Category: Richmond, VA

  • The Prodigal Son

    5, later 6, assembled in the full daylight that is Sunday Funday. Conditions were 70 and sunny. According to the 30-and-under crowd struggling to communicate verbally, the following might have happened:

    Route: Bridge, Buttermilk, Belle Isle loop, bridge, North Bank. Just over 7 miles. Nice work, fellas.

    Back at the parking lot, Ollivander joined us. Nice to catch up.

    Names, numbers, YHC took us out.

    Announcements:

    Blue Ridge Relay. Team has about 10-11 guys so far. Reach out to TYA to join. Leave September 5. Run is September 6-7. Homecoming is September 8. This is a 210 mile relay. Candidly, it’s not for everyone, but we have been doing this for about a decade. If you are interested in learning to put “push yourself; don’t hurt yourself” into action, please consider joining us.

    Grow Ruck. Already happened. Twice. See Faceplant for a summary.

    ReeseStrong 5k. “The Hard Way.” Already happened. More than twice.

    Something new in a place called, “Chester” starts in June. Something similar, but not the same, that is also new (or maybe a resurrection of something else?) has started in a place called, ”Amelia.” No Bachelor’s Degree in Outdoor Recreation or Supply Chain Management for Exercise Shoes required. Just show up.

    Summer Tour. On-going, again, but different. Run the numbers and make a plan. Learn where Chester is. Amelia is a different thing.

    Offshore is hosting some kind of corporate 5k on Thursday, June 6, designed to show who the fastest person is in his office. Invite your work colleagues, smoke them, and earn the right to remind them ad nauseum that they lost for the next year. Jerks. Also, remember to mention winning this in your annual performance appraisal under “Strengths.”

    NMS: It’s summer. So, watch for wayward traffic cameras / speed zones that are set for school day speed limits. See Faceplant for details or to test drive a Rivian.

    If you know what the ReeseStrong 5k is and you did it The Hard Way, you are Old School. T-Claps.

  • 9 years of good times

    31 F3RVA stalwarts joined YHC at Rockwood Park to celebrate YHCs 9 years in F3. The weather was cool and crisp and according to the many baseball moms and dads pulling into the park, this is what went down.

    9 burpee starter, then head to the big field (alternative to YHC’s planned start at the little league field that was being lined), where Gumbo and I played our American Legion ball. Warmup with some standard fare with a lot of mumblechatter throughout – finish with a couple of burpees to get the attention of the PAX.

    Partner up and line up on the foul line for a Love Field – P1 runs to the opposite foul line and P2 rotates between bear crawl, lunge and Ukrainian Soldier – turn around and bring it back to the start. Next up – Beast on the baseball field – pointer – you run less if you’re closer to the infield. Burpees, Squats, WWII, Groiner, merkins, jump squats. One last thing on the field before getting pushed off by the incoming players – line up on the edge of the grass and get to the fence by going backward – crawl bear, crab walk, or reverse lunge. Get off the field and get some Mary by Hardywood for the 6.

    With all the lots full and cars rolling in we had to find the hill behind the parking lot, and what do you do on a hill. Jacobs Ladder, and since it was a special day we can go to 9 instead of 7. 5 jump squats at the bottom and increasing burpees at the top. Close out with a rapid fire randorama variety of exercises and YHC botching the final cadence.

    A little over 9 years ago a neighbor (formerly Shooter, he may get renamed if he ever comes back) told me that Splinter was working out with a group that he thought I would like. After DKs workout of bear crawls, merkins, and Lindseys, little did I know that it would grow into a staple of my day to day.

    Thank you to all of those that showed up and the few that reached out to tell me they had a conflict. I appreciate the support and the opportunity to lead that F3RVA has provide. So much support provided through all the ups and downs of life over the last 9 years. I’m not sure where I’d be without it, definitely not in the physical and mental shape that I am currently in.

    With Gumbo’s matching we raised another chunk of money for Team Brightside – keep it up through the fall. Oyster may have found a new home base for Saturdays, workout, Arepas at the Farmers market, and pickleball. Great to see Pool Boy and BooBoo out there this week, 2 new guys that are pushing through the reps and getting the support that we all got early in our F3 lives.

    Announcements

    June 22 – Chester Saturday workout starting – See State Farm and Posh for details.

    Some other fun things going on around F3RVA, be on the lookout on Slack.

    Thank you all again – Everything is coming up Rosie.

  • The Forgot DaPile

    2 Bootcamps and 1 runner enjoyed a not so clear Saturday back in March

    YHC got in one last training run before the River City Half the next weekend. The plan was to get in 11 to 12 miles but with the down pour of rain it ended up being 8 to 9 miles

    The bootcamps braves the elements as well

    SPIT ON THAT!

  • Hot Potato for a 2.0 FNG

    7 Davillians enjoyed a Hot Potato Q a few Saturdays ago

    SPIT Q – COP

    Bulkhead – Triple Check and Tennis court

    Helix – Dora

    Mr Holland – Run

    YHC was proud if is 5 year old FNG today on this day. We covered close to 3 miles and he stayed with the PAX the whole time

    SPIT ON THAT!!

  • Parachute Runner

    6 Davillians got their month of June started with a trip to Dapile

    This how it went down

    Short mosey near the bus loop

    COP (ALL IC) – SSH, Helicopters, DQ, Imperial Walkers, Copperhead Squats, LBC’s, AL Prom Date, Heels to Heaven, ALT’s, Merkins, Arm Circles

    THANG

    Catch me if you can – Using the bus loop, one partner runs backwards second does two burpees and runs to catch. Switch, rinse, and repeat for a full loop

    Mosey the MS parking lot

    Curb Crawls – Bear crawl to a curb complete 5 incline merkins, crawl bear back complete 4 decline merkins. Rinse and repeat down to 1

    Mosey to the MS tennis court

    4 Corners – 10 Merkins, Lunge, 20 WWII Sit-ups, backwards lunge, 30 (2ct) Flutter Kicks, Lunge, 40 SSH’s, backward lunge

    Mosey to the MS Fitness area

    Mini Dora – 25 Pull Ups, 50 Merkins, 100 Squats while partner does a mini suicides

    Mosey to the HS tennis court

    Tennis Crawl – While Polar Bearing across the three tennis courts, stopping at each line to complete declining number of squats (10 down to 1)

    Mosey to the back of the HS

    Touch a Tree – 3 rounds are touching 3 trees while partner does Donkey Kicks

    Mosey back to SF

    Merkin Ring of Fire, Numberrama, Namerama, Announcements, YHC took us out

    MOLESKIN

    Nice cool morning quickly turn warm after getting the body going. Today’s title is thanks to the entertainment the PAX recieved watching a guy training on the soccer field with a parachute.

    Great 2nd F at The Local with Corned Beef and Bulkhead joining us

    SPIT ON THAT!!

  • Cindy 500 versus The Hardest Mile

    They both suck!!!

    Hardywood said that growth comes in the rough edges, not in the comfortable middle. There’s nothing comfortable about The Cindy 500. An Iron PAX challenge from last summer, YHC suggested we do one of those challenges from last year to State Farm and that was the first one he fired back.

    Holy smokes what a burn! Nothing like lifting a cinder block over your head a whopping 200 times! And that’s not even half the workout! And the grip strength training was not something that was anticipated either.

    Great to have Hardywood make the hike from Amelia, although not a big surprise, as he’s a fan of the hard stuff. He’s doing great things, having just started a new region in Amelia!

    Great work by all the PAX, and some of them even endured Rosie’s 9 year anniversary Q immediately after!

    Come to Horner Park tomorrow (3-6pm) for an SOJ Deep South 2nd F event!

    YHC was blessed to lead!

  • In the Zone 2

    2 Early risers that needed to get their workouts in early before a busy Saturday, hit the mean streets in and around Rockwood Park for a solid 4 miles, mostly in zone 2. Pretty easy pace, and great conversation!

    Come to Horner Park tomorrow for the Deep South SOJ 2nd F event from 3-6!

  • We Men Get Away

    14 holy river rollers escaped their sleeping bags to honor a beautiful Charles City sunrise with a ride on the DTH pain train. The three FNG’s were not disappointed with the following 45min Thang:

    WARMERAMA: 

    • Circle up around the Shovel Flag
    • Welcome & Disclaimer
    • Variable IC Reps to get the muscles warm top to bottom

    COP #1: 

    • SHE HATE ME
    • Traverse a long stretch of paved driveway by completing sets of 20 lunges, stopping between sets to complete x10 Groiners & x10 Merkins

    COP #2:

    • THE WILT
    • Run twice around the field doing x50 reps of the given exercise at corners
    • LBC’s, SSH’s, Flutter Kicks, Squats

    COP #3:

    • OVER UNDERS
    • PAX line up in the field in plank, with last man taking turns jumping over then crawling under each planking PAX

    COP #4:

    • Moseyrama around the driveway loop to collect a frisbee from the truck
    • FRISBEE FARTLEK
    • Throw frisbee, first man to frisbee calls x20 reps of an exercise, then gets to throw next
    • Merkins, V-ups, Squats, WWII’s, Burpees

    COP #5:

    • Mosey down to the river and form up at the base of the ridiculously steep incline
    • HILL REPEATS
    • x20 Incline Mericans
    • Run up to the top of the hill
    • x20 Donkey Kicks 
    • Run back down
    • Bear Crawl to the top
    • Run back down
    • Sprint AYG BTTF 

    COT:

    • Counterama # 14
    • Namerama
    • Announcerama (see Below)
    • YHC took the PAX out in Prayer

    NMS:  Sunrise and seventy with a gentle river breeze and an eager PAX ready to roll in the dewy lawn, let’s GO! This was maybe the fourth F3 “The River” beatdown for the annual WEAG men’s getaway, and a few F3 regulars welcomed back some of last year’s FNG’s, as well as a few new ones. Chaplain’s 2.0 Armadillo was given the long-awaited opportunity for renaming – as a young man who can outpace most adults on a long run, welcome PACER! We nearly lost Slapstick early on, gassed with just the warmerama, but the loving accountability of the F3 Credo held him in the pocket for the duration of the bootcamp. Also almost had a Merlot Splash from Slider but YHC was not fully honored as he was able to hold it together. It was an honor to lead as always brothers. Living Third, DTH

    Prayer Requests:

    • Traveling mercies for Trig heading to Germany and Broadway leaving for on a missions trip to Kosovo later today

  • Pool Epip is possible

    A fiesty five faithful PAX came out Dogpile to find mid 50s temps to start out June. We did:

    COP: SSH, Don Qs, Imperial Walkers, Squats, Merkins, Reverse Crunch, Scorpion kicks

    Head to Amphitheater: 5 Derkins each step all way up. 5 Squats each step on the way back down. Mosey to open stage and take advantage of picnic tables there: Rounds of dips, bear crawl to lamppost, and Heels2Heaven. 3 rounds.

    Mosey down to Rusty Cage: 3 rounds of 5 Pullups & 10 Dips. Head down to pipe loop. Since Bodos threw off our numbers we did: Run Pipe Loop backwards, then APDs and Freddy Mercurys. Repeato. Mosey to bottom of Love Hill. Alternate way up with Lunges, Crab walk, Bernie Sanders. Stop a few times along the way for some Ab work and a few more dips on the steps. Back to flag for 2 min of Mary. YHC took us out.

    Prayers for Splinter’s family (especially parents) and YHCs good friend’s dad who is in Hospice in his final days.

    Announcements: See Slack for Rucks in memory of D-Day 80th anniversary on Monday and Thursday. June monthly challenge is Run a Mile a Day. Sign up.

    NMS: Solid smaller veteran group at Dogpile. Lot of regulars likely at R&R for Rosie’s 9 year celebration beat down. Ample mumblechatter covering Sex-Wine, Bodos weekly injury updates, and AI is going to kill us all. Great way to start the month off. Reviews of running the Pipe Loop backwards were unanimously positive.

  • Amatuer hour

    Big thanks to Big Rig for voluntelling me to Q the ruck. We rucked about 2.7 miles until we made it back for Rosie’s Q. It was a great first Q for me and this only being my 5th time out with F3. I encourage anyone looking to make their first Q, like everything with F3 everyone is there to support you and push you. Thanks to everyone.