University of Richmond
After YHC called the route, Upchuck commented that it was essentially a reverse of the route I called in a prior week. About a mile in, I realized he was correct. After a while, these routes blur together. Apologies!
Up the big hill and then up the bigger hill to cut through the dark trail that smells like fruit loops. Pick up Three Chopt to Patterson and head south on your respective turns coming down Towana through campus.
Great conversation in my group. I am sure the others ran in silence.
A cool dozen failed to find cool weather as they embarked up the hills and through the woods.
TYA took us out with v2.0 of his COT regarding context. Thank you TYA for your pursuit of perfection!
Seventeen Oyster-50th-beatdown dodgers gathered in the sludge to see what sort of shadows could be cast. Even though warning shots were fired, no one took the bait. A different kind of intervals were called this morning.
The Route
Slow mosey in front of the commons, up by the chapel, across the slick bridge to the multi-purpose field. one quick lap so everyone knew what we were doing then instructions were called.
Partner up with someone of equal ability. One partner runs around the field hard (80-90%) while the other recovers. Tag team for about 28 minutes before slow moseying back to the flag.
3 minutes of light stretching as the street lamps cast light that glistened off the pooling sweat.
Numbers, names, Bone Thugs tooks us out.
Moleskin
YHC remembers this being a good change of pace from typical routes and intervals. Good thing UR replaced that barely worn activity field with fresh turf. It was lush.
The recovery period offers time for mumblechatter. Discussion of gas chambers, nascar drivers, pouring milk before cereal, and friday night UR parties dominated the discussions YHC heard.
Somehow EF Hutton had a dime sized spot in the middle of his shirt that was still dry. I’ll give him the opportunity to explain how that could be possible.
Happy 50th Oyster!
Announcements
Enjoy the Tuesday everyone!
When I turned the car on after the workout this morning the themometer read “85”…at 6:35am in the morning. 85. Now, there’s some variance on that temperature, when I turn it on in the middle of the afternoon it can read 105 and then it quickly drops, but still.
Eventually the temperature, on the way home, dropped to 78, but stil…
Just going to be transparent here as someone who has logged my fair share of workouts, both boot camps and runs…you dudes can have 78 degrees in the summer. Count me out. Call me whatever you want to call me, I’ll gladly wear it, and I’ll gladly find something else to do on mornings where it’s over 75.
I’ll miss you those mornings, I really will. And I’ll see you when it’s 3 degrees (or more) cooler.
The Thang…
This was your basic UofR to Hillcrest in the City run. It’s fun to cross the county lines, in my opinion. That’s a unique part of Spider Run…you can truly get to, what, three different municipalities from the launching point at the UofR commons? You can get across the river into Chesterfield (right? Or is that a bit more down Huguenot road?) and then into the city, and obviously Henrico.
For this morning, we shot out of UofR, up Towana, south on Three Chopt to Grove. Grove to Oak and then Oak to Hillcrest. From there you were out and back depending on what your watch said. The 6s got a couple of loops of Hillcrest in, for what it’s worth.
But still…78…just too darn hot.
Fourteen able bodied gentlemen huddled to hear early instructions. Barely a question was asked, although perhaps there should have been a few more.
The Route
Through the bay cave, across the perfectly designed new Starbucks parking lot then west on Westham Station. Veer right past the lost CSX truck then head up South Ridge to the light.
We all made it back before YHC took us out.
Moleskin
Someone mentioned to me a few weeks ago that we hadn’t run up ridge in a while, thus the inspiration. Modified pitchfork to include the taint. Everyone was thrilled.
Glad to see we still have a strong group of walkers. Personally, I was thankful for Fudd and his willingness to pull me along today. Thanks!
Have a great day everyone!
A good crew headed up the mountain this morning, the mountain of Henrico. For those that are new to the program, it’s named Mt. Henrico because the top of Julian and Parham it’s known to be the hightest point of the entire land of Henrico County. There and back from UofR, ironically, is about 6 miles…if you do the Arlington Road circle twice.
Anyway, sorry for the belated backblast.
Seventeen dog lovers plus six unexpected human lovers huddled in the waning darkness for this week’s Spider Run/Walk. Directions were repeated a few times before launching promptly on time.
The Route
Numbers, names, announcements, YHC took us out.
Announcements
Moleskin
YHC posted he was going to be walking yesterday but didn’t realize there was going to be so much company. 6 walkers (if my count is correct), 11 runners, 6 perros. Conversation amongst the walkers consisted of vacation recaps, the proliferation of 2 week vacationers, hr sensitive topics, and of course baseball. We made it back a little late, only because we were having so much fun.
Kudos to the runners today, some of whom were almost thwarted by an apparent theft of the Pepper Ave sign. Probably those crazy St. Chris kids who think a missing sign is going to prevent them from going back to school. Glad (most) everyone enjoyed the route and made it back on time.
Enjoy the day fellas. It promises to be a great one.
Splinter out.
Elite 8 showed on what turned out to be a relatively cool and pleasant morning.
Best wishes to Splinter as his ankle heals.
Saab abides
Ten British scholars gathered in the bowl behind the commons seeking answers to the questions of the day. With the question of who has the Q out of the way, YHC proclaimed the following routes:
The Routes
Announcements
Moleskin
The soup was a perfect consistency this AM. The second question of the day was whether or not Faceplant actually sweat a drop today. YHC saw him running, so he was out there. Perhaps he has some newfangled polyester blend? Marv will wait for it to go on special before trying it.
The third question (and what turned out to be the question that made everyone disperse) was, what does Anthrax do with all that leftover water that Peeta doesn’t drink?
Man loves dog
Splinter – 2023
Dog loves man
Dog drinks water
Water refreshes man
Man drinks dog water
Who says romantic poetry is dead?
Splinter out.
Initially 4, then 5, and eventually 6 rolled out to run the roads of the Spiders. No Q on the sheet, not a single 5 or 6 miler in the parking lot, the 4s chose the bridge and off we went. Out 2 miles and back 2 miles. Upon the return Speakeasy had arrived but had bad intel on where to meet and missed the starting block. Enjoyed the run today amigos. -Singer