Author: Upchuck

  • AI Says That’s Us

    16 men who sort of look like us launched early on the turniest route in the entire history of F3RVA, even that parts that YHC knows nothing about. Temperatures were, of course, sunny and 70. According to the lady getting in her car (and wondering who the 13 guys were), the following might have happened.

    Pump south.

    Right on Carisbrook

    Right on Oakway, which becomes Green Mount

    Left on Bank

    Left on Tunbridge

    Left on Whitaker Woods

    Left on Locust Hill

    Left on Weather Vane

    Left on Tunbridge

    Left on Brewington

    Left on Plainview

    Right on Weather Vane

    Right on Green Mount, which becomes Oakway

    Left on Carisbrook

    Right on Pump

    Right on Falconbridge

    Left on South Dover Pointe. Run the Dover Point Loop.

    Right on Falconbridge

    Left on Pump.
    Run past the school to the back parking lot and back around the school to the

    Numbers, names, and I forget who took us out (Hutton?). Thank you.

    Announcements:

    Summer Tour continues…in fact, at Currahee today.

    Labor Day Monday, 7:00 a.m., Dogpile, Convergence. Lots of freebies and giveaways. Rides, attractions, etc. The slip and slide would be a nice touch…just sayin’.

    Westhoe men…town hall at Gomer’s on Tuesday. Topics are all very secret. Apparently. See Slack (the current Slack, not the new fancy Slack) for details.

  • Bikers Yield to Runners (So Says the Trail Sign)

    8 9 of F3’s veterans formed up at the oldest continually operating F3 Sunday workout in Virginia. Temperatures were sunny and 70 and generally incredible. According to the Marathon Training Team talented runners jerkish mountain bikers on the loop today, the following might have happened:

    5 6 guys ran North South Bank (watch the hole in the bridge) to T. Pottersfield Belle Isle Bridge either T. Pottersfield Bridge or Belle Isle Bridge to Buttermilk North Bank (skip oh, yeah, we did the lariat). About 6.5 7.4 miles, or so says YHC’s Apple Watch (feels not quite that long).

    2 guys rode from Elwood Thompson’s. Rumor has it…45+ to Ashland 50 miles and back. Yeah, baby. Impact. 

    1 guy ran 10 OYO on roads.

    If you show up for coffeeteria, YHC counts you in the workout, unless the workout was go-carting last night.

    Numbers, names, and YHC took us out.

    NMS: exceptional morning to chat and run with Shakedown Offshore and Helix. Solid way to spend the morning assessing our fitness, our faith (in many things…each other, society, a higher being), and fellowship (never a lonely or dull moment building friendships).

    So, yes, F3 does have regularly scheduled Sunday workouts…always has. If that’s new, time to educate yourself (and YHC would encourage you not to take someone else’s word for it…come out and meet some men whose friendship will be new to you…Sundays, 07:00, Pump House parking lot).

    Announcements (literally the same as last week):

    Reminder: Being a HIM is about doing things for others, not yourself. Third F is not about church or religion – it’s about doing something bigger than yourself (if this sounds unfamiliar to you, make sure to read “Freed to Lead”). Help in the community. Volunteer. Put your time and effort into making other people better. Can you do that reading a book? Sure, though it’s most likely that helps you.

    F3RVA has multiple opportunities that are 3rd F focused – doing things that are bigger than yourself. Breaking Bread brings meals to people who are struggling. Healing Place leads men and women struggling with addiction down a path to better health through exercise (sound familiar?). The Bridge helps men fighting the habit of committing low level crimes by giving them structure, role models, a profession, and hope.

    Each of us has limited time to give. With all the challenges of being a man in your 30’s, 40’s, 50’s, etc., what can you offer to others that is designed to put that person in a better place?

  • Shakedown EH’s the Guard

    Nine, yeah nine, guys from 3 regions rendezvoused with their collective destiny at today’s version of The Bridge. Temperatures remained 70 and sunny. According to Marshmellow, the dog, the following demonstration of excellence might have happened:

    Introductions…men meeting men. Nothing finer than introducing yourself to another man of purpose.

    Quick mosey around the blacktop, road, and back to the blacktop.

    COP:

    25 SSHs
    Dead Man Hang
    Fudd’s Wife (the names were change to comply with local custom)
    Right leg high
    Left leg high
    Pigeon left / right
    WWIIs
    Flutter kicks (YHC can affirm that he witnessed Vinny doing at least one actual flutter kick, rather than the traditional Freddy Mercury)
    Freddy Mercuries
    Squats

    Mosey to the other end of the black top for Touch a Tree
    10, 8, 6, 4, and 2
    Rounds included WWIIs + merkins, gas pumps + dry docks, yadda, yadda, and burpees + burpees

    Mosey to the asphalt pile. The Bridge installed an asphalt parking area last year. There is a left over pile of asphalt (aka, a playground for us). Triple check was called. Dealer’s Choice decline or incline merkins on the picnic table bench, WWIIs, and bear crawl the asphalt pile.

    Mosey to something that is distinctly not a corner for 4 corners.
    10 merkins. Then, 10 merkins plus 20 WWIIs. Then 10+20+30 squats. Then 10+20+30+40 SSHs. OR, dealer’s choice…just do 40 burpees. No takers finished the burpees, though Links made a push.

    Numbers, names, and Twenty-Eight took us out.

    Annoucements:

    Great to see Vinny, meet Sysco, and meet the four new interns at The Bridge. Way to push!

    Prayer requests for Sysco’s family, people working to heal themselves, and so forth. Apologies if YHC missed anyone.

    NMS: Shakedown chatted with the guard today. He’s our kind of guy. After discussing F3 and the basics of who we are, he said,”That’s this. This type of good work. The book says that “Faith without good works is dead.” Bam. A guy who spends his time allowing the rest of us to workout has done his own workout. We should have named him.

    Welcome to Cheesesteak and 28 (or Twenty Eight). Cheesesteak is an Eagles fan, so while we like him and welcome him, he’s clearly on the road to becoming a better man (but will be limited by his support of the Eagles). By contrast, 28 is a lifelong ‘Skins fan, Darryl Green fan, and generally a top level human working to be better day by day. Welcome, gentlemen!

  • If You Were Sleeping This Morning, You Were Doing It Wrong

    8 of F3’s veterans formed up at the oldest continually operating F3 Sunday workout in Virginia. Temperatures were sunny and 70 and generally incredible. According to the Marathon Training Team talented runners on the loop today, the following might have happened:

    5 guys ran North South Bank (watch the hole in the bridge) to T. Pottersfield Belle Isle Bridge to Buttermilk North Bank (skip oh, yeah, we did the lariat). About 6.5 miles.

    2 guys rode from Elwood Thompson’s. Rumor has it…45+ to Ashland and back miles. Yeah, baby. Impact. 

    1 guy ran 10 OYO.

    If you show up for coffeeteria, YHC counts you in the workout.

    Numbers, names, and YHC took us out.

    NMS: exceptional morning to chat and run with Shakedown and Helix. Solid way to spend the morning assessing our fitness, our faith (in many things…each other, society, a higher being), and fellowship (never a lonely or dull moment building friendships).

    So, yes, F3 does have regularly scheduled Sunday workouts…always has. If that’s new, time to educate yourself (and YHC would encourage you not to take someone else’s word for it…come out and meet some men whose friendship will be new to you…Sundays, 07:00, Pump House parking lot).

    Announcements (literally the same as last week):

    The Bridge, August 16. Spend your Saturday morning helping men who are trying to improve themselves better. And, maybe you too will find improvements you can make. Clown cars forming now. No better way to experience all 3 F’s in one morning.

    Home grown half marathon, quarter marathon, ruck-tastic mile or two, or just a few blocks. Get out there and get some exercise. See Don Draper for details. 2.0, Ms, and friends all welcome.

    Reminder: Being a HIM is about doing things for others, not yourself. Third F is not about church or religion – it’s about doing something bigger than yourself (if this sounds unfamiliar to you, make sure to read “Freed to Lead”). Help in the community. Volunteer. Put your time and effort into making other people better. Can you do that reading a book? Sure, though it’s most likely that helps you.

    F3RVA has multiple opportunities that are 3rd F focused – doing things that are bigger than yourself. Breaking Bread brings meals to people who are struggling. Healing Place leads men and women struggling with addiction down a path to better health through exercise (sound familiar?). The Bridge helps men fighting the habit of committing low level crimes by giving them structure, role models, a profession, and hope.

    Each of us has limited time to give. With all the challenges of being a man in your 30’s, 40’s, 50’s, etc., what can you offer to others that is designed to put that person in a better place?

  • Charlie on the MTA

    YHC had a chance to Q this morning in SoFl. Solid group of dudes. They write BBs slightly differently, name FNGs on Day 2, and carry coupons when everywhere. And, these guys push themselves in some brutally humid conditions. Enjoy the BB.

    Backblast: UpChuck
    Date: 2025-08-07
    Time: 05:30
    Where: #ao-the-possum
    Q: UpChuck (Tim)
    PAX: Apehangers , 5K , Starbucks , Pre-blast (DR), 007 (DR), Sandbag, UpChuck (Tim)
    Coupons: Technically, yes, but, meh.

    Six, ahem, seven, men of action threw off the lure of the Fart Sack in the latest edition of The Angry Possum. Conditions remained 70 and sunny. According to the burping frogs and local legend, the following quite possibly happened.

    Note: YHC is including the names of some F3 Hall of Famers who taught YHC these evolutions. Where YHC miscredits the person, YHC apologizes.

    Slow-sey around the parking lot. Circle up for the COP. 100 SSHs (thank you to Starbucks for the welcoming smiles while counting with YHC). Dead Man Hang, right leg high, left leg high, pigeon R, pigeon L, cherry pickers, hill billies, copperhead squats, flutter kicks, and some guys did some weird bent knee thing that looked like a flopping fish.

    Touch-a-Tree (@hardywood): Partner up. Rounds of 10, 8, 6, 4, and 2. You run and touch the appropriate number of trees. Your partner does an exercise until you come back, or, if your partner is Sandbag (our FNG), time expires. Exercises were reverse crunches (10, 8), hello Dolly (6, 4), and burpees (2). Sandbag is still out there doing the round of 6, we think. (YHC is considering re-naming him “Charlie on the MTA,” after the song by The Kingston Trio. Look it up.)

    Parking Space Trio (@chum bucket): 3 merkins, 3 WWIIs, and 3 squats. Optional Pencil Roll (@handshake) between spaces. Any man can call “Leroy Jenkins” (@splinter) at any time during the exercise, and the PAX runs to Winn Dixie. The PAX adopted this enthusiastically. Kudos to @pre-blast for knowing the back story.

    Wrap up the Parking Lot Trios, mosey back to the shovel flag, and one round of 20 curls for the girls. Numbers, names, and Starbucks took us out.

    Announcements:
    Starbucks has the Q this weekend. See Slack for details.
    There may be a ride this evening. Pull for strong evaporation between now and 6 p.m.
    Welcome, Sandbag! He’s an FNG who has joined the United States Navy! Boot camp starts in a couple of weeks. Thank you for your service, and all the best!

    Upchuck spits the bit.

  • Yes, We Have Sunday F3 Workouts

    8 of F3’s veterans for the oldest continually operating F3 Sunday workout in Virginia. Temperatures were sunny and 70 (sorry, Offshore). According to the Marathon Training Team runners, the following might have happened:

    5 guys ran North Bank (watch the hole in the bridge) to T. Pottersfield Bridge to Buttermilk (skip the lariat). About 6.5 miles.

    2 guys rode from Elwood Thompson’s. Rumor has it…45+ miles. Yeah, baby. Impact. 

    1 guy ran 10 OYO.

    If you show up for coffeeteria, YHC counts you in the workout.

    Numbers, names, and YHC took us out.

    NMS: exceptional morning to chat and run with Offshore and Shakedown (Sippy Cup and Chippendale are “slightly” faster…). Solid way to spend the morning assessing our fitness, our faith (in many things…each other, society, a higher being), and fellowship (never a lonely or dull moment building friendships).

    So, yes, F3 does have regularly scheduled Sunday workouts…always has. If that’s new, time to educate yourself (and YHC would encourage you not to take someone else’s word for it…come out and meet some men whose friendship will be new to you…Sundays, 07:00, Pump House parking lot).

    Announcements:

    The Bridge, August 16. Spend your Saturday morning helping men who are trying to improve themselves better. And, maybe you too will find improvements you can make. Clown cars forming now. No better way to experience all 3 F’s in one morning.

    Home grown half marathon, quarter marathon, ruck-tastic mile or two, or just a few blocks. Get out there and get some exercise. See Don Draper for details. 2.0, Ms, and friends all welcome. Remember to be welcoming…

    Reminder: Being a HIM is about doing things for others, not yourself. Third F is not about church or religion – it’s about doing something bigger than yourself (if this sounds unfamiliar to you, make sure to read “Freed to Lead”). Help in the community. Volunteer. Put your time and effort into making other people better. Can you do that reading a book? Sure, though it’s most likely that helps you.

    F3RVA has multiple opportunities that are 3rd F focused – doing things that are bigger than yourself. Breaking Bread brings meals to people who are struggling. Healing Place leads men and women struggling with addiction down a path to better health through exercise (sound familiar?). The Bridge helps men fighting the habit of committing low level crimes by giving them structure, role models, a profession, and hope.

    Each of us has limited time to give. With all the challenges of being a man in your 30’s, 40’s, 50’s, etc., what can you offer to others that is designed to put that person in a better place?

  • Three at the Clinic

    Three, yeah, 3, hit the mean streets in and around 1230 South Pine Island Road in the latest edition of The Clinic. Conditions were 70 and sunny. According to the Miami Dolphins players headed to training camp, the following might have happened.

    Apehangers (F3 SoFL Nantan) and Fletch rucked 2 miles, covering multiple loops around the lake.

    YHC ran 4.1 after the group started a tad late due to the new guys at the AO.

    Numbers, names, and YHC took us out.

    NMS: great to have additional guys out at The Clinic, now officially an OTB site for F3 SoFl. These guys started in December, and they are up to about 7 AOs already across Broward County. Good group of dudes.

    Announcements: This will continue as an OTB AO for the time being, but YHC suspects we’ll have a regular AO as we pull in more local guys. Second, no takers among the Dolphins players headed to Training Camp, but clearly a couple dudes wondering who we were to be ready to run even as they boarded SUVs for their work.

     

  • Backyard Barbeque

    Fresh off the Annual Iron Chef competition (Saturday), nine food prospectors assembled in this evening’s edition of Breaking Bread. Temperatures were 70 and sunny. According to the people STILL lined up in the drive-through of the now defunct Wendy’s, the following might have been served:

    Fried chicken
    Homemade mashed potatoes
    Cole slaw
    Lemon Bars
    Cookies
    Iced tea, lemonade…but, no one made an Arnold Palmer

    There was also a delicious looking set of leftovers from Saturday.

    Numbers, names, and everyone had a wonderful evening.

  • The List is on My Desk

    A healthy six pack of dedicated runners sauntered forth in the sweltering humidity to take on the latest revelations made available during Sunday Funday. Conditions remained sunny and 70. According to the Jeffrey Epstein files not yet released, the following might have happened:

    North Bank, Belle Isle, some did the Belle Isle loop, all did Buttermilk. Anthrax did all of most of this, albeit backwards and likely at least twice.

    Gecko also did some pre-game and post-game running OHO.

    Numbers-ish, names-ish, and we done.

    NMS: Condolences continue to roll in for Sally, Offshore’s dog, on her untimely and unexpected passing…for those not in the know, Sally was a regular at Sunday Funday.

    UPC spits the bit.

  • Add Your Name if I Missed You

    6 men sauntered forth in the latest edition of The Dogpile. Temperatures were 70 and sunny. According to the ducks on the pond, the following might have happened.

    Nancy Lopez led the COP, including Jazzercise. ‘Nough said.

    Mosey to Burpee Lake. 10 Merkins, 20 something, and 30 something at every light post. It’s not my Q, so who knows. Also, Pax counted variously 24, 27, 29, and 30 light posts. For a group that has trouble running in a single file line (“Native American run”) for more than 100 yards, this is about right.

    Mosey back to Park Ave. More torture along the lightposts.

    BTTVSF.

    Numbers, names, and Nancy Lopez predicted OSU will win the next 7 BCS titles.