Category: Richmond, VA

  • !Congrats Señor Frog!

    Hey Hey! SoJ takeover today at Hoedown. Most importantly though, congratulations to Señor Frog and the future Señora Frog who tie the knot this May!

    Nine guys total. Three (depends how you count Oyster) and Six westenders.

    Warmorama: Mosey to 3rd RVA parking lot for some lateral jogging, butt kickers, SSH, deadman hang, CHS, APDs, flutter kicks, hamstring stretches, Rosco’s mom stretch, merkins, Wilson’s wife, followed by Fudd’s wife.

    COP 1: Mosey to back of 3rd Rva. 3x groups of three for a triple check! Runner to end of parking lot and back. Two partners doing squats and mostly modified donkey kicks.

    To express my disappointment with the donkey kicking, there was only one conceivable option. Pigskin wall beatdown. And so, upon my request, the man/myth/legend himself led us in a series of walk work, including: balls to the wall, thigh slaps, toe taps, mountain climbers and donkey kicks OYO. All the grumbling was music to my ears!

    20 second count.

    COP 2: Worked our way to the spillover lot for a four corners workout: Corner 1: 5 burpees, Corner 2: 10 merkins, Corner 3: 20 LBCs, Corner 4: 30 jump squats. Prostitute style = 35 burpees.

    On the way to COP 3….Señor Frog lead the way to the playground and literally pulled off an impromptu slide down a hill (both feet, did not fall). I cautioned, “be careful Frog!” His reply, “gotta have fun sometimes!”

    COP 3: “7s” Pullups and either dips or squats across the frozen tundra Tuckahoe elementary playground.

    BTTF

    Announcement:

    1. Frog is getting married! May 17th.
    2. Frozen Triangle 2/8 at DP. 6 am.

    El Heisto took us out in Prayer.

    SoJ week continues. I will be out there at least two other times. Hint: Pigskin will probably see me at the next three.

  • Warmest morn of the week

    Two guys showed up to take on the cold.

    Here is what happened.

    COP — normal exercises

    a together dora
    20×2 merkins
    run to the next spot
    40×2 LBC
    run to the next spot
    60×2 SSH
    run back to first spot
    20×2 merkins
    run to the next spot
    40×2 LBC
    run to the next spot
    60×2 SSH
    10×2 merkins
    run
    20×2 LBC
    run
    30×2 SSH

    10 WW2 every speed bump
    10 squats every light post

    back to the flag

    Quite cold but not the worst of the week. Looking forward to warmth again.

  • Learning how to retire one day at a time

    Five guys posted to Atlee High School on this Saturday with temperatures in the low 30s. Compared to what the forecast is like this upcoming week, the 34 degree temperature felt like it was sunny and 70. This is a somewhat accurate account of what the beatdown was.

    COP

    SSH, Don Quixotes, Helicopters, Arm Circles, Reverso, 5 burpees OYO, Merkins, LBCs, Heels-to-Heaven

    Tabata – Alternate between the 2 exercises below.

    • Round 1 – One Legged Lunges / reverse legs
    • Round 2 – Dips / Mountain Climbers
    • Round 3 – One Legged APD / reverse legs
    • Round 4 – Burpees / SSH
    • Round 5 – Donkey Kicks / Merkins

    Triple Check with 5 rotations

    • Pull-ups
    • Squats
    • Rosaletas
    • Dirty Dog
    • Timer run one lap around court

    Modified Plank-O-Rama – For 5 minutes do the following

    • 1 minute of normal plank
    • 30 seconds of elbow plank
    • 30 seconds of side plank
    • 30 seconds of other side plank
    • 30 seconds of elbow plank with one leg lifted
    • 30 seconds of elbow plank with other leg lifted
    • 30 seconds of elbow plank
    • 1 minute of normal plank with merkins during last 15 seconds

    Green Sally Up – Hold Six Inches with leg lifts

    Mosey back to VSF

    Numberarama, Name-O-Rama, Announcements, YHC took us out

    NMS

    Great job today everybody with this challenging workout. Last night, YHC was with an old neighbor who had recently been laid off into retirement. YHC asked Corned Beef when he was planning on retiring. CB said his job doesn’t really have retirement, but a friend advised him to start taking a day off here and there. He said on Thursday, he took the day off. He then expanded on this discussion with Bulkhead. From a distance, YHC believes he talked about taking a week and going to Florida as well as one other place. Helix then said to me, “Did he just say Nairobi?” That is what YHC heard as well.

    As we all get closer to retirement, this plan of learning how to retire one day at a time might be best. Instead of working 40 – 60 hours a week and then stopping all together, starting taking a day here and a day there. Over time, take a few more days or even a week and slowly start stepping away. Sounds like a great plan.

    Afterwards, we gathered at The Local Cup with Opus joining us for the 2nd F.

    Announcements – Frozen Triangle – February 8 – See Pre-Blast.

    Have a great day everybody!

    Gotta Run!

    Phonics

  • No Butter, Just Ice

    13 lucky gloom brothers donned the extra weight to conquer a BRUTAL 8 mile trail ruck in preparation for the Frozen Triangle 10-miler happening Feb 8th. After hearing from young Snap he was running behind 15 minutes, the on-time 12-PAX set out from Pump House Park and set a blazing pace down the North Bank trail toward the City. En route, Offshore came running past from the other direction and mentioned the Buttermilk was treacherous. Hmmmm, maybe we should have listened… Starting 15 minutes behind the pack, there was no way Snap was gonna catch up. But the PAX was stopped a few times for water and stretch breaks, and their beloved Q also made them do some IC Flutters and Squats once we crossed the Bell Isle bridge. We also added the Bell Isle loop, but still young Snap hadn’t arrived. This was where the Q asked for volunteers to go back for the SIX, and the PAX split with Ponch leading the front runners toward the Buttermilk, while YHC and a platoon of big-hearted warriors circled back over the Bell Isle suspension bridge in search of Snap. Turns out he blew past Bell Isle and was about to cross the Browns Island footbridge, but we got him turned around and once united we took off at double speed to catch the front runners. Finally reaching the Buttermilk, we knew catching up was going to be near impossible – the entire trail was covered in ice. A few of us who participated in the Grow Ruck had many reflective moments remembering the painfully slow progress under extra weight on these same trails, only then they were slick with hard rain instead of hard ice. Right then we all agreed Rodeo Clown’s strap-on ice grips to be a genius move. It was grueling but the PAX set out to try and catch up with the front-runners, and we periodically shuffle-jogged where the trail permitted. As it turned out we never had a chance to catch them, and the Ponch Crew were driving past us as we were finally crossing the Nickel Bridge. SUPER proud of these men for taking on what turned out to be a wildly challenging CSAUP. In comparison I expect the Frozen Triangle ruck will be a walk in the park. We have 15 PAX so far HC’d to ruck it – WHO ELSE WANTS IN?!?  Yours AYE! ~DTH

  • [NewKent]Rucking Late!

    YHC ran a couple minutes late this morning, I blamed it on loading “Yukons Cuddle Buddies” but it’s on me for hitting that snoozer. But to my surprise I showed up to find a couple of early birds – an FNG who we’ve knighted Twirly Bird (who ran solo, sorry we didn’t have anybody to join up with you) and our good buddy Chowder (we ended up rucking and chattering it up about some good subjects on bourbons/whiskeys, hunting and the like).

    Way to go guys! Getting in 2 workout posts on a Saturday morning! Thanks for coming out!

    YHC is going to switch to running the following Saturday mornings to prep for the Frozen Triangle on Feb 8.

  • Ghost Sighting

    I finally crossed the river and exercised my ghost flag option with Bootleg graciously stepping aside. Now he has a whole beatdown and pre-written backblast in the can. Thanks buddy! 

    12 PAX deep, YHC muddled through an hour somehow. It seemed for most of that hour half the PAX didn’t hear my called exercises while the other half heard them clearly and grumbled. Grumbles mean you’re on the right track. Treacherous ice and snow on the ground, the PAX was careful not to turn an ankle. 

    Little mosey with a lap around the traffic circle. Circled up for:

    Andy Dufresne, dead man hang, helicopters, SSHs, copperhead squats, merkins, Freddie Mercurys with variable cadence, cobra and downward dog, 30 second OYO stretch

    To the bottom of the amphitheater for a dora. Timer box jumps up the theater seats and runs back down. 100 merkins w/ feet on a seat and hands on the ground (derkins?), 200 squats, 300 SSHs. 

    Fumbled through the gloom, asked for directions, and arrived at the pullup bars close to the pumphouse trail. A 6-pack ensued. It’s like 11s but with 6. Pullups followed by a short mosey with burpees on the other side. 

    We carefully picked our way down the trail arriving on the road next to the pumphouse. Between streetlights we did walking lunges, a bear crawl, a crab walk. 

    Mosey to the nickel bridge then mosey across with a burpee at each streetlight. On the return mosey two Spiderman merkins at each streetlight. Mosey BTTF. 

    Circle up at the flag where one PAX would call an exercise and rep count, then run to a street sign and back. Jump squats, dead man hang, APDs, and maybe one more thing I can’t remember. Time called. 

    Names. Numbers. 

    Upcoming frozen triangle. Ruck, run, bike, and other options. The only limit is your imagination. BOLO for opportunities with breaking bread and the bridge AO. 

    Prayers for the family of Bootleg’s friend who recently died from stomach cancer. Prayers for Gomer Pyle and his upcoming trip to Honduras. Thanks given for our innumerable blessings. 

    It’s my honor to lead you guys. Dogpile is the best AO no question, and I love seeing my northern brethren. Until next time.

  • Stay Up Wind of Big Rig

    2 Premature Accelerators launched from Rockwood Park for some training miles for their upcoming distance races. Boberry’s got his coming in just over a week, and YHC has his in just under 3 months.

    We took to the hills of the Mayfair Estates neighborhood and got those miles in. Discussion was great as usual, and at one point led us to wondering how long the Farts tag has been available when posting Backblasts. Boberry’s sure that Draper was responsible for it.

    We headed back to Rockwood for some hydration. YHC continued on to get some hilly miles, and Boberry went home to pickup Rubble to bring back for DTH’s Rocknroll beatdown.

  • Crossing Over 5th Street

    These five men only worked two muscle groups legs and abs. Four minutes of wall sits in 1 minute intervals, 11 intervals of 20 Hoedowns, 100m Lunge Walk, 20 Squats, 40 Monkey Humpers, 20 Smurf Jacks, 20 Low Slow Squats, 20 Calf Raises, 200m Sprints, 300m Sprints, 50m Karaoke, 50m Butt Kicks. The workout concluded with five minutes of Mary consisting of 20 Heels to Heaven, 20 Alabama Prom Dates, 20 Double Count Shoulder Taps, 20 Double Count Flutter Kicks, 20 LBCs, 20 MTN. Climbers, 50m Bernie Sanders, 50 m High Knee, and 20 Plank Jacks.

  • Rockin Out a Funky Beatdown

    A hearty 21-PAX converged at Rockwood and crushed the DRP with a musical mashup whoopin. Here’s how a FNG private eye investigated F3 SOJ and deemed it GUILTY of BADASSERY! 

    The THANG: 

    WARMERAMA – BY MUDSLIDE

    • Mosey and circle up on the Basketball Court
    • Welcome & Disclaimer
    • Variable reps and stretches that only Mudslide can fully know and understand
    • Morning Wood Ruckers arrive at 0707, DTH puts the ROCKIN BEATS ON, Mudslide relinquishes the Q, LET’s GOOOO!!!

    COP #1: 

    • Mosey to the Tennis Courts and circle up 
    • PLAY Stacy’s Mom, by Fountains of Wayne (3:18)
    • APD’s to the beat
    • WWII for every Stacy/Mom

    COP #2:

    • Mosey over to the Pickleball Courts
    • FIFTIES – x50 reps in each of 8 courts, first to call 50 ends PAX reps and calls the next court exercise
    • Exercises included: Squats, Mtn Climbers, Am.Hammers, Monkey Humpers, Merkins, Flutters, LBC’s, aaaaand the all-new Florence Kicks (oof)

    COP #3:

    • Mosey to the large center lot and circle up
    • PLAY Tubthumping, by Chumbawumba (4:39)
    • Plank Jacks to the beat
    • Hand-release Merkin for every “I get knocked down but I get up again” 

    COP #4:

    • Mosey to the Snack Shack and partner up
    • x3 Rounds alternating x20 Hoedowns and other PAX doing Dips until relieved

    COP #5:

    • Mosey over to the far lot and circle up
    • PLAY Stayin Alive, by The Bee Gees (4:43)
    • Jazzercise to the beat WITH GUSTO
    • Squat for every “Stayin Alive”

    COP #6: 

    • Mosey over to the gravel hill
    • Round 1 – mosey down, AYG Sprint to the top
    • Round 2 – mosey down, AYG Bernie to the top
    • Round 3 – mosey down, AYG Bear Crawl to the top

    COP #7:

    • Mosey back to the bball court and circle up
    • PLAY September, by Earth Wind Fire (3:35)
    • Flutters to the beat
    • Heels to Heaven with every “Ba-dee-ya” or “Ba Du Du”

    COT:

    • Counterama # 21
    • Namerama – WELCOME AGENT SMITH!!!
    • Announcerama (see Below)
    • BOM Prayer

    NMS:  Brothers, cup is FULL today. What an awesome crowd for both the ruck and beatdown. Cheers to Chaplain for passing off the R&R Q and prayers for speedy recovery! Many thanks to Mudslide for covering the Warmerama while the ruckers rolled in late. Welcome to Florence’s Pplice Academy brother, now Private Eye, nicknamed Agent Smith – keep posting! And TClaps to all the PAX pushing hard this morning. As always, it’s a true honor to lead. Yours AYE! ~DTH

    Announcements (SEE SLACK!)

    • TOMORROW (Sun) OTB Ruck kicking off from Pump House Park at 0600 (5-6mi)
    • 2/8, 0600 Frozen Triangle 
    • 4/5, Mudslide recruiting for Spartan Race 10K in Concord (HUNDREDS OF F3 PAX GOING!)
    • April Hike/Ruck with Rodeo Clown to support Make-A-Wish

  • Off Campus Trailblazing Ran Overtime

    YHC and a troop of seven hardened ruck veterans escaped the confines of Rockwood Park and took to the mean streets of neighborhoods East of Hull Street, looping a new route North, crossing Hull into an elderly commune, and eventually making it back to Rockwood, 7 minutes late for the Bootcamp YHC was supposed to be leading, having covered about 4.2 miles. Meanwhile Big Rig ran thousands of miles somewhere. Big thanks to Mudslide for covering the Warmerama until I arrived. TClaps to the ruckers going overtime and keeping a speedy pace to cover mew ground. Yours AYE! ~DTH