Author: Gumbo

  • Just 2 Men and a Sidewalk…

    Speed was on display this morning at River Run as LugNut and Gumbo held down the fort and crushed the sidewalk…well, at least downhill we did. The route shall be known either as “The Sidewalk Route” or “The Doozy Killer”. Today, we’ll call it the Sidewalk Route – left out of BWES and around the high school and across Robious to the dark side of the sidewalk. Turn right on the sidewalk and head West and slightly downhill as far as you can until 22/23 minutes. Lug and I turned back just before 288 at the 2.5 mile mark and trekked it back uphill to the Flag. The slow burn was real and it slowed our pace too. But it was a great run. Thanks for posting LugNut and for letting me draft on the LugNut Express for the first 2 miles out.

    COT, Number-rama, Name-a-rama and a quick prayer for a great day. No announcements.

    No More Gumbo For You!

  • Tour D’River Downs

    8 2-legged PAX members and 1 4-legged friend set off into the gloom and through the patch fog to log a few miles on this glorious morning. The route was a tour through River Downs – North and South. It went like this:

    • Left out of BWES (phew not towards Twin Team!) and circle around by the high school and out to Robious Road
    • Right onto the sidewalk on the north side of Robious heading West.
    • First Right into River Downs North and follow along until you see the park on the left… oh, crap the park is kind of hidden in the gloom and with some grown up bushes…good luck boys.
    • Bear left at the park, then take a left onto Lennox Forest and head back toward Robious.
    • Cross Robious onto Kings Farm
    • Time to zig and zag a bit — First Right onto Cotesworth; Left onto Pond Chase and Right onto Post Mill.
    • Follow Post Mill up the steep but short hill until it Ts at River Downs South Dr.
    • Left on RDS and back to Robious Road
    • Right onto the sidewalk on the south side of Robious and head up the hill toward Twin Team….just “toward” not “up”.
    • Left at the sidewalk to cross Robious back to BWES; and
    • down to the park entrance and back to the flag to finish out the time and come in right at 5 miles.

    Marmaduke appeared from behind BWES without LugNut and then we realized Lug’s car was gone — off to catch a flight.

    COT, Numbers, Names and YHC took us out.

    Announcements:

    • F3RVA 5-year anniversary workout at Dogpile this Saturday.
    • F3RVA Retreat Saturday night a black site that only Vinny has the address to. Either meet Vinny at the Lowes on 360 at 11:00 a.m. or text him for the address.

    NMS:

    Great morning for a run. It was great to have some of the New Market crew out, including Annie our 4-legged friend. The PAX fought over the reins for the steep uphill portion.

    Way to work this morning gents. Have a great day and a great week.

    No More Gumbo For You!

  • Only a Cup of Gumbo today..

    YHC rolled into BWES early this morning wondering if BRR might make River Run a solo run…no worries, OC rolled in with time to spare and Bullseye and LUGNUT…YES, the man, the myth, the warrior, LugNut rolled in with a few minutes to spare. What a freaking machine….RESPECT!

    And, with that YHC felt immediately like a putz because I had to roll out early from my own darn Q…a FIFO Q – is that a thing?

    Instructions were given – Old Faithful Tarrington route – and off we went.

    YHC had to cut Ashwell hill short and return quickly to the flag to get the rest of my day started in time to make an early meeting. I am sure COT was wonderful and I’m sure the announcements were glorious. OC, Bullseye or LugNut can provide those in the comments.

    NMS:
    I’m so thankful for it not being a solo run today. I’m not sure I would have had the fortitude to gut it out. It was great to see OC – it’s been a minute since we have shared the gloom. Always great running and chatting my friend. I’m so glad to hear that your son is going to school today. I know the recovery is ongoing, but that is a great step. I hope he had a great and safe day in the rowdy halls of MMS (Go Mustangs!).

    No offense to OC and Bullseye (love you guys), but man, seeing LugNut roll into the parking lot and casually say “well, I mean I didn’t run at all yesterday” really pumped me up.

    This group and you men never cease to amaze and motivate me. Thank you!

    No More Gumbo For You!

  • Oyster Gumbo served up riverside

    Two PAX brushed off a day of leadership seminar training sessions and a few Kentucky Mules to post in the gloom (yes, at 0530) at Kingsmill to do what needed to be done…time to get to work.

    2.5 mile mosey around the grounds of Kingsmill. Find an open parking lot for 2 rounds of 4 corners with 10 merkins, 10 jump squats, 5 burpees and 10 WWII situps at the respective corners.

    Then find a ledge/step for 3 rounds of 20 dips and 20 box jumps/step ups.

    Mosey a little over a mile back to the lobby area.

    No need to name or number – we got it. Time to mentally prepare for 9 hours with 68 of our closest, newest friends today…the beatdown was needed.

    No More Gumbo For You!

  • An Elite 8 Battle the Darkness at Batteau

    What a gorgeous August morning for a beatdown and 8 men posted to Batteau to see what Gumbo had in store. It was dark, but I think it went something like this:

    Mosey one lap around the circle to wait for Hitchhiker to get his gear together, then pick him up on the mosey over to the Farmer’s Market lot for COP, including:

    • DQs
    • Helicopters
    • Imperial Walkers
    • SSHs
    • Tempo Merkins
    • Freddie Mercuries

    All warmed up, time to work.

    THE THANG:

    Farmer’s Market 11s – in the parking lot, form a line on one edge and start with 10 jump squats and 1 HRM. Lunge across to the other side. 9 and 2. Then, backwards run back. Continue until 1 JS and 10 HRMs. Al Gore for the SIX.

    Mosey down the Hill of Ill Repute (all lights on – way to go City of Richmond) and congregate at the bottom.

    Proper Dora – Without the Math

    Partner up and one partner runs up the hill to the second light. Do 10 uphill merkins and run back. Partner two stays at the bottom doing as many proper dora combination exercises (1 merkin, 2 squats and 3 WWII situps) as possible until your partner returns. No number to get to, just 10 minutes on the clock. Repeato until Q calls time.

    Mosey down the path and up the stairs (avoiding holes) up to the Tennis Court where Gumbo had dropped some side dishes.

    The Suck with Toys

    7 Exercises and 1 rabbit. Rabbit sprints the length of the court, slow/low side shuffle across and backwards run to the endline. Exercises were:

    • APDs
    • LBCs
    • Lunges
    • Plank
    • Jump Rope
    • Goblet Squats holding 35lb KB
    • One Arm KB Swings with 25lb KB

    2 rounds through

    ROF – Rosie Style

    PAX in a circle holding Al Gore. On your turn, drop and do 10 merkins, then on your six, holding six inches until it comes back around to you. Then, do 10 Hello Dollies and back up to Al Gore. No flair, just strong, good-form merkins.

    3 MOM

    • SSHs
    • Mark Spitz – Flutter Kicks with hands overhead
    • Rosalitas
    • American Hammers

    Back to the Flag for COT, Number-rama, Name-a-Rama and YHC took us out

    Announcements:

    • Convergence, Labor Day 0700 at Timberwolf
    • Retreat 9/21 – sign up for cornhole to help Vinny and others get numbers for the event and for food purposes.

    NMS:

    It is always great to get over to Batteau and experience total darkness, some brutal hills and the Swiss-like precision timing of Sippy’s arrival. It is a unique AO with lots of painful possibilities. Thanks for working hard and letting me lead this morning men. Great to be with you.

    No More Gumbo For You.

  • Happy Birthday Pops

    16 fine men joined Gumbo in the soupy gloom to celebrate what would have been my dad’s 82nd birthday. It went a little something like this:

    Mosey tot he back lot and circle up – no FNGs so let’s get right to it…COP (all IC):

    • DQs x8
    • Helicopters x20 (YHC’s mind was in the clouds and we almost overshot 20)
    • Imperial Walkers x19
    • SSHs x37
    • LBCs x82 – thanks for keeping the count strong PAX

    6 Burpees OYO

    THE THANG

    Field of Dreams Buffet – Two of Phil Goldman’s favorite things were baseball and a buffet, so YHC tried to combine these into one routine. The Field of Dreams involves breaking into 4 groups – one at each “base” (or in our case corner). Exercises at each base were as follows:

    • Group 1 (First base) – Squats AMRAP (YHC equates AMRAP to Phil Goldman at a buffet…it was a sight to witness!)
    • Group 2 (Second base) – Merkins AMRAP
    • Group 3 (Third base) – LBCs AMRAP
    • Group 4 (Home) – Burpees — this was the trigger for switching – when all members of the Burpee group were finished – call switch — run to next station.
      • Round 1: 15 Burpees
      • Round 2 (second plate): 10 Burpees
      • Round 3 (dessert): 5 Burpees

    PHIL-Check – Stay in your groups of 4. Phil Goldman was NOT a runner, so this PHIL-Check would not involve any running. In your group of 4, rotate through the 4 following exercises 4 times:

    • P – Plank-jacks AMRAP — keeping that “all you can eat” theme alive
    • H – HRMs x20 (this was the switch trigger)
    • I – Imperial Squat Walkers (AMRAP)
    • L – LBFCs (Little Baby Flutter Crunches — real thing, look them up) – Flutter kicks while intermittently performing a crunch with your upper body.

    Al Gore and Plank-o-rama for the SIX

    Native American Run back to the basketball courts (sort of). This went haywire and YHC just called a jail break.

    5MOM, including:

    • Freddie Mercuries
    • Hello Dollies
    • Louisiana Prom Dates (APDs but with your arms hugging your plus-sized date)
    • Rosalitas
    • Superman to finish

    Back to the Flag for COT, Number-rama, Name-a-rama and YHC took us out.

    Announcements:

    • Puppy Pile Saturday
    • Convergence Labor Day 0700 at Timerwolf
    • Summer Tour patches available – see Shakedown
    • DTH Poker Night – 9/7
    • Continued prayers for lots of folks – Helix’s daughter, Wojo’s sister/family, TYA’s brother, OC’s son, Doozy’s job prospects and others I am sure.
      • If you want to contribute to the fund for Wojo’s family – see Vinny with cash/check or Venmo money to me (Goldman-MP). I will be delivering a check to Vinny on 8/26 at Batteau.

    NMS:

    It is amazing how you look back at 6 years that have gone by and it seems like yesterday. Its downright scary sometimes. This November, it will be 6 years since my dad passed away. Today, he would have been 82 and man it would be cool if he was still here to celebrate with and to talk about how big my kids are and about how good LSU’s football team will be but they still won’t beat BAMA and Saban dammit. Today was a great opportunity to give a shout out to pops all while sweating our asses off and pushing each other to be better and stronger today than we were yesterday so that hopefully we have as many tomorrow’s as we possibly can.

    I did think “darn, why couldn’t his birthday been in November like mine. It was nasty sticky.

    Thanks for following along today and thanks for putting in the work with me. No better way to start the day!

    No More Gumbo For You!

  • Pick your poison (hill) and run until your nipples bleed

    A baker’s dozen posted in the soupy (almost Gumbo-y) gloom of River Run to log some miles for BRR training, to check a box for the summer tour or just to start their day off right with some F3. No matter what the reason, it was a great choice.

    YHC explained today’s route, our choice of routes, leave BWES and head towards Twin Team but take a right on the trail instead of a left. Down to Gumbo’s neighborhood and take a left on Riverdowns South. Proceed to the second intersection (Riverdowns South, Kings Farm and Queens Grant). This was affectionately known as HOME BASE for the morning. About .89 miles from school to HOME BASE.

    From HOME BASE, you had the choice of two hills, each .5 miles to the top/turn around. Queens Grant hill is 0.53 miles from HOME BASE to the stop sign at the top – 128ft of gain for an average of 4.7% grade – long and steep. Hill #2 (straight on Riverdowns South to the second road (Post Mill)) was .5 miles with 66ft of gain and average grade of 3% – slow and steady. Pick your poison. Run whichever ones you want or alternate, as many times as you can before getting back to the flag for COT…GO!

    COT, Number-rama, Name-a-rama and YHC took us out.

    Announcements:

    • Puppy Pile on Saturday
    • Convergence on Labor Day 0700 at Timberwolf
    • See Shakedown if you are interested in one of the Summer Tour patches he ordered – first come first served, $5 a piece.
    • Vinny is collecting money (but if you Venmo – send it to me and I’ll right Vinny a check) for Wojo’s family.
    • Orange Crush’s 2.0 is recovering and a meal train is set up. https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/m13gn3

    NMS:

    Wow it was steamy this morning. Felt like we were all running in Gumbo. That didn’t stop Rosie from getting some extra credit or Tobit and POG and Hutton and Swiper from demolishing the hills. Tobit got 4 trips up the best that is Queens Grant Hill…RESPECT!

    Lug continues to crush it. I’m pretty sure his shirt weighed more than him by the end of the run today.

    Great to have DK back in the mix, and great to have LabRat in the Southern Hemisphere for the second time in less than a week.

    The New Market running crew came out – two of them (Wilson (duh) and Marmaduke) in long sleeves. They must be trying to cut weight before their next MMA weigh-in.

    Well done fellas.

    No More Gumbo For you!

  • LabRat and Gumbo play Trading Places…MannDate wins!

    A strong 9 posted in the darkness of MannDate with bells in hand – 7 regulars and 2 Summer Tourists, including a clueless Q trying to recall old KB exercises. It came back like riding a bike, sort of, and it went something like this:

    Mosey (walk with KBs held high overhead) around the parking lot and over to the lighted area by the front door of the school for COP, including:

    • Don Quixotes (sans KBs)
    • Helicopters (sans KBs)
    • Halos IC both directions
    • Goblet copperhead squats
    • Staggered merkins – IC first with right hand on KB then with left
    • LBCs
    • Sit and press

    THE THANG

    11s – Swings (your choice or variety) and merkins

    Mosey with KBs held high to side of school to the bus loop and line up at first light post:

    MannDate’s Light Post Alley:

    • At light post 1 – 10 one-hand swings with each hand
    • walk with KB high to second light post
    • At light post 2 – 10 bent rows with each arm
    • walk to light post 3 passing KB around your waste (slingshot)
    • At light post 3 – 10 boat and canoe

    Lay on curb with head off the end — 10 triceps extensions IC and 10 pullovers IC

    Back to the alley for a reverse Light Post Alley – same exercises reverse order Light Post 3 back to 1.

    Triple Check:

    • Snatch – alternate hands
    • Sit and press
    • Run the bus loop

    11s on the school wall with Goblet Squats and Donkey Kicks

    Mosey back to the front of the school COP area

    Ring of Fire:

    • Hold six inches with KB overhead
    • First man does 10 boat and canoe then back to six inches – pass it around
    • when the 7th man starts boat and canoe, first man does 10 American Hammers and passes it along chasing the boat and canoes.

    Time’s up and I’m spent.

    COT, Number-rama and Name-a-rama and YHC took us out.

    Announcements:

    • Convergence – 0700 at Timberwolf on Labor Day
    • Puppy Pile 8/24
    • DTH is slinging F3 shirts with names – see previous BBs for the link or talk to DTH
    • Prayers out for several PAX members fighting obstacles or with family members going through difficulties – Doozy, TYA’s brother, Helix’s daughter, OC’s son, Wojo’s sister, and others spoken or unspoken. Let’s lift our brothers up and have their backs.

    NMS:

    It was a great morning – starting at about 0330 when YHC first woke up, worried I would wake in time to trek to MannDate and worried that I haven’t Q’d a KB workout in a LONG time. Then 0345, 0420 and finally up and at ’em at 0435 – Let’s ROLL. Time to scoop up Rosie and head North.

    MannDate was dark but the Davillians turned out to support the guest Q. Much appreciated men. Very strong work today – especially by Chewy leaving it all out there on the bus loop to keep up with Rosie for a lap (and maybe edge him out by a nose — photo finish).

    No More Gumbo For You!

  • One Hit Wonder at Heartbreak Ridge

    7 gloom all-stars posted on this glorious Tuesday and bellied up to the bar for a steaming pot of Gumbo. It was served with the following side dishes:

    5 of us Moseyed a lap around the parking lot to allow Garbage Plate to catch up – it didn’t take long. Circle up in the near corner for COP, including:

    • DQs
    • Helicopters
    • SSHs — Flipper appeared LIFO
    • Imperial Walkers
    • Copperhead Squats
    • Tempo Merkins
    • LBCs
    • APDs

    THE THANG – 7 OF DIAMONDS

    Gather at the nearest lamp post for explanation of the routine and the description of the Diamond (i.e., the large square). Start at the first lamp post with the named exercise, run to second and do exercise, then third, then fourth and run back to first lamp post and plank or Al Gore for six as told. 7 rounds total with the following exercises:

    • Round 1 – 7 burpees at each lamp post
    • Round 2 – 14 merkins at each lamp post
    • Round 3 – 21 2-ct Freddy Mercuries
    • Round 4 – 28 Squats
    • Round 5 – 21 2-ct mountain climbers
    • Round 6 – 13 Hello Dollies
    • Round 7 – 7 HRMs

    Ring of Fire x2

    • Round 1 – all holding six inches – perform 10 2-ct flutter kicks (hands straight above head), then jump up and do 10 squats, then plank.
    • Round 2 – 10 merkins, then back to holding six inches

    5 MOM:

    • Rosalitas
    • Dollies
    • APDs
    • Freddie Mercuries – varying speeds
    • American Hammers

    Mosey back to the Flag for COT, Number-rama, Name-a-rama and YHC took us out.

    Announcements:

    • Puppy Pile 8/24
    • Labor Day Convergence at Timberwolf – come for some Southern Hospitality. Dishes served HOT at 0700.
    • Get your name on a shirt for $43 – see DTH

    NMS:

    It was great to take the Q out at Heartbreak. It has been a minute since I Q’d there. At first, I thought it might just be a foursome of Handshake, Offshore, Attila and me. But, then Shakedown, Garbage Plate and later, Flipper, rolled in. So perfect to start with 7 as YHC recently read the 7 of Diamonds routine and wanted to give it a try. I had other things on the menu, but he 7oD turned out to be a one hit wonder today. No worries, I think we got everything we needed out of it.

    Strong work me. I enjoyed it.

    No More Gumbo For you…until MannDate!

  • Gumbo’s Back on the Menu

    Well hello again folks! 19 of my favorite men, including 1 FNG (Reservoir) broke free from the sack to welcome Gumbo back into the gloom on the lush and wet fields of NoToll…no better site for re-entry. It went a little something like this:

    Mosey to the back parking lot for COP and wait a minute on the New Market Clown Car folks while I provide the disclaimer to our FNG.

    COP, all IC, including:

    • SSHs x36 (1 for each day YHC was away from RVA)
    • DQs
    • Helicopters
    • Imperial Walkers
    • Copperhead Squats
    • Merkins
    • LBCs x36 again
    • Flutter Kicks

    THE THANG:

    Triple Check with a 17-state Kicker

    In teams of 3, Partner 1 does dips on the bleachers, Partner 2 planks on the field, while Partner 3 runs across the field, does 17 merkins (1 for each state that the Gumbo-mobile drove through in the family vacation) and runs back. Repeato x3

    Logging the Mile(s)

    Mosey over to Pavilion to log a “mile” that was representative of the 6,778.2 miles that I logged in my car to be exact (but who’s counting) as follows:

    • Lap around the field
    • stop at Pavilion for: 67 1-ct mountain climbers, 78 SSHs and 2 burpees
    • Repeato x4
    • Al Gore for the six

    Slowsy back to the basketball courts for Mary

    Mary:

    • First hold six inches (or as much as you’ve got) until the SIX arrives.
    • Then, Hello Dollies IC
    • APDs IC
    • Freddie Mercuries in varying cadence from SLOOOW to fast and back to SLOOW.
    • 30 seconds of Superman

    Back to the Flag for COT, Number-rama, Name-a-rama and YHC took us out

    Announcements:

    • Summer Tour continues. Get to DaVille and SOJ and stamp your passport.
    • HDHH at Kuba Kuba 2 tomorrow – 6:00 p.m. for the run and Posh will be there at 6:45 for the drinks.
    • RAMM Gears Amateur Hour #2 this Friday
    • Labor Day convergence at Timberwolf at 0700 – DaVillians make your hotel reservations. Rooms go fast SOJ.

    NMS:

    Oh, it was so great to be back in the gloom. And, to wake up at 0440 with butterflies and nerves about my Q — LOVE IT!

    Great to have FNG – Tyler (Reservoir — because of his Midlo/SOJ routes) in the gloom for the first time all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, even better. Thanks for joining us Reservoir – come back soon and often.

    It was also great meeting some new guys, including partnering with Fresh Prince as part of my triple-check group. That man can fly and destroyed the “Miles” workout. Way to go man. I look forward to catching up with you more and learning how you got your name.

    I had a wonderful family vacation. Logged a lot of miles – both in the car and on the mountains. It was a great adventure, and I am so thankful to have the ability to do that stuff. Those memories will last forever.

    It is equally as wonderful to be able to return to the Gloom with my F3 brothers after 36 days and instantly it feels like I never left. The fellowship and commaradarie and motivation reignites immediately. So blessed! Thank you all.

    I look forward to finishing up the Summer Tour and catching up with all those I have missed for the past month.

    Spread the positive energy we build every morning, men!

    No More Gumbo For You! For today.