Author: Upchuck

  • We’re Going to Orlando

    8 male, 2-footed runners joined one somewhat standoffish 4-footed female for a saunter around the trails. According to Gopi, who is prepping for the Richmond Marathon, here is more or less what happened:

    Route:

    Buttermilk, T. Pottersfield Bridge, North Bank, except that some runners did the Long Way around Belle Isle and some runners did out and back 20 minutes each way.

    Numbers, Names, YHC took us out.

    Announcements:

    TYA has a race set up at 07:00 on the day after Thanksgiving. 4 mile loop every hour. Start a new loop every hour until you cannot or do not want to continue. Anthrax and Swiper are ready to challenge for the title of Incredibly Fit Man with the Least to Do on the Day after Thanksgiving.

    Offshore is looking for chaperones for a last minute trip to an engineering conference in Florida this week. Reach out to him if you speak technical Spanish.

    NMS: Cooler temps and somehow a slog around the trails. YHC thanks Gopi (dude YHC met running today) for the solid push. Good luck on the Marathon.

    ETs was excellent as always.

  • Loops and Lariats

    Hard to say, but something like 6 showed up for this week’s version of Sunday Funday. Temps remained at exactly 70 with sunny skies. According to Anthrax’s dog, PETA, the following all happened approximately 2 minutes before Anthrax showed up.

    06:57 : Saab launches.

    07:00 : Shakedown, Sippy Cup, Lab Rat, and UpChuck launch. Route was Buttermilk (+Lariat), Forest Hill, then fire road with Shakedown and Lab Rat returning via North Bank.

    07:03 : Anthrax and PETA launch. They ran what they ran.

    Sippy and YHC circled, numbered, named, and COT’d thinking others were going much further. YHC apologizes for under-estimating the speed of the remaining PAX (or over-estimating our own speed).

    NMS: Great to catch up with Sippy Cup for today’s run. YHC always learns something with Sippy; today was no exception. Thank you.

  • 12 oz Curls

    A cool six-pack showed up in a strange place for a strange brew of options. Temperatures were 70 and sunny outside, and between 38-55 degrees in the froth. According to the brewmaster, the following likely happened:

    Circle up. Mosey inside for a double-check. The PAX discussed 17 year cicadas and whether they were the name of the beer or present in the beer or both. YHC did 2-3 SSHs (for real) to both begin the COP and conclude the workout. Don’t say YHC didn’t exercise.

    Lockjaw, Dial-up, and YHC proceeded outside to initiate the longest COT of the year. Soon, the trifecta was joined by Corned Beef, Chum Bucket (who had the Q), and Nightcrawler. Six pack formed.

    Numbers of beers, names of PAX, the Circle was formed at a single table of Trust.

    Announcements:

    Cider is good. Cicadas are meh.

    NMS: Being the only evening AO, Punisher presents some options not available at other AOs. In particular, the PAX is able to enjoy an adult beverage at a time that does not result in being accused of “having a problem” or “being an enabler.” 1st F becomes 2nd F.

    Good to catch up with Nightcrawler, who YHC had not seen in a minute, and the rest of the PAX.

  • Commitment Issues

    Seven stallions plus Petey showed up, chose a route, and ran it. Temps were a delightful 70 and sunny. According to the spiders whose webs were torn apart, the following more or less happened:

    Route:

    For several of us, North Bank to T Pottersfield to Buttermilk. TYA did whatever he did. Swiper apparently ran all over, including roads and trails. Nicely done, fellas.

    Announcements:

    There is exactly one guy in F3RVA who has not signed up to help at the blood drive on October 20. If you are that guy, don’t be. Send Pigskin a message on Slack and get yourself signed up to help for an hour or two. Easy volunteering opportunity and almost every company in the world supports helping out.

    Faceplant wants you to drink with him, run with him, and puke with him as he remembers his college pal who died far too young. One gets the sense that Sean Hogan might have liked to run, drink, and puke with Faceplant back in the day. October 16 show up, and ask Faceplant about it. Handshake knows the stories, too.

    NMS:

    YHC has been having commitment issues lately. Last Wednesday, YHC wanted to run, asked others to run, and then had to bail due to a carpooling commitment. Poor form.

    Sunday, YHC was ready to run only 5, and notified the PAX that YHC would turn around. NOPE! Decided to do the full 6.7 after arriving at the turn-around. Man, two times in one week.

    YHC redeemed himself. Told Anthrax YHC would be at ET’s, and then made it to ETs. Life has small victories.

  • A Catholic Can’t Lead a Revival?

    Eleven of F3RVA’s finest (ahem, F3RVA’s 11 Finest) gathered under the tents at RRBC for an ole time revival at today’s edition of First Watch. Temps remained 70 and sunny. According to the makers of Yala Luxury Canvas Lodges, here’s what the Tent Master had in store for the PAX today:

    Mosey to the front of the church, the long way.

    Dead Man Hang (no cadence!)
    Calf stretches
    Side-straddle hops
    Hillbillies
    Russian Soldiers
    Imperial Walkers
    Arm Circles (big only; kudos to Chum for showing YHC the light!)
    Hand-Release Merkins
    Inverted Scorpion Kicks
    Reverse Crunches

    Mosey to the super-small parking area for Four Corners:

    Round 1: 10 hand-release merkins, 20 squats, 30 four-count flutter kicks, 40 four-count side-straddle hops. Bear crawl between stations.

    Round 2: 10 burpees, 20 monkey humpers, 30 box cutters, 40 four-count side-straddle hops. Crab walk the long legs and crawl bear the short legs between stations.

    Round 3: 10 standard merkins, 20 copperhead squats, 30 four-count snow angels, 40 four-count side-straddle hops. Lunge the long legs and power walk the short legs between stations. Optional fanny packs and sweatshirts around the waist.

    Mosey towards the church, stopping at the handicap parking signs to perform an omage of 10 WWIIs, in cadence. Continue to the Alternate Parking Lot for a Meat and 3 Sides or a Side and Three Meats or whatever:

    Round 1: 10 block curls, 15 dips, 20 dealer’s choice, and run the loop.

    Round 2: 15 block curls, 20 dips, 25 dealer’s choice, and run the loop.

    Round 3: 20 block curls, 25 dips, 30 dealer’s choice, and run the loop with the block.

    Put the blocks back, and BTTVSF.

    Numbers, Names, and Wojo took us out.

    Announcements:

    Blood Drive, October 20. Sign up to volunteer and support a brother who is organizing this. Send a quick note to Pigskin (on Slack). Lots of different opportunities for a couple of hours and / or just donate some good juice. Yeah, you get a cookie at the end, too. Sign up.

    Faceplant is sort of hosting a non-F3 sanctioned event on October 16 that the PAX thinks they are invited to, but it’s not clear. Celebrate Faceplant’s friend Sean Hogan by running the Beer Mile. This is to remember the same guy you curse 1-2 times a year when Faceplant Q’s that nutty thing with hill repeats and burpees and more burpees and more hill repeats. Apparently, after all the smiles and Mr. Nice Guyness, Faceplant is really about making the PAX hurl.

    Q School coming this fall. Look for it at an AO in your area. More to follow.

    NMS:

    Not a ton of mumble chatter today and less over-sharing. Perhaps the PAX was still sleepy or quiet or YHC really has lost his hearing a bit. Great to have Ronnie become a First Watch regular (?) and fantastic to have Whole Food’s finest, Wojo, back in the fold, even while traveling regularly. Flying all over is a grind, so nice to see him back at it. Thanks to Splinter for posting, even with YHC having the Q.

  • What Color are They?

    20 hombres formed a running posse this morning to patrol the mean streets of Westham and south Westham. Conditions remained steady at 70 and sunny. According to the security cameras in the River Road Shopping Center, the following may have occurred:

    Routes:

    Bat Cave to River, through the RR Shopping Center to South Ridge with the slight right onto South Westham to River Road.

    4’s reverse at River and re-trace their route BTTF.

    5’s continue on Westham to Lakewood (the Lakewood on the right), then reverse to South Westham, South Ridge, etc. and BTTF.

    6’s continue on Westham to Baldwin (on the left), then reverse to South Westham, South Ridge, etc. and BTTF.

    Numbers, names, YHC took us out.

    Annoucements:

    Pigskin is running a Blood Drive on October 20 in Chesterfield. Full details are on Slack. Please sign up for 1-2 hours of volunteering to help out. It’s easy, and it might save a life, perhaps your’s.

    Faceplant kind of invited you, but sort of not really, to have a beer and run with him on October 16, then repeat 3x more to make an even mile and a certain upset stomach. He calls this a “Beer Mile” and says it’s about celebrating friends. Details on TikTok. What can YHC say? The younger generation just does their thing.

    Q School coming to your AO soon.

    Prayers for Tryhard, his family, and Chisel.

    Splinter and Hutton had an interesting discussion about black and dark blue baseball players. Yeah, you read that right. And, that’s all YHC has to say about that.

    Hats off to Fire Elf for pushing himself today and to Whitesnake for pushing hard. Nice work, fellas. Keep it up.

    And, yes, Bone Thugs was there.

    UpChuck spits the bit.

  • Sunday Runday

    A gaggle of men, some topless and some clothed, hit the dirt slopes on Sunday. Temps continued to be flat at 70 and sunny. According to the really fast dude who went flying past YHC, the following likely happened:

    Route: South Bank (Buttermilk), optional lariat, T. Pottersfield Bridge, (meet Fire Elf), return to base via North Bank.

    NMS: YHC left at the end of the run. No idea what happened. Hopefully, Sippy Cup made it home on time.

    Announcements:

    F3RVA Retreat is Saturday. Bring your meat, your ball glove, your social skills, and your desire to defeat the Stache Brothers. See address on Slack.

    Pigskin has organized a Freed to Bleed blood drive Wednesday, October 20, 2021 at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Midlothian (Tuckahoe and Mechanicsvillians: that’s south of the river.) Volunteers are needed, so take a look at your calendar and pick out a 2 hour slot on the calendar to help staff the event!

    Gypsy is collecting shoes that are in reasonably good shape. Drop him a line for details.

  • A Whiter, Heavier Flatline

    One PAX pulled on the red board shorts to hit the sand early and oil the post BRR joints. Conditions were 70 and sunny, sandy and slightly breezy. Terrain: flat (except a right/left tilt down to the water). Think Baywatch meets The Gloom. According to the solo walkers on the beach, the creepy dude in black did most of the following:

    Pre-COT: hide non-running shoes and socks in the dunes.

    COT: Roughly 20-30 reps per exercise.

    SSHs
    IWs
    SSHs (v 2.0)
    Hillbillies
    Dead Man Hang
    Calf stretch
    LBCs
    FKs
    WWIIs

    Mosey northbound from the hotel property to the next property. 7 condo buildings meaning 7 stops on the tour de Amelia Island. 30-40 reps per stop. YHC loses count without the benefit of Pigskin’s multi-lingual chatter.

    SSHs
    WWIIs
    Deep, slow squats
    Box cutters
    Hello dolly
    HRMs
    LBCs

    Reverse trip (6 stops):

    WWIIs
    FKs
    LBCs
    Snow angels
    Rosalitas
    Gas pump/reverse crunch

    Run 2+ miles barefoot on the sand.

    Number, Name, and silent motivational message.

    Announcements:

    Vinny’s Field Day this weekend at 7:00 a.m. at Dogpile. Pass the word.
    F3RVA Retreat is September 25 in the afternoon / evening. Sign up for Corn Hole.

    NMS: first workout post-BRR. Nice to be back out there. YHC is fortunate to have some nice spots to work out from time to time. Today was one of those days. YHC forgot his running shoes, and Gypsy has purchased most of the country’s spare inventory; turns out, running barefoot in the sand is awesome.

    Also, YHC is bummed that F3 Flo-Rida (Greensboro) didn’t make the event this year.

  • Hide and Seek

    2 arrived early and 1 warm up and appeared at exactly 05:30, only to have trouble finding the PAX. Temps were 70 and sunny. The PAX were hiding. It was childish. It was kinda fun. YHC apologizes.

    1.5 out. 1.2 back. Short and sweet prior to the BRR.

    Numbers, names, YHC took us out.

  • Prodigal Son

    Fourteen performers joined today’s orchestral act for the latest edition of The Dogpile. Temperatures were (actually) 70 and sunny. According to the rogue film crew preparing for the actual orchestra, the following may be somewhat close to what happened:

    Quick Start: a Gentlemen’s 5 burpees

    Mosey to the Amphitheater’s side entrance and to the orchestra area for the COP:

    SSHs
    Dead Man Hang
    IWs
    Flutter kicks x 17
    Box cutters x14 (yeah, 17-14 Hokies)
    HRMs x10

    Quick mosey to bottom step (for those not already on the bottom step) for an escalating ascension up the Amphitheater: dips, 1-18

    At the top, quick stretch.

    Round and Round: Pick a trash can. There are 20. Do 5 WWIIs at any orange trash can. 5 burpees at any other color trash can (YHC asked for suggestions, then pick his own exercise). Then, run around the loop. Go to the next trash can. Repeato. Continue through all 20 trash cans.

    (Some PAX griped about 20 rounds. Each round is about 50 yards, or half of the Great Lawn. A beast is 6 x 4 = 24 fifty yard stretches. This is shorter. YHC apologizes for cheating the PAX out of 200 yards of running.).

    Stretch, including some for the cameras. Deals for NIL were signed by some PAX.

    Mosey to the side of the Amphitheater for a Dora. Each man does 50 HRMs, and then combines to do 200 American Hammers and 300 SSHs. Bear crawl up the hill to the stone wall. Avoid the van doing…well, nothing, eventually.

    Mosey to the stage for a Triple Check, Touch-a-Tree Style. Touch 1 tree for the first person, 2 for the second person, 3 for the third, 4 for round 2, man 1, etc…up to 9 trees. Dieing cockroaches and hello dolly (YHC thinks).

    Mosey to the bottom of the Amphitheater again…18 V-ups, then 17, then mosey BTTVSF for the COT.

    Numbers, names, YHC took us out with a message about finding a prodigal son and bringing him/her back into your life.

    Announcements and Requests:

    Welcome, Hokie. Come back, hopefully under better conditions. That’s 2 times YHC has spoken favorably of the Hokies today. Some kind of record.

    BRR, Field Day, and Retreat.

    Let’s keep the Hokie, his family, and all of the people of New Orleans in mind. Let’s also keep Bacon Bits and his family in mind. Same goes for the wild fire victims, the flood victims in NY/|NJ, and the people inside Afghanistan as well as those creating new lives and helping the refugees. Lots of need out there.

    Welcome back, Hardywood. Good to have you in the Orchestra today.

    UpChuck spits the bit.