Author: Hardywood

  • Do The Work

    15 strong and brave men posted up for Dogpile on this beautiful Saturday morning.  The conditions were ripe for success.  The theme for today was to help your brother thrive.

    The Thang:

    COP  – 20 X SSH, Imperial Walker, LBC, Freddy Mercury, 10 Merkin

    Head Rush – In teams of two.  One partner gets their head right with balls to the wall.  The other partner runs to tree and performs 10 air squats.  Once each partner has completed a set, that is one round.  Complete four rounds.

    Even Steven – In teams of two, with a different partner.  Each partner completes 10 pull ups, then run to the fire hydrant and complete 10 WWII situps.  Then complete sets of 8, 6, 4, 2.

    Southern Equator Love Hill – In teams of two, with a different partner.  Starting at the first incline of Love Hill one partner runs up to the halfway point.  The other partner completes an exercise.  Once the running partner has come back to the exercising partner, then switch.  The exercises were broad jump burpees, lunges and the mighty Polar Bear (bear crawl to 5 count then merkin).

    Northern Equator Love Hill – Let’s finish this mother out.  Switch up partners.  Same exercise, but this time to the gate at the top of Love Hill.

    Sup Bro – In teams of two, with a different partner.  Partner one holds feet pleasantly six inches off the ground.  Partner two runs up to the 10 step and performs 10 decline merkins.  Then switcheroo.  Partner one gets off their six and goes to step 9 to perform 9 decline merkins.  Then switcheroo with the next partner to the 8th step.  Etc to completion.

    Numberama, namerama, COT, Seymour lead us out.

    There are a few things that stood out for today.  Spit flipping DOMINATED Even Steven and Sup Bro.  He is a beast.  A huge fist bump goes to  Pigpen for crushing Love Hill Southern Equator.  That isn’t easy for anyone.  The crusher award goes to Singlet for hopping like a frog on PEDs on the Northern Equator of Love Hill.  Just incredible.  It is the understanding of YHC that was the first time Love Hill in it’s entirety was conquered in full.  Damn it feels good to be a gangster.

    On Friday I heard some one say “don’t confuse the menu for the food”.  It’s one thing to talk about doing the work and how good it would feel to be that disciplined and driven.  It’s quite another to wake your ass up at 4:30 in the morning and sweat your brains out on a diet of whatever your kids didn’t eat the night before (mac’n cheese & chicken tenders).  Doing the work is not ever as easy as talking about it.  It is however always better.  Always.

    It is just the greatest privilege of YHC to lead this fine group of men.  Have a great weekend gentlemen.

    -Hardywood

  • Apparently Rats Like Merlot

    This morning 12 brave and fearless men met at W Dog for a little hump day fun.

    The Thang:

    COP – Mosey over to circle and perform the following 20 SSH, 20 LBC, 20 Merkin

    Cut The Air – Run up and down stairs of monument to complete 10 incline merkin, bear crawl to star, 20 (2 count) mountain climbers.  Complete 4 rounds

    5/10/15 – Teams of two rip through 5 pull-ups, 10 dips, 15 WWII Sit Ups.  Complete 3 Rounds

    Love Hill – Teams of two complete a long stretch of love hill.  While one is running to the top gate, the other completes the prescribed exercises making progress to the top of the hill.  Team members complete each exercise after their run is done then move on to the next exercise.  As follows – Broad jump burpees, lunges, Polar Bear (5 step bear crawl with a merkin thrown in every 5th step).

    Swirly Homage – Start at the top of the amphitheater.  On each of the steps perform an incline merkin. Work in descending order.  On the 18th step, 18 merkins.  On the 17th step, 17 merkins. Etc.  All the way to the bottom.

    Mosey back to flag and COT.

    The air was thick and heavy my friends, thick and heavy.  YHC is pleased at the volume of work that got done in 45 minutes.  You all should be damn proud.  Toga laid down the hammer early and was out to send a message to the pax.  This crew dominated the pull up station.  5 has become the comfortable number and it is in the opinion of YHC that we will have to start increasing the volume very soon.  With 8 minutes to go we started Swirly Homage.  The pax was focused and purposeful.  Flipper is so good at the incline merkin, he will soon be releasing a how to video.

    In a testament to the intensity level of today’s workout Shawshank spilled the merlot pre-COT.  There’s probably no better way to put it.  A triple hate VMI keydet pushed the limits, and the limits pushed back.

    As men of a certain age we all have very full plates and obligations.  Often this leads to a very busy internal dialogue and heavy hearts.  That weight can some times seem unbearable.  But then you come out to a workout like this, with men like those who circle our flag.  You push through and hold on.  Not always you think you can, but out of respect to the others who are clearly putting out a max effort.

    For YHC just about everything I learn in the gloom, I can apply in some other part of my life: Do the work, help others and when it gets really hard and normal men would quit, double down and push through. My gratitude runs deep.

    Well done gentlemen.

    Hardywood

  • Batteau Beatdown – July 4th Spectacular

    16 brave and fearless men showed up for the July 4th Batteau Beatdown in Forest Hill Park.

    The Pursuit of Happiness

    • Mosey down to Reedy Creek for COP:  20 SSH, 10 Burpee, 20 LBC, 20Merkin

    Suck It King George

    • Pax to large pile of rocks.  Each man grabs a rock of considerable size.  Not heavy enough to throw like a football, not too heavy that you can’t lift it over your head.
    • Native American Run from Reedy Creek to Forest Hill Pond with each member of the pax carrying their rock.

    Continental Congress

    • Teams of two complete the following – 50 burpees, 100 squats with rocks, 200 merkins, 300 two count American hammer, 400 side straddle hops.  While one person is ripping through the exercises, the other is running a hill circuit.  To make this a little more fun, the hill circuit was completed with rock in tow.

    Move Over John Hancock

    • Run up the hill of despair.  Start with five burpees at the first light post, add five more at each succeeding light post finishing with 20 burpees at the final post.  Mosey back to the flag.

    NMS – Let’s start with a huge shout to Kudzu for dominating today’s workout and to Fudd for raising a damn fine young man.  We could all be so lucky. Saab came off of another monster week of miles.  He is the gold standard in fortitude.  There was idle chatter amongst the pax during COP.  Once the stones of success were gathered, mum was the word.  The celebration libation provided by Lab Rat signaled the transition into the days festivities.

    Make no doubt about it, this was a really hard workout.  YHC had been thinking of something like this since the day Swirly mentioned this could be a good place for an AO.  The motivation of YHC was two fold. 1) To do something unique and creative that would make for a great story. 2) To have it be just hard enough that doubt made a small appearance.  One of the most valuable things this pax does is learning how to respond when life gets uncomfortable and overwhelming.  This is a damn fine skill to learn and there may be no better place to forge it.

    It is a great privilege and honor to lead this group today.  Thank you for the trust to put a big challenge before you.  An even bigger thanks for putting your best effort forward.  This is an amazing place to find one’s voice.

    Big cheers to you all and happy 4th of July.  See you in the gloom.

    -Hardywood

  • 4th of July Pre Blast – Batteau Beatdown

    We have a very special lady to thank, and that is Lady Liberty.  Before you stuff you gullet with hot dogs on July 4th in celebration of her birthday, you should post up.

    There will be a beatdown on Monday July 4th.  Please note all AO will be meeting here and there is an updated time.

    Date:  Monday July 4th, 2016

    Time:  7:00 – 8:00am

    Location:  F3 Batteau at Forest Hill Park.  Parking is in front of the Stone House.  The park location is at Forrest Hill Ave and 41st.  The Stone House is two blocks down on the left.  You’ll see Old Glory proudly planted in the ground and you’ll know you are home.

    If you have any questions, send them my way. See you in the gloom.

    -Hardywood

  • V Squared – The Hills Are Alive

    12 men showed up for this very special V x 2 post. This was the first AO for Batteau and the first Q for YHC.

    COP: 25 SSH, 25 LBC, 20 Merkin, 20 DKB

    Mosey over to one of Forest Hill Park’s namesake features for a little Monday fun. The Thang:

    Valley of Doubt – Modified Jacob’s Ladder with 1 merkin top of the hill, run down the valley, 1dip, run up the next hill, 2 merkin, back down the valley 2 dips, repeat to 10.

    Triton’s Revenge – Complete a loop around the pond. Perform a burpee at lamp post and add one at each lamp post. 1 burpee at post 1, 2 burpees at post 2, 3 burpee at post 3, etc. to completion for all 10 posts.

    Head slightly down Reedy Creek and pair up. One partner squats with a rock of success and the other partner runs to top of hill and completes 10 merkins and 20 two count American Hammers, then switch for 6 rounds.

    Run back to flag up a hill to be named later to close out the morning.  The names uttered for this hill on the return run would make this post NSFW.

    Numberama, namearama, COT and Swirly took us out.

    NMS – It perfect weather for this initial AO and for a first Q. The morning felt much like the first day of school for a first year teacher. Pretty excited, a little nervous and hoping for no revolt. Much to my surprise the cars kept coming and a solid crew formed. The cart led the horse a few moments during the morning, but with the gracious guidance of the veteran Pax, they helped YHC stay on track.

    We welcomed one FNG (Noodler) who clearly has a great level of fitness. He, Last Chance and Fudd dominated the hills, as there were many this morning.

    The story of the flag that graces my shovel was shared. It was sent to me by a after being flown by the 37th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Unity on a B-1B in Syria and Iraq in Operation Inherent Resolve. I had been saving it for something more meaningful than just putting it in a frame. Perhaps like men of a certain age, I did not want it to just collect dust and be forgotten about. It is with the greatest pride I share it and this morning with the Pax. Thank you gentlemen.

    https://twitter.com/pattongleason/status/744878636629635072

    Reminder -Tuesday we are going for gold. The old pax record of 43 will be smashed and we will hit 60 total pax across 3 AOs by whatever means necessary.  Text, call, email your brothers.  If you have to send an invite via a carrier pigeon, make it happen.

    Dominate your Monday.

    Hardywood

  • Pre-Blast: New AO on Monday 6/20 in Forest Hill

    We will have a new AO starting on Monday June 20th at 5:30am.  The location is Forest Hill Park, a Richmond landmark for decades.  This is some of the most beautiful and challenging terrain in all of RVA.

    Flags will be planted near the Stone House for the meeting location.

    The name for the AO approved by corporate is Batteau.  For a story behind the name selection that is long, boring and only partially confirmed, please see Hardywood.

    See you in the gloom fellas.

    -Hardywood

  • F3 Richmond LinkedIn Group

    We have an F3 Richmond Group on LinkedIn.

    https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8534436

    Be sure to connect with the Pax on LinkedIn as this is a great way to grow and strengthen our network.

    This is an excellent place to share job openings and career opportunities.

    Being able to recommend or intro some one you have seen hustle like crazy before the sunrises is the ultimate seal of approval.

    Dominate your day.

    Hardywood