Author: Pucker

  • Puckers 11s & Pickleball

    YHC saw the Q was open for today and filled the need if only to ensure I had to be there in the morning. It was another beautiful day in RVA. 4 strong arrived for what they may have assumed was a well planned workout – including Chaplain on his summer tour. What in fact occurred was this…

    Mosey to corner of Grove and Westmoreland for a geriatric warmup: Deadman’s Hang, 10 Don Quixotes, 10 Helicopters, 10 Arm Circles/5 Big Arm Circles, 15 Imperial Walkers, 20 Flutters and 20 SSHs.

    Mosey on to the back of the school and do 20 WWIIs OYO then onto to the fields for the first of the planned exercises – along the way Hitch mentions he had 4 pickle ball paddles in his minivan, conveniently. YHC took that into consideration and the “plan” was adjusted.

    The group perfectly executed Pucker’s 11s, performing a set of exercises at all 11 trees along Cary Street. First 3 Burpees at each tree, then 10 LBCs. YHC then dropped most of the rest of the plan for the morning, sent Hitch to his car to get the pickle ball paddles while the remaining three did a triple check on the blacktop (Wall sit, elbow plank, run up/Bernie Sanders back).

    Hitch returned with the paddles and we were able to get a little instructional time in, a doubles match and then a singles match as well. Thanks Hitch for mentioning it.

    Appreciate the opportunity to lead this morning. I felt like I was in a pickle ball promotional video given the many plugs Hitch offered for the fastest growing sport around.

    Announcements – July 4th convergence at Dogpile 7AM, and Hitch is planning a Back to School Pickle Ball convergence on August 26th (I believe). More to come. Maybe you can even get F3 pickle ball swag at the next pickle ball outing!

  • These go to 11…

    11 strong rose to the challenge at Mary today. There was much mumble chatter on this topic of the number 11 quickly confirming the theme of the day. These go to 11 (or not).

    COP – mosey to front of school on Grove. SSHs, deadman’s hang, Don Quixotes, imperial walkers and helicopters to get us started.


    Mosey to the field and line up for….wait for it….11s! Apparently this 11s is new to the pax so I am happy to introduce a new exercise regimen to them. At each tree (of which there are 11), perform a set of one type of exercise. Round 1 – 3 burpees at each of the ELEVEN trees. Round 2 – 10 LBCs at each of the ELEVEN trees. Round 3 – 3 Lt Dans at each of the ELEVEN trees. The concept of 11 trees was too much for the pax and threw them off for the remainder.


    Nonetheless we were able to get some work in. We next moseyed to the pull-up bars and while the pax did dips on the low wall around it, 2 pax would do 5 pull-ups. We did 3 rotations in random fashion as pax was unable to grasp concept of moving clockwise direction like we always do. They were still thinking about the number 11.

    Mosey to blacktop for a triple check (not an undecuple check). Wall sits, Flutters, run to fence and Bernie Sanders back. Pax was still thinking of the number 11 and had difficulty forming groups of 3 or 4.

    Mosey to front of school for a curb crawl. Bear crawl to other side do 1 incline merkin, bear crawl back do 2 decline merkins, and so on up to 5 and back down to 1.

    Mosey to covered pavilion and partner up – one partner does 10 pole smokers and other does step ups on the benches. 5 rounds. We finished with a ring of fire of merkins and hit time.

    Based on the fascination with the number 11, YHC may introduce a version of 4 corners called 11 corners or the Hendecagon. Be on the lookout!

    Numberama, namerama, YHC took us out. Good luck to the 11 running the Bear Creek this weekend (see what I did there!).

  • 5 Corners and Other Surprises

    YHC’s luck with rain seemed to have ended as it had started by the time we arrived at the AO. However it was light and while YHC had devised a plan to keep (mostly) dry, things would need to be modified mid workout.

    Here’s how it went down…

    Mosey around the school to the blacktop to warmup with dead man’s hang, Don Quixotes, arm circles, SSHs and Merkins.

    Mosey to covered pavilion which was unoccupied and the site for all of YHC’s original plan for the day. Partner up with P1 running to corner of Grove and Commonwealth and back, P2 does wall sit (against a pole). 3 rounds.

    While YHC‘s counting admittedly may have been imprecise the mumble chatter began to grow forcing an audible on my part. Mosey back out to the blacktop for a new concept – “5 corners”. As a group run to each corner and the center of the blacktop to do Carolina Dry Docks and LBCs – 30/10, 25/15, 20/20, 15/20, and 10/30. Not a dry shirt in the house.

    The mumble chatter hit a crescendo at this point thus we continued to avoid the dry pavilion and moseyed to the tennis courts for some partner booyah Merkins. Start at each side of one court, bear crawl to center and do 10 booyah Merkins then Crawl Bear back. Repeat 5 times. Heavy breathing was the dominant sound at that point.

    Mosey back to the blacktop for a triple check. Wall sits, Lt Dans, run to fence and Bernie Sanders back.

    We moseyed to the pavilion and discovered that the tomatoes had taken this spot, so as gentlemen and to avoid potential charges being pressed we moseyed to the parking lot to finish. First we partnered up for a mini Dora – 25 flutters, 50 Imperial Walkers and 75 SSHs partner runs to end of lot and back. Then the last exercise was P1 did 20 donkey kicks while P2 did American Hammers until time.

    numberama, namerama, YHC took us out. While my counting may have been imprecise my math I believe is still OK. This group certainly lived up to the “Geri Mary” nickname for this AO given 6 of us are in the respect category. Even with recent birthday boy Handshake coming in hot with 10 seconds to spare the average age of the group was north of 50.

    Handshake is Qing Dogpile Saturday for his 5th anniversary.

    YHC reminded all to take the time to give a hug to those you love as you never know when you might see them again. Every moment is precious.

  • Today, Gate = Entrance

    13 strong arrived to run but engaged first in a lively debate over where the gate I mentioned might be. Whether they ran through the gate (or entrance) they all should have taken this route…

    Run out the back the back gate (entrance) to UR onto River Road, cut through the River Road Shopping Center then over the Huguenot bridge and drop down onto Riverside Drive heading down River.
    4s turned back at Oxford Parkway, 5s turned back at Rock Falls, and 6s took a right onto Rock Falls then up to Granite Hall Avenue and turn around.

    Despite the initial confusion eventually the group figured it was just an out and back run. The moon lit the way nicely and provided a nice view of the River.

    Numberama, Namerama, and YHC took us out. Prayers for the Freeman and St Chris families impacted by the car crash that took three young lives late last week up at JMU.

    Note for next week’s spider run – TYA is Q and plans for the Mount Henrico route. He will post routes in a pre-blast and will be launching early to do the full route.

  • In the Wood Chipper

    9 Strong were undeterred by the previous nights deluge and assembled at 45MOM to get their heart rate going for the day. It went something like this…

    Mosey to blacktop for Warmup…Dead Man’s Hang, 10 Helicopters, 13 Don Quixotes, 10 Arm Circles (Forward/backward), 15 Imperial Walkers, 20 SSH

    Slightly longer mosey over to Reveille Church Pavilion. Pair up in Pavilion and do 5 rounds of one partner doing 10 Abyss Merkins while the other partner did SSH. With the heart rate up, we then did a Triple Check with one man doing dips, one doing LBCs, and the pacer running the loop of the parking lot.

    We moseyed back to the tennis courts at Mary for some Tracers. One round down all 4 courts, one round back. Up to the net, back to the service line, shuffle along service line, up to middle of net, shuffle to far side, backwards to baseline – repeat on each of the 4 courts.

    Final test was under the Pavilion at MM where we paired up again with one partner doing 10 Pole Smokers the other doing Lt Dans – 5 rounds. Much discussion was had about the poles. When done, we were at time and moseyed back to the flag.

    Numberama, Namerama and YHC took us out.

    We welcome FNG Chipper who was dubbed “Fargo” very quickly and without any debate (thus backblast title). Fargo has never seen “Fargo” the movie so he has some homework. Welcome Fargo! Hope to see you out again soon.

    A good reminder was shared by a couple of the Pax. You never know when or what someone is struggling with and they may never tell you – unless you ask how they’re doing. Check in on your family, friends, coworkers – just say hi and ask how they’re doing.

  • Rain Dance Past the Haunted House

    13 Warriors emerged from the gloom despite impending precipitation. To delay the start of the precipitation we performed a series of rain dances. They went something like this…

    6 milers: Up Gateway Drive and left onto Campus Drive then left onto Boatwright/College Rd. Down past the UR football Stadium then right up University all the way to where it ends at Ziontown. Cut through the yard of the “Haunted House” (Bodos assessment) and take a right onto Roslyn Hills, left on September, continue on Countryside. Left onto Higginbotham, Left onto Charnwood, quick right onto Melwood and a quick left onto Rosylin Hills and back to the cut through and back the way you came.

    5 milers: Up Gateway Drive and left down past UR Stadium on Richmond Way, right at the lake and across the bridge then up the path to University. Up University until it ends at Ziontown. Cut through the yard of the “Haunted House” and take a right onto Roslyn Hills, left September, left onto Melwood, Left onto Roslyn HIlls and back through the cut through. Back down University, take a left on College and go up by the baseball field then return by the lake to the flag.

    4 milers: Run along the lake and across the bridge then up the path to University. Up University until it ends at Ziontown. Cut through the yard of the “Haunted House” and take a right onto Roslyn Hills, left September, left onto Melwood, Left onto Roslyn HIlls and back through the cut through. Back down University, back the way you came and back to the flag.

    Numberama, Namerama.

    Announcements – Hitchhiker is enticing the Pax to join him at WDog tomorrow morning by offering coffee. Saturday is the Frozen Triangle.

    Prayer request for Corned Beef’s mom who suffered a stroke.

    NMS – the Pax all discussed their weather apps assessment of today’s weather as they prepared for Spider Run and noted it was supposed to be raining already when we got there. Thankfully it was not. Our rain dances held off the rain until Bone Thugs (aka “American Taliban” as dubbed by his M due to his extensive facial hair) emerged from the mist and returned to the flag. Some good hills in these routes. Have a good day boys!

  • Breaking Bread – Thanksgiving Sunday

    YHC very nearly did an exact repeat of last Thanksgiving weekend in supplying 7 folks with a hot meal Sunday night. Similar to this same weekend last year, the meal was lasagna, bread, caesar salad, desserts and drinks. Unlike last year, I was allowed to bring the food in to the facility versus dropping it off at the door. A great way to give back and to wrap up to this Thanksgiving weekend.

  • He’s not heavy, he’s my Brother

    13 strong arrived for the weekly run through the hills of UR and Westham. This edition was courtesy of the Tuckahoe Takeover and YHC mapped out routes that found as many hills as possible it seemed. It was also a bit “heavy” in the mileage and for those unfamiliar with this part of the ‘hood perhaps a bit confusing. Nonetheless all got their run in.

    4 milers ran along UR lake, across the bridge and all the way up University to where it meets Ziontown. Cut through the yard and park to Rosslyn Hills. Take a right on Rosslyn Hills, left on September, zig zap left Higginbotham, right Charnwood, left Shadow and left on Rosslyn Hills back through the park and back the way you came.

    5 milers ran along the lake, up around the baseball field (or were supposed to), down College, right on University all the way to where it meets Ziontown. Cut through the yard and park to Rosslyn Hills. Take a right on Rosslyn Hills, left on September, left on Ruggles, left on Rosslyn Hills, back through the park and back the way you came.

    6 milers went up UR Drive, left on Campus, left on College, then all the way up University to where it meets Ziontown. Cut through the yard and park to Rosslyn Hills then right on Rosslyn Hills, left on September, left on Ruggles, left on Rosslyn Hills and back the way you came.

    YHC ended up punishing himself the most by going “heavy” on the 4 miles which ended up being 4.5+ miles. We’re better for it.

  • Field Trip Day

    10 strong pax members arrived for the regularly scheduled programming – although one normally punctual pax member moseyed in a couple of minutes late. Here’s how it went down…

    Moseyed to blacktop for a warmup. 25 SSH, dead mans hang OYO, 10 DQs, Arm Circles small/big and forward/backward, 25 flutters, 10 Merkins.

    Time for a field trip – moseyed to Reveille Church first for a triple check. Dips on benches, WWIIs and run a lap. Then moseyed to front of Church for a Oora. 100 Merkins, 200 LBCs and 300 SSHs run Bernies Sanders to end of drive and runs back.

    Returned to Campus to the pavilion for partners to alternate 10 pole smokers and wall sits for 5 rounds. Finished with a round of merkins at the flag.

    Numberama, Namerama. Prayers for Labrat and Tryhard’s family.

    HDHH being organized for next Wednesday likely at Answer Brew Pub more details to come. Blood Drive on Saturday June 4th at Epiphany Lutheran Church see Slack channel for more or tab on Q sheet to signup. Also TYA has signed up RVA to Q the Forge once/month see TYA for details.

  • No Rain Dance

    8 hardy souls emerged from the gloom to get their day off to a solid start and to delay the rain by performing the following hot potato Q dance:

    Lockjaw warmed us up with helicopters, cherry pickers and SSHs.

    We then moseyed to the hard top to do a Lindsay comprised of donkey kicks and American hammers. This was followed by a cumulative four corners with 10 jump squats, 20 American hammers, 30 Carolina dry docks and 40 LBCs.

    The Q was flipped to Saab who took us to the side of the school for 4 alternating rounds of 10 dips at one end and 10 Derkins/10 incline Merkins.

    Saab passed the Q to Pucker. Mosey to Grove Avenue side of school (‘the front’) and do a curb crawl with Merkins/Derkins up to 7, Bear Crawl out, Crawl Bear back. We then moseyed to the tennis courts for 4 rounds – bernie sanders/karoake/lunge from one end of courts to other stopping to do 10 reps of an exercise between each court (jump Squats, freddie mercuries, WWIIs and LBCs).

    Mosey back around the school back to the flag, numberama, namerama and Pucker took us out.

    It is worthy to note that the rain held off until we were done as it has many times before it seems. Perhaps our no rain dance worked. Either way, Bodos was pleased with the weather report as a part of the prayer.