Author: Splinter

  • Legit OTB

    Two of the earliest watchers gathered in the light mist. One hoping for broga, the other planning on intervals. Intervals won the day.

    The Route

    • Down South Ridge to Westham Station
    • Run to Starbucks and turn around
    • On the way back hit a few intervals up Highland
    • Continue up Highland to River
    • BTTVSF where we greeted the birthday boy

    Moleskin

    Didn’t take much convincing to have EF Hutton join the run. The only request was no intervals up South Ridge. So we did them up Highland instead.

    Great fellowship along the way. Glad to officially write a BB for road hoe since someone joined me.

    Splinter out.

  • Strength in Numbers

    The elite of the elite gathered in the church parking lot at 0430 for pre-game exercises. One chose one path, the other chose another. Those same two gathered again at 0500 for today’s First Watch edition.

    Traveling COP

    • Mosey to the bottom of south ridge, stopping at various points for
    • SSH
    • DQ
    • IW
    • Copperhead Squats
    • Helicopters

    The Thang

    Partner up for Dora 1,2,3,4. 100 burpees, 200 squats, 300 mountain climbers, 400 LBCs. Travel back up south ridge after each increment of 100 by playing catch me if you can with 5 HRMs and bernie sanders.

    We made it most of the way through before shuttling back for 3 minutes of mary.

    Numbers, names, Handshake took us out.

    Announcements

    • Don’t miss 10 year this weekend. The only one that matters is 7am at Dogpile.
    • Prayers for those around us for various reasons.

    Moleskin

    A workout of two offers an opportunity to slightly modify planned approach while engaging in coffeeteria throughout the entire workout. Great to catch up with Handshake as we navigated down and back up south Ridge.

    YHC will assume the weather scared people away and it wasn’t that my workouts are too soft.

    Splinter out

  • Impeccable

    Fourteen Tuesday regulars woke up to zero excuses, rolled out of bed, and made it to the Commons in time for impeccable instructions and a double serving of horse’s pens. After a more methodical instruction set, a 15 second recap was offered before launch mode was triggered. There were a few, “you know where you are going?” comments leaving the parking lot with subsequent “I got this” comments. Marv ran off course early with his noble steed at his side, but they eventually found the main part of the route. Route was prescribed as follows:

    The Route

    • East side of the lake, up around the baseball field and through fraternity row. New fraternity row, not old fraternity row.
    • Right on Hampshire to Horsepen
    • Horsepen to right on Patterson, right on Ridge Top
    • Ridge Top to the bottom then right on Horsepen back up
    • 4s right on Devon to Ridge Top
    • 5s all the way to the top then add Chandler up and down
    • 6s add Waveny to Westham & back, Durwood Crescent to Westham & back, and Chandler up and down
    • Everyone take a left on Wheeler, right through the path, straight across on Campus
    • Right on UR drive and take the right loop by the football field BTTVSF

    Numbers, names, YHC took us out followed by more names.

    Announcements

    • Kind of a big deal this Saturday. Someone in the PAX was as giddy as a school girl. Can’t wait to see what’s in store. 7am @ Dogpile.
    • Training for the 10 year anniversary of the inaugural F3RVA BRR team has started.

    Moleskin

    Always a pleasure to lead this group of stallions, especially as we tackled Horsepen not once, but twice. Turns out the 4s felt shafted by short circuiting the second loop. 5s felt like 4s, and 6s got lost early. Sounds like a normal Tuesday morning.

    Maybe this route should be named the Double Stallion, if we are still naming routes. A few tweaks and this one could be a regular addition.

    Challenge yourself today fellas.

    Splinter out.

  • Flying EH Almost Secured

    Three star gazers arrived for pre-launch activities but none were shared. One ran, one walked, one broga’d. All came back together to wait for the cavalry to arrive. Once the clock struck five, away we went for an audible Q. Mosey to the back parking lot for:

    COP

    • 10x Helicopters
    • 10x DQs (Last Call approved)
    • 10x IWs
    • 15x Arm Circles
    • 10x Copperheads
    • 10x walk backwards over the fence each leg

    The Thang

    Three is a perfect number so triple-check was the theme of the day. A few strides over to the corner of the parking lot. Burpees, mountain climbers, run a loop.

    Slowsey to the eastern corner of the triangle for merkins, squats, skip to the mailbox and run back.

    Attempted flying headlock. We will see this guy soon.

    Zig-zag back to the launch parking lot for WWIIs, lunges, karaoke to Kubota’s truck and back.

    BTTF for something, something else, and 5 burpees for the pace car.

    A few minutes of mary with APDs, Freddie Mercuries, American Hammers.

    Numbers, names, YHC took us out.

    Announcements

    • Labor Day convergence at the Knuckle

    Moleskin

    Small numbers makes for great mumblechatter. Triple check is a tried & true F3 exercise. It wasn’t what YHC had planned for today but it seemed appropriate given the numbers. You know you are a true F3er when you can carry on two different conversations depending on who you are mixed with while the pace car does his thing. Today was perfect evidence of this.

    Thanks y’all. Will save the actual workout for another day.

    Splinter out.

  • Too Confusing, Go with the Standby

    Ump-teen runners/walkers/ruckers gathered in our favorite Tuesday morning spot for today’s route. To alleviate any anxiety amongst the PAX, YHC stated our intended route at 525. There was a shit-eating grin on Saab’s face for some reason. I can never tell if he is happy or sad when intervals aren’t called. Regardless, we launched at 530 with a reminder of today’s route. Mount Henrico. Some didn’t hear the first time it was called and thus were relieved that we weren’t doing intervals. Welcome Sippy Cup back and then off we went.

    The Route

    It’s been well documented throughout the years so I’ll summarize here.

    Right, left, left, right, right, left, right/left, left, left, (ruckers return here), right, left (4s & 6s), left (6s), right, left. Return and come home at your appropriate points following these directions.

    Right, left, right/right (6s), left, right, right, right/left, right, left, left, right, right, left.

    Numbers, names, more numbers, more names, departures, announcements, more departures, more arrivals, YHC took us out.

    Announcements

    • Pickleball tourney this Saturday. See Hitch to register. There will be prizes.
    • Ruckhenge with Q source on Wednesday’s at 0500 at Stony Point Einsteins.

    Moleskin

    We may start on time at F3 but Spider Run tends to end at various times depending on your pace/desires. No worries, any time you are slugging the miles with your buds, it’s all good.

    Ample discussion this morning in my group consisted of slacking (not the good kind) college students, office space (lower case, not upper case), upcoming babies (not mine), random half marathon training (possibly mine), olympic highs and lows, followed by Garbage Plate finally remembering the name of his daughter’s y-princess tribe. How-how!!!

    Great to have Sippy Cup back out in the gloom. Glad to hear he is on the up-and-up. We almost lost Faceplant when Sippy started describing his procedure. He’s used to parking lot paint, not blood.

    Great to see all the faces out there today. Perfect running weather is on the horizon.

    Splinter out.

  • Upchuck the Omniscient

    Seven RAMMers debunked Debby by huddling in the non-lit parking lot waiting for instructions. Once they were given, and Upchuck proclaimed his prediction was accurate, off we went through the knee high fescue for an oldie but goodie route.

    The Route

    • West on Groooove
    • Right on Three Chopt, right on St Christophers
    • Right on Patterson
    • Spot the golden arches
    • 4s right on Westmoreland
    • 5s right on Malvern then back on Grove

    Numbers, names, YHC took us out.

    Announcements

    • Kudos to The Bridge patriots for signing up a couple times a year. If you haven’t been (YHC included), prioritize it one weekend.
    • 8/21 birthday celebration at First Watch
    • Pickleball tourney on 8/17
    • Prayers for Sippy as he recovers. See you out here soon!

    Moleskin

    YHC finished #bigdata last night and was surprised while reading through some of the early RAMM backblasts how simple they were (Inaugural RAMM). TYA always jokes about that but for some reason YHC didn’t realize how consistently simple they were. Always on Grove, generally with time at the end for a little Mary before the clock ran out. Today was a tribute to some of those OG routes, simple but effective.

    The east wind made for a quick jaunt down grove, followed by stale air on St Chris before turning right into the belly of the beast on Patterson. Wind and a little rain was welcome as the tropics were in the air.

    Enjoyed the fellowship as always gang. SYITG.

    Splinter out

  • Spin the Bottle

    Eight ruckers assembled in the moonlight (no that was parking lot lights) for a prompt 0500 launch of Ruckhenge. Walking disclaimer and welcome as we went off for a 3 mile ruck.

    The Route

    Lights on and head towards Huguenot. West on Huguenot to Jimmy Winters, left on Rattlesnake past the library, right on Pulliam, loop around Bon Air Elementary via the newly paved trail. Quick side step around the not-yet-complete bridge before heading north on McRae. Left on Bullington, through the trail to the church, then back towards the launch site. Add a loop behind the AO through the office park then back to the flag for an even 3.

    Numbers, names, YHC took us out.

    Moleskin

    The general theme for the route was an opportunity for YHC to reminisce on early childhood locations. Libraries, ball fields, and quite possibly a spin the bottle location. Ample stories about firsts started the ruck, followed by a random assortment of topics.

    Thanks for letting me join the fun this am. Always good to connect with different folks.

    Splinter out.

  • Not Enough Arm Circles for Some

    Twelve of the most able bodied gentlemen around gathered at random moments leading up to a prompt 0530 launch of NoToll. DK squealed in barely on time but caught up to the PAX fairly quickly. Short mosey to Field #1 to kickoff this NoToll takeover.

    COP

    • 20x SSH
    • 10x Ukrainian Soldiers
    • 10x IWs
    • 15x Arm Circles forwards/reverse
    • 10x Helicopters
    • 10x Copperhead squats
    • 20x LBCs
    • 10x MCs

    The Thang

    Short jaunt over to the sideline where YHC proclaimed we would be doing a broken merkin ladder. Everyone rejoiced? Run across the field for 20 merkins, back across for 19. Continue to 16 then Al Gore for the six. Break exercises were 2 sets each of 20 jump squats and WWIIs.

    Saunter along the tree line to Field #2 for the second iteration of the broken ladder. 15 – 11. Break exercises were 20x dips and step ups on the benches. 2 sets.

    Three full strides over to Field #3 for ladder elements 10 – 6. Al Gore on the other side before break exercises of two sets of 20 monkey humpers and 20 2-count american hammers.

    Shimmy over to the parking lot for ladder elements 5 – 1. Finish up on the recycling side with 20 lunges and 20 LBCs. Only one set as we had other business attend to.

    Slowsey back to the basketball courts where YHC collected 3 tennis balls. Broad side of a barn was called. PAX had to throw a tennis ball from the 3 point line and hit the backboard. Hit, no penalty. Miss, penalty. A variety of hits and misses with bear crawls, crab walks, something else, and burpees as penalties. You will have to ask the PAX if they hit or missed.

    Circle up for a minute of APDs much to the likeness of Last Call before numbers, names, and YHC took us out.

    Moleskin

    Much mumblechatter between DK and Last Call during COP. Those two acted like two sorority girls that hadn’t seen each other since those unspoken activities at their senior formal.

    YHC appreciates the hospitality shown by the NoToll regulars. It was hard for me to believe, but it has been since January 2016 since YHC Q’d NoToll. The fields are as nice as ever and the camaraderie is almost as great. See y’all in 2032!

    Splinter out.

  • Switching Partners at Hoedown

    Six Hoedown zealots gathered in the “too dark for pickleball” parking lot for this takeover? edition of Hoedown. Is it really a takeover when it’s one of yours? Regardless, we waited for the Q before YHC stiff armed Oyster proclaiming, “I got this”. Short mosey around the drop off loop then up to the pavement ocean for:

    COP

    • 10x Helicopters
    • 10x DQs
    • 10x Copperhead Squats
    • 20x SSHs
    • 20x MCs
    • 20x LBCs

    Short mosey, most slowsey’d, to one end of the pavement for Dora. Partner up for merkins (100), jump squats (200), LBCs (300 – courtesy Señor Frog).

    Second short mosey over to the jerkin gym. New partner then 5 rounds of jerkins (10, 8, 6, 4, 2). Careful your shoulders don’t hit the ground…

    Quick saunter up the concrete path to the very green and filling in rec field. New partner. One partner runs and does 5 pull ups while the other does step ups. Three rounds.

    Shuffle over to the swingsets. We had six people and six swings, so seemed appropriate. 10x derkins with feet in the swings. 75% sprint across the field and back. 10x derkins in the swings, 90% sprint across the field and back. 10x derkins in the swings, 100% sprint across the field.

    Scurry back to the parking lot for one more round of sprints, competition style. Run, touch the white donation box, then back to the sidewalk. First to touch the sidewalk with their hand wins (kind of like rugby tries, where they have to touch the ball to the ground after the try. For some reason I’ll never know). YHC won because Faceplant didn’t follow directions.

    Since Señor ad-hoc’d up and down the hill by the fence, YHC decided to have more fence fun. Run to the hill, bernie up the hill, 10 derkins, run back across, 10 WWIIs. After much deliberation, Last Call announced round 2 exercises. Dirty hookups and DQs. Faceplant was ready for round three and proclaimed the final exercises which for some reason YHC cannot remember. Probably because I was laughing at Oyster being dissed.

    ROF 10x dealer’s choice followed by 20x APDs with the final count extra long.

    Numbers, names, YHC took us out.

    Moleskin

    Thanks for letting me lead today. With a takeover Q no-show, YHC wasn’t about to let Oyster steal the show. See y’all this week.

    Splinter out.

  • Middle-Aged Dudes, Randomly Assorted

    Eight social media stalkers gathered in the adequately paved church parking lot for this week’s iteration of First Watch. After offering appreciation to each for the birthday wishes, we took a left out of the parking lot and commenced our journey. When we passed the back church driveway and kept heading west on River, there was a collective sigh from the PAX.

    The Thang

    Traveling COP today. Right turn on Gaymont with the first stop at the bottom. Circle up for Helicopters, DQs, IWs.

    Mosey up to Kingston for some more COP, then halfway down Kingston for more. Pencil roll by request in the sprinklers to cool off. Work our way to Kingston and Ralston for the first main thang.

    Partner up for Dora. 100 merkins, 200 monkey humpers, 300 american hammers. Pace car ran up Ralston to the well lit American flag.

    Short set of balance exercises where most of the PAX failed.

    Head back up Ralston, stopping near the top for more balance exercises. We will call this warrior 1.5. Once again most of the PAX failed and the man walking nearby likely chuckled.

    Right on University to the bottom. Partner up for 11s. Exercises were booya merkins and PLTs. After careful consideration, YHC decided to make this a traveling set of 11s, stopping at various places on the way back to the church to do our sets. Finish up in the parking lot with our last set then 2 minutes of Mary before Handshake called time.

    Oh yeah, we saw a Prius so of course we had to do 5 burpees.

    Numbers, names, YHC took us out.

    Moleskin

    Wojo announcing his age made YHC reflect on the fact that it’s been over 9 years with this group and 10 birthday celebrations along the way. The majority of them have started with the camaraderie and fellowship of this random assortment of middle aged men. Today was no different. A Jets fan, someone who shuts down the bar, a radio announcer, a salesman, a financier who barely talks, a carolina fan, someone who always does what his partner says (never more true than today), and a hobbyist woodworker; all convening for no other reason than to make himself a better man. Happy to have the opportunity to lead today and for many years into the future.

    As TYA has once said. I bet you’ll quit before I quit.

    Splinter out.