Category: Richmond, VA

  • You Don’t Need to See the Ball

    Seven strode onto the hard courts of south Richmond for the latest presentation of Batteau, Pickleball Edition. Conditions court side remained 70 and sunny. According to the neighbors calling 911 with reports of noise violations, the following might have happened.

    Quick disclaimer. But, not THAT disclaimer. The other disclaimer – the one about “watch out for the ball catcher obstructions between courts.

    Mosey around the courts while waiting for the sun to arrive.

    Lap 1: jog around courts. Mutually assist in avoiding obstructions.

    Lap 2: parking space tracers, sideways slides, Bernie Sanders, etc. YHC completely forgets Disclaimer and destroys one of the barriers. Cue the laugh track and lessons from the chapter of Freed to Lead on Clysdale’s Physics.

    Circle up. Quick Disclaimer, so quick the Pax might have missed it.

    COP:

    1,000,000 SSHs
    Dead Man Hang
    Fudd’s Wife
    Right leg high, left leg high, various legs and arms high.
    Wilson’s Wife
    Pigeon right / left

    Sufficient light present for white balls. Let’s go!

    Round 1:

    Court 1: NTB / Orange Crush vs. Whitesnake / YHC

    Court 2: Sable, Tryhard, Hitchhiker round robin.

    Round 2:

    Court 1: Sable / Tryhard vs. Whitesnake / NTB (YHC thinks these were the pairings)

    Court 2: Hitchhiker / Orange Crush vs. YHC

    Time called at 06:15, at the end of the Hitch/OC vs. YHC match, or exactly when Tryhard dropped the hammer of a slam on Whitesnake & Co. Tryhard might have been in The Kitchen, but VAR did not overrule the point.

    Numbers, names, and NTB took us out.

    Announcements:

    • ONGOING – Summer Tour
    • 7/29-8/4 – Westhoe Takeover
    • 8/3 – Homegrown Half. Big debate on whether to meet at Betty Weaver or Robious Landing. Local guy says Betty Weaver. Rain location: Robious Landing. 06:00, or get there by 5:55 a.m. if you aren’t sure of the location.
    • 8/4 – 6-8am Holy Water Bootcamp. Swim with your pals. Open to all men, always free.
    • 8/6 – Ultimate Frisbee Tournament at NoToll. Sign up. Really. No Wildcatting. Ahem, Wildcat the guy is welcome. But, pre-registration is required.
    • 8/11 – F3 Family Float on the James. Somewhere between the confluence of the Jackson and Cowpasture Rivers and the Chesapeake Bay.
    • 8/17 – Pickleball Tourney. Forest Hill Park. Find a partner. Sign up in advance. Or, contact Oyster and make him do the work for you.
    • 8/18 – 6-8am Holy Water Bootcamp.
    • 8/21 – 100th Bday Q by Upchuck. First Watch. 05:00.
    • 8/28 – New AO at Mosely Elementary.
    • More cool stuff throughout the fall…

    NMS: Notable moments included NTB checking the strings on his paddle, the aforementioned Tryhard slam, and multiple Orange Crush shots between the legs (for real). He’s got skills.

    UpChuck spits the bit.

  • Breaking Bread – Please, No More Lasagna. We Want Ham and Potatoes!

    9 guests, one worker, and one guest join in Personhood to celebrate the latest edition of Breaking Bread. Conditions were 70 and sunny. According to the sweet older lady who YHC has seen several times over the years, the following might have been served.

    Baked ham, King’s Hawaiian rolls, Dad’s Mashed Potatoes (🥔 Upchuck’s version), and green beans (UpChuck’s version).

    Many thank you’s were expressed for F3, whether lasagna or this evening’s dinner. Those folks love them some F3 (as does Sharon, the new Barbara).

    No numbers, no names, but a gentleman, out of nowhere, said a wonderful blessing.

    If you haven’t done Breaking Bread, grab a pal, whip up a menu, scratch together a couple of dishes, and insist on being part of serving the dinner (do not let Sharon tell you to just go home). Chat with the residents, learn a bit, and push yourself (don’t hurt yourself) in a non-workout context. It’s a reward to learn how much we are given in life.

    YHC thanks his M., Carrie, for her help (though YHC candidly claims credit for the green beans, potatoes, and rolls).

    UpChuck spits the bit.

  • Have You Seen a Korean Guy with a Blue Hat?

    Ten speed demons lined up for the shotgun start of the latest edition of Sunday Funday. Conditions remained constant at 70 and sunny. According to the startled, headphone wearing solo female runner, the following might happened:

    Boulevard Bridge / Nickel Bridge / 50 Cent Bridge / Fiddy Cent Bridge to Buttermilk Trail, eastbound. Some took the “lariat” before most turned at Reedy Creek. Forest Hill loop, some went clockwise, some counter-clockwise (and do not expect YHC to know which way is clockwise). It’s Sunday; no thinking is recommended or required.

    Some then headed BTTVSF for 7 miles.

    Some headed to the T. Pottersfield Bridge and BTTVSF for 10.

    Numbers, names, and YHC took us out.

    NMS: Solid crew today for the First Inaugural, 7th or 8th Annual Tuckahoe / Westhoe Takeover. Hard to know how many of these we have done. Today was workout #1. More to follow this week.

    Great to see Sippy Cup burning around Forest Hill. Whoosh. YHC estimates the Sippy/UpChuck closing speed to be in excess of 40MPH. Considering that YHC did 7 miles in 90 minutes, you do the math for Sippy’s speed. Also nice to have Phonics and his daughter, Better Half, out for the morning. They too lit the trails on fire.

    Johnsonville and Chum Bucket, both of whom YHC believes to have almost 10 years with F3RVA, are prepping for another Richmond Marathon. Bib numbers, as always, are predicted to be in the low-mid teens for both of them. Let’s see if they can break the Top 10 this year.

    The fabulous four-some of Hitch, Bootleg, Shakedown, and YHC filled out the field. At one point, Hitch was no longer present with us, and while Helix offered to search for him, YHC asked a passing runner whether she had seen him. Memo to self – random questions asked of single females can elicit startled responses. But, we knew that. Next time, YHC will have to put his shirt back on before asking.

    Announcements: Solid work yesterday all around by the PAX. YHC had 5 true men join him for The Bridge, and Oyster led us with Breaking Bread last evening. Solid weekend of 3rd F gentlemen. Well darn done.

    Tuckahoe / Westhoe Takeover this week.

    Homegrown Half of 10 or 20 or 26.2 this coming Saturday. Starting point is either Betty Weaver or Robious Landing. YHC isn’t sure. So, the options are the either YHC does your homework for you, or you look it up. Finally, let’s be real – the two locations are so close, if you can’t find it, you weren’t that committed. Get out there and support these guys, their Ms, neighbors, and 2.0s. LG!

    Summer Tour continues. Let’s go!

    UpChuck spits the bit.

  • Breaking Bread – Lasagna Night

    Up the steps to the back door, YHC was greeted by a full house. Twelve men and women are staying at the Daily Planet Respite program this weekend. When the group is this large, it’s time for Italian: a sheet pan of lasagna, a couple of loaves of garlic bread, a big salad, watermelon, and some chocolate chip cookies. Meeting some of the friendliest people around is just what YHC needed.

    Lasagna
    Garlic Bread
    Salad
    Watermelon
    Chocolate Chips Cookies

    If you would like to sign up for Breaking Bread, you can find it on the Q sheet. Choose the last weekend of the month, either Saturday or Sunday. YHC will send you all the details a few days before your scheduled day, including how many people will be there, where to go, and what time to arrive.

    Get the family involved! My 2.0 loves choosing the menu, helps make the dinner and is always all in on making the desserts. Whether you’re a great cook or not, it’s all good. You can prepare your meal from scratch or order food, such as chicken and sides from Publix. The most important thing is that we are providing a hot meal to some folks who don’t always get one. Let’s Go!!!!

    Oyster

  • The Kids Are Alright

    It was a teenage takeover at latest edition of School Rock. Touchdown made his eagerly anticipated debut on the Q sheet. I witnessed the events, and was able to transfer the data into backblast format.

    Gather the PAX together for F3 intros and Warm up:

    SSH’s, Imperial Walkers, LBC’s.

    Mosey to hill for Exercise One: Pain Tag
    One person is “IT” – if you get tagged, 10 merkins and you are also “IT”
    Subsequent rounds included Squats, Side Straddle Hops, and WWII Sit-ups. Steamer and I were worn out from the prior workout and tended to be targeted early and often.

    Mosey to side of the Big Parking Lot for Exercise Two:
    Bears and Crabs: the F3 version of sharks and minnows. OJ was definitely dominating during these rounds. My triangle defense idea also proved fairly worthless

    Mosey to the playground for a Quintuple Check; Runner goes around the playground. Other exercises included Merkins w/feet on the swing, Dips, Step Ups, and Balance Beam Dips

    Low on time, so back to the flag to name the two FNG’s. Cookies and Gatorade followed.

    IMHO Touchdown did a great job with this workout. Solid cadence and creative ideas. I think Pain Tag has a lot of potential for future School of Rock events, or even for the adult PAX. With all the young guns participating in workouts and leading, the future of F3RVA looks bright.

  • Watch for Speed Bumps at The Bridge

    Eleven men turned the Struggle into Success at the latest edition of The Bridge. Conditions remained 70 and sunny. According to the abundant wildlife at Horsepen Lake State Park, the following might have happened:

    Introductions among men. Shaking of hands. Providing of names. Verbal indications of Brotherhood. Setting the state for the Beat Down to follow.

    Mosey around The Bridge Ministry campus before circling up at the basketball court. Disjointed disclaimer and other substandard recitations of purpose. IYAKYAK.

    COP:

    50 SSHs, 4 count
    Dead Man Hang
    Downward dog (it’s The Bridge, open only to men, so Ms and their exercises did not attend today)
    But, just between us, the Pax did Fudd’s wife. Then, the Pax did Wilson’s wife. (YHC just reports the news. Don’t shoot the messenger).
    Hand release merkins – 15x
    WWIIs – x10
    LBCs – x20
    Rosalitas – x20
    Hillbillies – with flair, x10
    Imperial Walkers – x10

    By popular acclaimation, the PAX called for, and received, F3’s finest exercise, Touch-a-Tree (or Pole). Rounds of 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10. PAX were encouraged to plan strategically. Bro-code. Always wait for the Six.

    Exercises were merkins, monkey humpers, something else, something else, and burpees.

    Mosey to the back road for a Beast. Telephone poles mark the 25%, 50%, and 75% distances with the turn around at the line in the asphalt. Again, always return for The Six.

    Exercises were merkins, SSHs, squats, (break for some stretching), squats, something else, and “Colorado” Dry Docks (know your audience). Red Rocks crushed it.

    House Party picked up a slight tweak of his knee which limited his running. Self-imposed burpees for the duration. Stud. (If burpees are the alternative exercise, YHC hopes to never, ever have even a minor injury).

    Mosey back to the shovel flag (thank you, Hardywood!) for 60 seconds of snow angels.

    Numbers, names, and, despite his allergies, Hardywood took us out.

    Announcements: Tank has 5 1/2 months to go in the program. He’s trying to change his life and his relationship with his son.

    NMS: First, thank you to Mr. Davis and The Bridge Ministry for hosting us today. Coffee hit the spot, as always.

    Second, the actual speed bumps at The Bridge are no joke.

    Third, YHC continues to be massively impressed by the men of F3RVA and F3 Amelia and their willingness to give of their time and efforts. Thank you, gentlemen, for making today special. The enthusiasm from The Bridge pax is contagious. The students at The Bridge love the chance to spend time with men who believe in them and their efforts. And, YHC suspects that we each learned from them as well.

    Fourth, Clown Cars are the only way to travel. Great fun with your mates, regardless of where they live or what nanoregion label is applied. Today, we had 5 guys from all over (Lakeshead, West End, Westham, RounTrey, City Proper) in a van for an hour each way…good times, fellas. YHC got a chance to catch up with good pals and make some new ones. That’s the F3 way. We are stronger together. Let’s put more Brotherhood (and less nonsensical division) on the menu. LG!

    Coming up…F3RVAs efforts with The Bridge continue to rise. 6 guys turned out today, and we already have 3 guys who have picked up the torch for August 24. Thank you in advance to State Farm, Yeehaw, and Swoop for their efforts. Way to go!

    F3RVA has more in store for The Bridge. Additional information coming soon, so continue to look for more opportunities to join throughout the fall.

    UpChuck spits the bit.

  • F3 Choptank

    A swarthy six accepted the F3 challenge at this year’s Henderson Cousin Camp at the Maryland family farm on the Choptank River. Sun blazing, cornstalk waving, dragonflies buzzing, and a few bald eagles and ospreys riding the steady breeze off the river, here’s how these champs started the day:

    The THANG: 

    WARMERAMA: 

    • Hendo PAX give their battle cry HIP HIP HAZZAH! and mosey down the shaded gravel drive between ancient Cedars
    • Half way out the drive circle up in dewy grass
    • Welcome & Disclaimer
    • The usual DTH top to bottom IC Reps

    COP #1: 

    • Continue to run out to the end of the driveway, front runnings do WWII’s awaiting the SIX
    • Turn onto the road for Bernie Sanders Catch Me if you can …only FNG STEEL was fast enough to catch the Bernie wabbit

    COP #2:

    • Stop at the intersection for Monkey Humpers for the SIX
    • Plankorama to review F3 Mission, Credo, and 5CP’s

    COP #3:

    • Run down road alongside farm property and turn in on the dirt road to the barn
    • Fence Climbers IC (Plank on bottom rail of fence, and hand walk to top, them back down, for an 8-count)
    • Variable SPRINTS on dirt road – 75%, 50%, 100%, 25%
    • DTH fireman carried Flint last leg

    COP #4:

    • Triple Check at the Barn Steps
    • P1 – Box Jump x5 steps up and down
    • P2 – Dips on steps
    • P3 – Run around Barn

    COP #5:

    • Mosey back to the house
    • En route DTH front&back carried Mowgli & Banjo
    • Final mosey past the house and down the lawn to the dock
    • Shed shoes and run the length of the dock to plunge into the Choptank

    COP #6:

    • DOCK REPS
    • x15 Pullups on Dock
    • x1 minute inverted splash bicycles
    • SWIM into current & back
    • x5 min overhead tossing 2.0’s

    COT:

    • Counterama # 6
    • Namerama
    • YHC took the PAX out in Prayer

    Prayer Requests:

    • Safe travels home

    NMS:  Twas a beautiful Eastern Shore morn after a cleansing week of rain. Glad to have time with siblings at the old family farm near Easton MD, with lots of cousin play time for our kids. YHC was craving a solid beatdown and a handful of game recruits were glad to jump aboard the pain train. Brother Flint brought along his beautiful girlfriend Rebecca to our family weekend and she boldly accepted the F3 challenge – while many nicknames (Tinder! Haha) were mentioned, the PAX ultimately agreed the nickname STEEL was apt for all the sparks flying between Flint & Steel (and she builds homes for underserved populations). To honor our Credo YHC kept the overall beatdown to an acceptable moderation, and just added weight carrying others whenever the pax were slower going. As always, grateful for the opportunity to lead and bring the light and love of F3 into new circles. Unless next time, yours AYE! ~DTH

  • 80’s and band sprints

    Today YHC nearly proved Big Rig is a mortal! Read further for the thang that finally smoked him 🙂 Excellent morning at the jungle gym with three HIMs. Pool Boy opted for the 80s hits selection today, definitely makes me remember how ridiculous 80s music can be!. Was slightly disappointed I didn’t see any of the park walkers we’ve been trying to headlock into F3, but alas they will show soon! Even so, three stallions put in the work on what was an absolute toaster of a Q.

    • Warmarama
      • Running warmups
      • F3 Creedo/Mission/etc…
      • Football warm-ups
      • Mankillers, IW, Uks
    • The thang  – Tabata CIRCLE OF PAIN (4x thru)
      • 45 seconds reps. 15 second rest and rotate
      • – Banded Partner Runs after each round, trading off between the three of us around the track. Holy smokes!
      • Station 1 – Pull-ups
      • Station 2 – Medball Shots (against Post)
      • Station 3 – KB Sumo Squat (62#)
      • Station 4  – Cinderblockees
      • Station 5 – monkey bar  Crossovers
    • Break – mosy walk around track
    • DORA w/ Toys (of your choice)
      • **Run to Pole alley and back
      • 100 Pull-ups
      • 200 OH Presses
      • 300 prom dates

    Names. Numbers. Prayers.

    The banded runs in combination with the constant strength work absolutely crushed us! Great work by all. Homegrown and holy water coming up.  SYITG!

    State Farm

  • punk rock pull-ups

    YHC turned on the New Age punk rock to accompany this trios pull up and dip adventure today. Happy to say that all the work we’ve been putting in has increased the max reps for myself, big rig, and pool boy, we will be at David Goggins level soon! YhC’s arms which cannot stretch out all the way now today did the following…

    • Warm-ups
      • Arm Circles
      • Helis
      • Hollow rocks
    • Banded Muscle-Ups
      • Rotate/Practice + Muscle Up + 3 SB Dips
    • Pullup/SB Dip Superset
      • 1 Pull-up // 2 Dips
      • 2 Pull-up // 4 Dips
      • Ladder up until failure
      • start back at bottom – 5 x thru
    • Assisted Jerkins
      • Partner Holds Legs
      • 5 sets of 12 reps
    • Chin-up Ladder
      • Escalating Ladder (all chin-ups)
      • 1, up to 2, 3, (back down when failure)
    • Finisher
      • 1 Partner High Hold
      • 2nd Partner 12 Dips

    Amazing work considering big rig and Poolboy had already been there for an hour! Love it.
    State Farm

  • Presumed Sweatiness

    8 of SOJ’s finest gathered for the latest round of Rock N Roll. The following is a brief summary for your viewing pleasure:

    Mosey to the big parking lot for Warm Up:
    SSH’s, Ski Jumps, Windshield Wipers, Ukrainian Soldiers, Arm Circles, Hand Release Merkins, Shoulder Taps, Freddy Mercury’s, Alabama Prom Dates

    Across the parking lot: Mario Jumps, Butt Kicks, Bernie Mummy’s, Karoake, Broad Jumps, No cheat Broad Jumps

    To the hill for Exercise One:

    10 rounds of hill repeats with Mountain Climbers at the bottom. Start with 1, work our way up to 10.

    Mosey down the paved trail to the Pavilion for a DORA:
    75 HR Merkins, 150 dips, 300 Flutter Kicks (2 ct). Runner to the stump and back

    Mosey further down the trail for Exercise Three:

    Off Road Indigenous People’s Bear Crawl with squats in the back.

    Mosey to The Half Pipe for Exercise Four:

    Super Crabs down the hill, reverse Crab walk back up.

    Mosey back to the Pavilion for 50 LBC’s to gather the PAX

    Back to the Flag

    Circle up and name the man to your left: 5 merkin penalty for any misses.

    Monkey Humper Burnout to finish things out.

    Numbers/Names/Announcements/Prayer Request

    YHC took us out

    Final Thoughts:

    Strong work by the PAX today! Great seeing Lurch back out and getting after it. We had some strong mumblechatter today including OC’s humorous summation of a Jake Gyllenhaall show. Also talk of Crab People?? Lots of ladies out on the trails today who appeared impressed with our exercises and physiques. Overall, a good time was had by all.