YHC headlocked a FNG to come to Dogpile. Texts flew back and forth for the past few days with the impending ice storm, sleet and freezing rain. YHC assured him that F3 workouts will happen rain or shine. In fact some of the best beatdowns have been in inclement weather. Dogpile is the best as it is usually the convergence of North and South of the river. A crazy blend of PAX for YHC to introduce to the FNG.

So to prepare, YHC arrived 15 minutes early to recon the scene, and drove on the triangle route road-slushy and some ice. Drove over to the Amphitheater and clear roads around to the crop circle with some ice patches. I look over to the flag plant site and see Double Mint arrive…ok some PAX are coming. We park next to each other, I plant the flag and we wait and see the FNG arrive, he parks was close to on-time as he had to clear off his vehicle. So we mosey slowly and gingerly down the road, watch for Ice and run toward burpee lake. We run around burpee lake and return to the Amphitheater get up on the stage(we wanted to pick up any late arrivals before the COP and start the COP.

COP

We Mosey to the stage, we start with 20 SSH, 19 Russian Soldiers, 15 Imperial Walkers, 10 DQ’s, 20 American Hammers, 20 LBC’s, 10 Reverse Scorpions, 10 Scorpions and 20 merkins.

THANG

We go the the lowest Bench and perform 11’s with Bearcrawl and lunges in between. We perform 10 Dips, Bearcrawl to other side, 1 incline merkin, then lunge back 9 dips, bearcrawl to other side, 2 incline merkins lunge back. Rinse and repeat until we get to 1 Dip and 10 incline merkins.

We then walk run up the stairs to the stone wall for wall sits and Donkey kicks. We sit(air chair) for 25 seconds, then 10 donkey kicks, sit(air chair) for 20 seconds, 10 DK’s then sit (air chair) for 20 seconds. Recover and mosey to crop circle at by AT. We perform 5 merkins, and plank on the curb and walk clockwise for 10 seconds then 5 merkins then PW clockwise for 10 seconds and repeat this for another 3 iterations.

WE lunge the remaining part of the crop circle then mosey to the flag to wrap up. We numberama, namerama. YHC introduces Josh Hodges to Double Mint again and have had great mumble chatter throughout the workout this morning learning about each other. Double Mint comes up with Peel N Stick as Josh owns a flooring company. Photo for reference below:

Welcome to F3 Peel n Stick as you have truly experienced the gloom today with small numbers. We look forward to you meeting other brothers from F3 in the near future. Respect for showing up this morning for your first workout.

YHC took us out in Prayer remembering Albert John Uzel who died earlier this week and is the father of Double Mints girlfriend. We also prayed for our brothers who may be going through some tough times. We are here for you.

It was an honor to lead this morning and have a great weekend.

Cheers…CB

11 stalwarts gathered at 06:00 (growing to 13 by 06:10) for today’s hot potato edition of Dogpile. As they have for the past 6 years, temps remained steady at sunny and 70.

Mosey to the illuminated grass between the Amphitheater and the Ha’ Penny Stage for the COP. All exercises in cadence.

IWs
SSHs
Hillbillies
Swirly’s Deadman Hang (standard, then alternate one leg in front of the other).
LBCs
FKs
Scorpion kicks
HRMs
Inverted Scorpion Kicks

Mosey to the Ha’ Penny Stage, grab a block, and mosey to the super-dark space between Ha’ Penny, Carillon, and Amphitheater.

Elevens Plus:

Start with one HRM at the stone walkway. Run to the middle, pick up a block, perform 5 curls, and continue to the non-illuminated lamppost. Perform 10 flutter kicks (2 count). Repeato for 2-9, 3-8, etc., always performing 5 curls at the midpoint.

In case Swirly’s M reads this, YHC can attest, under penalty of perjury, that Swirly was not injury in any way during this exercise.

Handshake Q:

Return most of the blocks, then mosey to the Triangle of Death.

Traveling Triple Check:

Grab a block. First man carries block from Circle to the first corner of the triangle and back. Second man does HRMs. Third man does WWIIs. When first man returns, pass the block to second man.

Then, travel as a group. The entire group runs from Circle to first corner. Man with block continues to second corner, then runs back to the first corner (all with the block). Men without blocks do HRMs and WWIIs while they wait. When second man returns, pass block to third man.

Then travel as a group to second corner (bottom of hill). Man with block continues to third corner (up the hill to the circle). Other two guys do HRMs and WWIIs while they wait.

Keep this cycle up until three full loops have been made of the Triangle of Death. YHC & Co. had four guys – hats off to those who only had three.

HoneyDo Q:

Mosey to Park Ave. for Burpee Road. 2 burpees at each lamppost.

Mosey BTTF.

Number-ram-a, Name-a-ram-a, HoneyDo took us out.

Announcements/Requests:

TYA is close to wrapping up treatments, perhaps as early as Monday. Health care workers have had a lot to deal with in the past year. Then, this. Ts&Ps. All kidding aside: you got this and the PAX is behind you.

Prayers for Bleeder and his family.

Prayers for those going through COVID stress.

NMS:

Small, but solid group today. Way to push.

Good to see our recent COVID casualties are back. Hope the recovery is full and quick.

Thanks to HoneyDo and Handshake for jumping in when the Q sheet was open. Nice work, gentlemen.

Also, that might have been the worst unanticipated positioning of a light during any YHC Q. YHC apologizes to anyone who might have been impacted. Though, to be clear, if his M asks, Swirly was definitely not impacted, scraped, injured, or anything.

Turns out Deuce and Bodo’s both have an extra gear when carrying the block.

UpChuck spits the bit.

The Dogpile gloom smacked a tit bit nipply upon arrival, but as the shovel flag was planted and the classic rock started thumping, an F2-inspired AO warming occurred, bringing climes to sunny and 70. With fantastic mumble chatter circulating, DTH called time and the PAX rocked out the following beatdown:

The THANG:

COP #1:

• Mosey to the Amphitheater
• DESCEND with x1 Burpee on each step
• SSH for the SIX
• Circle up at the bottom
• Welcome & F3 Disclaimer
• DQ’s x10 IC
• Imperial Squat Walkers x10 IC
• Russian Soldiers x10 IC
• Crab Cakes x10 IC
• Leg-up Merkins x5 IC each side
• WWII x10 IC
• Freddie M’s x10 IC
• Oblique Crunch x10 IC each side
• ASCEND with x1 Burpee on each step
• SSH for the SIX

COP #2:

• TABATA MOSEY, stopping every 30 seconds to complete called exercise x15 seconds, repeato until destination reached
• PLAYGROUND TRIPLE CHECK:
• P1 Swing Pumps
• P2 Werkins
• P3 Run around Bath house and back

COP #3:

• Mosey over to the reservoir, stopping for brief COP’s a couple times en route to keep the PAX together
• RESERVOIR SLOPE TRIPLE CHECK:
• P1 Lt Dans
• P2 WWII’s
• P3 Bernie to the top and run back down

COP #4:

• Embracing their inner spirit animal, the PAX was directed to ascend the sheer (maybe 60 degree) grass slope via Bear Crawl, then descend via Crab Walk (plenty of skiing noted)
• Complete x3 Reps

COP #5

• Mosey all the way around the reservoir and back to Carillon Field, stopping for brief COP’s en route to keep the PAX together
• QUARTER POUNDER:
• Sprint out, Bernie back
• 1/4 way, x25 Merkins
• Half way, x50 Heels-2-Heaven
• 3/4 way, x75 Freddie M’s (single count)
• All the way, x100 SSH’s

Mosey BTTF for COT:

• Counterama # 18
• Namerama
• Announcerama (see Comments)
• YHC took us out with the following Devotional Prayer by John Baille

NMS:

• YHC had a great time with you guys this morning – thanks for coming along for the ride! Seems playing some background classic rock brings out a youthful spirit among the PAX, and of course the Triple Checks permitted some great F2 chatter. Welcome to Smuckers from F3 Wilmington! Glad Hitch was able to recover your keys! Stay safe in the snow this weekend, and hope to see most of you at Kindred Spirit on Mon night. Best, DTH

Many familiar faces and a few missing usual suspects, 12 warriors showed up to brave the cold and dark of the gloom and here’s how it went down. With no one on the Q sheet, YHC was graciously penciled in to fill the spot.

CoP

The PAX moseyed over to and circled in the loop near the Caroline Tower for some side-straddle hops, dead man hangs, arm circles, merkins, and LBC’s.

The Thang:

1. The Probe: PAX moseyed over to the field at Caroline Tower and we ran through an routine I like to refer to as Beast’s less painful but still uncomfortable cousin, the Probe.

Run downfield and back stopping at 25 yd, 50 yd,75 yd, and the end zone doing 7 5 reps of each exercise. (PAX immediately pushed back when 7 reps or 49 burpees was suggested for first round so we modified to 5 reps)

Round 1: Burpees

Round 2: Hand release merkins

Rouind 3: Heels to heaven

2. Touch a Tree

PAX grabbed the coupons and paired up for rounds of 10,8,6,4,2 touching trees and exercises:

Between tree runs were 10 reps of curls, standing presses, and abyss merkins…..on repeat. Once we got to 6 trees we switched to 5 reps each on repeat.

3. Triple Check

PAX moseyed over near a short distance for a triple check with our coupons for 3 rounds of 3 exercises.

1. Squat Thrusts holding coupon
2. Flutter Kicks with coupon held up behind head.
3. Pace car ran to the pull bars for 10 pull-ups.

PAX moseyed to the flag and finished up with a ring of fire. YHC took us out with a prayer. Grateful to be out there with such a great group of guys. God bless you all.

20 strong hit dogpile for an old school beatdown this morning and here is how it went down.

Warm up exercises to get the heart pumping and the muscles loose ..

Love Hill – 1st version partner up run to the top before the turn in the road – exercises walk out merkins – lunges – broad jump burpees – 2nd version run to the top gate – exercises polar bears – Russian Solders – crab walk.

Amp Theatre : dips ladder down 18-1 – back up 1-18 incline merkins

Burpee Shuffle.

Native American Run back to flag

20 hand release merkins ring of fire.

Hardywood got the pax count – EF Hutton took us out.

Way to work guys – thanks for allowing me to lead and for letting me bring back a legendary dogpile workout .

Have a great rest of your weekend.

“Tyranny is our foe. Whatever trapping or disguise it wears, whatever language it speaks, be it external or internal, we must for ever be on our guard, ever mobilized, ever vigilant, always ready to spring at its throat.

In all this we march together. Not only do we march and strive shoulder to shoulder at this moment, under the fire of the enemy on the fields of war or in the air, but also in those realms of thought which are consecrated to the rights and the dignity of man.“-Winston S. Churchill

17 Warriors for freedom, peace and prosperity by way of voluntary cooperation arose to greet the dawn of a new day and defend the island. The white flags were burned long ago and surrender was removed from the vernacular. There would be no appeasing of tyrants and according to legend it went a little something like this.

Mosey over the grass circle for COP

IC X 20; SSH, IW, Lunge, HRM, WWII. Arm circle X 1

Mosey to the coupon depot and on to the valley of doubt.

FIVER

Five rounds of the following; squat press on one side, run to other side and complete five burpees.

FARMER CARRY

Partner up for a big boy version of Catch Me If You Can. One partner grabs both coupons and begins moving down the valley, up the other side, up the hill and on to the circle. The other partner completes 3 Polar Bears and runs to catch his partner, then switcheroo.

TRIPLE CHECK

Exercies are American Hammer with coupon and 6 inches. The timer is the man completing 20 Super Merkins. This is a merkin with both blocks on the ground and your hands on each, completing a merkin with a much bigger range of motion.

FOUR CORNERS

Mosey to field with coupon. Complete 4 burpee ups with blocks at each corner. Return coupons at completion.

HOUSE OF PAIN

Mosey to amphitheater and start at the bottom. Complete a box jump per the number of steps. 1 on first row, 2 on second row, etc.

BURPEE SHUFFLE

Mosey to circle for one last bit of fun.

Namerama, numberama, Probation led us out.

Prayer Requests: Keep Swirly’s M in your prayers this week and send him a word of encouragement. You know he’s done it for you.

FNG: Welcome Schwing. This is an official upgrade as Hobby Lobby, Shot Gun and Fozzy Bear were in the running for the names. He is Shiplap’s step brother. There was some connection to Aldi (either the store or the town in northern Virginia). Aldi the store was also started by brothers who had a falling our with the older brother Dieter apparently being a real jerk. Dieter was a character played by Mike Meyers and the closest thing he had to a brother on SNL was Garth. When Wayne and Garth got boners at the same time they said “Schwing“.

Moleskin: YHC has done lots of reflecting, thinking, praying and researching over the past nine months. It’s a really wild time and I’m particularly interested to think about how history will remember these past nine months and the decisions we have made and what we have allowed to be made for us. The video that opens the post is from a Winston Churchill speech he gave warning the Americans about the dangers of appeasing tyrants. It’s hard to truly understand through a modern lens how much of a pariah he was at the time for this belief. The world was still reeling from the first World War and understandably there was little appetite for a principled stand. This was recorded about one month after the Munich Pact was signed.

The Munich Pact was an agreement that Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain thought would prevent a full on war. The agreement was that Germany could have some German speaking parts of Czechoslovakia and this little bit of concession would be enough to stop the totalitarian behavior of the National Socialist German Workers’ Party or Nazis for short. The Nazis had committed atrocities through the 1930s and they never once honored any agreement or pact. Chamberlain was sure that by appeasing them he could prevent a war and lots of smart people agreed with him. They were sure if they sacrificed just a little, they would get a desired outcome.

Churchill stood nearly alone in his resoluteness that appeasing tyrants would only accelerate their abuse. He was steadfast in his belief that the best way to protect his people was by defending their freedom at all costs. Nine months after the Munich Pact was signed, the Germans invaded Poland just as Churchill predicted.

Doing what was easy instead of what was right cost millions of lives and altered the trajectory for an entire nation of people. I wonder how many people initially supported Chamberlain who had a change of heart, but were too afraid to admit a mistake in their strategy. History paints a picture that as the situation with the Nazis worsened, there were many Brits intent on defending their decision rather than their island, much to their detriment.

Winston was far from perfect, but he will go down as one of the most principled and courageous men the world ever produced. May we all be so courageous to identify and defend the things we believe in at all costs with clarity, purpose and conviction.

If you aren’t clear in what you stand for and where your morals are, then some one will do it for you.

HOW DO YOU WANT TO BE REMEMBERED?

Never give up. Dig a little deeper and get it all out.

Your pal,

Hardywood

Weather was predicted to be 40 degrees and wet. Thankfully for the PAX it was 70 degrees and sunny. 17 men took the Daily Red Pill and descended upon the AO in search of a beat down. This is the known unknown of what transpired that morning.

Mosey to the bright light beside Dogwood Dell for

COP #1 (Winter Olympics Edition)

• Nancy Kerrigans
• Apollo Onos
• Bonnie Blairs

Mosey to circle near Ha’Penny Stage for

COP #2 (More Sports)

• Michael Phelps
• Nolan Ryan
• Bobby Hurley

Stay there for Merkin Jacks (merkin/plank jack), and Captain Thors (WW2/American Hammer). 1/4 up to 5/20 and back down for each.

Mosey to Ha’Penny Stage and grab a coupon. Deliver coupon as ticket for the music from the Dogwood Dell Amphitheater.

The THANG #1 (Tabata)

Music and Tabata set up with 1 minute on, 20 second rest, and 10 rounds:

• Curls
• Weighted Squats
• Derkins
• Weighted WW2s
• Squat Thrusters

Went through above exercises twice to get to 10 rounds.

The THANG #2 (Triple Check #1)

• Partner 1 mosey up stairs, around traffic circle and back down
• Partner 2 Weighted Sqauts
• Partner 3 hold coupon in Cusak position

Mosey back to return coupons. Recovery planking ensued. Recover and head back to amphitheater for:

The THANG #3 (Triple Check part Deaux)

• Partner 1 mosey up stairs, around traffic circle and back down
• Partner 2 Donkey Kicks
• Partner 3 Incline Merkins

Time called before all 3 rounds could be completed. BTTF.

Numbers, Names, Announcements (below), YHC took us out with a poem (also below).

NMM

This Q was to mark YHC’s 38th journey around the sun. A couple days ago YHC learned of the untimely passing of MF DOOM at the age of 49. This hit home as a reminder that there are no guarantees in life. Tomorrow is not promised and YHC must take advantage of his time left. Every day above ground is a blessing, and a good day. This poem really speaks to YHC about making the best possible use of the time we are given on this earth:

The Mower

BY PHILIP LARKIN

The mower stalled, twice; kneeling, I found   
A hedgehog jammed up against the blades,   
Killed. It had been in the long grass.

I had seen it before, and even fed it, once.   
Now I had mauled its unobtrusive world   
Unmendably. Burial was no help:

Next morning I got up and it did not.
The first day after a death, the new absence   
Is always the same; we should be careful

Of each other, we should be kind   
While there is still time.

A handsome collection of gloom vets escaped the Christmas carb coma to embrace an arctic chill. Turns out when you hug Jack Frost, he hugs back. Here’s how the PAX stayed one step ahead of frostbite:

The THANG:

COP #1:

• Mosey to the Carillon Courtyard
• Welcome & F3 Disclaimer
• To warm up, circumnavigate Carillon Field, running lengths, bearcrawl far end, returning to courtyard to complete reps IC for the SIX:
• Round 1: Imperial Squat Walkers & DQ’s
• Round 2: The Opus & Crab Jacks
• Round 3: NoCheat Merkins, Rosalita Whips, Freddie M’s slow to fast

COP #2:

• Mosey over to the far Circle and Partner Up
• P1 starts carousel planks around curb while while P2 completes x5 burpees, then they switch, and continue alternating until circumference fully traversed
• Slow Curb Dips IC for the SIX

COP #3:

• Mosey to collect coupons at the Stage and form up backside of Carillon
• Triple Check:
• P1 (timer) runs coupon around the Carillon
• P2 does Squat Thrusters alternated with Kettlebell Swings
• P3 does Bench Press Flutters alternated with WWII holding block on chest
• Murder Bunny to return coupons to stage, then Al Gore & Hold Plank for the SIX

COP #4:

• Mosey to top of Amphitheater
• Move to bottom with descending count 17-1, alternating Dips and Monkey Humpers
• At bottom, Am Ham’s IC for the SIX
• Return to top with ascending count 1-17, alternating Box Jumps with Incline Merkins
• Await the SIX with Oblique LBC’s and APD’s IC, then close out with Heels to Heaven and Kimchi Twists IC
• AYG sprint BTTF

COT:

• Counterama # 14
• Namerama
• Announcerama (see Comments)
• YHC took us out in Prayer

NMS:

• YHC was surprised and pleased with such a solid turnout the day after Christmas. Also enjoyed having Papabear Boberry out to congratulate the man on a healthy newborn girl. Apparently they are waiting to bring her out to a workout for formal naming by the PAX… YHC is voting for “Not unlike cold molasses, the PAX moved slowly to start, but the warmerama COP served its purpose, and soon it was just lips and fingers suffering the cold. YHC misspoke directions through numb lips at least a few times, and there were more than a few brothers who found the coupon handling endangering fingertip frostbite. Of course Cooper also had to add his own threat to the PAX health and safety, wielding a samurai sword stick around the COT and playing piñata with Doublemint’s scrotum. Pretty sure YHC saw Handshake running toward the danger looking for an inexpensive alternative to the impending doom of urologic sterilization. Maybe next time buddy. Finish the year strong brothers. SYITG, YHC, DTH

18 icicles decided to defrost their toes and warm their hearts collectively in celebration of YHC and HoneyDo’s birthdays at today’s edition of The Dogpile. Temperatures were an unseasonably warm sunny and 70. According to the toll operators on the Nickel Bridge, something like this happened:

10 Burpees to warm our souls.

Split the Q today to spread the birthday love.

HoneyDo Q (birthday mañana):

Quick COP

Warma Dora 60/120/180 of burp ups, merkins, and the tiniest of baby crunches.

Coupon-a-ram-a: 80 presses along with murder bunnies across the field.

3 sets of 15 pullovers

10 sit and press

Partner-up: 2 rounds of wheelbarrows and 3 sets of partner leg tosses.

Quick visit to the Tomb of the Unknown Triple Check

BTTF

UpChuck Q (birthday yesterday):

Mosey towards the river, find a patch of grass (or rocks, Swirly), and circle up.

SSHs x48
IWs x12
Arm circles x18
Various stretches ’cause the Q isn’t 47 anymore
Pickers x10
HRMs x10
WWIIs x10

Mosey to the Nickel Bridge and perform a Burpee Bridge:

Starting at the toll booth, 3 burpees at every lamppost (lighted or not). When 2 men have reached Riverside Drive, returning runners pick up the group. 3 WWIIs at each lamppost on the return.

Mosey to the Tree Stump for a Prostitute (always return to the same corner):

Run from home to first, perform 10 reps of the exercise. Return to home for one burpee.

Run from home to first, perform 10 reps, then move onto second base for 20 reps, then back to first for 10 and then back home for the single burpee. Continue building/reversing up to 30 reps at 3rd base and then up to 40 reps at home.

First base: 10 mercans
Second base: 20 WWIIs
Third base: 30 Rosalitas
Home: 40 flutter kicks

Mosey to Pump House Road for some Exercise Road repeats:

Round 1: 10 monkey humpers at each post (6 posts out, 5 posts back)
Round 2: 10 LBCs
Round 3: Up the hill, 4 posts of oblique crunches (Little Baby Side Crunches?), 10 crunches at each post, alternate right/left abs at each post.

BTTF

Number-am-a, Name-a-ram-a, YHC took us out.

Announcements:

January 1, Carlos Santana’s Hill in Chesterfield/Powhatan/Amelia/Roanoke at 07:00. Roll down the windows and Clown Car with your pals.

Nurses are busy these days. Let’s keep them in our thoughts, and let’s do our part to keep each other healthy.

Two quotes from today’s workout:

“Last week was a 5 alarm emergency.”

“This is definitely not a hoax.”

NMS:

YHC was pretty fired up today after the workout. Lots of “that was a hard Q” from both groups. YHC confesses that he’s not sorry to have missed a Silent Assassin Q. YHC dislikes murder bunnies.

YHC has wanted to visit Burpee Bridge for some time, so a modest sized group at Dogpile offered a nice return to an old favorite. Probation crushed the uphill. Nice work.

YHC had a quick chat with Vinny yesterday, which reminded YHC of the 4-bagger. Like a good eggnog, a good Prostitute warms the heart and the toes on a chilly morning.

Happy birthday to HoneyDo.

YHC thanks Swirly for reminding YHC that having a birthday means getting one year older. YHC promises to practice saying “Tim Nee, UpChuck, 48.”

UpChuck spits the bit.

25 strong emerged in the foggy gloom for a 6am beatdown. Here’s what transpired.

COP: All IC. Dead man hang // Helicopters // DQs // cherry pickers // imperial walkers // LBCs // Crunchy Frogs // Merkins // Werkins // Diamond Merkins // SSH 21s

Descending Triangle: Start at the Traffic Circle, Bear Crawl to the Street, Run down to the bottom of the hill, Bernie Sanders back up. Round 1: 100 2x Min Climbers // Round 2: 75 LBCs // Round 3: 50 Merkins // Round 4: 25 Lt. Dans. COP for the six. Mosey to the Pennystage.

Triple Check with a Coupon: P1: Squat Thrusters // P2: Windshield Wipers // P3: Murder Bunnies to the Light pole, run the coupon back.

Intermission: Head-Shoulders-Knees-and Toes: Start with coupon on ground in front of you, feet shoulder width apart. 1/ Deadlift coupon to thighs 2/ Front Lateral Raise coupon, straight arms 3/ Pull coupon, laterally, to chest 4/ Press coupon overhead 5/ Lower coupon behind your head, elbows pointing up 6/ Extend coupon back over your head, keep elbows up 7/ Lower coupon to chest 8/ Extend coupon out laterally from chest, until arms straight 9/ Lower coupon to thighs, arms straight 10/ Lower coupon to ground, via reverse deadlift. That’s 1 rep. Repeat 10x. This was YHC’s third attempt to lead this and perhaps the last. Return the coupons and Mosey to Salad Bowl.

Jacob’s Ladder: Run to the other side of the Bowl, 1 Burpee. Run back to the other side, 2 Burpees. Up to 10.

Finished with the pax facing the knee height wall. Incline Merkins // Dips // Step ups // Box Jump Burpees x5 OYO.

Mosey back to the flag. Numerama, Namerama, YHC took us out.

NMS: Enjoyed introducing the murder bunnies to the pax who did not experience this year’s Iron Pax Challenge. Was great to see so many out today, including a couple guys we haven’t seen in a while. What a privilege to be a part of this group! SYITG.

“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms — to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.” Victor Frankl