Author: Rosie

  • Five Fingers SOJ style

    The Q sheet opened up last week with Kubota’s unfortunate injury but it made room for me to try out a new route for RiverRun. It’ll need a little tweaking but a good one to add to the mix. Start with the instructions, Lugnut knows where he’s going, Doublemint seems to have some familiarity with the area, Mousetrap will just follow someone.

    The Route: Right out of the parking lot and hit the trail/sidewalk to Riverdowns, up the Queensgrant hill about 2/3 of the way, turnaround where it flattens out before the second climb. Back down and right on the sidewalk, right on Robious Forest Way, all the way to the end and back to the trail. Next all the way up Twin Team, turn around at the top. Back down and past Bettie Weaver and right on Rivermist Road, run to the cul-de-sac. Final leg is up Riverton Road across from Bettie Weaver and back down to the start. 5+ miles for all of all 5 fingers.

    The MapMyRun distances were a little short so we probably could have made it to the top of Queensgrant hill for some more elevation but overall pretty good training for the day and a route that we will definitely do again.

    BRR was on the mind post run with Doublemint and Mouse Trap getting their questions answered about the fun that will ensue beginning a month from today. Thought we’d have a few more PAX this morning but the fartsack apparently ruled the day, you know who you are.

  • Regulars here too

    Saw the backblast for Sunday Funday and noted the similarities. The main group was out and about at OTB as well. Wilson and Aisle 5 for their easy paced walkabout solving the world’s problems. Honeymoon and YHC for the Salisbury loop with Annie pulling us along the way when she wasn’t trying to chase after squirrels.

    Aisle 5 and Wilson are looking for the best coffee selection at UF but have yet to find a suitable one. The location and outdoor seating at the coffeeteria is tough to beat so the 2nd F is always a good one.

  • Attitudinally Better

    As part of the Summer Tour, YHC decided to make a Q appearance on the newest AO on the F3 RVA sheet. Hopes of a large local contingent dissipated quickly when the only 2 PAX in the parking lot upon the Q’s arrival were summer tourists. The summer tourists equaled the locals until 5:29:30 when a couple more locals rolled in. Off we went to get better.

    Mosey around the parking lot to pick up stragglers, continue the mosey around the back of the school to scope out the AO. Circle up in the grass for a Saab friendly warmup.

    Mosey over to the blacktop with a slight detour to check out the conditions of track. Since Dr. Tryhard requested that I let the PAX know about a poker night this weekend I thought I would help myself remember with a little gambling of my own. Blackjack – always add to 21. Start with 20 merkins on one end, 1 LBC on the other. Run back and forth until you work your way down to 1 merkin/20LBCs. Help a brother out if you finish early, one last round together to close it out.

    Now it’s time to hit the track, Mudface’s favorite and a Marmaduke special. Catch me if you can. Partner 1 runs backward, P2 does 5 squats and runs to catch up, switch until you complete a lap.

    Mosey to the swing set for some fun that YHC noticed during Blackjack. There are 8 swings and 8 PAX. Just enough time for a 6 pack with decline merkins with feet in the swing and WWII. Close out with some Mary, not counting above 10 since the guys in DaVille don’t know anything higher than that.

    NMM – Happy Birthday to Chewy, not many 15 year olds start their day off with working out at 0530 with a bunch of old men, I am impressed. Great to get out to the newest AO in RVA. Some good things to work with out there, including a hill that looked great but did not get used today. Good to get pushed out of your comfort zone every once in a while, Tclaps to Mudface for pushing through the back and forth of Blackjack. It was a pleasure to see some summer tourists still making the rounds with Oyster and Doublemint. Great to see Trout again since YHC didn’t realize what his real name was until today. He and I resolved to EH one of his coworkers that lives near me with some mutual friends.

    Bulkhead offered up thoughts and prayers for Maytag who got word he is being activated. Rounders is in the same division so we are assuming he received the same orders.

    Closing out today Mudface gave thanks for this group for making us better in different ways and the one that stuck with me this morning was “attitudinally better”. Something to be said about going into and coming out of things with the right attitude, it make a difference.

  • Easy does it

    No Q on the sheet but YHC had mapped out a new route for the PAX. As Flatline and I discussed whether the clock had hit 0530 yet, Mr. Roper rolled in. Decided on an easy route for some easy miles. Out 711 toward 288 for 2 miles and return with a lap around the school. Good to have Flatline back at RiverRun since he’s been scrambling around after moving.

  • No Egg Toss

    Bullseye and YHC were discussing how much we missed Orange Crush and DK in the gloom after SOT yesterday so we took it upon ourselves to hit them up with some light EHing. Bullseye offered the ride and I may have tempted OC with the lure of reliving Field Day glory with an egg toss. Alas no egg toss but is was enough to get them both out to enjoy some perfect weather in the gloom. Sunny and 70 is nice but with the way I sweat, 60 sounds much better.

    0530 hits and Flange was still cleaning his truck or something but Garmin Mean time governs so we took off in a direction he could keep us in sight. Over to the tennis courts for a warm up, partly In Conversation because, DK. DQ, Helicopters, Angle Grinders (it’s a new one for most but a good one) and LBCs.

    Mosey over to the track for some Lindsays. Rounds of 30-10, 25-15, 20-20, 15-25, 10-30 with a 100m run in between each round to end where we started. 4 rounds for a full mile, exercises were: Merkins/Squats, Mtn Climber/Ball Dippers, CDD/Monkey Humpers, SSH/Imperial Walkers (PAX choice, DK bailed on his original Arm Circles choice for SSH and YHC gave Bullseye a choice since he’s nursing a back injury). Apparently he was afraid we’d look too much like Cat Burglars.

    The field at Timberwolf is in as good a shape as NoToll with higher cut grass. Couldn’t stay off of that so we took a slow mosey to the middle for some EMOM Burpees – First minute 6 add 1 each minute up to 10. Back to the parking lot for some Mary – FM, AH and Dollies.

    NMM

    Great to have OC and DK back out, although DK says he has posted but vacations and Summer Tour has had AOs with varying numbers all over RVA. Sorry to OC for the lure of the egg toss but I’m pretty sure he would have shown up without it. Today’s message, reach out to that guy that you haven’t seen in a while and offer a ride to an AO. Sometimes all you need is a little push and that’s what F3 is about. The DaVille/Atlee/Hanover directions saga is entertaining to say the least, nothing like trusting Google Maps. It was mentioned to one of the IT gurus but we might want to keep it purely for the entertainment value. Good to see Sonic hitting another AO after getting used to things at NoToll. Cerrano and Hermie represented New Market with tourists, travelers and vacationers spreading their numbers thin.

    Carytown coffeeteria was excellent 2nd F although the customer service could use some help. I think even the ladies at OTB could teach them a few things and that’s saying something, just ask Wilson. Thanks for the energy balls DK.

  • Christmas in July

    A much cooler rainy morning was dialed up for a little surprise for the PAX this July morning. 13, including a rehabbed Hardywood, answered the bell and decided to see what YHC had in store.

    A mosey, cue the rain, and some clues with a warm up of 12 SSH, 12 DQ and 12 IW. During the IW YHC heard Bullseye question whether this was the 12 Days of Christmas. With that astute observation we set off to the pavilion for a rehash of the 12 days of Christmas workout.

    • 1 Dozen LBCs
    • 2 Sprints across the field
    • 3 Diamond Merkins
    • 4 Imperial Squat Walkers
    • 5 Golden Burpees
    • 6 Dips
    • 7 2-ct lunges
    • 8 decline merkins
    • 9 American Hammers
    • 10 Flutter Kicks
    • 11 Crunchy Frogs
    • 12 Broad Jump Burpees

    Close out with a ring of fire, plenty of flair here and Freddie Mercurys.

    NMM

    Kotters to Hardywood, the man has been laid up with an ankle injury but has been given the go ahead to start pushing a little bit. Hopefully it went well and there aren’t any setbacks, the plush grass fields of NoToll should have helped. At coffeeteria after OTB this week YHC noticed that the Q at NoToll was open, that doesn’t happen often so I jumped on it. Wilson, knowing he was going to be out of town, suggested 12 days so Honeymoon and POG knew what was coming. Christmas in July was a great idea, I thought about mixing up the exercises from previous versions but not this time, maybe when it comes back in December. Greenbow was questioning whether all these gifts were things for the PAX or just things I wanted. It’s both things for me and others I thought you would want. With 12 PAX besides me it works out to something for each of you, don’t fight over which one you get.

    I appreciate the opportunities I have been given, especially the privilege and ability to lead this fine group of men today.

    • HDHH Wednesday, See Kubota
    • Puppy Pile Saturday. 7:05 am
    • Men’s retreat (non-F3) in September, See Greenbow

  • The OG for POG

    8 men descended upon Bettie Weaver Elementary for some muggy Monday miles. No Q, a couple new faces, and no route in mind so we settled quickly on the OG to make sure no one would get lost. 4 and 5 mile options with a loose bro-code type run for the 5 milers with some vets guiding the first timers around the neighborhood.

    Honeymoon’s pooch has gotten more miles in the past 2 days than most runners and her knees don’t hurt like her human counterparts. Great run despite the thick air this morning. Apologies to Smokey, he started the run but turned back a mile or so in with some pains. Hope it’s not too bad.

    Excellent way to start the week, have a great one.

    • Ghost Flag at Heartbreak Ridge tomorrow, Flange has the Q
    • HDHH Wednesday Palani Drive 6pm
    • Puppy Pile Saturday
    • There may be a special treat at NoToll tomorrow for anyone not going after the Ghost Flag

  • Out before the heat

    7 men and a pup found some new routes for Sunday morning OTB before the heat of the day hit. 4 went around through Charter Colony, JTCC and Midlo mines for 6 miles while the other 3 hit some hills for a little less. New hill Manders was found and will be a new staple for training. Have a great Sunday

  • First time rider

    3 SOJ vets and a summer tourist hit the mean streets of northwestern Chesterfield County for a ride on the roller coaster. Around the school, down Robious, into River Downs, up Queens Grant hill and back toward Gumbo’s abode. Cut through into Cross Creek added for close to 3 miles out and reverso.

    Phonics informed YHC that he would be visiting RiverRun today and since he had experienced Twin Team before we showed him what the roller coaster is all about. This is a one of a kind ride that hits some good hills on the out and the back. Orange Crush, Bullseye and I discussed the route and planned a flatter option if Phonics didn’t post. Little did they know that Phonics times his arrivals for anytime after 5:28. If you want real hill work, come to River Run, we’ve got you covered.

    Great way to start the week. Thanks for the push Phonics, I’m blaming the humidity for not being able to keep up with you. Word is now that school is out there may be some impromptu coffeterias popping up SOJ.

    • HDHH Wednesday at Palani Drive – 6pm run, 6:45 pm HH
    • Possible HDHH next week at Independence – see Gumbo
    • Puppypile 6/29

  • Full boat at OTB

    2 clown cars, a 4-legged friend and a couple lone SOjers made a total of 9 out for a few miles on Fathers Day Sunday. As the PAX gathered we discussed some routes and decided on the reverse Salisbury route with some alternatives to shorten the mileage. For those looking for the route, it went a little something like this. Right on Woolridge, right on Charter Colony, Left to Le Gordon and across Midlo Turnpike onto Winterfield. Right on Elmstead, all the way to the end for a right on Oakengate. 3rd right onto Castlebridge then a left on Salisbury Drive. Take the hidden passage onto the dirt road and up a surprisingly steep hill to a left onto Midlo Turnpike. Right on Woolridge and around the lake to hit that magic 6 mile distance. Ceranno and Recall did their own shortened version and the rest of the crew followed Wilson and Hermie through the neighborhoods.

    Great time with all 9 at the coffeteria. COT was done with drinks in hand with the varying finish times of the PAX. This seemed like a much better way to do the naming of the FNG since we had much more time to think. Lots of choices but Hacksaw was the final unanimous decision. Welcome Hacksaw, hope to see you back again soon.

    Apologies to Ceranno, apparently he looked up past OTB backblasts to find his own shortened route but YHC has not been posting details recently with the haiku and abbreviated backblasts.

    Have a great Father’s Day, enjoy being a father, remember those who have passed and celebrate your own dads.