Category: Richmond, VA

  • Cutting through the Humidity…wait, is that Iron Man?

    4 PAX posted to River Run this morning to see what Gumbo had in store and it was an extra thick roux we had to run through this morning as the humidity was a million %.  Add in some headwinds and a little steady drizzle and it was a little soupy this morning, but that could not stop this foursome from logging some miles.

    Traditional Tarrington route was called.  Rosie lit up his new shoe-lights and led the way.  We mostly stuck together for the first couple miles, then Rosie pulled away from me and Shakedown up the long Ashwell hill.  Then, in a move that only Rosie would do, he turned and went back down the big hill to scoop up Sugar Sock and pull him up the hill…well done, Rosie.  As he turned to come back toward Shakedown and me, Rosie looked like Iron Man with his headlamp and two shoe lights…looked 7 feet tall…BEAST!

    Shakedown and I said “go get ’em Rosie” and continued on across Robious and through the “bush” to Twin Team, though our first attempt to enter the bush found thorns and prickers…ACCESS DENIED.

    On the way down Twin Team, Shakedown’s internal system called an audible and he made a b-line back to to BWES to visit Gumbo’s Blue Box (it’s actually green).  YHC charged a small usage fee but continued on around the high school for 5 miles.  All convened back at BWES for COT, COR, NOR and Announcements.

    No new announcements – just bring a friend to Dogpile this weekend for 4-year convergence.  See everyone there.

    YHC took us out with prayers for our brethren to the South in the Carolinas.

    No More Gumbo For You!

  • What’s Your Password?

    Six Batteau regulars met for their weekly ritual of a Hot Potato beatdown.

    Swirly Q: COP (IC) – SSHs x 20 / Helicopters x 10 / DQs x 10 / LBCs x 20. Mosey to top of the stairs or the bottom of boulder hill, whichever you prefer. Partner up. Partner 1 curls boulder while partner 2 runs to second light and back x 3 each. Partner 1 overhead presses while partner 2 lunges to first light and runs back x 3 each. Partner 1 boulder WWII with an airpress while partner 2 karaokes to the second light and runs back x 3 each.

    Bleeder Q: Mosey over the hill and through the woods to the top of the pit we went. BLIMPS – 5 polar bears. 10 inch worms. 20 lunges. Repeato to the top of Love Hill.

    Sippy Cup Q: Back into the pit. Partner up. Partner 1 runs up to the stairs to the pavillon and assumes balls to the wall. Partner 2 completes 15 box jumps and runs up to the pavillion to switch with partner 2 who runs down to the pit and repeats. Same partners. Partner 1 completes 10 Bulgarian (1 leg on a bench, 1 leg on the ground) squats while partner 2 completes chicken peckers. Repeat each leg twice for a total of 4 rounds (some people don’t like math).

    Crossroads Q: Mosey back over the hill and back through the woods to the playground, you know. Iesha. Triple check. Partner 1 completes 10 burpees while partner 2 performs pull-ups and partner 3 completes flutter kicks. Not a 101, but more than enough. Back to the flag.

    YHC took us out.

    Announcements: 4 year anniversary convergence at Dogpile. Followed by a cross country scoring event or a FNG friendly bootcamp, both at 7:05. Cookout to follow. CSAUP on 10/20 at Forest Hill Park – 7:00 a.m. start. Puppypile on 9/29.

    NMS: YHC has a friend whose kid is going through a really difficult time in their life. By extension, so is the entire family. As men, and as leaders, we tend to look for ways to inspire and support those around us. As we should. We should be rocks and pillars. But we too need inspiration and support. We should look to each other in times of need, but I challenge you to also look to kids – your own and others. They can do amazing things, and often do it during that time in their lives when nothing seems settled. When the future has no real meaning to them, and the pressure of the present is outstanding. So as we go out this week, let’s continue to lead, inspire and support those who need it. But let’s also renew our search for inspiration and support, remind ourselves that we too need it, and look to find it in the hearts and minds of kids.

    Res Ipsa Loquitur – The Beatdown Speaks For Itself

  • Forest for the trees

    Three posted for last week’s Punisher.  Offshore arrived on the run, having completed another Monday AM bus in / PM jog back to LHES.  Krü arrived using conventional means.

    We gathered briefly in the lot and moseyed to the school yard for the initial COP with most of the usual.  For the next 45, we took turns selecting the method we’d use in moving from tree to tree (large and small) in the school yard (Bear Crawl, Crab Walk, Lunge Walk, Frog Jump, or whatever) and calling exercises at each tree (generally in the order of Chest, Legs, and Abs).  Group decision that dead trees meant Burpees.  Finished with a couple of minutes to spare and completed a little stretching at the southeast corner of the Holton lot.

    Mosey back to the parking lot for COT and YHC took us out.

    Nice work fellas.

  • Good Morning Governor

    Six warriors rose to greet the dawn of a new day.  According to legend it went a little something like this.

    Counter clockwise trail loop down Northbank Trail with crossings at either Belle Isle or Pottersfield Bridge to the Buttermilk and back to the Pump House parking lot.  Mileage was in the 7 range.

    Namerama, numberama, Olivander led us out.

    News: 4 Year Convergence is next Saturday (9/22) at Dogpile with not 1 but 2 extra toppings.  Wilson requested that we do morning running and Phonics kindly obliged with an XC style run.  See Phonics for details and Wilson for inspiration.  The run starts at 7am.  Also starting at is an FNG friendly workout lead by the greatness of JVille.  Headlock the reluctant, and let’s make it a great turnout.

    Marv has the Q with a 7:05 start time for Puppy Pile 9/29.

    There’s a CSAUP in Forest Hill Park on 10/20.  See TYA for details.

    Moleskin:  Despite the slightly cooler temperatures the humidity was a present cape on the F3 RVA heroes.  All runners came back nearly discernable from a trail run or a dip in the mighty James River.

    Governor Northam (and VMI alumni) was spotted putting in some miles this Sunday.  Way to go Gov! Great to have Lola back out!

    Make it a good one fellas!

    Hardywood

  • Pillars of Pain to Build the Core

    After warnings of the apocalypse approaching, the weather proved to be a non-factor for six solid redwoods.  Here is how it went down:

    • 10 BOYO
    • Parking lot tracers
    • COP
      • 25 SSH
      • 20 IW
      • 15 DQ
      • 10 2x merkins
      • 25 2x LBC
      • 20 2x flutter kicks
      • 15 scorpion kicks
      • 15 crab cakes
      • 15 helicopters
    • Mosey over to the jerkin gym for a jerkin ladder (starting at 10)
    • Mosey over to the pillars for a tour de pillars
      • Perform the following series of core exercises, then advance 10 pillars F3 style, before repeating core exercises
        • Peoples chair – 1 minute
        • 25 pole smokers
        • Elbow planks – 1 minute
        • 25 reverse crunches
      • Advance 10 pillars via:
        • Partner wheelbarrow
        • Bear crawl
        • Crab walk
        • Lunges
        • Bunny hop
    • Mosey around the school and back to the football field, where the following series is repeated 4x
      • 20 decline merkins
      • Run width of field and back
    • Mosey back to parking for COT with YHC taking us out

    Solid work by the PAX today.  YHC planned for a wet workout with less field work.  The core work was much needed, with some heavy arm action to back end it.  Adderall exceled in this forum, showing superior form and supreme endurance.  T-claps for Kru for a solid effort.  He consistently earned the PAX’s respect with his never surrender attitude.  Johnsonville might have ignored YHC’s pre-workout disclaimer.  Keep an eye out for him hitting the DL in coming days with a stiff back.  Finally, no White Deer, so there was limited mumblechatter today.  His absence was most certainly noted.

    Solid time at Einstein’s afterward before releasing the PAX to the wild.

    God is good all the time!

    Attila

  • Herding Cats at Dogpile

    May it please the court (Wilson told me to talk like I’m addressing the Supreme Court), 40 posted to show the greater Richmond area school systems how its done. Rain or shine. Dogpile was not cancelled on Tuesday. The show must go on. Here is how it went, and/or was supposed to go.

    COP: Helicopters x 10 / LBCs x 10 /Scorpion Kicks x 10  – ALL IC

    THANG: 20 two count merkin burpees at the flag. Mosey to Police Memorial. 20 Apollo Creed burpees (10 each arm). Mosey to the tennis courts. 20 Flying Squirrel burpees. Crab walk 11s with WWIIs and LBCs – doubles line to doubles line. Triple Check 1: tennis court line tracers – all lines out and back … finish where you started. Paired with squats and SSHs. Triple Check 2: PLTs and suicides – end lines only – two courts across. Partner up: Wheelbarrow from doubles line to doubles line; one court. Switch and repeat. Backwards wheelbarrow from doubles line to doubles line. Switch and repeat. Mosey to the VITA course. 5 heels to heaven at each exercise station until we reached the road. 20 (F3RVA) regulation burpees. Back to the Flag.

    Mary: 101 flutter kicks IC

    Wilson took us out.

    Announcements: 4 year anniversary at Dogpile on Saturday to be followed by a 7:00 VITA course relay. Also at 7:00, Johnsonville will be leading a separate/second Dogpile bootcamp for FNGs or whoever else would like to join. 8:00 starts the cookout. See Phonics.  9/29 – Puppy Pile. 10/20 – CSAUP at Batteau. 7:00 a.m. start, I believe.

    NMS: It was great having 40 guys (and gal) out to Dogpile today. Supposedly the most well attended Dogpile of 2018. 39 would’ve been a better number. Love you Wilson! The “hurricane” cancelled all of the weekend activities, leaving the PAX with nothing else better to do than join YHC for a beatdown. The plan went mostly as intended, but some silent audibles were definitely called.The 101 flutter kicks at the end were your parting gifts for being such a good audience.

    At ETs TYA asked me if I kept everyone under control, to which I replied, maybe, somewhat, not really. To which he replied, “that’s what I heard” followed by the classic TYA laugh. Also, Wilson offered to take me to Q school. Do they teach kickers how to miss wide right there? YHC hopes everyone had a great time today, despite the – at times – herding of cats. I know I did. Oh, and Swirly bought oats for his balls.

    Res Ipsa Loquitur – the beatdown speaks for itself.

    P.S. Glad to have One Call with us today from Myrtle Beach. I hope you and your folks down there make it through unscathed. Let us know if we can help a brother out.

  • Landfall

    Haiku was called

    Humid and misty today

    Better than Florence

     

    Labrat and Upchuck

    No shortage of spoken words

    Plenty of good times

     

    Gomer and Swirly

    Missed the turn at Saint Bridget’s

    No Iris for you

     

    Running in the dark

    Oncoming car with close call

    Shakedown gives the bird

     

    Phonics and Sippy

    Running like two ocelots

    Strong finish you two

     

    Bikers slowly show

    No Tools ready for hazmat

    Swirly took us out

     

  • New Crocs

    The morning started with a few question marks…What to do with the beatdown, how many would actually post, would there be any out of town visitors, and how much rain/wind would there be?  The 6 strong that posted had all the answers plus some at the end of the beatdown.  A potential visitor that reached out for a down range beatdown didn’t post but Wedding Singer brought his nephew from Wilmington whose family is sheltering with the Singer’s to ride out the storm.

    With all 6 ready to go and a few headlamps distributed the PAX headed off together down James River Road.  After confirming that the Egg can hear but not repeat any foul language heard, he’s 14 of course he’s heard it all,  a brief recap of the JITFO acronym was laid out.  Follow that up with some high knees, butt kickers, slide left and slide right to loosen the legs.  Stop at the intersection of Riverton Ridge to loosen the arms. Arm Circles, odd numbers (more than 10 small/5 big) were used.  YHC was questioned whether the use of additional arm circles was Corporate approved, always.  Enough with the warm up.

    Run up Riverton Ridge to the first intersection, 100 SSH.  Run to the median split, 75 Mtn. climbers, run to the roundabout, 50 2ct flutter kicks, run up the hill to the right, 25 merkins, Run up the hill to the Ashwell intersection 5 burpees.  Back down, stopping at each spot with 25 werkins, 50 Freddie Mercuries, 75 Alternating shoulder taps, 100 squats.  Run around the back of the school, stopping for Dollies along the way.  Find the pull up bar.  5 pull ups, go across the monkey bars.  5 more pull ups.  Past the stadium to the parking lot for Mary.  5 burpees, sprint across the parking lot.  Back to the flag for a Ring of Fire, significant flair with Tobit and Egg that started the trend of clap merkins around the circle.

    NMM

    First off prayers for those in the path of the hurricane.  There could be a significant amount of damage and hopefully the advance warnings have gotten most of the people out of the area.  Glad Egg could make it out but his brother Chicken was nursing an injury and didn’t get to experience the beatdown.  Great work Egg, he provided some comic relief in namearama when Singer told him what to say and he was self proclaimed “scrambled”.  Apparently the beatdown scrambled whatever it was in his stomach this morning.

    Tclaps to Gumbo for running 2 miles to and from the AO with knowledge that YHC was going to try to get him some miles during the beatdown.  The “campus” of Twin Team is so big, it is not necessary to go off campus but heading up the road on a string of pearls with some hills added to the fun.  Tobit was flying around in the lead and seems to be in top running form.  A brief bout of heavier wind and rain died down and the PAX was left with a light mist and breeze through the morning.  Congrats to Mr. Roper and condolences to his M on his purchase of a new pair of Crocs.  His deteriorated a few months ago so who knows what he was walking around in since then.  He will stop at nothing to get a new pair, even sneaking into Bass Pro after hours.

    Apologies to Singer’s nephew and his sister-in-law for pushing Egg to the limit, although part of me thinks his father, a Marine, would be proud of his 2.0s effort this morning.

    Great work today men, stay dry.

    Announcements:

    • 9/22 – 4 year F3RVA anniversary convergence  Dogpile, 6 am beatdown, 7 am running
    • 9/29 – Puppy Pile
    • 10/20 – CSAUP on the trails

  • Opus’ day off

    9 warriors showed up on this kind of moist morning for a gentle beatdown.

    Here is what happened (more or less)
    Hallelujah Run around the church

    Circle up —
    IJR, Smurf jacks, arm circles, crab cakes, flutterkicks, box cutters, dirty dogs, curb one legged copperhead squats
    5 burpees OYO

    1 minute plank on curb, 1 minute reverse plank on curb

    Move over a little and do uneven merkins on curb (one hand on curb, one hand on asphalt) do 10 IC each arm

    THE BEAST — 6 at each light
    1) toe taps on curb
    2) alternating shoulder taps
    3) Smurf Jacks
    4) Merkins
    5) Jump Squats
    6) Burpees

    Lights go off at 6:05 right as we are finishing the Beast

    11’s around the loop at front of church
    starting with 1 stump merkin and 10 mountain climbers — you know the drill

    Numbers, Names, Announcements, YHC took us out

    Announcements –
    1) The Creek 2 year anniversary will be held next Friday the 21st!  Had No idea it has been that long!

    2) 4 year anniversary of F3 at Dogpile  on the 22nd.  6 AM bootcamp.  7:15 VITA course race.  Munchies afterwards.

    NMS —
    Most of the mumblechatter dealt with the fact that Opus (and all the local students) were off today for a light summer shower.  YHC actually wanted to be at work today — was just starting to get into a rhythm at school and YHC’s kids were actually getting ready on time without complaining!  Not complaining about a day off, though.

    Many prayers for the people who are in need of rescue and also the ones doing the rescuing.  Men and women willing to sacrifice their lives to save another.  We are indeed grateful for all of these people who do this kind of thing on a regular basis and make it their life’s calling.

    all apologies to No  Idea.  Sorry I skipped right over you during the Name-o-rama.

    Peace
    Opus

  • Smell the Glove

    Five of the Faithful posted to a GridIron workout, one of whom (Attila) wore cheap-o rubber gloves infused with putrid funk gathered over many weeks of sweaty workouts. I could smell Attila’s vomit-inducing gloves from at least 20 feet away. YHC offered to start a GoFundMe page so he could spring for $2.50 to buy a fresh pair. In any case, this is what went down, more or less:

    Warmup with 50x SSH, hand release merkins, Imperial Walkers, Crab Cakes, Merkins

    Mosey to block building for Donkey Kick Ciabattas
    Mosey to main gridiron field for Bearcrawl / Crawlbear
    Stay on field for Crabwalk / Walkcrab Ciabattas
    Mosey down to lower field for FourSquare —
    Run perimeter of field, sprinting last leg.
    Repeat springing last 2 legs.
    Repeat sprinting last 3 legs.
    Repeat sprinting all legs.
    Mosey around to pillers of pain. People’s chair
    Pole Smoker Ciabattas. More People’s chair
    Mosey to front of school for Merkin ladder — 10 wide, 9 regular, 8 close, 7 wide … etc. to 0.
    Triple check with more People’s chair and box cutters.

    COT with YHC taking us out.

    During the longish mosey from the school back to the VSF, Attila tried to slip his gross gloves into the back of White Deer’s shirt. White Deer, being rather expert at adolescent practical jokes was guarded, and slipped away. Adderall was a beast, finishing ahead on most exercises. There was not a usual coffeeteria on account of weekend schedules.

    Thanks for letting me lead! Jville