Author: Splinter

  • 36.5 Minutes of 90s Hip Hop

    Ten fine gentlemen, including two from downrange, convened in the well lit parking lot of the former darkest AO in RVA. After exchanging comments about personal clothing choices and waiting for Fudd to arrive (on time no less), away we went. It was exactly as described below.

    Short mosey around the drop off loop, back up to the blacktop sea, almost all the way to the gaga pit. Circle up for disclaimer and COP:

    • 20x SSH
    • 10x Helicopters
    • 10x Don Quixotes
    • 7ishx reverse hip walk extensions
    • 20x Mountain Climbers
    • 10x Merkins
    • 10x Scorpion Kicks
    • 10x Freddie Mercuries

    The Thang

    Stay exactly where we were and pop open the trusty interval timer, setup exactly for what was planned today. Tabatas, 30 seconds on, 15 seconds recovery. 3 sets of each of the following with 30 second rest when changing exercises.

    Merkins / Squats / WWIIs / Dips / Lunges / Flutter Kicks / Diamond Merkins / High Knees / Heels to Heaven / Carolina Dry Docks / Jump Squats / LBCs / Burpees

    BTTVSF.

    Moleskin

    YHC often gets grief about volume of running during my Qs. Today was a different attempt at diverse workout while still having moments of elevated cardio. Success or failure? Only a thumbs up or thumbs down in Slack will tell.

    It only took one set of one exercise before one of the (unnamed) PAX members disclaimed, “Boring”. YHC quickly audibled during the change in exercises to add music, starting with “Platinum Pop Hits” for about 30 seconds before quickly changing to 90s Hip Hop, the latter offering the PAX the opportunity to practice rhythm cadence. Most songs were crowd pleasers.

    The final set, after the last of the normal sets, resulted in many questions from an expected PAX member. YHC didn’t even have to jump in to explain as his peer to his left quickly retorted, “He’s the Q, he can do whatever he wants”. Thank you Bodos!

    Welcome to our PAX from out of town, plenty of good options around town to check out while you are here.

    ¡Adios muchachos!

    – Splinter

  • Widely Divergent

    Widely Divergent

    Eighteen Atlantic Puffins returned to their imprinted nesting place promptly at 6:15. When they started, who they traveled with, and what route they took varied. What is known is that no one was alone… well except maybe Bodos. Regardless, we huddled up for a well said prayer from our friend Oyster. Very well said brother.

    RAMM may now have a reputation as being disorganized. People start at different times, some people ride, some people walk, some people ruck, some people run. You know what? Who cares! Without fail, we all come back to our nesting spot when it’s time. Just like the Atlantic Puffin.

    You can thank my 2.0 Tidwell’s digital report on the Atlantic Puffin for the backblast inspiration.

    Enjoy the day fellas. It’s always a blessing.

    Announcements

    • Amateur RAMM Gears on 3/31. Best costume gets their photo posted on Slack.

  • All Lions, no Lambs

    Twelve spring seekers convened under the lamp light eagerly awaiting today’s First Watch Q. Would headlamps be necessary? Only if desired. Welcome the 8 year Kotter and the first time FW-er then off we went. Longer mosey around the triangle then west on River to the typical convening spot in front of the church for:

    COP

    • 20x SSH
    • 10x Helicopters (with an audible suggested for Upchuck)
    • 10x DQs
    • 15x Arm Circles both directions for our first time watcher
    • 20x Hillbillies (slow to fast)
    • 10x Mountain Climbers
    • 10x Freddie Mercuries
    • Probably something else in there too

    Short mosey to the back parking lot via the carpool road, stopping at each speed bump for a courtesy burpee.

    The Thang

    Partner up for touch a tree. Partner exercises while other partner touches 3 trees. 4 rounds. Merkins / bear crawl, skip / jump squat, run / WWIIs, run / burpees.

    Skeedaddle south on Ridge, stopping for 2 more burpees, then heading east on River to Country Squire for a game of 2 forward, 1 back. Two mailboxes forward running, 10 merkins, 1 mailbox back backward running, 20 LBCs. LBCs for the six. Continue 5 times until we meet at S Ridge.

    Native people run back to the parking lot.

    Triple check. APDs, plank, 10x burpees as the pace car. BTTVSF.

    Numbers, names, difficulty renaming an 8 year Kotter, then YHC took us out.

    Moleskin

    Lively bunch this AM as is usual for First Watch. Great to have Machismo out for his 1 year anniversary and Jelly (temporarily renamed to Billy Ray) after an 8 year hiatus.

    Sorry (not sorry) for all the running. You all know YHC enjoys cardio.

    Splinter out.

  • Back up the Mountain

    Fourteen trekkers who didn’t get their fill from 2 weeks ago, returned to base camp for another summit attempt. The Q left early but passed along ample instructions. Mt Henrico it is again.

    The Route

    • Mount Henrico

    Numbers, names, the Q took us out.

    Moleskin

    This route does two things. 1. It never gets old. 2. It never gets easier.

    Almost everyone made it to the top. There was still 1 that got lost but made it back to base camp successfully.

  • Running for a Friend

    Running for a Friend

    Fourteen of the best gentlemen you could find, gathered to listen to today’s instructions. Two started early but were instructed to come back for further instructions. Routes were:

    The Route

    • 4s – Right out of the parking lot, left up Gateway, left on Campus
    • 5s – Left out of parking lot, slight right up Richmond Way, left on Gateway, left on Campus
    • 6s – Left out of parking lot, slight left along the lake, up by the baseball field and weinstein center, continue up Richmond Way, left on Gateway, left on Campus
    • Everyone cross Boatwright through the path then left on Wheeler
    • Convene at the bottom of Gardiner
    • 3x intervals up Gardiner, recovering over the hill and down Chandler
    • 3x intervals up Chandler, recovering south on Ridge Top, right on Shrewsbury, left on Horsepen, gather at Waveny
    • 1x interval up Dartmoor (audible)
    • 2x interval up Waveny
    • BTTVSF via fraternity row

    Numbers, names, announcements, YHC took us out.

    Announcements

    • The bridge this weekend. See TYA.
    • Ash Wednesday service available at Regency, see Bodos for details

    Moleskin

    Much to everyone’s likely disbelief, YHC hadn’t planned on intervals today until yesterday. Sometimes you need to push yourself harder than you normally would in order to clear your mind and soul of life’s complications. Today was one of those days for YHC.

    Thank you all for enduring the repeats up those hills with me. Every step of mine was in memory of Bella.

  • Intestinal Fortitude

    Four, then 5, then a very late 6, literally fought off the fartsack to gather at the ‘Hoe for today’s post super bowl hangover workout. Short mosey over to the church parking lot for:

    COP

    • SSH x21
    • Helicopters x10
    • DQ x10
    • Arm Circles x10 x5 (x2)
    • Copperhead Squats x15
    • LBCs x20

    The Thang

    Quick mosey backwards to pickup the LIFO then medium mosey over to the other church parking lot for the start of Super 21s. 1x merkin / 1x reverse crunch. Run to opposite corner for 2/2. Back to start for 3/3. Continue to 5/5. 21x jump squats.

    The smallest of moseys over to the other church administrative office parking lot for 6-10, running halfway around the building between sets. 21x lunges.

    Slightly longer mosey over to the Walgreen’s parking lot for 11-15, running to the end of the parking lot between sets and bernie’ing back. 21x side lunges.

    Back to the church administrative building for 16-20, running halfway around between sets. Slow walk if you are a leader. 21x squats.

    Back to the 2nd church parking lot for set 21. IG run back to the bus loop.

    Triple check: BTTW, pickle pounders, 21x american hammers

    WWIIs until time expired.

    Numbers, names, YHC took us out.

    Moleskin

    ‘Twas a great morning to be alive. Cool air, light breeze, fresh (a’hem) air. Today we were reminded of the 8 lbs of chicken wings Handshake made and who knows what Fudd made.

    Flo showed his bashfulness during triple check while also learning about the intestinal habits of a few middle-aged men.

    Apologies of the day goes to Pigskin for not keeping the distance down. Way to push it!

    Thank you to all who showed.

    Splinter out.

  • Conversationally Meditating?

    More people didn’t return for COP than departed this morning but nonetheless we still had fun staring at each other. Route was posted late(ish) yesterday afternoon. Some (one) saw it in advance and the other(s) still needed instruction. Off we went on a quest for doughnut smells and scratch & sniff peaches.

    The Route

    https://onthegomap.com/s/m1gmjafa

    • 6s: Do as planned
    • 5s: Turn left on Lafayette to Fitzhugh
    • 4s: Straight up Commonwealth to Fitzhugh

    Numbers, names, silence, YHC took us out.

    Announcements

    • Chirp Chirp

    RAMM proper has had lower numbers for a few weeks. Ask a friend or FNG to come out to join us. If you need directions to the AO, don’t ask TYA.

    Splinter out

  • I’m Writing This Because Someone Else Is Scared To

    Eight or nine folks gathered at Mary for a legacy master Q. We ran over to the parking lot for COP then met on the track for something like this:

    The Thang

    • Run a lap, then 10 merkins
    • Run a lap, then 20 merkins
    • Run a lap, then 30 merkins
    • Run a lap, then 40 merkins
    • Run a lap, then 50 merkins
    • Then back down?

    The rules were concocted along the way and included:

    • If you pass Q and his mate, you have to stop and do 10 burpees
    • If you pass in the workout zone, no burpee penalty (don’t tell anyone this one)
    • Others which may or may not have been announced

    Numbers, names, and the Q took us out.

    If YHC missed your name, comment on slack.

  • Going on a Walkabout

    Thirteen early gloom knuckleheads, a third of whom gathered even earlier, convened in the church parking lot for the first First Watch of ’23. After Ronnie and Last Call traded t-shirts, we took a quick counter clockwise mosey around the parking lot before circling up for:

    COP

    • SSH x20
    • Arm Circles x15
    • Helicopters x10
    • Copperhead Squats x5
    • Prisioner Squats x10
    • Reverse Crunches x10
    • Mountain Climbers x10

    The Thang

    Extremely short mosey to South Ridge. The name of the game was left, right, or left & right. Mosey the big loop down South Ridge, up Highland, left on River back to the AO. Every time we come to a crossroad, we did 20 of 3 different exercises.

    • Left and a right turn: air presses, squats, LBCs
    • Left turn only: shoulder tap merkins, lunges, WWIIs
    • Right turn only: hand release merkins, tuck jumps, flutter kicks (audible to 2 count after the first round)

    BTTVSF where ample announcements were made before YHC took us out.

    Announcements

    • Memorial service today for Swipe Right
    • Two Can sentencing coming up
    • Please update emergency contact info in Slack
    • Flo VQ @ Hoedown Monday

    Moleskin

    Thanks to the PAX for sticking with the theme today. As Bodo’s proclaimed, it was a high cardio workout. For those counting at home, 7 L/R, 3 L, 3 R and ~1.75 miles. By all accounts, the PAX enjoyed it.

    Some of the PAX especially enjoyed the tucking practice during tuck jumps. Flo may have lost a ball so be on the lookout.

    Splinter out.

  • Pee Doesn’t Scare Me

    Fifteen extremely excited individuals gathered to kick off ’23 with a run. Route was pre-published so there were few questions.

    https://onthegomap.com/s/7domggp0

    The Route

    • 4s do the above.
    • 5/6s add a right on Huguenot and right on Panorama before heading down the bat cave, please.
    • 6s add a loop at the top of Iris. York, Maple, Fergusson, St Chris before heading down Campus.

    Announcements

    • Frozen Triangle 1/21 @ 6am @ Dogpile
    • Prayers for Gomer Pyle and Pigskin as they prepare for mission to Honduras
    • DC Ruck Event in March. Should be fun. Ask Florence.
    • CSAUP being planned at Currahee. Details forthcoming.
    • Last day for your First Watch shirt
    • Freeze family service tomorrow
    • Please update your emergency contact info on Slack. Open your profile (on a computer, not your phone, and add emergency contact info).
    • CPR certification opportunity in the works

    Moleskin

    Flatline came in jamming to Plush, on CD no less. Apparently he’s been retreading 90s grunge since breakfast club on Saturday. Rock on.

    Anthrax needs to do a better job training his dog where to go to the restroom.

    Thanks for showing up and getting the day started strong.

    Splinter.