Author: Fudd

  • Food, Fellowship, and unexpected blessings at Breaking Bread

    The M & YHC served Lasagna, Caesar salad, Garlic bread, desert and tea to 9 great folks this evening. We also sat down and ate a meal with a couple of great guys. God led me to sit down across from a man who will soon be getting both knees replaced and is also slated for back surgery. He’s homeless but should be getting an apartment soon. He’s in his fifties, his wife died 5 years ago and his son just died recently from Fentanyl poisoning. Despite all of this, this man’s faith in God was remarkable and inspiring. Most of you know I’ve been going through a tough time at work lately and talking to this man was exactly what I needed this evening. We each talked about the trials we’ve had to endure, the ones we are enduring now, and the burden of carrying on even when we don’t see a way through. He reminded me that God can get us through anything, and had always provided a way for him even though at the time he could not see that a way was possible. He made it a point to emphasize that we must give God our burdens…..we must release them in order for our good Father to do His work. This has been very difficult for me recently. It’s easy to get trapped in the cycle of obsessing about how you’ve been wronged, persecuted, and how you don’t deserve it. Well, Jesus didn’t deserve the scourging, beatings, the crown of thorns, or the cross but He endured it all willingly to save us all. The least I can do is try my best every day to give him my cares and worries and let His will be done in my life.

    I went there tonight eager to bless others, never knowing that I would be blessed immeasurably more in return.

  • Merkin free school zone

    4 walkers on IR and 7 Bootcampers converged in the parking lot at Mary for a Fudd beatdown. Here’s the recap:

    Walkers start walking west down Grove.

    Bootcampers followed YHC south to the soccer fields for COP:

    SSH x 45

    Don Quixote

    Helicopters

    Dead Man hang

    Plank mixed with Yoga and some other stuff

    Ukranian Soldiers

    Mosey to the track for 4 corners

    V-ups x 10

    Squats x 20

    Freddie Mercury’s x 30

    SSH x 40

    Rinse and repeat adding 10 reps to each set of exercises (this really pleased Handshake)

    Mosey to the NE corner of the track. Partner up for Dora. One partner runs to the monkey bars and does 3 pull ups while the other cranks out reps of:

    100 down/ups (burpee without a pushup)

    200 speed skaters (started out double count but audibled after 50 or so)

    300 flutter kicks (2 count)

    Back to the VSF for some quick Mary before time ended. Walkers/Ruckers returned to the VSF for Numberama, Namerama, prayers and announcements, and YHC took us out.

    NMS:

    Great to see Pistol Pete post to his 2nd workout. It was nice of him to bring his neighbor (Handshake) who unfortunately always seems to have something contrarian to say….but every friend group has one of these right? What was it my dad used to say?…….if you didn’t have the rain then you wouldn’t appreciate the sun. So, in an around about way, you can all thank Handshake for how much I appreciate you! Bodos, who is usually so nice and compliant, decided that he did not want to do planks today. I applaud his authenticity and willingness to speak up but wish he had found his voice/obstination during someone else’s Q. The good reverend eventually succumbed to YHC’s repeated guilt trips and finally joined the PAX for planks….all was right with the gloom again. When YHC called out Rosalita’s during the last round of Mary, several PAX (led by our favorite dissenter) announced that they thought we were actually doing Hello Dolly’s. YHC reminded the PAX that Rosalita’s are done by raising ones legs to a 45 degree angle from the ground, spreading legs apart and then bringing them back together for one rep. Our Dissenter in Chief declared that YHC was wrong and recommended YHC check the Lexicon. YHC indeed did just that and below is what he found.

    Dolly

    Ab exercise done laying on back, legs raised about six inches from ground. Keeping legs parallel to ground, separate legs outward then return to start.

    It was truly a pleasure to lead today gentlemen. This group of brothers has been a rock that YHC has leaned on through many tough patches and valleys in my life. I include this group in my prayers when I thank God for all of the blessings in my life. Let’s all be on the lookout for Sad Clowns that need that same support in their lives.

    Never stop chasing the wabbit!

    Fudd

  • Bloody Knuckles mid-week ride

    4 middle aged cyclists shrugged off the fartsack to book some miles in preparation for a century in a few weeks. Launched from the DOG, down Westwood through Brookland Park to the Cannon Creek Greenway south. Picked up the Cap trail and headed East to turnaround at Varina HS, back to downtown, cross the river on the Potterfield, up Riverside, back across the Nickel, make a few turns to arrive back at the DOG. Stats: 28.3 miles, in just over 2 hours, w/ 900 feet of elevation. TClaps to NoTools for keeping us going the right direction and for logging the Strava. YHC was somewhat tired afterwards so the century should be fun! Thanks for joining me out there fellas. Great ride!

    Targeting Sept. 2 for the century to Jamestown and back!

  • Ultimate returns to Heartbreak

    8 frisky wanna be Lab Rats descended on the less than stellar football field of Quioccasin Middle for one of YHC’s favorite ways to spend 45 minutes…..Ultimate frisbee. Bodos was nice enough to bring his small orange cones. After setting up the field and some last minute changes back and forth on light vs. dark jerseys we had our 4 vs. 4 and kicked it off. About 5 minutes in Attila showed up to throw off our even numbers, making it 5 vs. 4. The dark shirts stormed to the lead with superior numbers, and after the score reached 5-1 Lighthouse volunteered to abandon the dark side in favor of the light side. Our paler brethren then rallied to come back but were unable to eclipse the dark team’s lead, despite the spittle flying from Handshakes lips as he continued to harangue his teammates whenever they dropped a pass. YHC announced that the last goal scored would win, and Bodos and the other “lighties” quickly stormed down the field to score the “winning” goal.

    COT: Numberama, Namerama, YHC took us out

    Announcements: Honeydo is now calling himself “Horneydo” and has declared that he is back in the dating game! Katie bar the doors and someone better warn the ladies of RVA as it has been a while since this stallion has roamed the pastures looking for mares.

    Thanks for coming out today guys! That was a blast. I love playing Ultimate and hope to do this a few more times while we still have the early AM light.

  • Bloody Knuckles rides again

    4 men that would rather bike than run met at the Big Dog Wed AM for a loop around the city. Route took us north on Hamilton, looping East on Brooklyn Park down to Shockhoe Bottom where we turned south taking the Canal path west to cross the river on Potterfield, west on Riverside, crossing back north across the River on the Nickel, then back to Woodfin. Distance 17.05 miles in 1h 17min.

    NMS: Great ride with good dudes watching the sun come up over the river and seeing the city right before it starts buzzing. Enjoyed it fellas!

  • “Bloody Knuckles” Inaugural ride

    4 road warriors met at Shiplock Park downtown for the first iteration of the Century ride training team. Objective is to ultimately do a century (100 mile) ride to Williamsburg and back later this year. We rode east along the Capital Trail until we decided it was time to turn around and ride back. Summary stats for the ride: 33.8 miles in 2 hours 20 mins. Avg pace was 14.5 mph.

    The name for this OTB workout was inspired by Whittler’s bloody knuckles that he displayed upon posting. Apparently a concrete wall outside his domicile upset him so he decided to teach it a lesson.

    This won’t be a regular, weekly AO so DM YHC if you want to be in the braintrust for future rides. Different locations and launch times were discussed to accommodate as many PAX as possible.

  • #Fuddrun resurrection

    17 eager beavers in need of a bush trimming posted for a Fudd inspired route. Alas, Hitch was not there to manage the landscaping but we ventured out into Westham anyway. A fav route for many returned after a hiatus of several years. #Brocode style made it a nice change from typical split routes…..several 4 milers commented that they worked harder because they knew the 5 and 6 milers were running the whole time, looping back to the Six. After COT there was a minor scuffle between Anthrax’s dog (sorry can’t remember his name) and someone else’s puppy (not sure who?). Fortunately no blood was spilled.

    Announcements: Memorial Day convergence at Tredegar (7am), Pickleball tournament at Splinter’s house next Wed (5/24) at 5:30pm

    Enjoyed it boys! Thanks for letting me lead…..and never stop chasing the wabbit!

  • Murder Bunny Easter Egg hunt

    13 eager beavers mustered in the early morning gloom at Dogpile to see what Fudd had in store for Easter’s eve. Fudd and Flatline planted shovel flags, and Fergie joined on foot at the last possible moment before we were off to…….

    COP in the random grassy area just north of the shovel flags for SSH x 50, then DQ’s, Merkins, WW2’s, Hillbillies, Helicopters, and maybe something else…..

    Mosey to Shirley lane where it meets Spottswood Rd for ladders. There are 20 houses on Spottswood where it faces the VITA track park area. We moseyed down Spottswood doing a burpee and then merkin ladder up to 5 and back down, stopping to do burpees or merkins in front of every house. So 1 burpee in front of the first house, 2 in front of the second, and so on doing Merkins for the ladder in front of houses 11-20.

    Mosey to the Northern most point of the VITA track. Run the track West and south to the big elbow closest to the Carillon, stopping at every VITA exercise sign to alternate between 5 squats and 5 merkins. Stop at the monkey bars and everyone takes a turn on those….the variations in technique were remarkable.

    Mosey to the stage behind the Carillon for the easter egg hunt. Everyone grabs a coupon and heads to the grass in front of the stage. Split up into teams of 3. Each PAX on the team takes turns murder bunnying to the easter basket about 20 yards away, grabs an egg, puts it somewhere on their person, and then murder bunnys back to the team. Everyone on the team then does the indicated exercise written on the paper inside the egg. Continue in this fashion for about 23 minutes until its time to mosey back to the flag. Each team burned through 5-7 eggs. Exercises were:

    • 15 curls
    • 15 bench presses
    • 15 squats with block
    • 10 deadlifts + 10 overhead press
    • 10 Gravediggers + 10 reverse lunges
    • 10 Blockees + 10 Captain Thors

    Mosey back to the flag and do a Flatline inspired plank for the last minute. Numberama, Namerama, and YHC took us out.

    Announcements: April 25 and 25 – CPR training at Trinity UMC on Forest Ave. Donations are requested but not required to buy a gift card for the nurse that will be training us. Flatline promised to send a pic of what she looks like on Slack. Mouth to mouth may or may not be required as part of the training.

    May 6th – Gomer’s CSAUP – ruck, workout, & run, in some combination…… to last all damn day.

    I really enjoyed this workout fellas. It was cool to do some new things at Dogpile. Thanks for letting me lead. It was an honor and a pleasure.

    Never stop chasing the wabbit!

    – Fudd

  • He who looks backwards……

    9 of RVA’s finest descended on the mostly deserted (and dark) grounds of Tomahawk Middle for a Fudd beatdown. According to the raccoon rifling through the dumpster, the following may have occurred:

    Mosey from the parking area towards the back of the school about 50 yards for COP while we wait for Splinter to show up:

    SSH’s, DQ’s, Merkins, Flutter kicks, Imperial walkers, Arm circles

    Mosey behind the school to the football field for 11’s: burpees in one end zone and squats in the other.

    Tunnel of love from one endzone to about the 40 or 50 yard line.

    Mosey back to the area of the SF for 15’s…..bear crawl across a stretch of concrete, do 10 dips on the guard rail, bear crawl back across said concrete to the beginning, do 5 pole smokers. Repeato for 9 dips and 6 pole smokers and so on until all PAX completed 5 dips and 10 pole smokers.

    Mosey back to the frozen tundra adjacent to the SF for Mary. Each PAX picks an exercise…..Flutter kicks, Merkins, something else, squats, Wilson’s reverse pineapple leg raises, lunges, Freddie Mercuries, American Hammers.

    Numberama, Namerama, YHC took us out.

    NMS:

    This was YHC’s first ever post at Timberwolf and why not Q when you’ve never visited an AO before? After picking up his FNG, YHC arrived on site early and drove around in circles, trying to figure out where to park. After a quick phone call to Splinter, YHC gained the knowledge necessary to park his car, plant his shovel flag, and prepare for a beatdown with some of the best dudes in RVA. As many of us know, one’s first experience at F3 can make or break your willingness/desire to return. Knowing he would have an FNG in tow, YHC put out the call for “good dudes” earlier this week, and some good dudes showed up in spades.

    YHC may have been a little overzealous with the 11’s on the field. Running 100 yards between sets equals more than a mile of running and that definitely got everyone warm. YHC must admit to being woefully underprepared for the darkness behind the school. One would think that a light or two might be on but No…….it was pitch black back there without any moon to assist. Thankfully, Heist brought his headlamp and shed a much needed light on the situation.

    FNG Escobar performed admirably today, keeping pace with the PAX during all evolutions. The Tunnel of Love is always a crowd pleaser, and everyone’s quads were burning by the time we reached mid-field.

    Several of the PAX inquired as to why YHC kept “looking backwards” towards the front of the school during COP. YHC picked that spot so that Splinter would see us when rolling in (YHC knew he was running a couple of mins late). Upon reflection though, there aren’t many times in life where “looking backwards” is advised or encouraged. (We didn’t go down this wabbit hole today but YHC is feeling poetic so here goes)…….Jesus said, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” There’s also the story of Lot’s wife, who turned to stone when she ignored the angel’s advice and looked back at Sodom and Gomorrah. While YHC had a legitimate reason this morning, “looking backwards” in life often doesn’t bring about anything positive. While it certainly is productive to take stock of one’s past actions with a desire to improve or change for the better, looking backwards at our past can also bring about feelings of regret. In YHC’s opinion, regret is one of the most toxic emotions that one can feel as we cannot change the past, and dwelling on past mistakes does not put one in the kind of positive mindset that is conducive to service to God in this world. Certainly we should take ownership of our mistakes and strive to be better men every day, but we must also give ourselves grace…..no one is perfect, and we will continue to make mistakes as that is part of the human condition. As we approach the end of 2022, YHC encourages everyone to give your past, mistakes and all, to God and ask Him to take away the guilt and regret and replace it with hope for the future and the faith that He will give us the strength necessary to accomplish His will for our lives, and for our family’s lives, in the new year. “I know the plans I have for you”, says the Lord….”Plans to help you and not to harm you. Plans to give you a hope and a future.”

    Coffeeteria at Starbucks afterwards was great fellowship, and YHC was happy to hear that FNG Escobar had fun and intends to return to the gloom in the future.

    Thanks for letting me lead boys. It was an honor and pleasure as always.

    Never stop chasing the Wabbit!

    Fudd

  • Field Trip to Jenkins

    8 HIM swallowed the red pill and posted at First Watch seeking a better version of themselves. Here’s what transpired:

    COP at the NE corner of the parking lot to wait for any stragglers:

    SSH’s, Imperial Walkers, Ukranian Soldiers, Merkins, Copperhead Squats

    Mosey down River to a left on Westham. Assume plank position in front of #2 Westham Parkway for 86 seconds to honor the life of Fred Dabney, known to several PAX, who passed a few days ago and who’s funeral was yesterday. Fred lived 86 years on this earth and lived them big.

    Mosey to the UR campus and over to the bottom of the Jenkins Greek Theater

    Ascending the steps, do 1 merkin on the first step, 2 WW2’s on the second, 3 merkins on the third, 4 WW2’s on the 4th, etc. all the way to the top (17th step) and Al Gore for the six. Descend in the same fashion starting with 17 2 count Mountain Climbers, then 16 squats. Plank for the 6.

    Mosey down Westhampton Way, past the fountain in front of the Booker Hall of Music, to partner up on the bricks in front of Keller Hall for Dora 1-2-3. One partner runs the triangle in the quad while the other does 100 merkins, 200 squats, & 300 LBC’s.

    Mosey back to the VSF. Plank for the 6. 1 burpee for each PAX. Numberama, namerama, Handshake took us out.

    NMS:

    Lockjaw was supposed to Q today but he bailed last minute with symptoms of some sickness. YHC was not prepared with Christmas gifts but was able to throw together a field trip beatdown that at least got everyone breathing hard. In lieu of gifts, YHC treated the PAX to coffee/tea at Starbucks afterwards. Thanks for letting me lead guys. It’s an honor and a pleasure every time.

    Merry Christmas to all, and never stop chasing the Wabbit!

    Fudd

    Announcements:

    • HDHH at Final Gravity (in Lakeside) tonight
    • TYA has the Q at the Bridge this weekend. Several PAX will be driving up. Watch Slack for updates on rally points and times if you want to catch a ride.
    • Dogpile this Saturday will feature a Honeydo Q and a spread of “1 Hit Wonder” exercises that have been attempted through the years and promptly discarded (ex, Bridge of Hate)
    • Frozen Triangle CSAUP in January