Author: Upchuck

  • My Quarterback Would Sometimes Twinkle His Fingers

    4 ‘Merican Water Dogs jumped in with both feet to the latest edition of The Creek. Water temperatures were 70 and sunny. According to the water moccasins swimming in the Pearson’s Corner Elementary parking lot, the following strokes might have happened:

    Mosey from the shallow end to the deep end of the kiddie pool, pick up Corned Beef, and make a flip turn back to the main pool for the COT.

    SSHs x40 (4 count). This is DaVille, so many references to our friend The Carpenter and his penchant for SSHs.
    Dead Man Hang
    Fudd’s Wife
    Wilson’s Wife
    Fudd’s Wife
    Imperial Walkers x10 (8, Corned Beef’s count was slightly different, but Yard Sale tracked the CB count)
    Hillbillies x10 (“This is DaVille; this is our kind of exercise!”) (12, CB count)
    LBCs x20 (18)
    Flutter kicks x20 (23)
    Rosalita’s x10 (11)
    Inverted Scorpion Kicks x10 (21)

    Mosey to the Parking Lot Driveway for a Beast. Markers were pole, tree, tree. Flip turn at the Stop sign.

    Medley events were ‘merkins, squats, LBCs, monkey humpers, hello dolly, and something else. Free style on the outbound, back stroke (I.e., Bernie Sanders) on the return leg.

    10 count to wiggle the water off like a dog coming out of a pool. Whaapaawhaaapaawhaappaawhaaapaa!!! (Add that to the F3 Exicon!).

    Mosey to the kiddie pool for Four Corners. (No Running on the Deck!)

    Round 1: 5, 10, 15, 20 reps…
    Round 2: 10, 15, 20, 25
    Round 3: 15, 20, 25, 30

    Merkins, WWIIs, Mountain Climbers, SSHs. If it can be a four-count, make it a four count. Do anything you want, but make it a challenge.

    Mosey to the water polo court for free-style suicides. 3 burpees at the end.

    Mosey to the VSF for one round of Water Mary…inverted scorpion paddles.

    Numbers, names, and YHC took us out.

    NMS: The Pax decided to get a head (false start/DQ) start on the Pool Boy water exercises by utilizing the deep end of the Pearson’s Corner (YHC feels “Pearson’s Landing” is more appropriate) Elementary parking facility. Visiting for the first time and in the dark, YHC successfully discovered the deepest part of the lot. Jump right in; the water’s warm.

    Special thanks to Phelps, Thorpe, and Spitz for joining me this morning. What a soaker. And, if you have not heard about Yard Sale’s football career, many a good line comes out of hearing stories about playing center.

    Announcements (Continued dudos to Tryhard for the original list – always cite your sources!):

    • Summer Tour. Oyster / Tryhard posting a ton. Get out there and meet some new men or catch up with old pals. Also, on-going contest to invent the most micro of micro events just to get a ST point. 
    • Dry July. Good to hear at from those making solid progress toward their goals. 
    • Wet July. Sorry, Hutton, Dry July has nothing to do with not sweating. And, YHC has been on vacation. Not conducive to Dry Anything. 
    • 7/11 Thursday (TONIGHT!) 18:30 (or 6:30 “p.m.”). Adults paddle on the James. Huguenot Landing. See Lockjaw for details. Bring your kids, if Lockjaw says that’s ok. Or, bring your neighbor who works out in front of your house. Yeah, she does.
    • Thur AM – 0430 Launch to Clown Car down to Amelia Courthouse (Tryhard Q). Clown Car starting location is a closely guarded secret. Credible sources have uncovered the password… “#SOJ.”  Nope, this happened already. You missed it. The correct answer was “Meet at The Forge.”
    • Fri – RAMM Amateur Bike Ride. 05:30. This is a contest. Bring your most ridiculous ride. YHC’s money is on the “1988 Volvo.” Bring your brelly.
    • 7/13 – Poolboy VQ at The Iron Bridge. Get after it.
    • 7/14 – OTB Swimming Pool Bootcamp. It’s free, it’s open to all men.
    • 7/17 – Woodsman VQ at The Crossing. Get after it.
    • 7/18 Thursday 18:30 (or 6:30 “p.m.”). Adults paddle on the James. Huguenot Landing. See Lockjaw for details.
    • 7/25 Thursday 18:30 (or 6:30 “p.m.”). Adults paddle on the James. Huguenot Landing. See Lockjaw for details.
    • 7/27 – YHC is leading The Bridge. Achieve F3 “Luminary” Status by attending. “Visit the Imprisoned.” Help YHC share the F3 spirit with a group of men transitioning their lives from prison to the free world. Clown Car from RVA around 06:00. Workout in Buckingham 07:30-08:15. Coffeeteria. Home by 10:30. Note: YHC has heard every excuse possible to skip out, so make your’s a good one. Or, try this: “Honey, can you take the kids until 10:30 Saturday? I would appreciate it. I’d like to help some men who could use a role model.” Even you can score with a line like that. 
    • 8/3 – Homegrown Half. This means run either 10k or 13.1 miles. Most confusing F3 event of the year. Is F3 using Metric or Imperial? No one knows who to ask, so YHC has appointed Boberry to take any questions. 
    • 8/6 – Ultimate Crab Frisbee Tournament at the Second AO (Learn some F3 history. Figure it out). Bring your NVGs for the first 15 minutes. 
    • 8/11 – F3 Family Float on the James. Starts somewhere between Lynchburg and Newport News. Starts sometime between BMNT and ends sometime before EENT. Someone will provide details sometime. (If you have ever done the BRR, when TYA wants you to know, he’ll tell you.) 
    • 8/17 – Pickleball Tourney. This is table stakes for winning the Summer Tour. Skip this, and it’s minus 200 points. FWIW, if Splinter and LJ’s kids show up, this thing’s over before it begins.
    • 8/21 – 100th Birthday Celebration at First Watch 05:00. Come celebrate YHC’s father’s 100th birthday. Roaring 20’s, Great Depression, WWII, Cold War, etc. 
    • 8/28 – New AO at Moseley Elementary. Note the spelling has been corrected from previous posts. Google Maps will thank you. 
    • 9/20 and 9/21 – 10 Year Anniversary (multiple events). It’s like F3 invited you to its wedding. Friday night there is a dinner / drinks (you’ll need an outfit; no plus 1), Saturday morning is the main event (you’ll need a different outfit and you can bring a friend, albeit not likely “that kind” of friend, yet, F3 is open to all men), and then there is a reception Saturday afternoon (with, you guessed it, a different outfit; feel free to bring a plus 1, 2, 3, 4, etc.). 

    Breaking Bread….for those new to F3, we have been doing this every month for about 8 or 9 years (for the last 4 years, 2 times per month. Thank you, Rosie, for the suggestion.). We will do this each month going forward. Be a stud – make dinner for a group of 8-12 folks who are in town for medical treatment or recovery and need a hand. Invite your M and/or 2.0s or F3 pals to help. See Oyster for details. LFG!

    UpChuck spits the bit.

  • Just Turn Left. If You Turn Right, You are Lost

    6 men of honor pushed aside the lure of The Fartsack to suck the marrow out Da Ville. Temperatures were 70 and sunny. According to the kid who left his bike directly under the sprinkler at Rutland Clubhouse, the following might have been the route (bro-code):

    South on Combs.

    Left on Bradcroft Terrace. Take that to Bradcroftshire, then left on Bradcroft Landing, and finally left onto Bradcroft Lane. Left on Combs.

    Then, run the Atlee Road to Barnfield Lane to Rutlandshire Drive loop. (Left, Left, Left).

    RIGHT on Combs.

    Then, RIGHT onto Oakhamshire. Then, all lefts…Fox Hill Farmshire to Colvincrestshire to Hugheslandfarmsshire and left on Combs.  

    Then, left on Bradcroftlandingshire until time called and circle back to the VSF.

    Ruckers took a slightly different route. As far as YHC saw, north on Combs, then south on Combs, then north on Combs, the south on Combs and so forth.

    Numbers, names, and Yard Sale took us out.

    NMS: YHC loves hitting DaVille. Good dudes, not too many hills (this is A-Cup Terrain), and lots of friendly folks out in the morning. Mumblechatter was strong with Phonics and YHC on site. YHC thanks Trout for his tolerance. Trail Mix put on a strong show – for a guy working up his stamina, today’s sweatfest was no joke.

    Great to catch up briefly with everyone afterwards. We should do coffee soon. How about tomorrow at The Creek?

    Announcements (Continued dudos to Tryhard for the original list – always cite your sources!):

    • Summer Tour. Oyster / Tryhard posting a ton. Get out there and meet some new men or catch up with old pals. Also, on-going contest to invent the most micro of micro events just to get a ST point. 
    • Dry July. Good to hear at from those making solid progress toward their goals. 
    • Wet July. Sorry, Hutton, Dry July has nothing to do with not sweating. And, YHC has been on vacation. Not conducive to Dry Anything. 
    • 7/11 Thursday (TONIGHT!) 18:30 (or 6:30 “p.m.”). Adults paddle on the James. Huguenot Landing. See Lockjaw for details. Bring your kids, if Lockjaw says that’s ok. Or, bring your neighbor who works out in front of your house. Yeah, she does.
    • Thur AM – 0430 Launch to Clown Car down to Amelia Courthouse (Tryhard Q). Clown Car starting location is a closely guarded secret. Credible sources have uncovered the password… “#SOJ.”  Nope, this happened already. You missed it. The correct answer was “Meet at The Forge.”
    • Fri – RAMM Amateur Bike Ride. 05:30. This is a contest. Bring your most ridiculous ride. YHC’s money is on the “1988 Volvo.” 
    • But, who wants to bike ride on your kid’s tricycle when you can hit The Creek? 05:30 Friday. Meet at Pearson’s Corner Elementary, or, as they call it in DaVille “Rutlandshire Elementarycommonslanding.”
    • 7/13 – Poolboy VQ at The Iron Bridge. Get after it.
    • 7/14 – OTB Swimming Pool Bootcamp. It’s free, it’s open to all men.
    • 7/17 – Woodsman VQ at The Crossing. Get after it.
    • 7/18 Thursday 18:30 (or 6:30 “p.m.”). Adults paddle on the James. Huguenot Landing. See Lockjaw for details.
    • 7/25 Thursday 18:30 (or 6:30 “p.m.”). Adults paddle on the James. Huguenot Landing. See Lockjaw for details.
    • 7/27 – YHC is leading The Bridge. Achieve F3 “Luminary” Status by attending. “Visit the Imprisoned.” Help YHC share the F3 spirit with a group of men transitioning their lives from prison to the free world. Clown Car from RVA around 06:00. Workout in Buckingham 07:30-08:15. Coffeeteria. Home by 10:30. Note: YHC has heard every excuse possible to skip out, so make your’s a good one. Or, try this: “Honey, can you take the kids until 10:30 Saturday? I would appreciate it. I’d like to help some men who could use a role model.” Even you can score with a line like that. 
    • 8/3 – Homegrown Half. This means run either 10k or 13.1 miles. Most confusing F3 event of the year. Is F3 using Metric or Imperial? No one knows who to ask, so YHC has appointed Boberry to take any questions. 
    • 8/6 – Ultimate Crab Frisbee Tournament at the Second AO (Learn some F3 history. Figure it out). Bring your NVGs for the first 15 minutes. 
    • 8/11 – F3 Family Float on the James. Starts somewhere between Lynchburg and Newport News. Starts sometime between BMNT and ends sometime before EENT. Someone will provide details sometime. (If you have ever done the BRR, when TYA wants you to know, he’ll tell you.) 
    • 8/17 – Pickleball Tourney. This is table stakes for winning the Summer Tour. Skip this, and it’s minus 200 points. FWIW, if Splinter and LJ’s kids show up, this thing’s over before it begins.
    • 8/21 – 100th Birthday Celebration at First Watch 05:00. Come celebrate YHC’s father’s 100th birthday. Roaring 20’s, Great Depression, WWII, Cold War, etc. 
    • 8/28 – New AO at Moseley Elementary. Note the spelling has been corrected from previous posts. Google Maps will thank you. 
    • 9/20 and 9/21 – 10 Year Anniversary (multiple events). It’s like F3 invited you to a wedding. Friday night there is a dinner / drinks (you’ll need an outfit), Saturday morning is the main event (you’ll need a different outfit), and then there is a reception Saturday afternoon (with, you guessed it, a different outfit).

    Breaking Bread….for those new to F3, we have been doing this every month for about 8 or 9 years (for the last 4 years, 2 times per month). We will do this each month going forward. Be a stud – make dinner for a group of 8-12 folks who are in town for medical treatment or recovery and need a hand. Invite your M and/or 2.0s or F3 pals to help. See Oyster for details. (Spoiler Alert: this is about you growing as a human and a Brother). As with The Bridge, if you think chicks dig the macho stuff, check yourself. Chicks dig men who are kind, men who help others. Lend a hand. Leave no (wo)man where you find him (her). YHC thanks you in advance.

  • Exercising New Muscles

    Seven sets of washboard abs showed up for the latest edition of W-Dog. Conditions were sunny and 70. According to the road runner lashed to the hood of the old Suburban, the following might have happened:

    Mosey to the 4 big rocks, then to the port-o-potties, then to the circle, then to the rarely used grassy area near the first traffic circle for…the COP.

    SSHs x50
    Dead Man Hang
    Downward Dog/Fudd’s Wife
    Wilson’s Wife
    Downward Dog
    Imperial Walkers x10
    Hillbillies x10
    Hand Release Merkins x10, except Bodo’s, who did, shall we say, fewer than 10, but not more than zero. (If anyone knows how YHC can put an eyeball roll in the Backblast, please DM me.)
    WWIIs x20
    Flutter kicks (4 count) x20

    Mosey to the hill on Pump House Drive…for…not the Triangle. Nope. For a Beast.

    There are 6 trees on the right. The PAX individually picks 3 trees (push yourself, don’t hurt yourself). Do 6 rounds of exercises with 6 reps per tree per round. Pick the trees based on your willingness or ability to run up and down the hill. But, up the hill, the run is Bernie Sanders-style. Bro-code for the six after each round.

    Exercises were squats, flutter kicks, monkey humpers, LBCs, merkins, and snow angels.

    Mosey to the near traffic circle. There is a Latin jazz and salsa festival this weekend, so the city has put out plenty of trash cans in groups. Each PAX member was instructed to pick 3 exercises OYO. One ab, one leg, and one arm exercise. Round 1, do 20 of each exercise at each of the 3 sets of trash cans, then run the rest of the loop. Round 2, same number of exercises, but pick 3 new exercises. Round 3, pick 3 new exercises.

    Question from the PAX: are Alabama prom dates an ab or a leg exercise? DM EF Hutton with your thoughts, or start a new Slack channel “AborLeg.” Invite Wilson to join.

    Mosey BTTVSF, jigging left to the four painted rocks for 10 derkins, or not.

    Numbers, names, and YHC took us out.

    Announcements (Kudos to Tryhard for the list):

    • If you missed the Tuesday evening discussion on Rule 8, it’s your loss. “Tell the Truth, or at least, don’t lie.” Integrity matters. It’s even a Commandment. Follow this rule: It’s a rule to live by. Ignore it: path to ruin. Which are you on? Thank you to the 6 studs who made this event powerful for YHC. Also, prayers for those who shared their challenges. YKWYA.
    • Summer Tour. Oyster / Tryhard posting a ton. Get out there and meet some new men or catch up with old pals. Also, on-going contest to invent the most micro of micro events just to get a ST point.
    • Dry July. Good to hear at from those making solid progress toward their goals.
    • Wet July. Sorry, Hutton, Dry July has nothing to do with not sweating. And, YHC has been on vacation. Not conducive to Dry Anything.
    • 7/11 Thursday (tomorrow) 18:30 (or 6:30 “p.m.”). Adults paddle on the James. Huguenot Landing. See Lockjaw for details. Bring your kids, if Lockjaw says that’s ok.
    • Thur AM – 0430 Launch to Clown Car down to Amelia Courthouse (Tryhard Q). Clown Car starting location is a closely guarded secret. Credible sources have uncovered the password… “#SOJ.”
    • Fri – RAMM Amateur Bike Ride. 05:30. This is a contest. Bring your most ridiculous ride. YHC’s money is on the “1988 Volvo.”
    • 7/13 – Poolboy VQ at The Iron Bridge. Get after it.
    • 7/14 – OTB Swimming Pool Bootcamp. It’s free, it’s open to all men.
    • 7/17 – Woodsman VQ at The Crossing. Get after it.
    • 7/18 Thursday 18:30 (or 6:30 “p.m.”). Adults paddle on the James. Huguenot Landing. See Lockjaw for details.
    • 7/25 Thursday 18:30 (or 6:30 “p.m.”). Adults paddle on the James. Huguenot Landing. See Lockjaw for details.
    • 7/27 – YHC is leading The Bridge. Achieve F3 “Luminary” Status by attending. “Visit the Imprisoned.” Help YHC share the F3 spirit with a group of men transitioning their lives from prison to the free world. Clown Car from RVA around 06:00. Workout in Buckingham 07:30-08:15. Coffeeteria. Home by 10:30. Note: YHC has heard every excuse possible to skip out, so make your’s a good one. Or, try this: “Honey, can you take the kids until 10:30 Saturday? I would appreciate it. I’d like to help some men who could use a role model.” Even you can score with a line like that.
    • 8/3 – Homegrown Half. This means run either 10k or 13.1 miles. Most confusing F3 event of the year. Is F3 using Metric or Imperial? No one knows who to ask, so YHC has appointed Boberry to take any questions.
    • 8/6 – Ultimate Crab Frisbee Tournament at the Second AO (Learn some F3 history. Figure it out). Bring your NVGs for the first 15 minutes.
    • 8/11 – F3 Family Float on the James. Starts somewhere between Lynchburg and Newport News. Starts sometime between BMNT and ends sometime before EENT. Someone will provide details sometime. (Yes, Gomer, this one for you.)
    • 8/17 – Pickleball Tourney. This is table stakes for winning the Summer Tour. Skip this, and it’s minus 200 points. FWIW, if Splinter and LJ’s kids show up, this thing’s over before it begins.
    • 8/21 – 100th Birthday Celebration at First Watch 05:00. Come celebrate YHC’s father’s 100th birthday. Roaring 20’s, Great Depression, WWII, Cold War, etc.
    • 8/28 – New AO at Moseley Elementary. Note the spelling has been corrected from previous posts. Google Maps will thank you.
    • 9/28 – 10 Year Anniversary (multiple events).

    Breaking Bread….every month for the rest of the year. Be a stud – make dinner for a group of 8-12 folks who are in town for medical treatment or recovery and need a hand. See Oyster for details. (Spoiler Alert: this is about you growing as a human and a Brother). YHC thanks you in advance.

    NMS: Awesome group of dudes at WDog today. Great to see some guys who YHC has not seen in a while. Big Tennessee, Slippin’ Jimmy, and Doublemint. Always good to catch up with Bodo’s, Hutton, and the new papa, Hitchhiker. Sweatfest.

    Learning Note: do you apologize for your failings? One PAX member reports “exercising new muscles” by taking the time to appreciate his own failings, especially with his M. Nice lesson for all of us.

    Last point, great to catch up with Hutton at the WDog Coffeeteria today.

    UpChuck spits the bit.

  • La Plage du Exercise

    Three animaux dangereux launched at The Clinic in the wee hours of the mountain morning, lakeside. Conditions were sunny and 70. According to the fisherman ALREADY out at water’s edge, the following might have happened:

    Mosey from 201 Rue Noblemaire to La Plage de Talloires. Circle up. Explain F3 to the FNG.

    COP:

    SSHs x50.
    Dead Man Hang, moving into a little Broga.
    Hand Release Merkins x15.
    WWIIs x10.
    Flutter Kicks x20 (4 count).
    Imperial Walkers x10.
    Hillbillies x10.

    Mosey to the Water’s Edge for Touch a Tree. Said exercise was explained. One time. No questions. Perfectly executed*.

    Round of 4: HRMs, Flutter Kicks.
    Round of 6: WWIIs, Monkey humpers
    Round of 8: Carolina Dry Docks, Jack Webb

    * Jackie touched every 3rd tree. YHC assumes the distances between trees were not sufficient, so touching every 3rd tree extended each round. Push yourself, don’t hurt yourself.

    Mosey to the dock. Line up for curb crawls. 1 merkin after the first round, then 2, and so forth up to 5, then back down to 1.

    Mosey to the small grass field for Elevens. Merkins and WWIIs.

    COT: Numbers, names, and YHC took us out.

    Close out with a jump in the lake to cool off.

    NMS: Spider Runners will remember Jackie who joined us during an UpChuck Q up and down the UR hills some time ago. She’s a stud, to say the least (Wisconsin state champ and headed to run D3 cross-country at Smith College in the fall). She convinced her twin brother, Bobby, to join us. Bobby played high school football for one of the worst programs in the country (0-40 something?) as a kicker (not much work to be done). He’s a committed political activist with a decidedly left wing lean. The PAX considered “Milton Friedman” before ultimately settling on Super Duper Mansplaining, suggested by Jackie, and hereafter authorized to be abbreviated to Mansplaining. Like a man, he owned it. Good dude.

    Welcome to our FNG, Mansplaining.

    ** Note that the DNQ refers to “Does Not Qualify” as YHC has done his one Down Range post on this vacation.

  • A Titanic Run

    One intrepid traveler launched from the banks of the River Lagan in the latest edition of The Clinic. Temperatures were 70 and sunny. According to crew of the HMS Tyne, the following may have happened:

    Depart Donegal Quay, heading north / east along the River Lagan. Weave among the office buildings and former slips to the trucking terminal. Expressed condolences to Frank Sobotka.

    Reverse direction moving one street west weaving eventually back to the banks of the Lagan to the foot bridge. Cross the Lagan and turn left / east, passing the HMS Tyne. A fine Belfast morning to the skeleton crew on deck. Proceeding north / east until arrival at the Titanic Museum, proceeding through the slip where Titanic was built and launched. Continue along the Lagan to the HMS Caroline until fencing ended the available territory. Reverse and head back to the launch point, continuing an extra .15 miles and back to make the full loop a flat 5.0 miles.

    Number, name, and YHC took himself out.

    Announcements (a mixture of up-coming events of YHC’s choosing):

    Westhoe Meeting. Sometime this week. Already happened. Couldn’t make it.

    Convergence July 4. Can’t make it.

    YHC Qing Hoedown and Spider Run Q’s for July 15/16. Took name off Q sheet. Can’t make it. Sorry, Kubota, YHC is not the man you are.

    July 17 Woodsman VQ, The Crossing. Can’t make it.

    July 18 Meatball, Vinny’s Baseball (aka, Wiffleball). Can’t make it.

    July 27, The Bridge. 07:30 a.m. This is a Beat Down in Buckingham. Join me in helping some men transitioning from detention to a free life. Provide a role model. Leave no man where you found him.

    NMS:

    Belfast is not hot. Belfast is not humid. 50, clouds, and 20 MPH wind. But, sea level here remains flat along the docks. The BRR, this was not. This solid training run on a seasonally modest morning provided a nice tour of the Belfast waterfront.

    It was interesting to run through the dock / slipway (the actual space!) where Titanic was built. Far smaller than YHC expected, or perhaps YHC is faster than YHC expected.

  • The Return of Vinny’s Poison Ivy?

    Eight pathfinders jumped into the Gloom in the latest edition of The Dogpile. Temperatures were 70 and sunny. According to the couples admiring our form on the Vita Trail, the following might have happened:

    Mosey towards the normal circle, then veer 90 degrees to the small field in front of the green / muraled storage unit for the COP.

    Little baby crunches (to start!) x20
    Flutter kicks
    WWIIs
    Hand release / Da’Shawn Watson Merkins (no hands!)
    SSHs

    Let’s mosey to the small triangle where the road into the park meets the small parking lot next to the Grand Field. Not a place we usually use. Partner up for Touch-a-Tree.

    Rounds of 4, 6, and 8 trees. Ab exercise while the runner runs.

    Mosey to the Street of Despair. 5 merkins at every lamp post. Unless you want to do them on the sidewalk, in which case 6 merkins. On the grass, 20 merkins per pole. Circle up at the former Police Statue circle. Find a different partner for an oldie, but goodie.

    Partner 1, WWIIs.
    Partner 2, climb the hill adjacent to the water storage pond (under construction).

    The grass was cut, and therefore only 3-5 inches deep, much deeper than it looks. PAX will keep us informed on whether Vinny’s Poison Ivy makes an appearance.

    Mosey to the VITA Trail.

    Bro-code run, stopping at each exercise apparatus. Actual equipment only. Birdhouses and just-a-sign do not count. 3 finger-tip or diamond merkins plus 3 WWIIs at each stop.

    Halfway through, the PAX found some shade and an audience for fire-hydrants (look it up). Much fun was had by all.

    Continue the circuit, but switch to 3 Chuck Norris merkins and 3 V-ups.

    Trot across Park Avenue to the four yellow boulders along the entrance driveway. The PAX moseys past these regularly, but rarely uses them. Today, we did. Partner up (with a new partner):

    Partner 1: Mosey to the tree / port-o-potty.
    Partner 2: Alternating rounds of either 10 incline merkins or 10 decline merkins plus a Dealer’s Choice ab exercise until Partner 1 returns. PAX felt like this was 10 rounds. Close.

    Mosey BTTVSF. 50 burpees called, but time, so sadly, no burpees.

    Numbers, names, and Oyster took us out.

    Announcements:

    Hopefully, a successful launch at The Iron Bridge today. Looking forward to hearing how that went.

    Monday, The Alamo, 5:30 a.m., our Brother Wildcat will run us ragged in advance of his next doctor’s appointment. Be there for the man.

    Summer Tour continues. Let’s do it.

    July 4, Convergence, Batteau (meet at the Stone House), 7:00 a.m. City Proper hosting?

    August 21, First Watch, join me in celebrating my father’s 100th birthday. River Road Church, Baptist. 05:00.

    Late September, F3RVA’s 10th Anniversary workout. Convergence. Dogpile. Please reach out to Gomer or Rosie. We need guys to contribute their time and energy for this effort. Lots of options for helping. Turn off your phone, put your clipboard to the side, and lend a hand. Let’s go!

    NMS: YHC arrived to an unexpected sight – a lone Kia abandoned at Dogpile by a grey-bearded 45/6ish year old gone for a pre-run. Nice work, Rosie.

    James River Heating / Cooling showed up, and promptly did nothing to make the temperatures more pleasant.

    The US Army showed up to explain how 2 really equals 4. Go figure. But, always nice to have an actual shovel flag, so boom. Board shorts, flip-flops, and a shovel flag. Nice start.

    Honeymoon brought another Kia, so now we have two.

    Nancy brought a beast of a car. Vrrrooom, vrrooom.

    Oyster arrived thinking YHC had tossed him the Q, and Hitchhiker quietly rounded out the PAX after dropping off his mother in law at the tanning salon.

    Prayer Request: Hitch is becoming a parent again (x3!) sometime this week. MIL in town for 3 weeks. 3 weeks. THREE weeks. Prayers for peace, patience, love, kindness, etc.

    Prayers for Wildcat, his family, and every PAX member who attempts to keep up with him on Monday. LFG!

  • Your Mom is How Much Younger Than Your Dad?

    6 quarter horses trotted up to the paddock for the latest edition of Currahee. Conditions remained constant at 70 and sunny. According to the guy shooting hoops at Godwin, the following might have happened.

    Route(s):

    Part A: Right on Pump. Left immediately onto Old Prescott. Run to the end of the Cul-de-Sac and back to the VSF.

    Part B: Run to the trail at the back middle of Godwin HS (up the steps). Exit onto Maremont. Immediate left onto Willowick. Right on Avenham. Right on Raintree. Left on Maremont (which loops around to Raintree). Right on Raintree. Left on Maremont back to the VSF.

    4 milers: Do Part A 1x and do Part B 2x

    5 milers: Do both Parts A and B 2x.

    6 milers: Do Part A 3x and do Part B 2x.

    Run in any order you choose. The PAX chose to stay together, except for Pigskin who was sighted on the Maremont loop lugging kettlebells.

    Numbers, names, and YHC took us out.

    Announcements:

    Tomorrow, lots of options. First and foremost, there is a new AO launching. The Iron Bridge. Goyne Park. Chester, VA. See Slack for time. State Farm has the Q. Be prepared to bring it.

    If you don’t fancy hanging with cool dudes at The Iron Bridge, you can always hang with Gypsy and the Expendables / Disposables / Despicables at The Gridiron, Redwood Original, F3RVA’s first (and therefore oldest, pun intended) AO. Wear your vest, and show your bottom rocker. Jax Teller has the Q.

    Or, trot yourself over to Les Dogpile at 06:00 where ole’ UpChuck will lead a set of slow stretching exercises for the hour. Rumors that the PAX will migrate to The Early Bird Biscuit Company at 06:30 are not true. They don’t open until 7.

    Monday, Davey Crockett himself has the Q at The Alamo. Come celebrate Wildcat’s birthday. Be there. Bring your Summer Tour passport. Special room rates at the Residence Inn Rountree.

    July 4th. Convergence. Forest Hill Park. Pickleball paddle not required, just a good set of gloves and preparedness for a sweat fest.

    August 21. First Watch. Come celebrate YHC’s father’s 100th birthday. Should be a hoot. 05:00.

    YHC believes there is a kid’s workout at DaPile this weekend as well, but double check with those fellas.

    NMS: Good chatter this morning across the 5 runners. Man, those are some good dudes. Special thanks to Mr. Rogers who clearly has a gift for listening. It will surprise no one that YHC did 90% of the talking, and Mr. Roger’s did 100% of the teaching. Super thankful for this line, “When do I get to be first?” (If you just thought, “yeah, what about me?” then you have missed the point.) Do things for other people. It’s not about you.

    July Challenge: what are you going to give up? YHC suggests…embellishing, bs’ing, changing things to fit yourself. This group is about being humble enough to ask for help, give help, and build through mutual help. If someone takes the time to give you help, chances are you should take it. If someone thinks, “Man, I don’t really need help,” that might be a good time to consider whether your colleagues would agree.

    BRR….still time to sign up for one of the biggest challenges F3RVA has to offer. Spend 2 days with your pals. Make friendships. Conquer many, many mountains. Grow yourself. Contact TYA for details. When he does not respond to your texts, ask for help.

    BTW, YHC is usually the winner with the answer to the Back Blast title at 15 years. But, not with this crowd. Two dads of these hombres clock in at 19 years older than Momma.

    UpChuck spits the bit.

  • Thanks for Coming Out

    Twelve oarsmen launched from the Huguenot Shipyard for the 5th Annual, 1st Inaugural First Watch Deliverance workout. Temperatures were 70 and sunny. According to the toothless City Proper/SOJ combo hillbillies eyeing us, the following might have happened.

    04:30 Secure the AO. Kubota (aka, Q-bota on site).

    04:35 YHC on scene.

    04:40 Lockjaw

    04:50 First Water.

    Progressively crowded dockyard, and some stragglers asking themselves,”What time does the 05:00 paddle start?”

    Posey (paddle-mosey) over to the North Bank. Circle up.

    Warm-a-rama

    Dead Man Hang
    Helicopters
    Don Quixote
    Copperhead Squats
    ‘Mercans
    LBCs
    Flutter Kicks
    Inverted Scorpion Kicks
    Scorpion Kicks

    Triple Check.
    Partner 1: Bear crawl to that thing out there that Kubota pointed at in the darkness. No. That thing. Nope – the other thing. Yep, that one, nope, that other one. OK, got it.
    Partner 2: punching bag
    Partner 3: Wilson’s Dying Cucarachas

    Back in the boats.

    Etes -vous prets? Partez!!! Sprintervals d’eau. Intermittent hard paddling, followed by light paddle. 6 rounds.

    Somewhere along the line, Bacon Bits’ boat is swamped in the gale. Takes on water. Persists. Adapts. Overcomes.

    Paddle upstream to the American Flag. Moment of quiet contemplation. Pictures. Fanfare. Celebration.

    Slow paddle enjoying the sunrise. Back to the VSF, passing two actual shovel flags. And, scene.

    Announcements:

    Summer Tour continues.

    Wildcat. Monday. El Alamo. Be there for the man. Life may be you against you, but it’s easier and better when we are there for each other.

    Breaking Bread for June. Someone had to drop out for the last weekend in June. Who can step in and help out? (Remember: There is no Hot Potato for Breaking Bread – if you need to drop, pass the word and find a replacement).

    July 4: Convergence at Forest Hill Park.

    August 21: 100th Birthday Celebration. Come join us. First Watch. 05:00. Stamp your Tour Card.

    NMS: No better way to start a day. Paddling by headlamp. Quick workout. Amazing sunrise. Coffeteeria. Plus, a cameo appearance from BT over coffee.

    Thanks for coming out, fellas. Never gets old.

  • Yo-Yo Route

    12 runners/walkers and a 5 bikers strung themselves together in the latest edition of THE Run at Mary Mumford (RAMM). Air, land, and sea conditions held constant at 70 and sunny. According to the pack of tomatoes running on Grooooove, the following might have happened:

    Parking lot south on Commonwealth to the gravel track / dirt track / quarter mile loop / whatever any PAX member calls it. Run 1/2 of the loop to Westhampton. North on Westhampton to Grove.

    Left on Grove. Left on Lexington. Choose your own adventure going either left (Lexington) or right (Albemarle) and complete the loop back to Grove. Right on Grove. Right on Westhampton. 

    Left onto the gravel track / dirt track / quarter mile loop / whatever any PAX member calls it. Return to Westhampton and repeat the above loops back / forth for the 45 minutes. 

    Finish at 6:15 at the parking lot. 

    Numbers, names, (cyclists return), more names, and Marv was gracious in taking us out.

    Announcements: 

    Summer Tour. Get out there. Meet some new guys. See some new places. Learn to navigate Hutton’s spreadsheet. 

    Prayer requests: 

    We have at least two guys whose loved ones are fighting tough battles with challenging diseases. It can be easy to rattle off names, but let’s think hard about how we can help our friends and their families. Fudd’s sister is going through a second battle with breast cancer. Splinter’s mom has just 2 weeks ago been diagnosed with leukemia. Leadership is about helping other people. For those who remember Inky Johnson, “It’s not about you.” Let’s get after it and support our pals.

    NMS: 

    Yo-Yo Route today. T-claps to Wedding Singer and Hitch for remembering the greeting. 

    Good chat after the run with some guys about appreciating what we have and learning that a lot of modest things can be overcome and make us stronger.

    Upchuck spits the bit.

  • I’m the Q, but I Don’t Know the Streets

    A dirty dozen (12!!) men of The North (ok, 10 of The North and 2 Travelers) stood forth at the latest edition of the Raider Run. Conditions remained a steady 70 and sunny. According to the state trooper on overwatch, the following might have happened:

    5s – BroCode Style. Run the Atlee HS/MS/ES Metroplex loop. Then, left onto Atlee, cross the railroad bridge, left onto Combs, Oakham, Colvincrest, Hughesland, Crestfield, Combs, Atlee, and BTTVSF.

    Ruckers. Go out. Ruck. Return. Several wearing 50 pounds. Nice. T-claps to the “extra 50 and over 50” group (50 extra pounds and over 50 years old). Studs.

    Numbers, names, and Opus took us out with a reminder about looking out for others, especially on mental health issues.

    Announcements:

    June 6 – 80th Anniversary of D-Day Ruck. 7:00 p.m. Starts at Palani Drive (Restaurant) on Libbie. 9 miles, or roughly the distance from Utah Beach to St. Mere-Eglise.

    On the topic of WWII and Normandy, we’ll have a 100th birthday celebration workout for my father on August 21. First Watch. 5:00 a.m.

    June 22 – 2.0 workout at Atlee. 7:00 a.m. start.

    Also, June 22 – New AO starting at Groin Park (ok, Goyne Park) in Chester. See State Farm or Posh for start time.

    History Footnote: June 22 also is the day Germany invaded the Soviet Union in 1941.

    Summer Tour continues. Plan your travels. And, do not hesitate to pass around some good rumors about EF Hutton’s scoring system. There were a few solid old wives tales shared this morning.

    Prayer Request: let’s keep our pal Fudd, his sister, and his whole family in our prayers. Her breast cancer has returned, this time on her spine. She and the family all have a tough road ahead, and we should be there supporting them every step.

    NMS: Super good to return to Atlee and The North (apologies to Canada) today. Nice to catch up with Hash and hear how his college and career activities have played out for the past few years. Also good to chat with Phonics and Anchovy. Nice to meet Trail Mix, current title holder of F3RVA’s Deepest Baritone, and nice to see so many F3 veterans. There was chatter about pulling AO’s together on the occasional Saturday so guys can catch up. This is worth a discussion. Might be fun.

    FWIW, SIX state troopers having an intense meeting by the soda machine at the Wawa on Atlee Station after the workout. YHC assumes they were investigating reports of a Smoke Fest on Combs.

    UpChuck spits the bit.