Category: Richmond, VA

  • Homecoming Q-ueen

    “Now you must free yourself from sloth,” my master said, “for sitting down or lying under covers, no one comes to fame, without which whoever consumes his life leaves such vestige of himself on earth as smoke in air or foam on water. Therefore get up, overcome your panting with the spirit which wins every battle if it does not sink with its heavy body…”

    Dante’s Divine Comedy, CANTO XXIV – Vanni Fucci, 46-54

    A stunning 15 bodacious beauties assembled on The Forge stage as this year’s Homecoming Court nominees. Many judges gave favorable nods towards young DTH, who’s recent heroic return from abroad carried the momentum of juicy gossip, but the ever-stunning Hardywood vied for the crown with dazzling popularity and charm. As the nominees pranced about stage, warming up for the talent show ahead, the sun broached the horizon and a temperate 70 degrees indicated the time had come. BANG! The starting gun fired, and off they twirled and skipped with dynamic energy to contend for the honor.

    The THANG:

    Mosey to the Knoller Coaster:

    • SLAUGHTER START with Bear crawling the 3 knolls, and completing x5 Burpees at the bottom and top of each knoll (x35 total)

    Mosey to COP #1 in front of the School:

    • Welcome & F3 Disclaimer
    • DQ’s x10 IC
    • Imperial Soldiers x10 IC (that’d be an Imperial Walker alternated with a Russian Soldier… )
    • The Opus x10 IC
    • Freddie M’s x50 IC

    Mosey to the Amphitheater for COP #3:

    • Dora the Explorer
    • Partner up to complete the following:
    • x100 Derkins
    • x200 Box Jumps
    • x300 Mountain Climbers (2-ct)
    • While one partner hammers Dora reps, the other Explores the area to lay hands on x1 tree, x1 stone, and x1 metal  object before teturning to relieve their partner (each time the runner mist find a DIFFERENT tree/stone/metal)
    • ABC’s for the SIX

    Mosey to Field for COP #4:

    • No Cheat Merkins
    • DTH’s x10 IC
    • Over-Unders! …nope, AUDIBLE, too intimate for COVID… 
    • Merkins x10 IC

    Mosey BTTF:

    • Copperhead Squats x10 IC
    • Cherry Pickers x10 IC
    • Carolina CD’s x10 IC
    • Nancy Kerrigan’s x10 IC
    • Protractor of Variable Degrees
    • Kimchi Twists x10 IC
    • Plank 6” HOLD IT, a few times

    COT:

    • Counterama # 15
    • Namerama (Welcome ALIBI!)
    • Announcerama (see Comments)
    • ROGER ROGER took us out in Prayer

    NMS:

    • The annex of Richmond City stretched the legal limits to host a whopping 15 fartsack escapees protesting the return of DTH. There were some laughs as DTH knocked off the cadence rust (the F3PNG PAX were less about the cadence and more about the beatdown). We had the honor of welcoming a Doublemint FNG, birth named Dontae Buck, to the finest PAX in the land. Dontae is a budding lawyer, so nicknamed “ALIBI”. Welcome brother! Two new DTH originals made it into today’s beatdown, the “Imperial Soldiers” will need some getting used to, while “Dora the Explorer” produced a solid burn. YHC definitely felt the love this morning – you guys have no idea how much I missed your camaraderie. Thank you!!!

  • Thumos

    8 PAX, including the ever elusive flying EH FNG, came out on a truly 70 and sunny morning to soak in the humidity. Fudd missed the balmy RVA weather so much he drove in from CO to get a sweat on.

    COP: SSH, Don Qs, Flutterkicks, Imperial Walkers, Merkins (no scorpion kicks 🙁

    Mosey to dip bars for Dora 123: 100 Dips, 200 LBCs, 300 SSH. Then onto blacktop for 4 corners: 5 Burpees, 10 WWIIs, 15 HRMs, 20 Jump squats. Hitchhiker had so much fun he asked us to double it: 10 Burpee, 20 WWIIs, 30 HRMs, 40 Jump Squats.

    Tennis courts: Lunge first court, 5 HRMs. Broad jump to 2nd court, 10 HRMs, Bear Crawl to 3rd court – 15 HRMs, Crab walk full length of courts then 20 HRMs.

    Soccer field for: Wheelbarrow across (alternating) then 25 WWIIs. Back to flag for some Mary then YHC took us out.

    NMS: 5 years ago today YHC showed up to 45MoM out of shape not knowing anyone there after hearing about F3 from my wife after she heard about it from the moms at the pool. 5 years later to say that F3 and this PAX have changed YHC for the better is a gross understatement.

    What a great morning this was: FNG Bandito came out after Upchuck’s EH last week. On the other side it was Old School this morning with Fudd back in the Gloom. He is back for a month in RVA with his family visiting VA. Let’s get organized on the 4th Annual Fudd leaving RVA party later this month!

    Mumblechatter was light this morning as the humidity took a toll. The days of sweating out 10 pounds during a beatdown are upon us.

  • Thank You!

    My brothers, just over two years ago, I, like many of you, was looking to find that something that was missing in my life. I maintain that I was not a Sad Clown, but by no means was I fulfilled. That all changed when by happenstance, I met a guy named Patton Gleason (no chance his junior year HS picture was ever displayed in a mall near the Food Court with a name like that). As google would indicate, he was a TED Talk giving, Style Weekly 40 Under 40 winning, dark jeans wearin’, random 80s baseball knownin’, energy machine who would introduce me to the greatest brotherhood I’ve ever known; F3RVA. It was that energy, that I fed off of, from day one. So for that Hardywood, I will be eternally grateful.

    I could spend all day on here telling each of you how much you mean to me, truly. There will never be a way for me to repay you for what you have given me, physically, mentally, and spiritually. It’s wild to wander through this journey and slowly start to realize that 1st F is about the 5th reason why F3RVA truly matters. I can only hope that as others come in, they will be as lucky and fulfilled as I have been.

    Now then, it’s time for Senior Wills (if you were in a frat, you will understand. If not, continue reading anyway). To those listed below, I leave the following (to my other brothers, consider yourselves lucky to have escaped the seriousness):

    Hardywood – More perfection. You don’t have enough of that in your life.

    Swirly – More drive and determination. If only you could increase the intensity. HOOOOLD IT!!

    TYA – The ability to be more of an individual. You clearly are a lemming. Someone once told you that Massachusetts held the First Thanksgiving, and you’ve been following their lead ever since. Oh, and it is debatable who is the best player in NHL history. It’s naught yar falt.

    Kubota – Be more generous with your time and support. You are too selfish.

    Flatty – Chill out on all the negativity. Find some positivity in your life, brother.

    Saab – Always pack Immodium for BRR (seriously, this isn’t supposed to be funny).

    Circle K – Repeat after me: Biscuitville, yes. Coors Light, no.

    Ollie: “What’s the Frequency Kenneth…”

    Flipper – We’ll always have Sudley Seahorses and me sleeping through your midnight power run at BRR. How about some Fun Dip, to say I’m sorry.

    EF Hutton – Shut up and listen more. Less Macho Man impressions, and more Smith Barney.

    Big Tennessee – A better wiffle ball changeup.

    Gumbo – I’m gonna need you to win more. At life and at F3RVA. I can only associate with champions, and sweet ‘staches.

    Upchuck – A bigger brain, and less fear of approaching strangers.

    Handshake – a taste for Scotch.

    Wilson – My entire Dance Party CD collection and a sense of humor. Lighten up, bro.

    Hitchhiker – Hana. Doo. Set. Net. Daseot. Yeoseot. Ilgop. Yeodeo. Ahhop. Yeo. Oh, and you are a real bad ass (seriously).

    Bodos – Kittens, rainbows, and an endless supply of yo-yos.

    Pucker – Smaht Pak.

    Rosie – A better attitude. And maybe a bit more sincerity.

    Bleeder – Batteries for your Tron and astronaut armband iPod holder for dark mornings. #Nantan

    Gomer Pyle – A better understanding of black and white. There are no shades of grey. The sooner you get that, the better.

    Lugnut – Annual run to the Capitol. It’s only 6, 7, 8 miles or more.

    Wedding Singer – More Super Bowls with asterisks.

    Spit – Trips to Starbucks in Arlington.

    Sarah – Straight A’s.

    Swiper – My vote when you run for school board.

    Shakedown – The ability to give and take sarcasm. Seriously. I’m joking. Maybe.

    Marmaduke – #HTTR

    Don Draper – Try Hard may be a cult leader. Blink three times if you need help.

    Offshore – Beakers and test tubes (but I’m not filling them).

    Salley Girl – 6 inches minimum at all times between you and runners knees on the trail.

    Wojo – Free wedding hors d’oeuvres (must be redeemed by May 2021).

    Sippy Cup – You too, talk to much. And when you do, it’s empty words. I need to learn more when I talk with you. Oh, and bigger calves.

    Lockjaw – Repeat after me: I can post without Q’ing.

    Bootleg – You really lack inner drive. It’s quite honestly, a problem.

    Phonics – The ability to run more like a gazelle and less like me.

    Opus – Smurf Jacks.

    Mudface – you write Back Blasts to fast. Slow down and think about what you want to write before you post them. Maybe consider a few drafts.

    Splinter – My Gheorghe Muresan collection (not really, but it’s the thought that counts).

    Honeydo – A 12 month ginger fro.

    Bone Thugs – Teddy Ruxpin tapes and Jhoon Rhee.

    Lab Rat – Gently used yoga mats.

    Oyster – Your own chickens.

    Double Mint – Minny Vinny; What else is there?

    Faceplant – BMW medallions that don’t get destroyed in the car wash.

    Malpractice – My puke bucket that you held at my very first beat down.

    Seymour – Floor Slaps are the greatest (call them every time you get the Q during a Hot Potato).

    Slurpee – Shared custody of my puke bucket from my FNG beat down that you Q’d (I tell people you still exist, I swear).

    Recall – Patience. If you are gonna ride with us, you need more patience.

    Tobit – Drop my name anytime at the Chic Fil A at Elon.

    Sugar Sock – A better, more in-depth name by Hardywood.

    Corned Beef – When you post in C’ville, you don’t know me.

    Try Hard – The ability and patience to change your name on all of your F3 items. It’ll be a full blown Snickers commercial. Oh, and a weekend with Dredd.

    Flange – Free corn hole lessons. The Retreat is right around the corner.

    All future FNGs – Swirly won’t kill you. As long as you do exactly as he says.

    Love all of y’all…

    -Compton Vinny

  • Something New

    6 Davillians arrived on a Wednesday morning for a KB fun.

    This is how it went down

    Warmup – Mosey around the parking lot twice

    COP (ALL IC) – SSH x 51 (Happy Birthday Yard Sale), DQ, Goblet Squats, LBC’s, Flutter Kicks + KB Hold, Halo x10 + Triceps overhead x5, Reverso.

    THANG

    Kettlebell Ladder Complex – 5 exercises strung together intelligently so they can be performed from one into the other without rest or having to stop in between. … Start with 1 rep set and up to 10 reps

    Slingshots
    single Arm Deadlift
    Swings
    Squats
    Situp + Press

    Demon Crushers x25 IC

    Triple Check – Donkey Kicks, Rows, and Figure 8 Lunge

    3 MOM – LBC’s KB Hold, Flutter Kick + Press, Goblet Hammers, Boat/Canoe

    Numberama, Namerama, Announcements, then Yardsale took us out

    MOLESKIN

    First off Happy Belated Birthday Yard Sale, 51 years young (Respect!).

    Great to be back at MANNDate. YHC wanted to try something new with Kettlebell complex. It definitely brought its own challenges.

    Good to see No Idea and Trout out and about with us today

    ANNOUNCEMENTS

    Don’t forget to sign up for the Post challenge this month: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/12T3CrYVUljOlFu9FYO3krk-ZaVehZMF5LZ7kN05EHDA/edit?usp=sharing

    SPIT ON THAT!!

  • Gayton Goliaths

    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.

  • Liberty or Death

    “Our petitions have been slighted; our remonstrance’s have produced additional violence and insult; our supplications have been disregarded; and we have been spurned, with contempt, from the foot of the throne! In vain, after these things, may we indulge the fond hope of peace and reconciliation? There is no longer any room for hope. If we wish to be free, we must fight! I repeat it, sir, we must fight! An appeal to arms and to the God of hosts is all that is left us! It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. The war is actually begun! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!” The original Hanover Cutie (nod to Flipper) who had enough. When all else failed, he favored reasoned principles over submission and obedience. It took him decades to exhaust all the avenues for a peaceful resolution to attain personal liberty at the hands of tyrants. A revolution was the last and least desirable option. Sometimes doing what’s right isn’t easy, popular or even legal. There may be no more noble pursuit than creating an environment for all free people to determine the quality of their own lives. Perhaps the divine calling we should be listening to is not “how’s my life”, but how can I help some one be in greater control over the quality of their own life. Your talents are blesssings, and blessings are meant to be shared. Time to get to work.

    COP: SSH X 20, IW X 20, Lunge X 20, HRM X 10, WWII X 20, FC X 20, Big Boy Arm Circles X 10, 5 burpees OYO. Mosey to amphitheater.

    Start at bottom and work your way up ascending incline merkins 1 to 18. Then descend to the bottom starting with 18 dips on the top row back to 1.

    Mosey to stage to grab two coupons and over to the Valley of Doubt

    Joe Friday (a tip of the cap to Jack Webb’s best work). Start at top with two coupons on the ground. Round 1 is 1 merkin with hands on coupon and 4 squats standing on coupon with one hand touching the ground. The run to the bottom of the Valley of Doubt and complete 1 burpee. Run back up. Each round add one more merkin and four more squats all the way up to 10 merkins and 40 squats.

    Mosey back to flag with a little parkour thrown in for good measure.

    Numberama, namerama, Compton Vinny led us out.

    News: July 4th convergence at 6 am on Brown’s Island.

    Prayer requests and updates: EF Huttons dad is on the mend after surgery, so please keep the good thoughts and prayers his way as the work of recovery begins. A good woman passed away yesterday at the age of 91. Flatlines grandmother was part of a fading generation that was resilient, kind and damn tough. She will be missed and our brother has a heavy heart. Our buddy Vinny is has a big move coming up. Let this be free from major complications and should any arise let him address those with the kindness and levelheadedness we have all come to love and appreciate.

    More on Compton Vinny: So this is the first F3 departure for YHC of a pax member I was super close to. The genius thing that Vinny did was that he pulls you into his world, but allows you to find your own way. He has a god given talent for helping to point you in the right direction, without pushing you. His enthusiasm for F3 RVA is on a level all of its own. We are better off for having you share your time, talents and love with us. His are shoes that can’t be filled. We will put them in a place of honor until we are fortunate enough to have you back for one more morning in the gloom.

  • The “Crabtree”

    Three First Watch newbies and two veterans hit the mean streets of River Road this morning in the very early gloom. After Hardywood and BT worked their way around the back of the church trying to find the correct parking lot, it was time to roll.

    Mosey to the front of the church for:

    COP (early ’80s edition):

    Deadman Hang Regular, left leg over right leg, right leg over left leg

    Helicopters

    Don Quixotes

    Russian Soldiers

    Jazzercises

    Suzanne Somers’ both sides (a Hardywood favorite)

    Freddie Mercury’s

    Mosey down River Road and make a stop at Saab’s driveway.

    Face away from house and complete 20 Monkey Humpers

    Mosey down River Road some more until the little bat cave entrance to the UR Football practice field.

    Examine the beautiful turf and set cones up for:

    Doracides – Deconstructed Burpee Edition

    Partner up and complete:

    100 Hands on ground kick feet back (1st third of a Burpee)

    200 Merkins

    300 Jump Squats

    Runner runs to first cone and performs 1 Burpee runs back to baseline, then runs to second cone and performs 2 Burpees then runs back to baseline, then runs to third cone and performs 3 Burpees and runs back to baseline, then switch with partner.

    Hand Q over to EF Hutton. EF Hutton stares at the 7 man football sled and makes a comment like “I really want to use that sled for something” but instead heads over to the field hockey goals. Grab a field hockey goal and complete a Pull-Up/Monkey Humper Jack Webb. 1 Pull-up/4 Monkey Humpers 2/8 3/12 4/16……10/40

    10 minutes left, time to head back up River Road.

    Stop at Saab’s house for 15 Alabama Prom Dates in cadence. Admire the sweat angels in Saab’s driveway.

    Head back to the Shovel Flag and circle up for:

    Burpee Ring of Fire (like we haven’t done enough Burpees yet.) Each pax call out 1, 2 or 3 Burpees without repeats.

    LBC’s x 20

    6 inches or 60 inches, whichever you prefer for 30 seconds.

    Time up!

    Numberama, Namearama, Announcements, and YHC took us out!

    Announcements:

    EF Hutton’s Father’s surgery went well though he has a long road to recovery. Please pray for him.

    Shakedown’s surgery went well and he is now in recovery/rehab stage. Please pray that he heals up correctly and is back out with us soon.

    Hardywood and DTH are leading the July 4th Convergence on July 4, 2020 at Brown’s Island/Tredegar. 6am this year. It’s too damn hot at 7am!

    Offshore is leading the 3rd F Bible Study on Tuesday, June 9 at 8pm on Zoom.

    NMS:

    It was great to see some new faces at First Watch this morning. Swirly was his usual early self parking at 4:30 so he and YHC got to catch up for a few minutes. Hardywood and BT had trouble finding the correct parking lot even though YHC texted very good directions to them yesterday.

    This First Watch workout is now called “The Crabtree” YHC wanted to name it “The Saabski” but Swirly informed me that is the offical name of the Spider Run route that was run yesterday. Maybe one day, Saab will step out of his house and run the 1/4 mile to the AO and join us 🙂

    Plenty of Burpees and Pull-ups this morning and the Pax crushed them. Well done all! Hardywood and EF Hutton left at 6am to head over to WDOG where Hardywood was the Q and both were after an early Wednesday morning Double-Dip!

    Have a great day all and SYITG!

    Kubota

  • Triple Red Hot 7s of a Different Sort

    Don Draper logged in to prevent YHC’s crawl back to the fartsack for a beatdown that went something like this:

    COP: SSHs, IWs, DQs IC

    Optimus Prime: 7 sets of 7 reps of 7 exercises, with 20 Mountain Climbers on the side of each set to simulate running. Exercises: Diamond Merkins, Pickle Pounders, Touch Knees, WWIIs, Jump Squats, J Los, Burpees

    American Hammers IC

    COT

    Announcements: HDHH tonight, 3rd F next Tuesday at 8pm, Tron next Monday at 5:30am, VR Dawg next Wednesday at 5:30am.

    NMS: YHC wanted to try a virtual Beast, but rather than just slay the Beast, PAX went beyond towards perfection with an additional set, rep, and exercise.

    It was great to have Don Draper back out in the virtual gloom. PAX agreed that intentional moving around is essential to maintain health while working remotely.

    F3 Quiz of the Day: What two PAX members’ first and last names differ by only a single letter?

    Answer: Don Draper and Doublemint

  • The DOORS, those D$% Doors

    3 SOT regulars or what used to be the regulars found themselves together at The Source to see what Doozy had on the books for today

    Mosey to bus loop COP

    DQ’s, Dead man Hangs, Helicopters, Cherry Pickers, Imperial Walkers, Russian Soldiers

    Mosey to Door #1 Alternating doors – Merkins and Squats 33 doors total with 20 having an A and a B side. The number on the door is the number to do.

    PAX liked it so much we cheerfully decided to do it again but with SSH’s and Plank Jacks instead

    BTTF – Hold 6″ for a Ab ring of fire

    Numbers / Names YHC took us out

    NMS:

    YHC has been taking Wednesdays off as a mid week break but I miss this AO because there are so many different things to do. You really don’t need a full cheat sheet to come up with ways to bring the pain to the beat down. I think I will start making SOT a regular stop again.

  • 2 Days Late but – OTB is back

    5 Gents and a dog hit the streets of Midlo on Sunday and crossed paths at a safe distance. Rosie is rumored to have hit 13 miles, Gumbo knocked out 10 plus, followed up by Hitchhiker and Honeymoons 7.5 miles. Duke got 4.5. Strong work gents, love seeing things getting back to normal slowly!