Author: Offshore

  • The Crucible on Wheels

    Anticipating light attendance at The Crucible, the PAX loaded up bikes. Joey Chestnut did a fine job of driving to the AO, YHC’s first ride with him. PAX rode across the Hull Street bridge, down the Capital Trail to mile 45, back across T Pot, and back to the AO. Flintstone and possibly Lola (in disguise?) sightings on the Capital Trail.

    Here’s what ChatGPT says about the distance:

    I’m unable to provide real-time or up-to-the-minute distances. However, I can help you calculate an estimated distance based on the information you provided and known paths.

    1. From Blackwell Elementary to Hull Street bridge: You’d first need to identify the best route between these points. If you use an online mapping service, like Google Maps, you can get a precise distance.
    2. Down the Virginia Capital Trail: The Virginia Capital Trail is a dedicated bike path that spans from Richmond to Jamestown, a total of approximately 52 miles. If you’re starting at a point on the trail and riding to mile marker 45, the distance would depend on your starting mile marker.
    3. From mile marker 45 to T Pottersfield bridge: Again, you’d need to identify the best route. An online mapping service can provide you with a precise distance.
    4. From T Pottersfield bridge back to Blackwell Elementary: Calculate the distance using a map service.

    To obtain an accurate total distance, I’d recommend plotting your route on a biking-specific map application or website, which will give you turn-by-turn directions and distance. Google Maps’ biking feature could be an easy place to start. This way, you can ensure you’re accounting for all twists, turns, and any detours you may need to make.

  • Joey Chestnut Has No Comment

    Two PAX emerged to beat the heat with a run across the river and back.


    The route: north on 10th a few blocks to Truist, left to Belle Isle Park, note the wasp nest under the bridge to the 21st St tower, cross the bridge to Belle Isle, up Gabriel’s Highland Path and back down, across the hanging bridge, greet Flintstone at the Belle Isle parking lot, back across T Pott to 10th Street, right on Hull, left on 13th, and back to Blackwell at 0830.

    Cafe Zata for breakfast. Enjoy the weekend!

  • Never Been Over Here Before. Oh, That’s Why.

    Five guys posted to Pearson’s Corner to end the week right. The crow/vulture/mini-falcon swirling around the PAX reported the following:

    Mosey to the sign in front of the school for a COP: SSH, IW, Birddogs. This ground is bone dry – whither the humidity? PAX were grateful to mosey to the field with grass uncut since May.

    COP 2: Merkins (with grass in the face), Suzanne Somers, Copperhead Squats, Helicopters.

    Mosey to the parking lot for Tracers, except with Bear Crawl, Crawl Bear, and Side Crawl. Reverse Crunches and Arm Circles IC. Reverso on the Tracers. Hello Dolly and Moroccan Dance Party IC.

    Mosey to the soccer field for a Lindsay: Squats and Freddie Mercurys with a 10-pace Crab Walk in between each set. Now this is reasonable grass.

    Mosey to the baseball field for Four Corners: 10 Merkins, 20 Jump Squats, 30 American Hammers, 40 Mountain Climbers. Rinse and Repeat.

    Mosey to the swings for three sets of 10 Swing Jerkins and Al Gore. Mosey back to the VSF for 1 Burpee.

    Announcements: Homegrown half and 10k, August 19th. Pickleball tournament, August 26th.

    NMS: Opus and Bulkhead had competing UVa/VT gear. Pavarotti was singing about his tomato pie. BooBoo, Opus, and YHC pondered whether it is more trouble to take the family out to eat on vacation or just stay home and cook.

    Thanks to DaVille for the hospitality this week. YHC will be back!

  • Beast or Beast Light?

    3 PAX pulled in hot at 0530 to get the day started with:

    COP: SSHs, IWs, Helicopters, Birddogs, Suzanne Somers, Merkins, and Freddie Mercurys IC.

    Mosey to the teardrop bus loop for a Beast … or a Beast Light?

    Round 1: Right-hand waiter carry. 6 Squats at each light post. After 3 light posts turn around for the Beast… no, carry on around the tear drop. There are 5 light posts, so, Beast Light. But PAX did this first light post at the beginning and end for 6 rounds, so, Beast.

    Round 2: Left-hand waiter carry and Curls.

    Round 3: Back carry and American Hammers.

    Round 4: Around the world to the right and Tricep Extensions.

    Round 5: The grand finale: Around the world to the left and Burpee with a jump over the kettlebell. Bulkhead pointed out that this was round 5, not 6. Maybe it was a Beast Light after all.

    After round 5, no time for round 6, so Beast Light it is. Mosey back to the VSF for a quick round of Flutter Presses IC, the forgotten 6th exercise.

    COT: Bike ride at the The Anvil next Tuesday.

    NMS: YHC relived memories of the Century Classic, where Mann Date was the first station with a kettlebell Beast (or was it a Beast Light?).

    In the COP, YHC got a Davillian to say “eleven” and so joins Rosie in a super-elite club.

    Great conversation with Corned Beef and Bulkhead about things that don’t make sense like living at the Ritz, travel sports for kids, and two lane roads between Richmond and Virginia Beach.

  • The Bedpan Fam Makes 6

    Mosey to the pool for COP: Disclaimer, Mission, 4 of the 5 Principles. Side Straddle Hops, Imperial Walkers, Helicopters, Merkins, Birddogs, Suzanne Somers, Freddie Mercurys IC.

    Mosey to the playground for a Triple Check: That Thing Where You Put Your Feet on the Swing and Bring Your Knees to Your Chest, Reverse Crunches, and run up the playground stairs and PAX choice on descent method (slides, fireman pole, etc.).

    Mosey back to the sidewalk for another triple check: PAX choice triceps exercise with a coupon, Broad Jumps, and run to the picnic table and PAX choice for climbing to the top and getting down from the picnic table (box jump, step up, roll on/roll off).

    Next up: a Lindsay with Carolina Dry Docks and Freddie Mercurys. 10 Bear Crawl paces in between each set.

    Wrap up with some Arm Circles IC and a COT.

    NMS: YHC can’t ever remember all 5 principles at once. Today it was “Ends in a circle of trust”. Well, at least YHC remembered to end in a circle of trust.

    Welcome to FNGs Blue Light Special and Sleigh Ride! Strong work today. Spotify said he’s ready to be a regular… because that only commits him to two more beatdowns before he leaves for JMU.

    Thanks to Bedpan and Joey Chestnut for helping to populate the AO. The Crucible continues to trend!

  • The Crucible Is Trending

    A 300% increase in attendance at The Crucible emerged despite 87% humidity. According to the guy who mistook the bluetop for a parking lot, the following ensued:

    COP: SSH, IW, Birddogs, Suzanne Somers, Merkins IC

    Mosey to the football field for a Beast with LBCs, CDDs, Lt Dans, WW IIs, Jump Squats, and Burpees.

    Mosey back to the car to pick up coupons and Triple Check: Bench Press, Triceps (PAX choice), and run to the picnic table, get to the top and get back down (PAX choice for table-scaling method).

    Mosey to the hill, Bernie Sanders up the hill, mosey back to the cars. Romanian Dead Lifts OYO, then Helicopters and Arm Circles IC.

    COT

    Coffeteria at Cafe Zata

    Announcements: The Bridge is next week. See Slack for details on a possible clown car.

    NMS: It was great to introduce Upchuck and Bedpan. Upchuck reported that the weather was almost Clinic-worthy. The PAX weren’t sure whether to be grateful for the cloud cover. YHC is always grateful to be working out with the PAX.

  • Bye, Felicia

    Seven studs stormed the field at Blackwell as if they had taken C4 followed by a Total War chaser. According to Felicia, this is the THANG we did after we said “bye”:

    Mosey to the field in front of the community center on Maury and circle up for the mission of F3 and 4 of the 5 core principles. COP: Side Straddle Hops x20 in cadence (IC), Imperial Walkers x20 IC, Merkins x10 IC, Birddogs x20 IC, McGill Crunches x20 IC, Suzanne Somers x10 each side IC, Suzanne Somers on Steroids x5 each side IC, Suzanne Somers Roid Rage x5 each side IC.

    Mosey back to the VSF for a Triple Check with Coupons: Overhead Pulls, Curls, and run and touch a tree.

    Mosey to the hill behind the preschool for a Lindsay: Donkey Kicks against the wall, Bernie Sanders up the hill, and Merkins at the top.

    Mosey back to the VSF for a Conveyor Belt: Flutter Press, Curls, KB Swings, Tricep Extensions, Squats. The remaining two PAX did 10 Romanian Dead Lifts with no weight and they were the timer. Circle up for the COT.

    NMS:

    The COT was a bit unorganized and unorthodox, but it was great, like hanging out with old friends. YHC looked up the 5th core principle, we took a picture, discussed fishing on psychedelics (Solifornia) and named FNGs.

    Convergence Monday, 7am at Tredegar. Welcome FNGs Titanic and Radical Rick (or “Rad” for short), and solid work today. Shakedown discovered at the end that he knew Rad from BMX. We learned that Flintstone can bench 400 and Kindergarten Cop can curl 250. It was great to have No Regerts back at The Crucible.

  • Fire Up the Crucible

    Blackwell neighbors were treated to the sights and sounds of the PAX getting The Crucible back in business. The THANG:

    Mosey around the school and back to the playground for COP.

    COP: SSH, IW, Bird Dog, Suzanne Somers, Suzanne Somers with a Half Side Plank (“on steriods”), Suzanne Somers with a Full Side Plank (“roid rage”), McGill Crunches

    Mosey to the picnic tables for: PAX 1 is the timer – runs back to the cars and performs kettlebell exercise (Round 1 – Tricep Extensions, Round 2 – Curls, Round 3 – Bench Press), PAX 2 Dips, PAX 3 American Hammers, PAX 4 Derkins. Rotate when PAX 1 returns.

    Mosey to the bluetop for four corners: 10 Squats, 20 Merkins, 30 Flutter Kicks, 40 SSHs. Along the “short” sides (full length basketball court), Bear Crawl or Crab Walk (PAX choice). Run along the long sides.

    Back to the cars for one round of: PAX 1 Overhead Pulls x10, PAX 2 American Hammers, PAX 3 Six Inches, PAX 4 Flutter Kicks. Rotate when PAX 1 finishes.

    1 Burpee

    COT

    Announcements: CSAUP next week at Godwin High School. Rides will leave from men’s and women’s THP at 7:30am next week. There is a plan for more planning at ETs tomorrow morning. The team of Flintstone + 3 THP women are looking for challengers.

    NMS:

    Welcome Nacho, who doesn’t each nachos and hasn’t seen Nacho Libre. But he grew up as a wrestling fan. Credit to Joey Chesnut for the name.

    YHC worked in some back exercises from PT into a back-friendly workout, with a Burpee on top so that Nacho would be properly introduced to F3.

    Solid work by the PAX today!

  • The 20th Time Is the Charm

    It all started on Tuesday February, 14th, 2017 with a text message from Handshake to HoneyDo that he was disappointed in how his Valentine’s Day went and wanted to celebrate the next Tuesday Valentine’s Day with an epic beatdown at Quioccasin Middle School. They went in search of a Q worthy of such a beatdown and added Gypsy on February 15th, 2017, but he said he would be running in 2023. Then they tried Whitesnake on March 1st, 2017, but Whitesnake said he had February 14th, 2023 down on his calendar to develop new backblast ideas from 80s song lyrics. And on it went until February 13th, 2023 when HoneyDo added YHC to the text chain (the 20th) and asked for 45 minutes of Upright Alabama Prom Dates. Sure.

    YHC started to brainstorm some ideas for a Q while packing that night, wrote a few things down, then ended up making stuff up along the way. Good thing Tryhard wasn’t there conducting Q evaluations.

    The Thang:

    Mosey to that dark place in the corner for COP: SSHs x20 IC. Upright Alabama Prom Dates x4.5 IC. CCDs, Scorpion Kicks, Reverse Crunches, Helicopters IC.

    Mosey to the covered side of the school for Sally: to the tune of Moby’s Flower, do a Merkin on “Bring Sally Up”, hold a 6-inches on “Bring Sally Down”.

    Mosey back to the concession stand for a Triple Check: People’s Chair, Reverse Crunches, and the timer runs backwards up the hill and run back down.

    Mosey to the track for a synchronized Triple Check: Dips and Star Jumps. The timer runs a lap or lunges in the opposite direction until the lead runner passes the halfway mark, and lunges back. PAX continues until the first timer returns and Al Gore for the six.

    Mosey back to the flag for the COT.

    Announcements: Lunch was at Firehouse Subs – hope it was great!

    NMS:

    The lights came on during the 3rd rep of Upright APDs. Perhaps we were caught on camera. YHC was done at 2, anyway.

    HBR proverb of the day: It’s harder if you do it right. That is, indeed, what she said.

  • Break on Through to the Other Side

    The joggers too out of breath to say “good morning” caught glimpses of the following as they ran away before Fireman Ed could sentence them to burpees:

    COP: SSHs, IWs, DQs, Merkins, Pickle Pounders IC

    Mosey to Godwin HS door #13 for 13 Tricep Presses. Proceed around the school, completing a variety of exercises, with the reps matching the red door numbers. For example, at door #9, PAX did 9 Overhead Pulls, at door #8, 8 Overhead Pulls, at door #7, 7 Overhead Pulls. At one door, Lighthouse requested Curls which he would later regret.

    The PAX asked about the brown doors and their numbers. YHC assured them he would keep a running total. The PAX completed all 23 red doors.

    PAX took a lap around the bus loop, and YHC announced that the brown doors totaled 400 and challenged them to check his math. The PAX split into partners and dropped the lighter heavier kettlebell. One PAX walks around the bus loop performing Curls while the other runs the other way around, relieves the partner, and flapjack. Partners completed 400 curls total.

    BTTF for American Hammers IC.

    Announcements: Gypsy is still collecting shoes. Frozen Triangle 1/21. Prayers for the Freezes, Cobles, and Hunns.

    NMS:

    YHC believes this is the first time that all of the red doors were completed at Circus, thus the BB title. The sneaky part about a doors workout is staying under weight the entire time, but the PAX crushed it. YHC intended a “full glam” arms-only workout to preserve the legs for the Snowy Owl, but lapsed by calling Step Ups at door #11. Credit to the DR PAX at The Galaxy for the “stupid” 400 curl exercise. Nobody wanted to be YHC’s partner, and then everyone wanted to be Pigskin’s partner.

    Fudd and Pigskin discussed plans for their upcoming trip to Honduras along with Gomer. Necesitamos practicar mas espanol en Fin Oeste.

    YHC requests our (non)resident grammarian Vinny to check the capitalization in the backblast – the internets can’t seem to agree.