[written by Gobbler]
Ah, springtime. The days are longer, the sun is brighter, and the blooming trees not only bring color to the world again, but fill the air will the bitter smell of semen. It’s also the time of year when girls begin to roll the elastic on their shorts down, their sleeves up, and pound the pavement in attempt to shed their winter weight.
In the office, I was mistakenly given a cubicle with a window with a view of one of the most run streets in town. It’s hard (giggity) to sit here and watch the flesh flash by my window all day. But this thread, hopefully, won’t be about flashing flesh. Got that W8? It’s about running. I see more people running in this town than anywhere I’ve ever visited. It seems that there are either some very eco-conscious people in big hurries, or there are a lot of people who are concerned about their health, and appreciate the benefits of outdoors cardiovascular exercise. I applaud all of you. I, too, like to get out and run. I do 10-20 miles a week, running various places around town.
The Rivanna Trail System is awesome. I’d like to do the entire 20 mile loop one day, but that might be ambitious. There are also several good races. The 10 miler is coming up. I’ve signed up for that. I’m also doing the Ukrop’s 10K in Richmond the following weekend. That’s a great race, too, through the prettiest part of that town. I’ve heard that the C’ville marathon is a killer. I’m curious to find out how many of the internet lovers on this site get out and enjoy a good jog. Where are the best places to run. I like to go through and around campus for the scenery. What/when are the good races? I know there are hashers out there. I’ve seen the flour marks.
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Popularity: 18% [?]
Tagged as: Activities, Charlottesville, excercise, Questions, running, workout
The only running Im doing is Beer Run. Its amazing I post here so much since I am so completely unqualified to offer and educated opinion on anything pertinent to this sites’s focus.
Bring out the muse already. I’ll tear aprat me some art! I’ll be the cocoNUT of the muse side.
/first post threadjack. what?
I love running in C’ville because it makes running elsewhere a whole lot easier. If you train on the hill on Ridge Road, you can run pretty much anywhere.
My favorite places to run are Ridge Road, Forest Lakes paths, Walnut Creek, and Dick Woods (up in Crozet).
I love the 10 Miler and the C’ville Marathon/Half Marathon. Both are brutally hard. The Blue Ridge Burn (October at Walnut Creek) is also extremely hard, but very fun.
And nearby we have the Marine Corps Marathon (DC), Rock and Roll Half Marathon (Virginia Beach), and the Star City Half Marathon (Roanoke). All are excellent in their own way, and much easier to run than anywhere in C’ville.
this site has a focus? where am I? I kid.
Free Union is nice for running. Old Miller school Road. Wesley Chapel Road.
There is a great booklet that Ragged Mountain has put together of good circuits around town.
this site has a focus?
You’ve never seen that busted old red Ford with the VILLAIN liscence plate around town? Thats it.
TANK, I know what you mean about that hill on Ridge. I started up it the other day at the end of an 8 mile run, and the wind was blowing in my face all the way up. I felt like Rocky once I got to the top.
Also, if you’re into hills try running laps up around Altavista, Elliot and Montrose between Avon and Monticello.
Lolo, where is Free Union?
Weekly 5k with the Charlottesville Sports & Social Club on Tuesdays (come out today if the weather holds up): http://www.cvillessc.org/running
Probably not as hard-core as you want from what it sounds, we run and then go to the bar and drink.
observatory hill is a good one.
go west for free union - you can get there several ways - barracks road all the way out and you’ll start to see signs for white hall (also good) and free union. I can’t remember route numbers - I’m sure someone else around here might have them.
@5 ooh those hills are killer…I usually run around Monticello high school (theres a trail or 2 back there) Avon/up mill creek or on pieces of the rivanna trail. I’ve been wanting to check out the trails up by Monticello and I think a place called Secluded Farms that attaches, haven’t made it out there yet though..
Free Union is in the Earlysville area
run intervals through the gridded streets of belmont. they sit like a reverse saddle (reverse cowgirl?) between two ridges, and if you run up one, down the other, you can get a seriously intense workout in about 15-20 minutes. those kinds of runs are short, but will build endurance and stamina for longer runs.
this whole post was actually about sex.
Since I have to run at 6 a.m. due to work/kids, my places to go are all those that are mostly under street lights. Downtown mall, W. Main St., all over UVA grounds, Locust Ave., Chesapeake/Market St. in Woolen Mills, Park St., Lexington Ave. I’ll be happy when the 10 miler is over. I keep running into these obnoxious groups of 3-8 runners all jogging together on the city streets and expecting you to get out of their way or applaud their virtue. Funny, I didn’t see those groups when it was 18 degrees in January.
/begin descent into cranky old man muttering
aren’t they all?
as for a place not mentioned, reservoir road, up near the end of fontaine, is pretty decent for a couple miles or so, and then you can pick up the trails around the reservoir. or you can hop on the fox haven trails and make your way to bel air, which is nice as far as roads go.
and yea the rivanna trails are good, albeit a little dangerous for the ankles. if you’re looking for some flatter areas of them, it’s mostly flat from the park near the UVA law school, across 29 past bodos, along past kmart, and then all along the creek until riverview park or whatever its called. well, except for the little detour you have to take to avoid the razor wire.
for those who don’t know the detour (it’s not marked well), you follow the trail up the hill, come out on the cul-de-sac, take the left onto locust lane, right onto locust, left onto river, run down that hill until you get to that building that might be an american legion post or something, run through that parking lot to behind the building, cross over the soccer/baseball field, and hop on the paved path.
Is it worth asking about where not to run? I have spoken to a number of ladies that are a little spooked about some of the trails around town (RRT in particular) which is sad because they’re so fantastic, but there have definitely been some, ahem, strangers on and around. Even with another girl, we’ve had to ask a male jogger to run with us as we’ve passed a drunken, seemingly scary tantrum on the River trail. Any suggestions for routes that are pastoral, safe enough for you grandma and approved by McGruff?
They should build a giant human Habitrail for runners. You could enjoy the 5k purple tube, or just relax in the cedar chips with the giant wheel.
/well, it *would* be safe
i’ve run thousands of miles covering every part of the rivanna trails over the years and have never encountered anyone worse than some high school stoners. however, one female runner i know did see a guy…jerking off…just off the rivanna trail spur around fontaine research park a couple years back. they both just kept on going and minded their business.
i guess if you want to cut the chances of running into drunk people the most, i’d get as far away from residential concentrations as you can. try the trails around the reservoir.
she saw me?
or you could just run a hash. then you’re surrounded by drunk people.
I commonly run the RT just East of 5th street that follows Moore’s Creek back to Jordan park. There’s been a tent set up there in the woods for nearly 6 months. I’m a little afraid to approach it, but I don’t think anyone lives there. Perhaps it’s the mysterious velvet closet?
If you follow that trail the other way south along 5th street, it eventually goes through a huge storm grate under 5th street. Sometimes there are people in there, assumedly doing meth, or possibly just passing through, so be careful of that spot.
@ gobbler: we used to find lean-to tents and tarps set up in those woods all the time, during hash runs gone awry. one time i took gobbler back there and gave him good rogering.
@19. omg! I think I know who you are now.
I try running but right after I start, all I’m thinking is…………why exactly am I running? Is there someone chasing me? No. The answer is no, so why do I keep going, why? I guess it’s a confidence thing. Could I outrun someone if they were actually chasing me?
What really gets my goose is the folks who run in the downtown mall. I really find it hilarious. There are a lot less crowded areas to exercise where people aren’t forced to look at your sweaty face with your mouth wide open as you try and pull as much oxygen out of the air as possible. I think it’s some kind of statement that these people are trying to make, like: “hey everybody look……………, look………….., look over here at me, I’m running!” I say to these people, Go find somewhere else to run and allow me to sit and drink my bloody mary or eat my slice of pizza without looking at you while you gasp for air.
i like to run past mcgrady’s, because some smartass on the porch always heckles me.
i’ve run one and only one race, and it’s the women’s four miler - sorry, guys - but it’s awesome. great atmosphere, not too terribly hard course (out at foxfield), good free food… if anyone is thinking of doing it this year and hasn’t before you should do the training program. i’ve heard good things about it.
@2 - try running up barracks from emmet. i save that hill for days when i feel particularly self-punitive.
@21 totally agree. the worst is the group of moms that speedwalk the mall frequently. and by speedwalk I mean that a three-toed sloth would pass them easily if it could avoid the wild arm swings of these women.
anyone else mystified by “speedwalking”? just jog for christsake…
@21 I admit it. I’ve run on the mall. People who live on the mall deserve an exemption. I can’t justify driving somewhere to walk or run. Unless they find a way to teleport me from my apartment to a block off the mall, you will still see me do it.
I’m going to start a speed walking club. We’ll meet every Thursdays on the Ice Rink and walk 2.5 miles at a less than a brisk pace and then we’ll go to millers and snort Ritalin and huff glue.
@24, I would have to agree that folks whose residence is located on the mall are exempt from my judgment. You live there, hey you do what the hell you want there. But all of those other people are ridiculous, especially the speedwalkers. How did that idea get popular?
I have a great idea! Instead of jogging, we can all just try and walk as fast as possible. Then it will look like we are exercising, when in reality we are just walking! Even better, we can make up rules! You have to have one foot on the ground at all times and you have to wiggle your torso back and forth as if you were about to crap in your pants. This is really going to catch on!!!
Thor, you can count me in.
i can see running across the mall to get from water st or market st, but running from end to end is just ridiculous.
CVILLAIN IS MAKING A MYSPACE!
SO IS DOOF!
You’re kidding! Well, that really locks my caps.
@29
god forbid there is a thread that doesn’t completely stray from topic and devolve into total crap. if you aren’t interested in the topic, why post at all?
oh boo fuckin’ hoo.
Seriously? The beauty of this site is the freedom of speech and expression! She can post whatever she wants (well, within the little crazy rules) whenever she wants. So for example if shenanigans wanted to write:
the magic rat is a square. That would be her freedom. Just like it was your’s to make a rude comment about her totally innocent one.
yeah, magic brat. my comment was breaking news. your comment before mine was boring boringness.
@35 the haterade is strong with this one
She is also a hater of bacon- that concerns me greatly
be nice to each other.. we do want to stay on topic sometimes.. that’s not an unfair request. I’m guilty too.
how ’bout that myspace thor?
@23 sometimes after women have babies they pee when they try to run, so that’s why they walk.
reason #7,234 for me never popping one out
ha, when in doubt, pull out the freedom of speech argument. i can’t decide which makes people sound less intelligent: not knowing what the first amendment is, or using it as a defense every time someone suggests that certain comments might be more appropriate (or more appreciated) elsewhere.
but maybe you’re right, there should be an exception for “breaking news”, you really floored everyone with the myspace announcement i’m sure. well worth the distraction.
yeah, sorry to interrupt your very important discussion on walking.
and actually it’s kind of a big deal because it will affect the anonymity of the site.
How will Cvillain having a My Space account compromise you anonymity, which is relatively minimal in your case?
ok let me give you a reason behind my opinion and maybe that will help clear things up.
i don’t have time to check the site all the time, and i don’t usually have much time to post during the day when i feel like it. when i see topics that i am interested in and have a chance to post something, oftentimes there are 75 comments, with the last relevant one being around #20, and there is no longer a point in weighing in because the discussion is dead.
i think there would be a lot more people posting and contributing if this didn’t happen so often. there is just too much garbage to sift through a lot of the time.
@44 - AMEN!
It’s time to blame the mods, they have yet to solve the the difference between edgy and entertaining and a “Lord of the Flies” mentality. Perhaps forced timeouts and nap time would be helpful. Perhaps the exit of lilth has given us all the exit of the kindly but stern schoolmarm.
…stern schoolmarm ahhh
@41, Read my comment again, not once did I mention an amendment, I spent 4 years in college studying the constitution YOU brought up, so amendments are not anything I am going to waste my time arguing with you. I simply said THIS is a place we have the freedom to say what we want, and oddly enough I believe that is why it is so popular. No one made any snide remarks about your comments before you started in on shenanigans.
/this post has SCOWLY written all over it…I’m out.
@44: once again. boo-fuckin’-hoo.
your weighing in on walking was very relevant. not.
@43: it will compromise anonymity if everyone on here that has a myspace runs and befriends cvillain’s, which will let everyone peep everyone’s pictures and info. so anyone who wants to lay low will have to make a myspace for their blog alias.
Oh, and if reading comments is so time consuming stick to the “news” provided in the Posts.
For a better tomorrow: Scowly ‘08
@47: is it “hate on the hot bitches time”?
Cecil: “hate on the hot bitches” for tomorrow
I don’t have time to hate. I’m busy ogling the “Sugar” insert in the latest Cville.
Guess so…they must be intimidated…all they have is the internet and tonight she was apparently not so good to them.
i have to admit that I ran from end to end of the mall the other night. Honestly, I hated it. Sorry if I offended you. I was running with a dude who really likes to be seen in public. I know that most you of know what that’s like.
Whoohoo Silmo.
but anyhoo…back to running. it sucks!
Are you whoohooing me Sid???
*flutter*
my comments about running in charlottesville weren’t relevant to the “runnin’ in the c’ville” topic? well, ya lost me there.
clearly i’m out of my league here.
and yes, i’m the one who only has the internet. you can tell by how vehemently i’m defending my turf here. oh wait.
later.
Lilith is rolling over in her grave
oh i meant not important.
What I find interesting beginning with post 29, is that like someone said the conversation on running essentially ended. The new conversation that took it’s place centered around “shenanigans” discussing various ideas that make her sound like a high school girl who is looking for attention. If running sucks then go discuss something else. And if you need some other myspace/facebook site to worry about, then start a stream of discussion on that lame topic. Maybe if you tried running, you’d figure out that the internet is cool but once you’re posting 100 times in an hour span–you might just have a problem.
Would we solve everyone’s problems by having posts for free reign of comments? I do think we need to stay on topic with comments as much as possible.
Rat - I think we have a community that is, in general, Lord of the Flies-ish, so it’s a little hard to balance things at times. People do like to have fun and I’m sure you’ve appreciated a lot of the humor that happens in the comments section.
Shen & Lu Sid - I know Rat sounds a little like the prison guard, but I think there is a need for us to stay on topic.
Now, if we start doing posts and call them say, “Free for All” could we move some of the crazy banter into a thread that is more appropriate?
Right now comment ranking/threading are in the pipe, but it’s going to be a while before we implement any major technical changes. I think that should help non-addicts digest all the content on this site.
Now, can everyone be nice to each other and not fight?
Why the hating on runners? If you don’t want to see runners on the mall — don’t go there. You’re asking runners not to run on the mall. When was it designated your personal paradise?
Telegram to the overly-image-conscious: it’s not about you, and it’s not about being seen. Maybe the only reason you go to the mall is to show yourself off, but that’s not the case for me or any runners I know.
I find the mall a nice place to run (when it’s not too crowded), maybe for the same reasons people find it a nice place to hang out. There are no cars there. It has wider sidewalks than Market or Water Streets (and looks nicer too). It has lots of trees. The ten-miler runs down the mall. The marathon and half-marathon end there. The running company sometimes puts water out at the West end. Some people like it because it’s relatively flat. Others like it because it feels safer than deserted streets.
I couldn’t agree more
/gotta run!
Come on people, seriously?? Yes, sometimes threads descend into nonsense. Yes, sometimes people are silly and post complete non sequiturs. But if that wasn’t true this site wouldn’t be what it is. And I love what it is, that is until nasty, childish insults start flying about.
If you want to go back on topic, go back on topic. Don’t say something nasty to another Villain thereby causing the tread to fly completely off the rails. If there are still people who want to talk about something, they will. If not, then why can’t we be silly or use the space to talk about something else? Some of us sit in windowless cubes all day staring at computers. Sure, the insights and the gossip get me through my day but so does the humor and frivolity that people bring. Sometimes I want to post something totally random, because well, I do. At least Shen’s post actually had something to do with cVillain and it’s posters. Lord knows mine often don’t. If you don’t want to read the random information, don’t. Is scrolling past something really that difficult?? And yes, sometimes our random posts are based on the fact that some of us know each other outside the interwebs. Is that really so bad? We don’t bite (hard). Most of the people on this site had no idea who I was a few months ago and now I consider a number of them my friends. I think that’s amazing. If you’re not a complete ass-hat we would love to be your friend as well. Even if you cherish your anonymity, fine, we can still be online friends. There are plenty of people on here I’ve never met in real life but who make me laugh hysterically or post something interesting on a regular basis, and I appreciate that. But being nasty to people is not a good way to make friends. That’s no less true on a blog than it is at a bar.
I’m not saying everyone should agree all the time. Part of the beauty of this site is we have so many differing opinions and the ability to express them. But descending into name calling and nastiness isn’t fun for anyone to read. And once it starts, it’s so difficult to return to sanity.
/Rant over. Sorry. I’m tired and cranky.
/Go ahead. Flame on. I’m going to bed.
And while I was composing my rant, Thor posted a very intelligent reply.
I would just hate for the humor and random delightful information that comes up to be stifled by needing to stay on topic and only on topic. That said, I like the “Free for All” idea.
Sorry I’m so cranky Villains. Now I really am going to bed.
Now Thor, how about the Hash? I’ve missed running boozed following the chalk, and drinking out of my new sneakers. I miss yelling On, On, whenever I make it to the next chalk mark. But best of all, I miss drinking my butt off after running.
Can we find out if there’s a local following? I’m willing to join.
there is a local following. i’ve not gone in many years, but i’m sure they still drink beers. you should internet them.
@ 68: try this… http://www.hhhweb.com/database/hashpage.asp?hashno=271
call the GM listed under “contacts” and he’ll set you up. you should try to make it out to the golf hash if you can - it’s not cheap, but if last year was any indication it will be well worth it. (i’d go, but closing night for the play i’m in occurs on the same date)
@ 66: thank you for using the word “asshat”. you’ve made my day (no, really!). also, i agree with everything you said, up to and including the crankiness. and the not biting hard.
…right then…
@64, it’s not about image. When I run I look like an idiot no matter where I do it. I slobber all over myself and I’m constantly making a very high pitched whining sound when I’m sucking air. All I’m saying about running from one end of the mall to the other end is this–aren’t there much better places to run in this fine city than through a crowded street. And yes there are no cars there, but there are generally lots of people, construction going on, restaurants with tables, dogs everywhere, then there’s the FLUTE player who’s French or Canadian or something, there’s the TAROT CARD GUY sprawled out with some teenagers, lots of other musicians with harmonicas and buckets and guitars, and also merchants who peddle there wares even on the coldest days.
Obviously you are allowed to do whatever you want to do, I just would never want to run there–it seems a little ridiculous.
Try running on the Rivanna trail, or around UVA. It’s safe, it’s nice to look at, and it’s not an obstacle course.
you can’t forget about tarot card guy!
these guys should have action figures and trading cards.
did you see that? i just made a million dollars.
I was joking earlier about the image thing. I actually prefer to not be seen, cause people expect you to stop and say hi. That’s what’s so painful about running through the mall. Also, I think it should be avoided as a courtesy to the pedestrians (walkers) who are out to use it. You can’t ride your bike there or skate there, maybe you should run either. It’s a safety thing like around a pool. I’m going to avoid it from now on.
the magic rat: I woke up this morning with a nagging since of guilt. I was feeling under the weather yesterday and have a tendency to try a promote any and ALL commenting here (and protecting anyone who frequently posts or promotes the site), regardless of content (as long as it is nice). I simply felt you were a little harsh, but I reacted just as badly and that was wrong. Thor touched on the subject, and actually before I read his comment I thought it myself, there is just nowhere to post general comments. Sometimes you just want to talk with your fellow villains.
I do apologize for my harsh words. I can understand your frustrations. I would also like to note though that your act of “lashing out” wasn’t really the best method to get your message across either (I understand I jumped in the middle and did it too). I also agree with #66, as it is just as easy for you ignore the topic change and move right back to the discussion.
I am sure after seeing all this, and considering his little comments on all this, Thor will be adding a place for everyone to make off topic comments, to alleviate this problem in the future. Again, I am sorry.
PS-And you people wondered why I didn’t want to be babysat at the Pub Crawl? Just look at father Thor’s comment on all this? Geeez…what kind of muck can we run with him constantly watching? Yes, I did just use muck.
When the muck is amok, nobody wins.
HEY. I’m just trying to be nice!
@63 - You are way off-topic, buddy
@66 - You’re brilliant. Thank you
@75 - You were at the crawl. Did I give you your nametag?
I think most of the “off-topic” comments are more on-topic than you might think. Most are not apropos of nothing, they either indirectly related to the main post or directly related to a comment, not always the main point of a comment but to a phrase or word or thought included in a comment. Point being, it would be difficult if not impossible to segregate this “banter” in its own post.
That said, I am more than willing to give it a shot. Anything to make things easier for everyone else
“Free for All” could we move some of the crazy banter into a thread that is more appropriate
In theory, yes. Probably, no.
I am so guilty with regard to this subject (no, not the running, the sillyjacking) it is not to believed.
I need an intervention.
no - no,no,no intervention….
so why you say nono, lolo?
oooh. its that song, isn’t it?
Sillyjacking, I like that. I just might use that all the time. So there I was sillyjacking around and ………………
http://cvillain.com/2008/03/19/free-for-all-version-10/ <— intervention
@78 I was not at the crawl. You did not give me a name tag. Sorry…
You can give me one next time.
I’ll agree that it’s best to avoid running on the mall when busy — but often it’s not, like mornings, or this evening. I think the pool safety comparison is kinda reaching, though. If you prefer to go elsewhere — great. I go those places too, but like the variety.
Myspace is so over anyway. Start a friendster account why don’t you.