Tag: Spider Run

Eight men gathered for the last pre-Thanksgiving Spider Run.  Temps were sunny and 70, or 50 and calm winds, both perfect for a morning saunter.

The Thang:
Exit UofR to take a right on Campus, left on Three Chopt, quick right onto Pepper.  Right on Patterson.

4 milers…right on Libbie and right on Grove.
5 milers…right on Harlan, slight left onto Oak, and right on Grove
6 milers…right on Westhampton and right on Grove.

All runners, right just prior to Three Chopt, left on Iris. Follow Robin, Fairway, and Ridgeway back to UofR, then right and left back to the Student Center.

Number-am-a, Name-a-ram-a, announcements, YHC took us out.

Announcements:
TYA will host a Thanksgiving morning beat down at 45MOM.  Start time is 06:00.
Breaking Bread this Sunday:  YHC will take the lead, but what was The Lone Ranger without Tonto?  Or, Batman without Robin.  Or, Starsky without Hutch?  YHC could use a second.  Who’s in town and able to contribute a little time?  Respond in the BB.

NMS:
Today’s BB title comes not from any reference to Va. Tech. (that’s coming), but rather from YHC passing TYA on Grove…apparently, YHC’s breathing was heavy enough that TYA may have believed YHC was multiple men.  “A Thundering Herd of One”

Speaking of TYA, he and Saab have built a strong friendship through F3.  Today, they looked like a Doublemint commercial. Way to coordinate clothes, fellas.

As for Tech…if YHC had been asked in at the beginning of this year, “Which is more likely, UVA will lose as a #1 seed to UMBC or VT will need to beat UVA in football in order to play any football in December?” YHC would surely have selected UVA choking.  The Commonwealth’s teams are having a tough year.  Here’s hoping Friday’s game is a good one – perhaps the first competitive game in some time.

Take the time to give thanks this week, fellas.

An industrious nine checked the weather and realized the heavy stuff wouldn’t be down for a while.  On for a run.

The Route

Up the other hilly road to the main entrance.

4s – Take a left and then a right up Boatwright.  At Three Chopt, jog to the right and take Honaker to Patterson.

5s/6s – Take a right up the hill to Three Chopt and hang a right.  5s take a left on St Christopher’s.  6s go to Grove to Granite and hang a left to Patterson.

4s, 5s, and 6s are now on Patterson.  Head west to Westham Pkwy and hang a left.  Take the Pkwy to University Dr.  Drop down until it hits UR and cut through the wooded trail picking up the lake coming in via the gazebo.

YHC took us out.

The Moleskin

It turned out to be great running weather today.  A little cool at points and I think we all agreed that the long windy climb up Patterson to Three Chopt was universally everyone’s low point.  Running down Westham was great.  Total darkness and just the sound of the brook making its way down hill, and ultimately back to the UR lake as were we.

TYA demonstrated this season’s fashion forward view: all black long sleeve/pant running suit.  Literally, nothing was visible except his head; floating body-less in the darkness.  Fashion over safety on a dark, rainy, morning.

It was fun as always chatting with EF Hutton.  Good pace.  Good conversation.  Good times.

Happy Birthday to Saab and Bootleg who both celebrated a birthday yesterday.

Time to Taper,

Lockjaw

Terrific trot today for a hearty group of Spider Runners. It is the opening of college basketball season, and prior to F3, my ritual would be to try to run around the arena where the Rams were playing. F3 punted that ritual, but I wanted to give it a go this morning, somewhat modified, as we essentially circled El Center de Robins.

Busy day for me, so here’s the quick MOLESKIN.

Richmond Way to Claiborne Stadium. Left there to Boatright. Boatright to Lakewood to Wood to Baldwin (modified Fudd Runn here). Baldwin all the way up to Hollins. Right on Hollins, Right on Woodberry.

4 Milers take a right on Westham and head back to the Commons from there (Baldwin, Wood, Lakewood, south of Robins Center).

5 & 6 Milers Head to the dead end at Horsepen. Right on Horsepen, hairpin turn on Patterson to Ridge Top.

Then we all get to do Chandler.

5 Milers do it twice and 6 Milers do it three times. It came a bit out of the vault, did Chandler, and it hasn’t gotten a lot easier since we did it probably a year (or more!) together. Chandler to Gardiner, through the woods and home.

6 Milers went back to Ridgetop, then to Hempstead, to Wood, to Lakeside then home.

Pretty hilly run.

Now to more important stuff. I’ve got a suite open tonight for the VCU game, one of the few times all year it has been unsold. If you would like to go, shoot me an email rrobinson@vcusportsproperties.com and I can leave you tickets. Pretty much could be an F3 night at the suite if enough of you want to go. Either way, if you want to go to the game tonight…tip off at 7pm, let me know.

16 strong posted and ran the Halloween Eve Morning Edition of Spider Run.  YHC grabbed and revived an old Splinter route which went (or was supposed to go) something like this:

4’s – Around the lake and up University to Ralston.  Right on Ralston and then an immediate left back onto University.  Go to end and venture up the driveway of death.  Continue past the old house and down the trail through the playground.  Right on Roslyn Hills up to top of the hill and reverse route back to the VSF.

5’s – 4 mile course but continue left onto September at the top of Roslyn Hills.  September becomes Countryside and follow down to a left on Ruggles.  Ruggles to a left on Roslyn Hills.  Right into playground and back to the VSF.

6’s – 5 mile course and add the mile loop around the UR School of Business.

Numberama, Namearama and YHC took us out.

NMS:

YHC thinks he gave Saab-like directions this morning.  YHC thought everyone would remember this route from Splinter back in the Spring, but YHC didn’t realize that there would be a mix up from another route that he did this Summer involving the same trail.  Also, many PAX members wanted to take the “Gumbo trail Route” from last week’s Spider Run that offshoots the lake trail, but YHC corrected them.  After his first half of the 4 mile route, YHC decided to wait back at the playground entrance so everyone would know where to turn on the way back.  He forgot about Vinny and TYA, but they made it back.  YHC had a last mile PR back to the VSF due the fact that he likes to catch up to and get beside Bleeder with about 150 yards to go and have a sprint-off with him.  This can be deadly!  YHC challenges anyone to sprint against Bleeder at the end of a run.  YHC’s Garmin had his heart rate at 195 at the end of that sprint.  Well done, Bleeder!  A couple PAX moved up in the distance ranks.  Vinny got in 5 miles while running with TYA.  Great job!  Gomer Pyle joined the 6 milers (YHC thinks he used to be a 5 miler, he may be wrong???)  Rib Cage (the skeleton) didn’t make it far and sat down by a shrub on the trail near the playground.  Lug Nut did “Lug Nut” things and had us worried about him being lost again, but he eventually showed up.

Overall, it was a great morning for a run!  Gumbo and Gomer Pyle are really putting in the miles and are getting themselves ready for the half-marathon along with YHC.  Paces are picking up, but soon it will be time to taper.

Have a great day all and Happy Halloween tomorrow to all!

Kubota

keep posting!

14 runners descended upon Tyler Haynes Commons before 0530 looking for a few miles and here is what they got:

4-milers – exit campus via Richmond Way, Westhampton Way and UR Drive (i.e., not the Bat Cave), cross River Road through the shopping center and across the bridge.  run the cloverleaf and retrace back to the Flag.

5-milers – cross the lake to the trail, exit onto College Road and across to University.  Up to Westham and take a left.  Cross River onto Country Squire Lane down to S. Ridge to Westham Station Rd up to the bridge.  Cross the bridge, run the cloverleaf and head back via UR Drive, Westhampton and Richmond Way.

6-milers: run a loop up Richmond Way and down Gateway back to the starting point, then follow the 5-mile route.

COT, Number-rama, Name-a-rama and YHC took us out.

Announcements:

• Marmaduke is still collecting coats/jackets.  Let’s fill him up – (I got a few for you this morning from Kubota)
• I think there is puppy pile this Saturday – maybe someone can confirm in the comments.
• Splinter is throwing out an optional (really?) extra credit start at Spider Run – 0510 – next Tuesday for an extra mile or two, finishing back at the Flag at 0530 to pick up the PAX (i.e., Slackers) and run the normal 4,5,6 mile routes.  If there is interest it might stick as a monthly occurrence.

NMS:

So, I had all along planed for the 5-mile route to be a little long (about 5.3), but add in a pre-mature exit (I SAID EXIT) off the trail by YHC – done with such confidence that Swirly, BT and Shakedown unfortunately followed – and a winding trail through the woods, including finding some  hidden frisbee golf holes and the need to double back down College Rd to University and the 5-mile route turned into just over 5.5 miles for us.  No worries, Swirly picked up the pace and found the zone trucking down Country Squire and S. Ridge.

Unfortunately, Swirly was in such zone that he ran right passed the bridge and had to double back again.  He might have gotten 5.7 in today.

Crossing the bridge, a blur of a Tron passed Shakedown and me heading back to the Flag….man, Bleeder was pushing it today.  Well done sir.

The Sixers caught us all on the bridge and Splinter and Faceplant left a vapor trail (not literally, like Wilson) as they passed us.

Great running with Swirly, BT and Shakedown for a while.  And, thanks to Swirly setting the pace to get us back on track, YHC logged two miles under 8 minutes, with a 7:47 mile — by far the fastest YHC has run in a LONG time…maybe fastest since leaving the Institute.  Still, no match for Marv as he overtook me in the Shopping Center.

Great morning guys.  A hearty Lab Rat’esque apology to Swirly, BT and Shakedown for the detour.

Have a great day men.

No More Gumbo For You!

A naughty 19 descended upon Spider Run for a route snapped from TYA’s vast portfolio….(an adjustment was made on account of the entrance blocked by a tree.)

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.

Announcements:  CSAUP, Coat Collection, and Bear Creek Trail Run

Saab Abides

16 warriors heard the call today to further their personal development goals and improve their innate night vision on a temperate humid and foggy morning.

 

THANG

This is how it went, more or less.  The Cardinal route has something for everyone.

All, head up snake road: Around the Robins Center and up Boatwright.  Take Honaker to Patterson and take a right followed by an immediate left on Roxbury.  Roxbury to West Franklin and head west.

At the intersection of Charles, 5s/6s take a right and take an out and back detour to Crestview Elementary (home of the Cardinals).  All routes then continue west on W. Franklin to Donald. Take a left and Donald turns into Register Pkwy.

At Patterson and Three Chopt, 6s continue west on Patterson to Westham Pkwy and a left on University Dr to come through the trails to the lake.

4s and 5s head south on Three Chopt and take a right on the access road just beyond Bandy Field.  Drop down the hill on the trail and pick up the road.  Take the cut through back to the main UR entrance and come down around the Robins Center to the lake.

Splinter took us out.

 

NMS

Q intent is to stay together and leave no one behind and the team excelled.  The 4s ACTUALLY ran Westham to Three Chopt.  The 5’s went up College to St Christopher’s and back.  We will just have to run Cardinal again soon – it is a really nice route once you get past snake road.

Minimal mumble chatter as we got right to it.  Will let PAX highlight their running conversations.

There was a little combat arms elbow rubbing at the start when someone said something about range day and someone else said “now that the leaves are falling its time to blow {things} up”, followed by a typically too lengthy description of a National Guard training schedule, followed by another saying oh I am a 18C ( SF Engineer Expert – That means Green Beret, Fudd ), and then sounds of respect all around.

October does have a certain feel that gets the hunter spirit simmering.  YHC feels for his brothers still wearing the funny colored clothing.  While its tough as an individual when you have 2 personal assigned weapons and 3 in your vehicle to qualify on everything when then are only 12 training opportunities a year.  Its even tougher as a battalion of 350 – 800 swinging Richards to run through it all TWICE a year in 12 training opportunities.  Thats a lot of ammo. And a lot of time inspecting range safety books when we would all rather be waist deep in mud.  And that is why we need to to get as much done as possible with weapons in October / November to make room for the good stuff.  Hoo-AHH.

 

Announcements:

CSAUP 20 October.  See Pre Blast.

Nov 3.   F3 Hampton Roads convergence.  See Pre Blast.

 

Gomer Pyle,  out

Git some!

With no official Q identified, YHC begrudgingly took the reigns and called “Mount Henrico” to the 16 runners and bikers (Spider Gears anyone?).  Those desiring directions were told to ask a friend.

Announcements:

• CSAUP on 10/20.  Run, bike, walk to TYA for additional details.
• Double-dip opportunity on Saturday.  See Swiper to join the running team supporting those recovering from addiction.

Saab abides

 

A lucky 13 rose and shone for some morning miles.

The Routes

Head west along the lake and cut up to the Robin’s Center parking lot along the baseball field.  Across the parking lot and up the hill past the stadium.  Continue up Boatwright and hang a left on Edgehill just prior to Three Chopt.

Pop out at Three Chopt and take a left, running until you hit Patterson.  Hang a right and head east.

4s turns at St. Christophers to the access road to Towana to Campus and down the main entrance to the shovel flag.

5s turn at Granite taking it to Grove.  Head west on Grove to the access road and take Towana to Campus and down the main entrance to the shovel flag.

6s turn at Harlan and take Roslyn to Grove.  Head west on Grove to the access road and take Towana to Campus and down the main entrance to the shovel flag.

YHC took us out.

The Moleskin

Runners covered all distances with everyone looking strong.  Faceplant cruised with Saab and even maintained a conversation.  Looks like the sixers have a new rabbit in their midst.

YHC held off the COT for as long as possible awaiting Lugnut’s arrival.  Still no Lugnut and some concern kicked in.  Namearama and the Pax began to disperse and still no Lugnut.  A few minutes later, a silhouette of a runner with Lugnut’s gait wearing a black shirt was seen at a distance.

It turns out he made a detour and ended up on Kensington.  Unbeknownst to Lugnut, he was now on an oval loop doing laps.  It reminded YHC of the scene from European Vacation in the roundabout (Looks Kids!  Big Ben, Parliament!).  Finally, a walker offered him advice and he was able to make his way to Three Chopt and back to the shovel flag.

No man left behind.

Time to Taper,

Lockjaw

12 galloping gazelles, one rover on two wheels, one owl whisperer, and one lanky giraffe gathered in the swamp that was Spider Run this morning.  No one signed up for the Q so YHC enthusiastically called River Run to avoid all the downed trees and power lines.  A few lower body tweaks here and there but no electrocutions.  All in all a successful morning.

The Route
Across the bridge.  4 milers do the half clover leaf and return.  5 milers to Rockfalls and return.  6 milers a few hundred yards past the Williams dam and return.  A few spartans braved Custis and reached the summit at Cherokee.  Kudos to Swirly, Sippy and Swiper? who made that decision.

Moleskin
The air was thick that day my friend.  Like an old man trying to send back soup in a deli.  The PAX got about 50 feet out before the great humidity beast appeared before us.  I tell you it was 100% if it was 10%.  As if sensing our presence, he let out a great bellow.  The PAX said… “easy big fella”.  Then as we all struggled, we realized something was obstructing our breathing.  From the path we were running we could see right into the eye of the great beast.

From out of nowhere, a huge trough of stale air sat on us like an oppressive regime, it opened our pores and we found ourselves face to face with the great humidity beast  We had tears streaming down our faces.  We could barely see it was so thick, but we knew something was there.  So we slogged forward, step by step until we pulled out the obstruction.

Titleist?

Well, it was not a Titleist out there today but it certainly felt like I was running with an obstruction in my blow hole.  What a ridiculous morning to try and run.  Great job to everyone out there.  Go out and be the best that we can be, this weather has to be past us soon.

Announcements

Convergence this weekend, PuppyPile the following weekend, CSAUP 10/20.  Plenty of opportunities for brotherhood and fatherhood.

#bigdata is watching