Author: Bone Thugs

  • The Weight… 4 Years Later

    14 of some of the finest people I know showed up ready and eager for an anniversary beatdown. So not one to disappoint, it was time to stretch and add some merkins to our count for the Merkin Challenge. 

    Since we were called out by New Jersey, I didn’t know if we were supposed to be wreaking of Drakkan Noir while doing the merkins or what.  Anyways, I wagered a six pack of beer to the winner of the most merkins in 2 minutes, which turned out to be DTH.  Doozy kept time for the contest. 

    Next, we went to Mount Chaplin to Bernie uphill three times.  We finished up at the top and then we bear-crawled to the road, thus ending our warm up. 

    I had the PAX get into small groups for a one mile run.  The route was short, but it had three decent hills before the end. 

    When we got back, we took a few seconds to catch our breath and then head to the soccer fields for the return of the Dirty 30!  Everyone does one rotation of the circuit exercises of:

    30 LBCs,

    30 heels to heaven,

    30 World War II’s,

    30 Freddie Mercury’s,

    30 hydraulic planks,

    followed by a brief rest period of running to the amphitheater, box jumping to the top, running down the steps, and then returning to the group.

    This time I added a twist: Once everyone went through the exercises once, it became a triple check.   To celebrate the epic return of the dirty 30 and the birth of the Snuff named “Triple Dirty” , we did some more merkins and went back to the flag. DTH took us out.

    Moleskin:

    I don’t honestly have a good reason why I’ve never done an anniversary queue, but this year, I’m glad that I finally did one! I had been battling complacency lately, and I kept hearing in the back of my mind that I needed to remember. I needed to remember how hopeless I felt when this journey started, how I needed to be told that I would die if I did not change, that I had three great reasons to change who I used to be, that I had and have people in my corner, that the power to change was inside me all along but obstructed by my own mind. I also had to be reminded of the weight I carried not too long ago.

    We started the workout at the bottom and took it to the top of Mount Chaplin to speak on perspective. The run was to give the joy and therapy of running with your brothers, like I got with TYA and Hardywood. After the run, we talked about facing the hills, to look them dead in the eye like Swirly told me to! Lastly, the Dirty 30 was bought back to remember my first Q and to remember the comment that shook me to my core and forced me to seek help. At the flag, there was one last reminder of the weight I carried but as a wise farmer from Amelia told me: “We all need to be reminded of the weight we carry. You have the blessing of knowing what it feels like to move through life without it….” Let us do what we can to give that blessing to someone else. May we all keep looking for and helping those who need their purpose restored and having that compassion that makes a difference.

    I thank you all for your support, friendship and mentorship throughout these past four years. I love you all dearly, and I hope to give back to all of you as well! I am Bone Thugs, and I will see you at the crossroads.

    PS — Please post any announcements or prayer requests in Slack.

  • Nothing on Starlite, Switching to Thermal

    11 pipe hitters showed up armed and ready, full of Tiger blood for a good ole fashioned circus of Seal PT and war games at The Forge to celebrate the 32nd anniversary of the movie Navy Seals.  Fresh off the success of Platoon and before we knew that he was banging seven gram rocks, Charlie Sheen starred in this ’90s classic. YHC should have done his back blast sooner, because details are getting sketchy like the morning after a party at Charlie Sheen’s house.  (Are these jokes from 2011 doing anything for you?)

    Playing by our own set of rules like Lt. Hawkins, we went in hard and fast with the deflated boat (ran out of time to blow it up), heading straight for the logs; we ran around the nearest parking lot with them and then put the logs on the ground.  Everyone picked a parking space for some:

    Side straddle hops

    Smurfjacks

    Rocking Superman’s (assume the Superman pose and use your core to rock you back and forth)

    Seal Burpees (Burpees mixed with extra Merkins and mountain climbers.)

    Crossing the Line’s

    Log play:

    We broke out into teams and picked up the logs again for a four corners. 

    Curls for the girls

    Overhead presses

    Squats

    Run around the parking lot

    War Games:

    We split into two teams with a cooler full of ammo at the top and bottom of the hill. Team one defended the high ground, and Team two was on offense.   

    If you were hit with water, you had to do three merkins and return to your ammo supply to get back in the fight. We had three team matches and then the fourth was an all-out free-for-all.  

    Back to the flag for announcements and prayer requests.

    Thank you all for indulging me in my nod to pop culture. However, when you get the chance, read up on the history of naval special warfare!  You won’t regret it.  If you’re interested in a brief summary, copy the link: https://www.navysealmuseum.org/about-navy-seals/seal-history-the-naval-special-warfare-storyseal-history-the-naval-special-warfare-story/seal-history-origins-of-naval-special-warfare-wwii

    I was a radioman in the Navy, met a few Navy Seals, but never was one. I also didn’t realize until recently, there is a cottage industry of people who fraudulently pretend to be Navy Seals for monetary benefit.  Check out Retired Navy Seal Don Shipley as he busts these frauds and exposes them on YouTube.

    Lastly, we train at these AO’s not only to just prepare our bodies but also the mind. We are all in this fight together.  Even if you get knocked down, get back in the fight.  The only easy day was yesterday!  I am Bone Thugs, and I’ll see you at the crossroads. 

  • 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.

  • Preblast: Run, The Taxman Cometh!

    On April 15th, the road demands it’s pound of flesh. Pay your bill with the six or eight mile route that begins at RAMM and weaves its way through the hills of Spider Run. If you wish to give the road more, each route will have extra credit. Plan to arrive at RAMM at the amount of time it would take you to complete six or eight miles; we will still wrap at 6:15. Hope to see you there!

  • You know you can put it down.

    Having missed my chance to attend Dogpile, I decided to try that rucking that all the kids have been talking about. I grabbed my work backpack, filled it full of stuff, and off to Byrd Park.

    I threw the backpack on, and rucked it for an hour on the Buttermilk. I can see why people really like rucking, next to running, it really clears the head. I probably could’ve gone a little heavier, but I would like to try it again to be sure.

    When I got back to my vehicle, I found myself wanting to go further but had to get back. I even tried to sit down in the driver seat with my backpack still on. I said jokingly as I took it off, “You know you can put it down, dummy.” I drove home thinking about this poem:

    Equipment

    Figure it out for yourself, my lad,
    You’ve all that the greatest of men have had,
    Two arms, two hands, two legs, two eyes,
    And a brain to use if you would be wise.
    With this equipment they all began,
    So start for the top and say “I can.”

    Look them over, the wise and great,
    They take their food from a common plate
    And similar knives and forks they use,
    With similar laces they tie their shoes,
    The world considers them brave and smart.
    But you’ve all they had when they made their start.

    You can triumph and come to skill,
    You can be great if only you will,
    You’re well equipped for what fight you choose,
    You have legs and arms and a brain to use,
    And the man who has risen, great deeds to do
    Began his life with no more than you.

    You are the handicap you must face,
    You are the one who must choose your place,
    You must say where you want to go.
    How much you will study the truth to know,
    God has equipped you for life, But He
    Lets you decide what you want to be.

    Courage must come from the soul within,
    The man must furnish the will to win,
    So figure it out for yourself, my lad,
    You were born with all that the great have had,
    With your equipment they all began.
    Get hold of yourself, and say: “I can.”

    by: Edgar Guest

  • The Inaugural Soon To Be Named Run That Shall Not Be Named: Breakfast Club.

    Six warriors of the road arrived 30 minutes early on their steel horses for Wake N Bake™️, Breakfast at Tiffany’s™️, Paint it Black™️, Morning Wood™️ or just simply a run in the woods.

    We started at the flag, ran toward the nature center, took the loop trail through the woods, then back to the flag for an approximate total of 2 miles. We had to hurry back; Doozy said something about taking us to a Moroccan nightclub. Sounds like fun!

    Anyways, I am Bone Thugs, and I’ll see you at the crossroads.

  • F3 Night at the Diamond Preblast

    1. 2021 Hospitality Guide

    Nothing says summer like baseball, so let’s take over The Diamond on Military Appreciation Night and watch our Flying Squirrels take on the Bowie Baysox, followed by In-Your-Face Fireworks.  Gates open at 5:00 pm, with game time at 6:05 pm.  This is a family activity, so M’s and 2.0’s are strongly encouraged to come!

    I think we should leverage our numbers to get a good group rate. There are lots of options that we could consider, but it would be easiest to just get a block of tickets. However, here are, in my opinion, the best group options that are available:

    1. The Hogan Group Party Decks: featuring one of the best views at the diamond, each party deck comes with exclusive seating for you and your close friends, including 12 padded seats with cup holders. And 12 seats are along bar top rails, perfect for entertaining in a relaxed space.  

    Price: 24 tickets for $395.  There is a full catering menu available at an additional cost.

    Segra Picnic Zone:  the Segra Picnic Zone is the perfect place for hosting anything from small social gatherings to large corporate events. This exclusive area down the third base is perfect for work groups or families and features a delicious 2 hour all you can eat buffet.

    Price: $30 per person. Minimum of eight tickets must be purchased.

    I really like the Segra Picnic Zone, because this would give us all a great opportunity to fellowship before the game during the meal.  

    I have also received questions about getting a luxury suite.  The luxury suite costs $795, with a catering menu available at an additional cost.

    I attached the hospitality guide to this pre-blast (hopefully, I did it right), so all can also take a peek at the same content that I received.  Please comment with the appropriate route that you would like me to take.  I would like to have a head count and a choice by the 12th.

    See you at the crossroads,

    Bone Thugs

     

    “But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not; and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” Luke 22:32

     

     

     

  • Watergate Salad

    Gather around my friends and I will tell you a tale:  a tale of one man’s quest to lead a group of warriors without his winky. What could possibly go wrong?  Yikes.  So according to the guy that opened up the hottest fake restaurant in New York City, it went a little something like this:

    SO IT BEGINS:

    COP:

    SSH, DQ’s, Helicopters, Arm Circles, Scorpion Kicks

    THE Battle:

    ThunderCats: 

    1. Cat crawl on the parking lot line
    2. At end of line, 3 Super Burpees
    3. Lunge to the next line
    4. Repeato
    5. Reverseo

    Lazy DORA: (Group of 2, 1 partner does wall sits/alternates every 25 reps)

    x100 American Hammers

    x200 WWII’s

    x300 Flutter Kicks

    We ran around bus loop.

    Ran to the Second loop: Bear crawl, lunge, Bear crawl.

    Sprints:

    25%  High Knees

    50%  High Knees

    75%  High Knees

    100% Bernie Back, bonus 100% because it was so much fun.

    Back to the flag:

    2 burpees at each lightpole

    Core Ring of Fire

    Counterama 

    Namerama

    Announcerama (see Comments)

    Prayer Requests

    Closing quote:

    “Be content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.”  Lao Tzu

    YHC took the PAX out in Prayer

    “I do not think I’ll ever forget this Q!  While it started off well, I totally butchered the Dora!  I thank everyone for being patient with me and helping me laugh my way through it!  The laughs were a plenty! Thankfully, we pressed on and finished strong!

     Lord, sometimes we go off the rails and make mistakes in life, but with your grace and the encouragement of the people who love us, we are given the opportunity to rise up, learn from it, and finish strong.  We just have to take it.  

    Greet the day with a grateful heart, and I will see you at the crossroads!”

  • Bone Thugs: Wanted for crimes against Cadence.

    Two superheroes and a boat anchor successfully alluded the fart sack, but bore witness to the absolute murder of cadence and numbers in general. So according to Arnold’s goldfish Gilbert, it went a little something like this:

    The THANG:

    COP #1:

    Mosey to the top of Mount Forge
    Welcome & F3 Disclaimer
    To warm up we pulled a Chappy (except not as hard): run down to the ticket booth, stopping at each parking lot to perform warm ups: 3x 5’s and 10’s, DQ’s, helicopters, imperial walkers, scorpion kicks.

    Staying in the final parking lot for :
    Round 1: ThunderCats (cat crawl on a parking lot line)
    Round 2: 20 hydraulic planks
    Round 3: 20 Jerkins

    COP #2:

    Back to the top of the mount, making stops at each parking lot for:

    25 LBC’s or WWII’s
    50 V-up’s
    75 American Hammers

    COP #3:

    Mosey to the commons area for a box jumping Triple Check:

    P1 (timer) box jumps then runs around the Amplitheater
    P2 does Freddie Mercury’s
    P3 does Donkey Kicks

    25 Copperhead Squats and 3 SOJ Squats

    COP #4:

    Back to the flag for a Hot Potato: Ring of fire
    (Person randomly calls out an exercise and count, while the packs does invisible jump ropes.)

    COT:

    Number-rama #
    Namerama
    Announcerama (see Comments)
    YHC read a poem: (see the video at the top)
    We each talked about what we learned from 2020.
    YHC read another poem:

    How Did You Die?
    by: Edmund Vance Cooke

    Did you tackle that trouble that came your way
    With a resolute heart and cheerful?
    Or hide your face from the light of day
    With a craven soul and fearful?
    Oh, a trouble’s a ton, or a trouble’s an ounce,
    Or a trouble is what you make it,
    And it isn’t the fact that you’re hurt that counts,
    But only how did you take it?
    You are beaten to earth? Well, well, what’s that?
    Come up with a smiling face.
    It’s nothing against you to fall down flat,
    But to lie there — that’s disgrace.
    The harder you’re thrown, why the higher you bounce;
    Be proud of your blackened eye!
    It isn’t the fact that you’re licked that counts,
    It’s how did you fight — and why?
    And though you be done to the death, what then?
    If you battled the best you could,
    If you played your part in the world of men,
    Why, the Critic will call it good.
    Death comes with a crawl, or comes with a pounce,
    And whether he’s slow or spry,
    It isn’t the fact that you’re dead that counts,
    But only how

    Prayer Requests:

    Pray for my parents who have COVID-19.

    Comments:

    YHC seemed to have had quite a bit of difficulty counting today, and I thank DTH and Fresh Prince for their patience.

    I was asked the question: if liberty and optimism could coexist, and I say yes more strongly than Meg Ryan did in “When Harry Met Sally!” It started with a comment from Flatline, which led to a text to Hardywood, which led to an encounter and run with TYA, which led to running with Hardywood, which led back to TYA and Swirly bringing me to the point where I can catch a glimpse of my full potential — liberating me from the sad clown and presenting me with the gift of a more positive future. All I ever had to do was reach out and accept it. My life is living proof that liberty and optimism can coexist!

    As my 45th birthday approaches, for the first time in over a decade, I am off cholesterol medication. My pants size went from a size 42 to a size 38. I am happier than I have ever been, because I know that I am not alone. It was important for me to end this year by saying thanks, and I want to say it to all of you! You all have made a difference in my life, and I look forward to going bigger with you in 2021! Happy New Year!

    Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

  • The Salty Oyster

    Just a bit down range in the salty town of Chincoteague, the Old Salt rose early for a 5k with the 2.0’s. He tried desperately to wake them, but the appeal of the fart sack was too strong, since they crushed it at the beach yesterday. Undeterred, the Old Salt heads out on his own 5k adventure.

    The weather was 70 degrees and sunny with just the right amount of oppressive humidity. Rather than continue this awful third person narration, I’ll just say that this is where my head was at:

    I have an amazing wife and kids! I am blessed to have them! Blessed to be in better head space to appreciate them more:

    “The man who finds a wife finds a treasure, and he receives favor from the LORD.” Proverbs 18:22

    “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them!” Psalm 127:3-4

    I am so thankful for the difference F3 has made in my life! I am excited for what the future holds for the PAX. Time to go big!

    “Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.” Proverbs 15.22

    See you at the crossroads,

    Bone Thugs