Tag: Spider Run

While the county of Henrico has many amazing vistas…coming over the railroad tracks on Hillard off of Staples Mill, pulling into the Costco parking lot on a Saturday, Sandston…there’s nothing quite like that scene between 5:50 and 6:00 am when you arrive at the highest point in the county, the seat apex, if you will and you find yourself at the crest of Mt. Henrico.

The Blue Ridge Bank (with electric charging stations (@Faceplant, @Sippy). The Burger King. The CAA Offices (did you know that they are no longer the Colonial Athletic Association, but the Coastal Athletic Association? Thirteen years ago that league had JMU, ODU, VCU all playing quality hoops against each other and UofR making up what was widely regarded as the best FCS football league in the country. Now all those schools are gone, including UofR, who bolted to the Patriot League for football).

I digress.

Anyway, it was a georgeous morning to grab your oxygen tank, your sherpa and your SLR Camera to head to the Zenith of all things Henrico at the intersection of Julian and Parham…which is exactly what a dozen post Memorial Day exercising guys did.

The thang…

Lakeview to the parking lot by the baseball field. (Anyone know what they are doing on the baseball field at UofR?). Down to College. College to Lakewood to Wood to Baldwin. I mean, we all know this, right…kinda playing the hits here. Baldwin gets ya to Rock Creek which, if you take a leo, you end up at Forest. Forest to the other University, not to be confused with the one 1 mile away. University all the way to Glendale (like where the Arizona Cardinals play, thanks @Splinter) to Julian. Run to the end of Julian…take a deep breath, think about all those fantastic CAA Tournament basketball games in the Coliseum, turn around and head home.

Where have you gone, Eric Maynor?

Fourteen Road Scholars embraced the hills of Westham for routes of multiple lengths. We started out with a climb up University Dr, a detour to First Watch, and then dropped down to Westham Station. There were various “finger hills” that challenged the Pax.

The curious deer crossed the road and the hawk got his mouse. Marv took us out.

Eleven or more hill lovers met in the bowl for today’s spider run. Instructions were brief as the route was well known, nary a mention of the alternate name for Ross’ bottom.

The Route

• Batcave to Westham station
• Up south ridge to the light
• 4s turn around and come home
• 5s and 6s add Ross on the way down
• 6s add Highland

Numbers, names, YHC took us out.

Moleskin

Good tried but true route this AM. Thanks for Lockjaw, in abstentia, for introducing this variant many moons ago.

We intersected Saab on Westham Station and he joined us for a brief minute. Only he knows where he went.

During COT, a large brown spider appeared and joined the circle. We closed our eyes, said a prayer, and when they opened, he was gone. I’m sure he’s fine.

Sorry for the day late fellas.

Six dudes, each excited to be there, met in the bowl to discuss routes. Q sheet opened up last night so YHC grabbed it and threw out a well known route. Glenbrooke Circle.

The Route

4s: https://onthegomap.com/s/2it64s81
5s: https://onthegomap.com/s/cb4drrlo
6s: https://onthegomap.com/s/snnefdlg

Numbers, names, YHC took us out.

Moleskin

Routes were posted yesterday evening and even though there were stipulations provided for traveling on Ralston, no enforcement was to be seen. Half of us made it up Summit, one was conveniently solo when he got to the top. Hmmmmm.

Questions abound as to why the first class streets are so wide when no one parks on the street.

Sneaky hills on that route. 6 milers had 9 hills, 5 milers 8, 4 milers 6. Fun times.

New route planned for a few weeks. Don’t skip a Splinter Q.

✌️

Eleven’ish gentlemen braved the somewhat posted route for today’s variation of Spider Run intervals. After a brief, yet contested, disclaimer, off we went.

The Route

Through the path, up Roselawn, right on Towana, right on access road, left on St. Christophers. Upchuck was in the lead after the first turn, for those who are counting.

Right just past the baseball field to the track. 200m intervals. 200m at faster than race pace followed by 200m recovery. 4 milers do 4, 5 milers do 8, 6 milers do 12. Or whatever count you want in between there.

Numbers, names, YHC took us out.

Announcements

• GroRuck weekend, lots of announcements there
• Señor Chuck has the Dogpile Q for the early birds

Moleskin

Well, well, it seems that the number 7 has quite a fetish in history. Multiple 7 Years’ Wars (some taking longer than 7 years, but who’s counting?). 7 years of famine. 7 years of drought. Even the Dalai Lama himself spent (at least) 7 years in Tibet. And of course, it has been a whopping 7 years since Upchuck last graced a track with his presence, or so he claims through his perpetually track-deprived tears. The Q sheet is conveniently filled for 4/30/2031 for more track shenanigans.

YHC always appreciates y’all’s presence, even when running frustrates me to the point of questioning my life choices. There are good runs, there are bad runs, and sometimes YHC gets stuck in a rut deeper than Westham creek. For me, intervals are the magical cure to break out of that rut, and it was desperately needed today.

It was also quite delightful to give the queen’s wave to Gypsy and Homer as they plodded along on the track. YHC can’t help but wonder if they actually tested out those hurdles, or if they were just admiring them from a safe distance, afraid to unleash their inner Olympians.

Adiós amigos, until the next round!

Splinter

A meandering route through ziontown and south ridge.

Lockjaw needs data backup. Ping Splinter if you were here and want credit.

An eleven inquisitive runners paid no heed to the frost warning and sought early miles on the road. Topics varied as much as the routes, but all returned with deep thoughts.

Up the hill to the main entrance and then up another hill to Three Chopt. Take the access road to Grove and then Granite, and then Patterson to head west. 4s turn on Pepper, 5s on Honker, and 6s on Westham Dr (returning via Lakewood).

YHC took us out.

Lots of great chatter and antics this morning. Turns out Finland is the happiest nation in the world with Sweden as number four. I guess you start out learning Swedish and end with Finnish.

Eleven pollen pushers embarked on a well known route. Directions were unenthusiastically announced and then off we went.

The Route

• Summit the mound
• Around the baseball field, left on college, right on Lakewood, right on Wood, left on Baldwin
• Right on Westham, left on Baldwin, wave to Marv sleeping, left on Rock Creek
• Left on Forest, right on University
• 4s: Arlington circle then return
• 5s: Continue up University to Glenwood then left on Julian to the top
• 6s: add Arlington on the way out and back

Numbers, names, prayer requests before YHC took us out.

Moleskin

Two PAX members, one wearing jeans and the other bitter from a loss in the March Madness pool, somehow shared they were wearing the same underwear. I’m glad I missed the setup for that one.

Prayers for those in our PAX dealing with a variety of concerns, Frankie, Lockjaw, Faceplant, and others unspoken.

YHC grabbed the Q en route to the AO.  It was recited on the fly.  All but TYA stuck with YHC.  Here’s where we went:

The Route

• Batcave to Westham Station continue up S. Ridge
• L on River
• R on Gaymont
• L on University (5/6), R on University (4)
• R on Ralston
• L back on University to Ziontown
• R on Holmes
• Zig across S. Ridge to Sunset
• Zag across Westham to University
• L on College
• R past the baseball field back to the VSF
• 4s skip bullet points 5-9

Numberama, Nameorama, COT

MOLESKIN

Baseball, sciatica, accounting, nicknames were just a few of the topics discussed.  Awesome seeing TYA running again.  To the spring breakers, you were missed and you suck.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

• GTE – still time to sign up
• Prayers for the Spring Break travelers and the dead UR student

Fifteen humans and one dog collected in the commons basin to this fabulous Tuesday edition of Spider Run. No complaints from anyone so off we went.

The Route

• Loop in front of the commons then up the stairs and beside the chapel
• Make another left then back to the bat cave direction before heading up Ridgeway
• Collect ourselves at the bottom of Ridgeway while letting the other gaggle of runners go by
• 2 intervals up Ridgeway, continuing on the second to a left on Roselawn
• Stop halfway down Roselawn for 2 more intervals, continuing on the second to a left on Campus
• Collect at the bottom of Old Mill for 2 more intervals, then continue down Campus
• Collect at the bottom of Bostwick for 2 more intervals. Actually, we had time for 3.
• Easy mosey back to the VSF via the most direct path

Numbers, names, YHC took us out.

Moleskin

Even though the hype almost skipped Spider Run, the energy level was high. Pretty much everyone knew what was going on, Anthrax being the least surprised of the bunch. We may not have confused the dog, but we certainly confused all those runners we passed on Ridgeway.

There were various comments from the PAX that they figured something was up when I put out the poll a few weeks ago. Turns out there were no clear and decisive victors. So what does a strong leader do when there are no clear winners? Dictate of course. So we chose 4 hills that received no votes and did intervals on them. While we may have reached the top of two of them, it was still a great combination of hill repeats.

Anytime someone wants to surprise me one day and plan some intervals, feel free. Seems unfortunate I am the only one able to give out this much joy on a regular basis.

Two highlights of the day for me, both on Bostwick. While running beside Chippendale, we made the first turn and his expression said it all. No words, simply a grunt and a groan. Yes, Bostwick sucks.

Second highlight was on the second interval on Bostwick. Faceplant didn’t break story for the entire 1 minute interval. YHC made sure to indirectly call him out by reminding the PAX that if you can tell stories on Bostwick, you aren’t doing it right.

Enjoy the day fellas.