Author: Phonics

  • The Unusual Suspects

    Two Runners and Two Ruckers posted on this perfect Tuesday morning for another addition of the Raider Run/Ruck. The Runners did the reverse farmhouse loop for about 4.3 miles. Much talk was about running and track. The Ruckers rucked in the surrounding areas for about 45 minutes.

    COP: Numberarama, Name-O-Rama, Announcements, Trail Mix took us out.

    NMS

    Many of the regulars were not here today. Not sure if staying up late of the national championship game prevented the early risers from posting. Enjoyed catching up with Anchovy who might not have run that far since he last joined me for the Raider run months ago.

    Gotta Run!

    Phonics

  • Four Men and a Lady

    YHC arrived at Atlee High School at 5:25 AM which is about 4 1/2 minutes earlier that he normally arrives. This was a sign of unusual things to come. Within a few minutes, 2 others had arrived. Bulkhead gets out of the car and walks over the the VSF. Soon after this, we see Trout getting out through the passenger door since the driver’s door was frozen shut. YHC takes the Q and off they went in this 22 degree morning.

    In case others were arriving late, Parking Lot Tracers were called. Soon after beginning, Trout observed all of the black ice.

    As the PAX members were now trying to complete the Parking Lot Tracers without falling, a lady came up to them an asked, “Can I join you for a run?” Apparently, it was F3RVA’s wearing of shorts in these temperatures that drew her attention to us. YHC quickly responded that this was a bootcamp. YHC responded that this was a bootcamp. She then asked if she could join us since her running parter did not arrive. At this point, the Parking Lot Tracers had been abandoned due to unsafe terrain. YHC said in a very unsure voice, “sure.”

    COP – The PAX circled up. YHC, who is such a rules follower, was trying to figure out how to start the COP with a lady joining us not know if this is allowed. Did he mention the 5 core principles? No, although he did mention that is is a men’s group. Did he mention his nickname or welcome to F3 DaVille? No. Did he even say if there were any new guys? No. He was trying to make up his mind how to start and eventually called the first exercise. The exercises were Puppy Pile rated, so no APDs, no Monkey Humpers, no Ball Dippers, no Roselitas, no Hello Dollys. and no Wilson’s Wife or Fudd’s wife. At first, he did call them pushups, but eventually felt comfortable to call them merkins.

    Corned Beef joined after the first few exercises were completed. All of the exercises were in cadence: SSH, Helicopters Don Quixotes, Arm Circles, Reverso, One Legged Lunges, other leg, Merkins, Angled Knee Jumps, American Hammers, LBCs, Heels to Heaven.

    The Thing

    Because of the issues with the black ice, the PAX headed towards the common’s entrance to Atlee High School.

    Triple Check with Five exercises – The PAX rotated through these exercises 3 times: The People’s Chair, Donkey Kicks, Freddie Mercuries, Hand Released Merkins, with the timer running to the parking lot, doing 3 burpees, and returning.

    Elevens with Jump Squats and windshield wipers – We bear cralled about 18 feet and then lunged back.

    Mosey back to the VSF for Plank-O-Rama

    Hold Plank then IC alternate between Carolina Dry Docks and Merkins. Rotate to side plank then IC lower hip and raise it. Rotate to back plank then IC lower and raise butt. Rotate to other side and IC lower and raise hip. Rotate back to plank to end with Mountain Climbers IC.

    Numberarama, Name-O-Rama, Announcements, Trout took us out.

    NMS

    Well done to the PAX this day including the FNGirl Cass (Tracker). I do think it was awesome that she wanted to join us today even after learning it was not a run and not knowing any of us. She does regulary run with a group that includes Marco Polo. She told us that she has run 15 marathons including 2 Boston Marathons. She is also a world traveller. She seemed to have no problems completing the exercises. Running was limited do the conditions, but that would not have been an issue for her. Marco Polo said her husband is a great guy, so maybe this will lead to having Marco Polo and Tracker’s husband to join us soon.

    After the bootcamp, Corned Beef, Bulkhead, and YHC hung out for a few minutes at Starbucks.

    Gotta Run!

    Phonics

  • Services Day at DaPile

    Veterans of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines along with two current teachers posted at Atlee High School on this perfect Saturday for a hot potato Q beatdown that went something like this.

    Opus’s Q

    Mosey to bus loop side entrance of Atlee High School

    COP – SSH, Imperial Walkers, Tempo Merkins, Tempo WW2s, Figure 4 reversed crunches, other leg, APD, Copperhead Squats.

    Triple Check – Bulgarian Split Squats, Dips, Timer runs to end of side walk and does 3 burpees.

    Beat It’s Q

    Mosey to Tennis Courts

    Triple Check – Wall Sits, Ball Dippers, Timer does suicides with 4 stops.

    All PAX members does 50 LBC for 300 total.

    Phonics’s Q

    Mosey to Blacktop

    Rotate 3 times through 6 Exercises

    • Pull-ups, Jump Squats, Heels to Heaven, Hand Released Merkins, Thunderclaps,Timer runs around blacktop.

    Indiginous People Run back to VSF. Then 2 minutes of stretching OYO.

    COT: Numberarama, Name-O-Rama, Announcements, Lab Rat took us out.

    NMS

    The DaPile bootcamp is always a great way to start off a Saturday. As YHC arrived once again fashionably late, the five other PAX members had not decided yet who was taking the lead. Thank you Opus for taking charge. What was discovered during the few minutes after 6:30 AM before the bootcamp started was there were veterans of 4 branches of the military at the bootcamp: Army (Corned Beef), Navy (Lab Rat), Air Force (Beat It), and Marines (Bulkhead). Hope in the future to have the Coast Guard and Space Force represented as well.

    Five of us then went to the Local Cup for some 2nd F. Great time as always.

    Announcements:

    Its not too late to join the Sugar Fast. See Opus.

    Have a great day everybody!

    Gotta Run!

    Phonics

  • That’s not a good idea.

    Five posted to Pearson’s Corner Elementary School on this perfect Friday for a bootcamp that can end the week correctly. Since there was a Florida visitor, YHC took the Q and off they went.

    COP all IC: SSH, Helicopters, Arm Circles, Reverso, Don Quixotes, One legged lunges, other leg, Jazzersize, Hillbillies, Merkins, Angled Knee Jumps, Synchronized Mountain Climbers, LBCs, APDs, Heels to Heaven

    The Thang

    4 Corners (Each PAX member stands at corner of blacktop and does an exercise while 5th PAX member runs to next station. The exercises were Freddie Mercuries, Dips, Jump Squats, Skull Crushers and were all completed 5 times.)

    Pull-up Hangs/Merkins – Because of limited pull-up space, the PAX was broken into 2 groups. One group did 15 second pull-up hangs while the other did Merkins. They then rotated until all PAX member had led the count twice. This total 6 rotations.

    Toga Special – YHC remembered Toga leading this years ago. PAX gets in balls to wall posiiton. They then walk down the wall until they are in Plank position with feet still on wall. They then walk back up the wall to Ball to the Wall position, they then go back to Plank Position. This was done twice with the following exercises done at the conclusion.

    • Round 1 – American Hammers and Flutterkicks
    • Round 2 – Plank-O-Rama all in cadence (Carolina Dry Docks/Merkins, go to side plank with raising and lowering hip, go to back plank with raising and lowering butt, go to other side plank with raising and lowering hip.

    COT: Numberarama, Name-O-Rama, Announcements, Opus took us out.

    NMS:

    Great to have Audit from F3 Pensacola visiting today. Rosie gave DaVille notice that he might be posting today. The Creek is not one of YHC’s normal posting locations, so there was a learning curve. Thank you Trout for letting YHC know his original plan for the Pull-up hangs was not a good idea. Trout realized there was a high probability of breaking the playground equipment which caused YHC to pivot to an alternate plan. Also, thank you Yardsale for bringing the mumblechatter and positive attitude again today.

    YHC also must have been slightly tired today since he briefly forgot to include himself in the Name-O-Rama and also briefly forgot his new age.

    Audit did ask the PAX at the COT about the “Cone Parade” in Richmond on New Year’s Day. YHC had heard about it on the news but have never seen it. Interesting how visitors see things in town that those who have lived here all of our lives have never seen. At least this is proof that it really occurs.

    Announcements:

    1. Opus is doing a sugar fast for January. Let him know if you want to join him.

    It was a honor to lead this morning. Well done all!

    Gotta Run!

    Phonics

  • Cinquenta e tres

    Four gathered this morning at Atlee High School for a non-themed birthday celebration that went like this:

    Mosey to the Atlee High School entrance

    COP: Invisible Jump Ropes, Helicopters, Don Quixotes, Arm Circles, Reverso, Ball Dippers, Merkins, American Hammers, Heels to Heaven

    Mosey to the bus loop entrance to Atlee

    Tabata – 5 rounds

    • Round 1 – One legged lunges, other leg
    • Round 2 – Half Burpees, Synchronized Mountain Climbers
    • Round 3 – Freddie Mercuries, Flutter Kicks
    • Round 4 – Merkins, Dips
    • Round 5 – Burpees, Donkey Kicks

    Mosey to basketball courts

    For 10 minutes, do as many rounds as possible of the following: 5 Pull-Ups, 10 Merkins, 15 Squats

    Mosey to VSF for 2 Minutes of Mary: LBCs, APDs, Rosaletas, Hold 6 inches for count down from 30.

    COT: Numberarama, Name-O-Rama, Announcements, YHC took us out

    NMS:

    Always a great way to start a Saturday at an F3 workout. For YHC’s birthday Q, it was nice to keep the milage low and keep the PAX together with much mumblechatter throughout the bootcamp. The 4 of us were joined by Lab Rat at the Local Cup.

    It’s hard to believe that YHC has had 10 birthdays since joining F3 back in 2016. F3 helps me to prepare for the next year during the COT. It somehow makes it easier to grow old.

    The backblast title is a shout out to YHC’s daughter who is living in Spain until June but having a great time.

    I’ve proved that you can teach an old dog new tricks by being able to navigate the changes of the new F3RVA website.

    Announcements: New Year’s convergence – January 1 at 7 AM at Dogpile.

    Gotta Run!

    Phonics

  • Permanent LED Holiday Lighting is Everywhere!

    Two runners an two ruckers posted in Rutland on this perfect Thursday morning to start the day right.

    One rucker left to meet another who would join him. They walked around the Rutland area it appeared for likely somewhere close to 2 miles.

    The runners ran to Giles and back doing the Bojangles loop on the return for 5.2 miles.

    COT: Numberarama, Name-O-Rama, Announcements, BAM! took us out.

    NMS:

    Great to run with BAM! again. While we were running, YHC noticed that there were Permanent LED Holiday Lighting all over the place. Before this year, he did not remember seeing them before. Pretty cool addition for the holiday season.

    Gotta Run!

    Phonics

  • Run by yourself or ruck as a team?

    Five posted on this sunny and 70 morning in Rutland. The one runner took off along the normal route into Rutland, Cool Spring Forest, Knollwood, Cool Spring West, and back through Cool Spring Forest for about 5.4 miles. The Ruckers, travelling as a team of 4, journeyed to destinations unknown to the runner with the exception of completing the route in Rutland.

    COT: Numberarama, Name-O-Rama, Announcements, Yardsale took us out.

    NMS:

    YHC was a little surprised to be the solo runner this morning but did enjoy the weather and route this morning. Good numbers for the Ruckers again this morning. As the COT was closing, YHC told the pack that a former student of his passed away a little more than a week ago and a neighbor of his has cancer. As we go into the Christmas season, just remember and pray for the many who are suffering or have had tragic loss during this time of year.

    Gotta Run!

    Phonics

  • Running and Rucking

    Four posted on this Thursday for the Tomato Run/Ruck. The 2 runners when to every place different. This included running by the library and that shopping center, running behind Kroger, running through 2 townhome communities, and running the opposite way through Cool Spring and Rutland for 4.85 miles. The 2 Ruckers rucked for likely around 2 miles.

    COT: Numberarama, Name-O-Rama, Announcements, Sandman took us out.

    NMS:

    Great time running with BAM! today. Thank you for exploring with me.

    Announcements: Heard 6 made it to PBR Thursday night. Well done!

    Gotta Run!

    Phonics

  • Negative Split DaVille style

    2 Runners and 4 Ruckers found there way to Atlee High School for a perfect start to a sunny and 70 morning. The runners inspired by the negative split idea that Faceplant led at RAMM a few weeks ago tried it as well. Because the start time in DaVille is always around 5:33 AM, it only allowed for 22 minutes out and 21 minutes for the return. BAM! and YHC took the challenge and off they went into Honey Meadows, Kings Charter, and back for about 5.18 miles travelled. Although it is unclear once again exactly what the Ruckers did, it is possible that they also did a negative split ruck.

    COT: Numberarama, Name-O-Rama, Announcements, YHC took us out.

    NMS

    It was great again running with BAM! this morning. The pace pushed us both this morning. Although on the cold side, with no wind, the conditions were perfect.

    During the COT, YHC talked about Jim Moore, a former neigher, who passed away Friday night at the age of 76. He was one of the nicest people I ever met and will be missed by many.

    Announcements

    Thanksgiving Convergence – 7 AM at Mary

    Gotta Run!

    Phonics

  • Over 5 miles

    2 runners and 4 ruckers gathered at Atlee High School on this cold and windy yet sunny and 70 morning.

    The Route

    The runners ran into Taylor Farm, Honey Meadows, Kings Charter, Madison Springs, Chickahominy Oaks, Summer Duck, back into Taylor Farm, and back to the VSF for a little over 5 miles. It’s rare that DaVille runners break the 5 mile barrier. The ruckers walked somewhere for likely a little more than 2 miles.

    COT: Numberarama, Name-O-Rama, Annoucements, Yard Sale took us out.

    NMS

    It was great running with BAM! this morning. The wind definitely woke us up but we kept a fairly strong pace througout the run. Well done ruckers again with 4 of you posting.

    Announcements

    • Thanksgiving workout – 7 AM at Mary Mumford
    • DaVille 2nd F – This Thursday at PBR. Time TBD

    Gotta Run!

    Phonics