Author: Chaplain

  • Whose Idea Was This?

    The B Dub Run Club was at again – getting some chilly miles in before Twin Team. We took our standard, non-hilly route up Robious and back. Lots of great conversation topics including a laser that can cure any ailment.

  • There’s More Than One Way To Milk a Cow

    6 strong gathered in the frigid darkness of Bettie Weaver Elementary. I forgot to set up the requested firepit and S’mores beforehand – my bad. At any rate, here is a brief summary for your viewing pleasure:

    Mosey to back of the school for Warm-up: Jazzercise, Don Quixote’s, Mummy Kicks, Copperhead Squats, Mario Jumps, Karoake, Lunge Walks, Bernie Sanders

    Exercise One: Humping Circuit
    50 Pickle Pounders, 100 Alabama Prom Dates, 200 Monkey Humpers. Lots of good form displayed on this one.

    Mosey back towards the flag for Exercise Two: 8 Corners
    10 HR Merkins, 20 WWII Situps, 30 Shoulder Taps, 40 SSH’ss, 30 Flutter Kicks, 20 Carolina Dry Docks, 10 burpees.

    Around the school again for Exercise Three: Ring Around the Toadie – Frog jump around the perimeter of the basketball court – OOF

    To the Wall for Exercise Four: Dirty Hook-ups, Milkers, Side Slappers, Chicken Peckers, Hoe Downs, People’s Chair, etc.

    Mosey to the benches for 25 step-ups and 25 incline merkins.

    BTTF for some calf raises and a few hip stretches until time expired.

    YHC lead us out.

    Final Thoughts.: Strong work by the PAX this morning! Last Call and Bullseye were the heroes we all needed – wearing shorts. As is customary at the Lounge; lots of great mumblechatter and a fun atmosphere.

    SYITG

  • The Savior Wore an Eagles Hoodie

    At 6 pm, I began the dreaded solo mosey around the WEAG parking lot. For 5 plus years YHC has managed to avoid doing a bootcamp alone. It appeared my luck had ran out……..when Birdman miraculously emerged from the gloom. Here is a brief summary of the workout for your viewing pleasure:

    Mosey lap around the church then an assortment of warm-up exercises, cadence be damned.


    Exercise one: Wall work – in honor of DTH: dirty hookups, balls to the wall, hoedowns, chicken peckers, milkers??, hip slappers. Might have missed a few.

    At the back of the church: muscleman circuit featuring incline merkins, decline merkins, dips, and HR merkins.

    Exercise Three: ab circuit – same as last week: 25 WW IIs, 50 Heels to Heaven, 75 flutter kicks, 100 LBCs

    Ran around for some additional mileage.

    Burpees to close out the session.

    YHC took us out.

    Final Thoughts: Appreciate Birdman making it out. If you ever want to talk politics, this is the man to get with. We also discussed a potential VQ. There were mentions of fartleks and sprints – sounds awesome.

  • Holiday Pre-Party

    I was ready for a potential solo workout this evening as many of our regulars were out of town/busy………But House Party was already warming up the pavement when I arrived. We added a couple college kids, including an FNG. It was time for House and YHC to show these young guns how we roll in F3 RVA.

    To the back of the church for Warm Up: Side Straddle Hops, Ukranian Soldiers, Helicopters, HR Merkins, Carolina Dry Docks, Alabama Prom Dates, Freddy Mercuries, Lunge Walks, Mario Jumps, Karaoke, Broad Jumps, Bear Crawl

    Exercise One: Dora with 100 Merkins, 200 Dips, 300 Squats

    Mosey to the Covered Walkway for an Ab Challenge:
    25 WWII Situps, 50 Heels to Heaven, 75 Flutter Kicks, 100 LBC;s

    Head back towards to Flag for a Curb Crawl. Man at the end does 2 burpees, then runs to the front.

    Bernie around the parking Lot, then finish the last few minutes with Super Crabs.

    Numbers/Names/Announcements

    YHC tooks us out

    Final Thoughts: It was great seeing Groupie out for second street week! He is a VCU student and works for G Force. He brought his younger brother, who we named Shortstop. Reportedly, Shortstop is a 20 year old former high school baseball player who is trying to get back in shape. He is also the tallest person in the family. Both of these young men were looking strong, even as they struggled to keep up with the two Crossing legends. Have a great Thanksgiving!

  • Retrofit

    What started as House Party and YHC circling the parking lot, eventually expanded to a group of 6. The wet conditions could not dampen our enthusiasm…………..the following is a brief summary for your viewing pleasure:

    Warm Up: A variety of standardized warm up exercises, all done in perfect cadence: Side Straddle Hops, Don Quixotes, Ukranian Soldiers, Arm Circles, Merkins, LBC’s, Shoulder Taps, Carolina Dry Docks, Stretching

    Mosey to the back of the Church for Exercise One: 4 Corners, prostitute style
    Exercises were Merkins, WW II Sit-ups, Squats, Side Straddle Hops

    Mosey to the sheltered front of the church, then do exercises outside of the shelter:
    Triple Check – Runner, Dips, Jump Squats

    Back to the flag for Plank Holding, merkins, and review of the F3 mantra

    Numbers/Names/Announcements/Prayer Requests

    House Party took us out

    Final Thoughts: No Mummy Kicks or Super Crabs today – decided to a do meat and potatoes/bread and butter style workout featuring some F3 staples. Wild Thing inadvertently bucked the trend by inventing Dip Humpers – lots of great potential names were thrown out for that one. Overall, the PAX were looking strong. It was good to see Wild Thing back out after a long hiatus.

    SYITG

  • The Piper at the Gates of Dawn

    8 of SOJ’s finest met in the surprisingly dark back parking of Rockwood Park. As usual, the park was busy with walkers, runners, and an elderly gentleman doing wall sits and Freddy Mercuries on a picnic table. Definitely need to sign that dude up for the group. But I am here to talk about a workout…….here is a brief summary for your viewing pleasure.

    Mosey to the Nature Center Parking lot for Warm-Up:
    Jazzercise, Ukranian Soldiers, Windshield Wiper, Freddy Mercuries, Alabama Prom Dates, Hand Release Merkins AND Mario Jumps, Lunge Walks, Lt.Dans, Hoppin’ Hillbillies, Mummy Bernie’s, Broad Jumps, Murder Gorillas – all across the parking lot.

    Mosey to the Concession Stand area for Exercise One: Tooth Fairies. These proved difficult on the extra wide stairs. Who designed those things? May have save that for the FORGE.

    Exercise Two: Clockwork Merkins on the Hill – 1 merkin at 1 o’clock, 2 at 2 o’clock, etc.

    Exercise Three: Quadruple Triple Check: Runner goes down the stairs and Bernie’s up the hill. Other exercises included Dips, Balls to the Wall, and Jump Squats. Having 4 on a team caused mass confusion.

    Mosey to the area beside the Dog Park for Exercise Four: Super 11’s!
    Run to the shed and complete both 1 (Pickle Pounders), and 10 (WW II sit ups), run back and do one Burpee. Follow the normal pattern while increasing burpees by one each round (work up to 10).

    Mosey to the Large Parking lot for Exercise Five: Catch me if you Crab
    Partner up: One PAX crab walks, the other runs to the end of the parking lot and back, then takes over the crab walks. Repeat until you hit the end of the parking lot. Enjoyed working with Steamer on this one.


    There was just enough time for Exercise Six: Victory Hill
    Sprint up the hill, jog back down. Next in line starts when the person is about halfway up. I am guessing we did about five rounds

    Back to the Flag as time expired: Numbers/Names/Announcements/Prayer Requests

    YHC took us out

    Final Thoughts: A great effort by all of the PAX this morning! Lockdown and Pierogi were flying through the Super 11’s. Mudslide’s Pickle Pounders were so powerful that he cut his elbow – might need to get a tetanus shot on that thing. This was the final day of the Latino Farmer’s Market – will definitely miss having them around. Next week we will be back at Starbuck post-workout. As always, it was an honor to lead.

    SYITG

  • A Wise Man Once Said: Set the Bar Low, and Always Run it Back

    13 strong at No Toll for some exercise and invigorating male community leadership. Here is a brief summary for your viewing pleasure:

    Mosey to the back parking lot for Warm-Up:
    Jazzercise, Bruce Lee Punches, Ukranian Soldiers, Australian Snow Angels, Alabama Prom Dates, Freddy Mercuries

    Across the parking lot: Mario Jumps, Mummy Kicks, High Knees, Butt Kicks, Hoppin’ Hillbillies, Open the Gate, No Cheat Broad Jumps

    to the Pavilion for Exercise One: Circuit Runs – stops included the first gate, “the bridge”, and the flag.
    Round One: 25 merkins, 25 WWII’s, 25 Bobby Hurley’s – run back
    Round Two: 50 Heels to Heaven, 50 Carolina Dry Docks, 50 jump squats – run back
    Round Three: 75 Flutter Kicks, 75 LBC’s, 75 Shoulder Taps – run back
    Round Four: 100 can’t remembers, 100 Side Straddle Hops, 100 Monkey Humpers – run back

    Exercise Two: Crab Walk across the grass field.

    Mosey back to the flag for Numbers/Names/ Announcements/Prayer Requests

    YHC took us out

    Final thoughts – It was a homecoming of sorts for YHC as I realized I hadn’t Q’d No Toll in almost 3 years. Strange considering it is the closest AO to my house. The PAX did an amazing job, despite some initial grumbling about running. The running was actually pretty effective in curbing the Chatty Kathy’s in the group. Doozy was the hero we all needed, lighting the path back to the pavilion. Strong effort by all.

    SYITG

  • Road Renegades

    With busy upcoming weekends, Draper and I decided to knock out a long(er) run as the Richmond Half draws near. We launched at 5am from No Toll and explored the various surrounding neighborhoods. Finished off with a lap around Johnston-Willis Hospital and the Lowes Parking Lot. Total distance was 9.2 miles.

    Post-run survey seems to indicate that a good time was had by all. The backblast title refers to us pulling up in identical Jeep Renegades. – crazy.

    SYITG

  • The Lab

    With only 2 PAX on hand – it was a great night to try some new routines. The following is a brief summary for your viewing pleasure.

    Mosey around the church and circle up for warmup: various exercises and we bagged the cadence.

    Exercise one: Off Campus Tour
    We made the semi-dangerous sprint across Parham Road. Through the neighborhood stopped at every mailbox for 2 burpees. 2 merkins at every minivan or SUV. On the way back switched to WWII’s and HR merkins. Got some curious glances from the locals. Ran back to WEAG.

    With 15 minutes left it was experimentation time. Lots of Slack comments about 16 count exercises. So we decided to develop a new 24 count option. It will take some practice – and should be unveiled at an AO in the future. Name possibilities included Admiral ChapHards and Double Dozens. Might have to work on that.

    Overall a great time was had by all.

    SYITG

  • Make Sure You Go Through the Tunnel

    We finally had a cold morning! For YHC, this represents ideal running conditions. After speeding into the parking lot at the last minute and providing the route – we were off.

    Down Mt Midlo
    Take the Staircase onto the path by the pond
    Through Midlothian Mines Park
    Up the Hill, take a left (or right) at the main road
    Find your way back however you want.

    At 6:15, everyone was accounted for.

    Numbers/Names/Announcements/Prayer Requests

    Final Thoughts: This was my first time leading MOT – we seem to have a nice core group that has risen from the ashes of Source of Truth. It sounds like we are going to have a strong turnout for the Marathon/Half Marathon next month.

    SYITG