Category: Richmond, VA

  • Gumbo back on the Circus Menu

    After a four-year hiatus, the SOJ Takeover brought Gumbo back to the Circus Menu. It was great to get back out to the Circus, throw some weight around and catch up with old friends. YHC is already sore. It went something like this…

    No mosey, just circle up for disclaimer and COP, including:

    • SSHs
    • DQs
    • Helicopters
    • Dead Man Hang
    • Halos
    • Goblet Squats
    • Merkins – passing the bell under each time
    • LBCs

    THE THANG:

    Modified Lindseys – mosey/waiter carry over to runner alley and line up on the curb. Waiter carry across the alley and do 30 swings and 10 sit and press. Waiter carry back, 20 and 20. Waiter carry back for 10 and 30. Note to self, 30 sit and press sucks! Moving on .

    Wall Work – mosey/suitcase carry over to the school wall for:

    • Round 1 – 10 goblet squats, 20 donkey kicks, waiter carry across grass and back, wall sit without bell
    • Round 2 – 10 goblet squats, 20 donkey kicks, 10 lawnmower pulls each arm, waiter carry across grass and back, wall sit with bell
    • Round 3 – 10 goblet squats, 20 donkey kicks, 10 lawnmower pulls each arm, 10 2-count American Hammers, waiter carry across grass and back, wall sit with bell

    Triple Check – partner 1 waiter carry under cover to middle of the school, 3 burpees and return. Partner 2, tricep pullovers. Partner 3 lunges.

    Ring of Fire – circle up holding Al Gore with the bells. Rosie started with 10 shoulder presses, then 10 merkins and back to Al Gore. Next pax starts pressing when prior guys starts merkins and pass it around the circle.

    Mary – 5 minutes of Mary, including Boat and Canoe, APDs, Freddie Mercuries, American Hammers and Superman.

    BTTF, COT, Numbers and Names.

    Announcements – Get out for the SOJ Takeover if you haven’t already to see some new or old faces.
    Prayers for all PAX and friends/family members dealing with ailments and illnesses. Stay strong and push on!

    NMS – Great to get back to the Circus – it has been a minute (or 4 years). Great to catch up with Attila, White Deer, Offshore, Pigskin, Lighthouse and White Snake who I don’t see often. It is definitely differing throwing weight around (well weight not permanently attached to my body at least) for 45 minutes. I need to work the Circus into my rotation more. Great mumblechatter and great work guys. Great morning overall, especially watching Offshore dominate with that 45 lb bell like it was nothing. Oh, and Bleeder – you can thank Rosie for leaving sweaty “Ws” all over the sidewalk. Free advertising!

    No More Gumbo For You!

  • Don’t let the monkey hump you!

    One traveler and 3 Forge faithful came out to a good ole forge beatdown. YHC was at his first post at the forge and to be honest when I signed up to Q I thought I was signing up for an AO not in SOJ. After getting up and out of hotel YHC was happy to find warm confines.

    COP- Mosey along with multiple exercises mixed in.

    The Thang: Lightpole alley. Starting at a pole behind the stadium and going 10 back toward parking area. Starting with 10 exercises on each end and escalating by 10. The lightpoles are a lot further apart than Timberwolf. We made it to 60. 10 merkins, 20 heels to heaven, 30 Carb cakes, 40 ?, 50 mountain climbers, 60Monkey humpers.

    YHC took us out in prayer.

    YHC appreciates the hospitality shown to this traveler.

  • Quintuplets?

    Five SOJ warriors came out to a sultry SOT to see what the bus drivers were doing. Alas school is out so no bus drivers. 4 were on time and one showed up during COP ruining the even numbers.

    COP was do 2 exercises and mosey a ways and do 2 more. A Plethora of exercises were completed.

    Run to base of bleachers. Complete a Quintuplet? Runner up and around the bleachers. P2 Hand release merkins, P3 Squats, P4 Plank jacks, P5 LBC’s. Complete 5 rounds each.

    A mosey up hill with some lunges and bernie’s mixed in and BTTF.

    YHC took us out in prayer.

  • There is always time for Burpees

    16 of Richmond’s finest men gathered in the parking lot at Mary Mumford ES to see who would be the SOJ Q for the morning. This is what was said to have happened

    Mosey to the basketball court for disclaimer and COP

    DQ’s – 5 Burpees OYO, Helicopters – 4 Burpees OYO, Hillbillies – 3 Burpees OYO, LBC’s – OK TYA if you insist we will do 2 Burpees OYO but the last exercise is 10 Burpees OYO

    Mosey to the soccer fields

    In the middle of the fields there is a bucket and surrounding the bucket are 12 frisbees set out like the numbers on a clock. Each frisbee has an exercise written on it. You run from the bucket to a frisbee do 25 of that exercise and run back to the bucket do 5 Burpees and move clockwise to the next frisbee. Work all the way around until you’ve been to every frisbee.

    Mosey to the tennis courts

    4 Corners Prostitute, corner 1 – 10 WWII’s, Corner 2 – 20 Scrunchy Frogs, Corner 3 – 30 American Hammers, corner 4 – 40 LBC’s

    BTTF

    Numbers / Names Bodos took us out

    Announcements: Sign up to Q at the Bridge Ministries

    NMS:

    YHC was all set for the Q this morning but got a bit nervous when such a large crowd gathered. In my head we would have about half of the crew that showed up but I am glad the numbers where bigger than YHC expected. Burpees are always a crowd pleaser and YHC is happy to (liberally) dish them out with a side helping of running.

    “If your presence doesn’t make a difference to someone around you, your absence won’t make a difference”

  • The Cone Zone

    The SOJ takeover continues with the PAX placing bets on who would be the Q on this jungle-humid June morning. Kubota took the prize – it was YHC.

    Warmups – 25 Don Quixotes to go for the record. 20 Imperial squat walkers. Mirkins, LBCs, Rosalitas and some other nonsense. That’s the thing about First Watch, it’s early enough to pretend like we don’t remember exactly what happened.

    Bear crawl centipede with a very long route snaking up and down the stairs, through the hall and up the ramp, them down the stairs again.

    Mosey around back for a triple check with the timer running to the far end of the lot, WW2s and squat thrusters using 2 traffic cones we found. YHC told the story about how after years of taking pictures of his kids with cones on their heads, people continue to send him cone pictures every week. True story.

    Next up, harking back to the bottle flip craze of the late 20-oughts, we each took a try launching a cone into the air. If it landed right-side up, monkey humpers. If not, burpees. Needless to say we did a lot of burpees. The PAX was grumbling about the number of burpees so YHC took an audible and did 10 more burpees OYO.

    Triple check from the side of the church with the timing running up the hill to the front, wall sit toe touch arm raises (commonly called LaLannes), and flutter kicks.

    Up the hill to the front for 45 mirkins OYO. Back across the street to the parking lot for a long bar crawl with dips. Jump through the V tree and back to the flag.

    Thanks for having me out – as Splinter says, there’s nothing better than that 5am sense humor. It just has a different feeling.

    COT.

    2nd F at Starbucks to start the day off right.

    Peace.

  • Getting the Led out

    7 HIMs met at WTH this morning for a run heavy bootcamp. PAX included a down ranger and a SOJer. 530 hit and we were off!

    Mosey to the track for :

    • 50 Squats
    • 40 WW2s
    • 30 merkins
    • 20 ball dipers
    • 10 burpees
    • run 3 laps

    We enjoyed some Led Zepplin while completing the exercises! plan was to repeat this 4 times. It took a bit longer than YHC expected. TCLAPS to Brick for being the only PAX to complete all rounds and all laps in time!

    numbers names Offshore took us out

    announcements:

    • opportunities to serve with breaking bread
    • leadership channel on slack including weekly zoom call Mondays at 7
    • SOJ takeover week continues!
    • Lots of PAX with prayer needs for various reasons

    NMM

    Workout was a variation on an IRONPAX challenge, variation was more running. everyone pushed themselves with this one! Always enjoy traveling to different AOs and seeing PAX YHC does not see that often!

  • Kettlebellin’ Beyond the Wall

    Image result for jon snow wildling

    At 5am we loaded up the SOJ clown car and headed for the hinterlands. The Davillians welcomed us with open arms and were ready to put in some work. Here is a brief summary for your viewing pleasure:

    Warm up: Turn on “Chaplain’s Kettlebell Mixxx” and complete a couple laps around the parking lot. Circle up for Ukranian Soldiers, Arm Circles, Monkey Love Makers, LBC’s, Hand Release Merkins, Dead Man Hang.

    Exercise: Tour de MANNdate. Moseyed around the perimeter of the school, stopping at various locations for 2 minutes of exercises. Completed the following:
    WWII sit ups w/lift, People’s Chair upright row, Bench Press, Lawnmower pulls, Kettlebell swings, LBC’s with Kettle, Reverse Forearm Curls, Flutter Kicks w/overhead hold, Squats, Standing Upright Row, Seated Ball Tappers, Lunges around the circle, Fireman Carry around the circle, Calf Raises, Tricep Extensions. I may have missed a few.

    Back to the Flag for Numbers/Names/Announcements

    DTH took us out

    Final Thoughts: Had a great time getting back up to Daville and posting at MANNdate for the first time. Solid effort by all the PAX on a hot and humid day. SOJ takeover is in full effect and a couple of us, including YHC will probably be making the trek back up on Friday.

  • Like going home

    SOJ takeover week continued with a beatdown at WDog. Before Source of Truth moved to Midlo Middle, YHC called WDog his Wednesday home. Has been quite some time since posting to this AO, but today was just like going home.

    Here’s what went down…

    Mosey to amphitheater for a slaughter start. Box jump burpees to the top and meet in the circle.

    COP: SSHs, Helicopters, Ukrainian soldiers, Cherry pickers, DQs, Merkins, LBCs

    Love Hill: Mosey halfway down Love Hill (had planned to go all the way but forgot how long it was). Partner up. One partner runs to the top of the hill while the other performs bear crawl. Runner returns and switch off. Repeat with forward crab, polar bear crawl, and backward crab until reaching the top.

    Rusty Cage: Six pack with 6 pull-ups, 6 merkins, and 6 jerkins. Repeat to 1. Shiplap had a sudden stomach emergency and missed out on this fun.

    Mosey to the field for two rounds of a Beast: Crossed leg lifts (both legs) and two-count flutters

    BTTF for 2 minutes of Mary (American Hammers and Rosalitas.

    Numbers, names, announcements, YHC took us out.

    NMS: Awesome to be back at WDog this morning. YHC admits he doesn’t cross the river very often anymore but maybe it’s time to make a change. Being back at WDog this morning made YHC remember how much he enjoys this AO. So many places to go and so little time! Great to have House Party out at WDog for the first time.

    One questions remains from this morning: Where was Hitchhiker? Word on the street was that he was picking up Bad News from the Omni and heading over. Did he get lost? Did he and Bad News opt for coffeeteria instead?

    Announcements: The Bridge on June 25

    Prayers please for YHCs family. I lost my last grandparent on Monday. My grandfather was 2 months shy of 100 and we were really excited to celebrate that tremendous milestone with him in August. But, that wasn’t in the cards. After losing my grandma (and his wife of 75 years) last year, he hasn’t been the same. He went peacefully in his sleep and I believe he is happy to be reunited with his wife. Pop was a proud WWII vet and spoke often of his time in Europe during the war. I will miss his stories. YHC plans a tribute for him in August.

  • Ripped Shirts & Wet Discs

    A perfect 16 HIM’s posted to Heartbreak for an SOJ Takeover game of Ultimate Frisbee. With humidity at 1000%, our West End hosts ensured the sprinklers were ON for refreshing showers throughout the game. Here’s how the PAX exercised all three F’s in style:

    The THANG:

    WARMERAMA:

    • Mosey the field perimeter dropping cones (full length, but only 75% of the width), and then circle up
    • Welcome & Disclaimer
    • Variable IC Reps to get the muscles warm top to bottom

    THE GAME:  With absolutely perfect numbers for Ultimate, the PAX divided into Team Atilla with 8 dark shirts and Team Mariner with 8 light shirts. Rules were reviewed, and the decision made to forego burpees or merkins on turnovers. 

    While each PAX put forward amazing effort for their teams, here follows the most remarkable highlights of the game:

    • Early scoring by Team Mariner demonstrated definitive skill and coordination between Snuff and Bodos, and early grumbling by Team Atilla suggested uneven team skill levels
    • Team Atilla stopped counting when the score reached 3-2, but MVP’s Mariner, Snuff, and Bodos kept the TD’s going
    • Shout out to TI – The Ringer who’s never played
    • Upchuck won a small ribbon for “Most Hands On”, and Bodos’ shirt is proof if you let the bear give you a hug, you might regret it
    • Upchuck also earned 5 Burpees, the only given out, for batting the frisbee out of bounds over the fence – respect to the man for no complaints crushing the burpees
    • Bodos had 1st Place in Most Glorious (and frequent) Dives (pretty sure he’s actually just 25 years old…)
    • Handshake went beast mode in celebrating turnovers
    • Offshore has sneaky good skills
    • Our lone LIFO was Kubota, but only missed the last TD and COT

    FINAL SCORE: Team Mariner 10 // Team Atilla 3

    COT:

    • Counterama # 16
    • Namerama
    • Announcerama (see Comments)
    • BODOS took the PAX out in Prayer

  • Last Lap

    3 stretching enthusiasts woke up a tad earlier to get some Hot Broga in with the temperature 70 degrees with 100 percent humidity. With our Broga guru, Last Call on vacation, YHC stepped up to lead these men to find their inner self. Back, legs, shoulders, and wrists were the hot areas covered today to make sure our bodies were ready for the Ultimate Frisbee showdown. Good work today Oyster and House Party! Appreciate you guys letting me lead!