Tag: Convergence

  • 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

  • 250th Celebration of USA

    What an amazing day for out country and F3! Hot, sunny, and what the gloom is all about. An honor to lead and be part of America and F3 Nation! Convergence at the roots of F3 RVA, I wanted to include those that brought me to this excellent community. Johnsonville as one of the founders of F3RVA, Tatar for convincing me I really needed this, and Chum Bucket who was the first Q and proved exactly why I needed it. Thank you for stepping up and leading with me today. Gomer Pyle read the Declaration of Independence for the Pax which was a great way to end the celebration and cool down on a hot day. 67 showed and this is what the beat down looked like:

    Start with SSH, Imperial Walkers, Don Qs, Ukrainian Soldiers, Merkins, and LBCs and 5 burpees. Count off into groups of 4. about 8 mins at each session:

    1st group with Tatar: The Ab King did 250 Core exercises, stretching and 5 burpees

    2nd group with Chum: Leg focus- Jacob’s Ladder with squats on hill, Lunge walking uphill Crawl Bear back down between reps working to 7 reps. finished with lunge/leg medley

    3rd group with Pinto: Triple Check – Partner 1- run the loop, Partner 2- Merkins, Partner 3 – WW2s.

    4th group with Johnsonville: Jackweb with 1 Merkin, 4 arm raise, 8 LBCs up to 10X.

    Finished with reading by Gomer the numbers, names, and COT. 2 FNGs named- Sitting Bull and Pink Panther. Prayers for those struggling with sickness and other life battles, prayers for our country and this great nation to unite and a great celebration . Thank you to Gypsy for cooking and getting food ready for all of us afterwards. The fellowship and time was excellent. Thank you for all that brought food, water, gatorade, coffee, eggs, bacon, sausage, tortillas, and condiments. The community pulled together as is normal for this great group of Men. Continue to be such great lights into this world, your families and communities. God Bless each of you and your families. Thank you for allowing me to lead!

  • Memorial Day Convergence

    66 on Memorial Day.  If this wasn’t a record then it has to be close.

    COP led by YHC with various exercises with an escalating Burpee after each exercise.  5 exercises followed by Burpees up to 5.

    Count off in 4’s.  Pax splits in 4 groups for 10-12 minute breakout groups: Mudslide, Snuff, Nancy Lopez, Tater.

    Snuff Q – Triple Check on the Carillon steps and questionable dancing

    Mudslide Q – Build a Beast repeats 

    Nancy Lopez – Jazzercise to Madonna’s “Like a virgin”

    Tater Q – Thunderstuck Burpee-fest followed by Abs of Steel

    Finish in front of the Carillon where Gomer Pyle spoke about the sacrifices our troops and we recognized the men and women the Pax knows who have lost their lives protecting our freedoms.

    Mosey back to the flag for Numberama.

    Announcements – L Woods food drive on June 13th, see Slack for details.  Breaking Bread needs a Q for next weekend. The old-school Google Sheet with ICE information is going away for security reasons.  Gypsy made a compelling plea for people to get Road ID’s, essentially you will die and we need to quickly let your M’s know.  Flatline going away party this Friday 5/29 @ 4:00 pm at Twin Hickory Tavern.  

    Prayer Requests – non spoken

    NMS – Great morning where the weather was unseasonably cool but we also missed the rain.  Thank you for everyone who attended and for those that volunteered to participate.

    ***Many thanks to Offshore and Lighthouse for providing drinks and Bagels and Coffee**

  • 2026 Starts Right

    40+ guys with a handful of 2.0s converged on F3RVA’s showcase AO for a New Year’s Day beatdown. A few of the strong joined us for a double dip after Circus but the rest rolled in with plenty of time for some pre-workout greetings.

    YHC took the Q from the start and led the contingent into the amphitheater for a warmup. Generally standard fare to start with a highlight of a Jazzercise off between Nancy Lopez and Senor Frog. Nancy’s heart wasn’t in it after the OSU lost last night and Senor brought the energy. A little back and forth from plank to on our 6 threw the PAX off but they powered through.

    Resident Legend and Triple Respecter took the next section and proceeded to put the PAX through a typical Pigskin-esque amount of pain. 4 corners/Eye of the Storm with 5 burpees in the middle and exercises of 20 merkins, SSH, jump squats, and crunchy frogs. Next we hit the Carillon for a rapid fire variety COP with decline/incline/mike tyson merkins, Freddies, flutters, copperhead squats and other fun. The PAX was relieved to find out the Q was getting passed to a much younger HIM when Boberry took over to take us to the Penny Stage.

    Triple Check with dips and plank jacks. COP with a variety of explicit commentary followed and now we know how Boberry ended up with so many kids. Next up was a Lindsey in the Valley of Death with squats and carolina dry docks that took us to the end of the hour.

    Another great morning at Dogpile and a great way to kick off 2026. Thanks for letting me lead.

    Look out for 3rd F opportunities at The Bridge or Breaking Bread throughout 2026.

    Reminder that this is a great time to EH as guys are looking to fulfill their New Year’s resolutions. Give it away

    Prayers for Gomer and his crew as they prepare for the mission trip to Honduras.

    More info to come soon on the next F3RVA CSAUP.

  • Thanksgiving miracles

    24 grizzled veterans of F3RVA, 1 Prodigal F3RVA son, 2 grown 2.0’s, and 1 F3 out of towner (28 total) joined to see what this years Mary Mumford Thanksgiving workout would bring and this is what happened.

    Slaughter Start, 10 Burpees.

    Mosey out and around the Recess Blacktop/Tennis Courts and back to the Blacktop for a COP.

    Mosey over to TYA’s field for Four Corners: Corner (1) 10 HRM’s, corner (2) 20 WWII’s, corner (3) 30 Squats, corner (4) 40 Burpees (groans immediately ensued). As we made our away around the corners at corner 3 YHC instructed the Pax to find a partner and complete 40 Burpees combined.

    The Pax kept their partners and completed 20 (2-Count) Partner WWII’s and 20 (2-Count) Boo-Yeah Merkins.

    The Pax ditched their first partner and found 2 more for a Triple Check. P 1 run diagonal across the field to the far Tree and back, P2 LBC’s, P3 Squats.

    Once completed YHC called on The Prodigal Son (Toga) and asked how many years he has been gone from RVA (8) and then asked him to pick an exercise that we should do 8 times. Toga picked Richard Kimballs. After explaining what the hell they were the Pax completed them.

    Next we completed exercises as individuals in the narrow part of the field at the small trees. Bear Crawl to the first tree then complete LBC’s, Crab Walk to the second tree and do ? (YHC can’t remember).

    At the end of field YHC asked Fudd how long he had been gone from RVA (3), Gumbo then proclaimed that he was “going away” for 3 years so we YHC asked Fudd to pick an exercise that we could do 6 of. Fudd was speechless so Gomer finished his sentence (Burpees), its amazing how couples finish each others sentences.

    Mosey back to the Monkey Bars and get 2 partners for another Triple Check. P1 runs to the closer Gaga Pit and back. P2 does Incline Merkins. P3 does (5) Pull Ups then Al Gores or Squats waiting for their partner.

    Mosey back over to the field and get a new partner and complete 10 (2-Count) Partner WWII’s and then complete 20 Boo-Yeah Jump Squats.

    Mosey back to the Parking Lot and for 2 minutes of Mary. Flutter Kicks and APD’s to close the workout.

    Announcements – Kubota is signed up to lead The Bridge on Saturday, December 27th (2 days after Thanksgiving). See Slack/send a DM to get in on the Clown Car. Breaking Bread needs a Q for January. Hitchhiker has created a new App called “Porta Dash” in case you need to find a Porta John while running.

    Prayer Requests – none

    NMS – YHC was nervous to be filling in for TYA for the legendary Thanksgiving workout. YHC has contemplated presenting the “real” history of Thanksgiving, but YHC decided to let TYA’s alternative history reign. Thank you for the opportunity to lead.

  • F3 RVA – 11th Birthday

    Fifty-six HIMs said to heck with clowns, bouncy houses, cake and ice cream, let’s celebrate our 11th birthday with a good old fashioned beatdown.

    Here’s what transpired:

    Mosey to the Amphitheater for Mission, Disclaimer, and COP

    • SSHs
    • Helicopters
    • Copperhead Squats
    • Jazzercises
    • Ukranian Soldiers
    • HRMs
    • Flutter Kicks
    • LBCs
    • Plankorama

    Add Rosie and Handshake into the Q Mix

    EF Q

    Triple Check at the Rusty Cage

    • P1 – Run to the Hydrant and does 1 Burpee then returns
    • P2 – Pullups
    • P3 – Lt. Dans

    Mosey to the Big Circle

    Catch Me if You Can (Roughly 1.5 laps around)

    • P1 – Runs the Circle
    • P2 – Bearcrawl, Lunge, Broadjump Burpees
    • At Flapjack 10 Booyah Merkins

    Mosey to the Amphitheater

    Down the steps – alternating Dips, Incline Merkins 1,2,3…

    Handshake Q

    • “A Bunch of Merkins and WWIIs”
    • YHC also saw them do some Squats

    Rosie Q

    Vita Track w Merkins, V-Ups, Jump Squats, Freddie Mercurys

    Triple Check

    • P1 – Pullups
    • P2 – Heels to Heaven
    • P3 – Monkey Humpers

    Re-Converge on the Carillon Field for an Eye of the Storm x 2

    • Mike Tyson Merkins x 20
    • WWIIs x 20
    • Imperial Squats x 20
    • SSHs x 40
    • Burpees x 2 at each return to the Eye

    Mary

    • LBCs
    • Hello Dollys
    • Rosalitas
    • APDs
    • Heels to Heaven
    • Box Cutters

    Numberama, Nameorama, COT

    MOLESKIN

    Today was meant to celebrate how the last 11 years of F3 has challenged us, molded us, and called each one of us to be the men and leaders we are designed to be.  Gents, it’s been a pleasure to serve the men of F3 RVA.  If I’ve made a tiny fraction of the impact that this PAX makes on me daily, then I’ll call my time as 1st F Q a success.  I humbly hand the reins over to Handshake for some fresh ideas and renewed enthusiasm.  As we enjoyed some 2nd F, we honored and perhaps roasted some of the finest men F3 RVA has to offer.

    Awards and acknowledgments were:

    • Summer Tour Finishers – Rosie, Blue Moon, UpChuck, Beaver, EF Hutton
    • New Members of the 1000k Club – DTH, Lighthouse, Pigskin, Lockjaw, Last Call, Gumbo

    The Gloomy’s

    • Newcomer of the Year – Beaver
    • SOJer of the Year – Hermey
    • DaVillain of the Year – Bulkhead
    • Westhoegian of the Year – Attila
    • AO of the Year – NoToll (Machismo as Site Q)
    • Qer of the Year – Beaver (162 62.3%)
    • Best 2nd F – Circus Maximus Coffeteria (Offshore)
    • Best 3rd F – The Bridge (UpChuck, Hermey, Heist, Corned Beef, Whitesnake, many more)
    • CSAUP of the Year – Century Classic II (Team Captains – Swoop, Boberry, Draper/Rosie, EF Hutton)
    • Convergence of the Year – Memorial Day (Beaver/Beat It, Vandelay, Warby, Mudslide, Gomer Pyle)
    • Workout Vibe of the Year – (t) Yacht Rock and The Lounge
    • Best Tradition – Return of the Ghost Flag
    • EHer of the Year – (t) Teddy KGB, Roger Roger
    • Slack-er of the Year – Kubota
    • Most Likely to “Modify as Necessary” – Senor Frog
    • Q Most Likely to Have a Theme – Whitesnake
    • Heated Underwear Award – Heist

    Lastly we inducted 4 new members into the F3 RVA Corporate Legends.

    • Saab
    • Pigskin
    • Doner Kebab
    • Oyster

    ANNOUNCEMENTS

    Prayers for Deep Dish’s Father, Big Rig’s Mother, Handshake’s Wife’s Cousin

    CSAUP – This coming Friday night, see Crabgrass and Slack for details

  • F3 RVA 11 Year Anniversary Convergence

    Join us as we celebrate 11 years of F3 RVA with a beatdown followed by coffee and some very “special” awards.  This event is open to all men.  Bring your flags, wear your colors, and maybe make a donation to Nancy Lopez’s F3 Africa clothing and shoe drive. Please note the updated launch time.

    Location: DogPile

    Beatdown: 6:30 am

    Coffee and Awards: 7:40 am

  • Labor Day Convergence

    On this Labor Day morning, while the rest of RVA snoozed away in holiday slumber, 48 HIMs of F3RVA laced up, rose to the challenge, and clocked in for a true labor of love. Under the glow of the dawn, YHC had crafted a beatdown worthy of the day—a gritty, sweat-soaked symphony of effort and determination. Because what better way to honor Labor Day than by putting in some serious work?

    Mosey to the Carillon basin. A few SOJers know my style and were on the lookout for a pile of coupons stashed away somewhere for us to “find”. When we arrived at our AO for the day, “There it is” could be heard…Circle up, F3 mission and creedo, and a light warmup to get the heart going.

    Everyone grab a coupon of choice. The veteran move today was to grab the smaller of the blocks. Circle up and get ready for Kool-Aid (Extra Sugar). According to the Carillon’s security cameras, here’s what took place.

    800 meter run around the devil’s triangle
    20 Flutter Kicks holding the coupon
    20 WWIII’s
    20 Squat Thrusters

    400 meter run through the field
    20 Manmakers
    20 Bicep Curls
    20 Bent Over Rows

    400 meter run up Carillon steps and around a random light post
    20 Kettlebell Swings
    20 Squats
    20 Calf Raises

    Series of exercises performed by those opting out of the runs. I don’t know what they were doing, but it had to be excellent as they were poaching runners throughout the workout.

    60 second rest (must be an SOJ thing…)

    Same workout, but now in reverse! Mumble chatter called for creativity and LBCs(!?) but when we got to Manmakers all mumble chatter ceased and there was peace in the kingdom…Another veteran move was deployed and a block was broken – no extras = savvy!

    BTTF

    Announcements:
    9/20 7AM DOGPILE – F3RVA 11 Year
    9/26 8PM ALAMO – Ruck CSAUP (details coming this week)
    12/6 Daddy Daughter Dance, details to come

    Prayers: Thankful for the day and all the blessings we have in our lives, lifting up each man’s silent prayers.

    Thank you for the opportunity to lead you men today! Apologies to Rosie’s golf game today 🙂 See you in the Gloom!

  • LABOR DAY CONVERGENCE

    :rotating_light:

     LABOR DAY CONVERGENCE 

    :rotating_light:

    Monday 9/1 – 7:00 – 8:00am
    Dogpile

    Take the day off from your job but don’t take a day off from putting in some work!  Join us at Dogpile on Labor Day for a convergence workout and coffee/bagels afterwards.

    See you there! 

    :facepunch:

    See Crabgrass for info to to help with support.