Category: Richmond, VA

  • Is Something Happening This Weekend?

    I’m not sure if you’re aware, but it’s GTE week. YHC noticed yesterday that the Q-sheet was open so the spot was claimed with the intention of having a lower-RPM beatdown with this weekend in mind. Nonetheless, today’s NTB beatdown had all the signature trademarks: confusion, over-exertion of one muscle group (holy quads), an epic playlist, and a couple of good laughs.

    0530 hot start with five suicides on the basketball courts, followed by a classic warmarama circle, all to the catchy beat of Epic Sax Guy. Several comments were made about dentist office waiting rooms and elevators, but deep down the PAX knows they’re growing to love it.

    COP #1: Blackjack Quadriceps

    • Shuttle back and forth from baseline to baseline for ascending squats and descending lunges totaling up to 21! Like 7s or 11s but worse.

    COP #2: Grand Slam Four Corners

    • The idea was decent, the explanation needed improvement. We got it on the second rendition. Each corner is the same movement, but the box gets larger with each round. In future beatdowns the travelling portion between corners can be more challenging which would make the whole circuit better. Today we mosied around.
    • Corner 1: (5) merkins
    • Corner 2: (5) WWIIs
    • Corner 3: (5) Cruncy Frogs
    • Corner 4: (5) Flutter Kicks
    • We went through the 16 corners a second time, performing one burpee at each corner.

    Finished with (10) Eskimo Merkins and then returned back to the flag for numbers, names, announcements, and prayer requests.

    All PAX are invited to the Friday evening GrowRuck rally on Friday night! Come out for a unique 2nd-F event with the region.

  • Pierogi Breakfast

    Jumping Jacks, Copperhead Squads, Merkins Jack, Spiderman, LBCs, 1& 10 (Merkins + Burpees + run at 75%), Bear crawls in line + run after 5 jumping jacks, 3x 1min each: Donkey Kicks, Side Squads, Back planks, Ball dippers. run 0.25 mile, Bear crawl backwards + run after 5 squads, run, Burpees to the thunderstruck song.

  • Glen Eagles Hills

    Eight of us gathered on a crisp spring morning for a run/walk session. Four of us, inspired by Mr. Rogers’ discovery, took on the challenge of running Glen Eagles Drive, complete with its inviting cul-de-sacs—a route thoroughly enjoyed by all. Meanwhile, Blue Moon and Pig Skin circled the school grounds, and E.F. Hutton was rucking in preparation for May 4th, with Handshake providing companionship. The runners logged five miles in total. At the conclusion, we gathered to send our prayers for Gypsy’s success in his upcoming half-marathon—a challenge he triumphantly met.

  • 11 Apostles & a Cat 

    Eleven young men & a Cat made the journey to Trinity United Methodist Church this morning for some self reflection. Well….. Bodos seemed more interested in scoping out the competition.

    Finding no souls to save we went to work. 

    We partnered up and the timer ran counter clockwise around the playground while his partner did WW2 x2, Scissor Kicks x2, Scrunchie Frog x2, APD x2. 

    We slow moseyed to front of Trinity and took a moment to admire the cat.

    Señor Frog considered taking him home than thought better of it. 

    We did 11’s instead. 

    Dips with Bear Crawls. X11 

    We Moseyed around to back of church to find our spot on the wall. 

    Donkey Kicks x20, Toe Taps x20, Balls to the wall with Pig Skin counting in some foreign tongue. Not sure what he counted to, but seemed long enough. 

    Moseyed back to our vehicles while stoping to do 75 squats & 25 Monkey Humpers along the way. 

    We ended our time together with a Mary of Burpees that was expertly explained by YHC. Some of the Pax had trouble with the clear and precise instructions so we ended with LBC’s instead. 

    Prayer request for Up Chuck.

    Dinner this Friday.

    Bodos inspired us all with a few Godly words of wisdom.

  • Birthday Q – 38 Reps

    16 roadies came to check out the Birthday Q at the Alamo this morning! YHC turns 38 today, therefore 38 was the repetition number we went to, and it was at that moment that I realized 38 is getting up there! During our warmup a group of women dog walkers cat called to us then picked up their pace when we invited their husbands to come join. Here is how it went down:

    Warmup mosey up the hill across from the alamo and back to the parking lot for the following exercises: SSH, Copperhead Squats, Deadman Hang (C/R/L), Knee to Chest (R, L, Both), LBCs, Merkins

    COP 1: Partner up for some full body horseshoe action. P1 performs 38 reps of the called exercise with cinder block while P2 performs called cardio exercise, switch roles and then partners take off carrying the block to the opposite side of the parking lot after each round for total of 6 rounds. Cinder block exercises consisted of OH Press, Curls, Skull Crushers, Chest Press, Russian Twists and Single Leg Squats. Cardio exercises consisted of Mountain Climbers and SSH.

    COP 2: Triple Check on the grassy hill behind the Alamo – P1 Dive Bomb Merkins, P2 Lateral lunges, P3 (Timer) Bear crawls up the hill for 5 blockees then run back down

    COP 3: Returned to Horseshoes as mentioned in COP 1 with cinder block exercises consisting of Anterior Raises, Preacher Curls, Dips, Incline Merkins and Windshield wipers over block. Cardio exercises consisted of Alabama Prom Dates and Ball Dippers.

    Numbers, Names, Announcements (Breaking Bread open in May – See Q sheet to sign up), Grow Ruck Events May 3-5 – See Slack for details, F3 RVA 10 Year Pediatric Cancer Awareness Convergence Sept 21 – Please consider donating and sharing the link to help raise $10,000 for Team Brightside – Team Bright Side | Donately

    Prayer Requests – Swoop recovering from being under the weather, All PAX fighting injury/illness, Safety for kids with 1 month left of school.

    Pleasure to lead you gentlemen today. I appreciate all of the well birthday wishes! Have a blessed day!

  • Lugubrious* merkins

    *slow, mournful, sad

    5 guys got up this morning to kick it off the right way on a glorious morning.

    COP — DQ, helicopters, flutterkicks, LBC’s, Freddies, IW, rosalitas,

    Lugubrious merkins —
    1 merkin, 1 squat
    5 seconds down, 5 seconds up merkin
    5 squats
    10 seconds down 10 seconds up merkin
    10 squats
    15 seconds down, 15 seconds up merkin
    15 squats
    20 seconds down, 20 seconds up merkin
    20 squats
    25 seconds down, 25 seconds up merkin
    25 squats
    30 seconds down, 30 seconds up merkin
    30 squats

    dora
    100 step ups
    200 dips
    300 SSH

    4 corners
    10 WW2
    20 Am Ham
    30 LBC’s
    40 Flutterkicks

    10 Donkey kicks, run to 1st island
    15 donkey kicks, run to second island
    20 donkey kicks, run to third island

    some stretching

    numbers, names, announcements

    So many times we try to do our exercises as fast as we can. Lugubrious merkins were meant to slow us down today.

    Peace out
    Opus

  • Breaking Bread for Birthday Weekend

    YHC’s birthday is tomorrow, and man was it a gratifying gift to be able to cook dinner for 11 residents at The Daily Planet. I took the time to allow my daughters to help with the grocery shopping, cooking and delivery of the food. I explained to them the small blessings of life that we take for granted each and every day. We truly are blessed and don’t appreciate all that we have, but being able to provide for those that don’t have much, if anything really makes you take a step back and opens your eyes. YHC and 2.0s cooked up some Cheesy Muenster Chicken & Cheddar Broccoli Rice as well as picked up Chocolate Chip Cookies and Lemonade to take to Breaking Bread. I think my 3-year-old said it best when she said “Daddy, when them are done eating all of that food, can we go take them more? I liked that!” Yes mam, yes, we can! Thank you for the opportunity to share my birthday weekend with the breaking bread family at The Daily Planet. Count your blessings, appreciate the little things and hug your loved ones! See y’all tomorrow at the Alamo my 38th Birthday Q!

  • Thunderstruck

    Sixteen men started their Friday off by taking on Satan’s Hill. We kicked things off with a mosey up and down Satan’s hill, followed by SSH, Don Q’s, Cherry Pickers, LBCs, and Merkins.

    Next, each of us grabbed a rock to run with for a set of 11’s in the parking lot that included squats thrusts, and skull crushers.

    Afterward, we partnered up for a Dora, pushing through 100 Merkins, 200 squats, and 300 LBC’s while alternating running to the top of Satan’s hill. 

    We wrapped up with some tunes: “Green Sally Up” w/ squats, “Thunderstruck” w/ burpees, and a second round of “Green Sally Up” w/ Merkins.

    My VQ was both an honor and a humbling experience. Thanks to everyone who came out and pushed themselves. I’m looking forward to the next one 

  • Gridiron’s baby is 48

    11 PAX came ready to rock in the far West End. Some were getting ready for the big convergence on May 4th at Dogpile. Some are getting ready for the Whitesnake Bluegrass next week. So much to do! So little time!

    COP: The normal Fireman Ed special: DQs, DMHs, merkins, FMs, ACs. Seymour says now I will show up. Head to field.

    Cumulative exercises with 10 HRMs, 20 WWIIs, 30 Carolina DDs, 40 jump squats, 50 LBCs. Mosey to side of field.

    First round: wheelbarrows across field, bernie back. Round 2: Bear crawl halfway across field run rest of field Bernie back. Round 3: Lunge across field, run back. Round 4: Broad jump burpees halfway across field, run or Bernie back. Mosey to benches.

    Elevens with dips and derkins. Mosey to chin up bar.

    Elevens with chin ups and 2 count step ups. I admittedly had to move to the jerkin bar because my arms are not super beefy. Mosey to home base.

    Triple check with wall sits, elbow plank and run around the parking lot. Finished with American hammers, heels to heaven and DMH.

    Grow Ruck with convergence at Dogpile on 5/4. there is an upchuck led workout for those who think sleep is overrated at 6. For other folk, meet at Dogpile before 7. No workout at Gridiron on 5/4. Bluegrass festival on 5/4. Park at James River High school and a shuttle will take you to the beer, I mean bluegrass, See Whitesnake for details on the festival. Prayers for those participating in Grow Ruck. Stay safe.

    It is the draft which gives Jets and Commanders fans hope. And then week 1 hits and hope then evaporates. We shall see. By the way, Gridiron’s youngest participant was 48. We are oldish but we are mighty.

    Fireman Ed

  • 3 Potatoes

    Bulkhead warmed us up and started with some Triple Checks at the playground. Surf N Turf had us do some 4 corners at the basketball court. Yard Sale had us do some suicides at the basketball court followed by some boat canoes in the parking lot that had some heels to heaven mixed in for fun. Numberama, Namarama, announcements and Surf N Turf took us out with a prayer. SYITG