Three amigos stomped through the Larus Park trails, under Chippenham Pkwy, and down Cherokee Rd to conduct some light trespassing to admire the pre-dawn James River. After enjoying the view of the serene river for a moment, we doubled back to the flag for a 3.5mile ruck. Several local, state, and federal issues were resolved but we were moving so fast we didn’t write any of them down. We did, however, learn that Japan has the best snowboarding on the planet.
One overweight and undertrained aspiring BRR runner took to the mean streets of Westham in the latest edition of First Watch, or maybe, The Clinic, or maybe Spider Run…. Temperatures were 70 and sunny. According to the mullet-sporting guy getting handsy with back rubs in the RRC,B parking lot, the following might have happened.
Route: River Road Church, Baptist to South Ridge to Westham Station to Huguenot to Bat Cave to Richmond Way, around the baseball stadium to New Fraternity Row, left on Hampshire, which immediately becomes Baldwin, to Wood, right on Beechwood, left on West Drive Circle, right on Lindsey, left on Forest, right on Ridge, left on Ziontown, left on University, right on Ralston, left on River, and back to the (actual?) shovel flag (and, if someone brings a shovel flag to an AO with a different Back Blast, can YHC count that?). 5.3 miles.
Number, name, and YHC had just about taken himself out when the First Watch crew returned. Numbers (plural), names (plural), and TryHard took us out.
Announcements:
The Bridge has an All-Star cast that will be helping organize each micro area of F3RVA to help some men struggling with a variety of challenges. We have 6 native RVA guys and one Amelian who are committed to leading (or organizing other men to lead) at least 2 workouts at The Bridge over the next 12 months. These guys are studs, and there work is highly appreciated. More to follow.
Float on the James has been postponed due to likely Flood on the James.
Prayers for Lurch and his family. Let’s hope for a short and positive hospital stay.
NMS: YHC typically travels mid-week and runs Wednesday or Thursday mornings. But, not if there is a tropical storm and not if the oven breaks at home. So, having administered a Beat Down on Monday at DaVille and having suffered (at least one) Beat Down yesterday in Ultimate (thank you for organizing, Swoop!), YHC pondered whether to run (as normal) or take on a TryHard beat down today. Remembering the old saying, “Always take the lesser of two evils,” YHC clicked, “5 Mile Run” and “Add to Cart.” It was a super slog today. The struggle was real, but YHC is glad he did it. Only a few more weeks to prepare for the mountains. Let’s go!
Good time at the Coffeeteria and catch up with TryHard, Ronnie, and the Usual Deplorables.
UpChuck spits the bit.
On this beautiful, sunny, and 70 degree morning two travelers converged on the MANNdate AO from far, far away. No locals were to be found so YHC jumped on Q to get the sweat rolling.
According to the squirrels in the trees this might be what happened:
The THANG:
Warmerama:
COP:
BTTF for stretching:
COT: Numberama #2, Namerama, Announcements (see slack)
Cho Cho took us out•••
The cars kept rolling in at WaThoHuk despite the locals’ insistence that there are only a few regulars. Discussion pre-workout centered on the typical WTH routes and also furnished the BB title, stated by a PAX not to be named but is older than YHC. Hint, all but Hops are older than me. After ensuring Pigskin that he would not need a head start or directions we headed off into the gloom.
Around the bus loop and to the track behind the school. No warm up (this is a run) let’s dive right into the Mega Beast. Run the track stop every 100m for 6 reps, finish the lap and reverso stopping at the same spots. 1/2 mile per round. Exercises were jump squats, merkins, WWII, Monkey humpers, Carolina Dry Docks, and Heels 2 Heaven. Hops was a little disappointed that burpees was not the last round but today did not feel like a burpee day. A group lap and extra lap around the parking lot got us to 4 miles total.
Phonics and Hops set the pace and the PAX enjoyed Olympic related chatter across the board, including disadvantages of using additional poles in the pole vault or the American 1500m winner. Good luck to Hops, visiting from C’ville and providing continuing education to the attorneys of the world. Look for him again in the coming months – we’ll make sure to have some burpees for you next time. The sign up on the Q sheet threw the regulars out of sync with an SOJ/Summer Tourist Q and downrange and DaVille PAX too. Thanks for letting me take the lead and fill in as Q for the morning.
Announcements – Westhoe Lunch next Tuesday; Others – See Slack
A handsome septet of FW regulars welcomed this SOJ tourist into their lively gloom chatter, everyone anticipating something challenging and fresh, which is of course the Tryhard motto. Here’s how they (miraculously) earned ZERO burpees:
The THANG:
WARMERAMA:
THE WESTHAM EXICON ABC’s:
Mosey BTTVSF for COT:
NMS: Not dissimilar to the sweatfest of the F3 Beatdown Deck, this high rep and movement combo turned out to be a solid beatdown. As a relatively simple challenge that keeps the PAX together well, YHC imagines this could be easily completed at any AO in a pinch. Twill be added to YHC’s personal battery of beatdown options! Also amazing resilience of the FW gang assisting YHC with a few exercise options to avoid ANY burpees! Also excellent mumble chatter as always with the FW gang. It was suggested since we traveled in the opposite direction of the “Devil’s Taint” perhaps this route could be the “Angel’s Eyebrow” (or some other body part …YHC can’t actually recall, but it came from the murky depths of Handshake’s mind, so who knows). Great Coffeerama with Upchuck and some others at Starbucks. As always, appreciate ya’ll permitting YHC the honor to lead. Yours AYE! ~DTH
Announcements (SEE SLACK!)
5 men ready to put in some work this morning. Let’s Go!!!!
Warmarama: Start your Garmin
The Thang:
Run Down Mt. Midlo to Woolridge
Left on Woolridge to R. 60.
Left on R. 60.
Stop at Coalfield (Bullseye tries to call an audible; denied)
Run it Back
Back down R. 60
Right on Woolridge
Right to go back up Mt. Midlo
BTTF
Numberama: Namerama
Announcements: Check that Slack
YHC took us out
Moleskin: Bro-Code – everyone did the 4m route with Doozy earning extra, picking up the six. Not flat after all, uphill both ways. Last .5 up Mt. Midlo was probably everyone’s favorite part of the route. Let’s Go!!
Oyster
11 or so ran/walked/skipped through various distances ranging from 4 to 6 miles….
NMS: Pickleball is still a thing. Apparently it is possible to have never picked up a pickle-paddle and still participate in the end of season tournament. Run – don’t walk – to Batteau for a Richmond-esque version of olympic-level competition.
Swirly gets an anal-probe and gives the cologuard box spokesperson a deserved day off….
Saab abides
3 Compadres made their way to The Bermuda Triangle for another test of strength and endurance. It was a steamy morning, and we had coupons aplenty.
We moseyed over to our coupon storage and grabbed a coupl cindies, then moseyed back to the grill next to the pavilion for a standard warmarama. State Farm, and Pool Boy really need to work on his counting past 12. For some reason, they gets lost after that point.
Next over to the restroom building for some donkey kicks before we get to use our toys. Sets of 5, 10, 15, and 20.
Next for a triple check
1st exercise: WW4s (WW2 situps with a 20 lb slamball, and an overhead American Hammer)
2nd: Goblet squats with kettlebell
Timer: Farmer’s carry 2 cindies to the tree and back. 10 Deficit Merkins between cindies every time you have to drop the cindies
After a couple of the Farmer carries, just holding the kettlebell became difficult. Killer grip workout.
Return cindies home and bttf.
31s until time expired
21 merkins and 10 V ups
20 merkins 11 vups Etc. Etc
I must admit I was smoked and had to modify the merkins to failure very early on. State Farm was proudly stuck his chest out after he made it through the reps. Pool Boy continues to get stronger, and pushes himself harder each time out.
Love these Bermuda Boyz, even if they have trouble counting.
If memory serves, 5 runners and 4 ruckers took to the mean streets of Atlee. Runners ventured across Atlee Station Road –Beat It was excited–through Giles and Craney Island. If I messed up the Pax, let me know to get the big data right.
5 runners and 3 ruckers braved the humidity to get their days started the right way. For the runners, it was a somewhat slower than usual day, and YHC audibled from his planned route to get in about four miles on the Farmhouse Loop. Meanwhile, the ruckers, lost in conversation or perhaps Giles, were a bit late returning. Numbers, names, an Emoji dash for his phone, and then Emoji took us out.
Phonics reminded all of us about the upcoming Pickleball tournament at Batteu, and Beat It will be doing a pool training workout in just a few weeks.