    NMS:

    YHC posts the Grayson Allen route around key Duke games as a rally against them.  The inaugural route was the day after Carolina’s victory and today’s was intended to give Syracuse a little extra edge.  This strategy worked somewhat, with the score within four points last night.

    The 5 milers started off as a great pack for the first mile or so and then started to spread out.  We witnessed several omens, coincidences, and happenstances that YHC felt certain would lead to a Syracuse victory.  Perhaps these jinxs go both ways.

    First, EF Hutton took a tree in the eye.  Not a twig, nor a branch, but a tree limb.  He seems ok.  Second, YHC called out what appeared to be a dead weasel or opossum on the side of the road.  Labrat confirmed it to be a dead hawk that we almost stepped on. Further along the run we came across a Delorean parked on the side of the road.  Very rare citing, much less so on the side of the road.

    Speaking of parked cars, Labrat is a fanatic about punch buggy.  Usually he prides himself about getting one or two in.  Going down Grace and back through the Fan armed him with so many opportunities he eventually grew tired from his arm workout of taking swings at YHC.  I did get him on the Delorean though.

    It’s great to see the turn out like this for RAMM.  While RAMM is always a crowd pleaser, a cool 20 runners is an impressive turnout.  CSAUP training in full bloom.

    Anything interesting happen on the 4 and 6 mile routes?

    Time to Taper,

    Lockjaw

     

  • Mary has the Fartleks

    Fifteen noble steeds collected under the clear, starlit skies for a non-Lockjaw edition of RAMM.  Today was a day to work on speed and the Q offered two choices depending on your willingness to participate.

    The Route
    Very straightforward, no questions were asked at all.  North on Commonwealth, right on Monument.  Turn around and come home.

    The Thang
    Option 1 – The goal was a negative split.  Run out 23 minutes, turn around and get back to the start in 22 minutes.  The intent is to go out at a normal pace then try to pick it up on the return.  Negative splits are a good goal during any run/race as you get faster throughout the run, rather than slowing down towards the end.

    Option 2 – Ten 1-minute pickups, a.k.a. the Fartlek.  Run out at a casual pace for a 15 minute warm up.  Then pick up the pace for 1 minute, followed by a 30 second recovery.  The pickup pace should be around a 5k time, i.e. run much faster than your normal Friday morning pace.  Repeat for a total of 10 iterations, turning around after the 5th to work your way back to the flag.  15 minute cool down on the way back to the flag.

    Numberama, names, YHC took us out.

    Moleskin
    YHC is a fan of trying things that are different.  Sometimes they work, sometimes they don’t.  The variability is one of the reasons why F3 is so great.

    The Fartlek is a great strategy to mix into your running routine to get some variability in running, otherwise it can become quite mundane.  If you didn’t try the Fartlek today I encourage you to consider it next time around.  Remember, it’s not always about the length.

    YHC particularly enjoyed the hoops conversation this morning, especially the foray into machine learning algorithms used to predict the outcome of each game.  Sounds like another opportunity for a human to beat a machine.  Viva Kasparov vs Deep Blue!

    Splinter out

  • Always go Left

    A mighty 16 woke up this morning, to be greeted with maps with squiggly lines representing this morning’s route.  This was Lab Rat’s 4th try to make the Serpentine route an instant classic.

    4 Milers- follow 4 mile map

    5 Milers- follow 5 mile map

    6 milers- do what you like.  Just kidding, follow your map.

    NMS- All mileages were represented today, along with No Tools and Ricky Bobby on the bikes.  Great morning for a run, and it showed by the splits.  Nice to run with Singer and Pucker for a bit, then catching up with Swirly.

    Wedding Singer’s baby #2 is coming any day!  Keep us updated, Singer!

    Moment of silence for the runner who was struck in Atlee last week, who died a couple days ago.

    Apology of the week goes to Hardywood for presenting him with a Geography test before his second cup of coffee.  I should have just said “run with Saab”.

     

    Lab Rat apologizes…

  • Oil Cans and Tube Socks

    13 stallions came by foot to see what all the noise was outside with the wind.  It seems that the wind woke many of us up in the early morning hours providing some lethargy pre-run.

    Off we go on the Reverse Carillon routes of 4, 5, and 6 mile varieties.

    YHC took us out.

    NMS:

    It’s great to see some new runners coming out.  CSAUP training is in full bloom with Kubota, KeyMaster, Bootleg to name a few.  Spit lit up the 5 mile route today and it’s always good to have a rare Fudd sighting.

    Speaking of sightings, Labrat resumed running today.  Today’s backblast title comes from a post-run Labrat conversation that Lockjaw overhead.  Seems the Rat was doing some contrasting with Saab.  Never a dull moment with this crowd.

    Announcements:

    • TYA starts his 100 miler tomorrow.  Keep him in your thoughts through the weekend.  Not because of the run, but rather for his safety in riding in a RV across three states in high winds with Saab, Circle K, and Swirly at the wheel.  Might as well keep him in your thoughts for the run as well.
    • Post-CSAUP festivities – We are looking for non-running PAX who are able to set up the finish line festivities.  Inquiries can be made with Lockjaw, TYA, Rosie, or Honey Do.

    Time to Taper,

    Lockjaw

  • This Route Sponsored By…

    18 of RVA’s finest runners showed up for perfect running weather to get some miles in for an array of upcoming events.  Cool and rainy, but not too cold, means optimal running.

    Today we did the Hamilton route.  All parties east on Grove and North on Hamilton.  At Westwood, 6s take a right while 4s and 5s take a left.  6s loop around to the Blvd and then Grove back the VSF.  4s/5s take Westwood/Malvern to Patterson and head west.  4s turn on Westmoreland back to Grove.  5s continue further to Lexington/Albemarle to Grove.

    TYA took us out.

    NMS:

    It was good to see the great turn out today, especially from 2Kanne and the D-ville contingent.  The 5s ran today as a pack of wolves, pushing the pace along the way.  Spit set the tone for the last half mile as he found a higher gear and took off.

    For those unfamiliar with this route, it passes by a large Woodfin complex illuminated like an advertisement for WDog.  This route is officially sponsored.

    Post run discussion centered around CSAUP teams, Breaking Bread (see Kubota), and TYA’s favorite New England hotel.

    ABT,

    Lockjaw

  • A Rectangle

    YHC arrived with Swirly and EF Hutton stretching and 10 mins left at the gloom. Yes, YHC looked different…..his beard is gone. 19 men arrived for YHC first Q of RAMM and directions were communicated. YHC was thinking, simple route! Run down Grove, return up Monument to Commonwealth and to Mary. 4 milers turn L on Boulevard to Monument, 5 milers turn L on Meadow to Monument and 6 milers turn L on Harrison and L on Franklin to Monument.

    Number-ama, Name-r-ama, Announcements: Upchuck, 10K training team, at The Healing Place after Dogpile, 3 miles this Saturday, 0730.  CSAUP-just find a team and do it!!

    YHC took us out!

    NMS: No RAMM Gears this am. Bleeder and Labrat took off slightly early so they did what they can do. You showed up!  6 milers-off like a rifle shot-nice work, Saab, Dutch, Sippy Cup, Marv, and Swirly with a little extra credit, especially at the end. YHC choose 5 miles. EF Hutton and Offshore, pleasure to run with you men this am. Shakedown, Honey Do, and Upchuck were in similar pack not far behind. Crash-thank you for visiting from C’ville. Lola-just buy it!! Lugnut-good to see you this am! Pucker always shows for RAMM, nice work!! TYA started from his home for an extended run and made COT-60 degrees and he looked like he jumped out of the bath tub!! Wedding Singer and Swirly made COT just as PAX was closing out!

    We have PAX members struggling right now so continued prayers for them.  Way to push yourself this am gentlemen!! We are always capable of just a little bit more!!! Enjoy this day and savor those moments!! This group is awesome and only those who post understand!!

    Loud and Proud!!

    Flatline

  • The Bearded Oyster

    The Pax was solely on foot today, whether running, walking, or rucking.  This was the first Friday in sometime without a bike presence.

    YHC explained the Grace’N’Allen (Grayson Allen) route in recognition of UNC’s triumph over Duke last night.  Other parallels include a route that is loaded with cobblestones, potholes, as well as other tripping hazards and seems to go on a little too long.  Go UVA, SJU, and UNC!

    4s/6s – Head West on Grove to Bunting, cross Patterson and take Chantilly to Monument.  East on Monument to Thompson and take a left to Grace and hang a right.

    5s – Head East on Grove to Thompson and hang a left.  Take a right on Grace.

    From here:  4s take Cleveland back to Grove to the VSF.  5s/6s take Allen to Grove to the VSF.

    The routes were a little heavy this morning.  4.24, 5.31, and 6.16 in distance.  The 6s felt short changed from Tuesday’s 5.85 and for the 5s, well, we are developing beasts in the ranks.

    Swirly took us out.

    NMS:

    Today was quite the menagerie of observations.  As I pulled into the AO, Bleeder emerged from a Toyota SUV and Saab from a BMW; both of which seemed out of place.  Great conversation as a six wide Pax ran down Grace, but strolled down memory lane of youthful shenanigans.  Despite it being cold, there were birds singing everywhere along the route this morning.  Is Spring coming soon?  What do these birds know that we do not?

    Finishing the run, we had Pax joining us who either missed us or ran their own thing, including Oyster.  We have not seen him in a while, but he was back today with a full beard, hence the backblast title.

    Labrat chose to tote his backpack and try Rucking.  Is it just me or has he avoided Lockjaw runs  since the mutiny?  Last time it was biking, this week rucking.  Next time is he going to dig out those roller blades from the 90s?

    Thoughts go out to Sippy Cup’s mother-in-law who was recently injured with a fall.  The Pax hopes for a speedy recovery.

    I also want to thank the Pax for the support they have given me from across the RVA region.  A sincere Thank You.

    Time to Taper,

    Lockjaw