Category: Richmond, VA

  • Bus Loops-Football Fields and Slurred Speech

    With yet another warm day upon us in the RVA, 7 eager gents rolled into SOT for a little pre sunrise beatdown.

    Circle the bus loop

    COP-

    SSH x 20

    DQ x 15

    Imperial Walkers – dont know how many we did because YHC legs werent thawed yet and screwed up the counting, thanks for calling me out Rosco

    Cooperhead Squats – x 10

    LBC x 10

    Merkins x 10

    Mosey to bottom of Bus Loop

    5 Laps around bus loop, stop at every light pole and do the stated exercise.  Total of 8 poles on the loop. Plank or Al gore in between each loop and wait for PAX.

    Loop 1 – 2 Burpees at each pole

    Loop 2- 5 Box Cutters at each pole

    Loop 3 – 5 Jump Squats at each pole

    Loop 4 –  5 Merkins at each pole

    Loop 5 – 10 Monkey Humpers at each pole

    Lunge 30 Yards

    Mosey to Football Field

    4 Corners of football field- Round 1

    Corner 1 – 10 Merkins

    Corner 2 – 20 WWIIs

    Corner 3 – 30 (2) Count Mountain Climbers

    Corner 4 – 40 SSHs

    4 Corners of football field – Round 2

    5 Burpees in each corner – for the 5 Loses YHC’s Carolina Panthers had during the regular season

    Mosey back to Flag for Mary

    Hello Dolly x 15

    Flutter Kicks x 15

    Merkin Ring of Fire to finish.

    COT – Namerama, Numberama, YHC took us out

    Announcements –

    CSAUP announcement coming soon.

    Prayer requests were made, lets pray for our brothers for what every they may be needing or going through.

    NMS-

    It was great to see the numbers at SOT hold strong as the temperature continues to drop in the RVA.  YHC did screw up the cadence for the Imperial walkers, I appreciate the PAX, especially Rosco, on keeping me honest on how bad it really was. As the bus loops were occuring the chat turned to the Playoff bound Buffalo Bills and how long it has been since they have been in the playoffs.  A few stats were thrown around like who was president at the time, how old were current players, and of course how old was Wilson at the time….still waiting on that answer…?  Speaking of Wilson, he has the Q on Sat at Dogpile, there is talk of a Bills Starter jacket making an appearance, if your into that 90s kind of fashion you don’t want to miss it.  Ok I wont lie, I had a Charlotte Hornets starter jacket back in the day.  Moving on…it was about the 2nd or 3rd  loop around when DK mentioned his speech was beginning to slur due to the cold, and YHC agrees, it was damn cold out there this morning, but he crushed it none the less.  Rosie led the way as usual, he and Gumbo of course still rolling in the shorts, strong work men. Mumblechatter was high this morning, the entire SOJ crew is eager to get the Hallsley crew back out with us, so if you see McRib, Bobber, or Carmen give them a nudge. It was a great morning and everyone pushed this morning, it was an privilege to be out there with you gents. With possible weather tonight, you guys be careful and stay warm!

      Marmaduke

     

     

  • Three, third (apparently), on the 1st

    A PAX of three posted for the third F3RVA workout of 2018.  A benefit of the evening start was the positively balmy 21 degree temperature at game time.  We went at it like so:

    YHC and J’ville started with Invisible Jumpropes, SSHs, Invisible Jump Ropes, SSHs, Don Quixotes, Russian Soldiers, and Merkins.  We kept an eye out for E.C., an FNG and neighbor of YNC, who, following some mild headlocking, agreed to post.  After finding E.C. at the Holton bus loop, we completed another brief round of warm-ups with more Invisible Jump Ropes, SSHs, and Don Quixotes followed by Imperial Walkers and Arm Circles.

    We moved to the Holton gymnasium exterior wall for a Triple Check with People’s Chair, 10 Merkins followed by a Plank, and a mosey to the Laburnum sidewalk and back.  We followed with a sequence involving Moving Imperial Walkers for about 30 yards between a tree and a utility pole in the school yard to then complete 20 Invisible Jump Ropes and jog back to the starting point.  We repeated this, reducing the number of Jump Ropes by 1, until we finished 11 reps. We then returned to the school wall for another Triple Check with Standing Wall Plank (you choose the angle), LBCs, and the sidewalk mosey.  We finished with seven ring of fire rounds involving Squats and then a couple of minutes of stretching.  COT where we finished and YHC took us out.

    YHC chose to drive the several blocks to the AO and found Johnsonville waiting in his car in the parking lot.  We stayed in our cars until just a few minutes before the start time.  A couple of Northside guys have been introduced to F3 through the evening Punisher in the past few months, but all indicated prior obligations on 1/1 (including recovery from events on 12/31).  FNG E.C., now Change Order inspired by his employment as an Architect, indicated last week and then earlier in the day on 1/1 that he would post.  We kept an eye out for him through the first warm-up round but didn’t spot him until we moved to the Holton bus loop.  Glad you could make it Change Order.

    Happy New Year all.

     

     

  • Twelve Faces of Christmas

    Five PAX, mirroring the five Platonic solids, emerged in the gloom at Heartbreak Ridge.  An exercise die in the shape of a regular dodecahedron (the fifth Platonic solid) was back in play after its introduction at Heartbreak Ridge last week:

    COP: 10 burpees for the temp + 1 burpee for the wind chill, Hammer Dance, Don Quixote, Mountain Climber, Hello Dolly, Elf/Russian Hammer Dance

    Mosey to the end of the upper field to use the exercise die.  PAX take turns tossing the die, the tosser calls how to get there (bear crawl, crab walk, etc.) , then PAX complete the exercise on the top face.  The number of reps on the die was multiplied by 1 on the first toss, 2 on the second, 3 on the third, then repeato.  Each PAX tossed 2-3 times as we traversed both softball fields.

    Mosey to pull up bars for 20 pull-ups each.  Mosey to the hill next to the football field for 5 runs up the hill, clearing each of the benches along the way.  Then 3 more runs.  Complete 1 revolution of Macarena merkins on the hill, and mosey back to the VSF for COT.

    NMM:  Plato supposedly thought God used the dodecahedron to arrange the constellations in the sky.  PAX could have verified this as the sky was clear, but spent most of their time staring at the ground in plank position.  Unlike last week, the die repeatedly rolled to a 1-minute plank (which was sometimes multiplied by 2 or 3).

    YHC introduced himself to Loose Goose and welcomed him to F3, as he did not recognize him bundled up in the gloom.  Kudos to Honeydo who posted again in shorts – perhaps a personal challenge?  One of the benches rose  up and checked Pucker on the sprints uphill as if he were planning to take a slapshot – YHC hopes you heal quickly.  Mr. Holland noted that Macarena merkins seem incomplete without Fudd’s singing.

    YHC was reminded again (by himself) that he should really get around to making a shovel flag.  Anyone up for a shovel flag workshop?

     

  • The Gods Were Angry

    Five of F3RVA’s armchair quarterbacks plus 5 more paid penance to the Fantasy Gods in remembrance of F3RVA’s inaugural season.

    THANG

    COP (In honor of the Playoff Teams)

    • Spit – Slaughter Starter – Burpees x 14 wins in route to championship
    • Goose – Flutter Kicks x 12
    • BT – Copperhead Squats x 11
    • Vedder – Helicopters x 6
    • Viral – Merkins x 8
    • EFH – Crabcakes x 8
    • Flatline – Nevermind

    Beatdown of the Year: DK by 79 week 1 over Honeymoon – 79 LBCs OYO

    The Good:  Spit, Goose, and BT won 11 or more games

    • 11s – Donkey Kicks & WWI Situps

    The Bad: Southern Gentlemen (Wilson, Marmaduke, Vedder, Ocho, Sparky, Honeymoon, DK) 30-61 combined record

    • Modified Lindsay – 30/60 Merkins & Monkey Humpers (30/60, 40/50, 50/40, 60/30)

    The Ugly: Marmaduke’s 1-12 record

    • Beast – Boxcutters, Burpees, Merkins – end after 3 rounds like Marmaduke’s season after week 3

    Mary

    Numberama, Nameorama, COT

    MOLESKIN

    The PAX felt no pain as the temps dipped slightly below 70, but the SOJ guys faces were plenty red as YHC regaled tales of the first season of F3RVA Fantasy Football and dished out the appropriate punishments.  At the draft, the New Market crew enjoyed samplings of Marmaduke’s fruity pebble moonshine while the Yankee Aggressors from NOJ focused on the task at hand.  As the season played out it was apparent that the Southern Gentleman had basically fartsacked on the season.  Only Vedder could manage enough wins to secure a playoff spot, one that Flatline would argue was his.  In the end, two teams stood above the rest with Goose kicking and scratching and turning over his entire roster 3 and a half times, taking on Spit who was the favorite from day one.  Spit rode his studs LeVeon and DeAndre to a Monday night comeback while breaking Goose’s heart in the 5th closest game of the entire season, 86.04-85.30.  Congrats Spit, a champion among champions.  The Fantasy Gods will remember those who paid the price this AM and those who fartsacked come next August, ahem Wilson.  Thanks to all who took part, looking forward to next year.  Apologies to the innocent bystanders caught up in today’s Q.

    ANNOUNCEMENTS

    CSAUP – coming soon

  • By the light………of the silvery moon……

    A fiesty five posted to DaVille, greeted by a moon that would make you think it was Sunny and 70, but the temps let you know different.  Phonics was even on time this morning, so we let him park in the front row of cars.  Speaking of Phonics, since he had arrived, we knew it was time to get moving.

    Slaughter starter:  10 burpees, nice and slow.

    Parking lot tracers.

    COP:  SSH, Hillbillies (by request), some wild combination of arm circles, Don Quixote’s.

    THANG:

    Burpee Boulevard:  Starting at Atlee Station, run to the gate (3/4 miles, but who’s counting?  Right, Opus?).  3 burpees at each light pole.  PLANK AT THE GATE!  Finish up with a couple minutes of plank.

    MARY Sanders:  Each pax picks a Mary exercise for the other pax to do while he runs backwards up the hill to the fence, then forwards back.  Each man runs three times.

    Chinese fire drill:  Form of:  a single line.  Start running back to the flag, the six breaks off and runs a lap around the pax and then takes the lead.  Run back to New Ashcake.

    BAS (Big Ass Suicide)- Suicide across the length of the parking lot.

    1 minute of happy feet.

    NMS

    Yep, it’s cold!  But that doesnt stop this pax.  The idea for the slaughter starter came from a little primer I read on tips for riding in the cold….you should start uphill to get your body making some heat.  Burpees seem like going uphill.

    Since there were only 5 of us, we had some fun in the COP, and cadence got a touch out of hand.  Spit started doing some weird jumping jacks, which I took as a request for Hillbillies.

    Directions were ignored during the burpee boulevard by Phonics, who finished first (surprise) then turned to gather the six.  Not a big deal, but then I need to make fun of somebody.  Opus was less than impressed with my singing, and neither of us could think of the rest of the song that is the title of this BB.  Or, maybe he knows all the words, but didnt want to encourage me to sing anymore.

    Speaking of making fun of somebody, The Carpenter had to play Mary Sanders by himself due to having an allergic reaction to lasagna?  Holy noodles, Batman!

    The fire drill was a ton of fun, once we figured out how to do it.  Plenty of practice with only 5 pax, and the mumblechatter really got flowing.  The rest of the workout was trying to avoid any more Mary, which we did plenty of during Mary Sanders.  I’m very proud of that name, btw.

    Announcement:  Get on the phone and the email to get those pax members back out!

    Apology of the week goes out to Spit.  I know you are at work waiting on the backblast to get posted, and MARV beat me to the punch.  I’m sorry, but I went back to bed when I got home and slept until after nine, then I had to make more coffee.  Because I’m off work.

    Lab Rat apologizes…

     

  • They’ll Drop in Mid-July

    Seriously. 9 degrees? It was 9 degrees this morning? However, in what has to be an unprecedented F3 Event, I am proud to say that there were more PAX at a workout than the actual temperature. 11 men showed up to trundle around the beautiful Tuckahoe Elementary, Tuckahoe Middle, Freeman District.

    QIC-MARV

    PAX-Bleeder, Totahnka (FNG), The YA, Wedding Singer, Swirly, BT, Fudd, Splinter, Saab, Sippy Cup, Marv

    Name of the Run– First Class Run

    The Thang:

    4 Milers– Lake to Boatright via the northside of the Robins Center (including somewhat of a killer hill that is very rarely used). Boatright to Lakewood. Lakewood to Wood. Wood to Baldwin. Baldwin to Stuart Hall (pausing to genuflect on Lally Construction’s latest masterpiece). Stuart Hall to Forest. Forest to Rock Creek to Baldwin to Westham. South on Westham to University, north on College and then through the parking lot of the Robins Center back to the lake.

    5 Milers– 4 Mile Course beginning but straight on College to University. Right on University to Ralston. Left on Ralston. Cross River to Windsor on the James. Take the WOTJ loop back to River to Ralston to University back to the lake through the Robins Parking Lot.

    6 Milers– Same beginning as four mile but go south on Westham as opposed to crossing and going to the Lally Project. Westham to University where they would pick up the 5 miler trail and go from there.

    It had been awhile since we had run the “First Class Run” of the Windsor on the James. There’s nothing quite like running in the wide streets of the WOTJ with no cars parked on the streets to get in your way. A tip of the hat to the folks that occupy the houses in WOTJ, as they spent their entire weekend taking down their Christmas lights. QIC took his family around that loop (in a vehicle) late last week and it was lit up like the Griswolds. Those folks definitely move on.

    We really can’t emphasize enough how cold it was. QIC isn’t sure his legs ever got warm, and he was wearing TheYA approved NIKE tights. Shout out to the Head ski gloves sold by Costco this fall…they did the trick and then some. BT debuted a cool ensemble that included a neck guard and a hood…and something for his ears.

    The first hill up by the Robins Center was a pleasant little gassing surprise. Nothing like asking your body to try to regulate it’s temperature while climbing up a steep hill. I’m not one to use foul language, but my body was pretty much ripping me a new one at that point.

    It does beg the question that may or may not be debated in the comment section below… Would you rather run at 9 degrees or at 77 and unbelievable humidity? Think before you react as the latter is pretty brutal too. I’d actually throw my vote in for the 9 degrees over the sweltering heat run…at the very least, my car doesn’t smell like a wet rhino after the 9 degree run. I’m interested to see what everyone else thinks.

    Other notes–welcome to Totahnka, son of Snowden. So, in Iceland, his name would be “Totahnka Snowdenson”. He’s a freshman at Bucknell, studying economics. QIC isn’t really all that concerned about Totahnka Snowdenson taking his radio gig based on his first impression…but it was super having the 18 (or 19) year old out there.

    All time shortest post huddle conversation time. Ever. QIC literally had to chase The YA into his car. Speaking of The YA, good to have him back healthy…wasn’t the same without him.

    Overall, it was a terrific way to break in the first work day of the New Year. God Speed, gents, and make sure you bundle up the rest of the week.

  • Round and Round

    7 gents dusted off the lure of The Fartsack, including one LIFO, to celebrate UpChuck’s completion of the Corporate Challenge.

    COP
    No idea…YHC wasn’t there.  (Footnote: No Idea also was not there.)

    Mosey to the Track for Intervals
    5 burpees + 1 lap = 1 interval
    Complete 10 intervals

    Mosey to the Loading Dock for 2-Man Triple Check
    One man performs some form of ab exercise
    Second man bear crawls to asphalt/concrete line, runs to steps, bunny hops the steps, and descends via the ramp.

    Mosey back to VSF for some Mary

    Number-rama, Name-a-rama, UpChuck took us out

    NMS

    This was YHC’s first non-Convergence Gridiron, so it was nice to catch up with some new faces (Earthworm, ByProduct) as well as re-connect with some more familiar faces (Attila, Chum, White Deer, Johnsonville).  YHC confesses that the mere appearance of or mention of the name “White Deer” triggers the following screaming voice in YHC’s head. “You, you in the red shorts!”  Ah, a gift that keeps on giving.  Good times.

    This also marked the conclusion of YHC’s Corporate Challenge.  Earthworm marked the occasion by noting that few folks make the Saturday Double-Dip a part of their week.  That’s unfortunate.  YHC recommends folks put this double-dip on their “New Year’s Resolution” list for 2018.  Good PAX at Gridiron, and Einstein’s was a lot of fun.

  • You know it is cold when

    When you have 4 more PAX than degrees in the gloom you are in for a good start to 2018.  16 PAX (including 1 FNG) braved the cold to start out the New Year at Hoedown.  It went down like this:

    COP – Invisible Jump Rope, SSH, Merkins, Flutterkicks, Helicopter.  Head to back field for:

    Beast – Merkins, Jump Squats, Heels2Heaven, CDDs, WWII, & Burpees (YES THERE WERE 6 ROUNDS)

    Partner up for Pullups – 3 Sets of 10.  Then Partner up (?) for Triple Check – Jerkins while 3rd man runs around Bus Loop.  Head over to bottom of school front.  Bear Crawl up hill, 15 Merkins, Crab Walk back down then 40 Copperhead Squats.  Repeato.

    Back to COP area for Mary:  Box Cutter, Windshield Wipers, Alabama Prom Dates, LBCs.  Mosey back to Flag.  Finish with 12 Burpees and Flatline took us out.

    NMS – YHC was unsure how many would post but was excited to see a half-dozen cars already at the AO when he arrived.  Splinter was there sans car, having chosen to run a mile from his house to the AO, Aye!  Welcome to FNG Ginger, posting in 12 degree weather means either the 2 PAX who EH’ed you really care for you or they don’t like you very much.  Also great to see Clavin back at it in the Gloom!

    When we arrived at the back field many PAX saw a football and wondered if YHC had placed it there.  Alas playing football on frozen ground is too stupid even for YHC.  There was confusion on the last round of the Beast as many PAX seemed to be wanting more rounds.  During the Beast there was discussion on Upchuck’s supposed completion of the Corporate challenge last week to close out 2017 but until the Gridiron BB is posted his feat will remain unofficial.

    We had to cut the Triple Check short with the Jerkins as that was too much arm work.  Offshore and Jenny Craig were dressed identically in grey pants and Blue Jackets along with facemasks making it impossible to distinguish between the two.  Speaking of pants only 4 bare knees were showing, well done Kubota.  Spit apparently double dipped having shown at River Run by himself this morning.  Respect!  All RVA regions were represented, with Clavin being the lone RP member to post.  Coffeteria was at Starbucks where Mr Holland treated everyone attendance, thanks brother.

    Happy New Year!

  • Solo River

    A lonely Davillian came down south in hopes for a southern welcome to find a lonely AO. YHC security the AO and this how it went down:

    A couple laps around the school in hopes for at least one LIFO. At 5:35 no one was found so YHC head out in the route he knew. Out of BWES and across Robious Rd then turn right. Head into River Down going up and down the hills till reaching Gumbo’s house. Complete a few merkins then head back the same way for about 5 miles

    Unbeknownst to YHC, this AO was cancelled last minute the night before. Since YHC saw no formal cancellation in the form of a preblast, FB or Twitter announcements, one would be lead to believe this was still active AO despite it being an holiday.

    Nonetheless it was good to change things up and enjoy running somewhere other than Daville. The wonder of the marvelous full moon help take YHC’s mind off the cold weather and almost 400 foot elevation gain.

    ANNOUNCEMENTS

    • Colonial 200 coming up on April  20th and 21st. YHC is a SC (almost HC) to join the boys from Hampton Runs for this relay race. See Dreamliner’s  pre-blast on how to sign up

    SPIT ON THAT!!

  • 365 runs

    3 strong hit the roads around Midlothian for Longhorn’s 365th day straight of running.  A six mile route around the Midlothian Mines and the Village of Midlothian.  The wind was brisk and brutal coming up Woolridge to Midlothian but settled and was at our backs the rest of the way for a total of 6 miles.

    The big news is that Longhorn, one of the New Market neighbors and Manziel’s wife, has run everyday for 2017.  No small accomplishment since many of us struggled to get in everyday for a month earlier this year.  On top of that as we were hitting mile #5 she crossed over 100 miles for the month.  Congrats on a great achievement and the will power to push through the entire year.

    7 am Hoedown and Flatline has the Q at RiverRun.

    Happy New Year to all.