One man resolved to hit the streets for one more time in 2025. Temperatures were 70 and sunny (ok, 65, but super nice). According to the people illegally walking their dogs on the Hollywood, Florida, boardwalk, the following might have happened:
North for 2 miles. South for 2.5 miles. Back to the virtual shovel flag for 5 total.
Number, name, and YHC took himself out.
NMS: news flash…Hollywood, Florida, is a nice place just after Christmas.
Announcements:
One intrepid young man rose before the dawn to finish off 52 with 2.5. Temperatures were 70 and sunny. According to the ducks swimming on Lake Florida, the following might have happened:
38 pound ruck and a 25 pound excess tummy moseyed around for 2.5 miles.
Number, name, and YHC took himself out.
Announcements:
3rd F opportunities:
Ten men of strength, fortitude, and stamina stood tall, dug deep, and embraced the dawn in the latest edition of The Dogpile. Temperatures were 70 and sunny. According to the ancient legend told at along the Vita Trail, the following might have happened:
06:00 Launch. Chaos ensues.
IYKYK.
07:00 Finish. Chaos ends.
Numbers, names, and YHC took us out with a reminder that sometimes life throws you a curveball, challenges your expectations, and helps you grow through discomfort.
Welcome to the college admissions process in 2025.
Announcements:
The Bridge, Kubota leading, December 27, 2025. This is your opportunity to do 1st, 2nd, and 3rd F’s all in 4 hours. Help another man through life, and grow yourself along the way.
Breaking Bread, December 27/28. Thank you to the men who have signed up (Fudd and Flatline). Hope the residents like VMI dining hall food.
One man strove forth, under weight, to set a positive course for the day. Temperatures were 70 and sunny. According to the person reporting to work on time, the following might have happened:
2.5 miles under 38 pound ruck. 4 loops. 2 cups of coffee.
YHC stayed out past his normal bedtime at a Florida Panthers game…no better way to shake off the morning rust.
Number, name, and YHC took himself out.
Eleven F3RVA regulars and one Rock Hillian, recently acquired in a trade for Doozy, launched at 5 for the pre-Thanksgiving version of First Watch. Conditions remained steady at 70 and sunny. According to Leroy Jenkins, the following might have happened:
Short mosey around the parking lot taking a series of left turns, then across the street to the front of the church for…
…58 or so SSHs,
Dead Man Hang,
Fudd’s wife (hey, Roger),
Right leg high, left leg high,
Pigeon right, pigeon left,
Fudd’s wife, Wilson’s wife,
Hand release merkins (feel the wetness!),
Flip over to WWIIs
Flutter kicks
Freddie Mercuries
Mosey to the Satellite Parking Lot for…Touch-a-Tree, or Pole, or Post…
10 – flutter kicks,
8 – same,
6 – squats
4 – squats
2 – burpees
Round 2: 10, 8, 6, 4, 2…squats, Carolina dry docks, and burpees.
Mosey to the triangle for Triple 20’s. Groups of three. One man run the triangle. Men 2 and 3 do 20 merkins, 20 four-count flutter kicks, and 20 four-count SSHs. 3 rounds, or due to time and Leroy, 1 full round.
Mosey back to the parking lot, touch 10 cars, and a couple of rounds of Mary.
Numbers, names, and YHC took us out with a message of thanks for what actually makes America great – our unique set of individual rights to free speech, a free press, the absence of state-sponsored religion, free assembly, and the ability to petition our government when we see fit.
NMS:
Leroy Jenkins returned to First Watch and made the appropriate impact adding just a little bit more to an already run-heavy beat down. YHC thanks Handshake for being ready to step in. YHC’s back has been acting up, and it’s always good to know someone is ready to help if need be.
Announcements:
Thanksgiving Convergence. 7:00 a.m. Mary “Mumford,” or Mary Munford, Elementary School, whichever you prefer. Handshake will lead us in being thankful for friends, family, manscaping, and mumble chatter. Those who park in the parking lot will be appreciated by the neighbors sleeping in.
Breaking Bread continues…9 years of F3RVA supporting The Daily Planet’s medical respite…sign up on the Q-sheet.
The Bridge continues 4 years, or so. Kubota leading the charge on December 27. We are looking for a Q to step up for January or February. Anyone who has been once previously is qualified. Who will lead us?
One launched for a few weighted loops around the lake. Temperatures were 70 and sunny. According to the residents wondering who the guy in black shoes, black shorts, a black shirt, and a giganormous black flak jacket was, the following might have happened.
Loop Lake Florida 3 times. Rough distance 2 miles. 40 pound ruck. 2 cups of coffee.
Number, name, and YHC took himself out.
NMS: YHC has been traveling a ton. And, with traveling / working comes…a smidge more “drink” than is probably either healthy or desirable. No running after a night out…so, thus begins the upside / downside of having a ruck. It makes exercising easier, but it makes drinking easier. Gonna have to figure this one out.
All that said, rucking has one huge advantage…can carry coffee with me while working out.
Announcements:
The Bridge is December 27. Kubota with the Q.
Need a Q for January.
None of us really knows how many guys showed up to do the “come as you are when you are ready” event that is Sunday Funday. According to local legend passed among the campers in the park, 2 started at 6:15, 4 started at 7, one or two started at 9, and someone went biking. For all involved, temperatures remained constant at 70 and sunny.
The 7 a.m. launch included a near millionaire, and near billionaire, a guy with a fever, a guy with 50 direct reports, and 150 bikers. Route: Bridge, dog poop, Buttermilk, Belle Isle (top loop), North Bank (note the Oxford comma), and BTT (watch out for the super fast mountain bikers!!) VSF.
7-ish miles.
NMS: Tons discussed…Kristi Noem’s sweet heart, no-bid $150MM contract to friends, worshiping dead racists, waterfront preservation work, stains magically appearing on a very specific part of your shorts, Jamaicans being detained by ICE at 2:30 a.m. in the hospital (ok, that one involved an old lady tripping on morphine). But, never a dull moment.
Race results: Confusion reigned on the podium. UpChuck DQ’d for taking the hiker route, but managed to slide past Shakes / Offshore on the home stretch courtesy of a well-timed rendezvous with a friend of Shakes’ (note the apostrophe) on the trails. Somehow, slowest guy crossed the finish line first. Definitely not pretty…we’ll call it a draw.
Announcements:
Kubota has the Q at First Watch, the AO with the best mumblechatter in all of F3-dom on Wednesday. That kicks off Seazn of Giving. Then, K-man has the Q for The Bridge on December 27. Clown cars forming now.
Couple of races coming up…Snowy Owl in early January, and Bel Monte in March. LG!
One nocturnal man and uncounted rabbits launched at the stroke of 04:00 in the latest edition of The Clinic. Conditions were 70 and sunny with dense fog and intense blackness. According to the rabbits silflaying, the following may quite possibly have happened.
Mosey to the edge of the golf course for the COP.
SSHs x30 (4 count, unless otherwise noted)
Imperial Walkers x20
LBCs x20
Flutter kicks x20
Mosey about 200 yards, pass the Dana Point Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and perform 20 HRMs.
Continue moseying another 200 yards, stopping for a variety of squats, LBCs, WWIIs, merkins, and so forth, generally following the fall-line of the trails towards the beach. Ignore the darkness. Embrace the isolation.
At the top of the bluff, continue right / downward to the beach path, then down the steps to the sand, forward 50 yards to the water line. Turn 80 degrees right / north, until intersection of water / sand, then proceed 6-10 feet west of intersection of sand / water (i.e., run in the water).
Note: Water temp 66 degrees.
Proceed to intersection of rocks / water / cliff. Find appropriate sized rock. 20 merkins. Find different appropriately sized rock. 20 boat / canoe. Do so without ingesting water / sand.
Proceed south on beach, repeating 6-10 feet from water’s edge, always on the water side. Approximately 1 mile run. Glorious.
Repeat rock exercises at south end of beach.
Proceed north / east to beach road and follow road uphill. Grade as much as 14%. Unforgiving. Lower speed, force continued run. Do not walk.
At top of hill, repeat exercises.
Continue east / northeast through city park and back to golf course, repeating exercises 3-4 additional times. 3 MOM at edge of golf course.
Number, name, and YHC took himself out.
NMS: YHC finds this workout to be the pinnacle of experiences, approximately 2x per year. Few things like exercising along the beach anywhere in the world. With the time change and the jet lag, YHC did this a bit earlier than normal. Good for the soul.
Announcements: EF Hutton leading The Bridge this weekend. No finer person to help our fellow men. Sign up, join up, and experience all 3 Fs in one morning.
One man launched from the previously mentioned rucking ground. Temperatures were, again, a seasonal 70 and sunny. According to the young man enjoying some sweet weed at 5:15 a.m. (not me) on the hotel’s back patio, the following might have happened.
60 minutes under 38 pounds.
Number, name, and YHC took himself out.
NMS: always fun to see people’s faces when they mistake a weighted vest for a police vest. This young man took about 3 seconds of “about to poop his pants” before YHC said,”Good morning” and continued walking past. YHC thinks weed might not even be illegal in Florida anymore…who knows?
One man stepped onto the rucking ground. Temperatures were 70 and sunny. According to the game warden patrolling with her hound, the following might have happened.
55 minutes under 38 pounds. Cup of coffee in hand, podcast on tap.
Number, name, and YHC took himself out.