University of Richmond
13 or 14 arrived with no Q assigned so YHC declared an out-and-back on Grove via Iris….out of simplicity and safety given the weather.
The out-and-back approach was applied in multiple ways…distance, time, or a general feeling that it was time to turnaround…albeit prematurely.
Saab abides (when able)
Thirteen out, thirteen back. Here’s where they went:
All
4s
5s/6s:
All
4s
5s
6s
Numberama, Nameorama, COT
MOLESKIN
A few pleasant snowflakes met the PAX instead of the downpour predicted. Where’s Marv when you need a weather forecast? Right on Rock Creek caught the PAX off guard, didn’t realize that was new. Plenty of opportunities to wave at fellow PAX and give an “atta boy” today. Apologies to the 6s for being a hair short. Will throw in something extra next time. Gomer explained to some of the 5s that infantrymen are not the knuckle draggers many assume them to be and that his intelligence earned him the right to play with explosives. Fascinating.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Prayers for people dying alone and families unable to see them
Prayers for Swirly’s 101 yo grandmother fighting Covid
A cold chill to the air could not deter the Pax this morning. A quick round of directions and off we went. Towards the main entrance, but taking the new sidewalk on the right to connect to Roselawn. Roselawn to Toanna, and a right on the access road.
4s turn left on St Chris to Patterson while 5s/6s continue down to Grove. 5s turn on Libbie and 6s turn on Lexington. Everyone heads west bound on Patterson to Horsepen. Down the hill to the gate, which was locked. Improvise around the fence on the trail, past the baseball field and down to the lake. 5s take a lap around the lake.
Swirly took us out.
A lucky eleven experienced a new route today. Directions were as follows:
All: Up Richmond way past stadium to entrance, head down campus and up Boatright. Take access-road toward Bandy Field, cross over to Hanover then quickly turn left on Ripley. Ripley to Patterson, to Maple. Take Maple to Ferguson, to Henri. Cross Three Chopt to Iris on down to golf course.
4 Milers: Hug golf course down to entrance of Bat Cave and back to commons
5 & 6 Milers: Up and down Tapoan, then take right on Ridgeway and Left on Roselawn. Head back to Commons
6 Milers: Once on Ripley take first right on Stuart/Kensington (long loop)
NMS: Folks appeared to enjoy the new territory. Lots of talk about the habits one develops as we age.
Best wishes to TYA as he begins his treatment today. He will conquer this just as he has done with every other challenge he has faced.
Saab abides
A not so lively 14 able bodied runners skipped manly stretching for this morning’s iteration of Spider Run. Those that arrived by 5:27 received instructions and made some left turns, others were destined to follow.
The Route
– South through the batcave and continue South on Huguenot
– Loop around the exit ramp and turn left on Riverside
– Turn left on Southhampton (also south)
– 4s turn around at the first intersection which should have been Old Spring Road and return the way you came
– 5s & 6s continue South on Southampton until Cherokee and turn around
– Head north on Southampton until you reach a fork in the road. Take the left fork which is Butte.
– 1st left on Rivercrest which eventually intersects Riverside
– 5s take a right on Riverside and head back home
– 6s take a left on Riverside then a left (also south) on Waumsetta
– Continue south until intersection of Cherokee and then return back to Riverside and return home
Numbers, names, YHC took us out over the not-so-quiet LP powered GRTC vessel.
Announcements
None. Quiet bunch today. Dry January is challenging some of the PAX. Clear the fridge party at Saab’s sometime in the future.
Moleskin
Once again, Splinter beat Saab to the Q sheet signup. YHC wonders if this is simply Saab’s way of goading others to sign up. Regardless, we ran across the river today and will have to wait a week for Saab’s well planned route.
Faceplant disclosed he never looks at the Q spreadsheet. He treats 530am like Christmas morning every morning. Always a surprise. Kind of like when my kids open their presents on Xmas morning, it’s always a surprise to me as well.
Lockjaw has a resolution to keep his Q ratio even at 50% this year. For the record, he posted to Spider Run and he wasn’t even the Q. On track so far this year.
Mileage estimates seemed a little off today. Some short, some long. Screw it, we ran.
Splinter
8 runners gathers for the end of an upside down kind of year – The reverse haiku.
Out of parking lot towards Ridgeway to Iris. Cross on 3 Chopt, left on Grove. 4 miler turn around at Oak and back, 5 milers take a loop around Lexington/Albermarle and back and 6 milers do Lex/Abermarle loop and take a right onto grove and turnaround in the Mary Mumford bus loop.
Prayers for all that are sick or ill right now.
Ten runners took off, somehow eleven returned. Here’s where they went:
The Route
All Runners:
4s:
5s:
6s:
Numberama, Nameorama, COT
MOLESKIN
No telling what was discussed on the 4s and 6s routes, but the 5s focused on NCAA football and basketball at Tennessee, Virginia Tech, VCU, Bluefield College, Duke, Army, and UR. Swirly has been breaking down film of all of the above. When prompted for input on Yahoo hoops Bodos shamefully admitted he knows only that there is a team and that that jazz singer Tony Bennett is their coach. Swirly assigned Bodos a homework assignment. Presentation and diorama are due next Tuesday.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Prayer requests for TYA’s niece hospitalized, the family of the 43 year-old whose funeral Bodos officiated last week, as well as Fudd’s family having lost his aunt recently all due to Covid.
YHC is out of words for the week.
Twelve frosty followers gave the fart sack the stiff arm and posted for this week’s Spider Run. The soon-to-be PAX waited for TYA’s shirt to emerge before hearing these instructions.
The Route
Around the lake, over the hill, and down the gravel path. Slight diversion for those at the front before crossing College and heading up University. University across Ridge then left on Ralston. Wave to the Grinch then take a right on River and a Right on E Glenbrooke Circle. Left on W Glenbooke Circle and Right on Summit.
4s go to the top of Summit and return via the same route.
5s come down Summit and take a right on Glenbrooke Circle, complete the circle and then return via the River and Ralston.
6s follow the 5s route but add a jug handle via Hillare and Twin Lake then add Windsor on the James loop before returning via Ralston.
We waited for Gomer and Bodos to arrive before numbers, names, and announcements.
Moleskin
YHC arrived and parked beside Hitchhiker’s car. Come to find out Hitchhiker is getting extra miles this AM by running back and forth in front of the cars. He was eager to launch this morning!
Everyone followed the route today with the exception of Gomer and Bodos. To Bodo’s credit, he was simply following Gomer. So this one is on Gomer. Regardless, the 6s took an unannounced (but planned) jughandle off of Glenbrooke to add a small bit of mileage to get to 6. Gomer followed suit but then lost sight of those in front of him. The map above is what Gomer sent me post run. He thought he went wrong at the blue arrow, he actually went wrong at the pink arrow, and he realized he went wrong at the red arrow. Ever the wayfinder, Gomer led Bodo’s and found his way back!
Announcements
– HDHH Wednesday @ Hardywood West Creek. Come get it while you can.
– TYA is leading a reprise of his Mary Q this coming Thursday.
Nice run this AM gentlemen. Enjoy the day.
Splinter
Twelve PAX and no Q, up until 0525. YHC likes this Saab classic and dislikes a Grove out’n’back. Thus here was the route:
All Runners:
4s:
5s and 6s:
5s:
6s:
Numberama, Nameorama, COT
MOLESKIN
Cold temps make for faster runs. The 5s arrived back at the flag with 5 minutes to spare. With black ice through the Batcave thoughts of a quick trip over the bridge around the lake were quickly dismissed. No idea if the 6s followed the route prescribed as they arrived back from different directions, but YHC will assume they were not left dissatisfied. The 4s made it look easy. Apologies to Saab for jacking your route. Oh and Hail to the Washington Football Team.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
3rd F tonight, see Slack channel – Honeydo Q
2nd F HDHH next Wednesday at Hardywood West Creek
Fourteen able bodied adventurers plus one bunny chaser gathered for instructions for this week’s Spider Run. Instructions were provided and everyone was thrilled. Variation of Mount Henrico with a few fingers and maybe a thumb thrown in there for good measure.
Route
West around baseball field, left on College, right on Lakewood, right on Wood, left on Baldwin, quick jog across Westham, left on Baldwin, left on Rock Creek, cross Forest to University.
First right to ascend and descend Essex. 4s return home.
Fives and Sixes take right on University and ascend and descent Dinwiddie and Nalla. Fives return home while sixes repeat Dinwiddie and Essex on the way back.
Numbers, names, no announcements. Silence for prayer this morning.
Moleskin
The blood was cold but flowing this am. By all accounts it seemed to be a vibrant group. YHC enjoys these routes as you get to see everyone multiple times regardless of your pace.
Instructions were perfectly clear; however, Singer decided to chase the bunnies down an alternate path for a while. Others commented on the preciseness of the 5 mile route (or inprecision of BTs watch). Either way a good time was had by most.
Splinter