Tag: Sunday Funday

Four of the faithful posted early Sunday to run the Buttermilk/North Bank trails. The temperature was in the upper 30s. That was a bit shocking to me at first. But, I quickly warmed up and enjoyed the perfect running temperature. As an extra bonus, the temperature was just cold enough to keep the pesky mountain bikers and dog-walkers away.

We ran the trails in the clockwise direction for the first time in a few months. Offshore enjoyed the lead most of the time and finished very strong.

We started off in the dark. Several of us had headlamps. To avoid twisted ankles (or worse), I strongly suggest that everyone bring headlamps to the Sunday trail run, at least until the time changes back to EST.

There is talk of getting a group together for the Bear Creek 10 miler on Dec. 6.

There is also talk of getting a group together for the Willis River 35k mid-January.

Annoucements:
Humpday Happy Hour Splinters House Oct 21st
GORUCK Oct 24th
Great Pumpkin Run Oct 31st

4 Motivated runners appeared just after sunrise on a beautiful Sunday morning in RVA.

The Thang.

Back to the trails.  Cross the bridge, onto buttermilk trail, cross over at Belle Isle and take outside loop to Northbank Trail and back to the cars.  7 miles traveled.

Moleskin

Pucker was a V-Sunday Run participant.  Having done the trails before, he had no problems navigating the 7 miles.  He was fighting a sinus infection and littered the trail with snot-rockets through out the run.  Trail behind Pucker was a bit slippery.

Saab and Offshore led the pax followed by Pucker and YHC.  Although I was a bit slower than the rest of the PAX, the group stayed pretty tightly grouped.

Saab has a good new route mapped out for us for the next trail run.

See you in the gloom.

3 Determined runners posted at the Pump House for a Sunday Morning trail run.  When YHC entered the parking lot at 659, two pax were patiently awaiting my arrival. Since it has rained straight for the past 5 days, we decided as a group to stay off the trail and hit the roads adjacent to the path.

The Thang:

Run over nickel bridge, run past the trail entrance to the top of the hill, left onto Riverside drive.  Follow riverside drive for about 3.75 miles, Cross back over the river at the Manchester Bridge.  Take a left onto Spring Street, follow Spring to end, take a right, go a few blocks, take a left onto Idlewood.  Follow Idlewood all the way to the lake, run around the lake, and back out to Boulevard.  Take a left onto Boulevard and back down to Pump House Road.

Naked Moleskin

Perfect weather for a run.  62 degrees, slow rain.  Winds were swirling a little bit but it mostly felt good.  Only time the wind was an issue was coming over the Manchester Bridge.  The wind was directly in our face and blowing hard.  It was brutal.

Map My Run says we did 7.44 miles on the route today.  We kept up a pretty steady pace today and all stayed together the whole time.  Thanks to Offshore and Honey Do for the company.  Honey Do was able to join us today because his 1/2 marathon was cancelled because of the weather in Hampton.  After the run, we all talked about the upcoming F3 announced races.  Lots of interest in Bear Creek run and the Colonial 200 next year.   YHC broke out the running tights today.   Great gear for running in the rain…

See you next week in the Gloom.

Rain was in the forecast, but the rain never came.  Three strong and fast posted at the Pump House parking lot this morning for a nice trail run.

The Thang:

Cross the bridge, start on the Buttermilk trail.  Cross over at Belle Isle, run the perimeter of Belle and run back on the Northbank trail.

Moleskin

When YHC pulled into the parking lot at 652 this morning, there were no other cars in the parking lot.  Offshore pulled in a few minutes later followed by Saab at 7 am on the nose.  I was glad to have the company for the run, especially two rabbits to chase the whole morning.   Chase I did, but I never did quite catch up.  Thanks to Wilson and Offshore for doubling back for me every mile or so.  I appreciated the motivation in front of me.

YHC had to leave shortly after the run this morning so I could get down to the world championships.  I was in such as rush that I realized halfway out the parking lot that my phone was not in the car with me.  I knew I had just checked the time on the phone so it couldn’t be too far.  I searched the car, no phone.  I drove back to where I had parked, no phone.  I looked around the parking lot and the whole path I had driven…no phone.  I re-searched the car and trunk…no phone.  Where the hell is it.  My maiden in shining armor pulled in beside my car when I was mid panic.  I politely asked if she could call my cell so I could locate it.  She made the call, and quickly pointed to my back window where my phone was sitting.  Thank you unknown lady…I appreciate your help.  Just as an aside for those unmarried PAX, this approach is not a bad way to get a young ladies phone number.

See you in the gloom next week.

Six showed up on a pleasant morning for a solid trail run.

The THANG:

We ran!

MOLESKIN:

Saab is the official Q for today’s run and he decided we would run the trail in the opposite direction. It was a welcome change and the PAX seemed happy so we went across the bridge. Without paying the toll!

Conspiracy hunted us down and KNEW we ran the trail in the opposite direction. Weird! Saab was concerned he had a chip installed by Conspiracy!

Off Shore & Saab continue to set the pace. Aisle 5 was testing out some new kicks. Kept him going. THE TYA & Saab were chatting it up for a short bit.

You know what kept YHC going today! GO BILLS!

Four showed up to tackle a trail run on a cool Sunday morning.

The Thang: We ran!

Moleskin: As the cars pulled up YHC quickly realized the A game needed to be present. Trophy led in the beginning, but Pommel was STRONG and kept Trophy in check. Offshore was keeping up nicely. Then there was YHC. While YHC had a personal best on the first half of the trails, they continued to double back to find me!

During my run, I was reflecting on the challenge our BRR team faced this weekend and how proud RVA F3 is of this group! Well done fellas.

So what’s next? Check out the video!

Be sure to remember next Saturday is convergence! See you all there!

Go BILLS!

Nine men posted, nine men ran, and nine men conquered the trail run once again.  Despite its best efforts, the nine of us were cat quick and agile and attacked the run on a beautiful Sunday morning.

The Thang

Trail run, Northbank trail to Belle Isle, outside track at Belle Isle, Buttermilk back to nickel bridge and back to the parking lot.

Naked Moleskin

Johnsonville has been a regular on the trail runs and by most accounts is considered an expert in this area.  He has run numerous 50k trail runs, is a veteran on the northbank, buttermilk, and Pocohontas trails and generally does more trail running than any of the other F3’ers.  So how is it that despite all this experience he continues to flirt with disaster seemingly every week.  He has burned 3 of his 9 lives in the past month on the trails.

About a month and a half ago, he became dehydrated on the second loop of the trail.  YHC knew something was wrong when I was consistently ahead of him on the second loop.  On that trip we had to call for rescue.  Two weeks ago on our inaugural trip to Pocohntas, he had two issues.  First, he had some stomach issues after trying some “Goo” after the first loop.  After battling past that, he started to hallucinate because of lack of food.  Luckily one of us had food to tide him over.  Since he now has water and food on his list of things to take care of on the run list, he tackled both with ease today.  Today’s escapade was a fight with an obstacle on the trail.  He tripped over a metal rod just off the trail today and went down hard.  Fortunately, no damage was done.  Jville may need a companion runner until and during the BRR.

Toga and Conspiracy had committments post run so for the most part were through runners (Toga did catch with us just past Belle Isle).  As usual, Saab cleared all the cobwebs away and made sure that he got a few extra miles in by doubling back every mile or so. Wilson was fighting last nights merlot this morning, but despite the slight hangover put in a good run.  BT came out for his inaugural trail run and made it through with relative ease.  Great job BT. Chum is a machine on the trails.  He seems to have an automatic pace set that he runs each and every mile on the trail.  No matter the terrain, hills, or miles under his belt, his pace is consistent.  Lug Nut keeps pounding out the trail miles as well.  He has made a ton of progress on the trails the past few months.

Six fleet and fit posted for a Sunday trail run in RVA.

The Thang:

Start at Pump house parking area, take the northbank trail towards the city.  Cross over the to the dark side (oops south side) at Belle Isle, take buttermilk trail to nickel bridge and run back across bridge to parking lot.  Covered somewhere between 6.5 and 7.5 miles depending on how many time you turned back.

Moleskin

Great showing by Aisle 5, he posted for the Sunday run for the first time and had a relatively uneventful first trip.  Relatively because on the way back, he tried to tackle the downramp/stair challenge on the downramp.  He lost control and had to sprint down.  While sprinting he let out a loud and audible scream for  good 5 seconds.  YHC hearing the scream, immediately doubled back to assess the carnage.  Aisle 5 put my fears to rest quickly by shouting out “I’m OK”.

Saab and Trophy continue to pace the group out front.  Thanks to both for clearing the route of all spider webs in the am.  Trophy sweats an incredible amount on the run.  After the run he announced that he losses 9 pounds during a typical sunday jaunt.  WOW.

Wilson continues to wear a long sleeve shirt.  I will officially declare that he has now made it through the summer in long sleeves.  Impressive or crazy, you be the judge.

Oyster’s pace on the route continues to increase.  If he continues to improve at this pace he will eventually finish the route before he starts.

See you next week in the gloom.

Nine of the faithful convened at the Pumphouse Parking Lot near the banks of the James River in Richmond for an early Sunday trail run.  The weather was a perfect 68 degrees F (the average August temperature in Richmond being more like 98 degrees F, day or night).

Bleeder had started about 15 minutes ahead of the PAX.  The PAX pursued Bleeder running east along the Northbank Trail and crossing the footbridge to Belle Isle.  The PAX then diverted clockwise around Bell Isle, taking the loop through the easternmost woods.  The PAX crossed the “drawbridge of death” onto the south bank of the James River and proceeded west along the Buttermilk Trail.  Finally, the PAX crossed north on the Boulevard bridge and returned to the parking lot, having completed over 7 miles of technical, single-track running.

Toga managed to run Bleeder down.  The rest of us did not.  Saab and Trophy looped back many times to stay with the slower runners.

A COT was held sans Toga and Bleeder, who had to depart promptly for appropriate Sunday activities.  Oyster added another 5 miles on the adjacent Dogwood Dell trails (Way to go, Oyster).  YHC proceeded around the entire loop again.

F3Richmond continues to grow stronger and faster.  Months ago, many scowled at the idea of running these trails.  Now they are starting to run (and smell) like a bunch of mountain goats.

FEBA — Jville

It was a hot and humid morning preview to the 100 degree day.

The Thang:

45 minute hill run—

Mosey down love hill and across the Nickel Bridge (7 min)

Hill #1—up the South side Nickel Bridge hill and back up the north side (1x) ~10 min

Take trail under Nickel Bridge. (2 min)

Hill #2—From under the Nickel Bridge up to the brick building at top of hill (3x) ~13 minutes

Mosey down the road to the pump house (5 min)

Hill #3—From pump house up the pipe to the Carillon (1x) (5 min)

Mosey on the stone steps back to the Shovel Flag. (3 min)

Approximately 4 miles at a 10-11 minute average pace.

Moleskin:

The Pax was finally able to ditch Conspiracy this morning—he finally found us on the Nickel Bridge trail.

On the way down Love Hill, the Pax was surprised to see a herd of 30 or so goats eating the brush right next to Jacob’s ladder. Evidently the Goat Busters were on patrol. It will be interesting to see if they will still be there during the #Dogpile workout.

DK commented that he was having issues breathing during the workout. He concluded that it was because he was running right behind Fudd up those hills. Future Pax take note–

The Pax was strong today—the focus was on steady hill running up and down rather than sprint up/jog down. The workout went by quickly without much mumblchatter.