We don’t have a Ratt problem; we have a Gas problem

We don’t have a Ratt problem; we have a Gas problem

QIC: Burlap

Date: 09 June 2020

PAX: Chomper, Mongoose, Zuckerberg, Greenspan, the (notorious) H.O.G. (WB), Resistor, Manscape (WD), Burlap

73 degrees (at least) and muggy

Warm-up lap most of the way around the park, clockwise, stopping at the bridge over Peter’s Creek where Reynolda Rd and West End Blvd join and near the large arrowhead that no one ever notices.

Explain the workout, which is a group Fartlek run with all the pax taking turns leading.  The idea is run slowly as a group for a while and then pick a short distance and run hard for the distance (from one marker to another) and then re-group.  The route morphed based on decisions that the pax made, but here is where we ended up:

Out bound on Reynolda Rd, left on Buena Vista, left on Hawthorne, follow Hawthorne to front of RJR High, right on Angelo St, by St Leos and left on Springdale down to Runnymede, left on Runnymede, right on Hawthorne, right on Overlook Ave, left on Lynwood Ave, left on Cloverdale and cross Hawthorne to the front of Brunson Elem, pathway to the park under the Glade St bridge, across the field to Sunset, and left back to the parking lot.  Each pax picked a distance to run, with the shortest being about 50 yards, and the longest being nearly a quarter mile.  Some were up hill (see initial hill up BV and Angelo St), and some were down hill (see Springdale, Runnymede, and Overlook).  Some of the easy runs lasted only 15 seconds and some lasted a minute or so.

Per a couple of watches, we got in at least 4.25 miles, maybe up to 4.40 miles.

NMM:

• Diverse group in terms of age with a range of about 30 years; also diverse in speed.
• Discussion afterward among some 40+ year old pax confirmed that the warm-up run is important before doing any speed work; thankful for no hamstring or achilles issues.
• Some pax (OK, it was Resistor) seemed to be surprised that Peter’s Creek runs through Hanes Park and that there was a bridge there at Reynolda and West End.  It has a plaque that dates the bridge to 1934, a full generation before the birth of some of our older pax.
• There was a lot of traffic on Reynolda from the start, even at 0540, so we got off the busy road into some nasty hills.
• For a good portion of the workout, some of the pax interpreted “run hard” as “sprint”.  Guys were flying over some short distances.
• All pax took the opportunity to lead a segment, and we stuck together with each re-gathering of the pax.
• Six of the pax can be described as fast, while Manscape and I struggled to stay in sight of them on a couple of the fartleks.  Often, my heart rate barely had time to come back down when the next fartlek began.
• Chomper has recovered a good bit of his speed over the OG runs on Fridays, and still has great short-run speed with high turnover (cadence).
• Mongoose and Zuck were smart enough to go with tank tops.
• Greenspan and HOG were staying up front and pushing themselves.
• Site Q Resistor was torn between running fast (which he did several times) and visiting with Manscape and me at the back.
• And Manscape is a consistent leader at #Redline and other AOs, always pushing himself and working hard.
• And the title of the BB is a reference to the lack of running on the track today (no “Round and Round”) but a problem for some of us getting a gas (air) into our lungs and figurative gas in our tanks.  Of course, it’s also a play on the Swedish word “fartlek”.

COT:

• Be ready to participate in a virtual Schmedfest this August in support of Crisis Control Ministries (and in support of our brother, Plunger).  Looking for corporate, business, and individual donations.  There will be a series of workouts over 24 hours.  You can sign up and raise money by working out.  See Greenspan, HOG, Plunger and others.  This is a tangible way to support folks who are in short-term need.
• Mongoose has the Q for OGs and Tractors.  He has planned the route, and he noted that it isn’t as bad as you are thinking.
• Prayers for our country and world.
• YHC took us out, attempting to thank God for health and life and asking for help in living each moment by loving others.

Honored to lead this group of guys,

Burlap