Tag: Batteau

Forest Hill Park

  • Hardywood Brought An FNC to Meet Andy Murphy

    Four ball boys showed up at Batteau Lawn and Tennis to meet Andy Murphy. Credentials were checked, uniforms were issued, and off we went.

    ANDY MURPHY (The THANG): Mosey to lower tennis courts. NO COP. Run 5 laps around two courts. 5 burpees OYO. Run 5 laps reverso around same two courts. 5 burpees OYO.

    10 crab cakes – single count / 20 merkins / tennis court line tracers out and back. REPEATO x 10

    Bonus round for such quality ball boy performances.

    WWIIs until the PAX finished the bonus round.

    5 laps around the two courts. 5 burpess OYO. 5 more laps around the 2 courts, reverso. 5 more burpees OYO. Back to the Flag.

    6 MOM: 50 LBCs in cadence. 50 PLTs (2 sets of 25). YHC took us out.

    NMS: YHC grew up playing tennis and even dabbled in it at the collegiate level. When we did The Murph a few weeks ago at WDog, it came to me that we could modify to a tennis version. Hence, the Andy Murphy. 24 laps around a tennis court equals a mile. Not wanting to get the ball boys dizzy, YHC opted for 12 laps around two courts. Given it took the PAX some distance to reach the courts, we went 10 laps on each side of the exercises, for a total of 2 miles.

    The boys did great today, given there were only 4 of us, we were a bit spread out. Very little mumble chatter. Then again, The Murph, or any modified Murph, is designed to keep the mumble chatter to a minimum. In all, it went very well. We finished with time to earn some extra credit by way of an 11th circuit. 6 MOM was equally tough given the high concentration of core muscle exercises.

    At the end, during on-site 2nd F, a cat/kitten found its way to our group and went straight up to Hardywood. It was great seeing Hardywood bond with his Friendly New Cat (FNC). I’m not sure, but I think I saw Hardywood building him a towel nest as they rode off into the sunset together. It really is great to see a man and his cat.

    Announcements: 

    The Ghost Flag made an unofficial appearance at Batteau today. It was there to announce that it will be up for grabs on June 16th at DogPile, for Vinny’s DogPile VQ. As part of the roll out, YHC would like to challenge each PAX member who plans to attend to scower local thrift stores and ebay for a t-shirt that best represents your elementary school days. There will be a $5 limit placed on your purchase, if you go that route. You can also make your shirt if you’d like. Hint. Hint.

    Summer Tour is on

    July 4th Convergence at Tredegar

    Puppy Pile June 23rd

     

  • F3 RVA Summer Tour – Starts Saturday, May 26

    F3 RVA Summer Tour – Starts Saturday, May 26

    https://youtu.be/Xf3mRZ7SHu0

    According to Phineas and Ferb, there are 104 days of summer.  What a better way to spend the summer than challenging yourself to visit all 24 F3 RVA AOs.  Although procrastinators can wait as late as August 6 to start, it would be best to spread this challenge out over the entire summer.  Once you complete the tour, you will have done the following:

    • 14 bootcamps
    • 7 runs including a trail run and evening run
    • 2 Kettle Bell workouts
    • 1 bike ride

    Don’t let not having a kettle bell or bike prevent you from participating in this challenge.  Borrow them if necessary.

    The challenge starts starts on Saturday, May 26 and ends on Labor Day.

    To sign up, click here.  

    To print the F3 RVA Summer Tour flyer, click here.

    See you all this summer!

    Phonics

  • Man’s Search For Rocks

    5 warriors rose to greet the dawn of a new day.  According to legend the hot potato Q went a little something like this.

    Swirly COP: Don Quiote, helicopters, flutter kicks, merkins, copperhead squats

    Lunge and Then Some

    Line up the the bottom of the hill for what seems like an impossible task.  With the trees on your left, lunge between each tree.  When you get to a tree, complete 5 hand release merkins.  Repeato until the top.

    Pass to Upchuck

    Some Kind of Pentagon:  Break into groups of 5 with each man at a station.  Station 1 stairs, Station 2 WWII, Station 3 Incline Merkins, Station 4 Dips.  Run from station 4 to the stairs.  Complete 1 cycle.

    Pass to Hardywood

    Run down the hill to the stairs leading to the duck pond and grab a rock.  Run the loop of success with a rock. Complete the following exercises at each junction.  10 burpees at the bottom of the first set of stairs.  Run along the service road to the other stairs and complete 20 merkins.  Run back up the hill to complete 30 squats with rock.  Complete 2 loops.

    Pass to Sippy Cup

    4 round of 5 pull ups and 20 dips.

    Hold chin up position until Sippy Cup becomes exhausted (which there is no written record of) or bored.  The first round was a normal chin-up.  The second round was a nightmarish invention in which you are “supposed” to pull yourself up and have the bar at the back of your head.

    Mosey back to the flag for a little Ring of Fire.

    Nuberama, namerama, YHC took us out.

    News:

    Upchuck has the Q for Breaking Bread this Sunday, see him if you’d like to participate.

    Upchuck is also working on the next puppy pile with a tentative June date.

    Way to work this morning fellas.  This is the greatest privilege to be a part of this group.  Make it a great week!

    Get it all out, dig a little deeper and be super.

    Hardywood

  • In Cadence

    Six regulars and one FNG gathered at Batteau this morning for coffee, bagels, and Hot Potatoes. 5:30 sharp, time to mosey. YHC took us to the far side of the field to see what the neighbors on Forest Hill Avenue were having for breakfast.

    COP: Arm Circles (10) SSHs (20) DQs (11 – not sure why). Shut it down. NOTE: YHC hasn’t practiced much with cadence, so I wanted to get some in today. Unanimously confimed, I’m terrible at it. Come bust my chops tomorrow at Heartbreak Ridge for my Q.

    THANG: Clockwork Merkins – OYO. 5 at midnight / 3 o’clock / 6 o’clock / 9 o’clock. Repeato counter clockwise.

    Mosey to top of the stairs of pain. Collect rocks. Circle up. 2 left arm / 2 right arm Merkins at each rock. Plank walk to next rock, clockwise back to original rock. Next up, counter clockwise, 1 left arm / 1 right arm Merkin back to your rock.

    Pass the sugar. Hardywood, you’re up. Saunter to the bottom of the stairs. HR Merkins – run to the bottom of the next set of stairs. Squats. Hump to top of the stairs. Burpees. Repeato. 5 /10 /15. Shakedown’s turn to serve coffee.

    Tennis Court: 4 corners. 10 Merkins / 20 LBCs / 30 2-count Mountain Climbers / 40 squats – Progressive.

    Native American run – sorta – to the stage left over from last night’s music fest. Attempt box jumps. To shakey. Mosey back down to the site of Clockwork Merkins. Burpees / Box Jumps x 20. Dang!

    Sugar Sock, you’ve never been to Batteau before, so you’re up. Make sure the food is hot, and bring us home brother! Mosey to tennis courts for Triple Check: Leg Lifts / Squats / Lap around tennis courts x 3.

    Back to the Flag

    NMS:

    Great work today gentlemen, especially to FNG ABBA. I hope the pain was as promised. Look forward to seeing you back out soon.

    Thoughts and prayers this morning for a few of our brothers specifically, and all of them collectively. Great thing about F3 is that no matter where you turn, there’s a brother nearby. Lean on us when needed, hold us up when you can. Awesome stuff!

    Announcements:

    Puppy Pile is this Saturday, 7:05.

    Shakedown is kicking butt to kick children’s cancer’s butt. See prior backblasts to help him out.

    Memorial Day convergence at Tredegar/Belle Isle May 28th.

    Wilson has a golf tournament May 18th / Pre-game May 16th at Independence. 5:30

    Always tuck in your shirt. Never wear flip-flops.

    -Vinny out!

     

  • Four Horseman

    Four studs attacked a Monday morning and here is how it went down.

    Hot Potato : Hardywood – COP : SSH’s Helicopters. Windmills, IW’s. Flutter Kicks., Freddy Mercury’s . Hand release merkins .

    Tree to tree – 5 merkins run to bottom of hill 5 squats run to top of hill 5 WW 11’s – repeat 4 times.

    Swirly : 10 dips 10 decline merkiins bear crawl to pull up bars 5 pullups bear crawl back repeat 3 times.

    Bootleg : 11’s : Burpees and LBC’s

    Sippy : Zig Zag : Partner runs across field to tree and back to partner that is bear crawling then switch work your way down the field.

    Trail sprint – plank – mossy to the flag.

    Tried to remember everything we did as best I could fellas. Always enjoy a hot potato Q .

    Way to work guys strong beatdown ! Great way to begin the week.

    Announcements : Shakedown shaving his head to raise funds for childhood cancer . Wilson’s golf event is May 18th. Puppy pile returning soon….  Let’s get out and support these causes fella’s !

    See y’all in the gloom..

     

  • Short Circuit

    Eight warriors boarded up the windows of the fart sack shack (say it 3 times fast) and got their respective middle aged keesters out of bed and set tone for complete and total domination this week.

    COP – Swirly

    IC: SSH, Don Quiote, Helicopter, Merkins, Flutter Kicks, LBC

    Mosey to the mouth of hell otherwise known as the stairs to the duck pond and grab a boulder.

    3 Rounds of the following (hit the benches on the way up and down)

    At the top: 10 curls, 10 overhead presses, run down the steps to the benches

    At the benches: 20 dips, 10 decline merkins, run down the path all the way to the duck pond

    As the duck pond 10 WWII

    Pass to YHC

    Loop of Terror, 3 Rounds

    15 incline merkins at the benches then run down the path to the bottom

    5 burpees on the service road then run to the next set of stairs

    20 squats then run up the path back to the benches

    Pass to Fudd

    Four Corners, 3 Rounds

    20 Flutter Kicks

    20 Freddie Mercury

    20 Merkins

    20 WWII

    Mosey back to flag, numberma, namerama, YHC took us out.

    News

    Shakedown is proving once again that he is a leader of men.  He’s shaving his head for childhood cancer research. Let’s show him some support. He’ll be posting a link.

    Puppy Pile is on 5/19 at 7:05am.  Do this.  Get your kids out of the fartsack and show them that your are more than a money bag who controls how much time they can spend on the iPad.  Bring them out, let them see you sweat and let them see you still have some bad ass in you.

    Come see Chi Chi Rodriquez and Nancy Lopez battle it out at the Wilson Charity Golf Classic For America Pro Am Regional Middleweight Championships Divisional Qualifier Pool Play Open.  YHC may be off on the name, but see Wilson for details on a great event for a great cause on 5/18.  http://www.forethecause.org/

    YHC’s brother is in a challenging transitional period in his young life.  Keep him in your prayers.

    Moleskin: It is with much gratitude that a day starts being able to see a rising sun and a full moon with a solid tribe.  Today was a solid beat down and the first time in a long time to use the hill circuit. Go out and crush it this week fellas.  The world is a better place when you share your talents, go out and make it happen.

    Hardywood

     

     

     

  • F3 RVA Celebrates Earth Day: News at 11

    Four tree huggers brought their gardening gloves and shovels to Forest Hill Park in honor of Earth Day 2018, and it went something like this:

    Mosey to the planning area to establish the day’s activities and celebrations. YHC was so excited to be one with mother earth, that he may not recall all that we did, but here is what YHC recalls:  SSHs / Helicopters / DQs / Imperial Walkers.

    Mosey to the Playground: pull-ups (5) / Derkins (10) / Incline Merkins (15) / Dips (20) / LBCs (25) x 3

    Mosey down the hill, grab rocks, mosey back up to green space beside the lower tennis courts. Circle up. Ring around the rosie merkins (great way to be one with mother earth), PAX picks up rocks for overhead slams (sorry mother earth) 5 x at each rock. Back down for another round of ring around the rosie merkins. One more set of overhead slams (we mean no harm, mother earth).

    Leave rocks, time to express our one-ness with mother nature.  Nine trees. Hand release merkins (5) / WWIIs (5) at each tree. You could taste the worms. On your six. Mark Spitz joined us to plant a few sapplings. Flutter kicks – ouch.

    Time to get to work. These trees won’t plant themselves. Partner up. Wheel barrow a load of mulch to nearby tree. Drop the mulch (touch the tree) and return the wheel barrow (backwards). Switch up and deliver a second load of mulch.

    PAX was really feeling the earth day love. Different partners. Plant (touch) a tree. 7 /5 / 3 / 1. Partner does SSHs. Hardywood was so taken by the sunrise that he forgot to count. Is happens to all us tree huggers, bro. Don’t sweat it. Peace and love!

    Rinse repeat (modified). Plant (touch) more trees. On your own. 5 / 3 / 1. 5 merks in between just to ensure the PAX was one with the earth.

    Army crawl to nearby tree – 40 yards of one-ness.

    Back to the flag. Ring of Fire. 3 burpees while PAX sits in plank and admires once again all that mother earth has to offer.

    Hardywood took us out.

    Congrats to Spit and his #Colonial200 brothers (sorry if YHC is leaving anyone out). It got Swirley’s competitive juices flowing – wow! Time for an F3RVA squad to field a team for next year.

    Great start to the week (and remember to recycle)!

     

     

  • An Early Morning Love Affair: Vinny’s VQ

    Five suitors showed up for Vinny’s VQ. It went like this:

    Happy Hour & Icebreakers. DQs (15)/ Arm Circles (10 and 5) each arm/ Invisible jump ropes (15)/ Helicopters (15).

    Speed dating at Love Hill. Partner up: Crawl bears, Backwards lunges, Triple Jump Copperhead Squats (2) to the top of the hill while partner runs (and switch). If they came back, it was meant to be.

    Dinner date by candle (street) light. New partners: Line tracers at the tennis courts while remaining suitors ate crab cakes (100), flutter kicks (200), SSH (300). Team numbers to completion of the date.

    Palate cleansers. John Merkinroes – each corner of the room (tennis court) :  Dive bombers (15), HR merkins (15), werkins (15), merkins (15).

    After dinner drinks. New partners: Leg tosses -15 straight; 30 left/right (alternate); 40 random (two sets of 20).

    Front porch goodbyes. Circle up. Ring of fire. PAX in plank position. 5 wiper merkins each around the ring. Date’s over. Time to go home. Back to the flag.

    YHC took us out. Always grateful for the opportunity.

    Numberama /Namorama / Announcements

    Great work on #CSAUP men. Truly awesome to watch. Can’t wait to join in the next one. Appreciated the opportunity to lead today.

     

     

  • The Night We Saw Them All

    A PAX eclipsing 40 ditched all common sense for about 18 hours to receive a plentiful helping of each of the three Fs.  This was the F3RVA Century Classic.

    YHC has conversed with a number of individual PAX members about their experience, taking notes during the event and thinking about how to transcribe all of these memories into a backblast.  There is no way YHC could do the stories justice by attempting to capture them for the collective PAX.  Then, after chatting with Lockjaw and the (sober) Ronnie, it became clear.  Treat the backblast as a living backblast.  YHC will make no attempt to capture the essence of this workout, only setting the stage for each and every PAX member to capture it for himself.

    My memories are collected below.  I encourage everyone to add to this list by commenting with your favorite memory.

    Leg 1:  Trying to contain my energy for the CSAUP while stuck in traffic for opening night of the squirrels game
    Leg 2:  Praying for Saab on Meadowbridge and Atlee Rd.  Kudos to all that ran that leg, a true game of frogger
    Leg 3:  All the Mechanicsville PAX member who were not running, companion running with the actual runners.  Kudos!
    Leg 4:  The Creek parking lot is great for fellowship.  This truly felt like a tailgate parking lot.  The energy, games and conversation were all electric.
    Leg 5:  The headlamp on my run reflecting all the pollen flying through the air with me initially thinking it was raining.  30 minutes later realizing all that pollen was being sucked into my lungs at an incredible rate.
    Leg 6:  Hearing of TYA and Swirly questioning if YHC actually marked his legs of the course and me telling them where they can shove it.
    Leg 7:  Realizing how peaceful and quiet the city can be when when you are in it and surrounded by trees.  The new moon highlighted the stars and all their brilliance.
    Leg 8:  Showing up to Hoedown and having Ronnie greet us after his enjoyable evening.
    Leg 9:  Marv almost taking out another animal with his running shoes.
    Leg 10:  Thinking about how comfortable it is to try to sleep on the top of a picnic table.
    Leg 11:  Watching the back and forth between Saab complaining about not being able to sleep and Upchuck for waking him up.
    Leg 12:  Waving to the UR security guard while sitting in a white van with 4 men laying on the ground.  He waved and continued by.
    Leg 13:  Marv learning that Fudd was going to show up only for leg 18 and would still get a tshirt.
    Leg 14:  Seeing Lockjaw drive 20 in a 45 on Charter Colony so he could stay between the lines.
    Leg 15:  Reminding Marv that Fudd was still sleeping.
    Leg 16:  Hearing of a certain individual’s multiple escapades to the bathroom at a singular Wawa.
    Leg 17:  Making the van take a 3 mile detour to Wawa so YHC could get a breakfast hoagie, thus missing the final hand-off.
    Leg 18:  Pulling into Dogpile, realizing it was almost over and thinking the whole experience was too fast.

    This humble correspondent would like to thank everyone involved with making this event successful, especially those listed in the QIC list.  Without it, this would have been a completely stupid and utterly failure of an event.

    Splinter out.

  • Pre-Dawn Picnic

    Six helmets met at Forest Hill Park for a pre-dawn picnic hot potato style, that went something like this:

    Swirly served appetizers: SSH’s / Helicopters / DQs / Merkins / Flutter Kicks x 10 each. Time for the main course. 20 of our favorite dips, followed by 15 incline Merkins and 10 decline Merkins. 3 portions per serving, each.

    Pass to Sippy Cup to start off the partner up pot luck. Partner 1 planks with a rock on his back while partner 2 runs up the steps to secure (and touch) a picnic table. Back down to the picnic blanket and switch. Round 2: Partner 1 sits crab (dip) style (rock in lap) while Partner 2 runs back up the picnic table to make sure the flies aren’t bad. Back down to the picnic blanket and switch.

    Pass to YHC for a mosey to the tennis court to get away from the bees, where 11s crab walk (dip) style was served. PAX lined up on the sideline and crabwalked to the mid-court line and back. WWIIs and LBCs were on the menu. Al Gores and a 15 count to make sure the food wasn’t to hot. Burpee Progression Suicides were next. An aquired taste. The PAX was full, and burpeed from side line to side line, 1 burpee at line one, 2 burpees at line 2, etc. 5-1 working back to the picnic area for 15 modified Cherry Pickers IC.

    Pass to Bootleg. Flies were bad. Time to mosey to the plaground. On the way, Hardywood and YHC may have sung song and verse, Playground by Another Bad Creation, IC.

    Pullups (7), Dips (14) LBCs (21) OYO x 3. The PAX was filling up quickly.

    Pass to Hardywood. Heard some comotion going on with a nearby family reunion, so we moseyed down to the lower tennis courts to see what was happening. Nothing to see here. Back to the flag – but first, we stopped to smell the roses: 9 trees. 1 hand release Merkin, 1 two-count American Hammer, increase by one at each tree.

    At the flag, a few minutes to spare before we had to pack up our picnic baskets and leave the park. Hardywood felt like a pie eating contest was in order. Circle up. Each PAX member ate 5 1-arm Merkins left arm, and 5 1 arm-Merkins right arm, while the remaining PAX tucked in their bibs in plank position.

    Numberama / Namorama / Announcements

    CSAUP is this weekend. Do it for the t-shirt.

    Sippy Cup took us out.

    Glad to be joined today by Forceps out of Raleigh / Wake-South. He and a bunch of his Raleigh Meats are doing the Blue Ridge Relay. Their original team name was so good, the host committee sent them a nice letter thanking them and asking them to change it. Catch up with Forceps at the BRR for the real story. NSFW

    It was a great day for a picnic. Many wonderful dishes were served. We ate like Kings, created only memories, took only photos and left only footprints.