Tag: Spider Run

Seven appeared in the moonlight for this week’s variation of Spider Run.  Straightforward out and back included:

• Meander through UR to River
• Left on River, cut through shopping center to Huguenot
• Cross the bridge (return for 4 miles)
• Turn right and head downstream
• Pass Rockfalls (return for 5 miles)
• Reach the ‘Z’ dam (return for just shy of 6 miles)

Moleskin

Great run today gentlemen.  Not quite as cool and refreshing as last week but still an enjoyable run.  Somehow we have never turned right when we got over the bridge, always preferring the left turn up Riverside to Cherokee.

TYA needed a little explanation as to what a dam looked like.

Saab’s GI tract is still tapering.

Marv and Sippy were joined at the hip again, garnering non-progressive comments from an unnamed member of the PAX.

Twocan came, he ran, he went.  Keep it up Twocan!

Swirly likes the reflective nature of YHCs shoes.  Safety first!

Splinter out.

Yes I know it is cliché, but on this day in history (’75) Springsteen had his first pop hit with “Born to Run.” How fitting given the 7 devoted who showed up at UR for today’s Spider Run. Chosen route was the River Run (take TYA bat cave, cross the bridge, take Riverside Drive to Cherokee and then back).

YHC was pleased to be back in groove of posting a weekday run. Whether due to the weekend trail run, or just a protracted recovery, YHC was a little stiff near the end of the run but enjoyed the cool weather and conversation nevertheless. On the way back, several PAX avoided the bat cave and chose the entrance to UR for their return – in the interest of keeping their feed dry or at least not getting them any wetter due to standing water along the path.

YHC found the pre-and-post run chat quite educational: While it may take a village to save a pair of skunk-laden running shoes, you can come out ahead with two pair; Cucumber wipes are the swiss-army-knife of personal hygiene; Relieving oneself on someone else’s front yard is moderately acceptable, but on one’s own front yard?…not so much.

See you in the gloom guys

Saab abides

Ten strong posted for a perfect RVA morning, and some of them even knew what was coming.  Thang:

Mosey from UR to the bottom of Chandler hill.  Run hill repeats with mileage varying, and execute one backwards run/walk to the top of the hill on lap 4.  Head back to UR for ~150m sprints with ten merkins if you get caught by the runner after you.

Quick disclaimer since we had an FNG and COT.

NMM:  YHC knows full well that we don’t leave anyone behind, so I headed back when TYA and Bleeder didn’t make it out of Greek row at UR.  For a moment there was a bit of concern, but then YHC considered that maybe TYA was just tired of the hills after his sojourn with Saab in KY.  Swirly correctly guessed that hill repeats would be on the menu when the Q was announced.  If you can’t be creative, go with what you know.

Re the sprints at the end, we did pretty much the same thing at 2.0’s XC practice Monday evening, and YHC knew the PAX would love it.  Everyone did great not getting beat until the full Copernicus showed up on the last sprint.  It was like many of us were in a time warp only to come back to reality and hit the deck for merkins.

Welcome to FNG Jeff= Benjamins

Announcements:

See the BBs about the convergence and VA Beach!

Register for the Bear Creek 10 miler if interested

Stay Classy,

Toga

Six regulars convened in the swampiness that was the Spider Run this morning.  Route was similar to the following:

The Run
By the lake, up past the ball field, down to College, left on College, right on Lakewood, left on Westham, cross river to right on Cameron for a horseshoe loop, right on Culpeper, right on ross, down the hill and back, right on ridge then loop back by the bridge and down the access road to the start.

Moleskin
Summer was back this AM and it felt like it.  Marv & Sippy came barreling down the road with plenty of time to spare.  Marv disappeared then reappeared a few minutes later a new man and ready to roll.

Great to see Bleeder back at Spider Run again.  Clearly he crushed it as he was holding up a brick wall when YHC returned.

TYA almost got EH’d by some tomatoes while running down near the bridge.  Perhaps if you stuck with the rainbow warrior hat you may have been accepted?

As the PAX convened for some post run commentary on last evening’s festivities our favorite “for pay” bootcamp leaders were counting off the position of workout participants as they crossed the finish line.  TYA artfully announced a core F3 mantra:  “It’s you against you”.  Well said TYA.

Announcements
– Virginia Beach expansion starting the first Saturday in November.  Clown car from RVA to Mt Trashmore for 6 saturdays in a row.  No word yet if Wilson will be in said clown car.
– HDHH at Crossroads Wednesday night.  See Hardywood for details
– Convergence Saturday 10/8, 6:00am @ Dogpile

8 committed men showed for a run around UR and surrounding neighborhoods. When YHC offered two options: River Run or Bandy Field (more hills), the reaction he received was not as expected. After a brief period of silence and mulling things over, all chose the route with more hills. In all, we did well at keeping the PAX together and were frequently reminded how useful head-lamps (or rhymes with “seen us”-lamps) are this time of year.

Anyway, YHC was personally glad to be out running after a couple of days off, hitting the local hills on a fairly pleasant morning. I was highly impressed with everyone who pounded out the distance today…regardless of speed and time, everyone displayed an intrepid attitude toward meeting their personal goals.

Announcements:

Spartan Run this weekend. (See BT…the party van will be a rockin).
Wednesday HH Next Week: At the Crossroads post-workout at Batteau (see Hardwood BB)
Bear Creek 10 mile: Sign up soon as it fills up quickly. There will be an awesome F3 tailgate afterward.
Vertical Oscillation: See TYA (it will make him happy)

Saab Abides

7 and 1 FNG posted for a very atypical Spider Run.  The weather, the hills, and the ROPE were perfect.  The Thang:

Run by the lake, past the Robins Center and behind the fraternity houses to come out on Wheeler.  Make a left up to Ridge Top and start heading down Shrewsbury to YHC’s back driveway.  The PAX picked up a token(s) (kettle bells, dumbbells, cinder block…), walked them up to the stop sign at the Ridge Top intersection, back down to the Horsepen intersection, ran up to and climbed the rope hanging from the Toga family sweetgum tree, and then ran back to the Horsepen intersection to repeat till 0605.  Mosey back to UR and backwards run laps till time expired.

NMM:  In all fairness, YHC thought there would only be 2-3 people at Spider Run.  What we got was Zima (now an established Spider Run regular) continuing his EH spree with FNG Matlock and a cast of other characters.  YHC also needed to work in some Spartan race style shenanigans to get ready for 9/24.  Enter the extended, uphill farmer’s carry and rope climbs.

The PAX killed it with on all fronts except for BT’s rope burn (looks like someone is going to be buying some sexy stockings for the race) and someone who refused to even attempt the rope climb (hint: name rhymes with Swedish automobile).

Welcome to Matlock who was most certainly expecting a run around UR.  I’m sure it will be more like that next time.

Announcements:  Congrats to both BRR teams on such a strong performance!

ReeseStrong 5k this Saturday:  http://www.reesestrong.org/reesestrong-5k/

Spartan Race 9/24

Stay Classy,

Toga

7 Stalwarts posted for a morning run starting at UR. Weather was absolutely glorious. 63 degrees, downright cool for a morning jaunt.

The Thang:

Grandmother run….over the river and through he woods. Take the road down to the path next to the golf course, follow the path to the end and run along huguenot road and over the bridge, go West on Riverside drive until it hits Cherokee. Turn around and follow the same path back to the start.

NMM

Toga and Swirly were leading the pack today. They had a good pace going and had a strong run. Next was YHC, Upchuck and Zima. We had Toga and Swirly in our sights the whole way, but they we extending there lead steadily. Coming up the rear were Marv and Sippy. They seemed to be moving at a good pace, but pulled in last. Oh…did I mention they started about 5 or so minutes after us.

Since we ran up to the corner of Cherokee, Upchuck blessed Zima and I with his Cherokee road story. I will skip lots of details, but here is what I got out of the story. Neighbors son knocks on Upchucks door on Dec 26th, 130 am. 19 year old, Alabama student (Toga tie in here), drunk, can’t remember where his parents moved to. Asks for a ride to his parents house, but can’t remember where it is, so instead asks for a ride to party where his friend, Will, is. Since Will is a Duke attendee, he is described as a douche and a fag (over and over again). While Upchuck drives neighbor to party, the neighbor asks Upchuck “is your wife hot?, because i forgot to look”. He drives neighbor to a party on Cherokee where there is a rage going on. Neighbor asks Upchuck to wait while he sees if Will is there. Upchuck cruises, never to hear from the neighbor or his parents ever again.

Seal team was out in force today. It made for a very crowded run on the way back. The group was running down the path to across the bridge to the bottom of the hill and back. As a result, on our jaunt back, there was very little room on the sidewalk or break down lane, making the road a little tight for all of us. Swirly will love this part…Upchuck pointed out to YHC that several of the Seal runners cut 20-40 yards off the route turning back before the bottom of the hill…”why would you run all that way and cheat on the last 20-40 yards” is what Upchuck said.

Lots of BRR talk post run. Less than 70 hours till game time for one of our teams. We are ready to go.

9 showed for today’s workout at U of R. Running Options: Relatively flat River Run (TYA bat cave to bridge to Riverside, etc.) or hillier option through Bandy Field, St Chris, etc. (lots of ins and outs and what have yous…) Biking route: See Bleeder… I can say, however, a portion of it involved pedaling from Windsor Farms to the UR campus.

We welcomed our visitor Prohibition from Charlotte today. It was also great to see DK for what is assumed his first(?) visit to the Spider Run (thanks for making the trip dude…hope you weren’t too late getting home). As far as the routes chosen, all opted for the River Run with exception of Sippy and YHC (who was eager to get back to some hills after spending time running at the beach). While I can’t speak to all that went on, there was post discussion regarding preparation for the BRR and when one should begin tapering. (Turns out it can range from 2 weeks or 2 months…depending upon whom you ask…)

Announcements:
Training Run at 5:30pm Hillcrest on Wed. followed by hangout at TYA’s for BBQ and showing of Barclay’s Marathon (the documentary that got YHC going on his most recent ultra-run endeavor). YHC would like to extend many thanks to TYA for his hospitality and overall coordination of the BRR. The guy is a pillar of F3 and one of the many reasons YHC gets the energy to show up in the morning.

BRR: Sometime soon. See TYA for details.

Saab abides

Fall was in the air this morning as cooler weather prevailed.  The kids are back at UR signaling the end of summer and the return to collegiate life.  We tackled the Westham 4 miler loop leading us along the parkway, down by the canal, and home along the overgrown road by CCV.  The Pax added on distance, either by hill or lake, ‘til 6:15.

It was good to see almost all of the Pax travel to and from the AO for extra mileage.  Getting BRR tough.

Marv took us out, in an excellent fashion as always.

9 showed up for a run up and around UR and its surrounding residential area. Routes varied depending upon personal interest and the status of one’s GI tract – Fudd run, River Run, or Stifler’s Mom…take your pick. Kudos to those on ran to the AO today: Sippy, Marv, Pucker and Fudd. Some other brief observations:
– It is consistently dark now, so lights are necessary
– It may not be winter, but potholes are still a threat
– A well-placed light around one’s abdomen will illuminate all kinds of things
– The BRR is only 24 days away (or 31 by my calendar)

Saab abides