Tag: Spider Run

Ten noble steeds, including the one armed bandit, gathered in the pre-dawn for this morning’s iteration of Spider Run.  Splinter commandeered the Q from Lockjaw who had it for the past month.  Not surprising, Lockjaw wasn’t Q’ing so he didn’t post.  Route went something like this:

Rather straightforward 4 mile loop.  Run across the lake, meander up the hill to Keller and out the College Drive entrance.  Cross College, up Glen Pkwy and take a right on Westham.  Westham all the way to Patterson, right on Patterson, Right on Horsepen.  Cut through fraternity row, back by the baseball field and back to the VSF.

5 milers took a left on University and ran across Ridge and up to Ralston.  Turn around and come back to Westham and complete the loop.  Adding the long way around the lake to finish.

6 milers did the 5 mile route and took a right on Waveny, working down to Horsepen then turning around and heading back to Westham.  Follow the 4 mile route to Horsepen, left on Glen, right on Ridge Top, left up Chandler and back down.  Continue on Ridge Top, cutting through fraternity row and back to the VSF.

Moleskin
Marvelous morning for a run.  Light six mile crew this morning but conversation centered around all the positives of parents living vicariously through kids sports.  Everyone is injury free and gearing up for the CSAUP.

Great to see Wheelbarrow out there this morning.  Must be the pull of CSAUP training.  SoJ is looking strong and may be able to field 2 teams.  Keep recruiting.

Saab was a blur this morning.  Ran to the AO, ran around, then ran home.

TClaps to Two Can for keeping the PAX abreast of Gen Z lingo.  Parties aren’t parties anymore, they are kickbacks.

Keep kicking back gentlemen.  Crank up some Angus Young and enjoy the day.

Splinter out.

9 runners of the two legged variety and 1 four legged canine runner embraced spring like weather for a run.

We did the nameless route that we did a couple of weeks ago when it snowed.  Today we did it in reverse.

Here is the 5 mile variation of the route.  Six milers swing out to Marv’s house for a more true figure 8.

Marv took us out.

NMS:

Spring was in the air today not only in temperature, but with a chorus of frogs singing along the canal.  Speaking of creatures with habits, there was another Keymaster sighting about a tenth of a mile from where we saw him the other time we did this route.  Tuesday at this time, you can set your watch to Keymaster.  When we called out this time, he did reply quickly and clearly.  Now he just needs to explain to his other workout group what a Keymaster and Lockjaw are and what F3 is.

Post race conversation centered around CSAUP planning and motivational aides for running.  Among other things, part of RP’s strategy is to let Kenya run most of the CSAUP.  The trick is to lay dog biscuits along the route and at all turns, because you know dogs can’t read maps.  At least, not very well.

Finally, this route needs a name.  Ziontown, Old Westham, and Kanawha jump out to YHC as route names.  Or perhaps we focus on where Keymaster is from in Ghostbusters since we always seem him here: Gozer.  Pax, go ahead and name it in the comments.

Always Be Tapering,

Lockjaw

Ten Road Scholars showed up for this week’s Spider Run.

We ran the Honaker routes.  Up the main entrance and take Campus/Towana to the access road by Three Chopt.  Left on Grove.  4s turn left on Maple, 5s on Wilton (then left on Dillwyn, right on Seneca), and 6s on Wisteria.  Everyone takes Patterson west to Honaker.  Honaker across Three Chopt and down Boatwright.  Past the Robin’s Center, cut across the parking lot and down the lake.  4s and 6s take a left to the VSF and 5s take a right to go around the lake to the VSF.

Wedding Singer took us out.

NMS:

Pre-run, TYA went into CSAUP recruitment mode, enlisting Dutch and Bootleg for Team RP.  YHC got a hard commit from Taxi Cab for a West End team.  These week’s of training are paying off and he is getting ready.

Bootleg was lost in his tracks somewhere on the route.  The Pax sent a search party out for him afterwards.  Little did Bootleg know when he signed up for Team RP, that it came with TYA’s “lost runner insurance”.  He will cover the ends of the earth to keep his team fit for race day.  Hopefully, he will turn up.

Time to Taper,

Lockjaw

9 Descended to the Bottom of All Hills:  The start of Spider Run

The Routes:

4s, 5s, 6, all start and finish the same way.

Exit UR using the River Rd entrance near the intramural fields and go across the shopping center to pick  up Westham Station.  Climb the hill as it turns into Ridge and take the Country Squire jug handle to Westham Parkway.

At the University Dr intersection, 4s take a right and do a lap and a half around the lake.  5s and 6s, turn left and head west.  Dogleg right at Ralston to pick up University again and take until it turns into Ziontown.  Take Ziontown to Ridge and cut behind the church to Forest.

5s continue across Forest on Lakewood, dogleg at Westham Parkway and down University Dr to the lake and SF.

6s head north on Forest, right on Rock Creek, right on Baldwin, right on Westham Parkway and left down University Drive.

Clear?  Its really just the same roads that keep changing names.

YHC took us out.

NMS:

It was good to see Taxi Cab who has been Kotters.  YHC e-mailed him regarding the CSAUP and said if he didn’t come back out, we would run to his house and do APDs in the front yard.  Needless to say, he came to us and then crushed 5 miles like its nothing.

The snow was a nice touch today.  Unlike the slip and slide several weeks ago, this is the winter weather YHC does not mind running in.

While on Country Squire, we intersected another running group coming from the other direction.  One looked like Keymaster, but he didn’t respond to his F3 name.  Keymaster, was that you?

Announcements:

• CSAUP – F3RVA Century Classic – Teams are forming.  Join one or start your own.
• Thoughts go to Bleeder today as he gets his bicep repaired.  Buddy, you gotta hold back putting up eight plates on bench!  In all seriousness, it wasn’t the bench and we hope you have a speedy recovery.
• Thoughts go to Toga and his knee surgery which will hopefully bring him back to top running form and back to F3 soon.

Time to Taper,

Lockjaw

Eight moist, yes I said it, spider runners gathered under the drive through in preparation for a run in the rain.  We waited, and waited and waited until 5:29 when YHC threw out Plan B.

Route was over the river.  Take the normal route out the south UR entrance, across the shopping center, across the bridge and downriver to various turn around points.  Loop around the half cloverleaf for 4 milers (no takers today).  Turn around at rock falls for 5 milers.   6 milers pulled an audible and turned right just past rattlesnake creek and meander our way up to Cherokee.  Everyone turned around and made it safely back to the start.

Moleskin
YHCs streak of impeccable instructions continues.  Today’s route was familiar.  Instructions included go across the bridge and go downriver.  Turn around where you see fit and come back.  Singer looked slightly confused but was working it out in his head and confirmed with:  “if you are coming across the bridge you go left, correct?”.  Correct.  Someone else retorted with “go under the bridge”.  Saab attempted to clarify the instructions by telling everyone to go west which was incorrect.  Whichever your preference, Singer’s, the retorter’s or my original downriver instructions would have been accurate.  West, unfortunately, was inaccurate.

Great run today.  It was nice to have a headwind at the start so it would follow us home.

Announcements
– CSAUP.  Everyone is excited.  Team captains starting to emerge.
– BRR.  Only hard commits accepted.  See preblast

Splinter out.

Twelve Spiderlings gathered by the commons to witness a series of perfectly clear instructions.  The majority were able to follow (including Fudd), were you?

Route
There was a basic 4 mile loop with two offshoots, each one adding an additional mile.  4 miler loop included navigating out the south entrance, towards the bridge, right on Westham Station, up south ridge, across to Westham, right on Baldwin, right on Wood, left on Lakewood and back to the start via a pass by the baseball field.

5 milers were <<supposed>> to add on Ross.  Half-way up S. Ridge instructions were to take a left and go to the bottom of the hill and come back up.  Only 29% of the 5 milers followed directions, the others followed Lab Rat?

Six milers first took a right on Old Bridge then right on Hillside.  Up to River and back down.  Then also do the Ross hill.

Moleskin
Fudd reveled in the clear directions this morning.  Hitting every turn (1) correctly.  Others need some self reflection on this realization.

Marv inexplicably consumed mexican, wine and Stella Artois last night and thought that would go well on his run this AM.  Saab forgot his banana which will likely screw up his entire day.

Great to see Sugar Sock on his first Spider Run jaunt.  Don’t be discouraged by your fellow runner’s inability to listen to instructions.  There are some good routes around UR.  Complicated but good.

Announcements
– Double dip opportunity for the CSAUP for those that want to run the monument 10k.  Run your 2 legs early and be primed for the run up and down monument

Splinter out

Yeah, today was interesting.  YHC had new routes in mind ready to try them out with today’s warmer weather.  Upon arrival at the AO, all pavement was glazed with a thin layer of ice. Plans went out the door and we did a penguin run as a group.  Slow, steady, and trying to find traction wherever it may be found.  Side of road.  Down the middle.  Different theories were tested with ineffective results.

Finally, we yielded after a few miles and headed to the intramural field for a few laps.  The seals showed up with the same idea and we amicably shared the space.  Despite my prodding, Swirly exercised restraint and did not jump into their ranks and begin leading them through exercises.

Swirly took us out.

Post run conversation centered around the CSAUP.  Pax should be warned about TYA’s promising potential as a campaign manager.  This glimmer game through as he discussed harboring Pax runners from other nano regions in his basement for region residency and allegations that Marv will be impressed into service for Richmond Proper as he has not paid taxes in the county yet.  Swiper became informed of the CSAUP and quickly reaffirmed RP’s domination over the suburban sprawl.

Let the games begin….

Time to Taper,

Lockjaw

Seriously. 9 degrees? It was 9 degrees this morning? However, in what has to be an unprecedented F3 Event, I am proud to say that there were more PAX at a workout than the actual temperature. 11 men showed up to trundle around the beautiful Tuckahoe Elementary, Tuckahoe Middle, Freeman District.

QIC-MARV

PAX-Bleeder, Totahnka (FNG), The YA, Wedding Singer, Swirly, BT, Fudd, Splinter, Saab, Sippy Cup, Marv

Name of the Run– First Class Run

The Thang:

4 Milers– Lake to Boatright via the northside of the Robins Center (including somewhat of a killer hill that is very rarely used). Boatright to Lakewood. Lakewood to Wood. Wood to Baldwin. Baldwin to Stuart Hall (pausing to genuflect on Lally Construction’s latest masterpiece). Stuart Hall to Forest. Forest to Rock Creek to Baldwin to Westham. South on Westham to University, north on College and then through the parking lot of the Robins Center back to the lake.

5 Milers– 4 Mile Course beginning but straight on College to University. Right on University to Ralston. Left on Ralston. Cross River to Windsor on the James. Take the WOTJ loop back to River to Ralston to University back to the lake through the Robins Parking Lot.

6 Milers– Same beginning as four mile but go south on Westham as opposed to crossing and going to the Lally Project. Westham to University where they would pick up the 5 miler trail and go from there.

It had been awhile since we had run the “First Class Run” of the Windsor on the James. There’s nothing quite like running in the wide streets of the WOTJ with no cars parked on the streets to get in your way. A tip of the hat to the folks that occupy the houses in WOTJ, as they spent their entire weekend taking down their Christmas lights. QIC took his family around that loop (in a vehicle) late last week and it was lit up like the Griswolds. Those folks definitely move on.

We really can’t emphasize enough how cold it was. QIC isn’t sure his legs ever got warm, and he was wearing TheYA approved NIKE tights. Shout out to the Head ski gloves sold by Costco this fall…they did the trick and then some. BT debuted a cool ensemble that included a neck guard and a hood…and something for his ears.

The first hill up by the Robins Center was a pleasant little gassing surprise. Nothing like asking your body to try to regulate it’s temperature while climbing up a steep hill. I’m not one to use foul language, but my body was pretty much ripping me a new one at that point.

It does beg the question that may or may not be debated in the comment section below… Would you rather run at 9 degrees or at 77 and unbelievable humidity? Think before you react as the latter is pretty brutal too. I’d actually throw my vote in for the 9 degrees over the sweltering heat run…at the very least, my car doesn’t smell like a wet rhino after the 9 degree run. I’m interested to see what everyone else thinks.

Other notes–welcome to Totahnka, son of Snowden. So, in Iceland, his name would be “Totahnka Snowdenson”. He’s a freshman at Bucknell, studying economics. QIC isn’t really all that concerned about Totahnka Snowdenson taking his radio gig based on his first impression…but it was super having the 18 (or 19) year old out there.

All time shortest post huddle conversation time. Ever. QIC literally had to chase The YA into his car. Speaking of The YA, good to have him back healthy…wasn’t the same without him.

Overall, it was a terrific way to break in the first work day of the New Year. God Speed, gents, and make sure you bundle up the rest of the week.

7 fleet footed veterans embraced the gloom to post at Spider Run and burn off some of the Christmas calories.  No one had signed up to Q as of 5:25 so YHC offered to lead the PAX on the “Fudd Run”.  No one had any better suggestions, so off we went at 5:30.

Mosey around the lake to the south side, up the steep path to the amphitheater, then run around in the woods for a while pretending we were lost, then run down to College, and take a left on Lakewood for the Westham tour portion of the Fudd run that took us past Marv’s house, then past Upchuck’s house (we circled back to pick up the six several times), and on to Horsepen where Lugnut and Bleeder peeled off to head back to the lake at U of R.  The rest of the PAX continued on to Ridgetop to experience the suck of the hill on Chandler, then the hill on Gardner, then back to UR before tackling the hill on Roselawn before looping around by the Westhampton course at CCV on our way back to the VSF.

Numberama, Namerama, and YHC took us out.

NMS

Saab has always been a fan of the Fudd run, and has professed to having the feeling on the route of  “always running up hill”.  YHC agrees and as I rarely get to attend, much less Q, Spider Run these days, YHC was looking forward to hopefully bringing this route back for its second debut (the first was well over a year ago………#BigData can you tell us exactly when?)  There’s nothing like running hills to get the blood pumping and the calories burning, and it’s never too early to start training for next year’s BRR, right #Lockjaw?

Bleeder remarked several times that he would like to know what the actual route is for the “Fudd run”.  The answer is somewhat ethereal as it is based on each PAX’s memory and/or perception.  YHC admits to giving initial directions somewhat “on the fly” as we traversed the dark paths and woods of U of R.  Once we got to College I was good to go.  Total mileage from YHC’s Garmin was 6.6, which makes sense as we arrived back to the SF about 5 min late.

Saab admitted to not loving Star Wars but also to being a fan of Dave Chappelle.  Like minded individuals can join Saab in watching an upcoming Chappelle special on Netflix.  See Saab for details.

Bleeder admitted to the PAX that he almost had to take a detour into the woods during the downhill portion of his return to the lake.  Moments before his cramps dictated this course of action, he magically found an open door to the Robins Center and was able to navigate the dark hallways to find a bathroom in the nick of time.  YHC could not help but wonder……why does he never experience this kind of luck??  Whenever similar pains strike the midsection of Fudd, he is mathematically at the farthest possible distance from an available toilet.  Maybe it’s a Murphy’s Law, like dropping a tool and it rolls under a car to the exact center.

Regardless of the possibility of forces beyond our perception possibly influencing our paths today, YHC thoroughly enjoyed his return to Spider Run.  Thanks fellas for allowing me to lead and for pushing me…..not only up those hills, but also to be a better man today than I was yesterday.

To all of the PAX that I won’t see prior to next Monday, I wish you all a Happy New Year!!