Tag: Batteau

Six F3 RVA faithful sailed off into a dark, gloomy morning at Batteau.

The thang:

Warmup at the tennis court – 20 SSH, 10 Don Quixote, 15 Hillbillies, 15 slow bending squats, 25 freddie mercury.

Mosey to bottom of steps near farmers market – modified Jacob’s Ladder – 1 burpee at bottom of the hill, run to top and do 2 monkey humpers, run down and do 3 burpees, and so on up to ten monkey humpers.

Lindsays – Derkins and two-count flutter kicks.

Mosey to tennis court – 20 WWII situps OYO, backwards run, karoake (2), sprint. 2 MOM – Rosalitas and Alabama prom dates. bear crawl.

Triple check – balls to wall on fence, plank dips, run around house.

5 MOM – ankle taps, Hello Dolly, LBCs

Moleskin – great job guys. YHC took the opportunity to remember 9/11 in prayer and a moment of silence at the end. The events of that day and the ongoing efforts of our country are still very much in all of our thoughts 15 year later.

Props to Swirly for making it out this morning after the BRR, you’re a machine. YHC noticed Batteau was in need of a Q Sunday evening and decided to take the reins. Tried to keep the hill work to a minimal, plus it was so dark it would be difficult to use all that’s available at the AO.

Congratulations to all the BRR participants, YHC enjoyed viewing the ongoing pictures and updates from the weekend. Gold star to Goldberg for breaking a toe and finishing his legs, get well soon buddy.

Flipper showed up a little late as he was heading to No Toll before his brain began functioning. It’s happened to all of us.

4 brave and fearless men accepted the challenge at Batteau to break free from the sultry hold of the fartsack.  We took full advantage of this moment.

The thang:

COP (Hardywood) – 20 X SSH, Imperial Walker, LBC, Freddy Mercury, +10 Merkin.

Indigenous Persons Run Pole Smokers (Swirly) – Line up with post and have your feet six inches off the ground.  The first man performs 5 pole smokers while the other men are holding their feet off the ground.  Once the pole smoker is done, that man runs to the end and the next one goes.

10 X 2 X 3 (Swirly) – Perform 10 dips and 10 incline merkins. Complete three rounds.

King Bear (Bleeder) – Spaced out among 5 trees each man performs a wall squat.  The first man bear crawls to the next tree and tags that man holding the squat.  That man then bear crawls to the next tree, etc.  Perform continuous sets for 5 min.

Curb Crawl (Swirly) – Bear crawl to on curb and complete 1 incline merkin.  Crawl bear back to the starting curb and complete 2 incline merkins.  Bear crawl to complete 3 incline merkin, etc.  Work our way up to 5 merkins and then back down.

Death By Donkey Kicks (Hardywood) – Start with 5 donkey kicks and start a 30 second timer.  Once the timer goes off complete 6 donkey kicks.  When the timer goes off again complete 7 donkey kicks, etc to 15 donkey kicks in a round.

Indigenous Persons Run Up The Hill Of Ill Regret (Slurpee)

Tenzing Sherpa (Hardywood) – 30 two count mountain climbers, 10 jump squats.  20 MC/20 JS, 10 MC/30 JS

Mosey back to flag, numberama, namerama, Swirly lead us out

Moleskin – At about 2 minutes before we started the collective Pax recognized there was no defined Q.  As good men do, we all stepped up to take the lead.  Today, as are most of the best days was a team effort.

Of particular note was the work we did on the Hill Of Ill Regret.  It is one of the hardest hills in all of Richmond.  Our man Bleeder not only ran up the hill, but he completed every cycle of the Indigenous Persons Run.  I am 90% sure he has a bionic leg that is held together with duct tape, a baboon tendon and pieces from an Erector Set.  It’s hard to have any justifiable excuses when that kind of effort is shown.

Also of note was the run up the hill by Slurpee. Just one week earlier, on the same hill, doing the same exercise he fell off the back and walked the hill.  This week, he came back with a purpose in his belly. Not only did he suggest it, but he dominated it.  This was a beautiful thing to see and a very sold effort.

You guys are the best.  Big cheers to the brave men of Batteau.

-Hardywood

This morning 5 faithfuls took a plunge into the dark abyss of Batteau to kick off our Sunday shoes and cure our Monday blues with a VQ beatdown from YHC.

The Thang

Mosey to bottom of stairs/hill

COP

SSH, Imperial Walkers, Don Quixote, LBCs, Flutter Kicks, Merkins

Railroad Tracks

Pax forms a line, then one member runs out five yards and goes into low plank, 2nd follows by jumping over first ‘track’ and then going 5 yards further to low plank. Each other Pax member follows suit. This process continued to the 5th light post around the pond.

Ascending Burpees

From the 6th light post, each PAX member performs 3 Burpees and run to next light post adding an additional burped at each lamp post then stopping at the bridge

Dora 123

100 Merkins
200 LBCs
300 Squats

Other partner runs to 3rd light post and back

Native American Runs up hill of ill regret (audibled half way up to OYO)

Modified Eleven Curb Crawl

BC to 1 side do 10 derkins
CW to opposing side do 1 Dip
proceed until you get to 1 derkin and 10 dips

Wheel of Merkin

Mosey to Flag

Mary – dealer’s choice core work

Freddie Mercury x 20 (Hardywood)
Flutter Kicks x 20 (Slurpee)
Alternating Leg Lifts X 20 (Swirly)
Alabama Prom Dates x 20 (Flipper)

Numberama, Name o Rama, No Announcements

YHC took us out

Moleskin

Last night I noticed that there was an opening for the Q at Batteau, and since I had already planned to attend, I decided I should make this my VQ. Even though it was fairly last minute, I wanted to make sure that I had a decent plan in place.   So I worked last night to layout my approach and exercises for the workout. Unbeknownst to me that in the midst of my planning I neglected to set an alarm, and thus this VQ almost never happened. Thankfully, my son (who is 4 and couldn’t sleep) woke me up at 0440 to crawl in our bed.  Luckily, just in time for me to awake from dreaming about burpees and bear crawls and get out and do some.

The weather was almost perfect and we used as much of the AO as time allowed. It was an absolute pleasure to take the Q and lead the PAX today. I must admit that all of the running almost did me in this morning. In hindsight, maybe the native American runs up the hill of ill regret was not such a good idea or even the bear crawls and crab walks that followed. But that is what is so great about F3. Each morning you get to go out and find out what you are made of, and use the opportunity to seek out our own physical boundaries, and get better.

See you all in the gloom.

KB

8 strong (and about to get stronger) posted for a fun filled episode of Batteau.  Little did they know that Maximus would make an appearance.

Mosey to steps to acquire rocks then mosey down the steps to the road and the gazebo by the lake.

COP:  mtn climbers, Don Quixote, merkins, Russian soldiers, staggered merkins rt and lt

Lift rocks above head and mosey to nearest lamp post.  20x chest press, 30x flutter kicks, repeato x3

Rocks above head and mosey down the road to some random tree.  16x curls, 20x full extensions, repeato x3

Rocks above head and mosey back to the lamp post.  20x shoulder press, 30x Slow Freddy, repeato x3

Rocks up and back to tree.  10x weighted sit-ups, 10x supine overhead extensions, repeato x3

Carry rock back up steps to first landing for 10x tricep extensions, 10x squats, repeato x3

Deposit rocks for the next time and mosey back to flag.  Several minutes of Mary then Flashdance took us home.

NMM:  Well that was nothing like what was going through Toga’s brain on the way to the AO.  Hardywood put down such a memorable/scarring beatdown at the inaugural Batteau that YHC wanted to give some of it another shot.  Unfortunately, YHC represented the only member of the PAX to bring a headlight.  NOTE:  It’s time again to start packing a light to the wooded AOs (Batteau, DogPile, maybe NoToll?).  You never know what will come out and grab you.., alright, it’s usually Lab Rat getting handsy, but maybe the lights will keep him off?  The PAX probably had an easier go with the beach muscle workout than the rock hiking adventure originally planned, but everyone got a peak at what a Circus Maximus workout looks like.  Hopefully we’ll see some converts real soon.

Stay Classy,

Toga

6 brave and fearless men showed up for F3 Batteau on a beautiful Monday morning.

The Thang:

COP  – 20 X SSH, Imperial Walker, LBC, Freddy Mercury, +10 Merkin.  Paying homage to Gnarly Goat part of the count was just a series of inaudible turrets like yips.  Mild laughter was heard among the pax.

Valley of Doubt – Start at the top of one hill with 5 merkins.  At the bottom (of the valley) perform 5 dips.  Run up the next hill and complete 10 merkins, back down the valley for 10 dips, etc. till completion of 30 merkins and dips.

Lunge down the hill of ill regret, at each lamp post perfrom 20, two-count American Hammers.

Polar Bear – Bear crawl 5 steps and complete a merkin.  Approximately 100 yards.

Tritons Revenge – Run around the pond.  At each lamp post perform one burpee.  Add a burpee for each lamp post to complete 10 posts total.

COT – Mosey back to flag, numberama, namerama and Swirly lead us out.

Fact, Flipper can crush the bear crawls. He got done so far ahead of everyone else that while he was waiting for us to finish he grew a beard.  EF Hutton set the standard for burpee excellence. We have a good group of men and it is an unbelievable privilege to have a serviceman amongst our ranks.   Outstanding to have Genny Light drive all the way from Chester.  BT made an appearance and knocked the rust off quite well.  There is a 50/50 chance he just went to F3 camp for three weeks so he can kick everyone’s ass at Dogpile.  Big cheers to Swirly’s son for the successful completion of his mission trip to Costa Rica and the gaining of some incredible insight into the great fortune it is to be an American.

This was a hard earned workout and the humidity was no joke.  Our efforts were recognized with a gorgeous sunrise.  I think the genius of these moments is that they are earned.  We have pools of sweat as a receipt for the price we paid.

At a morning meeting I was doing a little recruiting for F3.  My exact words were “It’s early. It’s hard. It’s not for everyone.  I think you’ll love it.”

See you in the gloom.

-Hardywood

Two faithful hit Batteau this morning and here is how it went down..

Warm up : 20 SSH, 10 Windmills, 10 Helicopters, 10 Imperial Walkers. 10 Arm Circles

Bench work:  Dips on the bench while partner runs to the tree – repeat 3 times – switch to sit ups on bench – run to tree – repeat 3 times.

Curb Crawl : Bear crawl to the curb incline merkin crawl bear back decline merkin 1-5 and back down to 1.

Tennis Courts : 4 corners – 20 merkins – 20 – 2 count American Hammers – 2- Carolina Drydocks – 20 pole smokers… Repeat 4 times ..

Steps: Incline merkins while partner runs up to the top of the hill – repeat 3 times.

Find a tree : run to 5 trees while partner does WW11 situps

Mary : 10 cross leg lifts each leg – 15 APD’s, 20 Flutter Kicks, 25 LBC’s

YHC was sure glad to see Fudd rolling in this morning because a  lone wolf work out is never as good as when you have a partner or partners.. It takes two to Tango and we Tangoed in the gloom as you can tell from the description above..  Way to push it Fudd enjoyed it brother. Have a good trip to the RIVA this week ..

See y’all in the gloom..

 

4 brave and fearless men showed up for F3 Batteau on a beautiful Monday morning.  The conditions were ripe for the success flower to bloom.

The Thang:

COP  – 20 X SSH, Imperial Walker, LBC, Freddy Mercury, 10 Merkin

Tritons Revenge – Run around the pond.  At each lamp post perform one burpee.  Add a burpee for each lamp post to complete 10 posts total.

Cincos – Start with 5 Pole Smokers and 5 Merkins.  Add five more each round until 30 are completed.

Lunge to bridge

Highway To Hell – Pick up a rock of success.  Complete 20 squats with rock.  Run to stairs, up the brick path.  At the top perform 20 dips.  Pick the rock back up, run down the other side and back to where we started.  Complete 3 rounds.

Mosey back to flag, numberama, namerama and Swirly lead us out.

It is in the opinion of YHC that Mondays may be the hardest day to break free from the gravitational pull of the fart sack, but also the most important.  This group of men CRUSHED it today.  A big cheers to Slurpee for dancing with doubt and leaving it all out in the park.  Kevin Bacon is a warrior and dominated Highway To Hell, kudos to you brotha.  Swirly, you are the suffering sinsei.  Thanks for setting the bar so damn high every time.

It is a privilege to plant the flag and dance with doubt in the mornings gentlemen.

See you in the gloom.

-Hardywood

5 brave and fearless men showed up for F3 Batteau on a beautiful Monday morning.  Much like a donkey in a dojo, this day was gonna kick some ass.

The Thang:

COP  – 20 X SSH, Imperial Walker, LBC, Freddy Mercury, 10 Merkin

Valley of Doubt – Start with 5 merkins.  Perform 5 dips at the bottom.  Run up second hill and complete 10 merkins.  Back down to the bottom for 10 dips.  Alternating hills until 30 merkins and dips had been completed in a single set.

PF Flyer – Lunge downhill.  At each lamp post (3 total) perform 20 two count American hammers.  Finish at bottom.

Polar Bear Hunt – Perform Polar Bear Crawl (bear crawl with a merkin completed at every fifth step) for approximately 100 meters.

Short Shorts – Backs against the wall in the squat position for two minutes.  To ensure we’ll look great if 1970s basketball shorts come back in style, perform this exercise with a chosen rock of success.

20 For 20 – Carry rock of success uphill and complete 20 merkins and 20 dips.  Finish on the final set of stair another rock carry and 20 merkins, 20 dips.

Mosey back to the flag and COT

YHC was thrilled to see Oyster and Wilson rise with the sun on the southside today.  And no party like a forest hill party would be complete without Swirly and Flashdance.  Excellent work today gentlemen.  All the way around solid.  Bonus points to Flashdance for the overhead carry of the rock of up the hill of doom.

It’s an honor and a privilege gentlemen.  Dominate your Monday.

-Hardywood

5 were alive and ready to tackle forest hill.  Great to have Swirly back from Vacation and of course he was there at 5:00 ready to go.  Well this being my First Q at Batteau my plan did not go as I had imagined, but I think we all got something out of this morning!!!

COP

25 SSH 5-5 arm circles 10 knee bends

Mosey to the pond for  2 man relay teams, one runs a lap around the pond and the other picks up a rock of choosing for single leg squats with rock on shoulder or arms until the other man catches him and he than takes a lap and gives the rock to his teammate. We did this for 3 rounds changing the rock enjoyment along the way. With overhead carries, squats press and single leg squats.

25 Flutter kicks

Now this is where it gets dicey: I was planning on 10-20-30 merkin stair runs and 10-20-30 dips at the top.  I thought we would do the dips at the top of the stairs but Hardywood said he had a better idea, we will take a left at the top and run a killer hill. Sounds great on paper but boy my legs were smoked!!!

At the top of the next set of stairs I found 5 poles with our names on it so we finished with 25 pole smokers than run back to the flag.

Thanks again for giving me the opportunity to lead. Singer is really picking up his runs and getting stronger. Swirly, Hardywood and LastTime totally showed up big time looking strong all the way through..

Also Gumbo has NoToll but its at a different location so look at the post for the info.

16 brave and fearless men showed up for the July 4th Batteau Beatdown in Forest Hill Park.

The Pursuit of Happiness

• Mosey down to Reedy Creek for COP:  20 SSH, 10 Burpee, 20 LBC, 20Merkin

Suck It King George

• Pax to large pile of rocks.  Each man grabs a rock of considerable size.  Not heavy enough to throw like a football, not too heavy that you can’t lift it over your head.
• Native American Run from Reedy Creek to Forest Hill Pond with each member of the pax carrying their rock.

Continental Congress

• Teams of two complete the following – 50 burpees, 100 squats with rocks, 200 merkins, 300 two count American hammer, 400 side straddle hops.  While one person is ripping through the exercises, the other is running a hill circuit.  To make this a little more fun, the hill circuit was completed with rock in tow.

Move Over John Hancock

• Run up the hill of despair.  Start with five burpees at the first light post, add five more at each succeeding light post finishing with 20 burpees at the final post.  Mosey back to the flag.

NMS – Let’s start with a huge shout to Kudzu for dominating today’s workout and to Fudd for raising a damn fine young man.  We could all be so lucky. Saab came off of another monster week of miles.  He is the gold standard in fortitude.  There was idle chatter amongst the pax during COP.  Once the stones of success were gathered, mum was the word.  The celebration libation provided by Lab Rat signaled the transition into the days festivities.

Make no doubt about it, this was a really hard workout.  YHC had been thinking of something like this since the day Swirly mentioned this could be a good place for an AO.  The motivation of YHC was two fold. 1) To do something unique and creative that would make for a great story. 2) To have it be just hard enough that doubt made a small appearance.  One of the most valuable things this pax does is learning how to respond when life gets uncomfortable and overwhelming.  This is a damn fine skill to learn and there may be no better place to forge it.

It is a great privilege and honor to lead this group today.  Thank you for the trust to put a big challenge before you.  An even bigger thanks for putting your best effort forward.  This is an amazing place to find one’s voice.

Big cheers to you all and happy 4th of July.  See you in the gloom.

-Hardywood