Tag: Sunday Funday

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

Six intrepid souls dusted off the tights and gloves for a post-snow run.  Trails are a mess, so we opted for a less muddy route:

Route- Up Boulevard to Cary, over to 1st street and down to Belle Isle.  Head upstream and around Belle Isle, then cross over to Maintenance Access road.  Up the hill to Nickle Bridge and home.

NMS-

Early on in the run we discovered to truths:  1)  TYA’s M hates the term “Black Ice”.  2)  FNG Whistle Blower’s Mr. does not feel the same….he wants to start up a heavy metal band bearing the same name.  Rock on!

Later at breakfast, we discovered Saab knows where milk comes from, but he was a little shy to explain it with Whistle Blower present.  She (a mother of 2) might not know yet.  It DOES NOT come from soy beans.

Great to have WB finally join us…she was forced to endure TYA and Lab Rat for 12 hours at a race in September.  She earned her name by the race requiring all runners to carry a whistle with them during the event.

Great to have Flashdance out for a Sunday run.  Keep on coming, we’ll do trails soon.

Offshore and Lab Rat had a blast sliding across the bridges this morning!  Roads were good, but bridges were not.

Lab Rat apologizes.

FND = Friendly New Dog.

The THANG: Mosey to Reedy Creek and back.  Intermittent partner carry on the return trip over Nickel Bridge for PAX who are terrified of things with wheels.

It was the first time on the trails for the FND and she had a great run.  Nearing Reedy Creek, she got a look in her eye that reminded YHC of her aunt Jesse – we are not going any further in *that* direction.  But we made it there and back.

Naming was tabled so that additional PAX can weigh in.  “Skidmarks” was suggested: FND had pads that were equipped for any surface including slick rock and bike ramps, but she slides all over the hardwoods at home.

Congrats to PAX completing races this weekend.  Looking forward to seeing you in the gloom.

3 stalwarts posted for a Sunday morning run.

The Thang:  Buttermilk to T. Pottersfield to North Bank and back to Pump House

NMM:

Shakedown and Hardywood took the lead today.  TYA was pseudo tapering so took it slow and easy on the trails today.  Nice and quiet out there on the trails today.  Weather was awesome, high 40’s by the end and YHC was shedding layers.  Good 2nd F with Hardywood at Crossroads post workout.  Great to catch up with a great guy.

TYA OUT

Happy hour Weds at 705 Baldwin Road