Tag: Spider Run

The dirty dozen showed up today for good running weather before arctic temperatures descend upon us.  YHC called the route and over the river and through the woods we went – out and back.

The Route

Exit UR through the River Road entrance and take the bridge across the river.  Pick up Riverside Drive and head down river.  Turn at appropriate way points.

Gomer Pyle took us out.  Welcome back!

Moleskin

Plenty of odd behavior around the lake today starting with odd disturbances with the ducks.  Perhaps there was an alligator causing the commotion, or maybe spring time came early with these waterfowl.  Either way, there were waves on the lake.

Finishing our time at the AO, YHC walked to his car parked along the new brick sidewalk that took a year to build and almost stepped in the largest pile of vomit ever seen.  Nasty stuff.  Who eats a whole platter of french fries and gets sick before six in the morning?  Maybe it was the ducks.

There is definitely something going on at the lake today, so watch where you step.  (See TYA, the backblast title wasn’t about you.)

Announcements

• Hold the date for the F3 camp out – September 21.  Vinny is on point.  Farm needed.  Inquire with him.

Time to Stop Tapering,

Lockjaw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wredc9WMRJQ

13 idiots paid no attention to the temperatures and posted this morning to Spider Run for some frosty miles.  Some (didn’t count) even held strong SOP – true morons tend to reveal themselves in these conditions…YHC resembles this remark.

But, as the title suggests, one benefit was complete loss of feeling from the waste down. Almost felt like I was on cruise control.

Routes were:

• 4-milers – cross the lake and down the trail to Campus Dive and across to University.  Up University to Westhamp Pkwy, then Left.  Across River Rd onto Country Squire and left on S. Ridge down to Westham Station and up to the River Road shopping center.  Cross the shopping center and return to the flag via UR Drive.  Add a loop around the lake for mileage as time allows.
• 5-milers – same as 4-milers but add in a trip across the Huguenot Bridge.
• 6-milers – same as 5 milers but add a loop up past the library and around the law school and down Gateway Drive before crossing the lake.

Brief COT, Number-rama and Name-a-rama and YHC took us out…remember, it was COLD!

Only announcement is Puppy Pile this Saturday.  Ollie on the Q.

NMS –

Great to see big numbers here and across RVA despite the temps.  Way to go men!  It was damn cold and it took a bit (for YHC at least) to get my breathing right, but then it felt pretty good.  It was great running with Swirly, Swiper and EF Hutton – until Swirly put it into beast mode and took off.  Swiper added some fartleks and ran away from YHC and EFH a few times only to toy with us and return to our pace.

There was even a Fudd siting, coming in hot and catch up to the group, Willie Mays Hays style.  Well done Fudd.

10 studs showed up on the day after a snow day to run.  Hill repeats were the call by the Q, but not Splinter type hill repeats.  The repeat was a 1 mile out and back from the lake to three chopt.  You can figure out the math on how many each of us did.

NMM

Pucker was flying today.  He lost six pounds in the last 15 days.

The loop wasn’t quite 1 mile, so I owe you guys a couple of tenth’s, depending how far you ran.

Swirly kept the 6’s in sight for most of the run.

Saab, Sippy and Faceplate always fly…at least compared to me.

Bleeder’s leg is healing, but an ailment on one part of the body always has implications on other parts of the body.

Bootleg’s running skills are improving by the minute.  Love to see a guy dedicate himself to something and reap the rewards.

Singer is like metronome.  I can always tell when I speed up or slow down based on his pace.

Vinny as always was running in style, with a three piece suit and a bowtie.

16 studs and one hound posted for a Tuesday morning run at UofR.  Route was up the main entrance, to 3 Chopt, to grove, 4 milers turn back at oak, five milers and Locke, and six milers at Malvern.

NMM

Not a lot of positive feedback when YHC announced the route today.  Seems the Lockjaw’s constant creativity sets the bar hight for runs.  TYA is a creature of habit (not as much as Swirly is), so he likes tried and tested routes.  So today was perfect for at least one of the PAX.

3 Pax showed up for an early morning run amid confusion and jet lag.

After realizing everyone else was working out at 7am, we decided to embrace the morning and hit a run anyway.

Short jaunt to Libbie/Patterson and back rounded out 4 miles, allowing Flipper to make it to the next workout .

Kudos to Hitchiker for getting off a flight from Korea and then hitting up an early morning run.

Enjoyed the fellowship gentlemen.

– Tonka

Three merry gentlemen converged upon UR to take in a run (and light-tour) a-la Mount Henrico route.  Four, Five, and Six mile options were represented.

Merry Christmas everyone.

One shy of 12 huddled around big blue waiting for instructions but they never came. BT proclaimed, “It’s 5:30!” and YHC said, “Follow Me!”  Groaning ensued.

Mosey by group to the base of Roselawn and Towana and collect the PAX. After the recollection of the good spirited cheer YHC received while trying to help propagate the 12 days of Christmas last year, YHC pronounced his intentions for this year’s 12 days. What better way than intervals.

We’ve never done 12 intervals before so YHC figured today seemed like a great day to try. There was a warning blast on twitter indicating there was the possibility of mischievousness. Spider Run was the opposite of Christmas today. 12 intervals up Roselawn and Towana is a Grinch’s blessing indeed.

Lots of recollection during today’s run.  The last time we did intervals at Spider Run was 7/17 in sweltering heat and humidity.  There was also discussion of the newly minted “No Dumping” sign in the vicinity of Fudd’s infamous tron squats.  Glad to see we are welcome in the neighborhood.  I was glad to see that Sippy has overcome the memories of reverse intervals down Towana.  That is a feat likely not to be repeated.

YHC totaled about 4.5 miles and 552 ft. of elevation gain.  Bleeder managed to mix in a latte between intervals.  The Grinch would be proud.

Announcements
– Saab will cover Spider Run next week at the normal time.  Marv is coordinating a possible late morning or late afternoon 2.0 friendly run on Christmas.  Details to follow.
– HDHH mañana

Big data is watching…

10 Spider regulars opted for a flat start at Grove and Libbie, although ice was still prevalent, the running ensued.

3 Routes Down Grove to 195,4 Mile, to Cleveland, 5 Miles, or Davis, 6 miles, with the added option of running for 23 minutes and just turn around.

TYA took us out.

Moleskin

When YHC arrived at the alternate AO, Big Blue, had three occupants, TYA, Kubota, and of Course, Swirly. As YHC entered the vehicle, TYA had already belted himself in – Safety First. No worries, YHC easily climbed around.

TYA began to explain the route down Grove, across Three Chopt to Iris Down by the Golf Course, etc. . YHC thought perhaps that TYA had stuck another car in a ditch & just wanted to get push from some kind hearted F3 Men. Oh, the fun of TYA’s jokes…

As the group headed down Grove in the correct direction, all feet we being put down as to not loose any grip. Handshake, however, found a slick spot and decided to engage in a reverse involuntary Burpee. MAN DOWN, MAN DOWN. One fellow F3 stopped to aid assistance, others didn’t want to break stride for fear of ending up in the Ice Vortex Whirlpool that Handshake found himself sucked into ( Hand Shake, YHC hopes the bruises don’t last too long, it looked like it hurt)

As the Kubota, Handshake, Vinny and YHC were almost back at the AO, an Acura was traveling at HROSFC(High Rate of Speed for Conditions) made Kubota and Handshake dive out of the Street to avoid a possible collision with the car, YHC and Vinny, witnessing this death defying feat, made some evasive maneuvers, and displayed appropriate traffic communication signals with our hands; to which the driver of the car rolled down his window and wished us a very pleasant rest of our day and thanked us for acknowledging his driving ability or lack thereof.

Vinny and YHC commented that 6 more runners would be right behind us should the driver decide to stop and engage in more pleasantries face to face. That would have been exciting.

Cofferteria was added at Starbucks, Kubota and Handshake ordering inline, YHC lazily ordered from the starbucks app to avoid the wait.

No Announcements

Bleeder out

7 stalwarts posted for a Tuesday morning jaunt.  Route was out of UR to three chops, to grove, to oak.  Five milers turn back at oak, six milers take a loop on hillcrest and then head back.

NMM

Great weather for a run.  36 degrees and no humidity.  Perfect.

BT made a guest appearance after a 3 week hiatus from F3.  Despite the absence he had a good run with Swirly.  McFly started out with the six milers and was no where to be found at the end of the run.  Seems he had an unexpected date with a BM and had to (mc)fly early.  I have to check with corporate to see if he leaves the event less than halfway through if he gets full credit for posting.  My opinion is that he gets half a post.  We will see what corporate has to say.

Light turnout for a Spider run. It is the first time in a long time that I can remember less than double digit numbers posting.  It must have been fear of the TYA Q.

TYA OUT

Fourteen of RVA’s finest came out for some post holiday miles.

The Route

Around the lake and take the access road beside the baseball field to the parking lot.  Cross the parking lot and cut through the fraternities taking the door in the fence to Baldwin.

Left on Baldwin to Rock Creek.  Left on RC, left on Forest, right on University Blvd.  Take a right on Nalla.

4s – turn around at Patterson and return on the same route.

5s – cross Patterson and take Santa Ana to Camden.  Left on Camden, left on Rolando, and right on Santa Ana.  Cross Patterson and retrace you steps back to the VSF.

6s – cross Patterson and take a left on Rolando to Parham.  Right on Parham and a right on Holy Hill.  Left on Maywood and and right on Santa Ana.  Cross Patterson and retrace your steps back to the VSF.

Shakedown took us out.

The Moleskin

YHC ran a route similar to this one for high school cross country training.  Except that route originated at the high school and wrapped through UR and looped back to Freeman.  Running with Shakedown, Hutton, and Swirly was like the group I ran with in high school too, except we are slower and possibly more mature.  Emphasis on possibly.

Needless to say, good mumble chatter with this group ranging from ruck designs to Friday’s game.

It sounds like there were detours and alternate routes executed by the other Pax, but all returned safely and on time.

Question for the Pax:  What goes on in the 6-mile and 4-mile groups?  Is the 6 mile all business at maximum speed?  YHC is curious.

ABT,

Lockjaw