Category: Richmond, VA

  • The pews were almost empty at Dirt Church.

    The Prodigal Son returneth, and a total of two were in the congregation Sunday morning.

    The Sheik posted for the first time in recent memory, again for a two-wheeled activity, and joined YHC for thirteen point something miles of Pocahontas singletrack and gravel.  The later hour of this service agrees more with his constitution, the Sheik told me, as we rolled from Fendley Station to Sunsetter to Bell Return to Gateway One to Blueberry Hill.  That pre-dawn rollout from RAMM Gears is hard to make.  Recent surgery on his knee kept him from getting back out earlier, but thankfully he got back out.

    Our pace was conversational and casual,  given the Sheik’s long absence from the flock.  One of the great things about mountain biking, though, is it’s just like… um… riding a bike… in that it comes back to you quickly after you’ve been away.  A few more Sundays, and he’ll be back in form.  By the way, his new bike kicks ass like a cross-eyed Rockette.

    Trail conditions were about a seven out of ten: recent rains have left some low spots soft and muddy but nothing we wanted to ride was closed.   The Faithful at FofPSP and MORE (our local trail bosses) do a great job of keeping the trails in great shape.

    Slide into the pews of Dirt Church on Sunday and it’ll do your soul some good.  If the trails are closed, it becomes Gravel Church and we stay on the fire roads. If you need your gear tuned before then, find me at @bvay on Twitter.

  • Dark Trails

    Two runners and one rucker showed up to Tomato Run in the humidity ready to get some miles in.

    Even though YHC had the Q, I was looking forward to discovering the Mechanicsville trails, so Spit functioned as trail guide for the day. 2 miles out on the trails, and 2 miles back on the roads and Spit and YHC finished up a few minutes early with 4 miles in the bag.

    Mudface did his usual ruck, and was back to the shovel flag on time and we wrapped up with a quick namerama, numberama, and COT.

    Thanks to Spit for slowing it down with me today and showing me the trails. Also, kudos to Mudface for hauling that rucksack around in the humidity this morning.

    Have an awesome week everyone!

    ~Why walk when you can Wheelbarrow?

  • Sauna Season Is Here

    Four spa goers (one of whom is on tour) came for a steam bath, and Batteau delivered. Hot Potato is the custom.

    Swirly Q: Mosey to the pit for COP – SSHs / DQs / Helicopters / LBCs / Flutter kicks. Mosey down Love Hill to the pond bridge. 12 posts crossing the bridge – ascending merkins (78 in total) with bear crawl to the end. Descending burpees (78 in total) with lunges back to the start. Russian Soldiers across the bridge. High knees back to the start.

    Vinny Q: Indian Run to the second stair case. Mosey to the top. 30 second walking count towards the six trees in the field by Forest Hill. Mosey the rest of the way. Partner up. PLTs x 20 at each tree. Start at tree – 1, complete PLTs, run to tree – 6, then back to tree – 2, etc. until completion of 120 PLTs and all trees are stamped. Mosey back to the flag.

    Phonics Q: 6MOM – Plank-O-Rama: Form plank. Carolina Dry Docks / Merkins x 10. Rotate to side plank.   Drop hip and raise x 10. Rotate to back plank. Inverted APD x 10. Other side. Drop hip and raise x 10. Front plank for rotating elbows x 10. Mountain climbers x 10. Freddie Mercuries x 20. Rosalitas x 15. American Hammers x 20. 6 inches 30 count. … dig your own grave … crawl in … lie down … die from heat exhaustion.

    Crossroads took us out.

    Announcements: Fireman Ed VQ at Hoedown next Monday. Roller Coaster HDHH this Wed. at Kuba Kuba Dos. Puppy Pile 8/25. Marv has the Q

    NMS: Just a brutal morning. Hot Potatoes are tough enough, add in a Swedish Sauna, and you had Batteau today. All I can say is, way to work men. There was no hiding today. Swirly worked us over, then we had to climb out of the bottom and work in some abs. By the time YHC handed it off to Phonics, I was done. Lack of oxygen to the brain made me forget how ruthless and demanding a Phonics lead 6MOM can be. Not only did he bang out all of those exercises, but he did so in cadence with authority! Well done Phonics. YHC is known to sweat. Today I gave back about five pounds in water weight. Add that to the five I gave on the trails yesterday, and it’s not a bad start to the week. Drink lots of water today men, and we’ll see you back out tomorrow.

  • Monday Morning

    11 Warriors attacked Hoedown in the dark gloom this morning.  Condition were 70, Sunny and Humid!  This is what went down:

    COP:

    Invisible Jump Ropes x 15

    Don Quixotes x 15

    Helicopters x 15

    LBC’s x 15

    Carolina Dry Docks x15

    Mosey back to YHC’s truck and collect coupons (2 x bricks)

     

    Thang:

    Head down Lindsay Ct to the bottom and commence SUPER 21’s with Coupons

    1 x Merkin/1 x WWII/1 x Squat

    2x, 3x, 4x, 5x

    Butt Kickers up Lindsay with coupons held high

    6x, 7x, 8x, 9x, 10x

    High Knees up Lindsay with coupons held high

    11x, 12x, 13x, 14x, 15x

    Mosey up Lindsay

    16x, 17x

    Mosey

    18x, 19x

    Mosey

    20x

    Mosey

    21x

    Head over to blacktop hill and relieve yourself of coupons.

    11’s

    1 x whatchamacallits, Bernie Sanders up hill, 10 pole smokers on fence

    Repeato until 10 whatchamacallits and 1 pole smoker. (Made it about halfway until time up)

    Mosey to the Shovel Flag

    COT, Numberama, Namearama, YHC took us out

     

    NMS:

    Great work by all the PAX today!  YHC was trying to keep up with Gomer Pyle but just didn’t have enough to do it.  Great work GP!  YHC doesn’t believe anyone was woken up on Lindsay with the sounds of bricks clanking together or hitting the road.  The PAX killed the Super 21’s in quick fashion.  YHC didn’t think 45 minutes would be enough time, but we ended it with 10 minutes left.  Wish we could have gotten all the 11’s in, but time was called.  Whatchamacallits have become quite popular.  They still suck, though!  Glad to have Opus at Hoedown checking it off of the Summer Tour.

    Announcements:

    Fireman Ed has his VQ at Hoedown next Monday!

    Roller Coaster/HDHH this Wednesday at Kuba Kuba Dos at 5:30pm

    PuppyPile on August 25th after DogPile.  Marv has the Q

     

    Great work today guys, and way to get it all out!

    Kubota

    keep posting!

  • Sunday Morning

    8 strong hit the trails or blacktop this fine Sunday morning.  Conditions were clear, 70 and sunny with some peacefulness and serenity thrown in.

    This is what we did:

    YHC called the Nickel Bridge to Buttermilk to T Potterfield to North Bank route.  An “Oldie but Goodie” route right, Vinny!  Saab stayed on the blacktop and made it down and across the Mayo Bridge and back up to T Potterfield and ran halfway across until he met the trail group, turned around a ran with us until Tredegar and continued up the hill on the blacktop surfaces back to and around Byrd Park and then threw in a few hill repeats on Love Hill.  Great job!  Gomer and Upchuck took off out of the gate and killed the called route in an hour!  Well done!  Hardywood did the called route with a few modifications to make it longer.  The rest of the PAX ran the called route in about 90 or so minutes.  Great job to all!

    What a great morning!  It warmed up a little when we got out of the shade onto T Potterfield.  Everything including the river and city were really bright with the sun reflecting off of everything.  A nice break from all of the rainy, dreary, cloudy days we have been experiencing.  YHC rolled his ankle about two miles in but continued on in an ugly fashion.  Vinny may or may not have had a slight tumble.  I’ll let him describe.  Glad to have Shakedown and Gomer Pyle back out in the gloom after their vacations!  Also, glad to have Hardywood back out after his paternity leave.  YHC enjoyed our conversation about long term planning, Hardywood!  YHC didn’t make ET’s but I know some folks went.  Hope you had a great breakfast.  Enjoyed it fellas!

    Announcements:

    Combined Roller Coaster and HDHH this Wednesday at 5:30pm at Kuba Kuba Dos in Tuckahoe Shopping Center.  I have a loop route planned in the hills nearby and then we will convene for food and beverage after.  No outdoor tables there, so you may want to bring a change of clothes and/or deodorant.

    PuppyPile on Saturday, August 25th immediately following Dogpile.  Bring those 2.0’s out!  Marv has the Q.

    Announcement on Ghostflag appearance soon.  Look for a PreBlast.

    New Podcast is out.

     

    Have a great Sunday all!!

    Kubota

    keep posting!

  • The Grove Solo Trail Run

    One PAX member took off at 6 am from Urban Farmhouse on this perfect Sunday morning for a relaxing 5.6 mile journey.  Of course since there were no witnesses, this is the legend of what occurred.

    The Route

    Leave Urban Farmhouse and take a left onto North Woolridge Road.  Take a right onto Grove Hill Road.  Follow the bike path/trail until it ends then take a right onto Coalfield Road.  Take a left onto Bristol Village Road.   Take a left onto Manders Drive.  Take a left onto Coalfield Road and then a right onto Grove Hill Road.  From Grove Hill follow the bike path/trails through the neighborhood going around the lake until it came into the Midlothian YMCA parking lot.  Turn around and follow the path back to Grove Hill Road.  Take at left onto Grove HIll crossing North Woolridge Road until it ends.  Follow a sidewalk that appeared to be abandoned at the end of Grove Hill Road.  Find a trail at the end of the abandoned sidewalk and follow it.  After YHC discovered that he was standing in the Midlothian Middle School parking lot, he noticed a cat to the left.  Follow the cat down a trail that would take him onto roads that would Lead to to Sycamore Village Drive.  Take a left onto Coalfield Road.  Pass JB Watson Elementary School and turn left into the Urban Farmhouse parking lot.

    NMS

    The RVA Summer Tour has been a lot of fun including the run today that required stopping every 10 minutes to figure out where he was.  16 down and 8 to go.  This was the 2nd to last stop that requires YHC to pay for a toll.  Still trying to figure out why the nickel bridge cost a quarter.

    Announcement:  You still have time to join the RVA Summer Tour.  August 6 (tomorrow) is the last date if you have not posted on a Monday since Memorial Day.

    Gotta Run!

    Phonics

  • Summer Tour Comes to an End

    Seven strong took the fields of gridiron. Here’s how it went down-

    Mosey to center of track field – warm up. SSH, mountain climbers, Don Q, werkins, flutters

    Partner up – track work. Round 1 -run opposite way on track until meeting up, perform 15 boo ya merkins, repeat until complete 4 rounds. Round 2 – run opposite way, complete 20 partner leg throws each at meet up, repeat until completed 4 rounds.

    bear crawl to middle of field – 25 two-count SSHs, bear crawl back. Repeat with 20 WWII situps.

    Line up on one end of field, BLIMP to the other end – 5 broad jump burpees, 10 lunges, 15 imperial walkers, 20 polar bears.

    honeymoon suite – monkey humpers, prom dates, pickle pounders

    mosey to picnic tables – lindsay – irkins and 2-count freddie

    Hand Q to White Deer – 3 on 3 volleyball with loser of point performing 1 burpee for opponent . increase burpees each point, up to ten points and the end of game. Game ended 10-6.

    moleskin-

    YHC has enjoyed the summer challenge, as JVille confirmed the last time attending Gridiron was the convergence, and the coffee shop was still open. YHC wish he’d had tried to Q them all, which would have included a lot of Lab Rat ultimate frisbee. It was a beautiful morning, plenty of people out getting in their workout on the track as the PAX turned out a few miles. Lots of chatter about the swimming announcement at Dogpile and the imminent danger cancellation. Honeymoon suite was a request to honor all the folks out exercising, not sure it was honorable though.

    White Deer asked to take the last 15 minutes which is fine with YHC as his volleyball activity was much better than the last few ideas YHC had up his sleeve. At about 5 points/burpees, the PAX really felt the weight of each point as the burpees increased towards 10. Thanks to WD for that.

    Good fellowship as always at Einsteins after the workout.

    Time to retreat the comfort of the local AOs, see you all in the gloom.

  • Mo Fo Booyah!!

    Yes, it is true. YHC wanted to lead the PAX across the river today but rains up river, concerns from M’s, and overall safety lead YHC to have a “normal” Q for Dogpile this morning. Upon arrival, 3 regular PAX members and a upcoming 1st classmen at The Institute were ready to go. Shovel Flag was placed and mumblechatter in The Gloom was on!! 22 men arrived this morning for a mo fo booyah Q!!! 0600….time to mosey!

    COP….x10 Russian Soldiers, 1 Burpee. x 14 (10 small, 4 big) forward and backward arm circles, 2 Burpees. x 15 SSH, x 3 Burpees. x 15 Cooperhead Squats, x 4 Burpees, and x 10 Flutter Kicks, x 5 Burpees. Time to get it all out!

    Mosey to Fountain Lake (please read NMS for other selected names)…….partner up. Partner 1 runs a lap around the lake and catches up with Partner 2. Partner 2, bear crawls to each light post. At each light post, x 10 Merkins and x 20 (2 count) American Hammers. Bear crawls lasted approx. 1/2 around the lake and Q called an audible-lunges over bear crawls. Respect to a few PAX members who continued to bear crawl!! Yup, mumblechatter was light so the PAX was definitely digging a little deeper!!!!

    Mosey to the Vita Course….yup, F3 RVA showed up in force this morning. At each workout stop, perform x 10 Carolina Dry Docks, x 10 Jump Squats. Due to time constraints, YHC called audible to stop at balance beam. With 5 minutes to spare, yes PAX kept running!! Mosey to The Lawn for one final Q exercise!

    Lawn Sprint….AYG across The Lawn. 100% max effort was asked and PAX responded!!! Time’s up. Mosey back to the flag!

    Number-ama, Name-r-ama, Announcements……New podcast is up. CSAUP, Oct 20-see TYA and involves running, a lot. Puppypile, Aug 25-Marv has lead.  Congrats to our new fathers-Hardywood, Hitchhiker, and Spit!! Convergence, Labor Day, out in Da Ville somewhere-see Spit!

    YHC took us out!!

    NMS-lots this morning so here YHC goes. First, great to see Gumbo back in The Gloom.

    YHC really wanted to traverse the river this morning so that will have to wait. Part of the problem is how far out Dogpile Q have been spoken for….nice work PAX!! In the gloom, Swirly mentioned one of YHC’s last Q’s and how the PAX was at fountain lake, or as Swirly called it syringe lake. YHC had to internally laugh at The Gloom because, well, PAX was back at syringe lake again today. Or Bird Poop Alley as Honeymoon referred to it! Either way, syringe lake, bird poop alley, or Fountain Lake, YHC has some bad memories of that place in the past so thank you for providing YHC with a glorious morning and positive vibes!

    Wilson, yes YHC likes to keep moving so running it is. But YHC thinks you know that. Always love the clown care from New Market! And BRR participants need to get those miles in!!!

    Swiper and Sippy Cup, way to push the run around the lake this morning!! And Pullout, all in my friend and that is awesome!! As for backblast, every now and again, YHC just makes up words and phrases so “Mo Fo Booyah” came out as the _____ lake exercise was finishing!!

    New fathers—glad to hear all is well with your families. YHC sends blessings and good health prayers!!

    YHC is sure there is more that he missed in mumblechatter!! Please enlighten.

    To all PAX members, thank you for following this morning. Yes YHC heard discontent but that usually is a good thing. We are blessed to have arisen from the sack this morning and push ourselves, physically, mentally, and spiritually.

    ” This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalms 118:24!

    Only those who post understand!!

    Loud and Proud,

    Flatline

     

  • Amateur Hour, Part Deux…

    Fifteen on foot and fifteen* on wheels posted at Mary this morning in between raindrops.  A couple few 2.0’s made it out despite the early hour, and two FNG’s got named.  

    The cycling went a little something like this:

    Out the back and down Cary.  Dive into Windsah Fahms, and out via Portland.  Douglasdale.  Hang a right and boogie down to Byrd Park for a lap around and between the lakes.  Get rained on like a champ.  Over to, and around the lake with the fountain in it.  Climb up to Boulevard and roll, en masse, respectfully following all prescribed traffic laws.  Left and down Ellwood, disregarding said laws.  Back to Mary via Grove.

    Some things of note: Firstly: high marks to first-timers, children, and otherwise fit dudes who just don’t spend time on bikes.  Thank you for coming out, because riding bikes is rad but riding bikes with other people is way, way radder.   Secondly: high marks to ALL riders for their adherence to Rule #9** — riding a bike in foul weather means you’re a badass.  It poured for a little while, but the stalwart and stoic PAX honey-badgered through it.  I didn’t see that coming, but am glad ain’t nobody noped out because of weather.  Finally: extra high marks to Kabota for bringing out the sled with the kiddie seat on the back.  If you take your little one out on that thing, you’re a good dad, dude.

    I’m going to suggest that this sort of thing happen more often, if for no other reason that it was a lot of fun.  While the RAMM Gears Faithful always get in a good workout when we’re all spandex-and-Strava’ed-up, there should be more to Friday morning than that.   Maybe once a month would suffice, maybe even just once a quarter?  Just again, though, please.   I hope others feel the same.

    Before I forget, from what I heard at the coffee pot this morning, the runners did “the Carollon Route”, whatever that is.  TYA and Swirly did “Patterson backwards” and Bleeder tried to kill LugNut but thankfully didn’t succeed.

    Please remember that all PAX have a standing invitation to get bikes dialed in at No Tools’ Coffee Emporium & Bike Shop.  Rates are reasonable (IPA) and hours are by appointment (don’t forget the IPA).   Find me at @bvay on Twitter.

     

    Announcements: Humpday Happy Hour is coming up… Roller Coaster Run & Kubu Kuba Dos.  Lab Rat says listen to Soundcloud this afternoon.  Dirt Church is Sunday before 8am at Courthouse Church of Christ (will be all gravel this week).  BT will be racing Bleeder on jet skis next week.  Maybe there’ll be video?

     

    * Shout out to the brother who posted with the little 2.0 on the bmx bike.  Things weren’t shaping up as planned and they waved off on Cary before Malvern.  Anyone catch his name?

    ** see here for The Rules but don’t take ’em too seriously. 

  • Drowning Is Not An Exercise!!

    Drowning Is Not An Exercise!!

    Due to continued rain (this sucks), Dogpile will not involve swimming on Saturday!! Dress for a land workout with Flatline!!