4 men started their Sunday off right with some running and rucking. 2 for an out and back to Timberwolf and 2 for a ruck around Midlothian. A short stop for coffee at Urban Farmhouse afterwards made for a great start to the day.
Off the books is unofficially back on now, if you want to run early on Sunday touch base with Honeymoon or I, no guarantees we’ll be there but we’ll try. Wilson and Recall can be convinced to do a little rucking from there too.
YHC showed up to Tomato Run and quickly figured out it would be a solo ruck. Mudface is out of town on business, and YHC later learned Spit’s household was besieged by a stomach bug. YHC set off at a pretty fast clip, mainly because it was cold and the pace made it slightly less so. 3 miles later, with nary another soul (F3 or other) sighted, the day was off to a good start.
As usual, I have No Idea what I’m doing.
We will be moving the Wednesday April, 3rd Roller Coaster hill run to the parking lot behind Palani Drive (401 Libbie Avenue). We will meet in the parking lot and have a hard start at 5:30pm. We will then run up and down some nearby hills and then retreat back to Palani Drive for HDHH! If you cannot make the run, please join us at the restaurant. Runners should be back by 6:15pm or so. This is the week of most public school’s Spring Break. Also, there is outdoor seating at Palani Drive, which will be key for those that don’t smell good after a run. This will be good training for BRR 2019 (the running part and the beer drinking part afterwards.) See ya there!
With most of F3’s faithful unable to shake off the fart sack from too much basketball and beer, 3 noble warriors bucked the trend for some punishment on RVA’s finest trails.
With no one sure who had the Q and the clock hitting 7am, the PAX took off across the Boulevard Bridge for a 6-7 mile route following the Buttermilk and North Bank trails.
Name-a-rama. YHC took us out in prayer.
NMS. It was great running with Tonka and Flipper as I got to know these 2 great dudes much better. Our conversation ran the gamut from the differences between road running and trail running, how our wives balance us out, the the beauty of crossing Potterfield bridge at sunrise, and how you can’t out-exercise poor eating. We also discussed the concept of Type 1 vs. Type 2 fun. Type 1 fun is enjoyable while it’s happening (cornhole on the beach, happy hour, a boys weekend away, watching UVA win). Type 2 fun sucks while it’s happening, but fun in retrospect (BRR, running a marathon, almost any F3 workout, Rucking, the Murph, The Barkley Marathons).
Today was Type 2 fun and at each challenge these studs soldiered through. Tonka embodied the F3 spirit that I have come to love, stating We started as a group and we’re going to finish as a group. Even when it costs you. Even when it means you take the longer route. Even when it means you run at a faster pace than normal. Bro Code.
See ya in the gloom for some more Type 2 fun!
Ollivander
The Early Risers club will run the trail loop once a month in the dark starting at 4:00 am. First run date is 4/13.
Then you can hit Dogpile at 6:00. Get your headlamp ready.
The greener pastures of GridIron greeted a starting 9 including our good buddy from Charlotte. Here’s the unofficial box score:
THANG: SSHs, IWs, DQs, APDs, Pan Pax 8-ct BBs, Suzanne Somers, all IC; run to the Pillars of Pain for Chatanooga Choo Choo southbound; slalom the PofP and planks; run to the Battery and form PAX SplitSquad (Squad 1 run to Tunnel, x100 Merkins OYO, and run back/Squad 2 x200 Merkins OYO, x200 APDs OYO, and x200 Air Squats OYO); regroup at the Battery for RLeg Rear Lunge, AirSquats, and LLeg Rear Lunge, Karaoke Left, Karaoke Right, and Backward Runs; ambulate to the nearby Diamond for Home and Visitor dugout benches for StepUps OYO and Dips OYO rinse and repeat x3; run to Blacktop for Chattanooga Choo Choo northbound; run to PofP and planks; engage individual Pillars for Angle of Repose recovery followed by Pillar Seats, Pillar Smokers OYO, and APDs IC, rinse and repeat; slalom the PofP and plank; APDs, AirSquats, and [something else], all IC; and run back to Parking Lot.
COT: Numberama and Namearama, No announcements, and Strong Closing Prayer of Gratitude by PigSkin.
MOLESKIN: The starting 9 enjoyed extra innings at Einsteins where lively and far reaching discussion ensued.
It’s a special day when PigSkin joins the PAX; it’s extra special when we know he’s here visiting his two children and their families and celebrating the third birthday of PigSkin III. Enjoy the weekend and safe travels home!
Frivolity broke out during one of the APD IC exercises at the Pillars of Pain. Inspired by tales of a new favorite hotspot for one of the PAX, Attila and Johnsonville (and others) enhanced the cadence by verbalizing an antibiotic on every fourth count. Were the Plaid Skirts present they would have been impressed with PigSkin’s masterful command of number counting in various foreign languages, not so much with the pharmacy offerings.
Several of the PAX gladly accepted the invite to Q some of the exercises – excellent leadership by all three; we’ll follow you anytime and look forward to your VQs!
ChumBucket led the hard chargers on the Tunnel dash and for recovery offered his Green Deal in the form of Al Gores between the StepUps and Dips.
Adderall declined the Green Deal and instead recovered with fence hanging horizontal leg holds. Impressively, amidst a run (and sans his usual Restrictor Plate) Adderall nearly crowned his noggin on the basketball hoop.
Quest and ByProduct talked up a day hike, perhaps Old Rag. Given their strong efforts at GridIron I expect a fast pace. Standby for more as they take the Q mantle on this adventure.
Tater continues to set a high bar at GridIron and inspires the PAX – well done. And the PAX were encouraged to hear that the criteria for higher education for one of Tater’s spuds was the absence of safe spaces.
PigSkin departed the fellowship to get a jump on the BDay celebration; he was followed by Adderall and Chum who embarked on a 20 mile training run; the remaining six eventually departed with more modest plans, including, for at least one, a solid nap after yard work.
Blessings.
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV)
Fifteen of RVAs finest shook off the fartsack from a late night of watching basketball and came out for some fun and a few miles pre and post workout.
We were met with a few questionable looks on the way to Dogpile and one irate car traveling at a high velocity, but Carytown was somewhat dormant at the time. The lap around the lake was nice.
Coming home we had the early morning crowd giving a few salutes as the Flag made its way back to ET.
Announcements
See preblast for this Wednesday’s HDHH at Palani Drive following the Roller Coaster run. Kubota is on point.
Great run men.
Lockjaw
Birds were chirping, Dogwoods in bloom, and the Squirrels were Merry today. Thirty-five Pax were merry as well, as least in the beginning.
Mosey to the second circle for COP:
Over to the Grand Field to get down to business. Bro Code in effect for Ascending 4 Corners. Elbow planks for the six.
Partner up for 3 sets of 20 Wilson’s Boxing Cockroaches.
Form two columns and space out with 5 feet of separation for a Caterpillar. The six bunny hops over the Pax to the front. Three times through.
Form a Tunnel of Love and commando crawl back the other way – three times through.
Partner up again for 3 sets of 20 PLTs.
Go to the end of the field for triple check.
Mosey over to the first circle for Mary Ring of Fire. Pax chooses an ab exercise of 10 reps, leads the Pax in that exercise, and passes to the left. Except for Swirly who did 50 or 60. Exercises included.
Back to the Flag where YHC took us out.
Announcements:
Lockjaw
7 men arrived for a Q not fit for any 2.0’s, and barely for us.
COP: SSH, arm circles, LBC’s, DQ.
Mosey to Mudface’s truck to pick up Deadweight, our 75 pound sandbag, for Native American sandbag lunge–first PAX puts sandbag on shoulders, lunges 10 steps, drops sandbag, runs to back of line, next PAX picks it up. Rinse and repeat around the parking lot and to the middle of the field, each man taking it at least 3 times.
Time for grass drills! PAX runs in place, high knees, while one member does a combination of lifts, squats with sandbag, then toss it over their shoulder yelling “drop!.” While it’s in the air, rest of PAX drops to ground and bounces back up before it hits the ground. Repeat through whole PAX, then add in a burpee with sandbag, repeat through whole PAX again.
Next, PAX lays down side by side, head to feet, starting on end, do WWII situp with Deadweight, at top of situp, carefully give sandbag to next man in line, repeat until everyone has done it 6 times. While waiting your turn keep doing WWII situps.
Repeat Native American sandbag lunge back to the flag. Numberama, namerama, Rounders took us out.
NMS: YHC is not fond of Deadweight, whose last appearance was at the never to be repeated Sandbag Mile. The PAX was similarly enthusiastic, especially Bulkhead, who kept getting the extra rep in somehow. PAX also had to deal with a dog being walked nearby, who kept being spooked when Deadweight hit the ground. The grass drills were rough, but Rounders kept the PAX laughing by doing a good imitation of someone who had 20 too many Red Bulls, often at a loud volume, hoping to wake up Flounder, whose house abuts the field. No such luck, but Rounders is probably up for another go at it. YHC doubts even Emoji thought the grass drills were a favorite–high knees is really tough after lunging with 75 pounds. All in all, the Q kept the PAX moving and the PAX responded with gusto.
As usual, I have No Idea what I’m doing.
Injuries and vacation have taken a toll on the PAX. YHC is nursing a sore knee that sidelined him for the last week. However, the gloom called this gladiator, and a leg friendly KB workout called. Here is how it went down:
Missed the PAX. The workouts are great, but the fellowship with the PAX is what makes F3. Healing prayers for Johnsonville. Social media reports that White Deer is swimming with swine (let that image settle in). Looking forward to healing and be back with the PAX on Saturday at Gridiron.
God is good all of the time
Attila