The Taxman Came

30 road warriors coverged and ran towards the dark to welcome the Tax Man.  Would they take the Standard Deduction? Or face the threat of Compounding Interest, or suffer the Tax Lien?  We took it all on and then some!  But according to the guy sky-hooking newspapers on Grove avenue, it went a little something like this:

The routes were:

The Standard Deduction is a delightful 6.39 mile romp that begins at Mary and takes Groooooooove toward Three Chopt, right on Henri, left onto Towana, left on Roselawn to UR Drive, UR Drive till it ends at River Road, and reverso back to Mary. 

The Compounding Interest is an intoxicating 8.28 mile jaunt that begins at Mary and takes Groooooooove toward Three Chopt, right on Henri, left onto Towana and stay on it till it becomes Campus, Campus to UR Drive, UR Drive till it gets to the Bat Cave, take the Bat Cave and pass the shops on River Road, take Westham Station Road till it becomes S. Ridge Rd, take S. Ridge Road to Westham Pkwy, Right on Glen Pkwy, take Westhampton to Keller to Westhampton, Left on UR Drive back to the Bat Cave, head up Ridgeway and hug the golf course to Iris, Iris ends at Three Chopt, Right on Three Chopt back to Groooooooove, take Groooooooove back to Mary.

The Tax Lien (I apologize for releasing this one so late.) is an enchanting 9+ mile balderdash that begins at Mary and takes Groooooooove toward Three Chopt, right on Henri, left on to Towana and stay on it till it becomes Campus, Campus to the woodland trail by the UR entrance near College and Boatwright: the trail brings you to Wheeler Rd., Left on Wheeler, left on Hampshire, Hampshire becomes Baldwin, Stay on Baldwin till you get to Westham Pkwy, Left on Westham Pkwy and take it till it becomes S. Ridge Road, S. Ridge Road becomes Westham Station Road, Take Westham Station Road till you get to the Bat Cave trail, the Bat Cave trail takes you to UR Drive, Right on UR Drive, Right on Campus—it turns into Towana and will cross over Three Chopt and become Henri Road, Straight on Henri to Grooooove, Left on Grooooooove and it’s a straight shot back to Mary. 

I got to Mary at around 3:45, and I proceeded to get my gear together and stretch out for the run ahead. I was about to get started, when I saw TYA with his dog. I was very happy to see him, because I wanted to go for a personal best today and who better to conquer the Tax Lien route with than the man who cut through all of my excuses and got me into running–so conquer we did! He is always a pleasure to run with!

There’s running, and then there’s F3 running.  F3 running comes with some therapy sprinkled in, some support, fellowship, safety, all from your brothers who are trying to get better just like you.  There is nothing like it!  The gifts that come from running with your brothers are the gifts that change lives and prevent complacency.  We need each other and one day each of us will be called on to pay those gained gifts forward.  I hope each of you experienced some of the same gifts when you ran with your brothers today!  

I thank you all for the impressive turnout and for the support over the years and now!  It was a privilege to rise this morning and conquer with all of you!  I’ll end this backblast with one of my favorite poems in its entirety:

For Every Hill I’ve Had to Climb

For every stone that bruised my feet,

For all the blood and sweat and grime,

For blinding storms and burning heat

My heart sings but a grateful song—

These were the things that made me strong!

For all the heartaches and the tears,

For all the anguish and the pain,

For gloomy days and fruitless years,

And for the hopes that lived in vain,

I do give thanks, for now I know

These were the things that helped me grow!

‘Tis not the softer things of life

Which stimulate man’s will to strive;

But bleak adversity and strife

Do most to keep man’s will alive.

O’er rose-strewn paths the weaklings creep,

But brave hearts dare to climb the steep.

L. E. Thayer

I am Bone Thugs, and I will see you at the crossroads.