Author: Purple Rain

  • Heart Full of Soul

    First, gratitude.

    Heist headlocked me on 1/6/23 and my first post was 1/7/23 at Rock n Roll. That day was Mudslide’s VQ, and he served then the beatdown I served you all today. I splashed merlot a couple of times, had to sit on the sidelines for a few to catch my breath. You all know the soreness after your first post.

    Today I enjoyed seeing familiar faces from the various AOs I’ve posted to over the last year, a real capstone and honor. F3 has made me so much more than I was. And you guys know what I’m talking about. Iron sharpens iron is said a lot, but it so succinctly describes what would otherwise take paragraphs, and I thank you all for your mettle and leadership.

    But that’s enough tenderness. Today we revisited Mudslide’s VQ beatdown and 24 HIM got after it, showing characteristic aggression, vigor, and wily good nature.

    Warmarama: SSHs, shawshank stretch, helicopters, dead man hang straight down then to R and L, butterfly stretch, lay on the ground and pull R then L knee to chest, merkins, LBCs, Freddie Mercurys with varied cadence

    The Thang: Mosey to the parking lot next to the playground.

    11s: Start with 1 spiderman merkin at one end of the lot, 10 WW2s at the opposite end. Proceed in the customary fashion. The parking lot is pretty long. Just sayin’.  

    Mosey to the bleachers next to the ball fields and snack shack.

    Triple Check: Timer burnies up the hill, runs around the snack shack and down the bank or stairs on the other side. Dips and crunchy frogs.

    Mega Dora: Timer runs from the big AF electric pole in the second parking lot to the first median and back. 100 merkins, 200 supermans, 300 squats, 400 single-count toe taps.

    BTTF. Partial ring of fire as time allowed. Blast merkins OYO for the final 30 seconds. Time called.

    Numbers. Names. Announcements. Hermie took us out in prayer. Many PAX gathered afterward at Starbucks to socialize, enjoy their endorphins and some caffeine. Great work today gentlemen. Thank you for the amazing turnout and for allowing me the privilege to lead.

  • Double Trouble

    Facing an empty Q sheet, two HIMs eschewed the fart sack for a hot potato beat down, and they didn’t go easy on themselves:

    Warmaramma:

    Mosey around the school. Shawshank stretch, deadman hang straight down left and right, helicopters, merkins, Freddie Mercurys, squats

    The Thang:

    Light post burpees – one burpee at the first light post, two burpees at the second light post, proceed until reaching ten burpees at the tenth light post

    Parking spaces – now in the parking lot of the midlothian station shopping center, we moved across ten parking spaces doing the following:

    Round 1: bear crawl across one parking space, one merkin on the line, bear crawl across the next parking space, two merkins on the line, continue until crossing ten spaces working up to ten merkins

    Round 2: following the same pattern as before, lunges across spaces and squats on the line crossing ten spaces and working up to ten squats

    Round 3: broad jump across spaces with SSHs on the line

    Round 4: sprint across one space, bernie back to start, sprint across two spaces, bernie back to start, continue across ten spaces

    Bleacher feature: 20 dips and 20 single count step ups

    Dora: runner up the hill and back, 100 squats, 200 LBCs, 300 SSHs

    Time called and BTTF.

    Numbers, names, announcements, COT

    Had a great time crushing it with Wedding Singer and enjoyed coffee afterward with the MoT crew. COT prayer focused on finding peace during the bustle of the season and being a light to our families and community.

  • No Audible

    9 intrepid HIMs gathered in the Alamo parking lot seeking a beat down, and it was served up. With the cold light of a mostly full moon triggering the PAX lycanthrope tendencies, this happened:

    Mosey to modern houses. Helicopters, deadman hang straight down, left and right, Shawshank stretch, modified hurdler stretch with left and right foot to the knee of each extended leg, butterfly stretch, copperhead squats, mosey back to parking lot

    Circle up, LBCs slow count, Freddie mercuries slow then fast count, some PAX wise guys tried messing with the cadence rep count, achieving some success

    Now, back in August, during a moment of weakness, I called an audible at the Alamo. I’ve regretted it since. Afterward, Heist and Mudslide told me, respectively, “The hard part was over,” and, “We could have finished.” With those inspiring/haunting words tumbling around in my mind over the subsequent months, I was determined to do it and finish, no audible. And so…

    Horseshoe 11s:

    The Alamo parking lot is a giant horseshoe shape; terrific! Starting with one jump squat, mosey the lot with ten Spider-Man merkins performed at the other end. Mosey back to the start and repeat, adding one jump squat and subtracting one Spider-Man merkin each round until finishing with one Spider-Man and ten jump squats. No audible, and much rejoicing. We clocked just over 3 miles today, most of it during this.

    Dora:

    Turns out I don’t know what Bobby Hurleys are. This is probably because I didn’t know (I just Googled it, thanks) who Bobby Hurley was or what he did. I’m sorry if this is sacrilege to some. I THOUGHT it was picking a pretend basketball up off the ground followed by a jump shot. For the purposes of this post, I’m calling these Bobby Hurleys.

    Timer bear crawls the length of two tennis courts to the fence then moseys back to the start

    100 Bobby Hurleys, 200 LBCs, 300 SSHs, time called.

    Announcements, prayer requests (State Farm’s feisty dog who picked a fight with a porcupine (PA) and lost, may he recover quickly), Wildcat took us out in prayer.

    Always an honor and a pleasure leading this fine bunch!

  • Rocket Fuel

    I saw NTB post a solo beat down at The Forge recently. “Pretty cool,” I thought. A different type of “test” as Rosie commented, a different mental angle on resolve and commitment. As I watched the clock inch closer to 5:30, a solo outing appeared imminent. Then headlights beamed across the asphalt and our notorious Wildcat emerged from his parked car. Who better to light the fuse of a post Yeehaw beat down? The rain had lightened up, and millions of bags of wrapped candy lay in the back of cupboards all across town. LET’S GO!

    Warmarama: Mosey around the school, reach high (Shawshank stretch?), deadman hang, helicopters, copperhead squats, merkins, slow count Freddie Mercurys

    Dora #1: Runner across the lot and back, 50 double-count KB lunges, 100 KB swings, 150 KB calf raises

    Dora #2: Runner across the lot and back, 100 merkins, 150 KB lawnmower pulls, 200 arms circles

    Dora#3: Runner across the lot and back, 50 overhead KB presses, 75 KB front raises, 100 single-count Freddie Mercurys

    Triple Check-ish: 30 KB curls, 30 KB skull crushers, 100 single-count Freddie Mercuries, lower reps to 20 and repeat KB curls and skull crushers, keep Freddie Mercurys at 100 single-count, a final run through of 20 KB curls and skull crushers, Freddie Mercurys again at 100 single-count

    Time called. Numbers. Announcements. Wildcat took us out in prayer.

    As you all know, Wildcat is a great guy and the perfect partner for a fast-paced beat down. Wasn’t my time today for a solo run. Thanks for the company, for the iron, for the faith and fellowship!

  • Eat ‘em and Smile

    5 HIMs joined forces to become more than they were when they arrived. A slight fall nip was in the air, but the PAX shrugged it off and dug down deep to find the golden treasure guarded by the dragon.

    Warmarama:

    A quick mosey here and there, followed by…

    SSHs, 20 Copperhead squats, 20 merkins, 20 mountain climbers OYO, plank with right hand held high then left hand, stretches brought to you by Fudd’s and Wilson’s wives, helicopters x 10, dead man hang

    The Thang:

    Kettlebell (KB) swings x 20

    Goblet KB squats x 20

    One-legged KB deadlifts, 10 x per leg

    50 KB calf raises

    20 overhead KB presses per side/arm

    20 lawnmower KB pulls, AKA one-arm KB rows

    20 KB front raises

    20 double count KB plank pull throughs

    20 KB skull crushers

    20 KB curls

    50 double count KB American hammers

    50 non-KB Freddie Mercurys

    Run 1x around the school

    PAX completed 2.5 rotations of everything you see above

    As always, a great time was had by all. Fantastic mumble chatter, some honest to goodness exertion, and fellowship and faith in abundance.

    YHC took us out. Always humbled to lead this amazing group! Thanks guys, and let’s keep on keepin’ on! F3 RVA abides.

  • All the Way Down

    8 brawny HIMs met in the swampy morning gloom to kick this week off the right way. According to the female dog walkers who demanded strict merkin form from the PAX, this happened:

    Warmarama:

    5 minute mosey

    Overhead stretch, dead man hang, cherry pickers, Ukrainian soldiers, imperial walkers, copperhead squats, helicopters, SSHs, slow count LBCs, flutter kicks, and Freddie Mercurys (thanks to Gomer Pyle), merkins into a plank, right hand to right foot followed by left hand to left foot (arms extended overhead once in position), Fudd’s wife, Wilson’s wife

    The Thang:

    Horseshoe 11s, start with 10 Spider-Man merkins followed by 1 jump squat, proceed until finished

    *huff huff huff…okay, time for an audible. Stop at 5 Spider-Man merkins and 6 jump squats

    Four corners, lady of the night style:

    -10 werkins, 20 box cutters, 30 jump squats, 40 double-count mountain climbers

    Ring of fire followed by OYO stretching.

    Time called.

    Always appreciate an opportunity to lead this fine bunch; iron sharpens iron!

    Continued prayers for Liv, and for a young sailor Heist met at Busch Gardens who, at a young age, is dealing with major health issues and self-doubt. Thanks for our F3 brothers, and for our enumerable blessings which we sometimes forget and take for granted. Be a force for good, smile, give a kind word, for, it won’t be long, ‘til I’m gonna need somebody to lean on.

  • Asphalt Jungle

    11 warriors gathered in the early morning to test their might. Is that an FNG? Nah. Welcome back Cookie! Vagabond’s portable speaker/kettlebell didn’t work as planned, so the workout was accompanied by mumble chatter, sounds of exertion, and the clinking of metal.

    COP:

    SSH, helicopters, merkins, flutter kicks, deadman hang, mosey around the school

    The Thang:

    1. KB swings x 20
    2. Single leg deadlifts x 10/side
    3. KB rows x 15/side
    4. Overhead press x 15/side
    5. Plank KB pull throughs x 15/side
    6. American hammers x 15 double count
    7. Concentration curls x 15/side
    8. Skull crushers x 15
    9. Mosey the parking lot perimeter

    Numbers 1 – 9 x 3

    Farmers carry across the lot, switch hands for the stroll back

    Overhead stretch, touch your toes, rotator cuff stretch

    Time called.

    Numbers, names

    Announcements:

    SoT shirt available through F3 nation site

    COT:

    YHC took us out.

    -Purple Rain

  • The Tightest Shirt You Own

    19 men of steel descended upon the sleepy suburban village of NewMarket to sharpen one another and experience skin-splitting pumps. YHC was honored and humbled to lead such a large PAX for his VQ experience.

    According to the security guards staffing the guardhouse at the neighborhood entrance, this is what went down.

    COP:

    SSH, helicopters, Ukrainian soldiers, copperhead squats, merkins, plank it up (right hand high, left hand high, right foot to right hand, left foot to left hand), quick mosey up and down Satan’s own hill

    The Thang:

    1st triple check: Runner, coupon sumo squats, calf raises

    2nd triple check: Runner, coupon shrugs, scrunchy frogs

    3rd triple check: Runner, coupon rows, wide grip merkins

    4th triple check: Runner, triceps coupon dips, coupon curls

    That went fast. Another mosey up The Wicked One’s hill for good measure.

    Circle up for what I’m calling a hot potato, fifteen-rep ring of fire. This lasted 10 minutes and kicked up a notch when Armstrong demanded the PAX endure 15 burpees. Time called shortly thereafter.

    Numbers, names

    Announcements:

    5/29 Memorial Day convergence

    Favorable observation the PAX is growing in size

    Gratitude expressed for the growing number of Q sheet participants

    COT:

    YHC took us out.

    Side note:

    A special thank you to my brother Heist for putting me in an EH this past January.

    F3 came into my life at a time when I needed it most. F3 is brimming with solid, dedicated, and inspiring HIMs. My life has been immensely enriched by F3, and today I finally threw my hat in the ring to give back what I’m able. Thank you all for the motivation, the brotherhood, the great feeling that comes from completing a demanding workout, for the opportunity to lead, and for all the laughs.

    -Purple Rain