Tag: 2ndF

2nd F meetups are fellowship related where members of the F3RVA community get together for non-workout related meetups (e.g. coffee, events, etc.)

  • LABOR DAY 2026 COVERGENCE: BACK TO BATTEAU

    44 HIMs from near and far converged on one of RVA’s OG AOs for this year’s Labor Day Gathering. With many PAX jumping into the gloom of an unfamiliar AO, YHC brought in some experts of the craft to show everyone what this corner of the city has to offer.

    YHC arrived at 0615 only to shortly find Pigskin and House Party looking for a way in around the locked gates. Despite YHC’s best efforts to secure the AO ahead of time (a call was placed last week to confirm), RVA Parks & Rec’s finest slept in. Fortunately, our “hero” showed up at 0645 to allow the PAX park within spittin’ distance of the shelter.

    Top of the hour hit and the PAX forged over to Stone House Field.

    COT
    Welcome to Batteau, disclaimer, warm up with ascending burpee intervals:

    • SSHs (1 burpee)
    • DQs (2 burpees)
    • Imperial Walkers (3 burpees)
    • LBCs (4 burpees)

    Some broga, then split into 4 groups for stations (written in the order PAX rotated through with YHC):

    Wojo led — Mosey to Stone House Circle for a classic, completely plain Dora:

    • 100 Merkins
    • 200 LBCs
    • 300 Monkey Humpers
    • Pace car bear crawls (or walking lunges) to the stone beacon, mosey back NASCAR-style

    Mosey to the pickleball courts.

    Faceplant led — Popsicle Stick Scramble: one minute to explain the rules, then PAX paired up (encouraged to partner with someone new or from a different home AO) for nine one-minute rounds. One partner worked the called exercise while the other ran out, dropped a burpee, grabbed a stick, and returned — then switched. After three minutes, stealing opened up: 6 burpees bought you a stick off another team. Most sticks won — top team walked away with 11!

    Mosey to the endless steps

    Machismo led (will update later) — YHC only knows the whereabouts of Machismo’s station as “the stairs gauntlet and the gazebo.” Descriptions of “AWOL” have been thrown around.

    Mosey to the playground/roaming Mudslide station

    Mudslide led — working both the hills and the courts:

    1. Triple check: hand-released merkins, jump squats, run uphill
    2. Flutter kicks, Freddie Mercuries, run up and back
    3. 10 Lieutenant Dans, 25 tricep dips, 50 mountain climbers, 100 SSHs

    A final plank hold closed it out — ran out of time before a planned 4 corners on the tennis courts.

    BTTF with Faceplant leading the six: reverse crunches, flutters, and a dead man hang until time.

    Numberama, Namerama, YHC took us out.

    Prayers lifted for Speakeasy on his battle, Hitchhiker on the loss of his father, and Pin Prick, and others unnamed. Lift them up as they lean into understanding.

    Announcements

    • 9/11 Ruck at the Alamo, 8pm — see Slack or Crabgrass for details
    • IronPAX Challenge this Month at Timberwolf….. on Wednesdays!
    • 2nd Tuesday, 2nd F: Lunch tomorrow (9/8) at Joey’s Hotdogs in Innsbrook — High Noon

    A note on convergences

    Getting 44 HIMs to circle the wagons, PAX driving in from other AOs, everybody showing up ready to suffer together on a holiday morning. That doesn’t happen by accident. Thank you to fellow Qs Faceplant, Mudslide, and Machismo for bringing the thunder, to those who brought beverages and snacks, and to every HIM who rolled out of bed for this one instead of fartsacking. This is why we convergence. Hope y’all enjoyed this taste of one of the OG F3RVA AOs.

    And a special shoutout to YHC’s M, who this morning put YHC on a timer…. forcing YHC to be F3’s version of a first out Q. YHC showed up swimming pool soaked at re+forme in the Fan to scoop up the 2.0…. no coffee welcome and several odd looks from the tomatoes in her Pilates class. Guess Somebody had to circle the wagons while they found their centers.

    Thank for letting me lead, y’all. SYITG.

  • PREBLAST: LABOR DAY 2026 CONVERGENCE

    When: Monday, 9/7 — 0700
    Where: Batteau —- Forest Hill Park, Richmond, VA
    Parking: Park in the parking lot before you get to the shelter off the New Kent Ave & 42nd St entrance. Get there a few minutes early.
    QIC: Wojo, Faceplant, Rosie, Mudslide
    The PAX: F3RVA and beyond — all AOs welcome

    PAX of F3RVA — come on out to Forest Hill Park at 0700 on Labor Day for our annual Labor Day Convergence. We’ll be bringing together men from across the region for a hard workout, good fellowship, and a strong start to the holiday.

    This one’s going to need a few hands on deck:

    Qs Booked!

    Park Opens at 6am for any Broga Partakers

    2nd F: After the workout we’ll be sticking around for coffee/breakfast. Looking for:

    • Volunteers to bring beverages (coffee, water, etc.)
    • Anyone willing to cook or bring snacks/breakfast for the group

    Reach out to me directly if you can help with any of the above.

    A little history while we’re at it: it’s been over a decade since F3RVA got its start at Gridiron back in 2014. If you’ve never been out to check out one of the OG AOs that built this region, this is a good excuse — consider making a visit on Labor Day. Worth remembering where this thing started as we keep growing.

    Bring it, Bring FNGs (always welcome), and let’s close out the summer right.

    “The only easy day was yesterday.”

    Get some.
    Wojo

  • Swedish Chef Out

    Twelve gathered to toast Flatline and send him off to be Uncle Sam’s problem for the next 10 months. Beers, apps, and laughs were enjoyed. Unconfirmed, but pretty sure Flatty’s hat came with a free bowl of soup.

  • F3-The Perfect Example

    Arrival 0525 and several PAX members were getting after it with the ruck sacks!

    It was appropriate that Gumbo arrived first. He EH’d me 9 years, 4 months ago! Dressed in gym dyke, ready to work.

    With no watch or time keeper, YHC asked DK for time keeping help with some Garmin watches obviously not being synced up.

    0600—–half slaughter start……5 Burpees. Mosey to Carillon Circle. COP…..we did some exercises but YHC saw a big group. Mosey to The Lawn. GO TIME!

    Activity 1= Run the length of The Lawn. Every 25 yards or so, 25 merkins. Running back, 25 LBC’s every 25 yards.

    Activity 2= Dora. Partner up. 150 Merkins, 250 Squats, 350 SSH. Runner….up and around the Carillon.

    Activity 3=Partner Leg Toss. Each PAX member does 100 PLT’s. These were a beast!

    Mosey to the Pipeloop. Absolute must in the summer time!

    Activity 4= Triple Check, partner x 3. Squats, LBC’s, and of course, Runner on the pipeloop! But….ran out of time.

    Mosey back to The Flag!

    Numberama, Namerama,

    Announcements: Memorial Day Convergence, 0700 at Dogpile!

    No Show (FNG) has a national prayer group with his work friends. Working on linking F3 with his friends.

    YHC took us out.

    NMS:

    41 PAX at Dogpile is beautiful! YHC cannot express his words or feelings enough regarding the show of support and the love felt this morning. Vinny from C’ville, Hardywood from Amelia, and several other Brothers who have not seen Dogpile for a bit! Thank you to all Brothers who posted. Dogpile=Best AO Ever!!

    YHC has an important day coming up on Wednesday. I remember that first drive to Dogpile, 9 years and 8 months ago, and I saw Big Blue. The memories, van rides, cups of coffee, cold mornings, mumble-chatter, and most importantly, the friendships, have blessed my life and made me strive to be a better person! YHC cannot thank you Brothers enough!!

    The camaraderie we share in the gloom and on the AO is second to none. My cup is full and we got it all out this morning! YHC cannot think of a better example of fitness, fellowship, and faith!

    Thank you to Snuff and Kubota for making 2nd F possible!!Chick-Fil-A is always a hit. And of course we drank coffee-none left!!

    Loud and Proud,

    Flatline

  • Westhoe 2nd Tuesday, 2nd F Lunch

    First time in 7/8 years YHC has been able to make it to a 2nd F lunch.

    7 men gathered at Tres Machos – Innsbook and talked about real estate and other things. No problems of the world solved but several identified.

  • Ruckers get a Brazilian from The Flying Chad

    An elite squad of heavily-laden ruckers converged at Ruckhenge for the first leg of our OTB adventure. Before we could even leave the lot, an FNG-to-be chased us down to get the download on F3 and assured us he’ll be joining us soon. En route to the railroad track a second FNG-to-be stopped the march to also get our info. Seems daytime rucks might just be a great recruiting tool! We traveled a total of about 2.2 miles, and YHC felt very much like a sorry pack mule carrying a cooler of beverages in addition to the usual 50 pound ruck. But we arrived exactly on time at Machismo’s 12 acre paradise, and promptly dropped rucks and crushed a beer. 

    For the second part of our adventure, Machismo marched the PAX back into the woods and toward the railroad track where a number of old, mostly rotten, railroad ties were piled up. Dookie briefly danced with a copperhead, but no harm to either dangerous creature transpired. So two mostly whole railroad ties were shouldered, 3 men to a caber, and carried back to the ranch. We deposited the cabers next to Machismo’s log splitting arena, and took turns competing with splitting speed and maul VS axe. The clock face splitting for speed was particularly fun, and Machismo leaving the ground to split a gnarly bit was epic (see picture) – no wood can resist the power of The Flying Chad. We concluded our pre-dinner activities by being entertained with DTH and Machismo’s efforts to walk a giant wooden spool (see picture). 

    For our third quarter of this epic event, the PAX pulled up camp chairs, cracked beers, told stories, and watched the meat wizard (Machsimo) go to work. With a smaller number of PAX than expected, these lucky few HIM’s engorged themselves with triple portions of tomahawk lamb steaks, sandwiches of Brazilian-style steak & chimichurri on toasted baguette, and a couple massive steaks provided by Dookie. After devouring some of the meat Purple Rain asked if Machismo would have him for his wife, but he was quickly declined. The PAX got to meet the lucky M toward the end of our dinner and she agreed Machismo’s meat is the best. 

    For our final leg of the OTB adventure, Machismo (and his sweet dog) led a very jolly and stuffed band of ruckers back through the darkening woods to Rockaway, and then even remained with the PAX for the full return journey back to Ruckhenge. YHC was under quite a bit of weight, and found the return trip, all up hill, to be quite daunting. At the time of this writing, YHC is completely stiff and sore all over. But the PAX was very encouraging and all HIM’s completed the 2.5 miles trek back to Einstein safely. 

    If you’ve read this far, thank you. Even with many weeks to plan/prepare, not many PAX prioritized participating in this epic event, and it’s likely even fewer will choose to read about what we’ve accomplished out there. As with all things in life – you’ll get out what you put in. Be there next time fellas!  Yours AYE, DTH

  • DaVille Break…fast

    YHC showed up to have a CB Gym Workout in preparation for our breakfast meeting at Rise and Shine so here is what went down:

    COP

    Mosey to basketball courts by the bus loop. Circle up for for station instruction and here is what went down:

    THANG

    Station 1 (S1) – Hand Release Merkins

    S2 – Kettle Bell Swings

    S3 – Suicides – This was the timer

    S4 – Flutter Kicks

    S5 – Shoulder work with Bat KB’s

    We were able to do two complete rotations then we moseyed to the parking lot to go to Diner.

    COT

    Numberama / Namerama – Surf and Turf took us out in prayer.

    2nd f – Rise and Sine Breakfast together. Great workourt and breakfast conversations. See you in the gloom soon….Cheers….CB!

  • Family Time!

    Today’s OTB family-friendly ruck gathered 29 cheerful hearts of all ages for ruck/hike through Larus Park. We started with a warmerama and stretching on the green space next to Gelati Celesti, and YHC even called a few reps in cadence. Before launching we covered safety rules for our big group including lots of kids, and then trekked a 2.5 mile loop around Larus with a merry band of high-energy boys leading the way the entire time. We stopped for the SIX a number of times including a refreshing splash in a creek and death-defying heights at the climbing rock, and made it back in just under 90 minutes. No injuries, bright sunshine, and fresh air! We topped it all off with a COT, a coolest gathered rock competition, and great conversations over ice cream. Until next time, Yours AYE! ~DTH

  • All 3 F’s

    2 Pork Rinds emerged from the gloom for the not so mammoth of Mammoth Balls, but we made something of it! YHC says this because he promised a lot of equipment on deck for the workout, however he forgot to load it all up in the pick up. Next Week!
    Commando logged a couple miles of pre workout rucking in at the park!
    We borrowed the cones out in front of the park and lined them up across center football field for some ladder type exercises.

    Warmarama OYO for mumble chatter:

    • Deadman Hangs
    • Helicopters
    • Arm Circles
    • Ukrainian Soldiers
    • Wives
    • Leg Stretches

    The Thang

    • Ladders – 10 KB Reps at random on the Sideline. 10 Core Reps at every cone. After returning from 3 cones, PAX tosses frisbee as a MoT distance marker.
    • We preformed a various number of exercises including: bear crawls across the field, Weighted squats increasing by 10 reps every cone. Bus Driver MoT and SSH’s increasing by 10 reps at every cone.
    • The Beast – including Mountain Climbers, Merkins, Jump Squats, Superman’s, 2 Arm Curls.

    CoT – Numbers and Names

    Announcements- Family Ruck this coming Sunday at 14:00 meeting at Ruckhenge AO location, Gelati afterward.
    Let’s continue to EH some men into coming out to F3. “Give it away”

    Prayer Requests- Commando’s good friend Tim was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s , prayers for Tim and his family and friends. Per Handshake, Prayers for this little girl Charlotte 11 yrs old with stage 4 cancer and her parents,These are constant reminders of how fragile life truly is on this earth.

    Commando closed us out in a great prayer.

    Lastly, If someone is on your mind, don’t hesitate to check in with them and let them know your thinking about them and you’ve got their 6.


  • Conquering Tryhard at Handicamp

    10 gloom studs assembled for a refreshing ride on the Forge pain train, with YHC digging back in the annals of historic novelty for a nonstop high rep whoopin – as follows:

    The THANG: 

    MORNING CALL:

    • Mosey the latecomers loop and end up back at the Mobile Taco Pullup Station
    • PAX plank while taking turns doing 5 pullups on the bar, each PAX declaring their nickname with gusto and the PAX repeating

    SLAUGHTER LIGHT POLES:

    • Starting at the flag, stop at every light pole going down Sheila Lane to the Culdesac, and at each light pole complete x5 Squats AND x5 Merkins

    WARMERAMA: 

    • Circle up in the Culdesac
    • Welcome & Disclaimer
    • Warm-up Reps IC, including the infamous 8-count “DTH” (Dolly, Toe touch, Heels to Heaven)

    CATCH ME IF YOU CAN:

    • Partner up, runner Bernies while chaser completes x3 Burpees then sprints to switch
    • Stop at the “handicamp” ramp

    THE GREAT WALL OF TRYHARD: 

    • Climb the 8-10’ stone retaining wall, safely, for those PAX feeling comfortable doing so. If not, either spot from the bottom or help out at the top. 

    NEW GLORY RAMP:

    • 1st Half – Bear Crawl
    • 2nd Half – Lunge

    JERKIN GYM:

    • NEW Partners, each completing reps, for three rounds total
    • x10 Dips (feet held)
    • x10 Cliffhanger Merkins (feet held)
    • x10 Jerkins (feet held)

    DORA:

    • NEW Partners assemble at the stairs
    • x100 Heels to Heaven
    • x200 LBC’s
    • x300 Flutters (2-ct)
    • Moving partner Tooth Fairies the stairs and runs the loop back around to switch

    Beeline Mosey BTTF for COT:

    • Counterama # 10
    • Namerama
    • Announcerama (see Below)
    • BOM Prayer – specifically lifting up Scram’s brother in law with new esophageal cancer diagnosis and Dookie sharing about his son’s teacher who suddenly passed 

    NMS:  Solid PAX to run through some of our favorite DTH routines. TClaps to these Forge studs embracing the suck and conquering all these COT’s with great enthusiasm and effort. While bearcrawling the handicap ramp (AKA hadicamp) Snuff noted the brutal hear crawl was better than needing it for a wheelchair. This sentiment of gratitude for the strength and health we enjoy was rolled into the sober reality during COT that none of us can count on tomorrow, and we all ought to do all we can for the time we have today – seek and give forgiveness, put others needs before your own, stop to enjoy the beauty and blessing of moments and margins. Lovely coffeerama followed courtesy of Snuff, with excellent discussion about our 3rd F topics of Prayer and Study. We are better when connected with each other and with a greater power’s accountability and guidance of the What-What. The joyful grand finale on the morning was Scram agreeing to VQ this Saturday at Bon Iron. Let’s GO!!! Yours AYE! ~DTH

    Announcements (SEE SLACK!)

    • *Scram VQ* this Sat (3/21) at Bon Iron
    • 3/21 Kickers Game Home Opener
    • 3/29 Family Ruck (2pm Ruckhenge)
    • 4/11 OTB Ruck + BBQ (Machismo’s)
    • Weekly: Forge Coffee + QSource
    • Monthly: Breaking Bread, Bridge
    • SEPT 26 GROW RUCK! (Registration Link:
    https://event.freedom-ops.fit/gte-74)