17 faithful gathered for a crisp 23 degree at Spider Run this morning. Four options for distance today:
Everyone: Gateway Road up to Campus Drive, right on Campus Drive / Towana to Three Chopt. Cross Three Chopt to the driveway towards St. Bridgets. Left on St Christophers to right on Patterson.
4 miles: Right on Granite, right on Grove, right on Three Chopt, back the way you came.
5 miles: Right on Granite, left on Grove, right on Seneca, left on Matoaka, left on Grove, right on Three Chopt, back the way you came.
6 miles: Right on Granite, left on Grove, right on Lexington & run the Lexington loop, left on Grove, right on Three Chopt, back the way you came.
Unintentional 6.8 miles: run way down Patterson and then meander back to the flag
Numberama, Namerama, Announcements (ramp build volunteers needed next Tuesday; see the monthly challenge sign up sheet, gratitude expressed for all the medical staff dealing with an influx of patients) and YHC took us out. Glad everyone made it back! Until next time, GP
4 studs with a combined 200 years were not afraid of the icy conditions. Two routes were offered, here was the unanimous pick:
All Runners – Campus Loops (Total 2.4 miles):
UR Drive to Westhampton Way, continue on Crenshaw back to VSF (1.6)
Continue past lake merging right up Richmond Way to UR Drive and back to VSF (.8)
4s:
Repeato Loop 1
5s
Repeato Loop 1 and 2
6s
Repeato Loop 1, 2, plus Runner’s choice 1 or 2
Numberama, Nameorama, COT
MOLESKIN
Conditions were less than perfect, but better than expected. Shoutout to the UR maintenance department. The way Saab zipped around campus you’d think there was no ice. While the rest of the PAX waited Saab to finish, the discussion focused on the luxury of heated seats and the even better air-conditioned seats. Which apparently is like rubbing menthol on your ball$. No falls or injuries to report.
Seven studs launched for a Christmas week run around the West End. Temps were 70 and sunny. Spirits were high. According to the trash truck drivers at U of R, the following might have happened:
UR Drive Left on Campus Right on Boatright At Three Chopt, right, then left to pick up Honaker.
Right on Patterson.
4s: Right on St. Christopher. Left on Henri. Right at York / Cross Three Chopt to Iris. Typical Iris/Robin/Fairway View/Ridgeway (Avoid Swirly’s Hole), and BTTVSF.
5s: Right on Harlan. Right on Grove. Right at Henri (just prior to Three Chopt) Cross Three Chopt to Iris. Typical Iris/Robin/Fairway View/Ridgeway (Avoid Swirly’s Hole), and BTTVSF.
6s: Right on Westmoreland. Right on Grove. Right at Henri. (just prior to Three Chopt) Cross Three Chopt to Iris. Typical Iris/Robin/Fairway View/Ridgeway (Avoid Swirly’s Hole), and BTTVSF.
Announcements:
West Creek Hardywood this evening. Shoes, families welcome. YHC thinks 6 pm?
Twelve more than able bodies, most of whom knew what was in store but still showed, gathered to accept YHCs XMas present to you all. Huddle up to admire TYAs gloves AND PANTS before departing towards the golf course.
The Route
Bro-code along Ridgeway to a right on Fairway, stopping at Tapoan to collect the 6
3 intervals up Tapoan, 1 minute up and 1:45 recovery down
Short mosey back to Ridgeway, stopping at the road sign
3 intervals up Ridgeway continuing up Ridgeway to a left on Roselawn on the final interval
Mosey down Roselawn to the bottom
3 intervals up Ridgeway
2 intervals up Towana
Short mosey back to the VSF
Numbers, names, and announcements before YHC took us out.
Announcements
Going away happy hour for Fudd tomorrow, 5:45 @ Final Gravity
Corned Beef is organizing ramp builds for the new year. Check out his post.
Moleskin
YHC intentionally gave a strong hint as to what was in store for today. Normally, intervals are a surprise for the PAX, accompanied by groans and expletives. Today was a test to see who would show up even thought they knew what was in store. Thanks to the 11 friends that tackled the day with YHC.
Congrats to the large turnout at NoToll today as well. Coffeeteria afterwards was a convergence of sorts of two AOs. Good to catch up with everyone.
Nineteen Road Warriors expecting a more complicated set of directions than actual route, got just that. Here’s where they went:
All Runners:
UR Drive out to River Rd
5s/6s
Do a loop of Westhampton Way – Keller – Crenshaw
All Runners:
Cross River through the shopping center onto Westham Station
Right on Panorama to top and back down
Continue on Westham Station
Right on Old Bridge and veer right onto Highland to top and back down
4s
Return via Westham Station through the Batcave
5s/6s
Take 2nd tine of Old Bridge to dead-end and back down
5s
Return via Westham Station through the Batcave
6s
Continue on Westham Station to S. Ridge up to Overlook and back down
Return via Westham Station through the Batcave
Numberama, Nameorama, COT
MOLESKIN
Throughout the holiday season YHC is continuously reminded he is blessed and to love his neighbors. While running up Highland, YHC couldn’t help but wonder if those residents remember this message, even the neighbor with the inflatable outhouse. That sh*tter is always full. Happy Birthday to Pucker. He snuck that by this morning, but Facebook never forgets. Thanks for following my complex routes throughout the year.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Corned Beef is looking for a group of 5 additional guys to build a ramp through project:HOMES
Quince celebratory dudes plus one early departing Flatline gathered at our standard Tuesday launch point to witness a surprise in the sky. Was it a shooting star, or was it Big Blue securing the AO? Both were there this AM, going to be a great day! Route was seemingly uncomplicated, a loop with offshoots, but looks can be deceiving!
The Route
Right out of our hole to a right on UR drive
Right on Westhampton, passing by the Greek Theatre, alumni center and back to a right on UR drive
Left on River then right through the parking lot and right towards the bridge
Right on Westham station
6s take a right on Old Bridge and right on Highland up to River and back
Continue on Westham Station to a right up South Ridge
5s and 6s take a left (YES LEFT) on Ross. Down to the bottom and back
6s do a loop around Cameron before rejoining on South Ridge
Cross River to Westham
Second right onto Glen Pkwy
Straight across into Westhampton campus
Straight on Keller, under Modlin arch
Right on Westhampton back to the VSF
Moleskin
Lots of right turns. In my head this was simple, as it was a big loop, but I realize some of the PAX has difficulty with navigating non-straight roads in the dark. But hey, no one was lost. AGAIN YHC WINS!!!
I’m sure other AOs will report on this as well, but the meteor this morning was a pure spectacle. I would say breathtaking but that was likely the fact that I was on South Ridge. A slow, large burn, with bright colors that seemed to disintegrate as it headed east.
Keep looking upward gentlemen!
Announcements
12 days of Christmas 12/21 at that other AO on the southside that doesn’t run as much as we do
Gypsy is collecting gently used shoes of all sizes and purposes
A Spinal Tap worthy 11 embarked on what could have been a snowy run. This is the route, more or less, as narrated by the woodland holiday deer illuminated in the yards.
Down the road past the lake and loop up to the Robin’s Center parking lot. 4s/5s cut through the fraternity row fence line while 6s climb Boatwright to Three Chopt.
4s veer left on Baldwin to Westham, while 5s veer right on Horsepen and a left on Woodberry to Westham. 6s take a left on Three Chopt, a left on Patterson, and a left on Westham.
Cruise on Westham, cross River, and drop down Westham Station to pick up the bat cave back.
Backblast name is taken from a miscommunication during a running conversation with Shakedown. It sounds pretty fitting. There were also some good movie references to Billy Madison and Spinal Tap this morning.
YHC took us out.
Announcements:
A few spots opened up for the Bear Creek 10 miler this Sunday. See race website for details.
BT has the Q for Wdog tomorrow, which may or may not have relevance to his latest trip around the sun.
Canned food ruck this Friday night. See preblast for details. If you are interested in rucking, donating canned food or both – come out and join us. Fire pit to follow.
Sixteen mostly suspecting gentlemen launched at various times for today’s special edition of Spider Run. A few unsuspecting individuals arrived expecting instructions but only received the brief version. In all, 16 people launched and 16 people came back. SUCCESS!!!
This Tuesday 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.
Complaints will be taken from 9:00 – 9:01am on Tuesday. Yes, this is after the run.
YHC arrived with maps as navigation aides to accompany the route instructions. The routes were over familiar turf, but a few new roads for exploration. We expanded into Libbie, Matoaka, Seneca, and York today.
Marv took us out.
Announcements:
The Friday after Thanksgiving TYA will host his annual endurance event. Keep doing loops of the park until no one else remains, whether on foot or bike; road or trail. Open to family and non-F3.
First Friday of December, an evening ruck is in the works in the Tuckahoe nano-region. More details to come soon.
Next Tuesday Splinter has the Q. He will be posting routes in advance that will resemble the Turkey Trot. Feel free to pick a distance and start time based on your goals.
It was great to meet Bad News and run with him this morning. He will be making his tour tomorrow at another AO.
