Here we are again…another Sunday in the “Springs.” This time, however, it’s not raining and the air feels like a stale fart as the humidity is starting to settle in. There is a slight breeze, but somehow its inevitable that this would be a shirt soaker of a run this morning at AGS. After a week long hiatus from the gloom due to travel, YHC was looking forward to some miles and fellowship this morning. Pulled into the lot, planted the flag and performed some light stretches. First car rolls in and its one YHC has never seen before. Introduce myself and meet Coal Miner’s Daughter (aka-CMD), who was recently named during Friday’s Slide Rule Cletus Workout. He had mentioned that he was still a little sore from the Cletus workout and was looking for about 3 miles this morning and not the full 6. At AGS, we always make route accommodations, but once additional HIM start to show, there is no telling what inspiration can be drawn and mental\physical limits exceeded.
5:52..Now this was right about the time where things became interesting. First, Emeril rolls in, then followed by Pikachu. Full House and then Forceps. Emeril in an ‘on the fence’ kinda tone indicates that M4L will be here this morning, but was running late as he needed to ‘chit,’ so we should proceed with warmups and then he ‘should’ be here before we leave the lot for the Main Event.
6:00am- Let’s go, follow me….
Warm Up: Quick dash to the first picnic shelter with a plank hold for the six. YHC called out Mountain Climbers IC X10. Proceeded with a brisk mosey to the back lot with Carioca L over R, Right over L to the speed bump, with alternating butt kickers and light mosey to the back end of the lot. Circled up for Imperial Walkers X10. YHC then called for a single file line for an Indian Run back to the main lot. PAX circled up and as promise, M4L fresh of dropping some gross weight, arrives with enough time for YHC to explain this morning’s route before heading out.
The Workout: It seems like forever since we’ve been able to loop Bass Lake due to rain, so YHC called for the standard loop, counterclockwise with a Soul Crusher exit. For CMD, this would mean that with the warm-up, when we got to the greenway, he could circle back and get his 3. PAX made their way out of Womble and onto Sugg. Good paces out there by all PAX and many circle backs for the six on the way to the greenway, on the greenway, and as we will later find…on the trails. As we were about .25 away from the lake, Pikachu, Emeril, M4L, Full House, and YHC made one last circle back. There he was, CMD, still ticking and tracking beyond his 3 mi target with Forceps pushing him along. PAX made their way counterclockwise around the lake. Pikachu, Emeril, M4L, and Full House pulled ahead far enough for YHC to see Emeril’s bright yellow shirt in the distance. Not looking to go around the lake, I informed CMD that he could continue straight and then up Soul Crusher, which would take him up into Sugg Farm and then back onto Grigsby and then Womble. YHC was later informed that when CMD made it to Sugg field, he had thought he had bumped his head and Jesus was calling him. Yeah- them hills have a way of playing mind games sometimes.
Meanwhile, on the counterclockwise path around Bass Lake, YHC and Forceps saw the glow of yellow come back the other way toward us. Apparently, trees were down on the trail and we had to call an audible and circle back. As we made our way back onto the greenway, M4L called for some Soul Crusher repeats. As YHC proceeded to the first opening on the left thinking it was Soul Crusher, I was quickly corrected. “That’s not Soul Crusher..keep moving.” “Wait-what?” All along, I thought this was Soul Crusher, but then quickly learned that there was a magical labyrinth of hills on the back side of Sugg Farm and we hit almost all of them. First we went down Heart Break Hill and then back up the ‘real’ Soul Crusher. We then proceed out to the main gates of Sugg, but not before Pikachu, realizing we were about 2.0 mi short, decided to take us through the side field of Sugg to attack some more hills. That’s when Emeril informed YHC to share some tunes, and was happy to share the playlist as we labored up and down the hills. By this time the humidity was meeting exhaustion and was time to get to Womble as fast as possible, and all PAX made a strong final push back to the parking lot. As we made it to Womble, all PAX were accounted for and got there just in time to welcome CMD back into the fold as he had finished his 5th mile.
Fist bumps all around this morning. Strong showing by all PAX posting.
Mary: Stretches OYO
Announcements: Skeet Shoot Fundraiser for Truth in Nature- see Forceps for details
T-Claps (Recognition): All PAX posting this morning in the humidity, while conquering hills.
Prayer: All PAX on IR. YHC took us out.
