Category: Richmond, VA

  • Tarrington Triplet Team

    A trio of studs kicked the week off right with a tour of Tarrington and some quality time on Twin Team hill. Here’s how it went:

    BWES toward the river and the back entrance of Tarrington;

    Right on Riverton Right until the roundabout, over to Sheffield and up to Ashwell

    Left around the Ashwell loop, then left again to Robious

    cut through the path onto Powderham Lane/Old Robious

    down Twin Team; back up Twin Team (!), and down again

    BTTF

    Numbers, names, YHC took us out.

    Announcements: HDHH, Puppy Pile and Field Day all coming soon.

    NMMS: it was great to run with Splinter and Corned Beef this morning. Splinter’s watch said 8.2 miles and it sure felt like it going back up that Twin Team hill at the end.

    Make it a great one!

    Doublemint

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    8 men of steel linked arms and pounded the pavement and paths of RVA in the latest edition of Sunday Funday. Conditions were remarkably close to sunny and 70. According to the lone boxer at the trailhead, the following are likely to have happened:

    Cross the river to Riverside Drive (east), up and down to Belle Isle, and back along the access road, studiously avoiding soiling our “Sunday Best” shoes.

    Distances were anywhere from 4.4 for YHC doing a rehab gig to something in the 6-7 range for the more traditional runners. Saab may have done 10.

    Announcements:

    Vinny’s Field Day is September 18, 7:00 a.m. at Dogpile. Team captains are:

    City Proper (if you live in The City of Richmond): TYA
    DaVille: Corned Beef
    Tuckahoe: Checking on schedule of a potential captain
    Southside: TBD

    Resumes and cover letters due for the remaining openings. YHC will draft captains, if necessary. YHC finds this to be an appropriate time to recall that the purpose of F3 is reinvigorate male community leadership.

    Captain’s Roles:

    1. Recruit a team of men who live in the appropriate geography
    2. Decide on a dress code for that team and organize your team to wear same
    3. Rally your team to attend Dogpile at 7:00 a.m. (special time) on September 18

    Sit and Sip, F3RVA’s Retreat that is not like any Church Retreat is September 25. Food (bring and share), booze (same), baseball gloves, football, that golf thing Vinny has, Corn Hole, and the optional tent are in order. WAGS and other camp followers are out of order. Come spend an afternoon / evening with your pals on a farm. It’s the 2021 answer to the challenge,”Show that you can live like the Hardywood’s without actually showing that you can live like the Hardywood’s.”

    NMS:

    TYA organized and led today’s run, but YHC knows that history is written by the victors. Having finished the run “first” today, YHC has declared himself the winner (possibly in a one-man race, and surely because rehabbing a knee (pun intended) injury is a good excuse for running several miles less than the rest of the PAX). Nonetheless, like golf, today’s run was not about how far, but about how few.

    Also, writing the Backblast precludes TYA from picking on YHC’s shoe choice (new white running shoes, in honor of Billy “White Shoes” Johnson, the only man on the NFL’s 75-year anniversary team to NOT be in the Hall of Fame). TYA was determined to force YHC to run through the bacteria-infested waters of the James River, and in the interest of public health during a pandemic, YHC preferred to remain dry. Safety first, or at least that’s YHC’s story, and he’s sticking to it.

    31 shopping days until the BRR.

    UpChuck spits the bit.

  • Nowhere to hide

    You can run but you can’t hide from the rain at Gridiron. The good news is that it was about 70 degrees and it didn’t even rain a lot until the last 10 minutes or so.

    This was my virgin Richmond Q. I used to Q around 15 to 20 times a year in Charlotte, although typically with an older group.

    I’ve attended Gridiron many times over the years. I started with F3 ten years ago, either July or August 2011. Since my son has lived in Richmond since 2007, whenever we came up on weekends, I usually went to Gridiron on Saturday. So roughly about 3 times a year, I would come to Gridiron. I figured I should do my part and Q.

    Purpose was to get the heartrate up without doing a lot of running. We went from one exercise to the other with a stretching exercise after ‘groups’ instead of a 10 count. Most of the following was done in cadence.

    In the parking lot: 20 SSH, 10 Man-maker Merkins, 15 Knee-ups and a stretching exercise.

    To the front of the school: 20 IWs, 10 Diamond Merkins, 15 American Hammers and a stretching exercise

    Using the front wall of the school: People’s Chair 15 Air Press, 10 BTTW Hip Slaps, 15 Donkey Kix OYO

    People’s Chair 15 Muhammad Ali, 10 BTTW Australian Mountain Climbers, 15 Donkey Kix OYO

    People’s Chair 15 Milkers, 10 BTTW Toe Taps, 15 Donkey Kix OYO

    To the other end of the football field in front of the school: 20 Copperhead Squats, 15 Crunchy Frogs, 10 Stagger arm Merkins and a stretching exercise

    To the practice football field at the side of the for 20 Lunges, 10 Stagger Arm Merkins, 20 Dollies and a stretching exercise

    Next, using the hill between the practice field and the regular football field, Jacob’s Ladder.

    Next, bathrooms next to where we started: Angry Donkeys (11s with People’s Chair air press and Donkey Kix.

    Next, to parking lot for 3 rounds of jumping back and forth over the line in cadence to 20. Let’s call it ‘Happy Feet’, with a stretching exercise in between to catch my breath.

    Next, to the playground near the Pickle Ball courts for: 10 Pull ups, 20 Merkins, 30 LBCs: 3 times.

    Next, to the soccer field for 7s with Merkins and Squats between the ‘base line’ and the quarter line.

    Using the same soccer field lines: bear crawl out and crab walk back. Repeat with broad jump out and crab walk back. To the beginning point for about 3 minutes of stretching.

  • Breakfast Club!!!

    Apparently breakfast is popular at Daville. 13 Davillians including 1 FNG posted on a misty day. Opus and YHC started the day with a 2ish mile run from the Rutland Clubhouse to the Atlee parking lot.

    • COP
      • Parking lot tracers
      • Mosey to a freshly paved basketball court
      • SSH x 20
      • Helicopters x 10
      • Imperial Walkers x 10
      • Don Quixotes x 10
      • Arm circles x 10 small, x 5 big
      • Copperhead squats x 10
      • Shoulder taps x 10
      • Merkins x 10
      • Alabama prom dates x 10
      • Flutter kicks x 20
    • The Paula Abdul
      • Mosey to side parking lot
      • starting at one island, bear crawl 2 parking spots, do 1 merkin, crawl bear back 1 spot
      • Rinse and repeat until everyone reaches the other island
    • Modified USMC August fitness challenge
      • Run a lap around the football field, do 30 x each: dips, merkins, squats, WWIIs
      • Run a lap, do 25 x each
      • Run a lap, do 20 x each
      • The actual challenge for those that are interested is run half mile, then do 30x each: pull ups, push ups, squats and sit ups, run half mile do 25x each and all the way down to 5x each
    • Pole smokers
      • Each PAX grabs a pole and holds 6 inches with feet
      • Man at the end does 10x flutterkicks then runs to the end
      • Rinse and repeat until all PAX do 1 round
    • 11s
      • Monkeyhumpers on one side of the service road, broad jump to other end, Carolina drydocks
    • Cherokee Nation run back to flag (burpee optional)
    • 3 rounds of ring of fire, 1 MOM and some stretching to closeout the workout
    • Notes:
      • Good times today after the workout for some Irish coffee and breakfast at YHC’s
      • Thank you Bullfrog for bringing Croaker
      • @Croaker, welcome to F3, keep coming back. The workouts don’t get easier, you just get stronger

  • Madam Wilson and the majestic woodpecker

    Nine of Richmonds finest and one traveler from Charlotte decided to challenge Dogpile this morning. What rain? It was sunny and 70 for this morning’s edition. YHC was excited to get his first Dogpile Q under his belt. At the stroke of 6 off we went.

    COP- Mosey to amphitheater. 20 each SSH, LBC’s. 10 each DQ’s, cherry pickers, Phelps, Helicopters, Imperial Walkers, Russian soldiers,

    The thang: Perform 5 merkins on bottom step, shout to another PAX to start when finished, run to other side increase 1 step, repeato until all Pax has snaked to the top. Repeato on way down with 10 LBC’s as exercise. Back up with 10 squats as exercise. On down all grab a step. Perform all 3 exercises on ends with shuffles, Bernies, etc. run across. 2.7 miles were logged. We picked up a Brad during the workout he tried to stay up but was struggling. Like shakedown said “Hopefully we brought some brightness to his day. Welcome to Brutus (What are odds we would have a scUM fan join on my first dogpile Q? Go Buckeyes) traveling in from Charlotte. He will be checking in with us every few weeks as he helps his daughter renovate her house here in Richmond.

    Announcements: Lots coming up, lots going on. See Preblasts and Slack.

    Prayers to all those PAX out there who could not make it , may the lord bring them back.

    Always an honor to lead. Thank all of you for being brightness in my life.

  • A Virgin No More

    10 absolute BEASTS posted on a perfect 62 degree day at Satan’s Hill to enjoy a VQ beatdown. Nobody was sure what was to come, until it happened. The grizzled vets tried to knock the new QIC off his game by working off cadence to start…but to no avail. Cadence held strong, and that came back to bite them a little later. Here is how it all went down.

    Warm-ups:

    Helicopters, Don Quixote, Imp Walkers, Side Straddle Hops, Cherry Pickers, Left/Right/Center stretch, Flutter Kicks, and a Hello Dolly.

    Mosey up the hill to the first corner, pause, run to the first stop sign at the far corner – 20 Merkins, back to start 40 Dying Cockroaches, back again, 60 LBC’s. Mosey down the long stretch to the next corner, similar routine to next corner. 20 Monkey Humpers, 40 Carolina Dry Docks, 60 Squats. Run back to start. Lunge to the bottom of the hill and re-group. Alleluia to the top at 50%, 30 WW2s and back down. 75% effort 3/4 of the way up, 30 jump squats, 100% effort half way, 30 burpees. (Now this was supposed to be a progression down 30/20/10, however, after some purposeful off cadence movement to kick things off, and some belly aching during the run, I thought 30 each was in order.

    Recover, then mosey back down to the parking lot. Grab a coupon, triple check time. Curls, Tri extensions, runner (not sure if we have a name for these yet). Toes on the curb for 10 decline Merkins. We still had five minutes left, so we finished by toeing the line and Joe Judging back to the curb for three rounds. Each return was different. Bernie, Side Straddle hops, and finish with some High Knees.

    Circle up, Numberama, Namerama, and finish by thanking the Big man upstairs.

    Again, thanks to all the gentleman for coming out in numbers to support by first Q. You all put in some hard work today. I’m appreciative to all of you for welcoming me in, and to all the F3 brothers. Thanks for allowing me to join you in the pain each week. It’s been incredibly impactful for me, and has helped me start to get things back to a real positive place. Appreciate you all!

    -Vagabond

  • A Different Kind of Serpent

    A fleet of thirteen convened at the corner of Grove and Commonwealth for an unexpected variation of a serpentine route. Directions were started early to leave ample time for repeating (if necessary). It was necessary (x2). Here was the route:

    6 Milers:
    – East on Grove then left on Hamilton
    – Left on Grace then left on Lafayette back to Grove
    – Right on Grove then right on Antrim back to Grace
    – Left on Grace then left on Commonwealth back to Grove
    – Right on Grove then right on Westmoreland to Grace
    – Left on Grace then left on Chantilly (which turns to Bunting) back to Grove
    – Grove back to MM

    5 Milers:
    – Same as above except your north border was Wythe (not Grace)

    4 Milers:
    – Same as 5 milers except turn left on Hanover when you get on Hamilton. Everything else the same

    Numbers, names, YHC took us out.

    Moleskin
    Fantastic morning for a run and thanks to the PAX for sticking to the directions. Sounds like everyone hit the route spot on.

    Great to see everyone, including Lab Rat and Ronnie who YHC hasn’t crossed paths with for a while. And Kudos to Pigskin who keeps ‘planting’ his shovel flag at every AO he attends. Keep it up!

    See everyone soon.

    Splinter

  • College, Kids, and Camps

    3 Davillians came out to start off their Friday with a beatdown

    This is how is went down

    Warm Up – Mosey around the main parking lot to the blacktop

    COP (ALL IC) – SSH, DQ, Imperial Walkers, LBC’s, Heels to Haven, WWII Situps, HRM’s, Arm Circles

    THANG

    Mosey back to the main parking lot

    Mini Beast – We stop 2 time up an 2 times back with 5 reps, 5 different exercises. Merkins, Boat/Canoes, WWII’s, Helix Squats, Burpees were chosen.

    Mosey to the ball field

    Touch the Bases 4×4’s – Start with first base completing 2 4×4’s the head back to home. second time repeat first the at second base complete 4 4×4’s then head back to home. Third time repeat first and second base then complete 6 4×4’s at third then head back home. First with a lap around the bases

    Mosey to the playground

    Third Check – Jerkins, Dips, Lunge to the backwall of the school and back

    Mosey back to the SF for Numberrama, Namerama, Announcements, YHC took us out

    MOLESKIN

    Small Pax this morning but a quiet one when Yard Sale is around. He always makes sure the mumble chatter is going. We worked hard but enjoy the 2nd F part more I believe this morning.

    SPIT ON THAT!!

  • Skip a run to go to a run

    2 SOJ regulars and 1 new to the area traveling PAX Brown Noser from Colorado met in the parking lot of BWES to see what was in store for them today.

    Mosey to Twin Team for COP

    DQ’s, Helicopters, Weed Pickers, Russian Soldiers, Imperial Walkers, Merkins, LBC’s

    Mosey up the hill dropping 4 glow sticks along the way

    From the top Twin Team Suicides with 5 merkins at each stop

    Mosey back across BWES down to JRHS for some parking lot crawls, Bear Crawl to the first line do 1 merkin Bear crawl the the next line and do 2 merkins. So on and so forth until you get to 10 merkins

    Mosey to the playground at BWES for some 11’s on the swing set. Starting with 10 Pull ups and 1 merkin

    Mosey BTTF

    Numbers / Names YHC took us out

    NMS:

    Oyster thought he might get away with one by skipping a run but ended up at a Doozy Q with a Downrange PAX that needed to see all of the AO. Welcome to Richmond Brown Noser good luck house hunting and let us know if you need any intel on schools or neighborhoods in the area.

  • The next level of challenge and rolling out the red carpet

    The next level of challenge and rolling out the red carpet

    6 “Almost” Olympic runners gathered to put in the work on a beautiful August morning. Some of the faithful Curahee were scattered but 3 from the south came to blaze the trail with us today. We rolled out the Red carpet and tried to keep a good pace so they would feel like the drive was worth it. We covered 5.25 miles in 42 mins with a sub 8:25/mile pace. Some hills and nice scenery made the distance go by quickly. There was much mumble chatter about “Whats Next” on the challenge block and a half Iron Man (after the Richmond marathon) seemed to be the favorite idea. Don Draper pushed to limit the swim with an Olympic Iron Man first. Rosetta seems to be taking the lead on the half Iron Man so reach out if that appeals. Our southside brothers continued for another 2 miles after we reached the flag. Pinto closed us in prayer and we headed out to enjoy the beautiful morning!