Three amigos stomped through the Larus Park trails, under Chippenham Pkwy, and down Cherokee Rd to conduct some light trespassing to admire the pre-dawn James River. After enjoying the view of the serene river for a moment, we doubled back to the flag for a 3.5mile ruck. Several local, state, and federal issues were resolved but we were moving so fast we didn’t write any of them down. We did, however, learn that Japan has the best snowboarding on the planet.
…was going to be the title of this backblast until Snip came screeching into the parking lot at 0530 to join Purple Rain and YHC for another storied beatdown at The Forge. Temperatures were sunny and 70 with a humidity of 102%.
Warmarama at the flag pole and then mosey around to the amphitheater courtyard for 11s hill-style! Hand-release merkins at the top of the hill accompanied by SSH at the bottom.
With our bodies warmed up and hearts pumping a little harder it was time for the main event back at the amphitheater.
Mosey back to the flag during extra-time for COT. YHC took us out!
A fantastic foursome set off from Stony Point shopping center at 0500 burdened with the tried and true stressors of work, newborn babies, and backpacks full of heavy $%@#! Approximately 3.15 miles were logged on a new route through the neighborhood and the PAX ended with 10min of weighted movements in the parking lot so our pump was fresh for crushing bagels and coffee at Einstein’s afterwards.
Many great topics of discussion today including the joys of newborns, government contracts, “loving” your mammon (Q-Source word for job), and which state has the most ridiculous legal pitfalls to traverse.
A studly mix of SOJ and Westhoe PAX checked another box on the summer tour at TwinTeam this morning. YHC had never experienced the renowned hill that gave the AO its namesake, and we certainly got our money’s worth today.
WARMARAMA
COP #1 – Quad Check
Indigenous people run across Robious to the bottom of Twin Team Lane. PAX in back does one burpee before taking the lead.
COP #2 – Pass the Crabs
COP #3 – Bernie Twins
Mosey back down Twin Team to recover and then indigenous people run as before headed back across Robious to the flag.
Numbers/Names/Announcements/Prayer Requests
Four ruckers joined YHC for their inaugural tour of Larus Park for the second iteration of the newly minted Ruckhenge AO. At the 0500 launch we set off around the backside of the Stony Point Shopping Center and it was not long before Gumbo began to recall stories of the good ‘ol days working at the Ukrops. Great stories of the Pax’s travels out West continued to highlight our one-hour, 3-mile trek around the wooded trails, the highlight of which concerned the near-death experience of Gumbo and Redbird as they came face-to-bumper with a bison out on the Great Planes. All of F3RVA is grateful Gumbo narrowly avoided a collision so that he could be with us today and send Redbird off to USMA West Point in a handful of days! Coffeteeria at Einstein’s capped off a great morning in the gloom!
One year ago, YHC showed up to NoToll as an FNG for a Mudslide beatdown on the summer tour. It was an honor to lead the 17 PAX today to celebrate an F3 trip around the sun! According to the future FNG running laps by himself around the NoToll fields, this is what went down:
Warmarama – Basketball Court
COP #1 – Coupon Dora
Coupon carry to the dumpsters for storage and future pain. Mosey to the soccer pavilion for the main event!
COP #2 – “I’m Mr. Brightside” Challenge
Numberama/Namerama/Accounting/Announcements/Prayer Requests
NMS: It is truly an honor to lead today and YHC is incredibly grateful for the men of F3RVA who have pushed me to be a better husband, father, and leader over this past year. The PAX has encouraged me in numerous workouts, challenged my spiritual development within the shield lock, carried my burdens through the long night of GTE, and rallied around my family in comfort through the loss of an unborn child. We are the cure for the male loneliness epidemic in our country and I am excited for many more years to come!
Three SOJ beasts of burden set off from Casa de Hard with rucks on for some pre-dawn miles around Bon Air. None of the world’s problems were solved on this particular 3mile journey, but YHC’s spirits were lifted and plans were laid-out for the unveiling of a new AO… stay tuned.
I’m not sure if you’re aware, but it’s GTE week. YHC noticed yesterday that the Q-sheet was open so the spot was claimed with the intention of having a lower-RPM beatdown with this weekend in mind. Nonetheless, today’s NTB beatdown had all the signature trademarks: confusion, over-exertion of one muscle group (holy quads), an epic playlist, and a couple of good laughs.
0530 hot start with five suicides on the basketball courts, followed by a classic warmarama circle, all to the catchy beat of Epic Sax Guy. Several comments were made about dentist office waiting rooms and elevators, but deep down the PAX knows they’re growing to love it.
COP #1: Blackjack Quadriceps
COP #2: Grand Slam Four Corners
Finished with (10) Eskimo Merkins and then returned back to the flag for numbers, names, announcements, and prayer requests.
All PAX are invited to the Friday evening GrowRuck rally on Friday night! Come out for a unique 2nd-F event with the region.
YHC posted downrange with the South Cary, NC (SCary) PAX today. Pretty cool to do a beatdown in my childhood neighborhood, even if childhood wasn’t that long ago for me.
Launch at 0515 with the pledge of allegiance at the shovel flag, followed by a half-mile mosey to circle up for Warmarama. The main COP was 6 rounds of four-corners with each round isolated to one movement (mostly abs) and increasing reps at each corner. Forty curb/step calf-raises at the completion of each round. Welcomed one FNG who was named Cornell because he went to Brown.
Ended in COT and then met up with two other AOs for coffeteria nearby. About thirty men including Water Wings who posts in Westhoe from time-to-time.
No immediate sign-ups for GTE-47 despite YHC’s sales pitch.
A notorious nine launched from Dogpile at 0400 for a walking tour of Richmond. Conditions were 70 and sunny, perfect for a 10-mile CSAUP. From Dogpile we trekked north to The Diamond for our first pit stop. YHC attempted to demonstrate how to tie a bowline knot, but it was rope-master Machismo who educated the PAX. We headed south down Hermitage into the heart of the Fan and lost Big Rig somewhere in the neighborhood as his time with us was also planned to be medium and sweet. Eastbound down Monument/Franklin to Monroe Park for pitstop #2. Continue south to Tredegar, cross the Lee footbridge, and lap Belle Isle before continuing on to the Buttermilk Trail. After 8-miles of rucking, Buttermilk proved to be a worthy challenger for the PAX,. At the Reedy Creek parking lot we got back on the pavement of Riverside Drive and followed it uphill to the Nickel bridge, which returned us to our vehicles. Something in the territory of 10.5-miles were covered, because we’re a little tougher than the Rockwood boys down south. Jesting aside, well done to all the PAX pushing themselves this weekend to be better prepared for the beatdown of all beatdowns that promises to be GTE-47. If you have CSAUP fomo, ruck with Boberry and Rosie tonight!!!
CSAUP Superlatives:
– Fittest HIM Award – Dealer
– Mr. Adventure Award – Machismo
– Local Historian Award – Biodome
– Gone to Soon Award – Big Rig
– Best Storyteller Award – Chaplain
– Grit Award – Broadway
– Fearless Leader Award – Dr Try Hard
– Coolest Ruck Accessory Award – Houseparty
– Does Anything Try Hard Says Award – NTB