Tag: Spider Run

University of Richmond

  • Dr. Chandler Will See You Now

    13 of F3 RVA’s finest OG’s slipped out of the house and into The Gloom for the latest edition of The Spider Run. Temperatures were 70 and sunny. According to the billy goats in residence, the following might have happened:

    First, the route apparently set the F3RVA record for the greatest number of turns, the largest number of street name changes without a turn, and the lowest average distance traveled per street. In the spirit of Lab Rat, the YHC apologizes.

    Route:

    Left out of the parking lot, and follow whatever the road that is not called UR Drive is in fact called until it loops back to Campus Drive. Turn left on Campus.

    Cross College, and take the trail to Wheeler.

    Left on Wheeler, which becomes Hampshire (only everyone thinks it’s Horsepen). Right on Dartmoor.

    Left onto Horsepen, go 10 yards, and left onto Waveney. Do not turn on Cheshire (In the spirit of Lab Rat, again, YHC apologizes).

    Right on Wood. Right on Cornwall. Right on Devon. Right on Ridge Top. Easy enough?

    Left on Chandler DRIVE. Up Chandler. Up, up, up. At the top, turn around. Down, down, down Chandler.

    At the bottom, turn around. Up, up Chandler. To Chandler CIRCLE. To the end, turn around, then cross Chandler DRIVE to the other end of Chandler CIRCLE, turn around. Turn LEFT on Chandler DRIVE.

    Down, down Chandler DRIVE.

    Turn around. Up Chandler DRIVE to Gardiner. Turn left and go to the end. Turn around. Take Gardiner to Chandler DRIVE, cross Chandler DRIVE, go up, up Gardiner and over the hill.

    Left on Wheeler.

    Right at the trailhead. Back to Campus Drive.

    4’s take Campus to a right on UR Drive and BTTVSF.

    5’s take Campus to Towana to Roselawn and BTTVSF.

    6’s take Campus to Towana to Three Chopt. Right on Iris, and follow Iris as it changes names every 100 yards…Robin, Ridgeway…and BTTVSF.

    Numbers, names, and YHC pulled a Lockjaw and cold called Lockjaw, who took us out, with a message about better directions from the Q. In the spirit of Lab Rat, YHC apologizes.

    NMS: For many years, the quintessential F3 RVA CSAUP was the Blue Ridge Relay. 210 miles or so of glorious hills, switchbacks, blind curves, dark hollows, and, according to legend, bears. Truly a test of physical and mental stamina. And, a path to building this Brotherhood. The BRR starts this Friday, so today’s route was an Ode to BRR Training of years past.

    Richmond has no hills comparable to the BRR (Twin Team is a speed bump by comparison). And, Richmond surely has no routes with 4-10 miles of intense hills. So, up and down Chandler had to suffice on Tuesdays in years past. Nice to relive the good ole days.

    Prayer Requests:

    For Hitch and his family as they mourn his father’s passing.

    For Speakeasy and his family as their bear the trial of battling cancer.

    For those researching cures for cancer, you inspire the rest of us. God speed in your research, regardless of what land mass you stand on when running your tests. May government policy not be a CSAUP exercise that keeps you from finding a cure.

    For our pal Splinter, who is gradually weaning the rest of us off the Big Data teet…lend the man a hand in his request for us to test his solutions.

    For my Mom…happy birthday. 87 today. John 8:32.

  • Hold my sweater…

    A lucky 7 arrived for a run in temperature and humidity that was less than optimal.

    Saab abides

    Routes: (Starts in direction of River Road shopping center and Westham Station)

    6M

    https://onthegomap.com/s/ck0vs5b5

    5M

    https://onthegomap.com/s/1d4qguii

    New 4M

    https://onthegomap.com/s/4iaol8st

  • Pink Panther Returns

    It was about 10 years ago that my daughter, Lucy, showed up at one of our 2.0 workouts on a Saturday morning at DogPile. Back then, it was an easy 7am arrival time, which, for a then 6 year old, was a piece of cake.

    Flash forward a decade and for some reason, Pink Panther decided that on her first day of school she was going to get up and run with her old man.

    Does she normally run? No she does not.

    Do you guys exercise together? Not really.

    Is she normally a morning person? She is not a morning person.

    Was she aware that there would be other people at the run? Not until I told her as we were driving to UofR.

    I don’t think I have a chance to figure out the brain of a 16yo girl, and I’m not going to start now. But, needless to say, I was pretty proud of her this morning…getting up at 5am to start the school year off right. Good for her.

    The thang…

    This is the basic Spottswood run.

    4s, 5s, 6s….

    Head toward the baseball field, through the parking lot and towards College Rd. Left on College, right on Lakewood, right on Wood and left on Baldwin.

    Zig to Baldwin across Westham and a left on Rock Creek.

    Left on Forest.

    About 1/4 of a mile up Forest hang a right onto Spottswood and enter that pocket neighborhood.

    4s do one lap, take a right on Forest and then a Left on Lindsay and get home.

    5s and 6s do two laps around the neighborhood and a right on Forest.

    They then take ridge to Zion Crossing, to University and back to the flag.

    If you are curious, Pink Panther did pull the rip cord after about 16:00 (I did say she wasn’t a runner) which was conveniently by our house at Baldwin. But still…two thumbs and a proud dad.

  • Hunt, Scavenger

    This morning, 14 of WWesthoe’s finest gathered with teeming anticipation for a special edition of Spider Run. As directions were starting, YHC was reminded by Upchuck that directions would be false advertising. So rules were stated for today.

    Rules

    • Everyone visit each of the 4 corner entrances to UR (River & UR Drive, River & College, College & Campus, and Campus and UR Drive). Bonus points if new entrances were found.
    • Additionally, the following landmarks needed to be visisted: Robins Center, Boatwright Library, Cannon Memorial Chapel, Jepson Alumni Center. Bonus points for extra landmarks.
    • College Drive between Robins Center and Westhampton Way was out of bounds.
    • 6s couldn’t visit two corners in a row. A landmark must be between each corner.

    Numbers, names, YHC took us out.

    Moleskine

    For over ten years now, YHC has driven by two stately University of Richmond entrances wondering if there was a way to hit all the signs in one run. Rather than plan out a route, a scavenger hunt seemed like the right way to do it.

    Thanks to the PAX for the solid showing today. It was one of those days where YHC didn’t want to worry about mileage, so hopefully this was a good distraction from the humidity.

    Official Scorebook:

    +100 points to the 6s who took a picture in front of a 5th entrance sign

    -100 points to the 6s who admitted to cheating

    +100 points to Faceplant who asked what he won. He wins points.

    Announcements

    • Check Slack for meal-train info for one of our PAX

    Splinter out.

  • Guess who’s coming to dinner…

    A six-pax plus one arrived for an out and back run up-river (aka heading West)

    NMS: Early best-wishes to Sippy as he prepares for his 3+ month sojourn to merry old England. Also, let’s be mindful of our existing health and the warning signs that we sometimes ignore.

    Route:

    4m- https://onthegomap.com/s/d6d3t1pd.  Left on Riverside Drive heading west.  Take first left and head upward on Southampton.  Turnaround at Old Spring Rd Intersection.  

    5m – https://onthegomap.com/s/9dgrtivg.   Left on Riverside and proceed along river heading west. Riverside turns to Hickory.  Turnaround at Cherokee Rd intersection 

    6m – https://onthegomap.com/s/d7unkst7.  Same as 5M however continue straight on Hickory…  Turnaround at Waxford Rd intersection.  

  • Scared of the Weather App

    Twelve Spider Run veterans gathered in the threatening gloom for today’s iteration of Spider Run. After what may have been a ruse Q sign-up, only to have it empty this morning, there was brief discussion of what to do. Luckily we know these roads.

    Three options (and a laughed at 4th) were offered. Mount Henrico, Across the River, or The Cardinal. Originally, the PAX wanted a flat route for the thick air but opted for The Cardinal to outrun the storm. The storm never came.

    The Route

    Out and back. Around the baseball field, up Boatwright, across to Honaker, left on Patterson, right on Charles. Yes, right on Charles. Yes, right on Charles. Out till you hit your half mileage then reverso.

    Directions were repeated and the right on Charles was once again confirmed.

    Numbers, names, Marv took us out.

    Moleskin

    Discussion amongst the 5s was around the show Alone, which prompted introspection and sharing of the loneliest times of our lives. Great philosophy for 0530 in the morning.

    Announcements included Bodo’s showing off his Scrabble or perhaps Balderdash prowess. Upon learning of his donation of the legendary Volvo, impecunious was shared.

    Riotous cachinnation ensued.

  • Tour de Spider

    Twelve of the studliest studs to ever studding stud, put down some miles.

    Here’s where:

    • R on UR Drive
    • R on Westhampton Way
    • R on Keller
    • Continue across College on Glen Pkwy
    • R on Westham

    4s

    • R on Durwood Cr
    • R on Ridgetop
    • L on Wheeler
    • Take path to campus and continue on Campus Dr
    • R on UR Drive back to SF

    5s

    • R on Patterson
    • R on Honaker
    • Continue on Boatwright
    • L on Campus Dr
    • U-turn onto Towana
    • Continue on Roselawn
    • Path to UR Drive back to SF

    6s

    • R on Patterson
    • R on Maple
    • R on Grove
    • Take access road to Towana
    • Towana to Roselawn
    • Path to UR Drive back to SF

    Numberama, Nameorama, COT

    MOLESKIN

    After the PAX commiserated about the hills and how much they sucked, Handshake shared the news that his wife’s 11 year old cousin passed away over the weekend after a long hard cancer battle.  That really puts things into perspective.  We do hard things daily, but nothing could be as hard as saying goodbye to a child.  We pray for mercy in that family’s grief and peace as they trust in God’s plan and provision.  Let’s approach each day with gratefulness for what we have and not take a single breath for granted.

    ANNOUNCEMENTS

    Prayers for Speakeasy

    Summer Tour continues tomorrow at MOT

    Homegrown Half this Saturday

  • Hammer Time (Can’t Touch This…)

    Turning it up to 11, said-number of pax members arrived to run/walk/bike. YHC introduced a derivative of the 5 fingers…. Numbers of fingers actually taken varied based on time, effort, fortitude.

    Saab abides

    ROUTE:

    Everyone: follow the 4M base-route which starts at Ridgeway to Iris…

    5M: Add Tapoan and Bostwick up-and-back

    6M: Same as 5s but add Ridgeway and OldMill up-and-back

    4M (Base)
    4.2 mile route

    5M
    5.1 mile route

    6M
    5.9 mile route

  • Do Whale Sharks Sound Like Eeyore?

    Twelve curious casual baseball fans gathered to ponder which was more lethal between a shrimp and a shark. The answer may surprise you. Once again, every mode of transportation was covered. Runners did a variation of the Devil’s pitchfork. This time with a loop instead of an out and back.

    Route

    Batcave to Westham Station to South Ridge to Westham to Pinetree to University. Back around the lake to the start.

    4s: + Ross

    5s: + Highland & Ross

    6s: + Panorama & Highland & Old Bridge & Ross

    Numbers, names, YHC took us out.

    Moleskin

    Chippendale and I were enjoying a lovely stroll until, out of nowhere, Faceplant stormed up behind us and joined the 5s. Apparently he Ferris Bueller’d his way through private property to catch up. Didn’t he realize these were out and backs? Nevertheless, he caught up.

    Post run discussion was centered around middle-aged men footwear style choices. Socks with Crocs wins the day.

    Have a great day fellas.

    Splinter

  • Every Method Covered

    Six stellar USA fans gathered in the stale air behind the Commons for this week’s iteration of Spider Run. After confessing to not staying up to watch the 2nd half of the game last night, YHC called time and off we went.

    Route

    5s: https://onthegomap.com/s/mimfd0g2

    Numbers, names, YHC took us out.

    Moleskine

    YHC saves this route for when there is ample daylight. Primarily to avoid tripping on the path to the park, but secondarily to observe what some people declare is a “scary man’s house.” No issues traversing the path to the park and venturing into rarely used Spider Run territory.

    We had every mode covered today. With six people, that’s an accomplishment. Rider ✅. Runners ✅. Walker ✅. Run / Walker ✅. Everyone complained about the humidity but everyone did it.

    Well done everyone. Prayers to those out there struggling with balance.

    Splinter out