Category: Richmond, VA

  • Pre-Blast: Healing Place 10k training team signup

    Starting next Saturday The Healing Place 10k training team for the Monument 10k will begin. Every Saturday at 7:30 from 2/3 to race day on 4/14 volunteers will he helping these men get ready for the 10k.

    Our hope is to have 2-3 PAX go over to help each week. Go after Dogpile, or straight there. These men are starting from scratch so you don’t have to be a runner, just willing to help support these men.  Please use the sheet link below to sign up for date(s)

    Google sheet Sign up link:  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/10vnhdGp17bT8GJw0xpj_dGpAwRTSo6m0kA5Z-a0d6DY/edit?usp=drivesdk

    Address:  700 Dinwiddie Ave, Richmond, VA 23224

  • And, peace be with you…

    9 Pax, including one FNGal Mary Caton Lingold, left the dry comfort of the fart sack to lay down some wet miles this morning. YHC signed up for Q last night in an attempt to influence the route in order to minimize damage to our glorious trails. Here is more or less what transpired.

    Arriving in the parking lot around 6:30 YHC parked next to TYA’s snack filled mom car, got his affairs in order and went over to join TYA for some conversation only to discover an empty car… guess he’s out already. The rest of the Pax arrived including the FNGal (friend of whistleblower) and the Q described the route;

    Across the bridge, down the access road, across Belle Isle, back across Potterfield, up the acces road and across the bridge. 7ish miles. Not the fun hilly trails we are all used to but sometimes we get on a plane headed to Paris only to land in Cleveland. When life gives you lemons – eat them whole, seriously, pulp skin seeds and all – and don’t break eye contact – maybe life will stop being such an a-hole if you show it you’re done F’ing around. Or make lemonade, you’re choice.

    Everyone set out together, except TYA who was already killing it, and YHC learned that he can keep up with Saab for a while but that he can’t keep up with Saab and talk as comfortably as normal. Saab broke off around Forest Hill Park and the rest of us kept on keeping on.

    Across the southern bridge to Belle Isle and headed across when out of nowhere Upchuck disappears into the woods with the ladies ?. Some mumblechatter about him calling out that he didn’t know the route but he clearly had us in his sites when he led the lasses astray… turns out they wanted some more hills and miles so they looped the island and took riverside back. 8ish hilly miles.

    Back to the parking lot and Fudd, probably sick and tired or hearing YHCs views on everything dipped out to take his kids to church. He was followed out by Helix and Sugar Sock (who ran further today then he had previously- ever – way to go Sugar!).

    Soon after Upchuck and his crew appeared, followed by TYA (13.523 miles) and then Saab (10ish) some of us enjoyed some snacks out of TYAs trunk (dubbed mom car by FNGal), TYA told her she wasn’t allowed to have two first names “pick one!” And was promptly told he obviously wasn’t from the south ? numberama, namerama, FNGal dubbed Half Pint for her love of all things Little House on the Prarie, and YHC took us out until he encountered a 404 file not found error at the end of his prayer – and settled on “and peace be with you all” what?

    Announcements – CSAUP, Upchuck and Honey-do starting training with Healing Place guys next Saturday and could use help  – talk to them

     

     

     

  • As The Pax Likes It

    Splendid morning with a strong 8 posting at GridIron. Mosey to the lower football field for Attila’s abbreviated disclaimer of “check it before you wreck it.”

    Thang:

    Slaughter Starter of the Pan Pax 8 Count Body Builder X20 variety.

    Salt and Pepper division of the PAX made with the latter taking the long road to the Pillars and the former taking the more direct route – Burpees X10 at 3 station stops en route.

    Pax selects 4 exercises (assortment of upper body, lower body, and core) X20, execute, finish off with Burpees X10. Rinse and Repeat X4.

    Enter the Golden Triangle for Dips and Step Ups, Rinse and Repeat.

    Slalom Run the Pillars to the Concrete Triangle.

    Gather at the Concrete Triangle for APDs X20.

    Pepper Pax run the Concrete Triangle X1 and High Skip same X1 while Salt Pax endure Merkins (and some late Carolina Dry Docks). Salt Pax run the Concrete Triangle X1 while Pepper Pax execute Merkins (some of dubious quality).

    Pan Pax 8 Count Body Builders X8.

    Mosey back to Parking Lot Pavilion – Pepper Pax take the long route and Salt Pax the more direct, each Burpees X5.

    Dips X20, Rinse and Repeat.

    8 Count Body Builders X3, APDs X20, Superman with vocals, and Child’s Pose Close.

    COT: Numberama and Counterama, J’ville announced Century Classic in April, and Takeout Prayer by YHC. Refreshment (fellowship) at Einsteins for 3/4th of the Pax.

    MoleSkin: Arriving at the lower football field, Attila was sure there would be little or no further movement at the AO. Wrong, and props to those who self-identified as Pepper Pax, especially Cecil and NightCrawler.

    The Pax seemed genuinely appreciative of the opportunity to shape the workout in response to the “on the fly” Q’s solicitation of exercise suggestions for the Stonehedge (naming credit: Johnsonville). WhiteDeer added to his growing list of observable disorders by doggedly defending his selection of Heels to Heaven as a lower body exercise. Diagnosis: autotopagnosia.

    ByProduct has set a strong example with his consistent postings – RedWood status earned.

    ChumBucket reached deep into his workout toolbox by offering the Pax the En Pointe Squat which is a like a pirouette with a squat in lieu of a turn. Get it wrong and it can be painful and embarrassing.

    The only thing planned in advance was the CrowdPleaser, a healthy dose of Burpees – 116 (see below) seemed like a good number.

    Stand firm and be thankful.

    Psalm 116

  • I’m really pushing now…

    28 descended upon Dogpile in reasonable temperatures for light calisthenics.  This is what transpired, more or less…

    As Lockjaw is still under the weather (get better soon buddy), he asked Circle K if he would take the Q this morning.  Since CK has his birthday-Q next week and was running on a tight schedule, he rightly opted for a hot potato.

    Circle K (first Q):

    COP:  Invisible Jump Ropes (i.e. jump up and down aimlessly), DQ’s (Sloooooowly), Squats.

    Ascending dips up Carillon steps (1 to 18).  Descending Inclined Merkins (18 to 1).  Plank up.  After a few reach-arounds and turns at Wilson’s Wife, turn Q over to Gomer Pyle

    Gomer Pyle:

    Hallelujah up steps of Carillon (i.e. holding arms in air) then single dip down each step.  Advance to circle past Carillon…

    Curb Crawls:  Bear Crawl then Crawl Bear back and forth 5 times.  1 merkin/derkin off the curb each time.

    Abs:  WWII’s, Flutter Kicks, Hello Dolly’s, (YHC is sure there were others…).  Turn Q over to Slurpee…

    Slurpee:  Partner up.  200 leg tosses among the pair.  Turns Q to Kubota (pre-VQ)

    Kubota:  Long mosey to Love Hill.  Partner carries ALL THE WAY up Love Hill…rotate carries as needed.

    Saab:  Jacob’s ladder up/down hill behind Carillon.  Ascending Burpees at the top of each hill up to 7.  Run to flag for quick Merkin Ring of Fire

    Just a few notes and observations from today’s workout.  YHC is certain there will be many more:

    • Apparently it is not Saab who HAS THE RUNS today.  Get well Swirly and I hope it passes (ha) soon.
    • Either YHC has inspired a few, or the PAX is just getting older and stiffer.  It was nice to see some others (Wilson) fall behind on the Don Quixote cadence today.
    • Speaking of older and stiffer, Marcel Marceau briefly mistook YHC for Hardywood.  YHC almost blushed.
    • Kudos to Kubota for his pre VQ (scheduled for Hoedown in a few weeks).  Once called upon by Slurpee he took off running towards Love Hill so fast, the PAX almost lost sight of him.
    • Marmaduke apparently lit off a few bombs this morning.  At one point during the inclined merkins – with a few concerned PAX facing his posterior –  he declared “he was really pushing…”
    • Thanks to Loveseat for helping to pound through the leg tosses.  50 per shot was a smoker.
    • YHC appreciates the growing number of positions applied to Wilson’s Wife.  He is certain the feeling is mutual.
    • Thanks to Shakedown for partner carries up Love Hill.  He would have carried the entire distance were it not for him taking intermittent breaks from Saab’s mumble-chatter in his left ear.
    • Welcome to Flatline’s 2.0 now named (Wet) Willy

    Announcements:

    Breaking Bread on Sunday.  Please contact Rosie or Hardywood if you are interested in joining them.

    CSAUP signup now (worksheet has been posted)

    Saab abides

     

     

  • Murph Friday – January

    4 brave men barred the cold to take on Murph Friday!

    Mossy to the main playground.

    10 rounds of the below with each round consisting of the following exercises.

    • 10 pullups
    • 20 Merkins
    • 30 squats

    After we completed the 10 rounds we headed back to the parking lot

    COT, Name-a-rama, Number-rama

    Strong work by all and we killed it in regards to time so we did a couple mins of mary.  Also nice job to Rosie to get 3 miles in before the Murph.  Marmaduke great to see you crushing the 2 mile run portion…..looks like you’re a step closer to BRR.

  • Best $1 I Ever Spent

    13 warriors rose to greet the dawn of a new day.  As expected, the temperature was 70 and sunny.  According to legend, it went a little something like this.

    COP All IC: Hand Release Merkins (HRM) Flying Squirrel style.  When the hands are released, they go all the way out to the side.  IC X 10, right leg up IC X 8, left leg up IC

    Flutter Kicks X 10

    Mark Spitz (flutter kicks with arms extended) X 20

    WWII Situps X 15

    SSH X 10, SSH Right Leg Up X 10, SSH Left Leg Up X 10

    Super Triple Check: Round 1 – One man runs loop in the parking lot, one man is in plank, the other is doing burpees.  Complete 75 burpees as a team. Round 2 – run, six inches, 100 team WWII SU.

    BAR Crawl:  Partner UP.  One partner completes a loop around the church.  Other partner bear crawls the switcheroo.  Next round crawl bear.  Do this until one loop has been completed.

    Merkinsville: Round 1 – 10 decline merkins, 10 dips, 10 incline merkins. Round 2 – Same as round one but with left leg up.  Round 3 – same as round 1 but with right leg up.

    Numberama, namerama, YHC had the privilege of taking us out.

    Moleskin: Way to bring it Mechanicsville.  These men have created something really special in DaVille.  Everytime I make the extended journey, I’m greatly rewarded.  Thanks for the effort and energy!  I left The Creek fully charged.

    NMS: The title of the BB came from an interaction YHC had a few weeks ago.  After making a $1 donation into the bucket of a man standing on Forest Hill raising money for homeless veterans, he says to me “God bless you and let yourself be blessed.”  Growing up in Texas and having allergies, I have heard “God bless you” more times than I could count.  What struck me in that moment was “let yourself be blessed”.

    I’m the luckiest guy on the planet and it’s a damn shame I don’t act like it every waking moment.  I think there are many reasons we don’t let ourselves be blessed and we get off the tracks a bit.  We may not think we are deserving or maybe it’s shame that’s holding us back. Whatever it is, letting yourself be blessed is a conscious choice you have to make. Maybe the bravest thing you could do today isn’t to hold your guard up, but to let it go.

    News:

    • Rosie has the Q for Breaking Bread.
    • See Honeydo for info on running with the exceptional men of The Healing Place during their 10K training program on Saturdays.
    • Get on a team for the CSAUP on 4/13 – 4/14.
    • Wild Thing is leading a men’s bible study beginning next Thursday at 6:30am at Rise and Shine.  The theme is love and surrender.

    Be super,

    Hardywood

  • Don’t pet that dog!

    Fifteen strong runners (no takers on Gears this morning) set out on our third attempt at The Serpentine route.  Weather was RVA winter.

    The Serpentine:  Down Grove, Left on Hamilton, left on Hanover.  Hanover to the end, do a 180 to Stuart.  Stuart to Hamilton, do a 180 to Kensington.  Kensington to end, do a 180 (thru the gate) to Leonard.  5 milers hang a right on Woodlawn to school.  6 milers go to Hamilton, 180 to Patterson, return to school on Commonwealth.

    NMS:  Several attempts have been made to nail this route, and we are still not quite there.  Looks like round 4 is in order….at least nobody bitches when Lab Rat pulls the map out.  Upchuck asked me if I had laminated copies….great idea.  I personally love this route, btw.  Running thru the neighborhoods appeals to me. Seems as though the 6 mile guys took the gravel griding route part way, ending up on a couple allies.  I wonder if I should have left them out of the backblast?  Sorry, Lockjaw, that was a cheap shot.

    At least two packs of runners came across the resident raccoon that lives in the sewer grate on Hamilton and Kensington….which barks!  No shit.  At first sight, I thought it was a big cat until it looked up.  Upchuck was taking the turn tight and didnt see it, and it started barking like a Chihuahua at him.  Crazy.  The six miler guys had a similar experience.

    Also noteworthy:  Offshore wore an orange plastic bag with arm holes cut into it for some reason today.

    Apology of the Week goes out to Rocky (Raccoon).  First off, for naming him after a song…but that’s just a slam dunk.  Secondly for ruining his morning walk with our antics.  Cant a fat raccoon just be left alone for 10 minutes?

     

    Lab Rat apologizes…

  • EMOM-a-Rama

    Three redwoods posted on a cool morning at Circus Maximus with Kettlebells in hand (except Offshore, who needed a loaner). Jville (yhc) took Q and this is what went down —

    Cop
    25 ssh, 25 iws, 50+ arm circles, 20 squats

    Emom 1
    Each minute for 10 min, 15 merkuns 10 KB swings

    Emom 2
    Rinse repeat with 15 goblet squats 10 high pulls

    Emom 3
    Rinse and repeat with 15 skull crushers 10 sit and press

    Cot with yhc taking us out.

    The emoms had a nasty cumulative effect. The squat/high pull seemed to be the worst since it required arm strength to hold up the KB for something long.

    The sit and press was a real tramp stamp destroyer.

    Offshore upgraded to a bigger kb than usual. He handled it well.

    Thanks for the chance to lead. Jville

  • What’s an Invisible Chair?

    YHC was slightly nervous about Q’ing this morning….first 45MOM Q! Preparation for this am came from Exicon, again. YHC arrived and quickly reviewed COP with the hopes of not screwing up THAT part! 0530…time to Mosey!

    Brief 3/4 run around the block and COP on the tennis courts: Russian Soldiers x 15, Copperhead Squats x 15, Imperial Walker x 15, Invisible Jump Rope x 15, Don Quixote x 15, Merkin x 10, Booya Merkin x 10. I think the PAX wanted more Don Quixote’s!! Mosey to The Field. So, the signs, Stay Off The Fields, were noticed during the brief run and Shakedown politely informed YHC too. O well….too bad. YHC had other plans!

    First evolution, The Millenial! Ten exercises were choosen. Each exercise was to be 100 reps. First PAX member to 100 called out and PAX ran across The Field, approx 100m. YHC called out another exercise, reps to 100 with first PAX member to 100 calling out again and running back across The Field! Repeato for 10 exercises and 1000m run! Exercise 1- SSH, 2- Lunges, 3-LBC, 4-Carolina Dry Docks, 5- Mountain Climbers, 6-Flutter Kicks, 7- Arm Circles, 8- Squats, 9- American Hammers….and 10-Burpees! Yes 100 Burpees….Original plan was to do all burpees IC but that did not appear to be feasible! Hardywood-NICE WORK and got the PAX to 90 Burpees. At 90, YHC called IC last 10 Burpees and BAM, The Millenial, done!

    Second Evolution, Three Amigos. Triple up. Each PAX member sits in invisible chair position and together, walk across The Field. Swirly says, “What’s an invisible chair?” YHC immediately thought, this is not going to go as planned. Within 10 seconds of witnessing what was occuring, AUDIBLE!! Epic Fail! Time to Mosey with 12 minutes left…

    At the blacktop, triple check! Chicken Peckers, LBC’s, and Bear Crawl across the blacktop to fence and run back. Approx 2 rounds performed before TYA tells YHC, “It’s 6:14.” TYA had enough? YHC called hells bells and time had expired. Mosey back to the parking lot.

    Number-ama, Name-r-ama. Announcements: CSAUP has list for signup on the Backblast. Inquire with your Nano Region for teams. Breaking Bread-see Rosie for this Sunday! Labrat took us out….Mellencamp would have been proud Labrat! Seriously though, great message and prayer! We all have the opportunity to help someone each day. And with the energy of this group, that is a small price to pay for how blessed we all are!!

    NMS- Hardywood, Super Man shirt was for you. Sloth, loves Chunk!! Goonies never say die!  Yes, Three Amigos was an epic fail but nonetheless, humor was provided again within Flatline’s Q!! Somehow, maybe, Hardywood thinks the CSAUP map, may be phalllic. Splinter, if everyone had heard your next comment, that would have been the title of the backblast, “If your ____ looks like that map, you have a problem.” And yes, the flu shot does not appear to be helping most folks. WASH YOUR HANDS people!! Pops Market, I think, for lunch today-noon! Early arrival helps!

    Great work men and thank you for following the Q! You all inspire me to be a better person!!! Only those who show up understand! Loud and Proud!

    Flatline

  • Cat Burglar Cases Timberwolf

    8 SOJ regulars posted to Timberwolf this morning where it was definitely sunny and 70 in our minds and where the following (or something like it) occurred:

    Mosey toward the entrance to pick up Mr. Roper at the trunk shoe store and complete a lap around the large parking lot, then circle up for COP in the parking lot, which included (all IC):

    • SSHs
    • DQs
    • Helicopters
    • Imperial Walkers
    • Tempo Merkins
    • LBCs
    • Flutter Kicks
    • Arm Circles

    THE THANG:

    Lindsay #1 – line up along the edge of the parking lot for a Lindsay.  Starting there, complete 30 box cutters and 10 squat jumps – run across the parking lot to the other side and complete 25 box cutters and 15 squat jumps – repeato back and forth until 10 box cutters and 30 squat jumps.  Al Gore for the Six.

    Timberwolf Love Hill – Partner up and start at the entrance sign.  One partner runs up the hill to the 3rd light pole and back while other partner completes exercises working their way up the hill.  Flapjack and continue until both are up the hill.  Exercises were lunges, polar bears and broad-jump burpees.

    Lindsay #2 – mosey over to the sidewalk edge of the bus loop for the second Lindsay.  This time the exercises were merkins and 2-count Freddie Mercuries.  Wall sit for the Six.

    Chicken Peckers x15 IC

    Light pole Alley – Mosey to the gate/entrance to light pole alley.  PAX runs from light pole to light pole around the back of the school back towards the flag stopping as a group and completing exercises at each light pole (and there were at least 10).  Exercises included:

    • SSHs
    • Mountain Climbers
    • APDs
    • Scorpion Dry Docks
    • Copperhead Squats
    • Ball Dippers
    • Hand-Release Merkins
    • American Hammers
    • Burpees
    • Others?

    Hello DOlly ROF – Hold six inches and complete 10 Hello Dollies when it is your turn.

    Merkin ROF – Start in Al Gore and drop and do 10 merkins then back up to Al Gore when it is your turn.

    4x4s – Complete 10 (or as many as you can until the whistle) 4x4s (drop like a burpee, do 4 merkins and 4 mountain climbers, then pop back up = 1 4×4) OYO.

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

    Announcements:

    • CSAUP – form your teams and log your miles.
    • Breaking Bread this Sunday – Rosie could use a couple more hands.  Reach out to Rosie if you can help out.
    • 10K Training – reach out to Honeydo if you can help out with that.

    NMS:

    The chill in the air was real this morning – actually caught YHC a little off guard.  The mumblechatter was also lively during COP….counting, not so much.  And Lindsay #1 and Timberwolf’s version of Love Hill cut down significantly on the mumblechatter.  Light pole alley has lots of pain potential and was good for keeping the PAX together.

    Great to have Flashdance out to tryout Timberwolf.  Hope to see you back out here on Thursdays brother — and, don’t forget about SOT on Wednesdays if you don’t want to drive to W-Dog….just saying.  Great also to have Manziel back out.

    Way to push through all the reps this morning men.  Great job.  Thanks for following me aimlessly…the sole plan was “no Doras”…Marmaduke killed that horse at SOT.

    Have a great day!ppi

    No more Gumbo for you!