Tag: Convergence

  • Is This What Labor Feels Like?

    33 Dudes missed the national holiday memo to rest on this day. Instead they worked at this sweat shop :

    Mosey to grass circle in front of tower

    Warmarama : 20 SSH IC, 10 Marching Soldiers IC, 10 Don Q’s IC, 10 Cherry Pickers IC, 10 Imperial Walkers IC, 10 Merkins IC

    Mosey to grass field by the Tower

    Quarter Pounder – Sprint 25 yards and Do 25 merkins, Bernie Sanders back to start. Sprint 50 yards and do 50 squats, Bernie back to start. Sprint 75 yards and do 75 DOUBLE COUNT Mountain Climbers, Bernie back to start. Sprint 100 yards and do 100 SSH, Bernie back to start.

    Mosey to amphitheater 

    Stairway to Seven – start with 1 Burpee at bottom, 1 incline push-up on first step, box jump all the way to the top, 1 squat on top step, then run back down. Repeat 7 times up increasing reps of each exercise by 1 each time, so you finish with 7 burpees, 7 incline push-ups, and 7 squats at the top.

    Mosey to the Stage

    Tripe Check : Timer runs all the way down to bottom of the hill by ampitheater, Partner 2 does Cindy Overhead Press, Partner 3 does WWII’s

    Mosey to rusty cage

    Triple Check : Timer runs to trees, Partner 2 does pull ups, Partner 3 does LBC’s

    Mosey BTTF

    Numbers, Names, YHC took us out after COT

    Announcements : Sat 9/24 F3RVA 8 year anniversary at Grid Iron 7:30 am then Retreat that same day in Amelia (contact Gomer);

    Good luck to those doing BRR next weekend;

    9/11 Ruck, Walk or Run at Lincoln Memorial in DC (contact Doozy);

    Shawn Hogan Memorial Beer Mile (forgot date but contact Faceplant)

    F3 Hampton Roads hosting National Grow Ruck during weekend of 10/7 – 10/9

    NMMS : The impact F3 continues to make on my life is immeasurable. I appreciate every one of you. Having someone show they care about you and want to push you to be the best is what this is all about.

    Proverbs 11:14 NIV :

    “For lack of guidance a nation falls,

    but victory is won through many advisers”

  • Back to Batteau

    Thirty men celebrated freedom F3 style.  Here’s what transpired:

    Mosey over to side field next to the Stone House.

    COP (IC)

    • Dead Man Hang
    • Reach the Sky
    • Don Quixotes
    • Helicopters
    • Copperhead Squats
    • Imperial Walkers
    • SSHs
    • Merkins
    • Plankorama
    • Freddie Mercurys
    • Burpees

    Mosey to the Big Bowl

    11s

    • Merkins
    • WWIIs

    Mosey down the Stone Path to the Pond retrieving all the coupons along the way

    Death Loop

    • P1 – Mosey around the Stone Loop with coupon in tow
    • P2 – 50 Burpees, 100 Squats, 200 Merkins, 300 2ct American Hammers, 400 SSHs

    Light Pole Alley

    • 10 Carolina Dry Docks/ 5 Lt. Dans – rotate at each light

    Mosey back the SFs and re-deposit coupons

    Numberama, Nameorama, COT

    MOLESKIN

    YHC threw out the idea of converging at the late great Batteau in hopes of drawing a few guys on this special day.  Should’ve known the men of F3 would show up in droves.  In celebration of America, YHC thought it would be appropriate to pay tribute to the original Batteau legendary workout.  Hardywood would have been proud.  Welcome to the 4 FNGs, see you again soon.  God Bless America, be safe out there. 

    ANNOUNCEMENTS

    Prayers for local families suffering tragic losses

  • Preblast – Throwback to Batteau

    Preblast – Throwback to Batteau

    Gents, after asking around it seems many PAX are out of town to celebrate the 4th, but I plan to work out.  Call it a Convergence if you want, OTB, or simply a blast from the past, but 6 years ago our old friend Hardywood dropped a bomb that nearly killed half the PAX in attendance, YHC included.  Let’s do it again.  We’re throwing it back to Batteau.  For those who don’t know, that is a now retired AO at Forest Hill Park.  Meet up spot is the Stone House on 41st Street and Forest Hill Avenue.  We’ll start at 0700 and go for an hour.  I’ll have a cooler with water and some other things after the workout.  There’s a Blanchard’s nearby for coffeteria afterward. https://backblasts.f3rva.org/2016/07/04/batteau-beatdow-july-4th-spectacular/

  • Lead From Within. Lead From Without.

    A lucky 13 from F3RVA converged in Buckingham with 23 other F3 Charlottesville, F3 Lynchburg, F3 Capital and Bridge brothers to celebrate the one year anniversary of The Bridge. In short, those who know, know. Some things just can’t be explained. The Bridge is one of those things. I always love posting at The Bridge, and today was no different. The energy was palpable. The brotherhood was real. The bond was everlasting.

    When I arrived at 7:01 – launch time was 7:30 – I was not surprised to see my RVA brothers already there, ready to go. Shortly, clown cars from all over arrived, including a solo clown car for our brother Major Payne from F3 The Capital. To say I was pumped to see everyone and celebrate this day is an understatement. It was Christmas morning, in a sense.

    On top of the organic energy, a film crew was on hand to capture F3s involvement with The Bridge. We were ready to hit the ground running.

    07:30, it was time to start. Circle up. Slaughter start = 11 Burpees.

    Warm-o-rama: YHC decided the best way to involve and introduce everyone was to call members of the PAX to the center of the ring, one at a time, to lead an exercise 10-15 total. SSHs, Scorpion Kicks, Carolina Dry Docks, HR Merkins, Burpees, Peter Parkers, Grass Angels, Australian Grass Angels, LBCs, Imperial Walkers, Jump Squats, and more…

    Circle of Doom: The Bridge has a nice track, and we made full use of it. Partner up – different nano regions. Partner one runs the track until they reach their partner, then switch. Partner 2 performs called exercises. Exercises are Bear Crawl, Triple Jump Squats, Lunges. Rinse and repeat until the exercising partner reaches the start/finish line.

    Modified Forest Gumps: New partners. PLTs x 10 to each side and 10 Dealer’s Choice. In between rounds PAX performs 10 BooYah Merkins.

    Merkin Balloon Toss: Partner up. PAX tosses water ballon and performs 5 called merkins each round until a winner is declared. Diamond Merkins, Merkins, Carolina Dry Docks were called.

    Tug-O-War: Round 1: Bridge v C’ville. Bridge won. Round 2: C’ville v. RVA. RVA won. Round 3: Hodge Podge v Hodge Podge. Round 4: Bridge v. All-Stars. Bridge won again! 2 for 2. Boom!

    American Hammers (Ivey) x 20.

    Announcements: F3RVA will Q at The Bridge the 4th Saturday of every month. BRR teams are beginning to form.

    NMS: Today we converged to celebrate a very important milestone – 1 year of F3 at The Bridge. At The Bridge, we talk with these mean a lot about leadership, and its meaning. I wanted to demonstrate leadership as a true vulnerability, and not being out front without meaning. We started by forming an inner circle of the men from The Bridge, with all other PAX standing directly behind them. Leadership starts with vulnerability and trust. You cannot lead until you know that you can trust those around you, that you are accepting of help and support. The outer circle is there for you. You cannot lead by yourself. You cannot lead until you can be open, free and trusting.

    Next we switched places. Now The Bridge PAX was on the outside. An equally important component of leadership. You are there to lend unconditional support. To catch a brother when he falls. Champions don’t show up to get all that they want. Champions show up to give all that they have. The same goes for leadership. As members of F3 and The Bridge, we must give all that we have. We must be selfless. We must get back up when we fall down.

    The men at The Bridge are doing very special things. It is a true honor to be a part of it. Thank you all so very much for being here to celebrate and honor. It meant the world to me.

  • Memorial Day convergence

    49 redwoods gathered today to celebrate our brotherhood in the region with a humid beatdown , remember the fallen, and announce some changes in F3RVA. According to the amateur documentary crew filming us during burpee hill, this is how it went down.

    TYA COP all In Cadence. 25x SSH, 10x DQ, 10x Merkins, 25x LBC, 15x Freddie Mercurys, 10x SSH. After saying a few words TYA passed the Q to YHC.

    Gomer COP all IC. 15x Merkin, 15x WW2, 15x Copperhead squats, 10x Shazzam. 10x Burpees on your own. Break into 4 groups for 20 minutes.

    1. Corned Beef Q. 11’s across canal bridge. Hand release merkins on one side and squats other side run across bridge. Circle of merkins around nourishment fountain. One merkin at each stone rotating clockwise until complete circle. Start triple check ( only had time for one rotation). P1-run to parking lot entrance from fountain and back (timer) P2 – dips on Bench P3 – LBC’s. BTTF

    2. Doozy Q. Mosey across the bridge stop at each bench for merkins 25,20,15,10 and finish with 10 Derkins at the rocks on the other side. Lunges, butt kickers and high knees to the stairs for 11’s 10 – count American Hammers at the bottom and 1 Crunchy frog at the top. Indigenous People Run BTTF with last person doing 1 merkin before running to the front

    3. Swirly Q. Incline merkins and dips on the steps. 4 corners merkins , Burpees, Squats, Lt. Dans; Polar bear across field crawl bear poler bear back: High knees across field 5 burpees Bernie sanders back plank exercises hold it ! Mosey to picnic tables – dips incline Merkins step ups Mosey to bottom of hill for some Mary till all groups back

    4. Gomer Q. Mosey to base of hill. 11s Merkins and squats. 2 rounds individual. 2 rounds partners. 4 rounds in groups of four. 2 rounds all PAX. BTTF

    Come back together. Movement to the War Memorial. 1x Burpee at each left hand light pole – go back for the six. Ring of Fire at the top of the hill. Moment of silence for Memorial Day – PAX announced their brothers and sisters lost to defending the Nation – some listed below. Florence led us in a COT. Prayers for those healing, our departed and the families that carry their honor forward.

    NMS – On behalf of the PAX, YHC wants to thank Bleeder, TYA, Swirly, and the rest of the founding brothers for the inspiration to start and to lead F3RVA for all these years. We are known as doing things a little different. Thats ok – we have our reasons. We were one of the first regional expansions – before F3 became organized with a board and other corporate positions and as the F3 philosophy evolved and was captured. We are also in the land where liberty and a revolution was born – among those events in Patrick Henry’s speech at St Johns Church – and while are not perfect we are working and will continue to evolve as the best nation on the planet. Many more things make us unique. We will keep true to ourselves while we increase leadership opportunities to fulfill the F3 Mission:

    Our mission is to plant, grow and serve small workout groups for men for the invigoration of male community leadership

    YHC wants to thank the PAX for your support and leadership. We have much to do.

    Thanks also to Honeydo and Seymour for organizing and setting up coffeeteria.

    Finally on Memorial Day, we want to remember those that have fallen to build and defend this great nation. YHC does not participate in twitter often, but one asked Joko Willink how to best honor those that did not return. His response “Live a life that honors their sacrifice.” Cannot say it better brother Jocko! https://twitter.com/DaveDillon44/status/1530163689147465730

    Feel free to list your Memorial Day remembrances below.

    Get Some!

  • School of ROCK!

    A hearty gaggle of HIM’s & 2.0’s gathered after Rock&Roll’s COT to kick off the first “School of Rock” bootcamp for 2.0’s. With M’s in tow capturing pics and vids of the shenanigans, here’s how the Pediatrician on Q gave the rabble a fun little beatdown:

    The THANG:

    WARMERAMA:

    • Mosey out of vehicular harms way and circle up
    • Welcome & Disclaimer
    • Variable IC Reps to get the muscles warm top to bottom

    COP #1:

    • Mosey to the basketball court and line up for a fan favorite- ANIMAL MOVES?
    • Court crossed in variable fashion: bear crawls, bunny hops, crab walking, froggy leaps, horse trotting, etc

    COP #2:

    • Mosey to next basketball court and line up for variable reps with court run between sets
    • Merkins, Squats, Monkey Humpers, Flutters, etc

    COP #3:

    • Mosey around to the parking lot
    • FRISBEE FETCH: Again honoring the Q’s 17 years of marriage, the PAX chased the frisbee and whoever was first there called x17 reps of a given exercise. Plenty of rounds enjoyed.

    COP #4:

    • Mosey over to the grass hill
    • Animals again the theme for going up and down the hill – Crabwalk, Bearcrawl, Slithering snakes, and Alligators

    COP #5:

    • Stop at the wall and hold People’s Chair then into Hoedown’s IC, then Incline Merkins IC, then Donkey Kicks IC

    COP #6:

    • Mosey to the playground for a TRIPLE CHECK – dips, SSH’s, and runner traverses the playground structure
    • Close out with the PAX practicing balance walking the entire circuit of the lower playground wall 

    COT:

    • Counterama # 18.5+ish
    • Namerama
    • Announcerama (see Comments)
    • YHC took the PAX out in Prayer

    NMS:  Great numbers for our first SOJ 2.0 bootcamp and a fun time had by all, of course with some regular complaints and mockery, which was greatly appreciated. Props to SEADOO’S barely 2yo who nearly kept up with the PAX, now nicknamed “Wild Thing”. And shoutout to BB8 for calling x17 Burpees during the frisbee fetch (ouch!). And a special nod to YHC’s firstborn OREO for a Heartburn worthy wipeout admirably getting after the frisbee! Also want to thank JUANITA (a mule for his M who actually gets the credit) for bringing delicious sliced oranges for the playground picnic that followed our COT. There were quite a few FNG’s out there who won some solid nicknames. We’ll be running School of Rock every month after R&R for a while so hopefully the little tikes actually remember their names! Haha. For YHC, with gorgeous M and two spitfire 2.0’s killin the workout alongside their old man, it made for a beautiful way to celebrate 17 years of marriage. Hip Hip HAZZAHHH!!!  ~DTH

  • Memorial Day Convergence PreBlast

    Memorial Day Convergence PreBlast

    Looking forward to seeing everyone for the Memorial Day convergence!

    Details below but first three requests!

    1. Reach out to folks that you have not seen in a while and encourage them to come.
    2. We would love to see the entire PAX for coffeteria afterwards.
      • If yer on IR, we want to see you. Let me know if you can help with coffee.
    3. Bring your shovel flag.

    Rucking starts at 0600.

    Beatdown at 0700.

    Best parking is at the lot next to the Belle Island access. If that fills up you might need to park up the hill a bit. Plan on extra time to get down there. Anyone coming in hot might be challenged to find parking depending on turnout.

    Like in years past we will do an all PAX COP, split into groups, gather back together to move to the war memorial for a moment of silence to honor our fallen brothers, and then back down the hill for Namerama and Coffeeteria.

    This is a great time to bring out FNGs so reach out to folks!

    Get some!

  • ! SCHOOL OF ROCK !

    ! SCHOOL OF ROCK !

    Brothers, SOJ is proud to announce the inaugural “School of Rock” 2.0-friendly workout on May 28th. This bootcamp is for YOU AND YOUR KIDS, and will happen monthly May-Sept kicking off at the conclusion of Rock&Roll’s COT, or about 8AM. We’ll keep it to ~30min of exercise then enjoy 2nd F + snacks on the Playground. Please save the date! YHC, DTH

  • The Taxman Came

    30 road warriors coverged and ran towards the dark to welcome the Tax Man.  Would they take the Standard Deduction? Or face the threat of Compounding Interest, or suffer the Tax Lien?  We took it all on and then some!  But according to the guy sky-hooking newspapers on Grove avenue, it went a little something like this:

    The routes were:

    The Standard Deduction is a delightful 6.39 mile romp that begins at Mary and takes Groooooooove toward Three Chopt, right on Henri, left onto Towana, left on Roselawn to UR Drive, UR Drive till it ends at River Road, and reverso back to Mary. 

    The Compounding Interest is an intoxicating 8.28 mile jaunt that begins at Mary and takes Groooooooove toward Three Chopt, right on Henri, left onto Towana and stay on it till it becomes Campus, Campus to UR Drive, UR Drive till it gets to the Bat Cave, take the Bat Cave and pass the shops on River Road, take Westham Station Road till it becomes S. Ridge Rd, take S. Ridge Road to Westham Pkwy, Right on Glen Pkwy, take Westhampton to Keller to Westhampton, Left on UR Drive back to the Bat Cave, head up Ridgeway and hug the golf course to Iris, Iris ends at Three Chopt, Right on Three Chopt back to Groooooooove, take Groooooooove back to Mary.

    The Tax Lien (I apologize for releasing this one so late.) is an enchanting 9+ mile balderdash that begins at Mary and takes Groooooooove toward Three Chopt, right on Henri, left on to Towana and stay on it till it becomes Campus, Campus to the woodland trail by the UR entrance near College and Boatwright: the trail brings you to Wheeler Rd., Left on Wheeler, left on Hampshire, Hampshire becomes Baldwin, Stay on Baldwin till you get to Westham Pkwy, Left on Westham Pkwy and take it till it becomes S. Ridge Road, S. Ridge Road becomes Westham Station Road, Take Westham Station Road till you get to the Bat Cave trail, the Bat Cave trail takes you to UR Drive, Right on UR Drive, Right on Campus—it turns into Towana and will cross over Three Chopt and become Henri Road, Straight on Henri to Grooooove, Left on Grooooooove and it’s a straight shot back to Mary. 

    I got to Mary at around 3:45, and I proceeded to get my gear together and stretch out for the run ahead. I was about to get started, when I saw TYA with his dog. I was very happy to see him, because I wanted to go for a personal best today and who better to conquer the Tax Lien route with than the man who cut through all of my excuses and got me into running–so conquer we did! He is always a pleasure to run with!

    There’s running, and then there’s F3 running.  F3 running comes with some therapy sprinkled in, some support, fellowship, safety, all from your brothers who are trying to get better just like you.  There is nothing like it!  The gifts that come from running with your brothers are the gifts that change lives and prevent complacency.  We need each other and one day each of us will be called on to pay those gained gifts forward.  I hope each of you experienced some of the same gifts when you ran with your brothers today!  

    I thank you all for the impressive turnout and for the support over the years and now!  It was a privilege to rise this morning and conquer with all of you!  I’ll end this backblast with one of my favorite poems in its entirety:

    For Every Hill I’ve Had to Climb

    For every stone that bruised my feet,

    For all the blood and sweat and grime,

    For blinding storms and burning heat

    My heart sings but a grateful song—

    These were the things that made me strong!

    For all the heartaches and the tears,

    For all the anguish and the pain,

    For gloomy days and fruitless years,

    And for the hopes that lived in vain,

    I do give thanks, for now I know

    These were the things that helped me grow!

    ‘Tis not the softer things of life

    Which stimulate man’s will to strive;

    But bleak adversity and strife

    Do most to keep man’s will alive.

    O’er rose-strewn paths the weaklings creep,

    But brave hearts dare to climb the steep.

    L. E. Thayer

    I am Bone Thugs, and I will see you at the crossroads.

  • BC for Nancy Lopez WOR

    YHC was pumped to host the Pre-run and with last night’s cold soaker expected 1-2 to possibly join for a nice mosey to the Dogpile Monthly Convergence AO from Early Bird Biscuit Company. Roll up to see Upchuck and Double Mint stretching…nice no solo run today and then Hitchhiker rolls in with Handshake following and what?…Hardywood rolls in for this pre-bootcamp mosey! So we are ready to roll and run straight on S Robinson street across bridge and take a right to run around boat lake and stay on Boat lake drive until Westover then to Swan lake drive around Swan lake to lake road to Shields lake drive and around shields lake to left on Shirley lane. We cross Park Drive to the AO for exactly 2 miles. We averaged a 9 minute mile with 9.13 for 1st mile and an 8’50” 2nd mile pace…great warm up run.

    For the trip back after our Nancy Lopez WOR beatdown we did a straight shot on Spottswood drive to South Robinson street to our parked cars for a 1.02 mile run for a 9’24” pace, as we walked and sprinted some during the last quarter mile.

    Numberama and Namerama YHC said a prayer for childhood friend Chris Ash who lost everything in a forest fire in Boulder, Colorado. He was able to escape with his family of four and four pets that they rescued in their car.

    Great run and mumblechatter this morning. It was an honor to lead the route and have a great weekend everyone. Cheers….CB!