Tag: Sunday Funday

Nine hard chargers (seven in one pack plus TYA (spotted) plus Saab (Sight Un-Seen, but Saab-mobile left on-site) pushed forward through the steam and fog of another Sloppy Sunday Funday Run.  The group generally stayed off the trails this morning.  Some were under heavy puddles, some muddy, and some slightly above navigable.  The Russians hackers tracking our FitBit GPS signals recorded something like this:

Cross Nichol Bridge, descend to service road, dodge puddles, rocks, and mud, take a left onto Belle Isle, left to follow the loop, cross onto north bank, New Bridge, steps to top, and Riverside Drive back.  One slight detour on Riverside as the PAX pushed themselves up the “real” Hillcrest of Richmond (the vertical climb version).  Snake around on Riverside to Westover Hills Blvd., and then cross the Nichol B. back to the VSF.

Number-ama, Name-a-rama, Hardywood stuck the landing to take us out.

NMS:
No one signed up for the Q today, and while Shakedown continues to be the master of the Sunday Funday route department, there was unanimity among the PAX to declare that YHC still has the Q from the end of Dogpile yesterday.  Challenge accepted.

Note: the Q will officially pass at 5:29 a.m. tomorrow to Offshore at Hoedown, as well as to any other PAX members signed up at that time.  Having had the Q for 28 hours at this point, YHC has newfound respect for the Olympic Torch runners who carry the flame of honor for hours on end.

Hardywood, Rosie, and Offshore led the PAX for most of the way, followed by Flatline and Shakedown.  YHC thanks HoneyDo for another Sunday trudging along with YHC.  Much appreciated, brother.  

The group was full of mumblechatter today.  Discussions of angry coaching, Shakedown’s exceptional photography, various career options, extorting greedy employers, 6th-grade-is-the-new-11th-grade, and other matters made the 8+ miles pass in a jiffy.  About halfway through the run, the PAX sighted TYA on Belle Isle and immediately engaged in the centuries-old tradition of “Touch-a-TYA.”  That’s the price of fame, my friend.  Everybody wants a piece.

YHC also thanks the PAX who had an extra few minutes for ETs today.  Y’all are funny, funny men.

Let’s continue to keep our Brothers and their families in their prayers.  It’s been a challenging winter for many of our PAX.  This week, Lockjaw (father-in-law) and Flatline (Father) each lost close family members.  Let’s keep them in our hearts and prayers, and be ready to offer a hand when needed.

7 bravely ignored the forecast this morning and made it out to Sunday Funday (70, and not raining so close enough to sunny) though not all at the same time. YHC signed up last night in what may be the beginning of a tradition Qing soggy Sundays.

7:00 came and went but YHC must have misunderstood Gomer Pyle and he expected to see him this morning. Hearing and comprehension aren’t his strongest attributes. More surprising was the absence of Saab. Unprecedented. In any case by 7:02 five of us headed out for the route – across the bridge, up the access road, left turn around the west side of Belle Isle, back across the T-Pot and up up up Riverside Dr. for approx 8.3 miles.

Bootleg cut straight across and then ran the access road back to Reedy Creek entrance and jumped on Riverside.

TYA – the mile slaying warrior – was spotted and joined the main pack of the Pax for a bit before continuing his long run.

Lola appeared out of nowhere headed the wrong way – he happily joined us for the rest of our run

YHC is grateful for the good conversations with Upchuck, Offshore, Whistleblower and Lola on the run and the post run conversations with Bootleg (happy to see this road warrior becoming a Sunday Funday regular) and TYA (this maniac is beginning his taper towards a 100 mile run!!!) and was sorry to miss the continued 2nd F he assumes took place after his exit

if there were announcements they are not remembered  YHC took us out

Thanks y’all – Sunday mornings might just be my favorite

I’m sure I missed something- please remind me in the comments.

Eight or so (miss anyone?) stallions and one filly took on the light chill for the latest version of Sunday Funday.

No one signed up for the Q, so off the group went…before realizing that there was no route set…”Let’s do North Bank, then New Bridge, then South Bank.”  Route set.

About halfway through the North Bank trail, there was a movement to keep going past the New Bridge.  YHC arm twisted folks into doing the pipeline (or at least heading that way).  That turned into going all the way to 14th Street (Bootleg thought better of following .  Before long, we were halfway to Williamsburg (or, at least on the floodwall).  From the floodwall, the route returned to equilibrium…back to the VSF.

TYA launched ahead of the PAX for a Patriots-themed, FOLI (First out, last in) run…red bandana, red Patriots gloves, etc.  Way to nail 20 miles, my friend.

NMS:

The PAX started out quite talkative as has become the norm on Sunday mornings…good chatter all around.

Nice to see Sally continues to dominate her Sunday runs.  Talk about enthusiasm.  While the rest of the PAX is shaking off Saturday night, she’s ready for anything.  YHC worries about what might happen the first Sunday Offshore decides to fart-sack it.  Sally will likely be at the door ready to go, leash in hand.

Hardywood led the fast group through much of the run today.  YHC was far enough back to miss most of the chatter, but is sure, really sure, he heard Hardywood enthusiastically fawning over the models in the Pottery Barn catalog.  YHC swears (well, almost) to have heard something like…”Have you seen the desk lamps on that chest of drawers?”  Truth.

YHC thanks Shakedown for joining him for most of the run.  Good to catch up, brother.  Thanks for the company.  Been too long.

UpChuck spits the bit.

9 Pax, including one FNGal Mary Caton Lingold, left the dry comfort of the fart sack to lay down some wet miles this morning. YHC signed up for Q last night in an attempt to influence the route in order to minimize damage to our glorious trails. Here is more or less what transpired.

Arriving in the parking lot around 6:30 YHC parked next to TYA’s snack filled mom car, got his affairs in order and went over to join TYA for some conversation only to discover an empty car… guess he’s out already. The rest of the Pax arrived including the FNGal (friend of whistleblower) and the Q described the route;

Across the bridge, down the access road, across Belle Isle, back across Potterfield, up the acces road and across the bridge. 7ish miles. Not the fun hilly trails we are all used to but sometimes we get on a plane headed to Paris only to land in Cleveland. When life gives you lemons – eat them whole, seriously, pulp skin seeds and all – and don’t break eye contact – maybe life will stop being such an a-hole if you show it you’re done F’ing around. Or make lemonade, you’re choice.

Everyone set out together, except TYA who was already killing it, and YHC learned that he can keep up with Saab for a while but that he can’t keep up with Saab and talk as comfortably as normal. Saab broke off around Forest Hill Park and the rest of us kept on keeping on.

Across the southern bridge to Belle Isle and headed across when out of nowhere Upchuck disappears into the woods with the ladies ?. Some mumblechatter about him calling out that he didn’t know the route but he clearly had us in his sites when he led the lasses astray… turns out they wanted some more hills and miles so they looped the island and took riverside back. 8ish hilly miles.

Back to the parking lot and Fudd, probably sick and tired or hearing YHCs views on everything dipped out to take his kids to church. He was followed out by Helix and Sugar Sock (who ran further today then he had previously- ever – way to go Sugar!).

Soon after Upchuck and his crew appeared, followed by TYA (13.523 miles) and then Saab (10ish) some of us enjoyed some snacks out of TYAs trunk (dubbed mom car by FNGal), TYA told her she wasn’t allowed to have two first names “pick one!” And was promptly told he obviously wasn’t from the south ? numberama, namerama, FNGal dubbed Half Pint for her love of all things Little House on the Prarie, and YHC took us out until he encountered a 404 file not found error at the end of his prayer – and settled on “and peace be with you all” what?

Announcements – CSAUP, Upchuck and Honey-do starting training with Healing Place guys next Saturday and could use help  – talk to them

Nine runners and one K9 showed up for a (relatively) warm run.

The route was North Bank to Pottersfield Bridge to Buttermilk and home.  That said, Labrat led a group on roads vs YHC’s North Bank and then he took the Buttermilk Trail to YHC’s fire road (preserve those muddy trails that were thawing!)  Ours paths crisscrossed as we ran parallel to each other the whole way giving us about 7.5 miles total.

It was a beautiful morning to be on the trails.  I think we saw a handful of other runners, otherwise the city was dormant.  The bridges offered sunrise over the river and the promise of a new day.

Its been about nine months since YHC has been on these trails.  Way too long to be away by any count and a hiatus I do not want to repeat.  ET’s was great as usual.  TYA joined us, or perhaps he is always a resident at ET’s, which means we joined him.  Kind of a chicken and egg situation.

Announcements:

• F3RVA Century Classic – It’s coming.  Be ready.
• Honey Do and Up Chuck are in need of Pax to help with a volunteering activity:  10k training for those recovering from or working through addiction.  The time and mileage is not too much, but your impact will be great.  Contact them for additional details.

Time to Taper,

Lockjaw

10 determined woke up and decided to hit the trails this morning.

4 Routes were run. 1. Northbank to T.Pottersfield to buttermilk and back to pump house, 2) Northbank to Belle Isle to buttermilk and back to pump house 3) 1+ add Forest Hill loop 4) 2x route 1.  Whistleblower took us out (thanks to YHC for giving her absolutely not prewiring).

A little chilly this morning, but the PAX is totally used to the cold temperatures.  Really the only place that it totally sucks is coming across the Nickel bridge.  As the morning got later, the wind got heavier and those running longer got rocked coming over that bridge.

Great to have upchuck back at the Sunday runs…he has been battling the flu for a couple of weeks and is finally well enough to hit the trails.  Bootleg hit the trails for the first time with the PAX.  Offshore volunteered to take him on a 4 mile jaunt.  When the majority of the PAX finished the first loop, no sign of Bootleg or Offshore. TYA and Labrat ran the same route the second time around so we could find them on the way back.  Upchuck texted that they arrived back at the pump house shortly after lab rat and YHC left for our second loop.  The had completed route two, just under seven miles.  Great job by Bootleg on his first trip out with us.

TYA OUT

A strong 7, including one SOPer, posted for a record day on the trails.

The THANG: The Q called north side to south side, crossing at Belle Isle.  The PAX performed 0 burpees, one for each degree Fahrenheit, and began the journey.  Saab crossed at T. Potter.  Lab Rat, TYA, and Shakedown added the Forest Hill loop.

NMM:  According to YHC’s records, this was the coldest Sunday trail run, the previous being at 5 degrees last year, and both completed by Saab in shorts.  Perhaps even more remarkable was Flatline’s first post to the trail run ever – heck of a day for an inaugural post.

The Q informed TYA that he was not allowed shortcuts, nor to venture from the group, which probably led to TYA adding the loop.  YHC hopes he got the solitude he sought and finished strong.

PAX noted that the trails were surprisingly pleasant this morning.  There were no mountain bikers, no other runners or hikers, and no trail mermaids, although Whistleblower did a song and dance as she imagined at one point that a salamander was crawling up her leg.

To Honeydo’s “foolish is better than stupid” and Gomer’s “dry is better than warm,” we can add “snow-covered rocks are better than clean rocks.”  Flatline took a bit of a spill at one of the creek crossings, and YHC hopes he is okay.

Shakedown and Saab documented frozen beards, eyelashes, rivers, and Hannibal Lecter masks with their cell phones.  Hopefully some pictures can be posted here.

Saab: Ever notice that when we work out in these temperatures that cell phone batteries get drained?

Offshore: No… crap, my phone just died.

Thanks to Whistleblower and Flatline for the company and conversation along the Buttermilk.  Tclaps to Saab for beating the PAX to the pump house despite taking the long cut.  Tclaps to the other PAX for completing 10 miles (assuming you made it back…).

3 regulars emerged from the fartsack on the last day of 2017 for a morning beatdown….weather was 70 and sunny.

Northbank to southbank back to the flag

NMM:

Small crowd on a beautiful morning to close out the year.  Temperature gauge on my car read 21 at the start of the run, but we it felt perfect outside.  Run outbound with wind at our backs was nice. (Saab caught offshore and I about 2 miles in)  Things started to turn around when we crossed the bridge to the southside.  The wind started to pick up a bit and made things a little bit chilly.  When we hit the last bridge (nickel bridge), it was downright brutal.  Wind was howling across the bridge and my face froze within 30 seconds.  I tried stopping once to see if i could get my face to the downside of the wind, but to no avail.  Best approach was to run your ass off and get the hell out of the cold as quickly as possible.

Great 2nd F at ET’s afterwards.

Happy New year to all.

TYA OUT

9 humans and one K-9 (see what I did?) showed up for a gloomy dawn run.  Decision was made to give the trails a go despite some evening showers.  Luckily, the trails were in great shape and ready to receive guests.

Route: North Bank to new bridge, Buttermilk to Nickle Bridge and home.

NMS:

Great to have all the Southlanders visit this morning.  Longhorn came out to join us as well, turns out she has run every day of 2017, at least a mile a day.  Very impressive, judging by the struggles of the pax (myself included) to make it thru a single month of the run-a-mile challenge.  Much respect.

Offshore brought Sally back out, breaking her in nice and slow as a trail dog.  They ran with us for a mile or so before we lost them, but they were still out when the rest of us had finished.  Hopefully, they were out enjoying a great morning to just be out in the woods.

Saab was on a tear this morning, and circled back enough surely to add over a mile to the standard 7 that made up the loop.  Rosie, Shakedown, Upchuck, Honeymoon, and HoneyDo made up the middle pack.  Since TYA didnt make it out this morning, I graciously took his place as the designated six.  That, and not wanting to pass out from still being gassed from a No Tools led bike ride yesterday.

All in all, a very quiet and peaceful morning on the trails, and pretty uneventful except for Shakedown demonstrating how you can remove a stump with head butts.  Let’s just say I believe you, but I’m not going to try it.

Lab Rat Apologizes…

3 Men, One Female, one Canine, and one Buck* met up for a chilly yet sunny and calm morning for a lap around one of RVA’s many outdoor gems. Here’s what transpired…

Routes:

• 10 mile:  South Side (Buttermilk), Forest Hill, New Bridge, return on North Bank
• 7 mile:  South Side (Buttermilk), New Bridge, return on North Bank*
• ? mile:  North Side to Tx Beach entrance and return.

Highlights:

• Welcome again to Whistleblower who wanted to experience the trails.  As expected, the PAX were gentlemen and no whistles were blown.
• Shakedown and Lola met up with Offshore and Sally on their return across North Bank and came back as a group.
• Shakedown performed his classic shuffle a couple times thanks to the hidden roots and rocks but no one was injured in the performance.
• *Thanks to Shakedown and Lola for adding an extra mile to their run by finishing and then doubling-back to scoop up YHC who was coming along North Bank
• **Word has it, Shakedown and/or Lola were nearly impaled by what was described as a majestic buck.  We are fortunate to have access to such a terrific park system and wildlife.

Saab abides