Sixteen bootcamp dodgers settled into the UR maintenance bowl (er… not that kind of bowl) for today’s Spider Run. After TYA briefly attempted to hijack direction calling by informing us of his latest educational podcast, YHC spouted off <<mostly>> clear directions and off we went.
The Route
4s / 5s / 6s all follow the same basic loop
West, around the baseball field, across the parking lot to a right on College
Up Boatwright, across Three Chopt and north on Honaker
Right on Patterson
Right on Maple
Right on York
Down Iris around the golf course and BTTVSF
5s / 6s take a right on Stuart from Honaker
Bear left when it ends, left again when it ends, then back west on Kensington
Right on Ripley, believe it or not (thanks Bodos :/)
6s left on Patterson, right on W Franklin, meander around before taking a right on Maple
Numbers, names, YHC stumbled through taking us out.
Announcements
TYA is hosting the bridge on xmas eve and is collecting money for shirts
HDHH 12/21 @ Final Gravity
Honeydo strums and sings this Sunday @ Fudds
12 days of xmas next tuesday
Moleskin
Leave it to TYA to provide us with great thoughts leading into our run this AM. Luckily, the festive lights around Patterson this time of year got us back on track.
Warmer weather and a slight drizzle established optimal conditions for a run. The Q called the route – out the bat cave, across the shopping center, and over the bridge. Check the watch and pick your own routes to explore the neighborhoods. Head back when time is up.
It was great catching up with folks as we broke into our pods. Negative splits for many and a little wildlife sighting.
Twenty-two on the 22nd launched at different times but all convened generally at once for today’s Turkey Trot themed Spider Run. After watching three groups launch at different times, the final group launched for:
TYA led history lesson Thursday from 6:00AM – 7:00AM @ Mary
TYA led loops Friday from 7:00AM – whenever @ Shelter 1 of Forest Hill Park
Fun CSAUPs coming soon, be on the lookout
Mustaches and sorts at Dogpile on 12/3
Join the Slack community for communications and friendly bantering
Numbers, names, YHC took us out.
Moleskin
The title of the backblast is courtesy Bone Thugs. Apparently making sure he didn’t get lost was more important that paying attention to his kid last night. Now you know the route for next year!
Clearly everyone loved the route and my newfound obsession with making sure it reoccurs every year (regardless of what the local running club decides to do). TYA expressed his gratitude for a route that passes the start three times.
A few PAX members took the blue lights instead of the first path by the lake. Either way you should have gotten the same result. Up the hill followed by down the hill.
Six peaks by my count. Kind of makes you feel good. Kudos to Florence for completing his longest run to date?! Great work.
Today I give thanks to each and every one of you. To those that traveled extreme distances at 430am just to partake in this event today. To those that have been a part of this group for a long time and offer memories of the fun times throughout the years. To new newer PAX for offering an opportunity to get to know you. To those that I have not met yet but are a part of our greater RVA PAX and that I can’t wait to meet at an AO soon. This very organic group we have is quite special, let’s keep it that way.
15 amateur astronomers set up shop to spectate the celestial happenings. Rewarded with a red moon, we set off on the following routes:
Up ridgeway to fairway to iris and cross over to york. Take a left on Libbie and a left on Patterson. 4s turned on Honaker and dropped down Boatwright, around the Robins Center and back to the VSF. 5s turned on Ridgetop and a left on Wheeler to cut through the woods, down around the Robins Center and approach the VSF from the far side of the lake. 6s took Westham Pkwy to University and up College to…you guessed it – the Robins Center and approached the VSF from the far side of the lake.
YHC took us out.
There are several Pax doing some great distance running this weekend. May you stay true to your purpose and reap the rewards of hard training.
Tuesday 11/22 at Spider Run we will be running a 10k. The link to the route is below and I’ll also describe it for individuals that have not run this route previously. The trails are slightly modified from the official route but everything else is the same. Headlamps strongly recommended.
It’s 6.2 miles with plenty of elevation. Ideally, we will all be finishing at the same time, right around 615. If you think you need an hour and 15 to finish a 10k, play your departure for around 5am. I’ll be there just before 5am to assist with any questions.
This section starts by heading back towards the lake, taking a right, and then up behind the football stadium before exiting campus by taking a right on Campus. Continue up Campus until you hit Roselawn and then make a U-Turn to head back down Towana. When you get to the bottom, take a left and head up Roselawn. First right onto Ridgeway then back to the Commons.
Section 2 – Trails Through Campus
Once you pass the start, take a left at the commons and head across the lake, veering right onto the path around the lake. After you pass the cafeteria, take your first left up the path. At the top, take an immediate right on the path and head behind the Greek Theatre. Once you pass behind the Greek Theatre you will see tennis courts ahead of you. Take a hard right down the well lit path back to the lake. Don’t cross the bridge. Take a left, watching your step on the gravel and take the path over to College. Right on College.
Section 3 – Westham
This part is pretty easy (directions wise). Once on College take a left on Lakewood. Lakewood all the way to Westham. Left on Westham. Left on Club Vista (last road before River). Left on College and an immediate right on Westhampton Way.
Section 4 – The Westhampton Campus
Continue on Westhampton, straight across the first intersection onto Keller. Right on Westhampton Way then right on UR drive. First right onto Crenshaw. This next part is in my mind arbitrary but nevertheless part of the route. Go up Crenshaw until you get to the Modlin Center parking lot. It’s essentially at the top of the hill. Then turn around and come back to a left on UR drive.
Section 5 – The Big Finish
Continue on UR drive like you are heading back to the starting point. Except, you have to finish with the big loop. Up Gateway to the top, left to head back behind the football field and back down to the lake. Long downhill finish back to the parking lot.
The END
I’ll come up with some turn by turn directions that can be printed for those that may be completely confused at this point.
If 6.2 is too much there are two options for you. One is to eliminated the Roselawn/Ridgeway loop and just return back to the start via the path at the bottom of Towana. The second is to eliminate the Crenshaw out and back and just head back to the finish. The final is to cut off the hill loop at the end but I wouldn’t recommend that as it is a fantastic finish.
This should be fun. See everyone on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving!
Fifteen engaged citizens, most of them concerned about the safety of our headgear, came out to sweat off all the simple sugars consumed last night. Two words were spoken and off we went.
The Route
Mount Henrico
Announcements
Loops on Black Friday
Turkey Trot on Tuesday 11/22
Reminders on where the Q signup sheet is located
Moleskin
Everyone was concerned for the health and safety of our fellow PAX members. The wilderness is scary.
So, 20 RVA runners posted today for Spider Run this cool morning and YHC had a plan to satisfy all ages and abilities. Pucker was the F3RVA brother that introduced me to this great route as you make your bed with how fast you get out of the gate. This is a simple route in that you run out of the bat cave, down Huguenot Road and across the river to the first exit onto Riverside drive and run East, You stay on this road running until 22 minutes have passed from the start and then head back on the same route. For some that wanted a little extra (some salt and pepper to the omelet of a morning run) on the return go to the UR entrance (instead of the Bat Cave) on River Road and return from there.
With only 74 feet in elevation gain, this is likely the flattest route you can take at this AO. For me, it was extra special to run with my 2.0 who slowed down after the first mile to hang with dad.
Numberama, Namerama – Formed a man ball and YHC took us out in prayer.
Sending out prayers to my friend who lost his dad yesterday and Splinter’s extended family who lost a 20-year-old son. It was an honor to lead this morning gents, make it a great day…. Cheers…CB!
