Four fearless flyers formed up for a mosey around the west end. Four milers familiarized and found their way around Raintree. Five milers tackled the smallish but magically timed hills in deep run park and on Brookmont in Crown Grant.
NMS. Apparently the return of DTH at the Forge was a hit. The pax loves some burpees.
Like other things uniquely / quirky Richmond like an airplane tail sticking out of a gas station, etc. I’m has a covered bridge that belongs in Vermont. It’s a fun sight to see.
Prayers for brother Profit who was in a bad accident last J. He stayed at the Duke hospital with cracked vertebrae and a broken sternum. His M is down there to bring him back as soon as they can. Stay strong Profit!
3 Cyclists and 4 runners met up for Sunday Fun. The weather was beautiful for running: 60F and no humidity. The trails were still rather empty, just a handful of runners and mountain bikes. 2nd F at ETs.
4 Goliaths gathered for a gallop to Gayton ES on a great morning.
NMS
The actual 5 mile route was a little more sporting: Instead of going to Gayton, YHC decided to recon for a spider trail to get to Church Rd from Laclede or over to Copperas – we ended up back on Ridgefield for a 5.5 total route.
Bodo’s would have liked the suspense and drama and this is a reminder that he should come out.
The only wildlife to report is one bunny and 2 deer.
Three Warriors gathered today for the grand opening of the newest AO. The AO features rolling hills that give just the right amount of challenge up and form practice down.
Route – 5 milers – Maremont, Willowick , Windbluff, Falconbridge, keep to the right around the lake and up the hill, down the hill around the parking lot to the right find the cut through the woods to turtle run apts, Turtlecreek, Cox, Brookmont, right on Crowncrest, left on Pump to Godwin
NMS – Quiet cool morning, but we did find one interesting tidbit – Lighthouse has not run 5 miles in 15 years. He stayed right with us, you would never know. Nice work!
The lore of the mountain run is “three miles up and three miles back” – much like F3 endeavor. The formation of this unit is pretty well documented in the Band of Brothers episode 1 https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1245384/ .
For YHC, Band of Brothers Episode 1 is especially poignant because it illustrates a few things about what it takes to take a bunch of guys, in this case volunteers, and train them to be a cohesive fighting unit. In the show near the end, they give some credit to how CPT Sobel pushed them to come together. During my tenure on active duty, YHC had a commander like this and his replacement was able to take advantage of the dislike of the past commander and redirect it toward creating a solid fighting force.
We dont have anything like 3 miles up in Richmond, but the hills in the far west end can be inspiring. This is the first reason for the AO name.
The second reason is that Godwin’s mascot is Eagles. The “Screaming Eagles”, is featured in the logo of the 101 Airborne.
Finally, the grand opening of the AO on May 8, 2020 is on the 75th anniversary of VE day – the end of WW2 in Europe. While the corona virus has damped our ability to remember and celebrate, we have a lot to be thankful for on this side of that most important day in our history.
Two towering terrors met for a rainy 5 mile run around Deep Run.
Through the woods to Maremont, Raintree, Falconbridge, keep to the right around the lake and up the hill, down the hill around the parking lot to the right, cut through the woods to turtle run apts, Turtlecreek, Cox, Ridgefield, Raintree, Willowick, through the woods to Godwin.
NMS – We saw a rabbit in the gloom. Handshake sees them all the time in his neighborhood now. Ironically, on the way to the AO, YHC raced a rabbit driving down Church Road – he lost.
Silly rabbit
Announcements –
Memorial Day Murph – special location and time – stay tuned
Grand opening of the running AO Friday 5/8 at Mills Godwin HS. Submit your name suggestions >> here. <<
2 stalwarts met for a rainy Deep Run – Run. Nice run Tippecanoe!
4 mi – Maremont, Willowick, Windbluff, Falconbridge, keep to the right around the lake and up the hill, down the hill around the parking lot to the right find the cut through the woods to turtle run apts, Turtlecreek, LEFT on Cox, Ridgefield, Raintree, Avenham, Maremont to Godwin
5mi – Maremont, Willowick , Windbluff, Falconbridge, keep to the right around the lake and up the hill, down the hill around the parking lot to the right find the cut through the woods to turtle run apts, Turtlecreek, Cox, Brookmont, right on Crowncrest, left on Pump to Godwin
6mi – Maremont, Willowick , Windbluff, Falconbridge, keep to the right around the lake and up the hill, down the hill around the parking lot to the right find the cut through the woods to turtle run apts, Turtlecreek, Cox, Brookmont, right on Crowncrest, left on Pump , Burnside, Bridgehaven, Glen Eagles, Old Prescott.
Five warriors gathered in the gloom gather to celebrate earth day.
Mosey the long way to the amphitheater. COP
DQ
IW
Arm Circles
WW2 x49
LBC
Flutter kicks
Hello Dolly
Rosalita
Decline ABD
Decline PP
Superman
Bushwacker
plank stretching
Plank arm circles
Gomer-kin
Triple check Hallelujah run; iron chair; abs flutter, box cutter, six imches Ladder starting at 18; Dips Vups Jailbreak
YHC took us out
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NMS
Faceplate and YHC were running up love hill when a pack of five deer decided to cross right in front of us. YHC realized if we kept going we would split the pack. I was worried that the separated deer would crash right into Swirly or Bodos or Hitchhiker. Generally, I like to avoid creating F3 memories where the opportunity for major injuries are involved so we waited and grabbed the six.
But it does make me laugh to imagine Swirly squaring up on the deer for the incoming Take Down. The deer flies at him from the top rope. After a brief wrassle where Swirly manages to get the deer in a half Nelson, Swirly pops up looking down at the deer and shouts “Is that all ya got! Come on!” Dejected then doe scrambles up and scampers off.
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YHC started F3 RVA 3 years ago despite telling Toga way early on – “Ive already done all that” and Flipper – “I already work out a bunch” When Fudd finally got me out- What an eye opener. Because of this group I have improved in Fitness, Fellowship, and Faith. More should have this. Each of us should have a Target FNG on our list
Thanks to the RVA PAX for supporting me personally through ups and downs. Let me know if I can ever help any of you.
12 thoroughbred troopers gathered for a one way trip, out and back up Mount Henrico.
4mi – lakeview around Robins Center. Lakewood, Wood, Baldwin, Rock Creek, Forest, University, and turnaround
5mi- 4 mi + Turnaround at Sharon.
6mi- 5mi + right on Henrico. Turnaround at Ridge.
NMS
This is the Troop Leading Procedure – a simple list to remember all the steps needed to lead a mission for 10 or 10000.
Receive the mission
Issue a warning order
Make a tentative plan
Start necessary movements
Reconnaissance
Complete the plan
Issue the order
Supervise
The 5th step in the Troop Leading procedures is recon – the purpose is to confirm or deny what you perceived from mission analysis in step 3. FM 6-22 Leader Development defines Reconnaissance like this:
10-34. Whenever time and circumstances allow, or as directed by higher headquarters, leaders personally observe the area of operations for the mission prior to execution. No amount of information from higher headquarters can substitute for firsthand assessment of the mission variables from within the area of operations. Unfortunately, many factors can keep leaders from performing a personal reconnaissance. The minimum action necessary is a thorough map reconnaissance supplemented by imagery and intelligence products. As directed, subordinates or other elements (such as scouts) may conduct reconnaissance while the leader completes other TLP steps. https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/pdf/web/fm6_22.pdf
YHC completed a map recon, but like the man says: there is no substitute from eyes on the objective. Imagine our surprise today when we ran around to the north end of the Robin center and everything was blocked off for construction. Options are go back (uh, no), go around, or through the maze (of course – thats what they wont expect). Things were going well at the first fence, then another fence was dropped, so hopes were high for the final fence – a seven foot chain link monster. Zip ties. No gaps. Nothing loose. Over we go. Bodos went over using a pile of sheetrock. YHC found some blocks. We overcame. But not the way we wanted to start the run.
Like Saab said the construction wasn’t like that the last time we were in there. What would F3 be without a little excitement here and there.
