Author: Dr Tryhard

  • Thars Gold in Them Hills

    Well, that was quite the adventurous morning. The original Q NTB dropped out with the latest viral bug and Sable’s also still sick after world travels. YHC offered to Q if nobody else wanted it only to be shaken awake by the M saying “your alarm is goin off again” just 5min before the 0500 launch. So YHC texted L Woods the “coming in hot” message and launched into 16 layers to try and keep warm, only to find a permafrost on the truck blocking the windshield view. Showed up 3min late to find L Woods, PR, and Dealer taking a warmup lap in the lot. Then YHC was told nobody else had a route or desire to think of one, so it was “OK, well let’s go this way” having not actually thought of a route myself, but YHC was willing to see where the good Lord might lead us. Following the ends of our noses, mine being the only unprepared one not lit by a headlamp, we found a route across Huguenot and down into Bon Air, and YHC decided a jaunt through woods and new terrain would be fun. Well, we may have quietly trespassed a tiny bit and were then concerned for the pack of bloodthirsty howling coyotes that turned out to be a very upset toddler in a nearby house (probably freaked out by the ghosts of the woods), but we made it through swamp and bramble to climb hand over fist up the railroad tracks berm. Then YHC decide we’d try a little trail called “Don’t Surf” on Google Maps that turned out to be quite a nice mountain bike trail (inspiring the title of this BB), and by the time we exited the beautiful Bon Air woods we had just enough time to speed ruck the return route, all uphill as a straight shot along McRae Rd to COT and coffee at Einstein’s. Prayers for Dealer’s daughter turning six, and for PR’s BIL with early-onset Alzheimers, and for Wildcat. Discussion in Einstein’s revolved around various topics, but included some thoughts on habits, the 80/20 rule, substance use, and parents hotboxing THC with their kids on board. It’s a wild world we live in, and we can’t expect others to make the right choices, but we can live by example. Yours AYE! ~DTH

    Announcements (SEE SLACK!)

    • Monthly: Breaking Bread, Bridge
    • 12/6 Father Daughter Dance
    • 12/23 Rosie’s 12 Days – NoToll

  • 43 Turkish Getups!

    That’s right, the fastest growing new AO in RVA witnessed nine Huge-Bell-Toting HIM’s complete 43 Turkish Getups to celebrate the DTH Pain Train’s latest lap around the sun. Here’s a little outline for your reading pleasure:

    WARMERAMA: 

    • Mosey loop without bells and circle up
    • Welcome & Disclaimer
    • Variable warm-up Reps with and without the bells

    THE THANG:

    • Mosey down to the tennis courts
    • Round 1 – x13 Turkish Getups (bonus points for any PAX using the #50 KB for x3 getups)
    • Wait for the SIX doing KB hammers
    • Run up and down Love Hill without KB
    • Round 2 – x10 Turkish Getups
    • Wait for the SIX with WWII Sit-N-Press
    • Run Love Hill
    • Round 3 – x10 Turkish Getups
    • Wait for SIX with supine KB press
    • Run Love Hill
    • Round 4 – x10 Turkish Getups
    • Wait for the SIX with KB overhead Flutters
    • Final run up Love Hill carrying KB’s

    COT:

    • Counterama # 9
    • Namerama
    • Announcerama (see Below)
    • BOM Prayer – Gratefulness Theme

    NMS:  Happy Birthday to YHC! Broken bodies yes, but exuberant spirits will somehow power us through the day. Doing a few sets of TGU’s is no joke, but YHC was pumped to CSAUP these reps alongside such a great group of brothers. TClaps to NTB for joining YHC in the highly exclusive 50 pound TGU Club. Looking forward to seeing what other madness the Huge Bells Q’s come up with in the weeks to come. Yours AYE! ~DTH

    Announcements (SEE SLACK!)

    • Monthly: Breaking Bread, Bridge
    • 12/6 Father Daughter Dance
    • 12/23 Rosie’s 12 Days – NoToll

  • Time to Beat: 52min

    Game time decision – neither the 60# Sandy or the 50# KB made it out of the back of YHC’s Taco for this morning’s drippy walk through the dark woods. With just four PAX present, and HP going easy on his knee, we opted for a speed ruck around the perimeter loop of Larus Park – no shortcuts, no stops, 52 min in total time with the stopwatch starting and ending in the Einstein lot. This establishes a baseline time for other Q’s to try and beat in future. NTB had to bounce after COT to catch baby vomit before it sullied his angelic wife’s honor, while the rest of us enjoyed a long and coffee drenched discussion about a number of books. Happy Thanksgiving brothers. Yours AYE! ~DTH

  • Sting Operation

    A posse of 10 gloom officers attempted to join the sting operation of local law enforcement converging at The Forge, but after 15 minutes of the PAX playing frogger , and no fugitive FNG’s joining the beatdown, the cops moved operations over to the Middle School, and the gloom warriors claimed victory over the day in the following fantastic fashion:

    The THANG: 

    WARMERAMA: 

    • Mosey loop around the top lot and circle up
    • Welcome & Disclaimer
    • Warm-up Reps IC including a run to the top of the knolls and back

    COP #1:

    • Mosey to the bottom of Love Hill
    • QUARTER POUNDER
    • Run up to each successive light pole for given reps, Bernie back to start, hold for the SIX
    • x25 Merkins (x10 Wide, x10 Reg, x5 Diamond)
    • x50 Squats
    • x75 LBC’s (x25 Reg, x25 Oblique ea side)
    • x100 SSH’s

    COP #2:

    • Mosey to bottom of Handicap Ramp
    • OVER UNDERS
    • PAX line up to alternate hopping over and ducking under rail intervals

    COP #3:

    • Ascend MOUNT CHAPLAIN
    • Stop at each paved landing going up to complete x10 Merkins and x10 Heels to Heaven

    COP #4:

    • Mosey to the AMPHITHEATER
    • Partner up for a MINI DORA
    • While P1 does reps, P2 box jumps up and down steps to then switch
    • x25 Burpees
    • x50 WWII’s
    • x75 Flutters (2-ct)

    COP #5

    • Mosey up to the ECHO CHAMBER
    • x10 Hoedowns IC
    • x10 Donkey Kicks IC
    • x10 Hoedowns IC 
    • IC reps Loud and proud for the assembled cops

    Mosey BTTF:

    • Circle up to stretch and Review the F3 Mission, Credo, and 5 Core Principles 

    COT:

    • Counterama # 10
    • Namerama
    • Announcerama (see Below)
    • BOM Prayer
    • COFFEE!!! Thank you Snuff m’dear. 

    NMS:  It was quite the happening AO this morning with no less than 15-20 law enforcement driving around and through the AO at various intervals, inspiring discussion as to whether they were looking for a fugitive on the run, or just trying to decide where to meet up. The PAX discussed whether we would take down and hand over the fugitive, or welcome him to F3 as an FNG – this IS open to ALL men you know. Haha. Well, the beatdown kept the PAX moving and our spirits light, and YHC was particularly impressed with how loud and proud the PAX sounded as they counted off reps in cadence in the Echo Chamber. Thank you Snuff for the amazing coffee!!! Yours AYE! ~DTH

    Announcements (SEE SLACK!)

    • Monthly: Breaking Bread, Bridge
    • Thanksgiving Day – TWO options will be 0530 Timberwolf Ultimate Frisbee, and a 0700 pConvergence at Mary
    • 11/23 Alamo Chili Cookoff
    • 12/6 Father Daughter Dance

  • HB3 – Bell Bashers

    A swarthy seven SOJ studs swung their huge bells into the frosty gloom in the following HIMtastic manner:

    WARMERAMA: 

    • Mosey loop carrying KB’s and circle up
    • Welcome & Disclaimer
    • Warm-up Reps IC and a few stretches

    THE THANG:

    • Coupon mosey down to the best Turf field in RVA and line up on the TD line
    • THE GREMLIN – the nastier smaller brother of the classic Beast – usually shorter distances, but with movement activities between reps, and in today’s case, carrying KB’s
    • Round 1 – Lunge walk 20 yards between stops, x6 Goblet Squats at each of the six stops 
    • Round 2 – Bear crawl dragging Bell between 5 yard intervals, x6 KB swings at each stop
    • Round 3 – Overhead run between 20 yard intervals, with x6 KB WWII’s each stop
    • Round 4 – BELL BASHERS was a new one today – imagine crab walking, but with butt scooting backward along turf, alternating hands to pull along KB between legs. Used the 5 yard intervals for this nasty little movement, stopping for x6 Bell Hammers (2-count) at each stop
    • Round 5 – Shoulder carry the KB to run between 25 yards intervals, stopping for x6 Bell Merkins each stop
    • Round 6 – Last but not least, the PAX held their KB’s to hop (mini broad jump) between the 5 yard intervals, stopping for Bell Burpees at each stop (BB’s combine dropping for a Bell Merkin, the Hopping up to swing the Bell overhead)

    REVIEW TIME:

    • PAX took a few minutes to familiarize and practice proper Turkish Getup form

    Mosey BTTF and Circle up for COT:

    • Counterama # 7
    • Namerama
    • Announcerama (see Below)
    • BOM Prayer
    • COFFEE!!! (Thank you Snuff!!!)

    NMS:  There may not be a more spectacular way to start a new week than swinging Huge Bells with your favorite fellas. YHC diverged from the stationary KB routine and take the Bells on a little tour down to the field. The Gremlin beast is always a crowd favorite, and the movements and reps held the PAX to a higher level of pain than usual. Today’s novel little routine was the crabscoot KB pull, which was suggested to be called Ball Bashers by L Woods after we noticed Snuff actually crab walking with his Huge Bell sitting atop of his man parts. Snuff was prompt to edit the exercise name to Bell Bashers. Either way, the PAX put in some challenging work today, and YHC already has another 1000 ways to introduce KB’s to every Forge routine from the last 6 year. Keep posting gents! Yours AYE! ~DTH

    Announcements (SEE SLACK!)

    • Monthly: Breaking Bread, Bridge
    • Thanksgiving Day – TWO options will be 0530 Timberwolf Ultimate Frisbee, and a 0700 pConvergence at Mary
    • 11/23 Alamo Chili Cookoff
    • 12/6 Father Daughter Dance

  • Reacher VQ + x2 FNG’s

    Exciting times at The Crossing with our very own State Trooper REACHER stepping up to Q and both Chaplain and Birdman stepping up to bring an FNG. YHC was asked to write up a brief BB for Reacher, so here’s an effort to recall his completely random and made-up-as-he-went beatdown:

    The THANG: 

    WARMERAMA: 

    • Welcome & Disclaimer
    • Various stretches, a handful of merkins, and a run around the parking lot

    COP #1:

    • Collection of reps including but not limited to squats, merkins, holding elbow plank, and partnered up for PLT’s

    COP #2:

    • Triple up for a few cycles of derkins with feet resting on planking partner’s back and timer running a big loop

    COP #3:

    • Run down the hill and partner up for a few rounds of wind sprints up the hill, walking down, then a few rounds of bear crawls up the hill and walking down

    COP #4: 

    • Calf raises to exhaustion on a curb (Chaplain for the win), while those tapping early plank for the SIX

    COP #5: 

    • Mosey up to a grassy area for carious reps including WWII’s, LBC’s, and others – sometimes called IN CADENCE
    • F3 REVIEW BY DTH – PAX hold squat while we review the Mission, Credo, and 5 Core Principles

    COP #6: 

    • Back to the hill for lunges up and walk down, then backward lunges up, and probably other stuff I’m forgetting

    BTTF:

    • A few minutes of stretching

    COT:

    • Counterama # 7
    • Namerama – Welcome GRIDLOCK and DU HAST
    • Announcerama (see Below)
    • BOM Prayer

    NMS:  Reacher says he was glad for the opportunity to lead, and enjoyed flying by the seat of his pants to come up with a decent whooping for our two FNG’s. Chaplain’s FNG David works in engineering for traffic control – welcome GRIDLOCK! Birdman’s FNG is a young man working in politics and loves history and philosophy and speaks fluent German – welcome DU HAST! (some of you may remember this famous song by Rammstein). Way to put in the work fellas! Keep posting! 

    Announcements (SEE SLACK!)

    • Monthly: Breaking Bread, Bridge
    • 11/23 Alamo Chili Cookoff
    • Thanksgiving Convergence 0700 at Mary
    • 12/6 Father Daughter Dance

  • Full Beaver Mooners

    9 studly SOJ NOS brothers who all appreciate a big beautiful beaver (moon) gathered to ruck and chat as we do every week. No Q on the sheet, and nobody jumping forward to lead at 0500, so YHC grabbed the reins and launched into Larus. Enjoyed conversing all things hunting and venison processing with Dealer and the PAX exited the woods to take on some streets, bernie for the hills, squats for the SIX. Probably covered about 2.5 miles and ended a few minutes early for some quality coffeerama time. Thx for letting me lead gents. Yours AYE! ~DTH

    COT:

    • Counterama # 9
    • Namerama
    • Announcerama (see Below)
    • BOM Prayer – Gratefulness theme

    Announcements (SEE SLACK!)

    • Monthly: Breaking Bread, Bridge
    • 11/10 – NTB on Q for HUGE BELLS #2
    • 11/12 – brother BRU will lead the Ruckhenge crew
    • 11/23 Alamo Chili Cookoff
    • 12/6 Father Daughter Dance

  • Virgin Turf

    A 10-PAX of high energy HIMs shrugged off the fartsack to embrace a 40 degree DTH beatdown. After seeing the virgin turf of the new baseball fields during the ruck, YHC decided it was high time for breaking in new ground. Here’s a tough one for the history books. 

    The THANG: 

    WARMERAMA: 

    • Circle up in the lot for reps
    • Welcome & Disclaimer
    • Nancy Kerrgans IC
    • DQ’s IC
    • RUN to the bottom of the gravel road and back to circle up
    • Imp.Squat Walkers IC
    • Ukrainian Soldiers IC
    • RUN to the bottom of the gravel road and back to circle up
    • Tempo Carolina DD’s IC
    • Tempo Werkins IC
    • Tempo Ranger Merkins IC
    • RUN to the bottom of the gravel road and back to circle up
    • WWII’s IC
    • Heels to Heaven IC
    • Kimchi Twists OC
    • Oblique LBC’s ea side IC
    • Wilsons Wife

    COP #1:

    • Mosey down to the back baseball field fresh turf for a SEVEN OF DIAMONDS
    • Reps at each base, bear crawl to first, bernie to second, run to 3rd and home
    • x7 Burpees
    • x14 WWII’s
    • Intermission for a Plank Review of the F3 Mission, 5CP’s, an Credo
    • x21 Merkins
    • x28 Humpers
    • x21 Flutters (2-ct)
    • x14 Ball Dippers (2-ct)
    • x7 No Cheat Merkins
    • Variable reps completed at home waiting for the SIX after each round (Skinny Dip does NOT break perfect form just to keep up!)
    • (0740 by the time we finished – amazing how much time this eats up!)

    COP #2:

    • Mosey back up to the lot and line up for INDIGENOUS PEOPLES RUN
    • PAX moves at a run pace (not mosey), while last man drops for a burpee and sprints to the front
    • Progress galf way around parking loop

    COP #3:

    • VARIABLE STUFF MADE UP AS WE WENT
    • Lunge Walk a ways
    • Derkins on new concrete planters
    • Spider crawl down steep grass hill
    • Low crawl back up (just elbows and toes touching the ground)
    • Hoedowns IC on the wall
    • Run BTTF w Karaoke both ways, High Knees, Butt Kickers
    • Circle up at the flag for Hydraulic Planks IC

    COT:

    • Counterama # 10
    • Namerama
    • Announcerama (see Below)
    • BOM Prayer

    NMS:  What a great way to ring in the month of November! Solid number of Rockwood PAX for a cold morning, and special TClaps to a few guys who haven’t been out for a while but answered the call (Skinny Dip, Roadrash, and Dora). Someone in COT thought he said Skinny Di*k… nope, that would be DIP. Haha. Glad to choose the hard path with such a fine PAX of brothers – grateful for each of you! Yours AYE! ~DTH

    Announcements (SEE SLACK!)

    • Monthly: Breaking Bread, Bridge
    • 11/3 Launch HUGE BELLS (new KB AO at Forge location)
    • 11/23 Alamo Chili Cookoff
    • 12/6 Father Daughter Dance

  • the beginning of change…

    Where two or more are gathered…great things can happen. Big Rig joined YHC for a few loops around Rockwood and inspecting the new baseball turf fields while discussing deep matters of life change. The beginning of change is recognizing something needs improving. We all have blind spots and sometimes the things we most need to change we can’t see ourselves without the insights of a loving brother. YHC is thankful for Big Rig and so many others who have shown up, led by example, and earned a seat at the accountability table. We are stronger together brothers. Yours AYE! ~DTH

    “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”

    ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭6‬:‭2‬

  • The ‘ol NG gonna whoop ya!

    A salty dozen Forge vets truly embraced the suck this morning taking on the New Glory challenge. Their venerable Q threw down the gauntlet that completing three rounds in 30 minutes is the gold standard for badass fitness level, and these HIM’s showed UP! 

    The THANG: 

    WARMERAMA: 

    • Mosey loop around the New Glory course to review the expected exercises
    • Circle up at the flag for a brief warm up and stretch to get the body fully limbered up

    THE NEW GLORY:

    • The Forge’s own semi-regular fitness litmus test, to provide PAX the opportunity to monitor their individual physical progress
    • Timeframe: 30 minutes
    • Style: BEST form possible, You vs YOU!
    • THE CIRCUIT:
    • Starting point at the Shovel Flag
    • 0540 STARTING BELL
    • #1:  Complete x10 Burpees at the flag
    • #2-5:  Run down S.Coleman Rd to the Handicap Ramp, stopping at each light pole (x4 poles total on the right side) to complete x5 Hand-release Merkins
    • #6:  Bear Crawl halfway up the Ramp
    • #7:  Lunge walk to the end gate
    • #8:  Complete x20 Jerkins on the Rails
    • Run up Mount Chaplain, stopping at each new paved landing to complete assigned exercise…
    • #9 (Level 1):  x5 Burpees
    • #10 (Level 2): x10 Ball Dippers (2-ct)
    • #11 (Level 3): x15 Heels-2-Heaven
    • #12 (Level 4): x20 Squats
    • #13 (Level 5:) x25 Mtn Climbers (2-ct)
    • #14:  At the top of Mt Chaplain, complete x30 WWII’s, then run BTTF to begin the next Round 
    • THE GOAL: Complete as many circuit rounds as physically possible with good form until time is called at 0610.
    • NEW GLORY completion points have been posted on the F3RVA Challenge Spreadsheet, where PAX can review progress over the years! Link HERE:  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-L8e9W24ygnU0suaGyKxzi1PgPqY1CBd57hLrKTZI-g/edit?usp=drivesdk

    INDIVIDUAL STATS FOR TODAY:

    Doozy – 3.1

    AFB – 2.5

    Dookie – 3.0

    Snuff – 3.0

    Machismo – 3.3

    L Woods – 3.0

    Chaplain – 3.0

    Dealer – 3.1

    Tin Man – 3.0

    Singer – 2.10

    Salt Lick – 2.10

    DTH – 3.4

    COT:

    • Counterama # 12
    • Namerama
    • Announcerama (see Below)
    • BOM Prayer

    NMS:  Amazing effort by the PAX today with more HIM’s reaching the 3.0 goal than ever before! Unclear whether the Forge PAX fitness level is just that much better over the years, or if the badass gauntlet thrown out by YHC inspired some extra push, but either way WELL DONE FELLAS! Yours AYE! ~DTH

    Announcements (SEE SLACK!)

    • Monthly: Breaking Bread, Bridge
    • 10/25 Smoketree Zombie Run
    • 11/3 Launch HUGE BELLS (new KB AO at Forge location)
    • 11/23 Alamo Chili Cookoff
    • 12/6 Father Daughter Dance