Category: Richmond, VA

  • Swirly’s Kryptonite…

    5 studs found the deepest of gloom in Forest Hill Park for a Batteau beatdown that went something like this:

    The initial foursome moseyed (carefully) to the  flat concrete area at the bottom of the steps but right before the Hill of Ill Repute for COP, including:

    • DQs
    • Helicopters
      • OH, we see a light, who could that be — the light is too high, so its not Sippy, and then Swirly says “looks like ABBA” … really, from 35-40 yards out in the darkest of glooms, Swirly identified ABBA somehow – from his gate or his scent …how?  Who knows, but don’t sleep on Corporate.  He doesn’t need facial recognition or light.  He knows who you are.
    • SSHs
    • Imperial Walkers

    THE THANG

    Modified Sisyphus (thanks Mr. Holland!) (YHC can’t afford the royalties necessary to copy the whole thing)

    Time to get the show on the road…short mosey up the steps to the Hill of Ill Repute for a modified Sisyphus.  This Sisyphus went like so:

    • Run down to the 1st lamp-post, bearcrawl back up to the starting point…plank for six.
    • Run to “big tree” between 1st and 2nd lamp-post, do 25 Derkins (facing down mountain), run back up tot he top…plank for six.
    • Run to 2nd lamp-post, 30 WWIIs uphill, run back to the top…plank for six.
    • Run to 3rd lamp-post, do 5 squats, 5 jump squats and 5 2-ct mountain climbers, run to the top…plank for six.  (NOTE: in the true Sisyphus, this stop consists of a triple check or dora…had to modify for time and for lack of IP rights…Mr. Holland is a brutal negotiator).
    • Run to the 4th lamp-post, do 10 burpees and Al Gore there for the six (don’t worry, we will go back up later)

    Mosey Around The Lake

    1 lap around the lake, stopping at each lamp-post for an exercise – alternating between 5 merkins and 5 2-ct Freddie Mercuries.  If the lamp-post is out, add 1 burpee as a penalty.  Oddly, the burpees only happened at merkin stops.  Al Gore at the bottom of the Hill of Ill Repute for the six

    Mosey up the Hill of Ill Repute

    Catch Your Breathe MARY, all IC, including…

    • Flutter Kicks
    • Dolly
    • Rosalita
    • APDs
    • American Hammers

    Tennis Court Suck, with Swirly’s Kryptonite…he may have x-ray vision, but he’s no Rocky Balboa with a jump rope…

    4 exercise stations spread along one baseline = box cutters, 25lb KB Swings, 35lb KB Squats, Jump Rope.  The rabbit sprinted the long sideline, karaoke across the opposite baseline and backwards lunged back to the exercise baseline.  Rotate when rabbit returns.  Repeato x3

    Merkin ROF…and time was up.  Back to the Flag

    COT, Number-rama, Name-a-rama and YHC took us out.

    Announcements:

    • Rosie’s 12-days of Christmas at NoToll tomorrow.  The Ghost Flag is up for grabs there also.  Extra points for holiday cheer.
    • HDHH at Capital Ale House, Midlothian, Wednesday 5:30 until ??
    • Book signing for Hardywood’s daughter Wednesday at Crossroads

    NMS:

    It has been a while, but YHC Q’d at Batteau a while back and brought two jump ropes.  We learned at that time that actual jump ropes might be Swirly’s kryptonite, so naturally YHC vowed to grab another Batteau Q and bring them back…well today was the day. But, we had to put in some hill and lake work first.  Those are my favorite aspects of Batteau.  YHC will be back in 2019 for sure with jump ropes in tow.  No doubt Swirly will be ready!

    It became clear that jump roping is a required class at VMI as Faceplant and YHC had 3 clean rounds.  Faceplant was generating some serious noise and energy during his rounds.  Vinny suggested Dominion hook him up to a transformer box and collect that energy.  Maybe next time.

    Strong effort by all this morning.  For me personally, the 30 uphill WWIIs on the Hill of Ill Repute took the wind right out of me.  I think I slid downhill about 10 feet during those.

    Happily no actual Faceplants this morning while running on slick cobblestone steps or through wet leaves.  Great work men.  Always a pleasure to load up Gumbo’s Food Truck and make a delivery.  See you in 2019!

    No More Gumbo For You!

     

  • Crabs and Bulls

    13 strong posted at Hoedown on a foggy Monday morning.

    THANG
    Mosey to the back office lot for a warmup of 20xSSH, 10xMK, 20xLBC, 15x Hillbillies

    Mosey to the circle of Paris Ridge.   En route we honored 16 Redskin points with 16 strong burpees. Partner up for a trip up the Ridge, trading off for inchworm Merkins and Bernie runs.    Celebrated at the top with two sets of PLT x20.

    Return to Tuckahoe for four sets x8 of Jerkins and a four corners extravaganza in the back lot – 20x WWII, FK, Carolina Dry Docks & Burpees, then reverse direction.

    A Garbage Plate Q would not be complete without some crawl bear.   Incline crawl bear.   3 sets of 20x copperhead squats + incline crawl bear at the concrete ramp near the cafetorium.  More work for the arms with a round of crab soccer in the beautiful, dry, warm grass of the bus circle.  Wrapped things up with a ring of fire – well done by all.

    Welcomed ~FNG Matador to the mix – friend of Hardywood.  Solid effort and respect for hanging in without gloves!  A veteran of Best Bully Sticks, there was little question or chatter on a name; Ollivander crushed it.

    Announcements –
    Hardywood’s daughter may have a book signing Wednesday at Crossroads – TBD…
    HDHH Wednesday 12/19 Midlothian Capital Ale House, 5:30

    GP

  • Seventy and Sunny for Seven on Sunday

    7 warriors posted on a Sunday morning.  Trails were too wet, so a road run was in order.  Over the river, up the hill, left on Riverside, cross over on T. Pottersfield bridge, make you way back on the north side to the pump house parking lot.

    NMM

    Rosie got a bonus four miles this morning pre launch.  He is training for his Tybee Island race weekend and getting in as many miles as possible.  Rosie, Hardywood, and Saab logged in nine miles this morning. They got a bit of extra mileage by running through the fan.  The rest of the crew logged about 7.5 miles (depending on your GPS, although other GPS’s are bullshit and only the Garmin is correct).  Sally lightened her load alone the way and was chipper post rest stop.

    Wednesday is HDHH at Capital Ale House on the south side.

    Hardywood’s daughter may or may not have a book signing on Wednesday as well.  Depends whether the books arrive on time.

    BRR is on Sept 6, 7th this year.  Let TYA know if your are interested.  Sign up will be soon.

    TYA OUT

  • 75 Meets 70

    4 Beach Warriors and 1 Down-ranger arrived at a soaked Mount Trashmore to get their Sunday started off right. The F3 Hampton Roads App said it was 75 and Sunny but YHC’s RVA app said it was 70 and Sunny. YHC trust the RVA app. Some Shovel Flags were planted and the PAX got to work.

    This is how it went down

    COP (ALL IC) – SSH, Cherry Pickers, Hillbillies, DQ, LBC’s, Heels to Haven, Merkins

    THANG

    Mosey around the AO and up the stairs to top of the hill

    Triple Check –  Two are doing Wilson’s Boxing Dying Cockroach while the third guy is running down the hill to the bathroom then back up. Switch, Rinse, and Repeat for three times each

    11’s – Start with 10 WWII-Situps, run across the top of the hill and up to the pole then complete 1 Merkins. Rinse and Repeat till 1 WWWII and 10 Merkins (The PAX stayed together and planked for the six when necessary)

    Mosey down the hill to the pull up bars

    Ring of Fire – The PAX switched off completing 5 Burp-Ups while the rest of the PAX inclined planked and completed Heels to Haven

    Mosey back up the hill then down the stairs. AYG back to the SF for Numberama, Namerama, COT, and Announcements. Dreamliner took us out

    MOLESKIN

    It’s always great to come to Hampton Roads and post at SlothHill this one was even better since YHC got to Q. YHC always enjoyed some good mumble chatter catching up with this PAX.

    The WBDC’s was a hit! Wilson you would be proud that your exercise has made itself out of RVA. One correction we realize even the acronym is a mouth full so Hampton Roads will just be calling the BDC’s

    During the 11’s we where using a very “slight” hill at the top of Mount Trashmore. YHC realized about halfway through that hill became not so “slight”.

    T-Claps go out to Snowman who gave it all he had at the end pushing Dreamliner to race him to the SF.

    CIRCLE OF TRUST (COT)

    From the reading plan YHC leads with his 9th grader boys small group titled “Joy To The World”

    “Hope, joy, and peace are all words we see everywhere during the Christmas season. But when was the last time you stopped to think about why those words show up so much? What do they actually mean for us? As this verse in Romans reminds us, hope, joy, and peace are all things we can have when we trust in God. Why? Because God is actually the source of all those things! Where in your life do you feel like you need more hope, joy, or peace?”

    Romans 15:13 – “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

    ANNOUNCEMENTS

    Prayers to Deflator’s sister who was in a major crash. No currently status on her. Prayers for her and the others in the accident.

    SPIT ON THAT!!

  • Not Solo After All

    At 06:59 it was not looking promising.  There was a Q, and he was about to embark on a solo mission.  Thankfully three more PAX members shook off the fartsack and kicked their inner sad clown in the groin, which is more than White Deer can say this morning.  Here is how it went down:

    • COP
      • 50 SSH
      • 15 Hillbillies
      • 15 DQ
      • Arm circles – 10 small/5 big, both ways
      • 15 Helicopters
      • Moving plank around the parking island
      • Parking lot tracers
    • Mosey to Pavillion
      • Series of 15 abyss merkins with partner doing squats
      • Rinse and repeat 5x
      • 30 2x LBC
    • Mosey to a different Pavillion
      • 25 dips
      • 25 one leg step-ups (right leg)
      • 25 dips
      • 25 one leg step-ups (left leg)
      • 30 2x LBC
    • Mosey to the Pavilions and perform the following 2x
      • 1 minute pole sit
      • 25 pole smokers
      • 25 hand release merkins
      • 25 WWII sit-ups
      • 1 minute elbow plank
      • 25 2x flutter kicks
      • Bear crawl 10 poles
    • Mosey around the school to the front for triple check
      • Run bus loop
      • Reverse crunches
      • Storm squats
    • Mosey back to parking lot for COT with YHC taking us out

    Grateful for the PAX that joined YHC today.  Flying solo would have sucked.  Solid work all around, with prayers being made for Johnsonville’s family after his mother had a stroke this week.  Great time after the workout at Einstein’s.  Lesson learned – teenage boys can do some stupid things.  Keep your head on a swivel.

    God is good all of the time!

    Attila

  • Love That Dirty Water

    27 lovers, muggers, and thieves sallied forth to love the dirty water at today’s version of The Dogpile.  Weather forecast was light rain and 50 on the outside, sunny and 70 on the inside.

    Pre-Workout:
    Wilson: “Hey, UpChuck, you’re going to keep us dry today, right?”
    YHC: “You bet, pal.”

    Mile Mosey to the Far Traffic Circle:
    During the run, YHC said to Swirly: “Hey, Swirly, where can we stay warm and dry?”  After some consideration about how few options there are at Dogpile, one place came to mind: at home, in bed.
    Swirly’s response: “I can’t do that.”  Bam.  Let’s go.

    COP:
    IW’s x16
    Mercans x4
    Hillbillies x16
    Mercans x4
    SSHs x16 (false stop at 14…)
    Mercans x4
    LBCs x16
    Mercans x4

    Mosey to the Lawn We Never Use…

    Triple Check – Touch a Tree Style:
    5 rounds of 3 things…The PAX continues to question YHC’s math skills. Management reminds the Pax…it’s a free workout.  First rule of business: you get what you pay for.
    10-8-6-4-2
    WWIIs, box cutters, run

    At 06:15, stop and complete 4 mercans and 16 WWIIs.

    Mosey to the Dry Asphalt at the Back Traffic Circle…

    F3 Baseball:
    Break up into 4 groups.
    Each group starts at a base.  Group does 30 of an exercise times # of PAX in the group.  Early finishers can share their extra reps with their teammates.
    When group has done the full count of exercises, move onto the next base.  Each time the group returns to their “home” base, count 1 run.
    Try to remember that running the bases is done counter-clockwise.

    At 06:30, stop and complete 4 mercans and 16 WWIIs.

    Mosey to Amphitheatre…

    Self-Destruction:
    Starting at the top…18 SSHs, 18 mercans, 18 V-ups…minus one for each step down.
    Early finishers partner up to help PAX members.
    (1,000 special thank you’s to Circle K for sharing this gift of pain with the PAX.)

    At 06:45, stop and complete 4 mercans and 16 WWIIs.

    Back to Near the Shovel Flag…

    At 06:59, stop and complete 4 mercans and 16 WWIIs.  Add one arm circle for a total of 61 reps (12 mercans + 48 WWIIs + 1 arm circle).

    AYG to the Shovel Flag.

    Number-am-a, Name-a-ram-a, YHC took us out.

    Announcements:

    First, YHC thanks Swirly for lending his shovel flag. Much appreciated.

    Lots of special intentions today…let’s keep in our prayers Hardywood’s brother, Recall’s family, and Gumbo’s daughter.  All have some tough situations – let’s put together our prayers and support.
    Hardywood’s daughter is having a book signing on Wednesday from 5:30-7:00 at Crossroads Coffee Shop.
    HDHH is also Wednesday from 5:30 to whenever the last beverage is consumed at southside Capital Ale House.
    Tuesday…Ghostflag will be out at NoToll to celebrate YHCs birthday. Thanks, fellas. YHC is honored. Also, apparently, Rosie will be hosting the 12 Days of Christmas workout at that same time.  Bob and Doug will be jealous.
    Christmas workouts…regular Tuesday schedule.
    Sign up for GrowRuck 2019 by December 31 and receive 10 credits towards posting.  Show up in March and complete the full Ruck to keep said 10 credits and your dignity.  Big Data knows.

    NMS:
    YHC wishes nothing more than to make Wilson happy at Christmas time.  YHC had purchased and wrapped Wilson’s gift this year and had it waiting under the tree at Dogpile: “A more-or-less running-free workout”  Then, Wilson showed up this morning and asked YHC for a different gift…”a dry workout.” Sorry, dude.  One gift per man.  And, today’s gift was for the PAX: a muddy, dirty, nasty, wet, squishy, suckage-filled workout.  More-or-less running-free.  Merry Christmas, Wilson.  And, does anyone really believe staying dry is as fun as rolling in the dirty water?

    Also, our friend Kubota lost his grandfather, a WWII veteran, yesterday.  The PAX remembered him, and all of our fathers and grandfathers from the Greatest Generation, today.  Among the lessons that generation demonstrated consistently was putting others first.  If you have ever attempted to thank a WWII veteran for their service, to a person, they will say someone else did more or gave more. YHC believes that, after spending their late teens and early 20’s watching people destroy each other, those men simply learned that there was vastly more to be thankful for than to complain about. Today’s workout was about doing a little bit more for your teammates.  The PAX did 61 exercises spread throughout the workout to remember Lloyd Applewhite and his mates from the USS Iowa (BB-61).  The PAX did 4x+16x throughout the workout to remember the 416,000+ American men and women who gave their lives in the service of our country.

    When you are out and about this week, let’s all try to think of ways to put someone else on our back and help them through a tough time.  For all the joy of the holiday season, for some folks, this is the toughest, loneliest time of year.  Let’s live the words, “It’s better to give, than to receive.”  And, if you all would remind YHC of that from time to time, YHC would be much obliged.

  • Are we going to throw these blocks???

    6 Davillians arrived for a snowy end of the week beatdown

    This how it went down:

    Mosey a lap around the church

    COP (ALL IC) – SSH, Hillbillies, DQ, LBC’s, AL Prom Date, Merkins, Arm Circles

    THANG

    Mosey to the Q’s SUV to pick up our coupons for the morning (cider blocks for those over the age of 11 and 15lb KB for the twins) then head to the pavilion

    Wilson’s boxing dying cockroaches – 3 set of 20 each partner

    Mosey to the field

    Modified Iron Pax Coupon Challenge – 5 flying squirrel Burpees, 15 Sit-Up + Press, 30 LegRaises w/Coupon in arms extended ChestPress position, run across the field and back. Rinse and Repeat for 15 minutes

    Mosey back to the Parking lot

    11’s w/Coupon – Start with 1 inclined Merkin, lunge while block is in Hallelujah (above head), 10 American hammers with block

    Mosey back to the SF for Numberama, Namerama, Announcements, Opus took us out

    MOLESKIN

    All a fun time with coupons are involved. It seemed at first YHC would be lone wolf today but Opus rolled in at 5:27 followed shortly after by the Jett clown truck.

    Mumble chatter was low other than Mudface trying to get the 2.0 to listen. This seems to be a repeating thing at The Creek.

    Title of the backblast was the questioned Mudface ask YHC at the beginning since the last time cinder blocks were used at The Creek was in the middle of the winter, the temp was a warm 9 degrees, and all the blocks cracked with we throw them during Mudface’s Q. Looking blocks survived this time around.

    ANNOUNCEMENTS

    YHC is seeking some HC for Breaking Bread next Sunday for the DaVille PAX

    SPIT ON THAT!!  

  • December HDHH

    The idea has been batted around and announced in COTs but YHC decided to make it official by posting a Pre-Blast.

    HDHH Wednesday 12/19 at Capital Ale House in Midlothian.  5:30 pm until ?  Come share some Christmas spirit(s) and 2nd F.  No 1st F associated with this one, show up and join in the fun if you can.

    Word is this may conflict with Hardywood’s 2.0 book signing but for those of you crossing the river for that experience, you might as well make your way over for a drink.

  • Twin Team in Boots

    The parking lot was clear and there were 5 other men waiting for Mr. Holland as he pulled into Bettie Weaver this time.  After Monday’s no show from SOJ, he decided to try Twin Team with the hope that Gumbo would Q.  Unfortunately Gumbo had other plans and his family duties called.  With no one on the Q sheet, YHC took over and led the 6 to Twin Team.  After rolling up the hill a little ways, McRib found us to hit the dreaded prime number, 7 total PAX.

    THANG

    Mosey to Twin Team, watch the ice getting out of the parking lot and on sidewalk leading to the cul-de-sac.  Warmup with some SSH, DQ, Arm circles and Squats.  Mosey up Twin Team to find a good starting point.

    Modified Jacobs Ladder – 10 strides uphill, 1 burpee, down to the start 10 merkins and 10 WWII, 20 strides, 2 burpees back for 10 and 10.  Continue up to 70 strides and 7 burpees.

    Mosey to the top of the hill since Don Draper had never visited Twin Team and McRib hadn’t seen the top in a while.  Mary at the top.  Make our way back down with 10 bear crawl strides, 7 burpees, 20 and 6, 30 and 5, 40 and 4.  Audible to 25 lunges for rounds of 3, 2, and 1 burpees.  All the way to the bottom for 10 merkin ring of fire and then a 10 monkey humper ring of fire (feel the burn).  Back to the parking lot for some Mary to close it out.

    Don Draper posted thinking today would be another day of trudging through the snow.  Little did he know that, like my kids, YHC had had enough of the snow and would try for dryer ground.  Twin Team is tough, it’s even tougher when wearing boots, Tclaps Draper, way to stick it out.

    Other than Flange taking a slip withing the first 25 feet of the parking lot, everyone stayed upright, at least when they were supposed to be.  Great to have McRib back out to Twin Team, I am sure he missed the hill.  Look for Mr. Holland may be incorporating glow sticks for his next Sisyphus or other hill related beat down.

    Announcements:

    Ghost Flag will be at NoToll Tuesday for YHC’s annual 12 days of Christmas beatdown.  Extra points for Christmas Spirit.

    HDHH at Capital Ale House, Midlothian starting at 530 –  ? Wednesday 12/19

    Hardywood’s daughter wrote a book and will be having a book signing on 12/19 at Crossroads – See Hardywood for details.

     

  • Saab’s Endoscopy

    Fourteen road warriors (and lots of us believe there were bikers, but no sign of them at the end) pulled on their running galoshes and hit the mostly ice-free streets for a Friday morning Run At Mary Munford.  Chit-chat at the water cooler suggests this might be what happened:

    Routes:
    East on Grove…
    …4 milers, right on Shields.
    …5 milers, right on Vine.
    …6 milers, right on Park, then right on Laurel.

    …all runners, right on Floyd, then right on Nansemond, and left on Grove.  Straight on ’til dawn.

    Number-a-ma, Name-a-rama, MARV took us out (sponsored by the VCU Sports Properties)

    Announcements:
    What better way to spend Wednesday evening, December 19, than mixing uppers with downers?
    Event #1: Hardywood’s oldest daughter has a book signing – (we think) Wednesday at 5:30-7:00 Crossroads Coffee Shop.  How cool is that?!! Come have a cup-o-joe and meet F3’s favorite author.
    Event #2: Rumor has it Flatline is sponsoring a HDHH this Wednesday at Southside Capital Ale House with a time TBD.  Ales and other malted adult beverages will be available.
    Anyone with hard facts on either event, please add in the Reply Section.

    Let’s all put our prayers in today for Gumbo’s daughter, who is having an MRI for concussion like symptoms.

    Last note…please also remember today Kubota’s grandfather, who passed away at 95.  My prayers will be with Kubota and his family today.  Please join me.

    NMS:
    Today’s route was designed with a few goals in mind…provide a 4, 5, or 6 mile run…have it be on dry-ish roads with very limited ice…have some state-sponsored lighting.  Triple check!

    Thanks to Wedding Singer for letting me gripe.  MUCH appreciated.  Hope your grandmother has a wonderful Christmas.

    Good to have Knox join us again.  Also, happy to hear Saab is digesting things well.