Category: Richmond, VA

  • The Day we Ran Mt. Henrico

    There is some irony in having been awarded the best backblast ever and always being super late in writing backblasts. (That trophy, by the way, is proudly displayed on our mantle in our living room. I have a couple of championship rings, including the Final Four, which are stashed away collecting dust…but that trophy is out for everyone to see). Anyhoo, maybe because I one day would like to replicate that one that I wrote years ago I always procrastinate, hoping that inspiration will strike. It rarely, if ever, does.

    So three (or so) weeks ago a group of 15 guys set out on a quest to get to the highest point in Henrico County. We met our Sherpa at Trinity and she took us the rest of the way. We left with 15 and came back with 14…only because Faceplant had to bug out early. All of needed oxygen in one way shape or form.

  • Gridiron – the Movie

    11 PAX showed up to play parts in the greatest movie filming of all time, or at least the best one filled at Short Pump middle school, at 7 in the morning.

    COP: DQs (with an abundance of mumble chatter), helicopters, HRMs, Freddie Mercuries (in honor of Tater Mercury who is growing a mustache for a good cause), LBCs and arm circles. Mosey to track.

    4 corners on track 1/4 of the track, 10 merkins, 1/4 track, 20 merkins, 1/4 track 30 merkins and 1/4 track 40 merkins. 100 merkins – not shabby at all my friends. Mosey to nearby soccer field which looked like a swamp so audible to nearby asphalt.

    Bear crawl as far as you can or to the stop sign. When you can bear crawl no further, lunge.

    Lindseys: Lindsey 1: Carolina Dry docks and monkey humpers. Lindsey 2: plank jacks and squats, Lindsey 3: APDs and pickle pounders. Mosey to front of school.

    Triple check with wall sits, dips and run around the road in front of the school. Mosey to bus loop.

    Burpee for each two posts. ~15 burpees total, Burpee per two post on way back. Mosey to home base.

    Ab mary with each PAX calling out an ab exercise for all PAX. Finished with a stretch.

    Prayers for Fudd’s sister Mary (and Fudd/family too), Fireman Ed and Roger Roger (wife). A lot of this workout was being filmed with Attila and Mariner for PE class. I bet the film will be rousing and entertaining for all. And the Emmy goes to…..

    Have a great rest of your weekend.

    Fireman Ed

  • I don’t think we were expecting that!

    5 weekend warriors decided that even the Richmond Marathon couldn’t keep them away from a beatdown at Rock N Roll. Unfortunately, none of us that showed up had signed up to Q. With no plan, YHC figured I’d kick things in motion. According to the man in the jean jacket that followed us around for the entire workout, here’s what went down.

    Mosey to the basketball court for warmarama which consisted of SSH’s, Helicopters, Don Q’s, Imperial squat walkers, Ukrainian Soldiers, Merkins, and WWII’s

    Next, line up on the baseline for 6 rounds of suicides

    Round 1 – normal suicides

    Round 2 – 1 burpee at each line

    Round 3 – 1 burpee and 2 squats at each line

    Round 4 – 1 burpee, 2 squats, and 3 merkins at each line

    Round 5 – 1 burpee, 2 squats, 3 merkins, 4 WWII’s at each line

    Round 6 – 1 burpee, 2 squats, 3 merkins, 4 WWII’s, 5 SSH’s at each line.

    Next up….Broadway, who took us on the Tour de Rockwood Park.

    We mosey’d around the park, from the basketball courts to the trails, stopping to do different exercises. We really got a full body workout. The leg kicks really hit the hamstrings, we did plenty of flutter kicks, and got in alot of dips, pullups, and incline merkins.

    We finished off with a Ring of Fire. Everyone led their exercise in cadence.

    Names, Numbers, Broadway took us out.

    It was great morning. Although there was no Q on the sheet, today showed F3RVA has plenty of leaders who are willing to step up and lead. I don’t think we were expecting that brutal of a beatdown, but it sure was a good one.

    House Party

  • Little Red Corvette

    1 DaVille and 5 Eastenders savages got together this morning to catch the full moon on one side of the football field and the sunrise on the other while Prince was blasting on the speaker. This is how it went down…..

    Warmarama

    • Knee Knockers
    • Reverse Scorpion
    • Small and Big Arm Circles
    • SSH
    • Imperial Walkers

    Thang

    • Mosey on the trail and stop at every post to knock out 10 plank jacks and 2 count 20 mountain climbers. ( 90 planks) (180 mountain climbers) included a mile run
    • Made it to playground to knock out 3 rounds of 5 pull ups each. While waiting your turn do merkins which turned into planking.
    • Gorilla Complex with coupons!!
      • 8 rounds
      • 8 curls, 8 overhead press, 8 chest press, 8 pull threw merkin, 100 yard run.
    • Finished up with American Hammers and Outlaws.

    Numbers, Names and Prayers

    The YHC has came to the conclusion that his workouts seem much easier on paper. We had the pleasure of having Beat it come out to represent for daville, they should be proud cause he set the pace for us. Also had a savage come out that moved here from Lynchburg thats been doing F3 for almost 2 years now, welcome Achilles!! Great beat down with these guys this morning while giving a lesson on The Artist Formally Known as Prince!!!!

    YHC took us out!!!!!

  • Clinic Downrange VQ

    Taking advantage of a open slot on the Q sheet, YHC led a workout at a geographically representative proximal location of the Clinic. This workout included 45 minutes of “strenuous” cycling followed by 3x 30 leg lifts, 4x 8 curls and 3x 25x merkins.

    NMS – I see the appeal of this AO – lightly organized and lightly attended, it provides the opportunity for reflection and introspection with a side of bewilderment. Since 2F was lightly attended, so that the PAX dont feel left out, some of those musings are presented thus:

    • Why do people walk on the clearly differentiated bike path, with headphones?
    • What is the appeal to stopping and talking in the middle of the walking path while so many active adults are power walking (and more)?
    • Is it um… motivating to run with a thong / floss bottom? @Flatline given the singlet experience this might be yours.
    • Is rollerblading really exercise and more importantly is it as cool as @Upchuck says it is?
    • How much botox &what SPF sunscreen is required to achieve *that* look?
    • Should YHC share carefully curated musical tastes with todo el mundo by employing a bluetooth speaker? BTW what is the current slang term for this modern take on the ghetto blaster? (Can there really not be one?) Finally on this important topic, is there some overpriced specific bike adapter that is millennial approved?
    • Has @senor-frog been to *that* Señor Frogs?
    • Is that funky stuff really helpful to everyone first thing in the morning?

    Very important questions.

    Prayers for my brothers and their families.

    Get some!

  • But, Sting. Or, buttsting? Or, busting?

    Seven of Richmond’s finest dodged road closures and detours to launch at the latest edition of The Dogpile. Temperatures were 70 and sunny. According to YHC’s longtime neighbor, the following might have happened:

    Mosey up, around, and through the park to the five pointed symbol in front of The Carillon for the COP.

    100 SSHs.
    Dead man hang
    Fudd’s Wife
    Right leg high, left leg high
    Wilson’s Wife
    Pigeon (right, then left)
    HRMs x10
    WWIs, cause it’s The Carillon
    LBCs

    Mosey 30 feet to surround the 5 pointed symbol for Not a Beast. 5 rounds. Each round has one exercise. 5 reps at each of 5 spots. Bottom of stairs, top of stairs, back of Carillon, top of other stairs, bottom of other stairs. Exercises were merkins, WWIIs, LBCs, squats, and 4-count flutter kicks. Bonus 6th round: still do 5 reps, but do all 5 exercises at each station.

    Mosey not at all. Touch a Tree. The name says the game. 3, 6, 9 trees. Touching the Carillon counts for 3 trees. Use the Carillon more than once (hey, all the rules are out the window anyway), if you want, but only if you ascend and descend the stairs in between.

    Mosey to Park Ave. Burpee Row. However, YHC likes to give people options – good options and bad options. Make your own choices. Each light post is 3 burpees. Each white parking post is 2 merkins. Either / or. Mix and match, if you wish.

    Mosey back to the starting point, then go 30 more feet. Touch a Tree, Part Deaux. 12 trees, but don’t touch any of the ones touched the first 3 rounds (ah, a little memory test).

    Mosey BTTSF. Two minutes of Mary. APDs and Rosalita’s.

    Numbers, names, and Mr. Rogers took us out.

    Announcements:

    Chili Will Be Cooked Off. November 24, afternoon. RounTrey, not “Round Tree.” Sign up. Make some excellent chili. And, engage in a contest. Push yourself, don’t burn yourself.

    Heist and Hermes will combine their skills at The Bridge on November 30 at 7:30 a.m. DM Heist to join the clown car. Nice to see F3 men taking on a challenge and running with it.

    Speaking of…December 14, OBT and YHC will head out to The Bridge. YHC has the Q. Curious about The Bridge and how you can help build character with your fellow men? Join us.

    NMS:

    YHC was pleased to see the string of BMWs (we can’t all have Rivians) in the pre-dawn moonlight at Dogpile today with some OG’s joining…HoneyDo and Splinter.

    Mumblechatter was strong today. Topics included HoneyDo’s camo shorts wardrobe, bond yields, deficits, W&M football tickets, scalping, creative destruction, and how putting intelligent, thinking humans in positions of responsibility matters. Interesting to see who people focused on and who they did not focus on. General agreement that character remains critical.

    Speaking of resiliency, getting to Libbie Market today was a chore. Over the river, through the woods just to avoid the street closures. Unclear whether Hitchhiker was ever able to get home. Word is there was a Florence sighting at Libbie and Grove where he was doing a combination of arm circles and helicopters. No confirmation that academy plebes are rewarded with bright pink reflective vests rather than bright yellow, which is reserved for full police.

    UpChuck spits the bit.

  • Ruck-a-ccino

    3 HIMs awoke to a full moon and meandered to the stop sign. Attendance was impacted by HIMs staying up past their bedtime to watch the legend himself stay up past midnight and survive 8 rounds in the ring. The show must go on!

    went our usual route over to the gas station, played frogger across the street and hit the hills. Structured the route to avoid Rudy’s tree and made our way over the hills and back to the start. 4 miles in 67 minutes.

    we discussed Tarantinos genius, Dave Mishevitz’s illustrious career, and the joys of fatherhood.

  • Who needs a marathon?

    When you can run 3.3 miles before Gridiron. The End.

  • Misty Run Down Monument

    Five runners and one rider converged at the corner of Commonwealth and Grove on a misty morning to start the weekend right. With no one on the Q sheet, we caucused and agreed to head to Monument then go east. We cut over to Grove at various points and headed back to where we started.

    With a light mist and cool weather, it was an ideal morning for a run.

  • Legs Burned, Arms Shaken, Pride Shattered: My First VQ

    9 brave HIMs peeled themselves out of bed on a soggy Friday morning to support my VQ. After a quick mosey down to Old One Hundred, we circled back up for the mission of F3 & a quick disclaimer that I have no idea what I’m doing and not to hurt yourself. That’s when the fun began.

    Warmarama: Terminology and cadence was a little shaky, but we got through it with limited commentary from the gallery

    • Side straddle hops 10x
    • Sun Gods 10x forward 10x backward (Sun gods)
    • Washing Machine 10x
    • Don Quixote 10x
    • Squats 10x
    • Shoulder Taps 10x

    I was supposed to do 10 Outlaws and 10 Flutter kicks, but my nerves decided to abandon all preparation. Also, my hesitation—and a fear of angering the guys by getting too wet too soon—won out in the end.

    The Thang 1: The Leg Dora

    We kicked things off with a Dora-style partner workout, but with a twist, all legs.

    • 100 Ukranian Solders (I called it Frankenstein’s, Heist said these must be Alabama terms)
    • 200 Side Straddle Hops (I said side hops, but didn’t realize they misunderstood my southern mumble until halfway back from my run. I just kept my mouth shut, plus I was breathing too hard to say anything. Not a good look coming from the Q on the second leg)
    • 300 Squats

    Thang 2: Dark and Dank Arm Burner

    • Moseyed down to the rock pile to grab a rock big enough to make you work, but small enough to run with. Probably not the safest idea to run down a dirt trail in pitch black, but we did so anyway. Heist reminded everyone to watch their step. But what he really meant was this is bad idea. After quickly realizing it was going to be much harder than planned, the Q juice started to flow. Here’s how it went. Run to first stop (Gazebo) 20 curls OYO, run to second stop (opening in trail) 20 overhead press OYO, run to third stop (Trail meets fire road) 20 tri-extensions OYO, to the back cul-de-sac for 20 Saltshakers OYO. Ran it back to with 10 reps at each stop. Ended at rock pile with 5 reps of each exercise.

    Thang 3: The Not So Bermuda Triangle/ Triple Check

    • Moseyed over to the bottom of Satan’s Hill. Got in groups of 3s. After explaining the exercise and several confused looks, everyone seemed to catch on quickly.
    • 1 person on Bermuda Triangle, but instead of a triangle, straight up Satan’s Hill; 1 Burpee at first stop, bear crawl to second stop, 2 burpees at second stop, lunge to third stop, 3 burpees at third stop with a run to end and back to tag a partner
    • Partners 2 & 3 performed flutter kicks and LBCs until the other returned from Bermuda.

    The final 3 minutes of the workout were reserved for Broga—led by Mudslide, because someone needs to save us from muscle failure. Finished up Broga in the Happy Baby Pose because Futon insisted.

    CoT: Tried starting announcements and wins right of the bat, but Wildcat was quick to remind me that the count and names came first.

    Announcements:

    • Chili Cook Off- November 26th 3-6pm. Sign up!
    • The Bridge November 30th
    • DTH B-Day Q at Rock n Roll- Lets show out!
    • DTH upcoming Mission Trip to Papua New Guinea- passed out cards with information on how to help. Ask DTH for info.

    Prayer Requests:

    • Futons Mother-in-Law battling Stage 4 cancer
    • TSG’s Father-in-Law had a mini stroke- going for tests at cardiologist this week
    • Heist’s Man cold

    Thoughts: Shout out to everyone who showed up to support my VQ, but more importantly, thank you for bringing me into F3 and allowing me to lead such a strong group of men. I really look forward to continuing to grow as a man with the support of F3.