Author: Jim Huddle

  • El Chapo

    A visitor from Raleigh, El Chapo, plus two local F3ers met at Pocahontas Middle School. While El Chapo and Lighthouse went running to places unknown and doing the usual WaThoHuk workout, YHC walked around the school 6 times (1 more time and the school would have fallen down) and did 200 merkins and 200 dips.

    Questions were asked about how El Chapo was able to escape from confinement. That information is classified, but if you show up at WaThoHuk, we will provide some useful suggestions in case you end up confined. In the meantime, he plans to return before anyone figures out he was missing. El Chapo hates to miss his F3 workouts.

    Like El Chapo, you should be equally dedicated to your F3 workouts. And unlike El Chapo, it’s easier for you to make it to a workout.

  • Birthday 70

    This is the season to be Grateful! I’m grateful I made it 70!

    The other day, Bodos posted some words on Facebook about being grateful. On Slack (3rd F channel), I saw something Bone Thugs posted on Gratitude (a poem by Edgar A Guest). Great words!

    A few weeks ago, I was planning to do 70 burpees today (7 minutes of burpees, 10 burpees each minute). (Homer: Sorry about the lack of Burpees!) But about two weeks ago, I developed “sciatica”. (The doctors used some other terms.) The symptoms are pain down the length of my left leg. The source of the problem is in the vertebrae, but I have no back pain at all. I hope this will clear up in a few weeks (or sooner!). I start PT tomorrow.

    Among other things, I am grateful for good health and the people of F3. Even if my health isn’t currently perfect, I have been very fortunate. I’ll be even more grateful when this goes away!

    Mosey to the grassy area in front of the school.

    20 Copperhead Squats in cadence 10 Man-Maker Merkins in cadence 70 count elbow plank

     

    15 count Child’s pose: on hands & knees with top of toes on ground, rock back and rest forehead on ground 4X
    20 Imperial Walkers in cadence 10 Diamond Merkins

     

    15 count Bird Dog: on hands and knees, left arm/right leg, then right arm/left leg, 4X 15 count both knees to chest: begin on back with knees bent and feet flat on ground, 4X
    20 Lunges in cadence 10 Stagger arm Merkins in cadence 15 count Glut bridge; lying on back like APD; 4X 15 count Cobra (aka Wilson’s wife): start out on flat on ground, face down, 4X
    20 Side Squats in cadence 10 Stagger arm Merkins in cadence 15 Freddy Mercury 5 count Back exercise starting flat on ground, face down, arms bent at elbow: Hold each position for a 5 count, total of 11 positions: Right arm, Left arm, Right Leg, Left leg, right arm/left leg, left arm/right leg, right arm/right leg, left arm/left leg, both arms, both legs, arms and legs, 4X

     

    Mosey to wall

    15 People’s chair Air Press in cadence 10 BTTW Hip slaps in cadence

     

    15 Donkey Kicks OYO

     

    15 People’s chair milkers in cadence

     

    10 BTTW Australian Mountain Climbers in cadence 15 Donkey Kicks OYO

     

    15 People’s chair Muhammad Alis in cadence 10 BTTW Toe Taps in cadence 15 Donkey Kicks OYO

     

    15 People’s chair Lalannes in cadence 10 Dirty Hookups in cadence

     

    15 Donkey Kicks OYO

     

     

    Mosey to benches

    10 Bulgarian split squats left leg in cadence

    10 Bulgarian split squats right leg in cadence

    10 Derkins in cadence

    10 Dips in cadence

    3X

    Mosey over to parking lot line parallel and closest to the road

    Crab walk to next line Lunge walk to next line

    2X

    Back to the flag:

    70 count 6 inch leg lift

    Cow/cat stretch

    Time’s up!

    Take out by Atilla. ¡Gracias!

    I received several gifts which I will always cherish! Thanx everyone!

    And thanx to everyone here today and Honeydo who would have been here except for a nasty virus. Get well soon!

    Announcements

    If Faceplant can get his wife to hurry up, he’ll have a new baby on my birthday! If not, the day after. Hope all goes well!

    Gypsy is collecting all types of gently used shoes. He will be at Curahee Friday. He is collecting shoes thru January. See 3rd F channel on Slack for more information.

    Saturday December 10: 3:00 PM-6:00 PM, Hardywood 2nd F

    Tuesday December 13: noon to about 1:00, Innsbrook area, look for place to be announced, 2nd F

  • Congrats

    Congratulations to Whitesnake on his new job! I’m sure that’s a relief to your daughter who will be getting less advice on applying for college.

    Warmup:

    Mosey over to the hidden front entrance to the school

    20 SSHs

    10 Shoulder slap Merkins

    15 Knee-ups

    Stretch

    Mosey over to the wall

    20 IWs

    10 Diamond Merkins

    15 Crunchy Frogs

    Stretch

    Mosey to parking lot at Quioccasin

    10-minute Tabata with BLIMSBLIMS (Burpees, Lunges, IWs, Merkins, Squats) 45 seconds exercising, 15 seconds rest

    Mosey to walls

    15 People’s chair airpress

    10 BTTW hip 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 to playground with Pull-up bars

    10 Pull-ups, 10 Merkins, 20 Squats 3x

    Mosey to grass in front of school

    Elbow plank for 60 count

    Side plank for 30 count

    Other side plank for 30 count

    10 Bulgarian split squats in cadence

    10 Bulgarian other leg cadence

    10 Dips in cadence

    10 Bulgarian split squats in cadence

    10 Bulgarian other leg cadence

    10 Dips in cadence

    10 Derkins in cadence

    10 Bulgarian split squats in cadence

    10 Bulgarian other leg cadence

    10 Dips in cadence

    Mosey to flag

    20 Heels to Heaven

    20 Dollies

    60 count 6 inch leg lift

    Numberrama

    Name o Rama

    Announcements:

    This Friday at 7:00 PM: Tuckahoe Rucking, food collection: See Slack, 2nd F channel for details

    Tuesday a week from today at 5:00 PM: Hardywood

  • No Music

    I signed up for the Q the other day but forgot that today is the day. No problem. Other than a lack of response to Whitesnake’s music last week, I can make up a workout pretty quickly. And so, it went like this:

    20 SSH, 10 Don Quixote, 20 IWs, Arm stretch

    20 Swings

    20 Hammer Curls

    20 Upright Rows

    20 Triceps

    15 Up Sit and Press

    20 Press

    20 Squats Goblet

    20 Renegade Rows

    20 Abdominal: Sit-ups with KB as foot anchor

    20 Lunges

    20 Press Overhead (lie on back next to curb)

    20 Hammer Curls

    Run around island

    11s Squats and Triceps with Waiter carry between locations

    10 Burpees

    Countdown: 20 Upright rows, 18 Deep Mountain Climbers, 16 Upright rows, 14 Deep Mountain Climbers, etc.

    Arm rest plank for 60 counts

    15 Swings

    15 Hammer Curls

    15 Upright Rows

    15 Triceps

    15 Up Sit and Press

    15 Press

    15 Squats Goblet

    Run around island

    Rifle Carry Back to the flag

    20 Heels to Heaven, 20 Dollies, 10 Crunchy Frogs

    Plank Stretch (right foot/right hand; left foot/left hand)

    Number-rama

    Name-o-rama

    No announcements

    YHC with the take-out

    Last comment: One our members reported that he and his wife have an annual discussion. She complained that he wakes her up in the morning to go workout. And so, we apparently will be seeing less of him. That’s a loss, not just for him but for us as well. However, the “annual review” concept is interesting. Jokes aside (“satisfactory performance, 2% pay increase”), this idea has merit.

  • Feliz Cumpleaños

    You might have thought that the reason you knock on doors tonight is because 505 years ago, Martin Luther nailed the 95 Theses to the door on the Castle church in Wittenberg, Germany. Or maybe you thought we celebrate today because it’s Halloween. Nope! We celebrate today because it’s Whitesnake’s birthday! Happy Birthday, Whitesnake!

    Mosey over to Third Presbyterian parking lot. Watch for cars as you cross the street!

    Disclaimer: I’m not a professional. You participate at your own risk. There are trip hazards and it’s dark. Be careful. In addition, I may call out exercises that don’t work for you because of injuries or some other reason. Use your judgement and modify or substitute exercises.

    Warmup:

    SSH, MM Merkins, Knee-ups, Stretch

    Mosey to back parking lot of church.

    IWs, Diamond Merkins, Crunchy Frogs, stretch

    Line up parallel to building

    Burpee Broad jump to first handicap parking place, bear crawl to middle, crab walk to end of parking lot, mosey back: 2x

    Circle up for 10-minute Tabata: 45 seconds on, 15 seconds off: BLIMPSBLIM

    stretch

    Mosey back to asphalt playground by school.

    Back exercises: Side plank: Feet side by side. Elbow rest, Other arm pointed high. UP: hold for 5 seconds, DOWN, for 5 seconds: 10X

    This was exceedingly hard on the elbow so we next took advantage of the grass.

    Repeat other side

    Front Plank: elbow plank: hold for 10 seconds, drop for 5 seconds: 10X

    Mosey to grassy area behind school

    Drop and roll: line up in grassy area behind school. Run forward 3 steps, drop and roll right, 3 steps more, drop and roll left, across field

    Mosey to wall area for the usual:

    15 People’s chair airpress

    10 BTTW hip 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

    15 People’s chair Muhammad Ali

    10 Dirty Hookups

    15 Donkey Kix OYO

    Numberrama

    Namearama

    Announcements:

    Whitesnake will be Q’ing this week at Heartbreak, WaThoHuk, Circus Maximus and Curahee!

    COT:

    Lord make me an instrument of your peace.

    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.

    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 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.

  • He ain’t heavy

    He’s just got a heavy kettlebell. Part way thru the 2nd set of 11s, various members of the Pax traded off and used Offshore’s kettlebell. A 45-pound kettlebell really does feel a lot heavier! Atilla gets to loaf some next time at Circus Maximus because he worked out the most with Offshore’s kettlebell (after Offshore).

    Due to a mix-up in the weather, it rained (a little) today. Normally, if it rains, Fireman Ed is the Q. We need to change the Q forecast to “if it rains, a 90% chance that Fireman Ed is the Q”.

    We need to improve the colors of our group. We had 2 white animals today (Snake and Deer); no Green Hornet, no Blue Moon. Maybe we need to name someone Purple Rain. I guess we could rename Lighthouse or Byproduct.

    And today, I am the proud father of a 33-year-old daughter. I know she doesn’t read these writeups, but “Happy Birthday Johanna!”

    So here’s how it went down.

    Warmup

    SSHs, IWs, Ukrainian Soldiers, Don Quixote, stretch arms, stretch hamstrings.

    20 High Pulls (single count): 20 Deep Mountain Climbers (Single count); 18 of each, 16 of each, etc.

    11s: Curls, Rifle carry, Swings

    Run around island

    11s: Overhead presses, Farmer’s carry, Goblet Squats

    Run around island

    Stretch

    Heels to Heaven in cadence

    60-count 6-inch leg lift

    Announcements:

    Oct 29 Beer Mile

    Oct 29 Blacksburg launch

  • Pickleball

    Pre-workout discussion of changes to Pouncey Track Park. Additional Pickleball courts are proposed, along with additional parking and moving the pull-up bars. There’s also the Tuckahoe Tomahawks playing today.

    Mosey to near the pull-up bars.

    It’s great to have a workout to go to on Saturday mornings (and the rest of the week for that matter.) One thing I do miss is the 2nd F after the workout on Saturday. Between Vacations, childcare and in the next two weeks, Cub Scouts, I’ve missed a lot of 2nd F on Saturday. I’m hoping to get back to showing up starting in three weeks.

    Disclaimer

    20 SSHs, 10 MM Merkins, 15 Knee-ups, (all in cadence), stretch

    Mosey to Burpee Hill

    7 minutes of Burpees

    Using Pull-up bars:

    11s with Hanging Knee-ups and Bulgarian Split Squats using the picnic benches

    Back to football field near fence

    10 Romanian Leg Lift (in cadence) Left leg then right leg

    Soccer(?) field below the football field

    11s with get ups and Ukrainian Hammers

    Mosey to far end of the soccer field

    Run/belly touch each red line to the other end

    Mosey to Wall in front of school

    15 People’s Chair air press, 10 BTTW Hip slaps, (all in cadence), 15 donkey kix

    15 People’s Chair milkers, 10 BTTW Australian Mountain Climbers (all in cadence), 15 donkey kix

    15 People’s Chair la-lanes, 10 BTTW toe taps (all in cadence), 15 donkey kix

    Stretching exercise

    Mosey to the loading dock

    Behind the loading dock 10 Squats, climb wall and fence to loading dock, cross loading dock, climb down loading dock, mosey to asphalt for 10 HRMs. 3X

    Mosey back to soccer field

    Bear crawl/Crab walk about 2/3s of the field changing at each red line

    Mosey to parking lot

    20 Heels to Heaven, 20 Rosalitas 6-inch leg left to count of 60

     

    Announcements
    Oct 11: 2nd F, Tuesday Lunch Innsbrook Firehouse Subs: show up sometime between say 11:30 and 1:00.

    Oct 29: 2nd F, Beer Mile. Also, F3 Launch in Blacksburg

  • Russian Army Recruiters

    F3 has recently been on the front page of the NY Times! I’ve seen several back-and-forth comments on Twitter between F3 supporters and those who think of us as some kind of weirdo cult. The F3 supporters have explained why we do F3. I thought I would add my own thoughts, which I have not seen previously expressed.

    We practice essential life skills. Skills you never know when you’ll need, and therefore, must be ready to carry out at any time. Suppose for example, Russian army recruiters are trying to draft you into the Russian Army. You can successfully evade them if you can execute a Jacob’s ladder. Or, you can lose them by climbing over and under railings on sidewalks. Throw in a little Karioke and you’ll be free from those pesky Ruskies. Today at Heartbreak, we practiced these essential life skills.

    Mosey forward, Karioke left, Mosey backwards, Karioke right back to start

    Disclaimer

    Warmup: in cadence

    20 SSHs

    10 Shoulder slap Merkins

    15 Knee-ups

    Stretch

    Mosey to Heartbreak Hill

    Jacob’s ladder with 5 dollies at bottom each time: up the Heartbreak hill 7 times with 1, 2, 3, etc. to 7 Burpees at the top

    Mosey to one side of the Railings on the sidewalk

    11s with Hand Release Merkins on one side of sidewalk and WWIIs on the other side. In between each exercise, climb over one railing and then under the second railing to reach the other side.

    Mosey to outdoor basketball Court

    4 Corner Blimps with alternating Bear Crawl or Crab Walk in between each corner:

    5 Burpees

    10 Lunges

    15 IWs

    20 Merkins

    25 Plank Jacks

    30 Squats

    Mosey to benches in front of Quioccasin;

    10 Dips

    10 Bulgarian Split Squats right leg

    10 Bulgarian Split Squats left leg

    3x in cadence with some Derkins thrown in between the 3rd Dips and Bulgarians

    Mosey to shovel flag for

    20 Heels to Heaven in cadence

    60-count 6-inch leg lift

     

    No Announcements

    Takeout by YHC

  • Be the Light

    For those who have been to Hoedown, it is a dark place. So, unlike the rest of the group, I wear a headlamp. Before we got started, I walked over to Faceplant who was tying his shoes. ‘Don’t move, I can finally see what I’m doing.’ It’s taken 69 years, but I have found my purpose in life.

     

    Warmup:

    Short jog ending up in the front corner lot.

    Disclaimer

    20 SSHs

    20 IWs

    10 Don Quixote: (FYI, back in Charlotte, we call these Sharon Towers, after the name of a retirement home.)

    Mosey to the asphalt playground for:

    7 minutes of Burpees

    Stretch

    Mosey to the field in the back of the school, everybody counts off by 3s.

    3x 10 Pullups, 20 Merkins, 30 Squats

    Mosey over to the Wall. (We should give this a name: Something like the Berlin Mauer.)

    15 People’s chair airpress

    10 BTTW hip slaps in cadence

    15 Donkey Kix

    15 People’s chair Milkers

    10 BTTW Australian Mountain Climbers

    15 Donkey Kix

    15 People’s chair LaLannes

    10 BTTW toe taps

    15 Donkey Kix

    15 People’s chair Muhammad Ali

    10 Dirty Hookups

    Stretch

    11s in upper parking lot: Mike Tyson and Knee-ups

    Mosey to the shovel flag

    20 Dollies

    20 Heels to Heaven

    60-count 6-inch leg lift

    I got back last week from a two-week trip to Germany, plus an overnight trip to DC. This is my second workout since returning from Germany. It’s good to be back.

     

    Announcements:

    THIS SATURDAY: Gridiron 8-year anniversary convergence: I understand this was the first F3 workout in Richmond. We’re starting at 7:30 instead of 7:00 to give the Crucible folks the opportunity to be here. Parking may be an issue so park at Short Pump Middle School and come over to the football field.

    Use this as an opportunity to call up folks you haven’t seen post in a while. There will be refreshments afterwards.

    Saturday afternoon: Sit and Sip: Contact Gomer Pyle with questions. Cornhole tournament. Bonfire, Overnight camping trip.

  • First day of school

    Upchuck found a new way to skip out on doing exercises; he helped the teachers arriving at Hoedown carrying their supplies.

    Mosey to the Corner Parking Lot

    Begin with Disclaimer:

    I am not a professional

    You’re undertaking this at your own risk.

    There are hazards and it’s dark so be careful.

    The idea is to get better, not to get hurt, so feel free to modify called exercises.

    20 SSHs

    10 Arm Slap Merkins

    20 Deep Mountain Climbers

    Stretch

    20 IWs

    10 Diamond Merkins

    15 Gorilla Jacks

    10 Helicopters

    Move to other parking lot

    20 Squats

    10 Peter Parker

    20 Heels to Heaven

    stretch

    15 Lunges

    10 Garden Variety Merkins

    15 Crunchy Frogs

    Stretch

    To the upper Parking Lot

    Burpee Bear Crawl from mid court to edge

    Crab Walk back

    To the grassy area in back

    Divide into three groups; Circuit with 20 Hanging Knee-ups at pull-up bars, at the benches for 20 Dips, 20 Ukrainian Hammers close to the swings; 3X Cycle clockwise.

    To the wall for Angry Donkeys (11s with People’s Chair air press and Donkey Kix)

    To the rails for 10 Bulgarian Split squats each leg (single Count), 10 derkins, 9 and 9, 8 and 8 etc.

    To the wall for

    15 People’s chair airpress

    10 BTTW hip slaps in cadence

    15 Donkey Kix

    15 People’s chair Milkers

    10 BTTW Australian Mountain Climbers

    Stretch

    60 count 6-inch leg lift

    Announcements:

    Labor Day: Convergence at DogPile at 7:00

    Takeout by YHC

    First day of school. Our oldest grandson begins 1st grade today. Please remember there’s a change in the traffic patterns and there are school buses. Drive carefully!