Eleven intrepid runners tried something new today, heading west into uncharted territory.  Pretty straightforward instructions today: The Route Head west around the lake, through the trail and up University.  Cross Forest, quick jog to the right on Ralston and continue on University.  When University takes a hard right don’t turn, instead go straight into someone’s driveway, continuing along the path and through the park to get dumped out on Roslyn Hills.  Right on Roslyn Hills.  4 milers go to the top of the hill and return the way you came.  5 milers take a left on September, which turns into…

14 Roadrunners assembled for this week’s edition of the Spider Run. We did the reverse Kanawha routes in 4, 5, and 6 mile increments. Gumbo took us out. Today may have been a record turn out.  As YHC approach the AO, all the usual spots were filled and I had to double back to a different lot.  Still plenty of parking for those interested in joining us for a Spider Run, so do not be deterred. It was great to see Gumbo out for his first Spider Run as well as Swirly’s return to Tuesday runs.  This may have been…

A Lucky Seven wet race horses rose to run in the gloom and try the new route.  There was an immediate hesitation as the Pax braced for the directions that would be known the Cardinal Run.  The directions were solid and no one got lost. The Route: Head west along the lake, up the route past the baseball field to the Robbins Center.  Ascend the hill by the stadium and up Boatwright to Three Chopt.  Cross Three Chopt and take Honaker to Patterson.  Cross Patterson and head east one block.  Take a left on Roxbury.  Roxbury to West Franklin.  West…

Nine intrepid runners were not deterred from the cold and ice for this week’s edition of Spider Run. The Routes:  Devil’s Pitchfork – 5 milers did three peaks, 6 milers did 4 peaks. Marv took us out. NMS: The roads were certainly not the slip and slide that we experienced back in January, but there was plenty of hidden ice.  Open pockets of clean roads with ice interspersed kept everyone on their toes ready to tuck and roll.  Shakedown was taken down on some of this treacherous ice, but without too much injury. Announcements: CSAUP – 1 month to go! …

YHC wanted to run the bridge this morning hoping to catch a sunrise over the bridge before the time change next weekend reverts us back to morning darkness. The Routes – Over the river and downstream to appropriate turn arounds at Shirley (Shirley you must be kidding!) for the 5s, and beyond the quarry for the 6s.  It seems this RVA Pax is geographically challenged as most of the route overview was spent conveying which way the river flows.  A couple of the Pax, not naming names, need a compass. Shakedown and I came across a group of about 30…

Ten noble steeds, including the one armed bandit, gathered in the pre-dawn for this morning’s iteration of Spider Run.  Splinter commandeered the Q from Lockjaw who had it for the past month.  Not surprising, Lockjaw wasn’t Q’ing so he didn’t post.  Route went something like this: Rather straightforward 4 mile loop.  Run across the lake, meander up the hill to Keller and out the College Drive entrance.  Cross College, up Glen Pkwy and take a right on Westham.  Westham all the way to Patterson, right on Patterson, Right on Horsepen.  Cut through fraternity row, back by the baseball field and…

9 runners of the two legged variety and 1 four legged canine runner embraced spring like weather for a run. We did the nameless route that we did a couple of weeks ago when it snowed.  Today we did it in reverse. Here is the 5 mile variation of the route.  Six milers swing out to Marv’s house for a more true figure 8. Marv took us out. NMS: Spring was in the air today not only in temperature, but with a chorus of frogs singing along the canal.  Speaking of creatures with habits, there was another Keymaster sighting about…

Ten Road Scholars showed up for this week’s Spider Run. We ran the Honaker routes.  Up the main entrance and take Campus/Towana to the access road by Three Chopt.  Left on Grove.  4s turn left on Maple, 5s on Wilton (then left on Dillwyn, right on Seneca), and 6s on Wisteria.  Everyone takes Patterson west to Honaker.  Honaker across Three Chopt and down Boatwright.  Past the Robin’s Center, cut across the parking lot and down the lake.  4s and 6s take a left to the VSF and 5s take a right to go around the lake to the VSF. Wedding…

9 Descended to the Bottom of All Hills:  The start of Spider Run The Routes: 4s, 5s, 6, all start and finish the same way. Exit UR using the River Rd entrance near the intramural fields and go across the shopping center to pick  up Westham Station.  Climb the hill as it turns into Ridge and take the Country Squire jug handle to Westham Parkway. At the University Dr intersection, 4s take a right and do a lap and a half around the lake.  5s and 6s, turn left and head west.  Dogleg right at Ralston to pick up University…