While the rest of the trailoholics were off frolicing in the woods, I made sure that the downtown trails were secured. Picked up a Sunday semi-regular in the Gentleman Farmer (cant remember his real name) and we ran Forest Hill. It was glorious, but ET’s was lonely.
Lab Rat Apologizes…
Sunday trails were beautiful, and everybody did what suited them best. ET’s was the usual gathering place post run for muffins and hot beverages.
Lab Rat apologizes…
By 0700, a PAX of 3 including 1 K9 had emerged from the gloom, ready to take full advantage of an extra hour. The North Bank Trail was closed between the pump house and Maymont – the word is that the stairs are under repair, likely through this week.
So, the PAX took the long cut to Texas Beach, picked up North Bank to Belle Isle, and took Buttermilk back. The mosey clocked in at 7.75 miles on Marco Polo’s app. The PAX knocked out 100 merkins on the Merkin Challenge along the way.
There is still time to sign up for the Merkin Challenge! https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-L8e9W24ygnU0suaGyKxzi1PgPqY1CBd57hLrKTZI-g/edit#gid=2105645288
The Merkin Challenge was a big turning point physically for YHC when YHC first participated. YHC encourages newer F3 members to give it a shot. Some advice: 1. Try knocking out sets of 20 merkins during TV commercials (or during breaks at work, or whatever else you are doing), 2. As you start to get more reps in, avoid injury by not dropping down too fast, especially on hard ground.
At 0700, there was only one car in the parking lot. The only thing better for YHC is zero cars in the parking lot. Cars are no good, but YHC did miss the PAX. There were no early risers, early posters, Saabs, or LIFOs.
It was 70 and … foggy. We took the bridge to the service road, took a loop around Belle Isle, then returned on the service road. Offshore took a spill. YHC managed to keep from laughing, though it was hilarious.
Five men and a dog set off at various times from the Pumphouse parking lot and all met back there at the same time for the COT. YHC was with LabRat and MarcoPolo and did a standard south to north trail loop. We spotted Bootleg on the T-Pot keeping up his ultra training.
The title refers to how I felt today (like I had an anchor around my neck). Thanks to LR and MP for sticking with me and for the conversation.
Be excellent to each other
The four of us ran the 7 mile loop around Forest Hill then all went to ET’s for breakfast. It was awesome. Nothing else to see here, carry on.
Lab Rat apologizes…
3 departed the pump house for varying routes and distances, encountering pleasant scenery along the way.
Announcements:
Saab out
3 runners sporting 8 total legs joined 5 bikers on 10 wheels for today’s version of 70 and sunny for Sunday Funday. According to the sleeping hippie biker in Oregon Hill, this is what woke him up today…
Mountain bikers: warm-up on the pipe loop in Dogwood Dell Park, then head east on North Bank Trail. Hardywood, Brexit, and “Joey” (who is not an Australian kangaroo) continued east at high speed until disappearing in a dust cloud, purportedly returning to their aboriginal lands in various South Bank neighborhoods. Shakedown guided Corned Beef through the most challenging and technical ride of Corned Beef’s MB career, which incidentally includes only today’s ride. Well done, CB, especially for a first-day in the saddle. Talk about starting with a challenging ride!
Runners: Offshore, Sally, and YHC also headed East, with Sally stopping for, ahem, a Fuddish-feminine moment here and there. Turn-around point was the parking lot at Tredegar, largely in deference to YHC remaining on the rehab schedule…making for a 5.5 mile R/T (thanks to Offshore for helping YHC with some basic addition).
NMS:Great to return to the trails today, albeit under a continuing distance limit. YHC thanks Offshore for the company and being willing to limit the distance. Sally thanks everyone for eliminating all bridge crossings.
Yet another good time at ETs, where Shakedown, Corned Beef, and Offshore joined YHC for some good chatter. A couple of the themes for other F3 men…remember to consider your F3 goals. Are you pushing yourself or staying stationary? “Push yourself; don’t hurt yourself” is a two-part motto. How can we encourage ourselves and our Brothers to continue making forward progress, rather than remain stationary?
Second good theme: For guys who are newer to Q-ing…what are the key lessons some of the more experienced guys would suggest help make for a good Q?
One that came up in our discussion repeatedly was the “If you can’t do it, don’t Q it.” Don’t hesitate to use the audible when the relationship between exercises and capabilities isn’t quite right. A second was “leave no man behind”…be ready to pick up the six and adjust your original plan so the PAX gets a good challenge and the 6 isn’t left behind. The workout is for the PAX, not just for the Q to show their creativity. How can a good Q balance the two?
Announcements: Happy birthday, mom. Thanks for 46 years of everything for me and 80 years of being you.
Eight strong humans and one canine posted on a Sunday morning for a jaunt on the trails. We took the north bank past the entrance to the T. Pottersfield and onto the pipe (poop) loop. We then made our way back to the parking lot via the northbank. Saab took to the streets and made his way back on the trails. Flipper posted early and got in 10 miles.
Great to have the newmarket crew out there today. A couple folks punching the ticket for the end of the summer tour. Congrats guys. Flipper got YHC in trouble this morning, and I didn’t even cross paths with him. I was talking to Ollie and saw flips car with the license plate HNVRQT. I said the plate outloud (Hanover cuties) to Ollie and the four women (yes they were cuties) stopped talking and leered at me. The plate does not really mean hanover cuties, it was meant to read Hollands never quit. Sally went postal on Recall. Apparently Sally didn’t like the stance that Recall was in and got a bit aggressive.
TYA OUT
Rosie ran the roads. Flange and Hardywood hit the trails with mountain bikes. Bootleg was spotted logging some miles on foot. Flipper and Vinny posted early and logged extra miles.
Faceplant, Marco Polo, and YHC plus the K9s ran Northside to Southside, crossing at Belle Isle. With this crew, as you might imagine, the pace was pretty brisk. Parker and Sally modeled excellent F3 behavior by looking out for each other and the other PAX, drinking plenty of water, pushing themselves when they were tired, being courteous to bikers, and sometimes coming when they were called.