Tag: Spider Run

Thirteen Spider Run veterans and one Davillian showed up for perfect June running weather at the lake.  After doing interval the previous day, YHC was ready for something different.  This is what occurred.

The Route

All do the 3 mile loop – Roselawn, left on Towana, left onto Campus Drive, left onto Boatwright, left onto Keller, Right onto Crenshaw Way, left onto UR Drive

6 milers – Repeat the 3 mile loop twice

5 milers – After completing the 3 mile loop, take Roselawn to Towana to Campus to Richmond Way.  Then take a lap around the lake.

4 milers – After completing the 3 mile loop, take Gateway to Richmond Way or go around the lake several times.

NMS

After Qing an 800 repeat track workout on Monday at River Run, YHC decided it was best to avoid another track workout or hill repeats.  For this reason, a route was picked that took the PAX throughout the University of Richmond campus.  Using MapMyRun, YHC selected a route that would take the PAX on both sides of the lake. He had not had a chance to test it out.  When it was presented to the PAX, Splinter seemed to understand the route.  SAAB instantly said he was not doing the route.  At 5:30, the PAX took off.  It is believed that most PAX members completed the first 3 mile loop.  As we came together at 6:15 AM and did the Number-O-Rama and Name-O-Rama, the question was asked, “Where’s SAAB?”  He was not back.  Nobody had seen him.  Did a pack of dogs chase him.  The question is still unanswered.  YHC guesses that SAAB got the runs and kept going.

Thank you to Splinter and Marv for guiding YHC throughout the route today.  Weather was amazing and although YHC does not have a chance to join the PAX at Spider Run often, he always looks forward to the opportunity.  Outstanding job by all.

Phonics Out!

Announcements:

• Cornhole & Rock ‘N Roll, a ReeseStrong Childhood Cancer event, is this Saturday, June 10 at Marty’s Grill in Mechanicsville.  The first band starts at 11 am.  The cornhole tournament starts at 12:30 PM.  To register or for more information, click here or see Phonics.
• Fudd is also hosting a party (M’s invited) at his house that night. RSVP to his preblast.
• VQ week starts June 26.
• June 17 – Marv is leading a 2.0 friendly workout at 7 AM following the 6 AM Dogpile bootcamp.

Eleven gathered in the grey pre-dawn darkness for this week’s iteration of Spider Run.  The PAX gathered near the commons, asked who had Q, heard the plan and then contemplated quickly driving over to Heartbreak for an alternative choice.  Nonetheless, here’s what transpired.

Warm Up
– 1 mile.  Wander down to the golf course, head up Ridgeway, left on Roselawn and meet at the bottom of Towana

The Route
– Hill repeats up Towana.  Run up for 1 minute then recover back to the bottom of Towana in 1:45.  Repeat 8x.
– Final loop up Gateway and around by the football stadium.  A few took an extra loop around the lake.

Moleskin
YHCs watch had it at 5 miles.  Your miles may vary.  Hill repeats continue to be a crowd favorite amongst the Spider Run regulars.  Two Can questioned his return to Spider Run this week, Fudd contemplated leaving and going to Heartbreak, Bleeder’s smile turned upside down when YHC announced we would be staying together today.  Singer wanted to get a head start today but YHC wouldn’t let him.  Head starts would do no good today.

Lug Nut continues to unfortunately just miss the PAX upon departure from the Commons.  Perhaps this is a well timed excuse for the Nut to pursue his own route.  YHC is very thankful that Lug Nut announced the football stadium was open today.  We will have to keep an eye out to see if this is a trend.  If so, perhaps we will discover a Spider Run workout hated even more than hill repeats.

The entire PAX cruised through 8 repeats this morning.  That is except Fudd.  Upon descending #5 YHC noticed Fudd was carrying a fist full of leaves.  When we got to the bottom Fudd disappeared into the woods, resulting in a miss of leg #6.  Fudd reappeared for #7, sans fist full of leaves.

Bleeder and Two Can stole the show on #7 and #8.  Bleeder led the pack on #7, leaning into the hill and crushing it.  Two Can attempted the same on #8 but flamed out near the top.  Way to push it guys!

Swirly was very astute to recognize that our recovery time used to be 2 minutes.  YHC dropped it to assess the impact.  By all accounts it was successful.  Keep pushing it guys.

Announcements
– Respond to Fudd if you can make his party.  He promises to have plenty of sausage.  Two Can will be swiping to even the numbers.
– Mechanicsville takeover next week.  They may take over the Q but don’t let them show you up!
– VQ week end of June.  Take the opportunity to Q somewhere you have never Q’d before.

Splinter out.

Although it was raining in some areas of RVA, the weather at UR was perfect as 12 men presented themselves for a run around our fair city.

Route: Head out toward UR entrance on River Road, cross bridge, head East toward Stratford

4 milers: Return somewhere between Stratford and the bridge, depending upon one’s mood and interest in adding more distance.5 milers: Take Stratford to Matoken until it “crests”.  6 milers: Take aforementioned route all the way to Shirley then head back down toward river and return. Add one loop around lake at the end.

NMS: YHC had selfish reasons for choosing to Q today given his aches and pains from a very active weekend. Upon hearing what TYA and Swirly were planning had they gotten to the spreadsheet first, YHC was more than pleased by his decision to Q.

YHC swagged the six mile distance so he appreciated Marv’s “10 dollar” app providing the correct distance so we knew to add the extra lap at the end.

YHC was concerned his instructions would result in some lost PAX, but all found their way…despite not finding the “crest” – which YHC was sure existed if one just looked (ran) hard enough.

It was good to see Grunt (Swirly’s 2.0) out there.  He went on to inform the PAX that Swirly is intense about everything he does…working out, eating, sitting, etc….The PAX worked to contain their look of surprise.

Anyway, not much else to report aside from the fact that on this day on history, Bonnie & Clyde and Captain Kidd all met their demise at the hand of law enforcement.

Announcements:

Saab will be carting some PAX to CVille this Saturday. Given those who have already tossed their names in, and YHC’s ever-shrinking transportation option, the term Clown-Car will be more than appropriate.

Convergence this Monday. If you are in town then attendance is expected…REMEMBER: Corporate knows when you are fartsacking, and knows when you’re awake (and not posting like you’re supposed to), so make sure you are there for goodness sake.

Saab abides

11 tackled some tough hills as everyone successfully negotiated the Devil’s Pitchfork (5 and 6 mile variants).  This was the first workout that YHC noticed an abundance of early morning light.  No need for those lights anymore.

Devil’s Pitchfork never disappoints the crowd.  Each segment has its own character and personality: Panorama’s gradual incline with a steep ascent, Old Bridge’s sustained slope, or Highland’s vertical beat down.  Ridge also offers a nice climb as well.

Today’s speed demon awards go out to Pucker and Phonics.  Pucker set an early lead for the 5s and Phonics was off to the races.

Pucker took us out.

• HDHH tomorrow?  Do we have an AO already?
• C-ville launch kicks off this weekend.  See La Rat for details.

7 studs emerged from the fartsack for a morning run on the hills.  Weather was 44 degrees and sunny (70 and sunny in my mind)

The Thang:

Mount Henrico for everyone but Saab.  Saab, do whatever the hell you want to do because your not going listen to my directions anyways…

NMM

The route was 5.3 miles this morning with 250+ feet of elevation gain.  This is one of YHC favorite runs for Spider run.  Good steady incline on the way out and then a quick return trip to the lake.

Weather was a little chilly this am, prompting full winter gear from some PAX.  Most had long sleeved shirts on, about 1/2 wore gloves, and at least one went all in with the double layer up top, gloves, and a winter hat.  Swirly sure was warm on his way around Henrico county this morning.  In a couple days, we will all be shirtless and sweating out there.

Kotters to Saab.  Saab was on business then off to SC last week for the graduation of his 2.0.  First, congratulations that is quite an accomplishment.  All the PAX are happy for you and your daughter.  Also, congratulations to her securing a post college job in the RVA area.  Quite impressive.  Saab’s talk this morning did not center around the graduation itself, but on having to chaperone his mother and mother in law around all weekend.  Of particular joy to Saab was being able to buy everyone (seemingly) in SC meals all weekend with little gratitude or appreciation coming back his way…Good news is no more checks to SC, bad new is one more to go, so 4 more years of checks to some other school.

Where in the world is Sippy?  We miss you brothers!!!

TYA OUT

The outlook was rather breezy, for the Spider Run 9 that day

As they gathered at 5:30 at the locale of 5 Richmond Way.

At first Bleeder showed up in day glo, then Taxi Cab did the same

Then TYA and Swirly, BT, Pucker and Toucan came

Finally trickling in was Swiper, with those glasses in which wood could carve,

The 8 of them huddling near the lake, waiting on the Q from MARV.

And with that, ends the attempt at putting a whole backblast to the rhythms of “Casey at the Bat” (if you didn’t read it in that cadence, go try again, and then roll your eyes and, at least, try a fist bump for the effort.  I guess we could always try haikus again.

The Thang

Starting at 5 Richmond Way.  Heading north (north is always up, right? If you are running up you are going north).  Hit College Drive and head east.  Take that and go south on Henri (runs parallel to Three Chopt).  Dive back east down Grove.

4 Milers–going to Greenway and then turn around, SAAB style and run back

5 Milers–keep going to Oak.  Go South on Oak and get to Cary street.  Then SAAB it back

6 Miler (singular)– Go across Cary and do Hillcrest.  Salute TYA’s house when you run by.

So that was the run.  Almost perfect weather and a good mix of uphills and downhills.  It almost made you feel like the BRR, with the hills and the breeze and the lack of humidity.

No real announcements.

Sippy Update–Saw Sippy today at Byrd Park at a Little League game (more on that in a minute).  He’s doing ok.  He has two more appointments with the physical therapist and he’s guessing that after the 2nd appt he’ll be cleared to run again.  That’ll be a good thing, I miss Sippy.

Speaking of Byrd Park…allow me to have somewhat of an ode to Richmond Little League, if I may.

If you are ever on your way home around 6:45 on a weekday night, and the weather is as perfect as it was tonight, with a cool sunset and a nice breeze, I plead with you to at least drive by Byrd Park (heading south on Shepard Street) and I swear, if you’re not careful, you’ll think time has stopped, or at least gone backwards.

There are usually two baseball games going on, “Jerome the Hot Dog Man” flipping burgers and dogs and kids running around and playing all different types of games.  There are no IPads, there are no flat screens…just kids running around outside the fences and playing ball inside of them…it is almost…idyllic.

On this particular night, the Minors 9 Braves, coached by the indomitable BT, were matched up against the Yankees.  It’s been a tough start for the M9 Bravos, as these kids are venturing out into their first experience in kid pitch.  While I’m not one to report records of teams comprised of 9 year old boys (most of whom still sleep with some sort of stuffed thing), lets just say that BT’s team has a lot of wins left in them.

But tonight, the M9 Braves were on fire! They were playing inspired baseball.  And who was at the helm steering this ship, but our own BT, who 13 hours earlier was tracking through the near west end running up and down hills, mentally preparing for that night’s battle.  There he was, bent over in that aggressive coaching position with his hands on his knees, with his “Cons” turf shoes on which are, and I’m not kidding here, at least 24 years old.

The Braves got out to a big lead and you could feel the buzz of their first win in the air.  But the Yankees were undaunted, and in 9 year old baseball where the coach comes out and lobs them in there after ball 3 (a rule constructed on a run with Splinter and Sippy one morning) no lead is safe.

Look, there’s butterflies, there’s nervousness and then there’s the feeling a competitive dad has in the bottom of the 4th (and last) when his team is close to securing a monumental win. That’s where BT was.

In the end, a ground ball plated a runner for the Yanks and the teams left the field with a 7-7 tie. A good step for the M9 Braves, definitely something they could build on.

BT is left to go back to his house and second guess the moves he made, the motivational talks he gave in between innings.  He’ll check his batting order and wonder if he switched a couple of kids around if he could squeeze a run or two out of this group.  It’s a tall task, BT, remember, many of them still sleep with plush ducks.  But they are certainly extremely fortunate to have you to gather them up after each game and provide encouraging words of wisdom from an extremely caring coach.

 

 

 

 

Eight swimmers convened at the Commons for an unstructured and rainy Q at Spider Run.  The PAX gathered under cover and waited patiently for Lab Rat to park before initiating today’s run.  Instructions were light but generally included the following route.

Route

• Cross the parking lot and up through fraternity row
• Right on Hampshire and right again on Hampshire
• Up Ridge Top to Patterson
• Left on Patterson and left on Horsepen
• Right on Waveny
• 4 milers left on Westham and back to the commons
• 5 milers right on Westham
• Left on Woodberry
• Left on Hollins
• Left on Baldwin
• Back to VSF

Lab Rat sort of took the PAX out while softly promoting his M’s birthday.  Lightning almost struck.

Moleskin

No one signed up so YHC took the opportunity at 5:10 to quickly glance at mapmyrun to come up with a quick route… just in case.  It was needed as no one else was prepared.  Or at least no one else claimed to be prepared.  With little general instructions folks went on their way and ended up with differing results.

Lab Rat had trouble finding parking.  Some of us waited and some of us didn’t.  YHC didn’t.

Bleeder pulled a Swirly and will never look the same way at another magnolia acorn, nut, cone (whatever it is called).  Cheers to a speedy recovery.

YHC didn’t realize Marv had a car.  He wasn’t holding anyone’s hand today while arriving at the AO.  Well, he may have been holding a hand but no one could see it.

TYA rolled up sans glasses and tried to hug a duck (or a bleeder).  He couldn’t see so who knows.

Saab wanted to be alone today and blew ahead from the start.  He got bored with my 5 mile route and ran circles around the lake, like a dog chasing his tail.

BT was all matchy-matchy today, sporting lime green top and shoes.  Only his M knows how far the color coordination proliferated.

Singer posted a PR this past weekend.  Congrats to him and all his earth day goodness.  We have a genuine, i-care-about-the-environment, Al Gore in our PAX.  Make sure you shake his hand next time you see him.

Splinter was his usual stellar self.  No complaints.  No sarcasm.  His dress was phenomenal.  The PAX would have been lost without him.

Enjoy your week all.  See you in the waning gloom.

Splinter

13 Strong and able posted today to get some miles in before the upcoming races (half marathon and Ragnar).

Depart UR, and up the Ridgeway/Fairway/Robin/Iris hill to Three Chopt.  Cross Three Chopt and stay on York.  York to Maple and Maple to Grove (eastbound).

Turn left on Greenway.  4 milers will take Harlan to Roslyn and back to Grove and retrace their routes back to SF.  5s and 6ers continue on Greenway to Oak paying homage to the DS Freeman house and take Oak back to Grove.

5s take Grove to Henri to Towana to the main entrance of UR (take right at fork) and back to SF.  6ers headed east on Grove to Westmoreland.  Return westbound on Hanover/Grove and take the 5s route to SF.

YHC provided a history lesson of DS Freeman and the subsequent owner who invented the beer can pull tab, predecessor of the modern pop top.

Taxi Cab took us out.

NMS:

The Ridgeway/Fairway/Robin/Iris medley of roads going up the hill shall now be known as “Swirly’s Hole” providing shorthand for communicating these routes.

Upon re-entering UR, Taxi and I saw Splinter’s duck standing in the middle of the road yielding not as we passed by.

Good conversation today.  The Pax was strong today pushing pace and distance.

Following yesterday’s precedence, Toga had to abruptly depart and head home.  As a dad on his own this week, there was inquiry as to how he was making it to the workouts.  Toga must know precisely when the chloroform wears off signaling his hasty return to home.  Hang in there!

Taxi Cab was caught off guard when I called upon him to take us out.  Always be prepared for the prayer roulette at the end.  It may hit like a cobra strike at any time.

Announcements:

C-ville launch – See Labrat.

HDHH – Flashdance posted the details.  Southern Railway – 530 for those working out first, 615 for drinks only.

8 strong posted for what had to be one of the nicest mornings YHC can recall this spring. This is what transpired (sort of)…

Base route (5 mi): Robins Center parking lot to Lakewood, Wood, Waveny. Take Horsepen all the way to Patterson and head back down on RidgeTop. Take Chandler to Bandy Field to Honaker, Hanover, then back on St Chris…Cross over to Topoan, and head on down back to UR. 4 and some 5 Milers headed back from Chandler, with slight derivations from there.

NMS

Most of the PAX started out together but began to diverge after Wood road. YHC thanks TYA for taking the six and getting them all back without too many wrong turns.

Strong running by all, whether they are training for an upcoming event or just coming back from injury. YHC was impressed by BT and Hutton who ran a really strong pace. Of the little mother-goosing YHC did, it was hard work each time to catch back up with them both.

TYA got himself a vanity plate. All are welcomed to ask him what it means.

Interest in the health benefits of cold showers appears to be spreading throughout the PAX. YHC though extensively about this during his pleasantly hot shower this morning.

Announcements:

Ragnar could use a runner. Please see Toga…He’ll share his sleeping bag if you don’t happen to have one.

Saab abides

With spring in the air, eight runners showed today to work some hills.

Head around the baseball field and up past the football stadium and ascend snake hill.  4s and 5s take a side street to cutover to Bandy Field to the Village Shopping Center.  Head west on Patterson and pick up Westham Parkway.  Run the length of the parkway and double back to the baseball field, down the hill, and around the lake.

4 milers cut short on Westham and didn’t have the lake loop.  6 milers didn’t get Bandy Field but had some quality distance on Patterson.

Bleeder took us out.

NMS:

This workout kicks in with hills from the start.  No warm up; just a nice sustained climb.  Bandy Field was a nice diversion with opportunities to sneak up on various wildlife (several rabbits and raccoons).

On our Westham cruise, the 5 milers were tempted to ring upchuck’s doorbell.  Hopefully he posted somewhere or next time he is fair game to persuade him out of the FS.

The Pax was moving today.  Singer continues to push the distance and pace.  Taxi and EF were cruising and ready to race.  The 6 milers did well despite a couple of days of hard workouts leading up to this.  Good showing all around.

Splinter was a ringer for the Sippy Cup look-alike contest.  Vest, visor, and sippy cup complete the look.

Several of us continued with some second F while watching the seals at work.  Some familiar faces may be our new FNGs.

Lockjaw