Author: Doublemint

  • Supersize Me

    Twenty four gluttons for punishment rolled up to Dogpile this morning, hungry for a beatdown. Here’s what they found in the Happy Meal box:

    Warmarama: mosey to the near crop circle; welcome, disclaimer, SSH x 20, IW x 10, Russian Soldiers x 10, Don Quixotes x 10, Freddie Mercuries x 20, Flutter Kicks x 20; APDs x 10, merkins x 10; grab a coupon and mosey to the Carillon field to start

    THANG 1: Quarter Pounder With Cheese
    i. mosey w/ coupon 25 yards, 25 x 2 count American Coupon Hammers; Bernie Sanders back;
    ii. 50 yard mosey, 50 x squat presses; Bernie Sanders back
    iii. 75 yard mosey, 75 x 2 count mountain climbers; Bernie Sanders back
    iv. 100 yard mosey, 100 x SSHs; Bernie Sanders back to 25 yard line
    v. Murder Bunnies back in. Take the coupons to the far crop circle for

    THANG 2: Fries and Rings and Tots
    Partner up for triple check. PAX 1 runs to Ha’Penny Stage and back, PAX 2 coupon curls, PAX 3 coupon WWIIs. Three rounds. Stash coupons and mosey to amphitheater for

    THANG 3: Are you gonna finish that shake?
    Ascending incline merkins: Step 1 = 1 merkin, Step 2 = 2 merkins, etc. Audible called for time and blasted upper bodies at 10.

    BTTF for Old Man Stretches™ and 10 burpees OYO.

    Numbers, names and YHC took us out.

    NMMS: Prayers for Pavarotti’s family and the healing of his cousin, David Patterson, who was struck by a car while commuting on his bike and is in a medically induced coma. Upchuck has deets on how to donate to support covax efforts in India. Gomer Pyle previewed the upcoming annual medical mission trip to the Honduras – organized by the Friends of Barnabas Healthcare for Children group. A worthy effort – YHC donated previously and will do so again. Tclaps to Phonics for headlocking a colleague. Have a great Mothers Day tomorrow, gents – let’s show those Ms and Momz in our lives how much we appreciate them. It was a privilege to lead today; you guys crushed a varsity level workout.

    SYITG! Doublemint

  • Shake n Bake

    Like Cal and Ricky Bobby, a dynamic duo left it all out on the track today. Here’s how it went:

    800m mosey from BWES to Swamp

    400 warmup

    800 fast on turns, moderate on straight

    400 recovery

    800 fast on straights, moderate on turns

    400 recovery

    800 moderate lap, fast lap

    400 recovery

    800 moderate lap, fast lap

    400 recovery

    800 fast lap, fast lap

    400 recovery

    800 mosey BTTF

    numbers, names, YHC took us out

    NMMS: prayers for EF Hutton’s speedy recovery. YHC appreciates all the support as we mourn my sister’s passing. F3RVA definitely got me in the right place to be able to help my family through.

    Make it a great one!!

  • Trifecta

    Two thoroughbreds and a clydesdale put themselves through their paces at the Swamp – here’s how it went:

    . 5 mi mosey from BWES to the swamp

    4 x 400 = slow start to fast finish each lap

    2 x 400 = moderate pace recovery

    4 x 400 = fast on the turns, moderate on the straights

    2 x 400 = moderate pace recovery

    400 = 3/4 moderate, 1/4 fast

    400 = 1/2 moderate, 1/2 fast

    400 = 1/4 moderate, 3/4 fast

    400 = fast all the way

    .5 mi mosey BTTF

    Numbers, names, YHC took us out.

    NMMS: YHC is planning to make River Run Reboot a regular thing. Will come prepared with a track workout du jour but would welcome some company and neighborhood routes (e.g. Riverdowns, OG Tarrington, Twin Team hill repeats — well, not those ….)

  • 3rdF Service Opportunity: Historic Evergreen/East End Cemetery Cleanup

    3rdF Service Opportunity: Historic Evergreen/East End Cemetery Cleanup

    Gents – after Dogpile this Saturday (4/3/21), I’m heading out to the East End with the 2.0s to do some heavy lifting for a good cause. The community service organization that oversees the event offers volunteer slots from 9-10:30 and from 10:30-12. Please join if you can! Here is a description:

    Historic Evergreen Cemetery is a historic African-American cemetery, created in 1891 and located in Richmond’s East End. East End Cemetery was established in 1897 next to Evergreen Cemetery. These cemeteries are the resting place for many of Richmond’s African-American leaders of the 19th and 20th centuries, including Maggie L. Walker, Hezekiah F. Jonathan, John Mitchell, Jr., Rosa D. Bower, and Rev. J. Andrew Bowler. There are an estimated 23,000 plots in Evergreen and East End, most of which have become overgrown after over 40 years of neglect. Clean-up activities have been conducted at Evergreen and East End Cemetery for several years. We are walking in the footsteps of some amazing volunteers – including family members who gave their time to hold the line for years. Thank you!

    signup link is here: https://www.handsonrva.org/opportunity/a0C1J00000JENbZUAX

    Make it a great one!

    Doublemint

  • Fields of …. Glory

    A dirty and soon-to-be slushy dozen posted to No Toll to see what was up. Here’s how it went down:

    The THANG: grab the shovel flag and mosey to the lower parking lot for Old Glory –

    Two laps around all fields (1 mile)

    • corner 1: merkins x 20
    • corner 2: jump squats x 20
    • corner 3: burpees x 10 (x 20 if you’re a Davillian)
    • corner 4: WWIIs x 20

    AMLAP in 20:00 minutes

    Two laps around all fields (1 mile) to Double Your Pleasure™️

    BTTF for Merkin Ring of Fire and some old man cool down stretches.

    Numbers, names, and YHC took us out.

    NMMS: “…the mind changes and converts every hindrance to its activity into an aid; and so that which is a hindrance is made a furtherance to an act, and that which is an obstacle on the road helps us on this road.” Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 5.20 (trans. G. Long (1862)).

    The PAX found many obstacles on the road this morning – mid 30s temps (a/k/a 70 degrees and sunny), wet-ass ice fields and a Q determined to run through them and do burpees. As individuals and a group, the PAX adapted, overcame and embraced the suck — pushing themselves and each other to do something hard instead of easy; to get more comfortable being uncomfortable.

    When life cuts you or those you love a raw deal, will you raise your hand and say “I got this”? You can find an answer in the Gloom.

  • If a Polar Bear crawls up a hill, and no-one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?

    If a Polar Bear crawls up a hill, and no-one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?

    The answer is “yes,” and it sounds something like a groan mixed with a strangled fart. Because that’s what it was.

    YHC posted to a Bettie Weaver ES parking lot populated only by icicles and slushy rain puddles, notwithstanding the forecast of 70ish and sunny-ish. At the appointed time, YHC shed the comfy confines of his car-sack to get going, having learned from previous experience that lingering around an elementary school parking lot dressed in head-to-toe black can sometimes be … misconstrued. According to the Riverton Neighborhood Watch report, here’s how it went:

    Warmarama: Mosey to the BWES covered entrance for COP: SSH x 20, IW x 20, Russian Soldiers x 10, Helicopters x 10, DQ x 10, Freddy Mercuries x 20, APDs x 20, Iron Cross x 5 each side.

    Thang 1: Headlamp on and mosey to Twin Team hill. Polar Bear (bear crawl 5 faces then merkin) from cul-de-sac to the third mailbox, then Bernie Sanders (a/k/a reverse shuffle through the slush) the rest of the way up. At the turn before the top, note the ice sheets, the fragile 49 year old ligaments and bones, and call a tactical withdrawal. Bernie Sanders back to the mailbox, Polar Bears back to the cul-de-sac, pausing occasionally to ponder whether splashed merlot would freeze on contact with the ice, or sort melt partially through and make a half melted chunder puddle. In the spirit of full disclosure, by end these polar bears devolved into some sort of four-point, shuffling deadman hang punctuated occasionally by a Carolina Dry Dock. The form police would be calling in their SWAT team.

    Thang 2: Mosey carefully back to the BWES covered entrance for 11s – 10 x crab cakes, lunge across, 1 x merkin, etc.

    BTTF for self-numbering, self-naming and prayer of gratitude.

    NMMS: While having a PAX around is always preferable, sometimes a solo post does YHC good – its an opportunity for YHC to see if he can do the right thing instead of the easy thing for 45 minutes when nobody else is watching. YHC is convinced that pays dividends in all areas of life. SYITG!

  • Battdeaux

    Two stallions traded the fart sack for a 70 degree and sunny morning at Forest Hill Park. Here’s how it went:

    Warmarama: mosey to corner of 42nd and Forest Hill Ave for SSHs x 20, IWs x 10, Helicopters x 10, arm circles x 15 x reverso, Freddy Mercuries x 20, APDs x 10.

    The THANG: mosey to the sledding hill for 11s – 1 x hand release merkin, up the hill, 10 x Dying Cockroach Quixotes (DQs supine on the deck), etc. to 10 x HRM and 1 x DCQ.

    Mosey to coupon garden for Coupon Lindsay: 10 x coupon squats, carry coupon to far pylon by the maintenance shed, 30 x coupon curls, etc. to 30 x coupon squats and 10 x coupon curls.

    Mosey to pickleball court for 4 Corners (High Class Escort Service Style – come back to the same/first corner each time, but don’t add the intervening exercise sets — that’s for hourly hotels and truck stop bathroom stalls):
    – 10 x WWIIs
    – 20 x American Hammers
    – 30 x Heels to Heaven
    – 40 x Flutter Kicks

    BTTF for some Old Man Stretches. Numbers, names, YHC took us out.

    NMMS: Prayers for Boberry’s sister’s s.o. – got a positive COVID test and hoping for the best. YHC was glad for the company this morning — it’s easier to embrace the suck when you’ve got someone pushing you and supporting you at the same time. And that goes for the hours between 06:16-05:29 as well …. SYITG!

  • Chop wood, carry water, do pullups, merkins and squats…

    Five dudes sought enlightenment in the gloom at Twin Team; here’s what they got instead:

    Welcome FNG, disclaimer, oral indemnification, liability waiver and assumption of the risk agreements (legally binding and enforceable in all 50 states!)

    Warmarama: IPR up Twin Team hill and back.

    The THANG: mosey to the playground for some Murph. Ten rounds of

    • 10 pullups OYO
    • 10 merkins IC
    • 15 squats IC

    Mosey BTTF by way of a 400m detour around the Swamp for some cool down stretching.

    Numbers, names, YHC took us out.

    Announcements – final push for the shoe drive; bring ’em to Dogpile tomorrow! Prayers to lift up Offshore and his family with the passing of his MIL.

    NMMS: YHC saw an open Q at Twin Team, noticed that it was the end of the month and figured it was time to start bringing back an old favorite. Tclaps to Greenbow for bringing out FNG Adam (Bagman). Coming out of the gates with a run up Twin Team hill and the Murph is no joke. Make it a great one, caballeros!

    Doublemint

  • Lasagna Party

    Lasagna Party

    YHC had some free time on his 49th birthday before a dinner reservation, so what better way to spend it than by Breaking Bread and sharing some celebratory cheer with the Medical Respite residents. Here’s how it went:

    Warmarama: 20 minute run to Kroger for Lemonade/Iced Tea 2 Liters x 2, cupcakes x 12, caesar salad kit + tupperware bowl x 2, and lasagna fixings.

    The Thang: preheat oven to 350. Brown 1.5 lbs ground beef and 1 lb hot italian sausage and 2 minced garlic cloves, drain and add crushed tomatoes x 28 oz and tomato paste x 12 oz, 2 TBS basil, 2 TBS dried parsley 1 tsp salt and simmer 20 min. In medium bowl, combine 2 beaten eggs, 3 cu. cottage cheese, 1/2 cu. parmesan cheese, 2 TBS dried parsley, 1 tsp salt. In 9 x 13 pan, assemble:

    1. layer oven ready lasagna noodles
    2. layer cottage cheese mixture
    3. 8 oz. sliced mozzarella
    4. half of meat/tomato mixture

    repeato and top with grated parmesan. Bake 20-30 minutes until top bubbles.

    Mosey to 180 Belt Blvd and start unloading grub. MedRespPAX having smoke break in parking lot offers to help carry bags, learns that it is dinner and expresses deep gratitude. Site Q Barbara receives dinner and $15 Starbucks gift card and expresses appreciation for efforts of Upchuck & F3RVA.

    NMMS: YHC echoes everything Upchuck has said and written about how much the Medical Respite folks appreciate any time and effort that we put in to share our blessings with them. Just as a brutal 1stF beatdown will bring you closer to the PAX who sweat through it with you, humble 3rdF engagement with people who need a helping hand will bring you closer to those whom you serve and to the best version of yourself. For the scholarly minded, in a recently published article in the Journal of Positive Psychology (“Prosocial behavior increases perceptions of meaning in life”) Nadav Klein wrote:

    The present results appear to coincide with well-known
    aphorisms suggesting that to find meaning in life, one
    must be motivated by something ‘greater’ than oneself.
    In philosophy, Ralph Waldo Emerson is quoted as saying
    that ‘the purpose of life is not to be happy’, but rather ‘it is
    to be useful’ to others (Brown, 2000). In literature, Charles
    Dickens (1864) echoes a similar sentiment through the
    main character in the novel Our Mutual Friend: ‘no one
    is useless in this world who lightens the burden of it for
    anyone else’. In religion, the Bible suggests an association
    between prosociality and meaning in life (e.g. Galatians,
    5:13–14) and Buddhism promotes benevolence (mettā),
    sympathy (muditā), and compassion (karuṇā) as essential
    qualities necessary for enlightenment. The conventional
    wisdom that meaning is generated by being useful to
    other people appears to have solid empirical foundations.

    http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2016.1209541

    TLDR: To live third is to live well. SYITG!

    Doublemint

  • Nuthin fancy, just a beatdown.

    Nuthin fancy, just a beatdown.

    I’m not knocking 12 count pickle-scorp-merks, or 60 minutes of frog jump Tabata basketball, but sometimes playing it right down the middle is what you need. So here’s what awaited twenty seven stone cold gloom warriors at Dogpile this sunny and 70 degree morning:

    Warmarama: mosey to the near circle for welcome, disclaimer, welcome FNG Billy, then down to business: SSH x 20, helicopters x 10, Russian Soldiers x 10, cherry/collard pickers x 10, Don Quixote x 10, merkin x 10, Hello Dolly x 10, Rosalita x 10

    The THANG

    1. Plank Ladder: mosey to Carillon field, PAX lines up in single file plank down the field; the Six does 3 hand release merkins and IP runs to front of the line. Repeato to the end of the field, all PAX Bernie Sanders back.
    2. Two Ring Circus: mosey to far traffic circle, bear crawl around it. Mosey to near traffic circle, crab walk around it (audible called to alternating 10 lunges/ 10 crab walks), recover to front of Carillon.
    3. Fun With Coupons: Mosey to the bak of the stage, you know what time it is:
      • Coupon Elevens: 10 x coupon squat, carry coupon to the other edge of the stage, 1 x coupon WWII, etc.
      • Coupon Touch a Tree: Partner up; PAX 1 coupon curls while PAX 2 runs san coupon to touch prescribed number of trees; flapkack. Rounds of 3, 6, 9 trees. No more questions, Upchuck.
    4. Lindsay: Stow the CMUs and mosey to Death Valley for some reps and running: American Hammers x 10, run down and up, mountain climbers x 30, repeato until American Hammers x 30 and mountain climbers x 10.
    5. Step Show: mosey to the amphitheater, box jump to top.

    BTTF for some stretching, numbers, names, announcements and YHC took us out.

    Announcements: Shoe drive continues – bring your mens/kids footwear to Gypsy, Spit, Honeydo, or Dr. Tryhard. Breaking Bread opportunites now increased to 2 day per month – see Q sheet or Upchuck for deets. Prayers for Toto’s family as they look after his mother; prayers for EF Hutton’s dad’s swift recovery. Beer Mile for Sgt Hogan tonight 20:00 at Carillon – Faceplant, Handshake, other VMI VIPs will be in attendance.

    NMMS: Strong work today, PAX! A warm welcome to Bubbles (“Hemorrhoid” is still available!) – you’ll never go back to Seal Team Inc. again.

    May our practice become the path,
    May the path become the way,
    May the way dissolve confusion,
    May confusion become wisdom.
    – Gampopa, 12th century Tibetan Buddhist master