Category: Richmond, VA

TYA, YHC and FNG (JoAnne) shook off a little cemento (that is not a misspelling) dust for a Wednesday evening hill run.  2.5 miles in one direction with multiple path and street changes.  Return same route with slight modifications due to some directional difficulties attributed to TYA.

Total Elevation Gain – Approximately 100 feet.

NMS – Upon arriving back at home base after a day TYA acting like he knows what he is doing when it comes to masonry and YHC acting like he knows what he is doing when it comes to speaking Spanish, YHC and TYA were sitting on the front steps covered in dirt, dust and mud.  YHC knows that TYA loves his Wed. Hill run, so YHC delcares we are going for a run.  YHC informs TYA that we are going to take the path across the street from the house and take a left up a mountain and see where we end up.  What could go wrong with a plan like that?  It turns out that we ran uphill for 2.5 miles.  Along the way, we traversed through a patch of pine trees that were completely engulfed in clouds.  Very eerie.  As the run progressed, the PAX got plenty of looks from the villagers, as YHC is sure they have not seen many white men or women run through their streets before.  The kids directed many snickers our way.  What is great about running in high elevation, is after you have climbed the elevation and head back down the mountain, your lungs clear themselves and your breathing is extremely clear and efficient.  YHC thought he was going to have to tackle TYA, as the man was a beast this afternoon pushing the limits on the inclines.  YHC threatened sever injury if TYA did not give YHC enough time to catch his breath and get rid of his light headedness after an especially difficult climb.  TYA obliged by giving YHC exactly 3 seconds.  A#$&^%.  All in all, it was a great run and no better way to end of day of hard work than with a buddy and some fun.

Circle K

Two men woke slinked out of the top bunks to get the day started the only way F3RVA men know how (especially when in Guatemala): (sidenote-these workouts are not for Big Data purposes)

Mosey approximately 50 yds up mountain for COP. Exercises included:

DQs (completely out of breath-how can we be completely out of breath with DQs?), SSH, Helicopter, Freddie Mercuries, merkins, some other stuff.

Mosey another 50 yds for Proper Dora (ode to Lab Rat-Damn Lab Rat made it in a BB in Guatemala.  The country will never be the same)  1 partner perform Caroline Dry Dock, LBC, Squat while other partner run down row of houses.  Complete when perform 100 of each exercise as a team.

Mosey 5 yds for the hardest Beast you could imagine, The Mountain Beast.  Mountain Beast consisted of running up and down a damn mountain stopping to perform 6 reps at various locations.  Exercises included merkins, curb dips, flutter kicks, copperhead squats, LBCs and Burpees.

Mosey halfway down the mountain for curb crawls.  Bear crawl across road for 1 incline merkin, crawl bear back across road for 2 decline merkins.  Repeato until up to 5 and back down to 1.

Mosey back to VSF.

NMS : Another beautiful morning in Guatemala mountains.  45 degrees in July translate into 70 and sunny any day of the week.  TYA and YHC have a theory about working out in 10K feet of elevation.  It does not matter what exercise you do first, it will cause you to be completely out of breath.  We started with Saab style (real slow) DQs and both of us looked at each other asking :Why can’t we breath?  Just DQs, right?  We were completely gassed from a 50 yd jog and DQs.  This elevation is no joke, but if we ever catch our breath, we will be stronger at normal elevations.  Upon completion of the Proper Doras as we strolled a couple yards, YHC noticed TYA was looking down this mountain.  The following conversation ensued:

YHC – You are thinking about doing a Beast up and down this mountain?

TYA – Yes

YHC – Are you f#$%&^ serious?

TYA – Yes

And with those two words, we did the Mountain Beast.  During the Mountain Beast, there must have been severe shortage of oxygen to the brain as TYA exclaimed “Did you see that horse?”  YHC explained to TYA that the horse had been there throughout the entire workout.  Maybe it was the same horse TYA saw during his 100 mile race.  The natives of these Guatemalan villages are not used to visitors performing a Bootcamp workout (or any type of workout for that matter).  TYA and YHC got some laughs, crazy looks and disbelieving stares while they watched the PAX perform Burpees, Flutterkicks and Curb Crawls.  I am completely confident this was the first time they have ever witnessed Burpees and unfortunately, they witnessed TYA’s and YHC’s form

Circle K

Two F3RVA men shook off two days of traveling to and through Guatemala by waking early for a run.  Temps were 70 and Sunny (actually about 45 degrees F) and this is what happened:

Simple enough route-Begin running and proceed 2.1 miles in one direction along main road (if that is what you want to call it).  Turn around and bring it back to home base.

NMS : Because of the fact we were located at about 9500 feet elevation above sea level, the challenge of this run started with the first step.  The route was straight up for 1 mile, followed by a short down hill, another long uphill, closing out with a well earned down hill.  It was great going for a run in 45 degree weather in mid-July.  Working out in high altitude is no joke.  It did not take long before TYA and YHC were completely gassed.  Approximately 1/2 mile.  The mountains in this area of the Southern Highlands of Guatemala are perfect BRR training and provide some of the most beautiful views supplied by Mother Nature.

Circle K