Author: Kubota

  • Pre-Blast RAMM (this Friday 6/29/18)

    We are going to change things up a little for RAMM this Friday.  There will be the usual 4, 5 and 6 mile routes.  The 4 mile route’s directions are listed below.  It is a slightly modified version of Lockjaw’s recent Snake River route.  If you plan on attending, please go ahead and familiarize yourself with the 4 mile route.  Everyone will be running this route.  The extra distances for the 5’s and 6’s will be announced at 5:25am by the Shovel Flag.  This RAMM will involve a type of competition and will be a good training run for those participating in BRR.

    4 mile route:

    Grove Ave west to a left on Tuckahoe Blvd

    Veer right onto Tuckahoe Ave

    Left on Granite Ave

    Left on Cary for a few feet (BE CAREFUL)

    Right on Tempsford Ln

    Take a right on Tempsford Ln at the fork in the road and go down to the end and back up

    Take the other fork which is Kennondale Ln and go down to the end and back up

    Return the way you came back to the Shovel Flag

     

    See you in the gloom!

    Kubota

     

  • Hills and Thunder

    Four strong came out to attack the hills in the latest edition of the Wednesday Hill Run.

    TYA did 2 long loops for 4.5 miles

    Swirly did 2 long and 1 short loop for 5.25 miles

    Wedding Singer and YHC did 3 short and 1 long loop for 4.5 miles

     

    Great run and temperature this evening! The rain held off but the thunder was rumbling at the end.

    Post run conversation included how to perform a proper Hand Release Merkin on the amphitheater steps and when the next HDHH will be.  Stay tuned!

    Training is in full effect for the BRR and the Wednesday Evening Hill Run is the best way to train.

    Have a great evening all!

    Kubota

    keep posting

  • Kubota’s Tractor Route

    13 Heat Seeking Missiles targeted Spider Run this morning to try to find the heat.  It didn’t take long!  PAX studies laminated route maps.  5:30am and BOOM!  Off we go!

    Route:

    4’s, 5’s and 6’s all head around the top side of the lake and escape campus via University Dr.  Take University up to Ralston.  Left on Ralston to River.  River to E. Glenbrooke Circle.  Turn on W. Glenbrooke Circle and wind around to Twin Lake.  4’s hang a right on Roslyn Hills and then a hard right into the playground.  5’s take Melwood from Twin Lake up to September and then a right on Roslyn Hills.  Hard left into playground.  6’s take a left on Roslyn Hills from Twin Lake and then a right on Ruggles.  Right on Charnwood up to Melwood up to September over to and down Roslyn Hills and a hard left into the playground.  All routes then run through the playground, up the trail, by the old house, down the driveway and hop onto University to Ralston to University back down to the lake.  4’s take the bridge route back to VSF.  5’s and 6’s take the top side of the lake to the VSF with 6’s running a third of the way to the bridge and back to VSF.

    Numberama, Namearama and YHC took us out

    NMS:

    Great run this morning.  Lots of hills and heat.  We couldn’t have gotten any wetter if we had jumped in the lake.  Several PAX’s abodes were passed this morning including YHC’s, Keymaster’s, Slurpee’s and Honeydo’s on the 6 mile route.  YHC drove the route yesterday and didn’t realized the amount of hills that were included on the route until YHC actually ran the route.  Of course when one drives the route, the legs do not feel the inclines!  YHC was shooting for 5 this morning, but the heat and hills brought him back to reality and he settled for the 4 mile route which ended up being 4.25!(BOOM!)  The title of this Backblast and the name of the route is due to YHC telling everyone that instead of selling tractors at work yesterday, YHC was printing out and laminating maps for the different routes.  Bleeder then suggested that YHC should have been making laminated maps for tractor demonstration routes instead while at work.

    Announcements:

    It looks as though Breaking Bread does not have a Q for this Sunday!!!!  Someone sign up, please!  It is something you will never forget especially if you take your 2.0’s!  YHC is surprised Lab Rat is not jumping up and down about this.  (Your welcome for the Backblast mention, Lab Rat!)

    Puppypile is this Saturday at 7:05am immediately following Dogpile.  Sippy Cup had the lead.

    4th of July convergence at Tredegar at 7am on July 4!  YHC will start us off and then pass the hot potato.  Hardywood/Kubota sponsored Coffeteria/Breakfast immediately following.  There may be a swim involved after, as well.

    Lockjaw and Kubota are planning on a kayak/canoe trip soon while the water level looks good.  Huguenot Flatwater is the possible AO.  This would count as an Off the Books post for those trying to complete the Summer challenge.  We will let everyone know when.  (note: canoes/kayaks are not supplied)

    Have a great Tuesday all!

    Kubota

    keep posting

  • Pre-Blast: July 4th Convergence at Tredegar

    Pre-Blast: July 4th Convergence at Tredegar

    Pax,

    There will be a 60 minute July 4th convergence at Tredegar/Brown’s Island/Belle Isle on Wednesday, July 4th at 7am.  It will be very similar to the Memorial Day beatdown, but there are a lot of untapped resources around that AO where we can try new things out.  YHC will start us off and then it will be Hot Potato, so think of something different to do from Memorial Day if you get called upon.  This also gives those Pax members that could not make the Memorial Day beatdown a chance to post at this great AO.  This will be the only F3RVA workout that day except for the regularly scheduled Roller Coaster run that evening at 5:30pm.

    ****UPDATE**** There will be a Hardywood/Kubota sponsored Coffeteria/Breakfast immediately following****

    Charlottesville and Hampton Roads, please come join us!

    If you are in town, come on out and let’s have some fun by the river!

    Kubota

     

  • This Roller Coaster Ride is Full!

    12 strong (9 big, 3 small) attacked the Roller Coaster on Wednesday evening in the rising temperatures.

    Kubota, Husky, Hardywood, Halfpipe, Vinny and Shark Bait all did 2 short loops.

    Swirly did 2 long and 1 short loop.

    TYA did 6 short loops.

    Opus and Sugar Sock did 4 short loops.

    Rosie and Bleeder did a mixture of both loops (unknown, YHC forgot to ask)

    Numberama, Namearama and YHC took us out

     

    NMS:

    Possible record numbers at Roller Coaster this evening!!  Between a mixture of Pax wanting to check this off of the challenge list, veterans who are training for BRR, regulars like YHC, and 2.0’s wanting to hang out with their cool Dads, Roller Coaster was the place to be.  There was mumble chatter about Vinny’s upcoming Dogpile Field Day and Husky’s Elementary School Field Day that just occurred.  Owls were hooting and mosquitos were biting.  It was nice to have the 2.0’s out so they could have fun with their Dad’s and each other.  YHC overheard Halfpipe tell Shark Bait to “drop and give me 10” after the run was over.  Shark Bait obliged!

    YHC has really grown to enjoy Roller Coaster over the last few weeks and will make it part of his permanent weekly posting schedule.  Don’t just come out to check it off your challenge list, come back and have fun and get a nice run in at the same time.

    Have a great evening all!

    Kubota

    keep posting

    P.S.  Saab and family were seen in front of Beijing on Grove on YHC’s drive home.  YHC’s day is now complete.

  • Doing the Butt(e) Route

    13 strong converged on the U of R lake to attack the “Butt(e) Route” or the “Up to the Butt(e) Route.”

    4’s, 5’s and 6’s all exited campus via the River Road entrance and skirted through the shopping center parking lot and headed across the river.  Exit right at the end of the bridge and head up river.  All routes turn around at Butte Road.  4’s return as you came for a 4.3 mile run (yes, YHC miscalculated, but YHC feels good about it!)  5’s return across bridge and hop onto Westham Station and go down and take Old Bridge up to Highland to River Rd.  Left on the grass strip by River to a right on College down to the lake and come around the top side of the lake.  6’s come back across bridge, hop onto Westham Station and take it around to S. Ridge.  Up S. Ridge to River Rd.  Ease left until you get to Gaymont and take Gaymont up to University.  University down to the lake and come around the top side of the lake.

    Numberama, Namearama, Announcements and YHC took us out.

    NMS:

    Nice temperature for a stroll this morning!  YHC was hoping to get a sunrise in over the river, but the clouds dominated.  A few deer were hanging out in the field below the bridge.  YHC tried to EH a couple other runners that passed Slurpee and I on the bridge.  It ended up that one of them knew Splinter.  Splinter told YHC that guy ran the Boston Marathon in 3 hours, so YHC is not sure he wants that guy to post and show us up.  The 4 mile route ended up being 4.3, so “your welcome” to everyone who chose that route.  All came in under 45 minutes!  Swirly and Grunt did a cool 5 and Marv, Splinter and Sippy Cup crushed the 6 mile route which may have been a tenth or so over 6??  7.22 minute miles I heard??  Great job!  Great to see Vinny and Slurpee out to their first Spider Run!  Sugar Sock, Vinny and Wedding Singer checked this AO off on the challenge.

    Announcements:

    HDHH this Wednesday at 6pm at Hardywood West.  Come out and help us honor and send off Flashdance and Fudd to new lands!

    Old School Field Day at Vinny’s Dogpile VQ this Saturday.  Wear a cheap t-shirt from your formative years.

    Puppy Pile 6/23 at 7:05am.  Sippy Cup has the Q.

    July 4th Convergence at Tredegar 7am.  YHC will start us off.  Only AO in town that day!!  Coffeteria/Breakfast immediately following.

    Summer Challenge is in full force!  Who is going to catch Vinny, Shakedown or Sugar Sock??

    Shakedown and Rosie are competing in an Ultimate on June 30th on and around the High Bridge Trail near Farmville.  Sugar Sock is helping with logistics.  If anyone else would like to help him(them), contact Sugar Sock.

    RAMM Amateur Gears is this Friday.  Lockjaw has the Q for what could be a comedy fan’s dream come true!

     

    Have a great Tuesday all!!

    Kubota

    keep posting!!

  • Husky’s VQ!

    Kubota writing on behalf of Husky.  YHC=Husky

    Two veteran hill runners, one hill runner that needs improvement, and one rookie hill runner took on the Hillcrest loops on a gorgeous afternoon.

    Swirly and TYA completed two extra long loops for about 4.5 miles

    Kubota and YHC completed two short loops for about 1.5 miles.

    YHC took us out with a prayer that went something like this: “Dear Lord, thank you for helping us come out here and run this afternoon.  Thank you for my Daddy bringing me out here to run with him this afternoon.  Also, thank you for Swirly and thank you for TYA.  We love you God.  Amen!

    YHC thinks Kubota had a tear in his eye.

    NMS:

    YHC had his 6 year well visit with his pediatrician this afternoon and received a clean bill of health!  Afterward, YHC told Kubota that he wanted to go run the hills with the guys this afternoon.  Kubota and YHC went to Hillcrest early to wait for the guys and saw TYA’s car already parked on the side of the street and Swirly pulled in a few minutes after.  Kubota told YHC how he finally beat Swirly to an AO!  YHC was curious about TYA’s age so TYA told YHC to guess his age.  YHC guessed 70!  TYA did not get mad!  YHC came closer to guessing Swirly’s age (50’s).  YHC loved running down the hills and liked running up the hills.  Waterfalls in the creek, fast cars and trucks, and lots of squirrels were the highlights of YHC’s run.  The guys took pictures with YHC by the Shovel Flag and TYA gave YHC a Gatorade.  YHC had a lot of fun and can’t wait to do it again!  Thanks to Swirly and TYA for letting me Q Roller Coaster!

    Husky

     

  • 45 Minutes of Mary’s Field

    20 strong came ready to work at Mary Munford Elementary School this morning.  The temperature was just right, the light from the breaking dawn was just enough and the field had a nice thin layer of dew on it.  Time to work!

    Mosey to the center of the field for:

    COP (all in cadence)

    Don Quixotes x 10

    Cotton Pickers x 15

    Russian Soldiers x 15

    SSH x 20 (Saab did 40)

    Merkins x 10

    Flutter Kicks x 10

     

    Stay on field but move over near the Tennis Court side for:

    Touch a Tree DORA (modified)

    Partner up and as a team do: 100 x merkins, 200 x LBC’s, 300 x squats, 400 x SSH’s

    Partner not doing exercises runs across field and touches a tree on the Cary Street side of the field and do a Burpee before running back to partner.  Do not touch same tree twice.  Plank up to wait for the six.

     

    Mosey to the end of the field for:

    Suicide 11’s

    10 trees along Cary Street.  Run to first tree do 1 Hand-Release Merkin then run back to end line and do 10 WW2’s.  Run to second tree and do 2 HRM’s and run back to end line to do 9 WW2’s.  Repeato until all 10 trees are covered.  Al Gore for the six.

    Partner up for:

    Partner Leg Tosses 2×25 each partner

    Stay with partner and start to wheelbarrow the length of the field. When you need to switch do 5 Boo-yah merkins.  We made it a little more than halfway down the field before time is up.

    Mosey back to the flag.

    COT, Numberama, Namearama, Announcements and YHC took us out.

    Announcements:

    PuppyPile 2.0 Workout is May 19th at 7:05am at Dogwood Dell after Spit’s beat down.  Hot Potato Q.

    Help support Shakedown and his team for St. Baldrick’s cancer fundraiser.  He is 60% toward the goal!!

    West End Friday lunch is at Chipotle on Broad between Gaskins and Cox.

    Memorial Day Convergence at Tredegar/Belle Isle May 28th.

    Shakedown (SOJ) will have the Ghost Flag at WDOG on May 23rd!  Come and get it!

    Lab Rat is eating lunch today somewhere at 11:45am.  Join him!

    Swirly has a hurt hand from slipping on the rocks on the trails yesterday.  He will be ok though!

     

    NMS:

    YHC has always liked working on the field at Mary Munford.  With is being closed most of the winter, it was time to take advantage of it this morning.  Though it is not as nice of a field as, say, No Toll, it is still open enough to do a lot of running with some exercises mixed in.  Suicide 11’s using the trees is something that I enjoyed during TYA’s Thanksgiving beat down and decided it had been a long enough time to bring it back.  YHC unintentionally “called out” Lab Rat and Shakedown when they seemed to finish it so quickly!  YHC asked them if they went to the last tree when the were standing at the end line.  My apologies, they were finished!  Way to work you two!!  You lapped YHC!  YHC wishes that we could have finished the wheelbarrows but time was up.  The Touch a tree DORA took a lot longer than I thought it would and, yes, YHC for got to do a burpee at one of the trees and Lab Rat made sure YHC did the burpee on the run back.

    YHC really enjoyed this morning and the chance to lead you men!  Everyone gave it their all and will reap the benefits of posting.

    Enjoy your Thursday!

    Kubota

     

    keep posting!

  • Salute to a WWII Veteran

    10 strong attended a “No Cones, No Coupons, No any kind of Props” Kubota Q in the gloom this morning.  This is what transpired:

    Mosey around bus loop to see if there were any LIFO’s (Mr. Holland)

    COP (IC)

    Big Arm Circles (forward) x 10

    Big Arm Circles (backward) x 10

    Helicopters x 15

    Don Quixote’s x 10

    SSH x 20

    Imperial Walkers x 10

    Hand Release Merkins x 15

    WWII Sit-ups x 15

     

    Short Mosey over to school steps for:

    Lindsey’s (40’s)

    30 Box Jumps on steps/10 Merkins, 25/15, 20/20, 15/25, 10/30

     

    Mosey over to and down Lindsay Court for:

    Lindsey’s (40’s) on Lindsay Ct.

    30 Lunges/10 Russian Soldiers up the hill that is Lindsay Ct., 25/15, 20/20, 15/25, 10/30

    When done with Lindsey’s, run backward up the rest of the hill and plank-o-rama.

     

    Mosey over to basketball courts for:

    Four Corners Escalator

    5 WWII Sit-ups

    5 WWII Sit-ups/10 (2 ct.) Mt. Climbers

    5 WWII Sit-ups/10 (2 ct.) Mt. Climbers/15 Monkey Humpers

    5 WWII Sit-ups/10 (2 ct.) Mt. Climbers/15 Monkey Humpers/20 Dive Bomber Merkins

     

    Mosey to the back field for:

    WWII Sit-up Suicides

    Run to 25 yard line and do 5 WWII’s, run back to start line and do 5 Burpees

    Repeato for 50 yard line, 75 yard line, 100 yard line

    Flutter Kicks to wait for the six

     

    Mosey to Cafeteria Wall for:

    Partner Work

    One partner does Dwight Howard’s on wall (about 50 each) other partner runs horseshoe.

     

    Mosey to Shovel Flag for 5MOM:

    WWII Sit-ups

    Rosalitas

    One Minute of Superman

     

    COT, Numberama, Namearama, YHC took us out.

     

    Announcements:

    Puppypile 2.0 on May 19th at 7:05am

    Breaking Bread (I think Upchuck is taking the Q though he will need a couple more Pax for help)

     

    NMS:

    April 30 and it was 38 degrees in the gloom this morning. When is “Old Man Winter” going to quit?!  YHC kept it simple this morning.  Cones and bricks were in the back of the truck, but were of no use this morning.  Back to the basics it was.  YHC is not sure what happened during the partner work, but we had 10 Pax members working out this morning and during the partner work, 6 were running the horseshoe and 4 were doing Dwight Howards.  I blame it on Monday morning or a long weekend for some or maybe it was YHC’s fault.

    YHC forgot to explain the frenzy of WWII’s this morning, but it was to honor YHC’s Grandfather who turned 95 a couple weeks ago.  He is a WWII vet who served on the USS Iowa in the Pacific theater.  We did around 95 WWII’s this morning to honor him and the 20 Dive Bomber’s actually represented the 20 Kamikazes that he witnessed either try to hit or hit the Iowa’s support ships!  None of the Kamikazes tried to hit the Iowa itself, because the Japanese pilots pretty much knew they would not get through the gunfire of the Iowa.  This morning was one of YHC’s ways of honoring his Grandfather whose health has really started to fail since his birthday.

    Thanks for coming out this morning and lets continue to pray for our fellow Pax, Pax family members and any unspoken prayers that anyone may need.

    See you in the Gloom!

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Hard Work leads to Fun and Games!

    28 Gladiators of the Gloom posted at Dogpile to put in some hard work and have some fun. This was YHC’s Dogpile VQ and it went a little something like this:

    Mosey over and down to the North Bank Trail parking lot near the bridge for:

    COP:

    Helicopters x 15

    Don Quixote’s x 10

    Scorpion Kicks x 5

    YHC told you it was going to be short!

     

    Mosey down past the Pump House to the Pipeline Loop for:

    Triple Check # 1

    Bear Crawl/Crawl Bear curb to curb, merkin at each curb

    Lt. Dans

    Run the Pipeline Loop

     

    Mosey up the Pipeline Trail to the Rusty Cage for:

    Triple Check # 2

    Burp-ups

    Capt. Thors

    Run to Fire Hydrant and perform 5 HRM’s and run back to Rusty Cage

     

    Mosey over to Carillon Field for:

    Tug-O-War Tournament ( 4 teams of seven.  Two semi-final matches, Loser’s Bracket Final and Winner’s Bracket Final)

    Length of Carillon Field sprints with 5 Burpees halfway down

    100% AYG

    75%

    50%

     

    Mary:

    Heels 2 Heaven (IC)

    Rosalitas (IC)

    LBC’s (IC)

    6 Inches (IC 50 count)

     

    Mosey bag to Shovel Flag

    Still have one minute;

    5 Diamond Merkins, 5 Merkins right leg up, 5 Merkins left leg up (OYO)

     

    COT, Numberama, Namearama, Announcements and YHC took us out.

     

    Announcements:

    Slurpee has the Breaking Bread Q tomorrow with Mr. Roper and YHC helping.

    See Lab Rat for shirts for you and for your 2.0’s

    See Wilson for Galactosemia Foundation golf tournament

    See Shakedown for St. Baldrick’s shave

     

    NMS:

    Wow!  Longest hour of my life!  YHC arrived to the AO extra early (5:15am) to, of course, get YHC’s props in the correct place.  While YHC was at the Carillon field getting props out of truck, YHC noticed two sets of headlights at the parking area.  One was obviously Swirly, the other YHC would not find out who it was until he pulled up to park.  It was Upchuck.  He must have been ready to roll or could not sleep, either way, we all literally piled into Swirly’s truck and had a nice conversation about hockey playoffs, especially the Caps.  GO CAPS!  Then some random dude rolled up in a rental car and approached Swirly’s window.  Swirly rolled window down and random dude asked: “Are you Josh?”  Swirly answered: “No Josh here dude, this is F3”  Random dude: “I am here to meet Josh for a 5 mile run”  Swirly: “No this is F3 where we meet every Wednesday and Saturday for great beatdowns”  End of convo.  Great attempt at EH’ing that random guy, Swirly.  Wasn’t meant to be, though.

    YHC had other tricks up his sleeve this morning, but had to go with a plan B because of numbers.  28 was probably the best number for this morning because it gave us 4 even strength tug-o-war teams.  It did leave one extra for the triple checks, but it all worked out.  Also, the dawns are breaking at a better time now in the gloom in order to see things better like the pipeline trail.  YHC likes to work everyone hard in YHC’s Q’s, but YHC also likes to have fun!  Thus, the tug-o-war tourney.  YHC does not remember who was on the winning team, but it was not YHC’s team.  So YHC will guarantee you that the rope will be making appearances again until YHC’s team wins it all!  The best match had to be the Loser’s Bracket final.  It was a good back and forth for a couple of minutes, until YHC’s team was ultimately defeated.  Will not happen again, right Swirly?  YHC hopes everyone enjoys their participation trophys they received from the back of YHC’s truck!

    YHC would like to thank everyone for coming out to YHC’s Dogpile VQ which landed on YHC’s 6 month anniversary of beginning F3.  As YHC told you in the COT, it has greatly changed YHC’s life!  Thank you all for pushing YHC to his limits and being there for him!  Thank you to Spike for spreading the word about F3 to me at church a while ago!  ET’s was great as usual!  YHC hopes everyone has a wonderful rest of the weekend and YHC will see you in the gloom!