Tag: Spider Run

University of Richmond

  • Retnilps Strikes Back(ward)

    A random assortment of participants distance huddled where the COVID vessel normally parks wondering what was in store for the day and who Retnilps was. Some figured it out in advance, others figured it out during the route, eventually everyone was enlightened. The route was:

    • Around the baseball field down to a left on College
    • Right on Lakewood
    • 4s continue on Lakewood to a left on Westham
    • 5s/6s right on Wood which turns to Waveny then left on Westham
    • Continue on Westham, cross river, down South Ridge then left on Westham Station
    • 6s go left up Old Bridge then back down
    • Everyone continue on Westham Station, cut through the parking lot then return back via the UR entrance on River
    • Stop at the intramural fields for backwards running intervals
    • After 5 iterations across the field, return back to the VSF via various sidewalks

    Numbers, names, and significant announcements before Retnilps took us out.

    Moleskin
    YHC thoroughly enjoys running; however, sometimes a slight change of pace breaks up the monotony of slogging through miles. Today was YHCs latest attempt to break up the regular routine.

    Comic relief of the morning was the early huddlers learning that Upchuck is now randomly texting PAX members quotes in their native tongue. Today was Hitchhiker’s disclosure that he received a semi-accurate Korean text from Upchuck the other day. This is just Upchuck being Upchuck, keeping those brain cells active.

    The other comic relief moment was listening to Wedding Singer try to pronounce Retnilps, which came out as Wet Nipples, or something similar.

    Appreciate the 6s slogging through while listening to my random stories about parents and streaming services.

    Here’s the story about the backwards mile record holder: https://www.menshealth.com/fitness/a33936566/backwards-mile-world-record-aaron-yoder/

    A good time was had by most.

    Retnilps out.

  • Roll your own…

    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)

  • Right on Rock Creek?

    Thirteen out, thirteen back. Here’s where they went: 

    All

    • Around baseball field to College
    • Right on Lakewood (4s/5s)
    • Right on University (6s)
    • Right on Wood
    • Left on Baldwin
    • Right on Rock Creek
    • Right on Patterson
    • Right on Westham
    • Left on Durwood Crescent

    4s

    • Left on Ridge Top and touch Patterson

    5s/6s:

    • Left on Borden and touch Patterson
    • Left on Horsepen and touch Patterson
    • Left on Ridge Top and touch Patterson

    All

    • Down Ridge Top to Hampshire through Fraternity Row

    4s

    • Back to flag

    5s

    • Once around the lake
    • Back to flag

    6s

    • Left on College
    • Right on Campus
    • Right on UR Drive
    • Back to flag

    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 Lotta Left Turns

    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.

  • Becoming your Parents

    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

  • South on Southampton on the Southside

    South on Southampton on the Southside

    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

  • ukiaH – 0202 fo nur redips tsaL

    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.

  • Homework Assignment

    Ten runners took off, somehow eleven returned.  Here’s where they went:

    The Route

    All Runners:

    • Around baseball field
    • Through fraternity row fence
    • Hampshire/ Horsepen
    • Left on Normandy
    • Dogleg across to Sweetbriar
    • Left on Baldwin

    4s:

    • Continue on Baldwin across Westham and Wood
    • Through fraternity row
    • Pass the baseball field
    • Back to flag

    5s:

    • Right on Westham
    • Left on University
    • Left on College
    • Right on Campus
    • Right on Gateway
    • Back to flag

    6s:

    • Same as 5s but stay on Campus
    • Right on Roselawn
    • Left on Ridgeway
    • Back to flag

    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.

  • Take a Left Turn at Albuquerque

    Take a Left Turn at Albuquerque

    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

  • Ode to Saabski

    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:

    • Out the icy Batcave, across the shopping center, down Westham Station to S. Ridge, dogleg across River to Gaymont to University.

    4s:

    • Right on University, left on Westham Pkwy, Right on Lakewood, Left on College, through the Robins Center parking lot and home

    5s and 6s:

    • Left on University, quick right on Ralston, Left on University to Ziontown.

    5s:

    • Right on Holmes, dogleg across Ridge to Sunset to University, left on College, through the Robins Center parking lot and home

    6s:

    • Continue on Ziontown to Ridge, quick right, then left on Forest, right on Lindsay, left on Westham Pkwy, right on Waveny to Wood, left on Lakewood, left on College, through the Robins Center parking lot and home

    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