Category: Richmond, VA

  • All Kinds of Suck Right Here

    Terrific trot today for a hearty group of Spider Runners. It is the opening of college basketball season, and prior to F3, my ritual would be to try to run around the arena where the Rams were playing. F3 punted that ritual, but I wanted to give it a go this morning, somewhat modified, as we essentially circled El Center de Robins.

    Busy day for me, so here’s the quick MOLESKIN.

    Richmond Way to Claiborne Stadium. Left there to Boatright. Boatright to Lakewood to Wood to Baldwin (modified Fudd Runn here). Baldwin all the way up to Hollins. Right on Hollins, Right on Woodberry.

    4 Milers take a right on Westham and head back to the Commons from there (Baldwin, Wood, Lakewood, south of Robins Center).

    5 & 6 Milers Head to the dead end at Horsepen. Right on Horsepen, hairpin turn on Patterson to Ridge Top.

    Then we all get to do Chandler.

    5 Milers do it twice and 6 Milers do it three times. It came a bit out of the vault, did Chandler, and it hasn’t gotten a lot easier since we did it probably a year (or more!) together. Chandler to Gardiner, through the woods and home.

    6 Milers went back to Ridgetop, then to Hempstead, to Wood, to Lakeside then home.

    Pretty hilly run.

    Now to more important stuff. I’ve got a suite open tonight for the VCU game, one of the few times all year it has been unsold. If you would like to go, shoot me an email rrobinson@vcusportsproperties.com and I can leave you tickets. Pretty much could be an F3 night at the suite if enough of you want to go. Either way, if you want to go to the game tonight…tip off at 7pm, let me know.

  • Vote Yes on Proposition F3

    Red, blue, doesn’t matter in the gloom, 14 able bodied voters turned out at NoToll to cast their vote for a beatdown and also to kick off YHC’s birthday with a bang.

    THANG

    Mosey to back lot

    COP

    • Copperhead Squats
    • Cherry Pickers
    • Hillbillies
    • LBCs
    • Reverse Scorpions
    • Merkins

    Mosey to field 1

    Battle for the House (Split PAX in half – Team Red vs. Team Blue)

    • First team to 218 Burpees wins to take the House – Winner Team Blue

    Mosey to shelter

    Shootout for the Senate

    • First member of Team Blue or Red to 51 Derkins wins the Senate – Winner Rosie, Team Blue

    Mosey to Field 3

    Election 1 – Lindsay vs. Dora – Winner Lindsay

    • Lindsay (20/50…50/20) Merkins & Monkey Humpers

    Mosey back to Field 1

    Election 2 – 4 Corners vs. Triple Check – Winner 4 Corners

    • 4 Corners (C1 10 Merkins, C2 10 Merkins & 20 Mountain Climbers, C3 10,20, 30 Jump Squats, C4 10,20,30, 40 Freddie Mercurys)

    Election 3 – PLTs vs. P Dying Cockroaches – Winner PLTs

    • 3 sets of 25 each

    Recount Election 2 – Winner Triple Check

    P1 Dips, P2 Box Cutters, P3 Run Field

    Mosey back to SF

    Dictator Q calls for 1 minute of Burpees OYO

    Numberama, Nameorama, COT

    MOLESKIN

    Once every 6 weeks to 2 months or so YHC treks back down to the place he used to call his home AO.  Always great to see the fine gentlemen of SOJ and also to enjoy the velvety soft fields of NoToll.  No better way to kick off YHC’s birthday/ Election Day/ fellow PAX Posh’s birthday than with a beatdown and the Q.  YHC planned to have the PAX choose their own adventure and vote throughout the workout for which pain to be inflicted.  Honeydo contacted YHC yesterday to let him know the PAX at the Heartbreak Ridge polling place would be fighting it out for control of the House and the Senate and suggested we do the same.  Not surprising, any team with Rosie as a member would come out on top.  YHC would vote for Rosie in a second.  Welcome to FNG Radar, hope to have you back soon, Respect!  Regardless of whether we’re team red or team blue today, let’s all hope our re-elected and new leaders exemplify the servant leadership of the fine men and women of F3 and FiA.  In Shakedown’s wise words, vote yes on proposition F3.

    ANNOUNCEMENTS

    Hammers and Ales this Saturday

  • Early voting, the F3 way

    Nine came out to settle the election day the F3 way: Burpees and Merkins.  2 PAX (1 FNG) were underage to vote but participated just the same:

    COP – SSH, Helicopters, Don Qs, Merkins, Flutterkicks, Invisible Jumpropes.  Mosey to Heartbreak Hill.

    Battle for the House: Split up PAX into 2 groups.  Group 1 were dubbed Republicans, Group 2 were dubbed Dems.  218 total to take the House so 218 Burpees total amongst each group while 1 PAX runs up & down Heartbreak Hill.  First to magic number wins the House.  Republicans took the House (they had an extra member)

    Battle for the Senate:  Stay in same groupings, race to 51.  First man to get to 51 Merkins (good legit merkins) raise their hand and claim the Senate.  Seymour won it for the Rs again.

    11s for the Old Dominion:  VA has 11 congressional seats so 11s consisting of: Box Jumps & WWII Situps.  Down to the Jerkin Gym:

    7th District:  4 Sets of 7 Jerkins.  Then early voting by Garbage Plate for Benchkicks got us:  50 Benchkicks and 7 Derkins, 2 rounds.  Back to crowded parking lot for some Mary and then COT.

    NMS:  YHC couldn’t resist an eleciton day theme but not sure the 218 Burpees for the House worked very well.  Many a groan was heard when we altered the Merkins to Hand Release in the COP, breaking the seal on the wet ground.  FNG Wah Wah is a friend of YHC’s 2.0 and expressed interest in posting today, good work.  He is a Trombonist (Tromboner??) in the Freeman band so think Wah Wah in the Charlie Brown adulted muted speaking sort of way.

    Great to see Ronnie back out.  He said this was his 2 year anniversary, 1 year of which was on the PUP list.  Ponch was back out at HBR and P-Trap is officially a regular in the PAX. Also great to see the line of people and cars coming & going to Vote as we ambled around the AO.

    Annoucements:  Go Vote & Be Nice today.  Also GrowRuck is 3/22-3/24 2019.  Mark your calendars.

     

  • Better late than …

    Nine brave souls fought off the fartsack to see what ByProduct had in mind at Gridiron on this beautiful rainy morning.

    COP (IC):

    SSH – 20X

    Helicopters – 15X

    Arm Circles – 10X/5X/10X/5X

    Don Quixotes – 15X

    The Thang:

    Mosey to grassy knoll for 10 minutes of burpees. 7 – 10 burpees for each minute increment, with 10 on the last round.   Adderall came out strong and did the max for each round, raising the bar for all of us, but not sure too many followed his lead.

    Next stop on the tour was the football field where we completed a beast.

    Round 1 & 2: WWII Sit Ups going out and Merkins coming back.

    Round 3 & 4: Flutter Kicks going out and Copperhead Squats coming back.

    Round 5 & 6: WWII Sit Ups going out and Merkins coming back.

    We then went over to the school for a triple check in which the exercises consisted of People’s Chair, Dips and a lap around the bus loop.

    Chatter was mixed throughout the workout, especially with White Deer having two weeks of material to punish us with.

    Numberama, namerama and then Atilla took us out.

    A bunch of us then headed over to Einstein’s for some coffee time.

    It was fun to lead the group on this fine morning!

  • Easy to get up–hard to post

    Three stalwarts braved the elements on the first post-daylight savings Batteau.  We proceeded in hot-potato fashion.

    Swirly leads:  

    COP.  15x SSH, 10X helicopters, 10x Don Quixote, 10x Imperial walkers, 10 Roman soldiers

    Then to the driveway for 3 rounds of Merkins with exercises in between.   In each case do 5x merkins at every tree to the end of the driveway and back (9 trees).  Round #1.  Jog to/lunge back.  Round 2, Roman soldiers to and back. Round 3, high knees to and back.  Total 270 Merkins.

    Vinnie leads:

    Triple check for 1 round.  Tennis court tracers, LBCs, WWIIs.

    Head to swing set for a full triple check.  15x Swing planks, Merkins, Heels to heaven.  25x Swing planks last round

    Sippy leads:

    Head under nearest tree for some cardio kickboxing tabatas.  We did 1 round of each starting with left foot/arm forward and then right  foot/arm forward.

    Round 1.  Jab-jab-cross, 20 seconds on, 10 second rest in between.

    10x Butterfly situps.

    Round 2.  Jab-jab-uppercut

    10x butterfly situps

    Round 3.  Jab-jab-hook, hook.

    40 second plank

    Round 4.  Jab-jab-knee-knee

    40 second plank

    Round 5. Jab-jab-front elbow, back elbow

    40 second elbow plank

    Round 6. Continuous jab-cross.

    Mosey back to flag for 10 burpees.

    COT-  YHC took us out.

    Moleskin.  YHC was tempted to skip out this morning, but knew there would be brothers there waiting for me.  It was pretty high on the wetness scale–maybe the highest after a memorable No Toll a few years ago where we were donkey kicking in large puddles.  After a while you just let it soak in and we were moving enough to keep warm.  Swing planks were a nice challenge.  The cardio kickboxing was a bit of an experiment, but everyone liked it, so YHC will have to introduce it again.  It definitely will get you out of breath and gets the upper body pretty wobbly at the end.  Not a lot of mumblechatter today–we were too focused/or out of breath!  300-330 Merkin count.

  • 2 Beasts in search of the Arc

    YHC pulled into BWES at 0513 in the pouring rain and sat “eagerly” awaiting more PAX members.  A car pulled in.  Looked like a Bleeder mobile but it  headed straight for Gumbo’s second home…the small green building.  Honestly, YHC thought for a minute, “well, maybe it is just a super eager teacher who had to go sooo bad that he/she couldn’t even make it inside.  It couldn’t be another PAX member.”

    Not so fast, it was Bleeder and he was ready to roll.  0530…BOOM.  2 beasts without regard for sanity or safety posted to River Run and literally ran through the rivers and streams flowing through Tarrington and Powderham in search of the Arc.  Surely it was around because the floods were coming.  At one point, coming down Twin Team, YHC had to remove his headlamp because of the blinding reflection in the wall of rain ahead of him.

    4 miles and not a dry piece of clothing around.  Great work!

    Today was certainly one that YHC would have audibled had Bleeder not emerged from the small green building ready to run.  Thanks for being there Bleeder.

    COT, COR, NOR was quick.  We didn’t want to get wet after all.

    No announcements.

    No More Gumbo For You!

  • Dark, Rainy, Cloudy, and Yet a Full Moon

    A lucky 7 were undeterred by cooler weather and full on rain for this morning’s installment of Hoedown.

    The Thang

    Circle up in the parking lot starting with 25 Merkins.

    COP

    • Don Quixote
    • Helicopters
    • Arm Circles
    • Russian Soldiers

    Mosey down Lindsay Drive for Lindsays.  Exercises are Merkins and Scissor Kicks.  Lunge walk between driveways to mark the transition zones.

    Find a space on the asphalt hill for 25 Derkins.

    Back to the playground for some leg lifts off of the monkey bars.  20 or so.

    Over the the asphalt sea for 4 Corners

    • Corner 1 – 10 Mountain Climbers
    • Corner 2 – 10 Mountain Climbers, 20 Merkins
    • Corner 3 – 10 Mountain Climbers, 20 Merkins, 30 Copperhead Squats
    • Corner 4 – 10 Mountain Climbers, 20 Merkins, 30 Copperhead Squats, 40 American Hammers

    Already in a circle, we did a Merkin Ring of Fire for another 20 Merkins.

    Down to the bus loop for Triple Check

    • Run
    • BTTW
    • Flutter Kicks

    20 Merkins OYO

    Mary

    • Box Cutters
    • Rosalitas
    • LBC
    • American Hammers

    PLT – 20 x 2

    YHC took us out.  250 Merkins total.

    The Moleskin

    Rain was everywhere.  On Lindsay Hill, it felt like the current could wash us away.  Our shirts were suction cups on any pavement adding a little extra resistance through hydraulics.  It was easy to get choked up when doing the count during LBCs.  Not the worst we have seen, but it was coming down.

    Dressing for the rain was a unique reflection on individual preference.  A windbreaker with no hood, a couple had full on hooded parkas, t-shirt, t-shirt and hat….regardless we all got wet pretty quickly.  It’s also an individual preference in how people deal with the suck.  Let’s just say an overflowing gutter provided a gravity powered bidet for one Pax member.  They are nice and clean now.

    Announcements:

    • Marathon and Half Marathon this weekend.  Several Pax are running.  Cheer them on.
    • Is anyone doing a HDHH this month?

    Time to Taper,

    Lockjaw

  • When it rains on your parade

    A solo runner decided to run in the rain today.  Easy run, 2 loops around the schools for a total of just over a 5k. Also added 25 Merkins after every mile and at the end.

    SPIT ON THAT!!

  • Extra hour

    Four gloom warriors slept their extra hour and came to run trails today. Furley, YHC, and Southern Belle (quite the bright personable young lady one would expect) had an early lead but took a short stretch break and hooked up with TYA. TYA and TSB went out a total of 2.5 and back on North Bank. Furley and Shakedown did the loop plus the lariat. Good pace good times – winter is coming.

    No Furley or Shakedown next week for Sunday Funday

    Have a great week gentlemen

     

  • And a one, two, three…a one, two, three

    25 band members, including 3 FNGs, plus one conductor posted for the Lawrence Welk Show revival tour, RVA edition.  During the next pledge driver, PBS will rebroadcast the show, in black-and-white, this way:

    Warm-up Act: Mosey to the near traffic circle:
    Invisible jump rope, IWs, SSHs, Hillbillies, LBCs, flutter kicks, HRMs and fire hydrants…each x16

    For our First Number…Mosey to the Carillon.  Partner up…Wheelbarrow across the bricks the “long way.”  At the end of each turn, add Shoulder Presses.  First round 10, 2nd round 15, 3rd round 16.

    For our Second Number…Mosey to the field behind the Carillon for Touch-a-Tree.  Partner up. Rounds of 10-8-6-4-2…some mix of Mary…flutter kicks, LBCs, snow angels, burpees and one other thing.  Planking and HRMs mixed in for the six.

    Brass rusts in the rain, so for our Third Number…onto the side street next to Rugby Road for Up-and-Down, partner style…Run down the hill, 20 WWIIs, backwards run up the hill, 10 ‘mercans…repeato x3 or until time called.

    The Band closed out the morning in the Amphitheater with an extended re-mix…a little number called “V-Ups.” Let’s take it from the top…18, dropping one for each step down…one lap around the Amphitheater for an encore.

    BTTF.  Number-a-ma, Name-a-ram-a, YHC took us out.

    Announcements:

    Hammers and Ales coming up…don’t be a tool.  Bring a friend, bring a tool, and help a good cause.  Nov 10, 6 p.m.  https://backblasts.f3rva.org/2018/10/31/pre-blast-please-come-to-hammers-ales-11-10-18-6pm/

    Gro-Ruck comes to Richmond March 22-24, 2019. Spend a weekend pushing yourself and growing yourself, backpack-style.  Final exam requires carrying a Henrico County 7th grader’s backpack 300 yards to the bus stop.  Harder than it sounds.

    Bear Creek 10-miler. Ankle tape and high tops optional.  Come hear the Kingston Trio sing “Charlie on the MTA” on repeat throughout the 10 miles.  Lab Rat Stew at the Finish.

    NMS:
    Today was an FNG-Fest for rights to the Ghost Flag.  Two SOJ men posted, in the Northern Hemispheric sense…one Virginian, one Floridian…thus securing the GF for SOJ.  Welcome to Purple Rain, Knope, and (briefly, but now formerly, Z-Pack), hereafter called, “Bone Thug.”

    YHC appreciates the push from Flange, Gumbo, and Sippy Cup.  Nice work, fellas.

    Much grumbling by the pax during the Wheelbarrow + Shoulder Press.  This also made an appearance on Monday when YHC Q’d Hoedown.  YHC has now done the shoulder presses with both Splinter and Flange, thus illuminating the spectrum of “verticality.”

    Lastly, the backblast title comes courtesy of YHC’s cadence, only recently diagnosed as bearing an uncanny resemblance to Lawrence Welk’s conducting.

    UpChuck spits the bit.