Author: Phonics

  • Then – Running and Tennis; Now – Rucking and Pickleball

    Five posted on this perfect, smoky, and humid morning in Rutland to mostly ruck but run as well. As the one runner discovered that he had lost yet another runner to the rucking group, he took off on mostly the traditional Rutland/Cool Spring/Knollwood loop. The ruckers rucked around Rutland and possibly surrounding neighborhoods.

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

    NMS: When YHC was young, tennis courts were often filled as many took to the courts after work. Today, the pickleball courts are filled with only a few playing tennis. That seems to have happened as well in DaVille with running. Our running numbers used to be larger, but many former runners have now joined the ruckers.

    YHC almost feels bad for the local meteorologists. They were forecasting highs of 98 – 100 over the next few days, but with the Canadian wildfires, it did not get as hot as they expected.

    Spain or Argentina? Pick your team now. Its all decided on Sunday. There is also a 3rd place game on Saturday. Does English and France even want to play in that game?

    Announcements

    • 2nd F tonight – Intermission at VA Center – 7 PM
    • Summer Tour comes to The Creek tomorrow. Breakfast to follow.
    • Until further notice, Manndate is moving to Pearson Corner Elementary School which is the location of The Creek. This is due to school construction.

    Gotta Run!

    Phonics

  • Re-exploring the Giles Trails

    Seven dudes chose to get up early and head to Atlee High School on this Tuesday to enjoy this amazing weather we are having in July. 64 degrees and low humidity cannot be beat. The four ruckers rucked around Atlee and surrounding areas. The 3 runners decided to do the 4-1 which was the perfect pace for today and re-explored the Giles trails.

    The runners headed into Giles, took a left and followed the trail system. Anchovy and YHC took a left instead of the right that BAM! and YHC took a few weeks ago and discovered additional trails. Those routes will be searched over the next few weeks before we lose the morning light.

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

    NMS:

    YHC has been impressed with the Giles trail system. The paved trails are long and go throughout most of the neighborhood. It was great having Opus back on a Tuesday. The 4-1 pace was perfect for today. Conversations varied but when Anchovy and YHC are running together, local track and XC is likely going to be discussed.

    Announcements

    • 2nd F at Intermission on Thursday for trivia. Opus will send out information.
    • Summer tour comes to The Creek this Friday followed by breakfast at Rise and Shine. Let’s bring good numbers for the hopeful visitors.
    • See YHC if you need assistance writing backblast. From Manndate last Wednesday, the PAX was: Surf n Turf, Macho, Yankee, YHC and Yard Sale.

    Gotta Run!

    Phonics

  • The morning after the loss

    Despite the USA’s 4-1 loss the previous night, six guys posted to Atlee High School with great hopes for the future beginning with a morning run or ruck. Runners doing the 4-1 would have made perfect sense, but since there was no Opus, the runners did the reverse route for the 2nd straight week going to Summer Duck, then Chickahominy Oaks, then Madison Springs, Kings Charter, Honey Meadows, and back to the AO for 4.5 miles. The ruckers rucked around and finished a few minutes early.

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

    NMS:

    It was a great day for some exercise today. Much of the talk this morning dealt with 2 topics, the USA loss and VO2Max vs. Threshold training. With the heat and humidity, an easy pace was necessary.

    Announcements:

    • Summer tour comes to Manndate on Wednesday

    Gotta Run!

    Phonics

  • Sleep Deprived Futball Fans

    Nine sleep deprived futball fans gathered on the grounds of Atlee High School to discuss the exciting games they had seen the days before. The 6 ruckers rucked around the high school and surrounding areas. The 3 runners did the reverse farmhouse loop running into Summer Duck and Chickahominy Oaks before crossing Atlee Station into Kings Charter and Honey Meadows. The runners saw the MTT trainers twice this morning including on a paved trail along Atlee Station. Marco Polo was present with them again. Somehow, we have to get him back.

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

    NMS:

    The runner’s mumblechatter today was dominated around soccer. This topic has been discussed before, but it generally revolved around getting more soccer kids to do cross country and distance running. Today, the excitement of the World Cup was what was discussed. The previous day, 2 games went into penalty kicks. Germany lost. If they came to your front door, how many USMST members would be recognized? Messi vs. Tiger vs. Jordan vs. Caitlin Clark vs. Wayne Gretzky? I’m sure the discussion is to be continued.

    Announcements:

    • July 4th convergence – 7 AM at Gridiron
    • Meet somewhere tomorrow (Wednesday) for US soccer game.
    • Summer Tour this week – Wednesday at WDog, Friday at Twin Team
    • Emergency Contact Information

    Gotta Run!

    Phonics

  • SNAKE!!!!!!!!

    Five posted for running and rucking to Atlee High School on this Tuesday. According to the copperhead which was trampled by BAM! this morning during our run, this is what occurred.

    The Ruckers took the less adventurous route and did not do trail exploration.

    The runners went on their 3rd straight week of trail exploration. This week, the trails of Giles were selected. The reviews of the trails were positive and could possibly be attempted with a headlamp during darker mornings. The runners covered 4.6 miles and saw a great amount of wildlife including birds, squirrels, many rabbits, 3 deer including 2 which crossed the road right in front of us. And then there was the snake.

    YHC noticed a snake in the road probably 15 yards ahead. He then said to BAM!, “SNAKE”. BAM! kept running apparently unaware that the snake was there. As the runners got close, the snake which YHC believes was a copperhead, turned its head to acknowledge and possibly intimidate BAM!. BAM! never saw the snake and kept running, stepping on the snake, and kept going.

    The snake was gone when both runners came back through. That was probably the most rememberable F3RVA animal encounter that YHC can remember since the bootcamp at Pole Green Park many years ago when Rosie almost ran into a skunk. Rosie survived that encounter as well.

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

    NMS

    YHC had thoroughly enjoyed the June trail exploration runs that has been made over the past 3 weeks. Might have one more week before we return to normal runs. Today is likely the most wildlife that YHC has seen in a neighborhood. Pretty cool.

    It was great having Bulkhead back today from India. The joke was how much the DaVillians had aged since he last posted.

    Announcements

    • 2nd F on Thursday. More details to come.
    • Summer Tour comes to Circus Maximus this Thursday. It appears some DaVillians might make the trip.
    • 4th of July Convergence – Gridiron at 7 AM.

    Gotta Run!

    Phonics

  • World Class Jump Roping

    Five gentlemen excited to start the week off the right way posted to Atlee High School for a bootcamp that went something like this.

    COP: SSH, Don Quixotes, Helicopters, Arm Circles, Reverso, 5 burpees OYO.

    Tabata

    • Round 1: One legged lunges/ other leg
    • Round 2: Freddie Mercuries / Merkins
    • Round 3: Dips/Skull Crushers

    4 Corners

    In the 4 corners of the blacktop, do the exercises until the timer(runner) comes to your station. We did this 2.5 times through.

    • Corner 1 – Pull-up/hangs
    • Corner 2 – Jump Rope
    • Corner 3 – WW2s
    • Corner 4 – Carolina Dry Docks

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

    NMS

    It was a great morning at DaVile this morning. YHC had no idea that Macho is a possible professional Jump Roper. While the other 4 were struggling, he was jumping while crossing his arms, jumping backwards, and other party type jump rope tricks. Pretty cool.

    YHC learned over the weekend that watching the World Cup on Telemundo is the way to watch. YHC does not understand Spanish, but the excitement in the language is more impactful to this viewer than what is being said. YHC does not know the players and does not need an explanation of the rules. Telemundo is the way to watch.

    Announcements

    • Bulkhead should be back tomorrow. I hope your travels back to DaVille go well.
    • 2nd F at Wong’s Tacos this Thursday? More details to come.

    Gotta Run!

    Phonics

  • June Trail Exploration Part Deux

    Three respectful gentlemen posted with three 40 somethings on this perfect Tuesday morning for another addition of the Raider Run/Ruck. Because of what YHC and BAM! began last week, both the ruckers and runners choose to do some trail exploration this week.

    The Routes:

    The ruckers found themselves wondering endlessly through the trails around Atlee’s stadium. The runners found their way around the lake of Rutland and then followed a trail to nowhere followed by a trail to a locked gate followed by looping through a retirement community for somewhere between 4 and 5 miles.

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

    NMS: Like last week, it is always great exploring trails when it is light outside. BAM! and YHC have not checked off Honey Meadows and Atlee along with Rutland. Looks like next week is Giles.

    Announcements:

    • July 4 convergence – Gridiron – 7 AM
    • 2nd F Happy Hour will be held on a Thursday soon likely at Wong’s Tacos.

    Gotta Run!

    Phonics

  • Summer Tour comes to DaPile

    Eighteen dudes, including 10 Summer Tourist and one traveler from Cincinnati posted on this Perfect Saturday morning to Atlee High School. According to the two ladies who turned around and walked in the opposite direction at least twice when they came across the PAX exercising, this is what occurred.

    The Thang

    Parking Lot Tracers

    COP: All IC except for the Burpees: SSH, Helicopters, Don Quixotes, One legged lunges, the other leg, Arm Circles, Reverso, 5 Burpees OYO, 5 Burpees, Merkins, Angled Knee Jumps, Foot -to-Hand Mountain Climbers, American Hammers, LBCs, Heels-to-Heaven, Hello Dollies, One legged APDs, other leg, both legs.

    Mosey to other side of school

    Triple Check #1 – Donkey Kicks, Squats, touch 3 different trees

    Pole Smokers – Grab pole while holding 6 inches. All PAX will do 10 leg lifts and then run to the other side.

    Mosey to back of campus while doing 5 burpees at each speed bump.

    Triple Check #2: Carolina Dry Docks, WW2s, Bernie Sanders to top of the hill and run back

    Mosey along baseball/softball fields stopping in open areas and doing 5 jump squats and 10 merkins

    Indigenous People Run to front of the school

    Plank-O-Rama – Hold Plank – All IC: Alternate between Carolina Dry Docks and Merkins, Hold Plank, Rotate to Right Elbow, drop hip and raise, hold side plank, Rotate to Back Plank, drop butt and raise, hold plank, Rotate to Left Elbow, Drop Hip and Raise, Hold side Plank, Rotate to Front Blank, Makhtar N’Diayes, Mountain Climbers, followed by Freddie Mercuries, Rosalitas, Hold Six Inches while Q counts down from 30 – 1.

    Mosey back to SF

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

    NMS

    It was great having so many tourist join for this bootcamp today. Well done everybody. Let’s keep up the tour throughout the summer. A large group joined for coffee afterwards. Topics varied a lot from bootcamps from the past to our hopes for our health 20 years from now.

    Announcements

    • Summer Tour Continues – Look at Slack for next week’s locations
    • Sign up for Breaking Bread
    • For the health of the PAX, put emergency contact info into Slack. Also, one PAX member should always have a phone with them.

    Gotta Run!

    Phonics

  • How will drunk history report 4.98?

    Five DaVillians came out for the sunny and 70 degree morning to ruck and run. The 3 ruckers rucked 2.6 miles around Rutland. The 2 runners took the traditional route of Rutland to Cool Spring Forest to Knollwood, to Cool Spring West and back to the AO. YHC stopped his watch as he was finished and noticed 4.98 miles on the watch.

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

    NMS:

    It was a great morning to run regardless of the fact that we were sweating before we took the first step. BAM! reported during the run that there is now a Drunk History Club in Richmond that was created by teenagers. YHC is certain that many of the great stories that are told at gatherings were first reported by drunk historians.

    How often do you go slightly out of your way in order to end up exactly at a mileage mark? YHC doesn’t remember coming so close to a mileage mark and stopping. In some ways, its liberating not worrying about an exact distance. Just run/walk/bike and end where you want to instead of what the watch says. Try it.

    Announcements

    The Summer Tour comes to DaPile on Saturday at 6:30 AM. Be there.

    Gotta Run!

    Phonics

  • Summer Time = Trail Time

    Six DaVillians converged to ruck and run at Atlee High School on this perfect Tuesday. The two runners went to the back of Honey Meadows and followed the trails all the way back to the football stadium. They then following some trails in Taylor Farm. The total distance was about 4.8 miles. The ruckers rucked around Atlee and possibly other areas.

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

    NMS:

    As we get a good amount of light in the AM, its always a good opportunity to explore the trails in the surrounding neighborhoods. I do expect the ruckers to explore them in future weeks.

    Announcements:

    DaPile is the summer stop on Saturday. Hope we get a good number of travellers.

    Gotta Run!

    Phonics