Author: Dr Tryhard

  • A Dozen Flowers for our AO’s 5 Year Anniversary

    The most beautiful 12 roses an AO could possibly ask for showed up as a fragrant fifth anniversary gift. The AO reciprocated with a lovely walk down memory lane as DTH re-created the very first Forge sweat fest from April 4th 2019. Here’s how you properly feed a bouquet:

    The THANG: 

    WARMERAMA: 

    • Mosey a few lot laps with variable movements then circle up
    • Welcome & Disclaimer
    • x5 Burpees – Happy 5th Anniversary!
    • SSH x10 IC
    • DQ’s x10 IC
    • Ball Dippers x10 IC
    • No Cheat Merkins x10 IC
    • Freddie M’s x20 IC
    • DR. W’s x10 IC

    COP #1:

    • Mosey down to the handicap rails
    • x5 Burpees – Happy 5th Anniversary!
    • Partner up for x3 rounds of x10 Jerkins & x10 CliffHanger Merkins

    COP #2:

    • Indigenous Peoples Mosey to the cul-de-sac, last man Karaoke’s to the front 
    • x5 Burpees – Happy 5th Anniversary!
    • Circle up in Elbow Plank and review the F3 Mission, Credo, and Core Principles …about 30 mericans awarded for failure to recite properly…
    • Sweat Angels x15 IC
    • Crab Cakes x15 IC
    • Partner up to complete x3 sets of: x15 PLT’s & x10 Squerkins each

    NEED AN EASY WAY TO REMEMBER THE 5 CORE PRINCIPLES? Just remember the FORGE!

    • FREE
    • OPEN TO ALL MEN
    • RAIN OR SHINE
    • GUYS ROTATE THE Q
    • ENDS IN A COT

    COP #3:

    • RUN (not mosey) the straightaway, then Bernie up to Mount Chaplain
    • x5 Burpees – Happy 5th Anniversary!
    • Partner up for a DORA
    • x100 Merkins, x200 Squats, x300 LBC’s
    • Moving partner Bear Crawls up the hill, then runs back down to switch

    BTTF:

    • RUN (not mosey) BTTF
    • 1 minutes of High & Low Flutters
    • x5 Burpees – Happy 5th Anniversary!

    COT:

    • Counterama #12
    • Namerama
    • Announcerama (see Comments)
    • YHC took us out in Prayer

    NMS:  Apart from YHC, today’s Forge Anniversary party hosted an entirely different dozen than 5 years ago – amazing how many PAX have enjoyed the Forge over the last 5 years! Lots of positive commentary about the rapid fire pain fest, and a few raised eyebrows bringing back the Squerkins. YHC is extremely thankful to such an amazing band of brothers that regularly attend and help lead the Forge. Let’s keep the momentum going to grow SOJ! Yours, DTH

    Announcements (SEE SLACK!)

    • TwinTeam tomorrow with PFT training
    • FERGIE has his VQ at Dogpile Sat 0600
    • Next Ruck opportunity will be 6am at Rockwood prior to a Big Rig Beatdown
    • TUE 4/9 NTB Ruck-friendly Q
    • TIE 4/9 SOJ Town Hall – 8pm at Cap Ale off Midlothian – bring your ideas/concerns/updates
    • RUDY has hosted VQ 4/25 at Timberwolf, and we’re actively recruiting to get EVERY AO doing a VQ that week! 

    Prayer Requests:

    • Warby with a new eye diagnosis

  • Huge Logs

    Nine GTE brothers converged for a short OTB ruck and to do some experimental hefting of new logs. We brought Sandy and passed her solid 60 pounds around the PAX while rucking a big neighborhood loop. The PAX ended up in the woods behind Casa de DTH to discover a freshly felled dead pine tree with 16’ and 19’ trunk segments waiting for a ride. The PAX shouldered the 16’ segment and carefully maneuvered her out of the woods into the back yard. The PAX were ordered tallest to shortest and each PAX had 1-2 guys to rotate with, leaving 5-6 guys shouldering the log. It was manageable, but some good lessons learned just taking the log for a walk around the property. The PAX then made an effort with the heavier 19’ log but didn’t get it fully off the ground. The plan is to chainsaw off the bottom 5’ to see whether 14’ of this thicker piece of trunk might serve as our 2nd GTE log option. TCLAPS to my brothers showing up to help assess the log situation. We’ll do this again real soon. Yours, DTH

  • Vertical & Hairy

    The night watch nine assembled at the Bell Isle parking lot just as the last light of day descended to the West and the skyline of City lights welcomed the night. With a refreshing Spring breeze stirring our spirits these GTE HIM’s conquered the following terrain:

    The THANG: 

    RUCK-FREE WARMERAMA: 

    • Form up at the base of the Grass Hill
    • Variable movement up and down the hill a few times – run, burpees, run, bear crawls, lunges, run, bernie, etc
    • Rucks ON
    • Welcome & Disclaimer
    • Let’s GO!

    THE INITIAL RUCK:

    • Quick march across the swinging bridge to Bell Isle and proceed 1.5 times around the broad gravel outside loop

    COP INTERMISSION:

    • Rucks Off, Stretch
    • Don Q’s & Imp. Squat Walkers IC
    • Variable Upper Body reps holding rucks

    THE VERTICAL & HAIRY RUCK:

    • Biodome led the PAX up some steep treacherous muddy rooted trails around the central heights of Bell Isle – no hobos or psychos encountered, and no PAX slipped into the quarry. 

    RETURN RUCK:

    • On the double back around the island, over the bridge, stop for pictures, and back to the parking lot.

    THE GRAND FINALE:

    • Find a tiny rock at the bottom of the hill with “John 3:16” painted on it – verse recited for the PAX 
    • Run up the hill, walk around the pond, run up the 2nd hill, cross the road, run up the third hill to the war memorial, take a Rocky style picture of the conquering warriors
    • Stopping time at just over 90min total

    COT:

    • Counterama # 9
    • Namerama
    • Meaningful words shared by YHC regarding patriotic and religious freedoms, the power of CSAUP bonds, and enthusiasm for the GTE to come
    • YHC took the PAX out in Prayer

    NMS:  It is a powerful experience to be accompanied by such a faithful band of brothers enthusiastically achieving new heights together. And just think, this amazing 90 minutes was just a fraction (about 1/8th to be precise) of the real deal happening in 32 days! With the right men beside you, nothing is impossible. Yours, DTH

    Announcements (SEE SLACK!)

    • Wed 0530 RUCK from Huguenot HS – among other rucking fun, we’ll be hefting a large log a short distance. Come on out… it’ll be fun… 😎💪🔥

  • Sandy pushin us over 100

    8 gloom warriors took to the Rockwood trails for a 1 hour ruck training opportunity – today’s challenge were two sandbags, one 50 pounds, the other 60 pounds, which were passed between the PAX every 100-200 yards. For those of us already carrying 50+ pound rucks, we definitely went slower than usual also hefting the Sandies. McRib found us toward the end having enjoyed the surprise blessing of prayerful solitude. I appreciate this perspective – while he could have been disappointed to be unable to find the PAX for most of the hour, he instead embraced the opportunity as a blessing to get some quiet time with the Lord. If we look at life, no matter the hardships or frustrations, Jesus always provides a silver lining – we just have to maintain a Kingdom perspective to perceive it. As always, appreciate your company and conversation brothers. Yours, DTH

    #SOJ 💪 !!WHUA WHUA!! 🔥

  • Monsoon Ruck

    Six SOJ studmuffins donned their rucks and embraced the soaking suck as they put in a full hour of Rockwood speed-rucking. Two stops were made to first exhaust the quads with ruck squats, then later Mudslide led the PAX working the upper body through a variety of ruck-holding reps. TClaps to these HIM’s not only embracing the monsoon ruck but then going on to conquer the flesh with a truly challenging Florence beatdown. Getting stronger TOGETHER! ~DTH

  • Swift Currents

    10 F3RVA brothers locked arms to forge the swift currents of The Crossing. Conditions were gusty, but quite sunny and 70-ish, and the PAX gave superb effort to complete this high-intensity beatdown:

    The THANG: 

    WARMERAMA: 

    • Moseyrama loops around the Annex Lot and circle up
    • Welcome & Disclaimer
    • Variable IC Reps to get the muscles warm top to bottom

    COP #1: 

    • Mosey to the sloped end of the main parking lot
    • FATBURNER LINDSEY (double the reps)
    • SSH’s 60-50-40-30-20
    • Mtn Climbers 20-30-40-50-60
    • Run between top & bottom of lot

    COP #2:

    • Mosey to the front of the church
    • WALLORAMA
    • People’s Chair, Milkers x20 IC
    • Hoedown’s x10 IC
    • Dirty Hookups x10 each side IC
    • Donkey Kick-offs up to 20
    • Hip Slappers x10 IC

    MOSEY around the church, stopping under the main entrance awning to circle up in plank and review our F3 Mission, Credo, and Core Principles.

    COP #3:

    • Discover some cones conveniently spaced apart in the South Lot
    • Parter up for DORACIDES:
    • x100 Ball-Dippers (2-ct)
    • x200 Mericans
    • x300 Oblique LBC’s (alt sides as needed)

    Mosey BTTF for COT:

    • Counterama # 
    • Namerama
    • Announcerama (see Below)
    • WHITEWATER took the PAX out in Prayer

    NMS:  Solid numbers continue to post for the newest hottest AO in RVA, and these PAX put in some tough work this evening tackling a behemoth of a beatdown. Most of the PAX discovered their exhaustion point during the Wallorama, if not in some of the other COP’s. You don’t know what you are, or aren’t, capable of until you’re pushed to discover it. SYITG, DTH

  • Heavyweights

    5 SOJ HIM’s rucked a few miles of Huguenot Flatwater this morning, all wearing more weight than they’re used to. Slightly slower pace/mile, but sufficiently challenging and excellent conversation. Also, a big WELCOME BACK to our brother XO, an ex-Navy guy who makes heavyweight rucking look easy. SYITG fellas, DTH

  • Trimming the Fat

    14 PAX completed this morning’s beach season abb burner, including two FNG’s and a brother from down range. Here’s the Thang:

    WARMERAMA: 

    • Mosey onto the BBall court & circle up
    • Welcome & Disclaimer
    • Variable IC Reps and a Perimeter mosey
    • Mosey out to the plush Field #1

    SIX PACK OF DIAMONDS:

    • Reps completed at each corner of half the soccer field, with x6 Rounds completed
    • x6 WWII
    • x12 DTH’s
    • x18 Am Hammers (2-ct)
    • x18 LBC’s 
    • x12 Dr.W’s
    • x6 Kimchi Twists

    BUDDY COUNT-DOWN:

    • Partner up to complete reps from 5 down to 1, with sets separated by a run between sides
    • x5 Buddy WWII’s, Run, x5 PLT’s each, Run back
    • x4, run, x4 each, run
    • ETC

    BTTF for COT:

    • Counterama # 14
    • Namerama
    • Announcerama (see Below)
    • YHC took the PAX out in Prayer

    NMS:  In the words of our Australian-born Irishman FNG, nicknamed DANNY BOY, “Twas a grand time!” Heavy on the abbs and light on the back and shoulders is what the good Doctor prescribed for himself after one too many recent rucks with coupons. Well done NTB headlocking Danny Boy into the fold, and also TClaps to DEALER for bringing out FNG #2 nicknamed BROMANCE. Seriously, ya’ll should have heard the love sonnet delivered by Dealer describing their lifetime of closer than blood brotherhood. Finally, also want to give a shout-out to SNIPER, posting from downrange for a few days – waaaayyy too cool of a nickname, but YHC got the impression he could easily kill you if you insulted him, so welcome SNIPER! He’ll be at SOT tomorrow and TIMBERWOLF Thursday. As always gentlemen, it gives me great joy to lead you into the harder things – appreciate ya’ll showing up! 💪❤️👊 ~DTH

    Announcements (SEE SLACK!)

    Prayer Requests:

    • Family and friends with cancer and other difficulties – prayers for healing and for the Lord to lead us in serving them in their time of need

  • Every Day Pain

    The pre-dawn gloom of Forrest Hill Park welcomed 11 GrowRuck warriors to an epic beatdown. With only 47 days left to train for GTE #47, today’s challenge was a taste of the real deal, but only 1/6th the duration. Here’s how these HIM’s turned green to celebrate the holiday and conquer the flesh:

    ROSIE’s “WARM-UP”: 

    • Warm up on the tennis court – SSH, Ukrainian Soldiers, Helicopter, Imperial Walkers.
    • PT test prep with 30 HRM and 35 WWII’s.
    • Over to the hill for 11’s – Squats at the top, Mtn Climbers at the bottom. 
    • Finish at the bottom and bear crawl up half the hill and lunge the rest. 
    • Circle up for some weighted OH press, cleans and squats.

    THE RUCK LOOPS:

    • DTH directs the PAX to the coupon trailer to collect x3 Logs (8’ segments of telephone pole), and x3 Sandbags (weights of 25#, 50#, 60#)
    • PAX rotate Implements of Woe as needed
    • Ruck down the paved path alongside Forrest Hill Ave
    • Once pond is reached, PAX un-shoulder burdens and Speed Ruck Loop #1
    • Plank it up – Mission Challenge, x5 Merkins awarded each time a PAX member messes up stating the F3 mission …20 merkins completed
    • Loop #2 carrying the logs&bags
    • Plank it up, merkins awarded for messing up the Credo …15 merkins completed
    • Loop #3 another speed ruck
    • Plank it up, merkins awarded for messing up the 5 Core Principles…5 merkins
    • Final Loop #4 carrying logs/bags, stop at the long paved road up to the parking lot
    • Plank it up, hold plank while all together reciting the F3 Mission, Credo, and 5 Core Principles 
    • Re-shoulder Implements of Woe and Ruck them aaaaaalllllll the way up the hill and back to the trailer. 

    GRAND FINALE:

    • Each PAX collect a cinderblock from the coupon trailer
    • Circle up near the stone House to complete IC reps of Overhead Presses, Straight arm lifts, Pulls, Skull Crushers
    • TUG OF WAR – split pax 5v6 with House Party and Mudslide as anchors on each end. HP’s team of six easily yanked the other team over the line. x10 Burpees for the losers while the winners do Squats.
    • Round 2, the extra man goes to Mudslide’s team… but then the House Party team of 5 still yank us over the line easily… HMMM. Burpees again (vomit a little in mouth)…
    • Round 3, Dealer is called to join the losing side. House Party doesn’t look worried as his team of 4 takes on 7. Finally, Mudslide’s team gains a win. Everyone does 5 burpees.
    • Pick up the cindies and ruck across the field to the far hill – MURDER BUNNIES to the top of the hill. 
    • Carrying cindies overhead, run back down the hill and up the other side, then return cindies back to the coupon trailer.
    • Mosey BTTF for COT

    COT:

    • Counterama # 11
    • Namerama
    • Announcerama (see Below)
    • BIODOME took the PAX out in Prayer

    NMS:  Well, that was hard – like, harder than The Hardest Mile level of hard. Definitely wouldn’t have done it without you HIM’s, and only bummed we didn’t get the whole lot of the GTE-Registered PAX out there to experience it. Good number of guys out of town or sick/recuperating, but we’ll do this again in a couple weeks. SUPER stoked to have SABLE’s HC on Registering today, and BIODOME is a SC that’s steadily getting hard. Proud of you men! SYITG, DTH

    “Do something every day that you don’t want to do; this is the golden rule for acquiring the habit of doing your duty without pain.” Mark Twain

    Announcements (SEE SLACK!)

  • Fast-N-Hard

    Nine speed-ruck studs looped Rockwood a few times this morning, stopping a couple times for variable squats, and also completed 50 yards of Polar Bears up a hill. GTE training continues – some will be ready when the day comes. Keep posting fellas! 💪🫵🔥~DTH