Author: Jim Huddle

  • Ghost Flag

    As I finish writing this BB, there is something white falling from the sky. It looks like snow, but that’s impossible. It was 73 degrees this morning, so I know that’s not snow. If you find out what it is, let me know.
    The Ghost Flag made its reappearance today. It has been rehabilitated. New flag (the old one was in bad condition). Paint job on the shovel handle and a F3 sticker added.
    Extra credit goes to Hitchhiker not only for jogging over but also for his invaluable ‘portapotty’ app.
    Disclaimer
    • I, a Pigment of your imagination, am the Q for today
    • I am not a Professional
    • Push yourself but don’t hurt yourself
    • Modify whenever you think best
    Circle up and
    • 20 SSHs
    • 10 Man-Maker Merkins
    • 15 Crunchy Frogs
    • Stretch:
    Mosey to the nearest corner of the asphalt playground and label it ‘corner 1’
    • 20 IWs
    • 10 Diamond Merkins
    • 10 each side Suzanne Sommers
    • Stretch:
    Mosey to middle of the fence on the asphalt playground and label it ‘corner 2’
    • 20 Squats
    • 10 Stagger Arm Merkins
    • 15 Ukrainian Hammers
    • Stretch:
    Mosey to the other corner of asphalt playground away from the fence and label it ‘corner 3’
    • 10 Don Quixotes
    • 10 Stagger Arm Merkins
    • 20 Heels to heaven
    • Stretch:
    Divided up into 3 groups of 2. Rotate Clockwise: 1 group goes to ‘corner 1’ another to ‘corner 2’ and 2 stay at ‘corner 3’. 3 times
    • 10 Get-ups, (lay on your back and then stand up without using your hands.)
    • 20 Merkins,
    • 30 Ukrainian Hammers,
    Line up in middle of the asphalt playground for 11s
    • Mike Tyson & V-Ups
    To the wall for
    • 15 People’s chair airpress
    • 10 BTTW hip slaps in cadence
    • 5 People’s chair Milkers
    • 10 BTTW Australian Mountain Climbers
    • 5 burpees
    • 15 People’s chair Lalanne
    • 10 BTTW Toe Taps
    • 5 burpees
    Back to the flag where we joined by a circling TYA on his bicycle while we did a
    • 60 count 6-inch leg lift
    Announcements
    Upchuck is looking for someone to replace him as a leader of the Bridge
    COT:
    Prayers for friends of Upchuck having severe health issues and for a member of the Pax who recently lost a parent and an in-law.
    “No man is free who is not master of himself.” Epictetus

  • Tater replacement

    Tater wasn’t feeling well and sent some of us a text. So I took the Q for today.
    Mosey around the parking lot.
    Disclaimer
    • I’m not a professional
    • Push yourself but don’t hurt yourself
    • Don’t leave here with more injuries than you came with
    • Feel free to modify any exercise
    Warm-up
    • 20 SSHs
    • 10 Man-Maker Merkins
    • 15 Crunchy Frogs
    • Stretch:
    Mosey to Gridiron Endzone
    • 20 IWs
    • 10 Diamond Merkins
    • 10 each side Suzanne Sommers
    • Stretch:
    Mosey to Gridiron Other Endzone
    • 20 Squats
    • 10 Stagger Arm Merkins
    • 15 Dollies
    • Stretch:
    Mosey to the wall in front of the school
    • People’s Chair 15 Air Press, 10 BTTW Shoulder taps, 5 Burpees OYO
    • People’s Chair 15, Milkers, 10 BTTW Australian Mountain Climbers, 5 Burpees OYO
    • People’s Chair 15 Muhammad Ali, 10 BTTW Toe Taps, 5 Burpees OYO
    • People’s Chair 15 Lalannes, 10 Dirty Hookup, 5 Burpees OYO
    Divided up for Triple Check:
    • Partner 1: Timer runs around the parking islands
    • Partner 2: Squats
    • Partner 3: Crunchy Frogs
    • Stretch:
    Mosey to the poles for Pole Smoker Indian Run
    Mosey to the benches on the far side of the field (away from the bathrooms)
    • 10 Bulgarians in cadence: right leg back
    • 10 Bulgarians in cadence: left leg back
    • 15 Dips in cadence
    • 10 Derkins in cadence
    • 10 Bulgarians in cadence: right leg back
    • 10 Bulgarians in cadence: left leg back
    • 10 Dips in cadence
    • 10 Derkins in cadence
    • Stretch
    • 10 Bulgarians in cadence: right leg back
    • 10 Bulgarians in cadence: left leg back
    • 10 Dips in cadence
    Mosey to the parking lot bathroom for Triple check
    • Partner 1: runs across parking lot and back
    • Partner 2: Flutter kix
    • Partner 3: Squats
    Circle up in parking lot for ‘ring of fire’. Each person led an exercise.
    Times up!
    Announcements
    March 10: Tuesday: 2nd Tuesday 2nd F: Joey’s Hot Dogs in Innsbrook, Noon.
    COT
    Lou Holtz recently passed away. I remember watching a motivational film. He was both inspirational and funny. He “was renowned for motivational, faith-based, and leadership-focused quotes, emphasizing attitude, discipline, and personal responsibility.” Google
    “Life is 10 percent what happens to you and 90 percent how you respond to it”.
    “Do right, do your best, and treat others as you want to be treated”.
    “No one has ever drowned in sweat.”
    “Don’t tell your problems to people: eighty percent don’t care; and the other twenty percent are glad you have them.”
    “You’ll never get ahead of anyone as long as you try to get even with him.”

  • Peace

    An FNG Kyle Smecker (not at sure of the last name) showed up, complements of Gomer Pyle and Gypsy! We named him “Honeypot”. (Works in cyber security, lives in Goochland.)
    There’s a lot of angst in politics these days. Thus, the Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi in COT. Whitesnake suggested an update to the prayer.
    We began with the Issuance of the standard disclaimer:
    • I am not a professional.
    • Feel free to modify.
    • Push yourself but don’t hurt yourself.
    • You vs You
    • Don’t leave here with more injuries than you came with.
    Warmup:
    • 20 SSHs
    • 20 IWs
    • 20 Ukrainian Soldiers
    • 10 Don Quixote
    • Stretch: Right foot, Right Hand
    • Stretch: Left foot, Left hand
    Mosey to covered walkway
    11s. We walked back and forth across the width of the covered walkway.
    • Renegade Rows (each arm), Waiter carry both directions, Upright Row
    Mosey around the Circus Maximus
    Triple Check:
    • The Timer rifle carries their KB to the Propane Tank, does 5 burpees and returns
    • Partner 2 Squats
    • Partner 3 Triceps
    Mosey around the Circus Maximus
    • Stretch
    Triple Check:
    • The Timer rifle carries their KB to the Propane Tank, does 5 burpees and returns
    • Partner 2 Curls
    • Partner 3 Squat Thrusters
    Mosey around the Circus Maximus
    • Stretch
    Back to the flag
    Announcements
    February 21: Frozen Triangle
    COT
    Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi (Prayer for Peace)
    Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
    where there is hatred, let me sow love;
    where there is injury, pardon;
    where there is doubt, faith;
    where there is despair, hope;
    where there is darkness, light;
    where there is Circus Maximus, coffee; (Whitesnake addition)
    where there is sadness, joy.
    O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
    to be consoled as to console,
    to be understood as to understand,
    to be loved as to love.
    For it is in giving that we receive,
    it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
    and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
    Piglet, White Deer, By-Product, Blue Moon, Mr. Rogers, Borat, Bootleg, Whitesnake, Joey Chestnut, Mariner, Offshore, Attila, Honeypot, Fudd, Gypsy, Luigi, BedPan, Lighthouse, Fortran, Fireman Ed, Seymour, Pigskin

  • Smoked Roadside Chicken

    Discussion today included the recipe for preparing Smoked Roadside Chicken. It’s a southern Italian recipe.

    Gomer Pyle, Gypsy, Lighthouse, Piglet, Blue Moon, Pigskin

  • Endless Winter

    Another 70 and sunny day in Richmond, complete with snow piled deep on the sidewalk. We decided that the Dave and Buster’s parking deck needed some company.
    After disclaimer and warm up, we did the following cycle together. Run to the last covered level of the deck, over to the stairwell, down to the bottom, all the way back to the top of the stairwell. To avoid the ice and snow on the top level, we went down one flight and across to the other level, up to the top of the stairwell and then to the bottom. 20 Merkins, 20 Crunch Frogs and 20 Carolina Dry Docks.
    After this, everyone was on their own. I completed almost 6 cycles before time was up.
    Honorable mention goes to Wally, Mr. Rogers’ faithful dog who showed up once again for another workout. He’s got to be close to qualifying for one of the 1,000+ post workout shirts.
    Announcements:
    This Saturday Frozen Triangle. Gridiron is available if you would like a lighter workout.
    Tuesday, February 10. 2nd Tuesday, 2nd F at Firehouse Subs in Innsbrook at noon.
    COT
    FYI: Title for this Backblast is inspired by “Endless Summer” an album of the Beach Boys ‘Greatest Hits’ released in 1974.
    Banjo, Borat, Fortran, Lighthouse, Mr. Rogers, Pinto, Pigskin

  • Perimeter secured

    Tres Amigos met in the parking lot at Godwin. Gypsy and I drove our vehicles while Mr. Rogers, sans Wally, jogged over wearing his Sippy Cup inspired Hokas with screws in the soles for better traction in the treacherous conditions. We had heard that roving packs of cabin-fever crazed zombies were out searching for bread and milk. These rumors needed to be verified or debunked.
    We decided to divide and conquer. Mr. Rogers would circle the school looking for signs of mischief while Gypsy and I would investigate the situation in the surrounding neighborhood.
    Gypsy wore his bullet proof vest with 20 pounds plates front and back and carried a mug of coffee with some kind of foul-smelling flavoring added. (I drink my coffee black.) I wore a bullet proof kettlebell in my backpack and mostly walked behind Gypsy figuring that in case of trouble, he would be targeted first.
    Once we got across the ice-covered parking lot parallel to Pump, we went thru the neighborhood to get to Falconbridge. The road was like a minefield and we had to pick our way carefully, but we made it to Falconbridge with no injuries. We turned left intending to circumnavigate the neighborhood via Raintree, Ridgefield and Pump back to the AO. Falconbridge and Raintree were immaculately clear of snow and ice. Minimal activity was encountered; only 1 jogger on Raintree and he appeared to be normal.
    However, Ridgefield was a danger zone. We encountered numerous enemy cars requiring us to leave the road and hide behind the blocks of ice piled up in the sidewalk on about 4 occasions before we got to Pump. Fortunately, they didn’t see us despite our headlamps and we escaped unharmed.
    Having secured the area, Mr. Rogers headed home and Gypsy and I went to Dunkin.

  • That’s what parking decks are for

    It was sunny and 70, so I was told, but the frozen snow everywhere must have been a figment of my imagination.
    Borat and I met at Pocahontas. At 5:30, we drove over to the Parking Deck at Buster and Dave’s. We did five ‘cycles’ of the following: run up the ramps to the level where the ice starts, over to the 1st stairwell, down to the bottom and back all the way to the top, down one level and across the deck to the other stairwell, up to the top and then down to the bottom, 20 merkins and 20 crunchy frogs.
    Finished with a few stretches.

  • This and that

    The Magnificent Seven showed up for a workout.
    We began with a perfunctory disclaimer.
    Mosey to the approximate middle of the covered sidewalk on the right side of the school. Picked up Joey Chestnut and Offshore on the way.
    Warm up with the following exercises in cadence
    • 20 SSHs
    • 20 IWs
    • 20 Copperhead squats
    • 10 Don Quixotes
    • 20 Suzannne Sommers (change sides halfway)
    11s starting with 10 Burpees and 1 double-count Hammer
    • Burpees
    • Hammers
    Triple check
    • Timer runs to end of walkway and back
    • Partner 2: Pole-smokers
    • Partner 3: Lunges
    Dora
    • 100 Merkins
    • 200 Ukrainian Soldiers (each foot counts as 1)
    • 300 SSHs
    BTTW (aka Testículos a la pared)
    • 15 People’s chair airpress
    • 10 BTTW Shoulder Slaps in cadence
    • 15 Donkey Kix OYO
    • 15 People’s chair Milkers
    • 10 BTTW Australian Mountain Climbers
    • 15 Donkey Kix OYO
    • 15 People’s chair Lalannes
    • 10 BTTW toe taps
    • 15 Donkey Kix OYO
    Mosey back to the flag
    Announcements
    February 7: Frozen Triangle
    COT
    Be safe out there!
    2nd F
    We often go to Starbucks afterwards but we ended up at Sheetz at Regency. Offshore and Joey Chestnut got to try out the set of Crampons for their jog over to Quioccasin Middle School. Honeydo is motivated by negative feedback as Handshake said there was a 0% chance of Honeydo’s appearance at Heartbreak. Hutton wore a foreskin. (I didn’t ask any questions.) Gomer wanted to know why the Spanish word for Balls (as in Balls to the Wall) wasn’t pelotas. Answer: Pelotas are the type of balls that get kicked.
    I cannot get the preview to show the attendees even though they are entered.
    Gomer Pyle, Joey Chestnut, Offshore, Honeydo, Handshake, E.F. Hutton, Pigskin

  • El Puente, Die Brücke, The Bridge

    It was 17 and windy at The Bridge. Despite that, it was a great day to be there. But then, it’s always a great day to be at the Bridge.

    We had a total of 15 for the workout.

    My timing was a bit off. We got there at 6:55. Mr. Rogers got out of the car for a pre-workout workout. He was soon joined by the rest of us. Salt Lick got his 100 Burpees in and we kept warm before the start of the workout.

    I brought a bunch of footballs which we passed around. Trying to catch and throw a football with mittens or thick gloves adds a new challenge. But I think everyone enjoyed playing with the footballs.

    Disclaimer

    • I am not a professional.
    • You against you.
    • Push yourself but don’t hurt yourself.
    • Modify.
    • Don’t leave here with more injuries than you came with.

    Warm-up

    • Mosey around parking lot back to the flag
    • 10 SSHs in cadence
    • 10 IWs in cadence
    • 10 Copperhead Squats in cadence
    • 10 Don Quixote in cadence
    • 10 each side Suzanne Sommers in cadence
    • 10 Flutters in cadence
    • 5 Burpees OYO
    • Stretch

    Mosey on the driveway to the north end of the parking lot for a Grinder

    Grinder: Divide up into groups of 3 with 2 on one side of the parking lot and 1 on the other side.

    • On the side with 2 partners, 1 runs to the other side, the other partner throws the football to him on the way to the other side. If you’re not running or throwing a football, then SSHs.
    • Stretch

    Mosey around parking lot back to the flag for 11s, Bro Code.

    • Shoulder taps; 2-count
    • Hammers; 2-count
    • Stretch

    Mosey some more and partner up for a Triple Check with football:

    • Partner 1: Mosey with the football to other side of Parking lot, do 5 Burpees OYO, and mosey back. Hand off the football to Partner 2.
    • Partner 2: Squats
    • Partner 3: SSHs

    Mosey around parking lot back to the flag: Partner up for a Squat ladder to 10 and back down

    • Partner 1 does 1 Squat. Then Partner 2 does 1 Squat
    • Partner 1 does 2 Squats. Then Partner 2 does 2 Squats
    • Partner 1 does 3 Squats. Then Partner 2 does 3 Squats
    • Etc.

    Ring of Fire: I started off picking an exercise and doing 10 in cadence, then tossed the football to someone else in the circle. Someone made the mistake of passing the football to Salt Lick. 10 more Burpees.

    With about 5 minutes left, we paired up and tossed the football back and forth, each time taking a step back. The idea being that the team with the farthest distance before someone dropped the football wins.

    Back in the circle and a couple other exercises before the

    COT

    We gave everyone the opportunity to offer any thoughts.

    I wrapped up with the following.

    You’ve probably heard the expression: Forgive and Forget. I’ll offer a few (not original) thoughts on this. Forgiveness is another word for ‘grace’. Your sins have been forgiven by Jesus. Embrace that. If Jesus will forgive you, you should forgive yourself. God also forgives the other guy who wronged you. Do likewise.

    Forgetting is another matter. It is good to remember when things don’t turn out the way you want. What is good is learning from those experiences. To learn from experience, whether your own experience or another’s experience, you have to remember them.

    Skip the pain of regret but remember the lessons you learn as you journey thru this life.

    COFFEE

    Afterwards, we drank some coffee and talked with the residents and each other. I never cease to be amazed at the ability of my F3 brothers to engage with others in the best of ways. Lot of good discussions and interaction between everyone.

    LOGISTICS

    We met at the Food Lion at Patterson and left at 5:40. That got us there by 6:55, including a stop in the woods to look for a frozen turd left on a previous venture.

    We left The Bridge around, roughly, 8:45 and drove to the Cumberland Restaurant. The food was fantastic and so was the camaraderie. But frankly, it took a while to get served. By the time we got back to the Food Lion, it was about 11:45.

    Blue Moon, Piglet, Pigskin, Mr. Rogers, Rosie, Borat, Salt Lick, Seymore, Banjo, Bootleg, 28, Moonwalker, Cheese Steak, Green Thumb, Go-Go

  • Game Theory

    By the time we finished, Salt Lick was able to bank all 40 of his pre-workout Burpees. We started off with the usual disclaimer.

    • I am your Q for the day.
    • I am not a professional
    • This workout is ‘you vs you’
    • Push yourself but don’t hurt yourself
    • Feel free to modify any exercise.

    Warmup mosey a few times back and forth between the rows of parking spaces

    • Karioke
    • Bernie
    • Mosey

    Mosey to the parking lot in front of the school for COP. Following exercises in cadence

    • 20 SSHs
    • 20 IWs
    • 20 Copperhead squats
    • 10 Don Quixotes
    • 20 Suzannne Sommers (change sides halfway)
    • 20 APDs
    • Stretching

    11s starting with 10 Burpees and 1 double-count Crunch Frog

    • Burpees
    • Crunchy Frogs

    Mosey to the wall under the covered walkway

    • 15 People’s chair airpress
    • 10 BTTW Shoulder Slaps in cadence
    • 5 Burpees OYO
    • 15 People’s chair Milkers
    • 10 BTTW Australian Mountain Climbers
    • 5 Burpees OYO
    • 15 People’s chair Lalannes
    • 10 BTTW toe taps
    • 5 Burpees OYO
    • 15 People’s chair Muhammed Ali’s
    • 10 Dirty Hook-ups
    • 5 Burpees OYO
    • Stretch

    Mosey to Pemberton Parking Lot for a triple check

    • Timer runs across parking lot and does 5 burpees
    • Squats
    • Merkins
    • Stretch

    Mosey back to the flag with some bear crawls and crab walks mixed in along the way

    • 20 Heels to Heaven in cadence
    • 20 Dollies in cadence
    • 20 APDs in cadence
    • 20 Rosalitas in cadence
    • 20 Burpees OYO

    Announcements

    • This Saturday, January 24: The Bridge. Let me know if you want to go.
    • Saturday, February 7: Frozen Triangle. Check Slack for details.

    COP

    I saw this article recently about MLK and the Civil Rights movement. MLK was very successful because in addition to the righteousness of his cause, he employed Game Theory. He figured that there were a lot of people on the fence. If he used violence, these people would swing over to a Law-and-Order perspective and the movement would fail. But if he used non-violence in places where the local authorities would react badly, the people in the middle would swing over to his point of view. He was obviously successful.

    Moral: If you want to persuade people to see things your way, don’t be a jerk.