Author: Jim Huddle

  • The rain the parking deck and other things

    At WaThoHuk, we’re not afraid of a little rain and 42 degrees. OK, Lighthouse and I aren’t. We ran out of the parking lot at Pocahontas to 3 Chopt Road, took a right, another right on John Rolfe, a right on Old Brick and headed to the parking deck on the same block as Dave and Buster’s. Three trips up and down the ramps. First time, a stop at each end of the ramp for increasing flutter kicks (4, 8, 12, etc.) Ended up doing 44 flutters kicks on the last stop. Next time, Merkins (1, 2, 3, etc). Final time, squats (4, 8, etc). By that time, it was 6:10 so we headed back. Not nearly as bad as we anticipated.

     

    Prayers for Lighthouse’s family in Kyiv, Ukraine and Roger Roger’s family.

  • Vampires and Light

    Hoedown: we had a dozen gather in the gloom at Tuckahoe. I turned on my headlamp with fresh batteries as we gathered prior to the start. This resulted in a ‘vampire terrified of light’ reaction from Handshake. Tuckahoe is pretty dark until the lights at the school turn on at 6:00 AM.

    EF Hutton and I have been to a lot of workouts together but this was the first time where he was here when I Q’d. Garbage Plate and Neutral came in a bit late but still found us.

    One of the exercises I called is labeled “LaLanne” back in Charlotte where I came from. Jack LaLanne (1914-2011) was famous for preaching the benefits of regular exercise and a good diet. Per Wikipedia, as reported on LaLanne’s website, he performed several noteworthy feats of physical skill and strength. At the age of 70, he towed 70 rowboats, one with several guests, 1 mile. Wikipedia also says that the feats listed were as reported on his website and “not necessarily entirely accurate descriptions of what LaLanne actually did.”

    Warmup: Corner Parking lot: 20 SSHs, 10 Man-maker Merkins, 15 knee-ups, stretching exercise

    Warmup: side church parking lot: 20 IWs, 10 Diamond Merkins, 15 American Hammers, stretching exercise

    Warmup: Back church Parking lot: 20 Squats, 10 Shoulder slap Merkins, 15 Crunchy Frogs, stretching exercise

    Find an intersection of the parking lot lines, in cadence: 20 clockwise (jump in each quadrant), stretching exercise, 20 counterclockwise, stretching exercise, 20 back and forth

    Warmup: side church Parking lot: 10 Don Quixote, 10 Hand Release Merkins, 20 Dollies, stretching exercise

    Wall Courtyard: 10 single count air-press (People’s chair), 10 BTTW hip slaps in cadence, 15 Donkey Kix OYO

    Wall Courtyard: 10 single count milkers (People’s chair), 10 BTTW Australian Mountain Climbers in cadence, 15 Donkey Kix OYO

    Wall Courtyard: 10 single count Lalannes (People’s chair), 12 BTTW Toe Taps in cadence, 15 Donkey Kix OYO

    Wall Courtyard: 12 Dirty Hookup: People’s chair Muhammad Ali

    To the railings: Gomer’s sobriety test aka Dips: 8 each leg in cadence. You can cheat using the rail if you lose balance

    Railings: Bulgarian Split Squats 10 each leg, 10 Derkins, 9 etc.

    Up to the grassy area behind the school: 10 pull-ups, 20 LBCs, 2 times

    Back to the grassy area: 20 Heels to Heaven, 60 count leg lift

    Announcements:

    2nd F At PBR on Wednesday

    Take-out by YHC

  • The Geese were Pootin

    A dozen at Gridiron today. Huge quantities of Canadian Geese were pootin which required some selective changes in the location of some of our exercises. It was great to see 12 people today.

    You have to be impressed with the courage of the Ukrainians, and admire their President, Zelensky: “I need ammunition, ‘not a ride’.” I offer my thoughts and prayers for Ukraine and those (Lighthouse) that have family there.

    To the goal line of the football field:

    20 SSHs, 10 Man-maker Merkins, 15 Knee-ups and a stretching exercise

    To the parking lot closer to the school:

    20 Ukrainian Soldiers, 10 Diamond Merkins, 15 American Hammers and a stretching exercise

    To the parking lot in front of the school:

    20 IWs, 15 Crunchy Frogs, 10 Stagger arm Merkins and a stretching exercise

    To the side of the south side of the school:

    20 lunges, 10 Stagger arm Merkins, 20 Dollies and a stretching exercise

    Using the loading dock: 3X

    Behind the railing to the loading dock: 20 Squats, over the rails and down the loading dock: 20 APDs

    To the wall in front of the school:

    People’s Chair 15 Air Press, 10 BTTW Hip Slaps, 15 Donkey Kix OYO

    People’s Chair 15 Muhammad Ali, 10 BTTW Australian Mountain Climbers, 15 Donkey Kix OYO

    People’s Chair 15 Milkers, 10 BTTW Toe Taps, 15 Donkey Kix OYO

    People’s Chair 15 Lalannes, 10 Dirty Hookup, 15 Donkey Kix OYO

    To the bottom of the hill up to the football field: 3X

    10 Get-ups, up to the top of the hill, 10 hand release Merkins

    To the parking lot, find an intersection of lines; jump in each quadrant:

    Jump in cadence counterclockwise 20 count, then 20 times clockwise, then 20 times back and forth over a line, stretch in between ’20 count jump’

    To the historic school’s pull-up bars, near the pickle-ball courts: 3X

    10 Pullups, 10 Dips (on parallel bars), 20 LBCs and 20 squats:

    Back to the fence around the football field:

    Gomer’s sobriety test: balance on one leg while touching ground 3 times per cadence: 8 each leg.

    Back to the parking lot for stretching exercise and then 6-inch leg lift for 60-count.

    Finish with 5 Burpees in honor of an injured Homer

    Take by YHC

  • Hank Williams

    Today at Circus Maximus, for your music listening pleasure, we had Hank Williams (as well as others). Unfortunately, Hank was unavailable for the Super Bowl half time. So instead, the Super Bowl had entertainers I had  little familiarity with. I had heard of were Snoop Dog and Eminem: Snoop Dog because of the Corona beer commercials, but also because we had a F3 compatriot in Charlotte named Snoop (he trained dogs). And that’s why I have heard of Eminem (another F3 compatriot in Charlotte.)

    “Hank” Williams (September 17, 1923 – January 1, 1953) was an American singer, songwriter, and musician of Native American descent. Regarded as one of the most significant and influential American singers and songwriters of the 20th century, he recorded 55 singles (five released posthumously) that reached the top 10 of the Billboard Country & Western Best Sellers chart. He is one of the most celebrated and influential musicians of the 20th century, especially in country music. Many artists have covered his songs and he has influenced Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, George Jones, George Strait, Charley Pride, and The Rolling Stones, among others. Williams had 11 number one country hits in his career (“Lovesick Blues”, “Long Gone Lonesome Blues”, “Why Don’t You Love Me”, “Moanin’ the Blues”, “Cold, Cold Heart”, “Hey, Good Lookin’”, “Jambalaya (On the Bayou)”, “I’ll Never Get Out of This World Alive”, “Kaw-Liga”, “Your Cheatin’ Heart”, and “Take These Chains from My Heart”).

    In the meantime, enjoy your solid food diet. Atilla will be eating Jello and drinking Mountain Dew today. He has been given a doctor’s excuse from F3 participation tomorrow. Don’t be alarmed. It’s for that routine, hopefully every 10 year, examination that begins later in life.

    Warmup with SSH, IW Russian Soldier, Don Quixote, Cherry Pickers

    20 High Pulls: 20 Deep Mountain Climbers; 18 of each, 16 of each, etc.

    Stretch

    Right hand only, 10 each

    One hand press

    Lawnmower

    Renegade rows

    Partial Turkish get up

    Walk to end of columns with waiters carry

    Stretch

    Repeat with left hand only

    Run around the island

    The following three exercises, 3 times

    10 Squat to overhead press:

    10 renegade row (each arm)

    10 sit ups using KB to anchor feet

    Stretch

    20 KB Swings

    20 Curls

    15 Sit and Press

    20 Overhead press

    20 Upright rows

    20 Triceps

    20 Goblet squats

    Run to end of the columns and back

    10 each arm Renegade rows

    20 flutters

    10 each arm woodchoppers

    20 Press

    20 Curls

    10 each direction Halos

    stretch

    4 minutes of Mary exercises

     

  • You are

    Heartbreak Ridge: Handshake pulled up. That’s our signal it’s time to begin. I asked “Who’s the Q?” Offshore: “You are!” I write on the calendar when I sign up for Q. Unfortunately, when you are retired, you don’t always remember to look at your calendar. Fortunately, Offshore pays attention to details like who’s the Q.

     

    Mosey and karaoke: Then:

    Warmup: At Parking lot by benches: 20 SSHs, 10 Man-maker Merkins, 20 flutters, stretching exercise

    Warmup: Run to the covered walkway: 20 IWs, 10 Diamond Merkins, 15 American Hammers, stretching exercise

    Warmup: Run to Pemberton Elementary: 20 Squats, 10 Stagger Arm Merkins, 15 Knee-Ups, stretching exercise

    Warmup: Run to the front of Pemberton Elementary: 10 Don Quixote, 10 Stagger Arm Merkins, 15 Crunchy frogs, stretching exercise

    Next, we moseyed over Pemberton parking lot for BLIMPS: 10 Burpees, 15 Lunges, 20 Imperial Walkers, 25 Merkins, 30 Plank Jacks and 35 Squats

    Circumnavigated the rest of Pemberton Elementary:

    People’s Chair 15 Air Press, 10 BTTW Hip Slaps, 15 Donkey Kix OYO

    People’s Chair 15 Milkers, 10 BTTW Australian Mountain Climbers, 15 Donkey Kix OYO

    People’s Chair 15 Lalannes, 10 BTTW Toe Taps, 15 Donkey Kix OYO

    Parking lot: 20 line jumps in cadence, stretching exercise: 3 times. I was opposite Lighthouse: Lighthouse was like a metronome: perfect cadence, hit the same spot each time. If only I had that much co-ordination.

    Mosey to the benches in front of Quioccasin: 15 Dips in cadence, 10 step-ups each leg OYO and 10 derkins in cadence: 3 times

    Moseyed back to the Quioccasin Parking lot: high knees to one side and butt-kix back

    Line up and bear crawl to the next line and crab walk back

    Back to the start for 60 count 6 inch leg lift

    Always great to have a group to work out with. I can count on Atilla, Honeydo, the professors from VCU and Handshake to be there most days. Today was no exception.

    Take out by YHC

  • Taste and Smell

    Circus Maximus: Usually, this time of year, you don’t want any wind blowing. Today, a nice breeze would have been appreciated. There may have been subliminal messaging going on. A rite of passage is coming soon (Colonoscopy).

    Warmup with SSH, IW Russian Soldier, Don Quixote, Shoulder stretch, Run around island

    20 and 5, 15 and 10, 10 and 15, 5 and 20 of the following pair of exercises.

    Swings and Curls
    Press and Rows
    Single Leg Deadlift (both sides add up to 20, 16, 10 and 6) and Triceps Same leg goes up as the arm with the kettlebell
    10 Burpees and Run to end of covered sidewalk
    Racked Lunge (both sides add up to 20, 16, 10 and 6) and Single arm press on back
    Goblet Squat and Renegade Rows (both sides add up to 20, 16, 10 and 6)
    Squat-Press and Lawnmowers
    10 Burpees and Run to end of covered sidewalk
    20 Swings
    20 Curls
    15 Sit and Press
    20 Upright Rows
    20 Triceps
    20 Overhead press
    20 Goblet Squats
    Dollies in cadence
    6-inch leg lift for 1 minute
    stretch

     

    No announcements.

  • WTH Hot Tater

    Lighthouse, Roger Roger and I gathered in the cold and the dark. We took off out the entrance to Pocahontas Middle School and turned right. We took a right on John Rolfe to Liesfeld and stopped for a brief warmup. Next, Roger Roger took us to Short Pump Park. We ran the ‘circuit’ four times; First time we ran a loop and did 10 Merkins, Second time, run a loop and did 10 Merkins and 20 LBCs, next 10 Merkins, 20 LBCs, 15 Dips and finally 10, 20, 15 and 25 of I forget.

    Lighthouse took over. We exited Short Pump Park on Pump Road, left turn on Three Chopt and back to the school. We did 4 corners in the parking lot with 20 Hand release Merkins, 30 LBCs, 40 I forget (a popular exercise today) and 50 Pickle Pounders. Despite the cold, no pickles were harmed.

    Then to the track for three rounds of 200 meters ‘fast’ and 200 slow; or in my case 200 slow and 200 meters slower.

    I took over and we ran to the ‘island’. Three rounds of 15 Derkins, 15 Dips and 1 lap.

    From there, we ran back to the start and met Gypsy who was in the midst of a 10 mile run.

    Always great to have people to run with, especially people who will make sure you finish the route.

    Busy day ahead for Roger Roger. I’m looking at my 7-month-old grandson waking up from a nap on the floor. I owe him a bottle in a half hour. Fortunately, he is very good-natured. Being a granddad is easy, at least most of the time. He’s a very charming little fellow. We have him because his daycare is closed for Covid and his mother and father both work. Earlier, he did some Little Baby Crunches. Got to get him started off right. As I told someone else, he also does deconstructed Burpees; he burps and he pees. Maybe I can get him to a workout. Sometimes, he wakes up early enough.

  • Heartbreak Dress Code

    I pulled up thinking I was a few minutes early and Handshake was already there. Oh no! I’m either hallucinating or I have to buy a new watch! But no! Handshake was early! After standing around admiring each other’s attire (nice silver tights modeled by Offshore, Honeydo’s bare knees and Attila’s Hoodie) and letting our blood congeal, we started.

    Mosey, high knees, karikoke left and right in the parking lot.

    Warmup: At Parking lot by benches: 20 SSHs, 10 Man-maker Merkins, 15 knee-ups, stretching exercise

    Warmup: Run to other side of Parking lot: 20 IWs, 10 Diamond Merkins, 15 American Hammers, stretching exercise

    Warmup: Back to Parking lot by benches: 20 Squats, 10 regular Merkins, 15 Crunchy Frogs, stretching exercise

    To the benches: 10 Dips, 10 step-ups and 10 derkins, all in cadence: next 8 of each, 6, 4 and 2.

    Next, we moseyed over Pemberton parking lot for BLIMPS: 5 Burpees, 10 Lunges, 15 Imperial Walkers, 20 Merkins, 25 Plank Jacks and 30 Squats

    Next to Pemberton Elementary School wall:

    People’s Chair 15 Air Press, 10 BTTW Hip Slaps, 15 Donkey Kix OYO

    People’s Chair 15 Muhammad Ali, 10 BTTW Australian Mountain Climbers, 15 Donkey Kix OYO

    People’s Chair 15 Milkers, 10 BTTW Toe Taps, 15 Donkey Kix OYO

    Moseyed back to the Quioccasin Parking lot for 11s: Mike Tysons and WWII.

    Take out by Handshake

  • Hoedown Just in Time

    I got there just barely before launch time. Obviously, a supply chain problem.

    We had an FNG. Bodos with the headlock. Works with Bodos. Former Marine, avid outdoors-man. Well-traveled and well read. Welcome Mimi!

    Weather report, 30 and dry. Perfect! One of the great things about F3; people will show up! Good crowd! 15!

     

    Warmup: Corner Parking lot: 20 SSHs, 10 Man-maker Merkins, 15 knee-ups, stretching exercise

    Warmup: Upper Parking lot: 20 IWs, 10 Diamond Merkins, 15 American Hammers, stretching exercise

    Warmup: Corner Parking lot: 20 Russian Soldiers, 10 Shoulder slap Merkins, 15 Crunchy Frogs, stretching exercise

    Warmup: Upper Parking lot: 15 Lunges, 10 Hand Release Merkins, 20 Dollies, stretching exercise

    Upper parking lot: Mankiller (12, 10, 8, etc.)

    Wall Courtyard: 10 single count air-press (People’s chair), 10 BTTW hip slaps in cadence, 15 Donkey Kix OYO

    Wall Courtyard: 10 single count milkers (People’s chair), 10 BTTW Australian Mountain Climbers in cadence, 15 Donkey Kix OYO

    Wall Courtyard: 10 single count Lalannes (People’s chair), 12 BTTW ToeTaps in cadence, 15 Donkey Kix OYO

    Wall Courtyard: 12 Dirty Hookup: People’s chair Muhammad Ali, 15 Donkey Kix OYO

    Romanian Dead Lifts: 10 each leg in cadence. Unfortunately, I have a great deal of trouble maintaining balance during this one. Which is why I plan to incorporate it into my Qs, until I can get it right. Next time you see Gomer Pyle, you can thank him for this one.

    Railings: Bulgarian Split Squats 10 each leg, 10 Derkins, 9 etc.

    Upper Parking Lot: Partner up: Each side of Parking lot: bear crawl. When you meet, 10 Hand Slap Merkins: Repeat

    Up to the grassy area behind the school: Partner up: partner 1 runs to the pull-up bars and does 5 pull-ups, Partner 2 does WWII sit-ups. 3 times

     

    Announcements:

    UpChuck reported (later, see Slack) on Breaking Bread: All taken spots up until May

  • Frozen Gridiron

    It was so cold, I started a minute early, before Dial-up showed up. He found us. He found us because he could hear the crunch of the frozen grass on the football field as we did SSHs. Did I mention it was cold? As in 18 degrees. As in colder than it typically is in Charlotte, from where I used to be.

    Despite the cold, it was a great day for a workout. As always, it is great to have a group to workout with. No fart-sacking with these guys.

    Despite the lack of a disclaimer, no injuries, even on the obstacle course. This site provides a great obstacle course. Warning; I will do this again! It is too good not to use.

    We had the place to ourselves. No pickle-ball players. Evidently, you can’t play with a frozen pickle.

    Anyway:

    To the goal line of the football field:

    20 SSHs, 10 Man-maker Merkins, 15 Knee-ups and a stretching exercise

    To the track:

    20 IWs, 10 Diamond Merkins, 15 American Hammers and a stretching exercise

    To the soccer field in front of the school:

    20 Russian Soldiers, 15 Crunchy Frogs, 10 Stagger arm Merkins and a stretching exercise

    To the side of the south side of the school:

    20 squats, 10 Stagger arm Merkins, 20 Dollies and a stretching exercise

    Follow the leader: We used the loading docks, stairs, railings as an obstacle course.

    To the wall in front of the school:

    People’s Chair 15 Air Press, 10 BTTW Hip Slaps, 15 Donkey Kix OYO

    People’s Chair 15 Muhammad Ali, 10 BTTW Australian Mountain Climbers, 15 Donkey Kix OYO

    People’s Chair 15 Milkers, 10 BTTW Toe Taps, 15 Donkey Kix OYO

    People’s Chair 15 Lalannes, 10 Dirty Hookup, 15 Donkey Kix OYO

    Back to the parking lot.

    To the parking lot:

    Jump in cadence over the line 20 count, 3 times with a stretching exercise in between

    To the historic school’s pull-up bars, near the pickle-ball courts

    10 Pullups, 20 LBCs, 20 merkins and 25 squats: 3 times

    Back to the parking lot:

    Less-fatal Man Killer: 10,8,6,4,2.

    Stretching exercise

    Romanian Single Leg Dead lift (bend knee up and forward, bend at waist but keep hip neutral and extend bent leg back behind you.) 10 each leg.

    To the bathroom: divide up into groups of 3: 1 does Lalannes, 1 does dollies while the other runs around the parking lot. 3 times

    To the stadium bench for 10 Bulgarian split squats

    Back to the parking lot for stretching exercise and then 6-inch leg lift for 60-count.