Tag: Sunday Funday

Two of the faithful joined a headlockee and his LOML for spin around the river trails. The weather could not have been more perfect, and the four of us kept a slow but very steady pace taking on the trails in counter-clockwise rotation. We had great conversation.

The headlockee is a 9 year veteran of seal team. I sent him plenty of info on F3 and am trying to pull him to the convergence this weekend. Hopefully the weather will not wreck that.

The headlockee and his LOML are training for a trail marathon in a few weeks, so they continued on for another loop. The LOML was the fastest runner among us by far, and circled back for us a number of times. She seemed very interested in FIA.

It is perplexing to YHC that we can get 14-15 out one week, and then only 2 the next. Oh well — more elbow room for us!

Jville

14 pax plus an FNG (Ely) showed up for what was easily the largest trail group that YHC has been a part of.  Plan was for Lab Rat to go deep, taking the distance pax up to Forest Hill Loop, and Johnsonville taking the shallow route, with an out and back to Reedy Creek parking lot.  Individual mileages will vary wildly this morning, but YHC’s watch clicked off 7.8 miles.  Saab ran a bit extra for his preparations for Cloud Splitter 100M next weekend, and probably finished up between 11 and 12 miles.  Shorter routes should have been around the 4 mile distance.

The pax was large this morning, and with the shorter leg option more spread out than the norm…this is awesome, but makes it a tough task to write a backblast, since YHC was only with a couple guys for the majority of the run.  So instead of making this an entertaining BB, YHC will just say this:  Johnsonville’s idea of having a shorter run option has shown to have legs, and hopefully will be well utilized in the future by pax members who don’t want to be out for an hour and a half on a Sunday morning.

A quick word on FNG Ely:  he had a stumble and twisted his ankle on the run, so had to cut it off early.  Hopefully it was a minor thing and he will be out to join us again soon.  The decision was made to wait until he has a good outing to drop a name on him.  TSB noted however that he has a propensity to get injured often, so some thoughts on names were:  Masochist, Bubble Boy, or RG3.

Great job to all this morning, YHC hopes that the large groups will continue.

Lab Rat out.

Trail-running PAX are anxious to get new people out on the trails on Sunday mornings.  YHC has heard from several that the mileage is too much.  That dog no longer hunts: starting Sunday, there will be 3-4 mile routes offered in addition to regular routes to allow new runners to build up stamina.

Trail runs are at your own pace, and the PAX circles back every 1-1.5 miles to get the six.  No PAX left behind!

Join the PAX on Sundays at 7am to experience: sunrises over the James River and cemeteries, trail mermaids, the Spur, the Sugar/Slingshot Tree, scratching the Nutsack Tree, and, an awesome 1st and 2nd F before you hustle home to get your 3rd F on!

Four PAX tumbled out of the fartsack, one in bike shorts (yikes!), into a foggy muggy morning for a trail run.

The THANG:  Northside to the southside.  COT.

NMM: YHC began the morning by tapping the Offshore accounts and settling his gambling debts in DK’s survivor pool after the Aints dropped their opener to the Raiders last week.

The PAX maintained a slow and steady pace and stayed together on a tough last summer morning.  Expectations were for something more like fall weather, but conditions were conducive to profuse sweating, leading some PAX to question whether they had made any gains after training all summer.  BRRers DK and TYA noted that the trails seemed so easy compared their legs last week.  Non-BRRers wondered how that could be.

TYA could not wait for colder temps to bring out the tights, and so went with bike shorts.  A young woman with a pink leopard print steering wheel pulled up asking for directions to a restroom.  TYA claimed she just wanted a closer look, but the PAX weren’t buying it, nor his additional justifications throughout the run for bike shorts.

The trail running PAX are anxious to get new runners out there, and are offering 3-4 mile routes.   Too-long routes are no longer an excuse!

Announcements: Stay tuned for info on the Tidewater area launch.  Sign up for the Bear Creek 10-miler (12/4).

Two of the faithful posted at the pumphouse for a leisurely stroll around the the main Northbank/Buttermilk loop clockwise. The pace was very gentle since YHC has been on a (too) long hiatus from running and since the speedy guys are away for the BRR. About 10 minutes into the run, Conspiracy caught us from behind. He ran with us for 5-10 minutes, chatted, and then turned around and disappeared as suddenly as he appeared. I know it was real, but as I sit here I cannot help but wonder if my mind is playing tricks on me.

Similarly, on the Buttermilk side, a radiant mermaid passed us heading in the other direction. Offshore remained cool as always. I nearly ran off the side of trail into the abyss. Perhaps she was a mythological siren rather than a mermaid. Perhaps she also was a hallucination.

It was great morning out on the trail. I am looking forward to cooler weather and to building some running stamina back up this fall and winter. Congrats to the 2 amazing BRR teams from F3Richmond! Way to represent, guys.

Offshore suggested that we start offering a shorter, slower option on Sundays to get more people out trail running. I could certainly lead that for a while since I am in rebuilding mode. What do you all think????

Safe travels back home to the BRR guys. Jville

3 semi-regulars gathered for a Sunday morning run along the banks of the James River. 1 regular was already underway.

THANG:
NorthBank to Belle Isle, cross the river and return on ButterMilk

NM:
BlueBalls set a good pace, followed closely by Fudd with YHC pulling up the rear.
Fudd saw a beaver in the canal just across from Maymont.
Saab showed up just before crossing the suspension bridge. He ran the same course in the reverse direction.
YHC appreciated BB & Fudd circling back a few times.

Great run, ready for BRR!

11 stalwarts posted for a Sunday trail run. Weather at the start was 70, high humidity.

The Thang

Southside to Northside trail (optional hills on Belle Isle)

Toga and BT posted at 630 for a pre trail run jaunt around Dogwood Dell. They are prepping for the Spartan race on the 24th, and were pumping out a mile and then dropping down for some burpees. They joined us at 7am for the trail run proper, but continued the burpees along the way.

Conspiracy and Fudd ran together today the front of the PAX so they could get to church as early as possible. YHC got a text from Fudd at 5 of seven saying he was going to be a minute or so late. When I explained to the PAX that we were going to wait for Fudd, they observed that if Fudd said he was going to be a minute late, that must mean he’s going to be about 20 minutes late. Fortunately Fudd posted before the appointed 7am start. He reported that he had stayed up last night to watch “Ray, Ray” and couldn’t get to sleep after the show because he was so pumped up. As Fudd pointed out, running with little sleep would be good practice for the BRR.

Good second F at ET’s after the run. BT and Lab Rat both reported that they were going to just stop for Coffee and head home. The magnet of the 2nd F along with too many funny stories kept both of them there for 45 minutes or so.

Saab was missed out there today. There are not many Sunday trail runs when Saab does not post. It was strange for YHC to not see Saab every 15 minutes or so checkin on the back of the PAX. Hopefully he got a good long (but flat) run in at Kiawah Island.

BRR two weeks out.

Spartan and bike ride a month out.

Reese Stronge in 3 weeks.

Ten pax showed up this morning, in what turned out to be a very lucid group.

ROUTE:  North Bank to Belle Isle to the top of Belle Isle, then over and home on Buttermilk.  Q’s gps watch came in around 7.4.  Wilson’s phone reported 12 miles and change.  Reader can decide which is closest to true.

NMS:

• With the humidity still lingering, and watching two of our regulars overheat over the last week, going long didnt seem to be prudent.  The plan was initially to stretch out 11 miles and do the full monty, which got cut back to full loop plus Belle Isle hill.  With the oppressing heat and humidity looming large on the first couple miles, the Q threw in the towel and decided the same loop from last week would be the safe bet.  YHC received no arguments, so it must have been the right call.
• TYA surprised everyone and provided YHC a welcome distraction from his unpreparedness by showing up in jeans and a golf shirt.  Turns out he was still feeling affects from Friday’s run and smartly decided running would do more harm than good at this point.  He did drop off TSB, who we have been missing while she was out nursing a sore ankle.
• Lab Rat should not Q, as he is never ready to go and always seems to have issues.  He could not get the Jerusalem Cruisers adjusted properly, and suffered for it this morning.
• Circle K took off on his own route on the bike this morning, quickly followed by Conspiracy, who was next to leave the group.  Our first planned stop of the morning brought us to Buttermilk trailhead, where we lost TSB (planned pick up by TYA) and Trophy (fighting thru a cold).  The pax also gained one member, when we invited FNGal Brooke to join us on our last leg.  She gladly accepted, and pulled Offshore and Saab along on a blistering pace for a couple miles.  She then bailed out on one of the switchbacks citing the need to be headed back to the house.
• As pax was leaving to head over to ET’s, we spotted Hardywood.  He was in his usual bright eyed and bushy tailed mood, despite being 15 miles deep into a run that went God knows how long.  That gave Saab and YHC fodder for conversation on how anybody could be that perpetually chipper…..we are envious!
• ET’s with the guys and TSB, as usual, was entertaining.

Lab Rat out.

7 Pax members practiced questionable judgement, ignored the heat advisories, and showed up to get some miles in on the trails this morning.  It was hot.  This is what we did:

-North bank Trail to Belle Isle, around the west side.  Buttermilk trail back to the barn.  The Q’s gps watch clocked in at 7.25 miles, individual mileage may vary.

NMS

There was some dissension in the ranks this morning as the Q mentioned the planned shorter distance due to the heat…YHC is all about hard core, but this morning was not one to mess with Mother Nature.  The goal was to get in a good run and get the hell out of there.  Planned run should have been shorter to be honest.  Hopefully next week will be more conducive to higher mileage.  BRR has firmly grabbed hold of this group!

Saab had places to be afterwards, so he and Conspiracy took off to clear the spider webs out for us.  Turns out there was no need, seeing that the trail was absolutely packed with early risers trying to beat the heat….more people that I can remember seeing on the trails on an early morning.  The rest of the pax stuck together in no rush, taking turns circling back.

Rosie lived up to his namesake, bright and chipper all morning.  Great to have you out, YHC hopes this morning’s run was tick free for you!

Blue Balls continues to post to Sunday trails, and is now considered by YHC to be a regular member of the pax here now.  Great to have you around, BB!

Aisle 5 had a hard time finding his groove this morning, and actually had to let a little steam out of the radiator afterwards, but there is no quit in this man.  AYE!  Aisle 5 has really shown YHC what hard work means, and YHC is proud to get to run with him every week.

Saab still abides as well, even with his ridiculous schedule.  YHC thinks that his “fallback week” is BRR.

There was a definite hole in the pax this morning without TYA.  Hope you are feeling better, buddy!

2nd F at ET’s for Aisle 5 and Lab Rat, where topics covered were:  Family, gluten, beer, and our mutual admiration of all things Wilson.

Announements

• Offshore is organizing an F3 team for a Family Fun bike ride (10 or 20 mi) benefitting the American Diabetes Association: http://main.diabetes.org/site/TR?team_id=728706&fr_id=11465&pg=team on September 24th.  Registration is $20.  YHC pledges to satisfy the fundraising requirements for all F3 Richmond members, Ms, and 2.0s, though additional fundraising is most welcome.  With the release of the Panama papers, its time to empty some Offshore accounts
• F3 team for Reesestrong is here:  https://runsignup.com/RaceGroups/4045/Groups/284254

Lab Rat out.

9 stalwarts and one FNG posted on a beautiful Sunday morning. Weather was awesome except the 85% humidity. In August in Richmond, you take what you get.

The Thang:

Southside to Forest Hill, Forest Hill counterclockwise, back to the Southside and back to the shovel Flag for 7+ miles. Aisle 5 did the loop then did the Northbank trail for 11+ Saab got an early start, did 2 loops, but somehow did not run into any of the PAX on his way around.

NMM

Great to have Lab Rat and Offshore back out there with the PAX. Offshore has been on several trips this summer and has missed a few runs in a row. Lab Rat was on vacation last week at Holden beach and missed the Sunday run. Despite gaining 5 pounds on vacation and advice to wear a shirt he went shirtless. The extra weight and time off did not seem to affect his speed. He had a good run.

Great to have Genny Light (FNG John) out there this week. He ran by us last week and someone invited him to join us this week. He took us up on our offer and ran with BB and Lab Rat today. Somehow the three of them got lost on the buttermilk trail before Reedy Creek, not sure how that is possible, but leave the directions to Lab Rat and see what happens. Lots of controversy on his name. He was renamed at Ellwoods and YHC is now happy with his name. I was a little bit nervous that Lab Rat and Wilson were going to one to blows over his naming, but cooler heads prevailed.

Aisle 5 opted of the longer route today. He is going to be our of town the next couple of weeks and took the opportunity today to get a long run in.

Fudd and Hardwood were out front the whole run today. The were moving right along.

32 days to the BRR. Cant wait.