Category: Richmond, VA

  • No, Not Backwards

    Four men of accomplishments stood tall at 18:00 hours and answered the call for the latest version of The Punisher. Temperatures remained a steady 70 and sunny. According to the ghost of AP Hill, the following quite likely happened:

    Mosey to the northwest southwest field for the COP. Exercises included:

    Interpretive dance of UpChuck’s recent 50th birthday/20th anniversary trip to Oklahoma (“Why?”) and Hawaii.
    20 Imperial Walkers (4 count)
    50 SSHs (4 count)
    Don Quixotes 10, Abe Vigoda style
    Some light yoga to stretch the calves
    15 hand-release merkins
    10 WWIIs
    20 flutter kicks

    Mosey over here for a triple check, four-man style

    Man 1: Wheelbarrow walk
    Man 2: Partner wheelbarrow carrier (and back-up walker)
    Man 3: Frederick Mercury
    Man 4: Monkey Humpers

    Rotate through three times.

    Mosey over here for a Sidewalk Cycle:

    This is a one-man, three-exercise cycle. Each man acts as a one-person team. Do the first exercise in your cycle. Man 1 starts with Exercise 1. Man 2 starts with Exercise 2. Man 3…if I still have to tell you…Start in a rectangle on the sidewalk. When you are done with evolution 1, move south on the sidewalk to the next open rectangle and move to the next exercise. Continue to the corner.

    Exercises: Flutter Kicks (4 count x 10), WWIIs x 10, and Hello Dolly x 10 (four count).

    Mosey over to the front of the school, stopping for some light stretching along the way.

    There’s no name for this exercise.

    5 parts, cumulative with a run in between. Audible available to anyone…simply call the audible, and for that round, run only the 10 meter concrete loop, but add 10 boo-yah merkins.

    First round: 10 merkins (Fireman Ed suggested we start with exercises, then run), and run the loop.

    Second round: 10 merkins and 20 flutter kicks, and run the loop.

    Third round: 10 merkins, 20 flutter kicks, 30 incline lunges, and run the loop.

    Fourth round: YHC called the audible. 10 boo-yah merkins, 10 regular merkins, 20 flutter kicks, 30 incline lunges, and 40 consecutive, one-second wall sits.

    Fifth round: 10 merkins, 20 flutter kicks, 30 incline lunges, 40 consecutive, one-second wall sits, 50 side-straddle hops, and run the loop.

    Run BTTVSF, numbers, names, and the PAX took us out with a series of simple, thankful statements.

    Announcements:

    Gomer wants to ruck around the track, run around the neighborhood, and have a workout. For some of us, this is also called a weekend. Sometime in May.

    My mother is coming tomorrow for the winter.

    NMS:

    My mother is coming tomorrow for the weekend. Peace be upon us. And, be grateful for the time we have with our older relatives.

    Tomorrow is the anniversary of YHC’s mother-in-law’s passing. If you ever needed a completely biased, total homer in your corner to support you through your worst moments, she was the human equivalent of Old Faithful, a person who would stand by you no matter how dumb you had been. What a treasure. We should all be so fortunate to have a person like that standing behind us.

    YHC is also incredibly thankful for the gift of an amazing week with his kids and M. Oklahoma City for the Cowboy Christmas Ball (50th state before turning 50 years old) and then Hawaii for some R&R and to celebrate 20 years of marriage. What a gift.

    Hutton is hitting some milestones this week. Well done, my friend.

    UpChuck spits the bit.

  • So Negative

    Seven posted for the coldest Punisher in recent memory. Vehicle indicated 7 degrees F as of 7 AM. Wind chill apparently below -5 degrees F. Briefest of out-of-the-car greetings then a meandering mosey in search of a place near the parking lot away from the wind (no such location). Posted up on the sidewalk near the entrance to the Women’s Rest Room at Pouncey Tract. Attempt at warmup with some of the usual with emphasis on some stretching given the conditions.

    Mosey to the end of the lot and break the group in a couple of clusters for five general stops – complete 14 Merkin reps at two stations, 13 reps at two other stations, and catch a couple of warmer seconds in the Men’s Rest Room at station 5. Total reps – 54.

    Resume mosey to the rubberized playground for 12 Days of Christmas – cumulative workout, adding another exercise with reps each additional round. Exercises were: 1 Burpee, 2 Crab Cakes, 3 Close Grip Merkins, 4 Side Lunges (single count), 5 APDs, 6 Rosalitas, 7 Hello Dollys, 8 Jump Squats, 9 Pickle Pounders, 10 SSHs, 11 Flutter Kicks (two count), and 12 LBCs.

    Move to the picnic shelter closest to the playground for four rounds of Dips alternating reps as so – 14, 13, 14, then 13.

    Circle up on the nearby grass. Dealer’s choice – pick an exercise – chest, legs, abs, whatever – and all complete 10 reps. Between exercises, complete 54 Imaginary Jump Ropes. Same back around the circle again, but with 5 reps.

    Finish about 15 minutes early with brief COT and take talk to coffeeteria at Starbucks off of Lauderdale.

  • U-ran-ium

    Four posted for a mid-December Punisher, including an FNG. Greetings in the lot then warmup in the grass with several of the usual. Mosey to the western edge of the school property for five Jump Squats and 15 Imaginary Jump Ropes at each lamp post heading north on Hermitage Road. Continue north on Hermitage to Claremont Avenue, cross Hermitage, and complete the same at each post heading south on Hermitage.

    Return to the school grounds to a grassy spot for a Jack Webb with Arm Circle chaser – 1 Merkin, 4 Overhead Presses, and 8 Arm Circles for round 1. Round 2 with 2 Merkins, 8 Presses, and 16 Arm Circles – and so on up to 11 rounds. Take breaks for stretching a couple of times during the sequence.

    A few minutes of Mary and some stretching and YHC took us out.

    Welcome Isotope.

  • Breaking Bread Transition

    Breaking Bread Transition

    To the Men and Families of F3RVA,

    The time has come. For about 5 years (give or take), YHC has led the PAX effort with The Southside Health Center, an AO also known as “Breaking Bread.” It’s a simple place with a big heart. Through your generosity, F3RVA has provided a delicious, homemade dinner to the guests, each of whom is recovering from a medical illness, injury, or other issue. Most of us do this activity alone or with our families, albeit knowing The Pax is behind us. For those prone to entirely unnecessary and grammatically inappropriate capitalization, you all have made an Impact. In the word of YHC’s friend Swirly, “Boom!”

    Thank you to each of you for making this happen. YHC would like to thank HoneyDo for bringing YHC into F3RVA and later inviting YHC to his first Breaking Bread event. “We” made tacos, meaning HoneyDo made taco beef, hot cheese, onions, tomatoes, hard and soft shelled tacos, and who knows what else. YHC made a simple salad, which, if YHC recalls correctly, was not (ahem) popular with the residents. “Salad is not popular with this crowd. They are not rabbits,” Ron Swanson HoneyDo reminded me. It’s possible YHC brought drinks, but that’s missing the point. HoneyDo encouraged YHC, taught YHC the basics, and demonstrated first-hand to YHC how easy it is to make an Impact. A good time was had, people were fed, and all left with full hearts. 

    Fast forward a year or so, and F3RVA had a need for someone to put a little bit of time into recruiting Brothers and their families to share their time, money, and generosity with those who need a helping hand. Remember, there is no site Q for Breaking Bread, no titles, no funding, no structured management, and no rule book. It’s 100% you all volunteering, cooking, and leading. Your energy and generosity are the entire ballgame. YHC is proud of each of you who have stepped up. YHC thanks each you.

    YHC also wants to thank Rosie. At the beginning of the pandemic, YHC was wondering how F3RVA would continue to fill one Sunday night a month, which at times had been a challenge. Rosie said, “Why don’t we do 2 nights a month? The Goodman’s will take the extra 12 nights if other guys don’t step up.” Boom. Expansion. And, many of you all stepped up. In the past 3 years, we have never had a challenge filling 24 slots per year, including Christmas Eve, Christmas, Thanksgiving weekend, and Memorial Day weekend. A number of you have been regulars, and YHC appreciates your dedication.

    On a personal note, many of you know that my dad grew up very poor and at times without enough food. Feeding people is very personal to YHC. You all have made an Impact which I suspect few of us who have plenty are able to understand.

    And, with that, 5 years has gone by quickly. It’s time to turn over the reigns to new leadership. YHC’s friend, Oyster, asked last summer to take on a role helping with Breaking Bread. Oyster is ready to lead. Starting January 1, 2023, Oyster will be The Man running Breaking Bread. Splinter has opened the sign-ups, which are on the 2023 Q sheet (far right hand side, 4th Saturday and 4th Sunday of each month). YHC will still be around, making dinners for BB with his 2.0s and M, and, for sure, prodding folks from time to time to help out. YHC appreciates your support, generosity, and efforts (and those of your families) over the past 5 years. And, going forward, YHC continues to thank each man in advance for your contributions.

    UpChuck spits the bit.

  • 16 Degrees with a 100% chance of bare knees

    One Davillian and one travelling from the south met in the parking lot of Atlee High School for a 16 degree beatdown. Honeydo would have been proud as both PAX members were exposing their knees in this cold weather. This is what transpired:

    COP – All In Cadence in counts of 10, 15, or 20.

    SSH, Don Quixotes, Helicopters, One legged lunges, switch legs, Merkins, Angled Knee Jumps, Hand-to-Foot Mountain Climbers, LBCs, Heels-To-Heaven, One legged APD, other leg, Rosalitas

    Partner Suicides – One partner runs to first trees as other partner does an exercise. Once back, the other partner runs. Each tree was further so each of the partners ran 3 times and did increasing exercises of of the following.

    • Round 1 – Merkins – 5, 10, 20
    • Round 2 – Jump Squats – 5, 10, 20
    • Round 3 – Burpees – 2, 4, 8

    Balls/Plank to the Wall – Hold yourself in Ball-To-The-Wall. After about 20 seconds, walk self down to Plank-to-the-Wall. Hold for 20 seconds. Walk self to balls and repeat balls/plank.

    Raised APD Dips – In Cadence – (10)

    Pull-up Hangs/Merkins – Alternate between the 2 of us. Pull yourself up and count down from 15. Once you reach 5, start slowing lowering yourself. Then do 10 Merkins of your choice IC. We did 3 rounds of this.

    Suicides – 2 on the basketball court followed by 25 LBC after the first and 25 Freddie Mercuries after the 2nd.

    Plank-O-Rama – All IC – 10 CDD/Merkins, rotate to side for 10 lower hip and raise, followed by 10 back planks with lowering and raising but following by 10 lowering hip and raising on other side. The last was 10 rotating elbow planks. Ended with holding 6 inches for a count of 30.

    COT – Numberarama, Name-O-Rama, Announcements, YHC tooks us out.

    NMS

    Thank you Florence for travelling and joining me for this Respect Eve workout. We only explored a small portion of quite a large AO. Florence arrived a few minutes before YHC arrived and explored quite a bit of the AO before he found YHC parked in the front of the school. A lesson that both PAX members learned this morning is to invest in cold weather gloves. Gloves less than satisfactory for the temperatures of today can make the experience miserable.

    Announcements

    • NYE convergence – This Saturday at Dogpile at 6 AM.
    • The return of the Frozen Triangle is coming to 3 AOs on January 21. Be afraid and ready for an unforgettable morning.

    It was an honor to lead this morning. Well done!

    Gotta Run!

    Phonics

  • LIFO Morning

    It was back to the old stomping grounds for YHC, who was joined, eventually, by 9 other frozen companions. After Handshake completed his double parking spot parking job with the mini-van, this is what went down:

    Mosey around half of the horseshoe into order to collect an oblivious Garbage Plate (LIFO) who ran to the AO from his house. Circle up in front of the school for:

    COP:

    SSH’s, Jazzercises, Helicopters, DQ’s, Fudd (LIFO) arrives, Imperial Walkers, Hand Release Merkins, WW2 Sit-ups, Copperhead Squats

    Mosey to the Horseshoe and get in teams of three for:

    Triple Check:

    Timer runs the horseshoe

    Wilson’s Dying Boxing Cockroaches (Boxer)

    Wilson’s Dying Boxing Cockroaches (Receiver)

    3 Rounds, of course

    Mosey through main parking lot to Lindsay and Lindsay to begin a:

    Lindsey:

    LBC’s and Carolina Dry Docks travelling down Lindsay, Westham Pkwy and Sunset Dr.

    40/0, collect Last Call (very LIFO), 35/5 30/10 25/15 20/20 15/25 10/30 5/35 0/40

    Mosey around Crest Dr. to the parking lot in front of Dickie’s (Bubba’s) Barbershop for:

    11’s:

    Jump Squats then run across lot for Merkins. Back and forth.

    Mosey to the front of Zing Fit and pair up for:

    PLT’s:

    3 rounds of 20 each partner

    Mosey back to the VSF for:

    40 seconds of Burpees

    Time!

    Numbers, Names, Announcements and YHC took us out!

    NMS:

    A calm 17 degrees awaited the pax this morning. Constant movement was key to overcome the chill, with the lack of wind making things more bearable. Garbage Plate didn’t see the pax run almost right beside him on his way in. Fudd was lucky to see us in COP while driving by the front of the school, Last Call sent his M on her way north (possibly on the wrong train) and was very lucky to catch us before we disappeared towards Westham Pkwy (thanks for going to get him, Handshake!) Very quiet and still morning and the workout seemed to go by very quickly. Mr. Rogers posted at Hoedown for the first time and took the mandatory “first time there” entrance to the AO.

    Starbucks for 9 of the 10 afterwards with discussions of how to properly use the bathroom and take a shower in different areas of the world. Bodo’s enjoyed his female-filled Christmas. EF Hutton is up to 322!

    Great job this morning, men! Way to work!

    SYITG!

    Kubota

  • Three Amigos Part 2 (Ice Age)

    Three amigos once again braved the gloom today at Frozen Over Satan’s Hill. 

    Warmorama: SSH, Ukrainian soldiers, mountain climbers, merkins. Warm enough!

    What we did:

    Mosey up Satan’s hill. Jogged all around NM to stay warm with various exercises in between such as lunges, squats, merkins, American hammer, LBCs, Flutter kicks. 

    We even got in two triple checks at #1 Sultree/Prenoman and #2 at the top of Satan’s Hill.

    #1 – A guy runs to bottom of Sultree and back. B guy SSH and C guy squats. 3 rounds completed 

    #2 – A guy runs from top of Satan’s Hill to the fire hydrant, B guy does soldier taps, C guy box cutters. 2 rounds completed. 

    Good mumble chatter about how it felt colder today than at Dog Pile Saturday. 

    By the time we finished we were feeling warm, but ready to be done. About 2.5 miles plus the exercises. Not bad for 14 degrees. 

    Outro: Numbers and Names. 

    Announcements: 

    • Oyster will reach post #300 for 2022 in a few days. 
    • Come out and support Doozy at Dog Pile for   his Q on NYE. 

    COT: YHC prayed us out.  

  • Spreading First Watch Joy

    Two 1.0s and a 2.0 delivered pulled pork with buns, Sweet Baby Ray’s, mac and cheese, brownie bites, sweet tea, lemonade, and thoughts of cole slaw. Nine folks plus staff were very appreciative. No carols were sung, but YHC would like to think a little joy was spread. None of the M’s cookware was lost or damaged in the process. Oversharing likely commenced.

  • Even Oyster Took the Day Off?

    One nut had the hap, hap, happiest Christmas morning ruck since Bing Crosby tap danced with Danny Effing Kaye. Three plus cold miles round trip near Midlothian and Salisbury with a 30lb sack.

  • You’ll have to take my word for it

    I just remembered I never wrote up the WaThoHuk from last Wednesday. It’s because I was the only one. I know illness claimed two of the regulars. And none of the semi-regulars were there. And no one from out of town. So I did my (these days) usual. 5 times around the school, 20 merkins, 20 dips, twice each time around the school for a total of 200 merkins and 200 dips. That left me with enough time to walk around the school one more time. Merry Christmas! Frohe Weihnachten! Feliz Navidad!