Author: Bodo’s

  • Whence Comes the Light

    Since the neolithic dawn of humanity, men have seen the Winter Solstice as a moment of numinous significance in our collective journeys around the sun. Four men and two other men gathered in the deep dark of the day of the longest night to celebrate the diminution of the light and summon the sun to another year of radiance. This is how we celebrated the solstice together after some warming COP:

    The Death and Rebirth of the Sun. Elbow plank around a flickering candle, representing the deep fires of history that have warmed our souls through the dark winters of time. Upon the call of the Q, the Pax lept to their feet and ran 10 paces, performed 10 burpees, and ran back to the radiant center to elbow plank again. Next round: 20 paces / 20 jump squats. Third round: 30 paces/ 30 merkin. Fourth round: 40 paces, 40 monkey humpers. Fifth round: 50 paces, 50 LBCs. End this ritual with picklepounding round the candle, which made Swirly uncomfortable.

    The Extension and Diminution of Time. We performed with our bodies a physical representation of the the singular point which is December 21, at which time has collapsed into its thinnest span, and also upon which it begins its extenuation outward towards its fullest length. We began with 7 squats at each corner. Next round: 14 Merkins at each corner. Next round: 21 LBCs at each corner. Next round: 14 Carolina Dry Docks each corner. Final round: 7 Burpees each corner

    The Magical Properties of the Yule Log for Summoning the Coming Warmth: In our final excercise we summoned the magic of the yule log as told by the ancient Germanic tradition. In triple check fashion, P1 performed Lutenitent Dans, P2 performed American Hammers, while P3 carried the yule log to the pavillion and back.

    Numberama, Namerama, YHC took us out with one final Sostice tradition. While gathered around the candle of hope, we cast any unwanted woes and vices from the year past into the flame, and invited renewal. Saab threw his knee pain into the fire, YHC threw in his negative attitude toward his teenagers, and Swirly resolved to not be so passive and to get in more fights.

  • Whispers in the Dark

    This morning brought 8 bootcampers and 2 walkers, one of whom recently returned from a muddy adventure down under. After some jolly greetings and mockery, the pack of 8 moseyed up to Commonwealth and Hanover.

    COP: Given that we were conducting the COP in the middle of a sleeping neighborhood, we were mindful of our volume. Have you ever led a COP in which everyone whispers? This is what we did, and it made Swirly very uncomfortable.

    Burpee Alley: Run the length of Hanover from Westmoreland to Shadwell and perform 3 burpees at every lamppost. Mosey across Grove to parking lot of Jenny Maragy realty.

    Wall to Wall: Partner up at Jenny Maragy’s lot. Round 1: P1 runs to wall and performs 10 2x Chicken Peckers, P2 Wall Sit with overhead press. 3x. // Round 2: P1 runs to wall and performs 10 Donkey Kicks, P2 wall sit with milking the cow (or yak). 3x. // Round 3: P1 runs to wall and performs 10 2-count dirty hookups, P2 Wall sit with toes/knees/hands in the air. 3x. Mosey east down Grove to Lock Lane. 

    Lock Lane: Occasional stoppages to pick up the six and conduct ab excercises. Stop at the First Pres Parking Lot.

    Merkin Plank Jax Routine: 1 Merkin, 4 Plank Jax. 2 Merkins, 8 plank Jax. All the way up to 5, back down again. Everyone was groaning like a wounded ox.

    Mosey back to the flag, stopping at various points for COP.

    Namerama, Numberama, YHC took us out after some wise words from TYA and some good advice about why never to poop in a box.

    SYITG

  • The Legend of the 240

    The Legend of the 240

    In 1974, the Swedish carmaker Volvo began to produce the legendary 240 model. The last 240 ever made was on May 5, 1993. Over the 20 years of production, 2.8 million units were built. The 240 remains the most reliable car ever built, with many of them still on the road running on their original drivetrain, a lot of them surpassing 500,000 miles. Many people know that the 240 is the safest car ever built, but did you know that the 240 is also incredibly fast? The standard 240 Turbo with a 2.1 liter engine could reach 62mph in 9 seconds, which matched the likes of Chevrolet Camaro Z28 and Porsche 944. By the end of the 1980s, the 240, otherwise known as “The Flying Brick,” had 6 wins out of 14 races in the European Touring Car Championship. Safe, fast, indestructible. The glories of this legendary car leads us all to inexorably exclaim, ALL HAIL THE 240!

    So it is no surprise that at some point the glorious 240 should participate in an F3 workout. Today was the day, as 12 Westhoes gathered in the gloom at Hoedown. After some some standard COP on the blacktop and some complaining about getting our backs wet (c’mon Oyster), we commenced with the first routine, the 1st and 10s. Run 10 yards, perform 1 burpee and 10 merkins. Run to the end of the blacktop. Run back, stop at the 20 yardline, perform 2 burpees and 9 merkins. And so on.

    Next was the main event after a mosey to the Third Church middle lot. There in the darkness sat the queen of the hour, the legendary 240. After dividing into 4 perfectly even groups of 3, we laid out the 4 stations. Group 1: SSHs. Group 2: WW2s. Group 3: Block Thrusters. Group 4: Push the Volvo around the circular lot, with one guy steering and the other 2 pushing. This proved to be more difficult than YHC anticipated, as the lot has more incline than we realized. 3 Rounds of 4 stations. We managed to get nearly through but audibled at 6:15 before the last group finished. Back to the flag for COT.

    Announcements: Pigskin’s last Q tomorrow at Heartbreak Ridge as a 70 year old! We’re really hoping Pigskin will stop being so lazy when he’s 71.

    THE LEGEND OF THE 240 ENDURES

  • PreBlast: Thanksgiving Day Convergence

    PreBlast: Thanksgiving Day Convergence

    Come out to Mary Munford on Thanksgiving Day at 6am for 60 minutes of beatdown, led by our very own Mudslide. Join us afterward for some 2nd F, coffee and maybe even something to eat. ** Let’s do be mindful of the fact that we are parking in an urban residential neighborhood and folks will be sleeping! ** SYITG

  • Exploding Batteries and Speed Bumps on 64

    7 regulars and 2 down rangers posted this morning at the most classic AO in Richmond, according to the site Q. Here’s what transpired.

    COP: Deadman hang / Helicopters / DQs/ Imperial Walkers / Ukranian Soldiers / APDs / LBCs / Hand release Merkins / Pickle Pounders / SSHs. Mosey to blacktop.

    7 of Diamonds (Handshake’s favorite): Run from corner to corner, 7 Jump squats // Next round: 14 Merkins each corner // 21 LBCs // 28 squats // 21 two count flutter kicks // 14 Merkins // 7 Burpees.

    Triple Check: P1 Dips // P2: Wall sit // P3: run to pull up bars, 3 pull ups, run back.

    COT: American Hammers IC, Up Downs for 1 minute.

    Numberama, Namerama, YHC took us out.

    NMS: Some serious mumble chatter this morning, including some mockery and scorn, such that the out of towners were a bit amazed that the Q was able to hold his composure. YHC has learned the skills of composure and distress tolerance among the likes of Handshake and Upchuck.

    A great morning, so fun to work out with you guys, welcome Callahan and Stump Jumper!

  • That time Saab massaged Swirly’s feet

    3 fit men + 4 broke brigade brothers commenced 45 minutes of mary at 0530. After the foursome embarked on their little walk, the three of us engaged as follows:

    COP on the corner of Grove + Commonwealth

    Lindsay: 30 Dips at one set of tables, 10 Step ups at the other, and so on. Mosey to the field.

    Tree Run: run the tree line, peform 5 merkins at each tree. Next round: 5 LBCs. next round: 5 squats. Most to Tennis Courts

    Dora: 100 Jump Squats, 200 flutters, 300 SSHs. Mosey to pull up bars

    Climb and pull: 25 mountain climbers, 3 pull ups. repeat for 4 rounds. Back to the flag.

    End with up downs.

    NMS: Post COT conversation included lots of fond memories, hence the BB title.

  • wet and dark on the outside, dry and sunny within

    Ten men too legit to quit started a new week in the dark at Hoedown. Conditions were wet in the drizzle but the pax were dry in our hearts. Here’s what went down:

    COP after a long mosey to the back office lot at 513 Forest Ave. COP which included the standard fare, ending in Merkin Jax 1:4 ratio : 1 merkin, 4 plank jax, 2 merkins, 8 plank jax, up to 5/20 and all the way back down. Mosey to middle Third parking lot.

    Triple Check #1: P1 Block Thrusters // P2 American Hammers // Parter 3 run the lot

    Triple Check #2: P1 Mountain Climbers // P2 Reverse Crunches // Partner 3 Murder Bunny across the lot and back. Mosey back to TES

    11s: 10 Burpees. Bernie sanders up the slope. 1 WW2 with feet against fence. Continue with 9 and 2, and so forth. This proved to be difficult and painful.

    Numberama, Namerama, YHC took us out.

    NMS: Prayers for Splinter’s dad today for his pacemaker procedure. Thanks guys for coming out in the wet!

  • Back to the Grind

    11 Monday marauders started the week in the dark at Hoedown. Here’s what went down:

    COP in the first Third Church parking lot: standard fare. Mosey to the other side of the church to the Loop Lot.

    Endless Escalator: Exercise 1, Run a Lap, Exercise 1 + 2, Run a Lap, Exercise 1+2+3, Run…..Exercise 1-10 and Run a Lap (20 reps of each exercise)

    1. Merkins (200 total)
    2. Squats (180)
    3. WWIIs (160)
    4. Carolina Dry Docks (140)
    5. 2x Mountain Climbers (120)
    6. Crunchy Frogs (100)
    7. Block Curls (80)
    8. Block Thrusters (60)
    9. Jump Squats (40)
    10. Burpees (20)

    At 6:11, YHC called for a stop, and the whole PAX did 10 Burpees OYO. Mosey back to the flag. COP with Flutterkicks until time called.

    Numberama, Namerama, YHC took us out.

    NMS: Wanted to grind the pax as we all get back to the grind of the fall routines. Took this one out of the Hutton-exicon with a few small changes. No one got through all 10 exercises, thus the 10 burpee requirement at the end. Prayers for students and teachers heading back to the school today!

  • Everything Hurts

    3 bootcampers and 1 walker started the day at 45MOM for a beatdown. After a collective complaining session about how sore we all were from soccer, Ultimate, Pickleball, and knee surgery, the beatdown commenced as follows:

    COP

    7 of Diamonds: On the blacktop, run from corner to corner, 7 Plank Jacks // Next round: 14 Merkins // 21 LBCs // 28 squats // 21 two count flutter kicks // 14 carolina dry-docks // 7 Burpees.

    Triple Check: P1: American Hammers, P2: Dips, P3: Run to pull up bars, 5 pull ups, run back.

    Curb Crawl: Bear crawl back and forth, up to 3 Merkins, back down to 1.

    COP: Al Gores, 5 Burpees to Finish

    Numberama, Namerama, YHC took us out.

    NMS: So happy that these three dudes showed up today. Grateful to be above ground and moving our bodies, starting the day whole. Peace+

  • Just the two of us

    Señor Frog and YHC teamed up as a twosome for 45 MOM. Here’s what went down on this hot humid morning.

    COP on the blacktop.

    Blacktop 100:. Run 25 yards, perform 25 Jump Squats, run back.
    Run 50 yards, 50 American Hammers 2x, run back. Plank //
    Run 75 Yards, 75 2x Monkey Humpers, run back. Plank. //
    Run 100 yards, 100 Flutters, Run back. Plank. Mosey to Field.

    Chutes & Ladders: Run to treeline.
    Run two trees, Bernie Sanders back one tree, 5 merkins. Then run two more trees, back one tree, 5 more merkins. Rinse and repeat to the last tree.
    Round 2: Same program with Squats.
    Round 3: Same program with LBCs.

    Dora: Back at the blacktop. 100 WW2s // 200 Carolina Dry Docks // 300 SSHs

    End with some pull ups, stretching and 5 Burpees

    Good morning to workout with a buddy and start the day strong. SYITG.