Memorial Day convergence is again at 7:00 am at Tredegar / Belle Isle lot downtown. Later start let’s you bring a FNG.
Author: Honey Do
-
Testing the trails for RiverRock
A PAX of 5 (twelve legs total) came out to Early Risers to make sure the trails were safe for the Riverrock races during the day. With all the rain last night the trails were still relatively good.
No reason to stay off the trails since there will be hundreds on them in a few hours. Off we went – Northbank to BI then Buttermilk. Vinny bailed on us at Tredegar to meet his BFFs at Breakfast Club while the rest of us stayed on the trails. Sallie was off leash most of the run, pretty cool looking back to see green eyes coming for you. Also Sippy and YHC had not run the new Texas Beach trail, why not in the dark and wet.
Nothing too unusual on the trails, besides a bra left on the ground at the Riverside water stop. YHC stuck to a ratio of one fall per mile but no scrapes. Running Buttermilk with the sunlight poking through and then across the Nickel Bridge with the sunrise was the highlight.
-
Prime time under the lights
Ten PAX started their hump day right at Wdog and were met with perfect conditions. With several hundred newbies arriving for the Pay for your Workout version we moved around the AO to get it all in:
COP: SSH, Don Qs, Merkins, Flutterkicks, Scorpion Kicks. Down to Amphitheater and into the newly replaced lights. Make your way up steps: Alternate each step up of 5 HRMs and 5 V-Ups. Mosey over for:
Burpee Road: Split PAX even and head up Blvd for 2 burpees each light, switch and head back to field. Partner up: 3 Sets of 30 Boxing Cockroaches. Mix in a few Pickle Pounders.
Rusty Cage: 4 sets of 5 Pullups & 10 Dips. Back to Carillon field – 3 sets of 20 PLTs, then Wheelbarrow across field and back, twice. Back to flag for 2 MoM. YHC took us out.
NMS – Late April mornings start to offer the true “70 & Sunny” version of Gloom weather rather than the psychological version. PAX of only 10 but all were ready to rock this morning. YHC was not planning on hitting the Amphitheater but when the lights are on there for the first time in the Gloom you take advantage of the gift.
The lights seemed to have a negative effect on the PAX up the steps as now they could clearly see the thick grass and pollen as they went about their HRM and V-Ups. Those without sleeves bore the brunt of this burden. Lab Rat reminded YHC at his Dogpile Q a few weeks ago that we have not done Burpee Road in a while, always a favorite.
When the Q called for 30 Boxing Roaches instead of the normal 20 or 25 several PAX asked him to clarify. Some day soon it will be sets of 40 or 50, pool season is coming.
Much discussion on Mr Holland’s regional status with his recent move. He still is welcome at Tuckahoe but will Daville win him over. As well apparently Sippy is out for the Field Day so expect some RP shenanigans to balance out that loss.
Annoucements: Puppy Pile this Satuarday at 7:05. Breaking Bread this Sunday, see Upchuck. Field Day at Dogpile is May 11th.
Silent Assassin signing off.
-
Some things never change
4 founders of CM brought their Kettlebells on a clear 50 degree morning.
COP – SSH, Don Qs, Helicopters, Merkins, LBCs. Mosey to covered bus loop- Catch Me if you Can – 1 PAX carries 2 bells while other does: 5 Burpees, 10 Merkins, 10 Donkey Kicks. So much fun why not repeat for 2nd round. Then KB Swings
Head to grass: Boat & Canoe and Alabama Softball Players. Followed with 3 sets of 20 PLTs. Then hit curb for: Skull Crushers and Pullovers. Finish with more Swings and Curls, then 2 MoM of American Hammers, Freddy Mercurys.
NMS – A normal Circus morning with White Deer offering his backside commentary almost immediately in the COP, only after Johnsonville got 3 SSH’s in before his knee started acting up. White Deer stinking things up and Jville on the IR made it a normal morning.
Atilla was surprisingly cavalier about the National Champion hoos losing 99% of their scoring to the NBA this week. Lots of NCAA championship swag on its way to the Hun household.
The Catch Me if you can took a while but kept us all moving without running. Will need to break that out again.
-
Looks like Winter filed an extension
With the tax filing date past us 6 PAX were made aware that apparently winter filed the necessary paperwork for an extension. We were met with 40 degrees but clear skies to:
COP: Invisible Jumprope, 10 Burpees, Don Qs, Imperial Walkers, Merkins, Flutterkicks, Helicopters. Back to main lot:
Merkin Arrows: Run entire lot – 10 Merkins each set of arrows. Audible on 2nd half to alternate WWIIs for merkins. Head to school wall:
Triple Check: Run lot, Dips, Balls2Wall. Then head on down to track for Lindsays: Benchkicks & Squats. Jerkin Gym: 3 Sets of 8 Jerkins. Over to Heartbreak Hill – Up & down 3 times. Back to Jerkin Gym: 3 Sets of 6 Jerkins. Back to Flag – 3 MoM: Freddy Mercurys, Heels2Heaven, American Hammers. Seymour took us out.
NMS – Just when you thought it was short sleeve weather in the Gloom we get another 40 degree morning. Actually felt good once we got moving. YHC wanted to get some Merkins in early so the 10 per Arrows set seemed like a good idea until we were 150 merkins in halfway. Only Handshake seemed disappointed for the audible to alternating WWIIs.
The PAX needed 10 Burpees in the COP to wake up. P-Trap joined us mid burpees. YHC joked we were doing 100 Burpees to start, not sure he believed it or not. Not much mumblechatter this morning, just solid work by all 6. We lamented Mr Holland’s move to Glen Ashland meaning we’ll lose him to DaVille on Tuesday mornings. And since it was below 50 degrees Loose Goose continues is cold weather boycott.
-
Early Risers is a thing now
3 PAX disregarded the fartsack and weather to run in the very early morning gloom. With no rain at 4 we took to North Bank to Browns Island. We then chose to not push our luck, head up to Main street and head West to meet up with that other Pre-Dogpile group. 7 miles when we reached ETs.
NMS- Running the trails in the dark was awesome this morning, as it always is. Thanks to Vinny and Shakedown for showing up for this first one.
Next Early Risers will be in May. Come out to give it a try. Also great BRR/Colonial practice…
-
Book-End Burpee Beast is no ABB
Seven suspects came out on April Fools day to see if it indeed might be an All Burpee-Beast. Turns out only Toga would do that to the PAX but we did do our share of Burpees.
COP – Invisible Jump Rope, Don Qs, Russian Soldiers, Merkins, Freddy Mercurys. Head over to bowl field for the Beast:
Round 1 Burpees, R2 Merkins, R3 WWIIs, R4 JumpSquats, R5 LBCs, Round 6 Burpees Again. Then head over to playground to introduce Batteau pax to:
Chazz Michael Michaels: 3 Rounds of 8. Then 3 sets of 25 Boxing Dying Roaches. Then set of Pickle Pounders. Mosey over to maintenance vehicle lot: Various animal transportation forms up the hill.
Over to Tennis courts: Suicides of Backwards run, side shuffle, forward, then Wheelbarrow across. Back to field for hill sprint up and back. Another set of Pickle Pounders then back to flag for RoF and COT. Sugar Sock took us out.
NMS: YHC took pity on the PAX and saved the 2nd round of Burpees in the Beast for the last round. The original intent was to do round 2 of Burpees and let the PAX ponder whether we might actually do all 6 rounds as burpees. Turns out starting and ending the beast on the hill with burpees was plenty. The only one disappointed by us not doing ABB was Sippy Cup.
The Chazz Michael Michaels traveled SOJ and the Batteau pax seemed to enjoy them.
Faceplant has a $50 off tattoo coupon if anyone is looking to get Ink’ed up for Spring Break. Great to have 7 out in the 30 degree temps. Mother Nature was the one with the trick this morning.
-
Pre-blast: New Saturday Extra-Credit run starting 4/13
The Early Risers club will run the trail loop once a month in the dark starting at 4:00 am. First run date is 4/13.
Then you can hit Dogpile at 6:00. Get your headlamp ready.
-
113 Squats, 15+ miles, 2 Logs, and finish with a WOD
43 PAX from across the F3 Nation came out to Dogwood Dell on Saturday night to find out the answer to the question on everyone’s mind: Would we be getting in the James River? Turns out the answer was no but we did the following:
Muster Up in Amphitheater for admin stuff: Roll call, Ruck inspection (apparently TYA’s unabridged version of War & Peace is 30 lbs) and assign team leader of Cowbell. Move over to field next to dogpark and form squads. Mess up #1 rewarded us with 113 Ruck Squats. Some more warm up, secure coupons, and other Drill & Formation practice for PAX. Then head down to Trails start.
Trails down to Texas Beach, stop at river for some lessons on movement, mission & men focus, then head back to finish trail. Here PAX was tasked with mission of creating their own 6 word statement that defines them. Start thinking about it and all would have to share overnight.
Along way we found a wonderful log. Stop for Water break and Log PT practice at Hollywood Cemetery opening. Finish up Ruck over to Tredegar. Drop coupons and make our way in various forward exercises up to VA War Memorial. Stop and soak that in. Then several PAX shared their 6 word statement. Mosey back down to bottom, closer to water but instead we went across to Belle Isle. Rucked around the island. Then given our first time hack: 35 minutes to get to State Capital. PAX arrived at Capital with 2 minutes to spare. Then on to St. Johns Church in Churchill. Along way we were given 2nd time hack. Make it to the Church in 18 minutes.
Arrive at St. Johns on time. Linus read Patrick Henry’s speech. Very moving, then Puffs fell over. Luckily he just locked his legs and he soldiered through. Then it was on to Libby Hill park, some litter practice, and back Browns Island via Canal street. Cross the new footbridge and up and back on trails.
Then Linus threw some adversity at us and we had to carry 2 PAX on Riverside for about a mile. Catch Sunrise and Bono led us in the 5 Whys and back on the trails. Crossed over Nickel bridge wondering what was left back at Dogpile. The answer: Robbie Miller WOD – modified. 7 Rounds of: Run Carillon field and back then 6 Reps each of: Ruck Thrusters, Ruck Burpees, and Ruck GetUps. Finish up with closing and Patching.
NMS – Hard to write a reasonable Moleskin of a 15 hour event. What stood out: F3 guys are awesome no matter where they are from. YHC hung out with PAX from ENC, Lanco, Pittsburg, The Capital, Memphis, and more and every man gave 100%. No GreyMan to be found anywhere.
The PAX thought they were lucky because they stayed dry, however rucking with Coupons, gear, and Logs on the Trail system is no joke. Even more difficult in the dark. Although the out of towners are now all envious of our great trail loop.
The time downtown with the city streets empty was great. Stops at the VA War Memorial, the real VA Capital, and St. Johns were hopefully appreciated and YHC recommends reading Patrick Henry’s famous speech again, the whole thing as it is much more than the last line we all know.
The last section of stress from Linus taught YHC to not start celebrating when you can see the finish line, be sure to finish the race strong. Great lesson. The Sunrise on the James was fantastic and energized the PAX for the last push. The finish with the Robbie Miller was likely the hardest thing YHC has done in F3 – totally spent and tired then take on a grueling 30 minute test at the very end. Great chance to show you how much further you can push past your normal limits. Again another reason every man in F3 should take on a CSAUP at least annually.
Breakfast at ETs was great to close out the whole weekend. YHC thanks all those who took this on, from RVA and out of town. Viral, Fireman Ed, and Doomsday for shadowing and documenting what we did. Again too much to name everyone so YHC just says thanks.
As for YHC’s 6 word mantra: Give Grace, Accept Grace, Live Humbly. Think about what yours might be or better yet what TYA’s was.
-
Hoedown back to RVAs darkest AO
Eight PAX set their alarm correctly to the new DST and found warmer temps awaiting them. We started with:
COP in the Gaga Pit: SSH, Don Qs, Derkins, Flutterkicks, Scorpion Kicks. Mosey to Tuckahoe Shopping Center. Pleasants Hardware was close so we did Wheelbarrow across lot and back. Head over to Kuba Kuba Dos for:
Dora 123: 100 Donkey Kicks, 200 Merkins, 300 Jump Squats. Then 3 sets of 30 PLTs. Head back to TES, to back field for: Airborne Jerkins on the Monkey Bar Rings: 4 Sets of 8. Head to blacktop lot: Bear Crawl across, 25 WWIIs, Crawl back then 20 more WWIIs. Finish up with Freddy Mercurys and American Hammers. COT & YHC took us out.
NMS – Good to see some Hoedown originals back out this morning, even better when Lockjaw and Saab run in to the AO. The DST change reminded everyone how very dark TES is in the morning so we spent a good while off campus.
After Kubota pointed out the new Gaga Ball pit he was not here to break it in this morning. We learned the pit fits 8 snugly, that is about max capacity. Not much to it besides ability for Derkins and the reverberation of Saab groaning on the Don Qs are much clearer.
YHC wasn’t planning on wheelbarrows until Fireman Ed reminded him of a previous Q where we did those right in the Zing Fit lot and had to dodge cars pulling in. The Pleasants Hardware part of the lot has less traffic but the lot is wider.
Lots of partner work this morning. The Airborne Jerkins worked well but the PAX had different methods of getting their legs on the mans shoulders. YHC was not ready for the first round where Handshake grabbed the rings, vaulted his legs up and onto YHC’s shoulders in one graceful move.
Annoucements: Roger Roger VQ is tomorrow at Heartbreak Ridge. Will he test out the Jerkin Gym mud? Use the Cinder Blocks? Dare to go onto the Football Field? Post tomorrow morning to see what he has planned!