Tag: Spider Run

University of Richmond

  • Drafters Beware

    Drafters Beware

    Fifteen spiderlings gathered in the mist to wait for instructions on today’s route. Much to the pleasure of a few of our PAX, instructions indeed came. The original Devil’s Pitchfork was called. We waiting until PRECISELY 5:30 before departing for:

    The Route

    • Head through the Eco Corridor and head west on Westham Station
    • Right on Panorama and return at River
    • Right on Westham Station and right on Old Bridge
    • Head right at the fork up Highland and follow up to River
    • 4s return and head home
    • 5s take a right at the bottom of the hill and take Old Bridge to the end
    • 5s return back, doubling up on Panorama on the way back
    • 6s take a right on Westham Station and follow South Ridge to the light at River
    • 6s return via Westam Station taking no diversions

    Numbers, names, very few announcements and YHC took us out.

    Moleskin
    Great morning for a run. Personally, YHC finally felt halfway descent about a run. Thanks to Saab for not turning on the afterburners and keeping YHC company for most of the route.

    Faceplant’s drafting strategy almost backfired at the start of the eco corridor. When you draft behind YHC and YHC suddenly steps right to avoid a 6×6 post, you may catch an obstruction directly in the jewels. Drafters Beware!

    Some of the PAX were a little testy this AM. Some expected intervals and were disappointed, some didn’t participate in the circle of instructions and then complained about not being greeted this morning, and some griped about YHCs call of Devil’s Pitchfork not being creative enough.

    Guess what!? There is a Q signup sheet where anyone can sign up to lead. YHC signed up yesterday as it was still open. Well good news! Someone already signed up for next week so you will have to wait another week to express your creativity on Spider Run.

    SYITG – Splinter

  • Early Morning Lollipops

    Twelve Spider Run regulars + 1 Q visitor gathered early around the commons for today’s rendition. Bleeder arrived after just missing an albino deer on Cary, then perfectly clear instructions were disclosed.

    The Route
    Head west young men!!! Everyone head west, across the bridge and through the woods. 4s & 5s head up University, 6s head up Lakewood to Westham to University. Continue on University until you reach Ziontown. Don’t take Ziontown, take the driveway straight ahead. Admire the perfectly clean cars in the driveway and continue through the park. Right out of the park and up Roslyn Hills. Left on September.

    4s take a left on Melwood then left on Roslyn Hills and back through the park and home.

    5s & 6s continue on September which turns to Countryside. 6s take a right on Higginbotham then left on Running Cedar then left on Ruggles. 5s continue on Countryside then take a left on Ruggles. Left on Roslyn Hills and back through the park the way you came.

    Digits and salutations and YHC took us out.

    Moleskin
    What a beautiful morning to be alive. Running at dawn always brings me peace. It’s no secret that Marv and YHC have been meeting up the past few weeks to try to get some fellowship while running. Solo runs are fine for a while but individual motivation quickly dissipates. YHC is thankful for the opportunity to lead and to be a part of this ever-entertaining group of gentlemen.

    Announcements
    Prayers for Profit and his recovery down at Duke. He’ll be back at RAMMGears before you know it.

    ¡Hasta mañana mi amigos!

  • El Duderino

    Dirty Dozen descended upon UR for the often used, but newly anointed “El Duderino” route. (See instructions from prior week below….)

    Like Choking a Goose

    Announcements: Thoughts go to out to EF Hutton’s dad who is undergoing abdominal surgery today.

    Saab abides

  • There Is No Finish Line

    Seven posted for YHC’s Run VQ, at least one that requires directions. 

    The Route

    All Runners:

    • Batcave to Westham Station
    • Westham Station to S. Ridge
    • S. Ridge to River

    4s:

    • Turn around and go back

    5s:

    • Turn around at River and right on Cameron
    • Left on Culpepper to the dead end
    • Retrace steps back to start

    6s:

    • Turn around at River and right on Cameron
    • Cameron to Thom
    • Right on Culpepper
    • Right on Ross to dead end
    • Retrace steps back to start

    Numberama, Nameorama, COT

    MOLESKIN

    YHC gave detailed, clear and concise directions, though according to TYA the most words spoken by YHC in 3 months.  Roughly 3 of the 7 PAX followed those directions.  All returned to the shovel flag on time.  Call it a win.  The theme of the morning was what’s next.  After a 5k, it’s a 10k, after a 10k, 10 miles, half marathon, or in TYA’s case Tennessee and possibly Virginia.  Whatever the next goal might be, once that’s done, just keep running, there really is no finish line.  Enjoyed discussing the Manning/ Brady charity golf match with Swirly along the way.

    ANNOUNCEMENTS

    Bone 10k in August

    Not mentioned this morning, but YHC’s dad is having fairly extensive surgery in a couple of weeks, prayers welcomed.

  • Even Oaks Must Bend

    9 OGs took a page out of TYA’s workout manual for the Spider Run this morning.

    Route – run up past the Robins School to Camps Drive up the hill of Towana, across Three Chopt to the access road. Left on Grove.

    4s – Singer and Pucker turned just shy of Oak and return to point of beginning.

    5s – Turn right on Oak up to Cary and return to point of beginning.

    6s – continue past Oak to Mumford and return to point of beginning.

    Where’s Saab? Oh he started at 3:00, he’s still running. I must say well played Swirly throwing the numberama ‘1’ out there without a Q on the page. TYA getting his extra in to Malvern. Bleeder working through some back pain. Hitch burning it up. Hutton your Q next week, I heard you call it.

    Great morning for a run, barely a car in sight. Love the downhill ending, almost makes up for the uphill start!

    -Singer

  • Like Choking a Goose

    A strictly legal number of gents descended upon UR to get a run in on what turned out to be a perfect morning.

    Route:

    From Commons, take the Eco-Corridor (aka Batcave) to RR Shopping Center, the Westham Station along the canal, up Ridge Rd. to River.

    Dog-leg left to Gaymont. Take to the end until it intersects with University.

    4 Milers: Take right on University, cross Ridge to Westham Pkwy. Left on Pkwy then right on Lakewood. Lakewood down to College (near lake). Run up to Robins Center parking lot then down to lake. Cross bridge then counterclockwise to Commons

    5 and 6 Milers: Left on University to end, quick right then left back onto University which turns into Ziontown.

    5 Milers: Take right on Holmes avenue to Ridge. Cross Ridge to Sunset. Sunset to Westham Parkway. Go straight (right) to University. Take University to College (near lake). Up to Robins center then down to lake (see 4-miler finish)

    6 Milers: Ziontown to Ridge, then cutover near shopping center to Forest. Forest to Lindsay. Lindsay to Westham Pkwy. Head north to Waveny. Waveny to Wood. Wood to Lakewood. (see 4-miler for finish)

    Announcements:

    Deep Run-Run on Friday (see Gomer)

    Prayer and guidance for those who are having challenges on the home front during these difficult times…

    Congratulations to TYA, Olivander and his M, on their completion of the inaugural Quarantine 50 miler from Richmond to W-Burg last Saturday.

    Saab abides

  • Do you see the swan goose duck thing?

    10 rather regular road runners roused and reassembled for a riverside romp to recharge and revitalize as HIM on the last cool morning of the year.

    Negative split if you got it.

    NMS

    Since we cant go to the eye doctor at the moment, Bodos suggested we do some simple screening.

    This is Westhampton lake:

    the lake – with various goose duck things; Oh, the stories that gazebo can tell.

    This is a profile of a rather prominent Swan Goose:

    a swan goose; not a lighted buoy

    The swan goose (Anser cygnoides) is a large goose with a natural breeding range in inland Mongolia, northernmost China, and southeastern Russia. It is migratory and winters mainly in central and eastern China. for more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swan_goose

    Fun Fact. According to Bodos, UR has a nesting pair of Swan Geese – rare outside of the far east.

    This is a buoy:

    A buoy makes for a bad day if your boat gets too close. Goose/Duck, NO Problem!

    Those that see the difference, Great Job! Score yourself 100%.

    Everyone else, Hitchhiker will happily provide tips on getting to your next workout.

  • Recon!

    12 thoroughbred troopers gathered for a one way trip, out and back up Mount Henrico.

    • 4mi – lakeview around Robins Center. Lakewood, Wood, Baldwin, Rock Creek, Forest, University, and turnaround
    • 5mi- 4 mi + Turnaround at Sharon.
    • 6mi- 5mi + right on Henrico. Turnaround at Ridge.

    NMS

    This is the Troop Leading Procedure – a simple list to remember all the steps needed to lead a mission for 10 or 10000.

    • Receive the mission
    • Issue a warning order
    • Make a tentative plan
    • Start necessary movements
    • Reconnaissance
    • Complete the plan
    • Issue the order
    • Supervise

    The 5th step in the Troop Leading procedures is recon – the purpose is to confirm or deny what you perceived from mission analysis in step 3. FM 6-22 Leader Development defines Reconnaissance like this:

    10-34. Whenever time and circumstances allow, or as directed by higher headquarters, leaders personally observe the area of operations for the mission prior to execution. No amount of information from higher headquarters can substitute for firsthand assessment of the mission variables from within the area of operations. Unfortunately, many factors can keep leaders from performing a personal reconnaissance. The minimum action necessary is a thorough map reconnaissance supplemented by imagery and intelligence products. As directed, subordinates or other elements (such as scouts) may conduct reconnaissance while the leader completes other TLP steps. https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/pdf/web/fm6_22.pdf

    YHC completed a map recon, but like the man says: there is no substitute from eyes on the objective. Imagine our surprise today when we ran around to the north end of the Robin center and everything was blocked off for construction. Options are go back (uh, no), go around, or through the maze (of course – thats what they wont expect). Things were going well at the first fence, then another fence was dropped, so hopes were high for the final fence – a seven foot chain link monster. Zip ties. No gaps. Nothing loose. Over we go. Bodos went over using a pile of sheetrock. YHC found some blocks. We overcame. But not the way we wanted to start the run.

    Like Saab said the construction wasn’t like that the last time we were in there. What would F3 be without a little excitement here and there.

    Get some!

  • Spider-D: Post-Blast

    A handful or more of men did their homework and followed the pre-announced route…employing various start and end times. For once, YHC had few questions and mis-directions, and smart-assery was limited to the associated pre-blast.

    Routes:

    Pre-Blast: Spider Run (5/5)

    Announcements:

    Swirly: Needs a haircut

    EF Hutton: Needs a better haircut

    Gomer Pyle: April 24 – Inaugural Deep Run Park Friday run…see aforementioned for details

    TYA: He and Olivander are planning an inaugural Quarantine 50 miler from W-Burg to Richmond on the capital trail in the coming weeks. See one of these two lunatics for details.

    Saab Abides

  • Pre-Blast: Spider Run (5/5)

    Be it early, late, or on-time start, enclosed is the planned route. If choose a different time just respond to this BB and I will add you to the PAX list…

    From Commons, take the Eco-Corridor (aka Batcave) to RR Shopping Center, the Westham Station along the canal, up Ridge Rd. to River.

    Dog-leg left to Gaymont. Take to the end until it intersects with University.

    4 Milers: Take right on University, cross Ridge to Westham Pkwy. Left on Pkwy then right on Lakewood. Lakewood down to College (near lake). Run up to Robins Center parking lot then down to lake. Cross bridge then counterclockwise to Commons

    5 and 6 Milers: Left on University to end, quick right then left back onto University which turns into Ziontown.

    5 Milers: Take right on Holmes avenue to Ridge. Cross Ridge to Sunset. Sunset to Westham Parkway. Go straight (right) to University. Take University to College (near lake). Up to Robins center then down to lake (see 4-miler finish)

    6 Milers: Ziontown to Ridge, then cutover near shopping center to Forest. Forest to Lindsay. Lindsay to Westham Pkwy. Head north to Waveny. Waveny to Wood. Wood to Lakewood. (see 4-miler for finish)