Author: Mr Rogers

  • All Are Welcome

    Now that Currahee is officially in a turf war with those elitist snobs over at Members Only, Currahee will be leaning into being a place that all are welcome. Currahee is for Ruckers and Walkers and Runners, and even non-humans, like my ever-present companion, Wally. And all of these types showed today, 13 strong.

    Being the end of the month, the Bro-Code protocol was engaged. But backwards, because why not.

    We came, we saw, we ran, we rucked, we discussed human success as a relationship to birthrate, we laughed, we got honked at twice, we mostly picked up the six, we conquered. Well done men!

    Names. Numbers.

    Announcements: EF Hutton will lead a trip to the Bridge on 11/15/25. Thxgvg Day Convergence at 45MOM at 7am. All joking aside, I’m excited about Westhoe’s newest AO, Members Only (a Bootcamp-style workout). After a couple of soft launches, they officially open their doors next Friday, 11/7. I believe this is the only AO in F3RVA on Friday not dedicated to running. Go give ’em some love and check it out!

    Prayer Requests: Gypsy’s step-dad discovered yesterday that he has prostate cancer. And his mother needs surgery. Gypsy will be more out of pocket than usual caring for his family. Let’s all keep Gypsy and his entire family in your prayers.

    Hutton lost his aunt yesterday. Please keep EF’s mother, particularly, in your prayers as she mourns the loss of her sister.

    UpChuck has experienced a lot of loss lately. He lost his cousin a few weeks ago. Just yesterday he learned of the passing of a 30-year old buddy. Additionally, a college friend of his just passed and another college friend recently lost her mother. He’ll soon be attending 2 funerals in one day. One will be led by Bodos. That’s a lot of loss. Please keep UpChuck in your prayers and those friends and their families as well.

    Moleskin: There is no shortage of suffering in the world. If you are in a season of stability, use this time to do something for someone else. Lots of folks have lots of needs. Sometimes, just a kind word, or even just your undivided attention, is enough. Sometimes much more is needed. Be on the lookout for ways to help. Remember, when you give away something good, something magical happens. You don’t lose anything. In fact, you and the other person become richer in the end.

    Let’s go get this Friday! Happy Halloween Pax!

  • It’s Burrito Time Baby

    Burritos were the call.  The M and 2.0 jumped in to help.  My 2.0 browned, drained and seasoned the ground beef.  The M picked out tea and lemonade to drink and a seasonal dessert, a pumpkin roll, prepared by none other than Kroger.  We dropped off the items, with all the fixins (shredded cheese, shredded lettuce, sour cream, salsa) a pile of tortillas and tortilla chips (party size of course), drinks and dessert and headed out to see our nephew’s evening soccer game.  Good family fun.  Oyster, thanks for the details and holding this position down.  See y’all in the gloom! 

  • Who Punched Gerald Ford’s Son?

    Only 8 today at Currahee, a far cry from recently inflated numbers. I knew why once I saw Roger Roger’s BB for the newest AO, Wells Bells, a Friday bootcamp. I’m excited to check it out some time. But today was for running.

    After naming 12 random streets and watching the Pax’s eyes glaze over, we launched. Chum and Kru rucked it, Salt Lick and Flo did their own thing and the rest did 5.5 mi and 380 ft of elevation gain, helped in no small part from Buffapple Drive, which provided 87 ft of elevation all by itself.

    Much was discussed: Stories of balls being punched and other shenanigans from our kids at school. But most notably, it came to light that one amongst us punched Gerald Ford’s son in college. I’ll never say who. I’m not trying to get the secret service involved and you have to post to find these things out.

    BTTVF for Numbers and Names.

    Announcements: Bootleg takes a group to the Bridge tmrw (10/25). Breaking Bread is still open on Sun (10/26). Continued prayers for Chicharon’s friend who lost his 13 yo son to suicide last week. YHC took us out.

    Moleskin: Don’t take the folks in your life for granted. None of us are promised tomorrow. Consider that God has put the people in your life in your life for a reason. Seize the moments you are given. They matter and so do you. Have a great Friday gents!

  • Beatlemania, sort of

    23 strong at Circus Maximus today. That’s just another Thursday for this AO, at least as of late. Great to see pax from 8 years old to whatever Whitedeer is.

    Today was a celebration of John Lennon, as he would have turned 85 today if he wasn’t needlessly gunned down many years ago in NYC.  But he was, so he was honored today with trivia, a listening session of his best songs and general Beatlemania with Kettlebells. However, the battery-powered speaker had other plans. We got through a few songs before the speaker finally ran out of juice and then we had to switch to the phone – a poor substitute indeed.

    Circle up for COP and Beatles trivia with the penalty of Burpees for wrong answers: Introduction, Disclaimer, SSHs. Trivia question 1 for those playing along at home: What city are the Beatles from? Liverpool. Well done Pax. No penalty burpee. Deadman Hang. What year did the Beatles form or what year did they break in America starting off the phenom known as Beatlemania – either year was considered correct. No one knew either. 1960 and 1964 , respectively. The pax Burpeed. DQs. Which member infamously said the band was more famous than Jesus?  Here is where Bootleg took over and showed off his Beatles knowledge. John Lennon said it. And the quote remains controversial to this day. But what many misunderstand is that he was lamenting social decay, not boasting about his band’s success. Next up: Mt Climbers. Next Trivia question: What year did they disband? Bootleg again. 1970. No burpee. WWIIs. What year was Lennon shot? Bootleg again. 1980. No burpee. Merkins. By who? You guessed it: Bootleg again with the answer: Mark David Chapman. No burpee. Recover. Bootleg later confessed to being a self-described geek and Beatles fan. Well done sir!

    Triple check. Beatle Crawl to the end of the parking lot and run back while P2 did Press and P3 did High Pulls. Plank work for the 6.

    More Fun Facts: Light mumble chatter about the “5th Beatle” emerged. It was Pete Best. Drummer from 1960-62. He was dismissed for his drumming, or lack there of, and the band just preferred Ringo’s personality and skills. Pete Best still lives in Liverpool, created the Pete Best Band in 1988 and he collects royalties from the 1995 Beatles Anthology project.

    Back to business: Next round.  Timer runs.  1 burpee at the edge of lot.  P2 did Lawn Mower Pulls and P3 did Curls. Flutters for the 6.

    Next round.  Timer runs and again did 1 burpee at the edge of lot. P2 did Sumo Squats and P3 did Sit & Press. Al Gore for the 6. Recover.

    Line up on the Curb:
    Overhead Pulls.
    American Hammers.
    Swings. 3 rounds.  

    Circle up for Mary: Flutters with press, Box cutters, WWIIs, 60 second leg hold. Aaaaaaaaand time! Recover.

    Numbers. Names.  Announcements: Joey’s Hotdogs on 10/14 at 12pm for 2nd F lunch. Heavy Metal Kettle next week at Circus (10/16). Bring a KB and your grandma’s wig. Bootleg is leading a group to The Bridge on 10/25. Come on out. You won’t regret it.
    Prayer Requests: None. YHC took us out.
    Moleskin: Humility isn’t thinking less of yourself. It’s thinking of your self less. Go do something good for someone else today. And listen to some Beatles. They really did revolutionize popular music. SYITG!

  • The Hype Man Fartsacked

    After hyping my first Heartbreak Q, Handshake turned off the alarm, thinking he’d just rest his eyes for a minute. Soon thereafter, while he continued to wallow in the fartsack, 21 Gloom Warriors got after it. Following an introduction and disclaimer, COP started with SSHs, DQs, Arm Circles, WWIIs and Mt. Climbers. Next, while still in COP, we got the heart rate up: we ran in place, only stopping for a few firecracker jumps, burpees, merkins, etc. Recovery. Enough of that: Let’s roll!

    From QMS over to PES for a triple check: P1 scrambles up the stairs, bear crawls over to the other stairs, run down and does a lap, while P2 does Heels to Heaven and P3 does squats. Borat was jump squatting like an NBA star while Whitesnake regaled us with tales from across the pond. Done. Quick 10 count. FEBA! Let’s mosey.

    Dora time. Partner up. 100 merkins. 150 crunchy frogs. 200 SSHs. Hope we didn’t disrupt the Tomatoes too badly as we sprinted past them with sweat flying. Enough of that, back over to QMS.

    Circle up for some of Mary’s ugly step sister w/ ADHD: Core exercises, OYO, no count, no stopping, just change when the next one is called. FMs, flutters, Box cutters, V-ups, and more WWIIs. Almost done. No time for stopping now: Grab a pole. 20 polesmokers. 5 Imperial Squat Walkers. 10 Mike Tysons. All OYO. I saw Gold Digger done early. Had to keep that beast moving: Repeato was the call.

    Mosey BTTF for a 60 second leg hold…aaaaaaaaaand done! Way to work fellas!

    Numbers. Names.

    Announcements: 1.) Saturday, 10/4, Handicap Build in Midlothian, starting about 9:30am. Get with Gomer for details. Come on out, get your hands dirty and help someone that could use it. 2.) Lighthouse, Blue Moon and YHC will table the Out of the Darkness suicide awareness walk on Sat, 10/4, in Dogwood Dell area. We aim to be set up by 7:45am. We’re hoping that there will be lots of men to speak to about the answer that F3 is to the mental health crisis. 3.) Likewise, EF Hutton plans to set up a table at Tuckahoe Little League, also on Sat, 10/4, to share the awesomeness of F3. So look out for lots of baseball dads coming to an AO near year. Get your thinking caps on and start coming up with lots of insulting nicknames.

    Prayer Requests: None today. YHC took us out.

    Moleskin: When you eventually solve the handful of problems you have today (or they just pass, as all things inevitably do), you’ll then have new problems. They will never leave. But don’t lose heart. There are a million and one things going right today. Take note of them. We are blessed to have another day to be alive. Use it. Look for an opportunity to encourage someone who needs it. Try to be a little better than you were yesterday. Try to think a little less about yourself and notice something you can do for another. Have a great day fellas! And I’ll SYITG!

  • The Venus de Milo of Workouts

    Introduction. Disclaimer. Announcement that this workout would have no arms (savin’ em for Circus). Pigskin made the witty comment, “like Venus de Milo”, and the title was solidified.

    COP done surrounding an intersection in West Broad Village with everyone on a different corner. That was a first. SSHs, DQs, Cherry Pickers, jump 1x, 2xs, and 3xs as high as you can. Recover. Done recovering. Let’s mosey to the Gazebo.

    The thang: 5 Imperial Squat Walkers, 10 Heals to Heaven, 10 single-count lunges, 10 crunchy frogs at the Gazebo and then run around the lake – rinse and repeat.

    BTTF w/ 5 min to spare: Mary was the call (LBCs, FMs, Peter Parkers, 30-sec leg hold). Recover. Mission Accomplished: No arm work at all. Nice work men!

    Numbers. Names.

    Announcements: 1.) There is no set amount of time you must be in F3 before Qing. If you haven’t Q’ed before, give it a go. Ask someone about it and get signed up. You won’t regret it. 2.) Plus One’s band, Heaviside, who rock btw, and can be found on Spotify and Apple Music, will be playing this Sat, 9/27, at Basic City Beer Co (Plus One, if i got that wrong, please correct me in the comments). First band is at 7pm. His band goes on 2nd: Not too bad for any old fogies considering going. 3.) Green Hornet, Gold Digger and Borat know how to drive. They arrived today without Roger Roger’s Clown Car.

    Prayer Requests: Prayers for Roger Roger’s FIL who is currently in the hospital. We missed you today RR – hope to see you at Circus.

    YHC took us out.

    Do something for someone else today! SYITG!

  • Wally Got A Haircut

    After Wally was complimented for going to the groomer and I was told I probably should go too, we were off. Pigskin left a little early to arrive on time and Roger Roger and Green Hornet left a little late to arrive a little late, but we all made it – except for Professor X and Tool Time and Blackout – where are those dudes?!?

    COP at West Broad Village: Introduction, totally forgot the disclaimer (send me your medical bills), arm circles, DQs, cherry pickers, recover.

    The Thang: The Pax was informed that we’d randomly stop and perform MICS (10 Merkins, 10 Imperial Squat Walkers, 10 Crab Cakes & 10 SSHs). MICS were supposed to be the main event. As a little fun aside, I declared that everyone had Executive Burpee Power and could randomly stop the Pax and demand 5 burpees. If these powers were not exercised, then all remaining burpees would need to be completed by all once BTTF. I thought it was implied that everyone could use this awesome power once. Apparently not. I believe it was Pinto that threw his weight around before leaving COP, then Tater started double dipping, it was burpee madness, I only got about 2 MICS in, my bad shoulder starting hurting, Executive Powers had to be revoked, leaving Plus One without even having used his. Roger Roger said we stopped for burpees 15 times (there were 13 of us). 5 burpees each time. Tater did some quick number crunching and let us know we did exactly 437 burpees. Job well done men!

    BTTF: Numbers. Names. Announcements: You are allowed to sign up to Q WTH. Party at Taters for Pinto and Gypsy on Sat, 9/6, starting around 4pm. Bring a side or dessert. Left of July (Whitesnake’s band) plays at Brambly Park (I googled it, this place looks cool) at 8pm also on 9/6. 2nd F at Firehouse Subs in Innsbrook on Tues, 9/9 at 12pm. No prayer requests today. YHC took us out.

    Special shout out to the still friendly but no longer new guys: Full House and Fortran, way to keep showing up and getting after it. Great to have you guys joining us!

    Moleskin: Look for a chance to be helpful today. Try to think about others a little more and yourself a little less.

    Thx for letting me lead today gents. SYITG!

  • Welcome Full House & Tool Time

    Warm up on the bus loop with some high knees, butt kickers and karaokes.

    COP: Welcome and disclaimer, especially to Jason and Brennan, two buddies of Roger Roger from his hood. SSHs, 1 burpee OYO, DQs, 2 burpees OYO, Cherry Pickers, 3 burpees OYO, Mt. Climbers, WWIIs, 4 burpees OYO, Merkins & 5 burpees OYO.

    The Thang:
    7s at the loading dock.  We did Mike Tyson’s at the top and Flutter Kicks at the bottom. 

    Next stop by the hill under then black top.  Got the pax to select random numbers by sharing digits from their soc, year of marriage and phone number.  Ran and up and down the hill this many times.  And now I will hack their accounts. 

    East Coast Vs. West Coast 90s Rap Battle: Count off 1s, 2s. 1s (Team Biggie) go to eastern part of US map on blacktop and 2s (Team Tupac) go to the west coast.  Teams competed to finish exercises first (forget form).  Losers did 5 burpees.  Each team was permitted to have a teammate take on more of an exercise to help a slower pax.  But the correct number had to be done before saying “Done!”.   Exercises: 100 SSHs, 90 Flutter Kicks, 80 LBCs, 70 Cassius Clays, 60 squats, 50 Freddy Mercuries,
    40 Imerperial Walkers, 30 dry docks, 20 wwiis, 10 burpees. The east side won a couple. West side won a couple. I think we all won: No one got shot.   

    Moving on: 7s at the Pull Up bars: Pull Ups and Jump Squats. 

    Finish w/ a Baby Beast at the Blacktop:
    3 stops of 3 counts of Crab Cakes, Imperial Squat Walkers, Diamond Merkins, Box cutters aaaaaaand time! BTTF.  

    Numbers: 11 strong on a Monday.

    Names: Roger Roger delivered us the heroic GreenHornet from his neighborhood. And now, today he brought 2 more. Jason, who once lived in the bay area, has 3 children, 2 of which are twins got saddled with the moniker Full House. Welcome Full House!

    Roger Roger also brought Brennan. Brennan built his own home, has a new baby and I believe builds data centers. He left thinking his name is Meta. But I just dont like it – and I was the Q. So, please let him know, we’re continuing w/ the 80’s sitcom theme and he’s Tool Time. Welcome Tool Time!  

    Announcements: Labor Day Convergence on 9/1 at 7am at Dog Pile. Party at Taters on 9/6 (bring the M and a side dish and plz let him know if ur coming). Party at L Woods on 9/13. 

    Prayer requests: Roger Roger just lost a friend, his age. This family of 2 children and a wife will be left without a dad. And he has another buddy who was hit by a car while walking. This gentleman remains in a coma. Similar family make up. Please pray for both of these families. Strive to avoid our natural tendency for negative bias (to notice and focus on what’s wrong) and count your blessings. Additional prayer request made by Seymore for children/young adults going back to school.  YHC took us out.

    Thx for letting me lead. Go do something good for someone else today. SYITG!

  • Will Magnum PI Ever Return?

    With less regulars (looking forward to the return of Gypsy, Pigskin, Lighthouse, EF and Whitesnake, to name a few) and more new brothers (GreenHornet and Plus One have been getting after it daily – but where is Banjo today – not to mention Magnum PI – will that guy ever come back from Peru or is he leading a tribe of like-minded conservatives living deep within the jungle?), 6 of us headed out to battle the mean streets of Westhoe. Seems like we hit all the hills with a little Falconbridge, then Raintree, past the covered bridge with a new stop at Buffapple (this hill is no joke), up Summerside, down Glen Eagle, then back to the start, but seeing it anew, with fresh eyes, as we all learned much along our journey.

    All made it back to the flag in one piece and with the same number of dogs. Success! Nice work Gloom and Wally.

    Numbers. Names. Announcements. Bridge and Home-grown 1/2 on 8/16. Labor Day Convergence on 9/1 at Dog Pile at 7am. No prayer requests. YHC took us out.

    Look for someone that might need an encouraging word or some help today. Look for these opportunities and seize the moment. Be the man God designed you to be and step up to help.

    SYITG!

  • No Bourbon for Banjo

    14 came out for another installment of Circus Maximus w/ YHC hosting. As a few stragglers arrived, we began:

    COP: SSHs, 1 Burpee, DQs, 2 Burpees, Cherry Pickers, 3 Burpees, Mt. Climbers, WWIIs, 4 Burpees, Merkins and 5 Burpees. While we pushed hard during Burpees, Gypsy drank his coffee.

    The Thang: 15 Overhead Presses, 15 High Pulls, 15 Curls (for the cougars), 15 Sumo Squats, 15 Sit ‘n’ Press, 15 Overhead Pulls, 15 Flutters – all OYO. Take a lap. Repeat, but 12. Then 9, 6 & 3.

    Amandas (Like a Lindsay, but 20 is the magic number) on the picnic tables. We did step ups (with the KB of course) and Lawn Mower Pulls. 15-5, 10-10, & 5-15. Somewhere in there Gypsy had a fall and his left ankle immediately began to swell. If you see him around, tell him to not run on it. He’s stubborn and will need many of us to tell him to rest it.

    Triple check: Timer bear crawls about 40 ft to a light post and runs back. P2 did Curls and P3 did Overhead Press.

    And time!

    Numbers. Names.

    Announcements: 8/16 – Homegrown 1/2 and see UpChuck about a trip to The Bridge. See Fudd and Green Hornet about playing 100 Holes of Golf.

    Prayer Requests: Continued prayers for little Charlotte, Fireman Ed’s recovery, Fudd’s sister Mary and now Gypsy’s ankle. YHC took us out, asking that God, the great healer, heal our wounds, those seen and unseen, those spoken and unspoken.

    Thx as always to Offshore for providing coffee, which leads to a great chance for 2nd F. Today, some Bourbon Cream got set out by the coffee. Banjo, computer scientist slash coder extraordinaire and recent graduate of Penn State, claims he’s 22, but we all needed to see some ID so we wouldn’t get charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor, while drinking at 6:15am behind the local high school. Just another day at the circus with these clowns.

    Have a great day fellas! Go do something for someone else.

    SYITG!