Tag: First Watch

River Road & Ridge

  • Road Trip

    An all-star cast of characters emerged from early morning gloom. A couple of yogi’s, a few reading in their trucks, and the Fuddster coming in hot.

    Off we went to the small park for some warm ups and yoga taking the rest of the warm up down Westham.

    We did the Westham challenge down Club Vista: Large SUVs = 10 HTH; European Cars = 3 Burpees. All was working out well until we stumbled upon a cluster of Audis.

    By way of avoiding a newly placed fence, we made our way to the practice fields for Triple Check 1. Partner 1 bear craws out to a set location and the other do do plerkins – three time through for everyone.

    We did a second set of Triple Checks with lunges, monkey bumpers, and elbow planks.

    Some 4 corners got us moving with 10 WWIIs, 20 Carolina Dry Docks, 30 4-count flutter kicks, and 40 LBCs.

    The mosey back to the flag was orchestrated with a Lindsay along the way ala box cutters and squats.

    YHC took us out.

    Coffee was fine as always with more revelations.

  • We’re All Gonna Die!

    Seven regulars plus Whitesnake hoping for a tour of the taint set out to defend the planet.

    Here’s what transpired:

    Traveling COP (SF-Westham-Glen Pkwy-Keller-Crenshaw)

    • SSHs
    • IWs
    • Copperhead Squats
    • Helicopters
    • LBCs
    • APDs
    • Carolina Dry Docks

    Mosey to hillside across from the Modlin Center

    Bernorama

    Round 1

    • P1 – Bernie up the hill and run back
    • P2 – Merkins
    • Flapjack

    Round 2

    • P1 – Bernie x 2
    • P2 – Jump Squats
    • Flapjack

    Round 3

    • P1 – Bernie x 3
    • P2 – Freddie Mercurys
    • Flapjack

    Mosey to Intramural sports field

    Booyahrama

    • P1 – Runs across field and back to P2
    • P2 – Bear crawl
    • Booyah Merkins x 10 and continue across field repeating until P1/P2 are finished
    • Repeato with Crabwalk/ Booyah WWIIs
    • Repeato with Polar Bear/ Booyah Burpees

    Mosey near exit to River Rd

    Cockroachorama

    • Boxing Cockroaches – 20 x 3

    Mosey west on River Rd

    • Merkins at UR entrance
    • Monkey Humpers at Saab’s entrance

    Mosey to Guardrail

    • Incline Merkins
    • Dips
    • Derkins
    • Dips

    Mary

    • American Hammers
    • APDs
    • 1 Legged APDs R/L

    Numberama, Nameorama, COT

    MOLESKIN

    Great to have Whitesnake lose his FW virginity, though he’ll have to come back to explore the taint.  As the PAX moseyed down Westham there was an oddly awesome looking object shooting across the sky.  Theories ranged from comet to an airplane through fog to an alien invasion.  Alas the US Space Force confirmed it was Elon Musk rocketing away from your mom’s house.

    ANNOUNCEMENTS

    Convergence tomorrow at Forrest Hill Park

  • 70 and Sunny!! Let’s Go!!!

    12 big dogs woke up a little earlier than yesterday, ready to attack the day. Let’s Goooo!!!

    Warmarama: Slow mosey to the back of the church parking lot, Helicopters, DQ, Helicopters, Arm Circles, Imperial Squat Walkers, Jazzercize, Cherry Pickers, Merkins, Hand Release Merkins, Pencil Roll, Alabama Prom Dates, Inverted Scorpions, LBC, Flutter Kicks, 6Inches

    The Thang:
    Triple Check1
    Squats, Merkins, Run x 3

    Triple Check2
    Squats, Hand Release Merkins, Bernie x3

    Love Hill1
    Bear Crawl, Lunges, Broad Jump Burpees, Runner to the top and back (Switch, Repeat)

    LoveHill2
    Broad Jump Burpees, Broad Jump Burpees, Broad Jump Burpees, Runner to the bottom and back (Switch, Repeat)

    BTTF
    4 Minutes of Mary (Sorry Splinter)
    Numberama: Namerama
    YHC took us out.

    NMS: Yesterday at Hoedown our friend Cal Worthington (downrange) requested a good AO with a bit of mumblechatter. As luck would have it, First Watch would be close by. No other AO can match the mumblechatter and overshare that one would find at the 5am First Watch AO. Well done boys, you did not disappoint. Did anyone ask Cal what he does for a living or how he got his name? Coffateria always great.

    Other news:
    Last Call is having a really really great week.
    Kubota promises to post more.
    Ronnie’s opening argument was on point!
    Splinter will do his Mary exercise tomorrow at 45MOM
    Cal will tell anyone who wants to know about his F3 name, just ask and ask again
    Strong opinions about VQs and Rucking…..

    See you in the Gloom
    Oyster




  • Thanks for Coming Out

    Twelve oarsmen launched from the Huguenot Shipyard for the 5th Annual, 1st Inaugural First Watch Deliverance workout. Temperatures were 70 and sunny. According to the toothless City Proper/SOJ combo hillbillies eyeing us, the following might have happened.

    04:30 Secure the AO. Kubota (aka, Q-bota on site).

    04:35 YHC on scene.

    04:40 Lockjaw

    04:50 First Water.

    Progressively crowded dockyard, and some stragglers asking themselves,”What time does the 05:00 paddle start?”

    Posey (paddle-mosey) over to the North Bank. Circle up.

    Warm-a-rama

    Dead Man Hang
    Helicopters
    Don Quixote
    Copperhead Squats
    ‘Mercans
    LBCs
    Flutter Kicks
    Inverted Scorpion Kicks
    Scorpion Kicks

    Triple Check.
    Partner 1: Bear crawl to that thing out there that Kubota pointed at in the darkness. No. That thing. Nope – the other thing. Yep, that one, nope, that other one. OK, got it.
    Partner 2: punching bag
    Partner 3: Wilson’s Dying Cucarachas

    Back in the boats.

    Etes -vous prets? Partez!!! Sprintervals d’eau. Intermittent hard paddling, followed by light paddle. 6 rounds.

    Somewhere along the line, Bacon Bits’ boat is swamped in the gale. Takes on water. Persists. Adapts. Overcomes.

    Paddle upstream to the American Flag. Moment of quiet contemplation. Pictures. Fanfare. Celebration.

    Slow paddle enjoying the sunrise. Back to the VSF, passing two actual shovel flags. And, scene.

    Announcements:

    Summer Tour continues.

    Wildcat. Monday. El Alamo. Be there for the man. Life may be you against you, but it’s easier and better when we are there for each other.

    Breaking Bread for June. Someone had to drop out for the last weekend in June. Who can step in and help out? (Remember: There is no Hot Potato for Breaking Bread – if you need to drop, pass the word and find a replacement).

    July 4: Convergence at Forest Hill Park.

    August 21: 100th Birthday Celebration. Come join us. First Watch. 05:00. Stamp your Tour Card.

    NMS: No better way to start a day. Paddling by headlamp. Quick workout. Amazing sunrise. Coffeteeria. Plus, a cameo appearance from BT over coffee.

    Thanks for coming out, fellas. Never gets old.

  • SOJ Takeover: First Watch Edition

    First Watch has always been one of my favorite spots in Richmond, so when SOJ Takeover was proposed, it was my first choice. Excellent dudes and always a good time with plenty of banter and 2nd F after a beat down. 

    Five men answered the 5a call this morning. Here’s what went down:

    Mosey to Parking Lot

    Warm up — Parking Lot

    • Few laps around the parking lot 
    • Circle up
      • Side Straddle hop — 20x
      • Dead Man Hang — C/L/R
      • On your six,
        • Leg out L/R
        • Roscoe’s mom L/R
        • Pull leg to chest L/R

    Thing 1 — 11s @ Far End of Parking Lot

    • Hand Release Merkins
    • Jump Squats
    • Run width of parking lot

    Thing 2 – Four Corners, Stacked

    • 10x Burpees
    • 20x Carolina Dry Docks
    • 30x LBCs
    • 40x Squats

    Thing 3 — DORA

    • American Hammers 100x
    • Heels to Heaven 200x
    • LBCs 300x
    • Timer Lunges across parking lot
      • 5x merkins
      • Bernie back

    COT

    • 10 Year Convergence & Pediatric Cancer Awareness Fundraiser
    • Prayer Requests
      • All those battling cancer or have friends/family impacted by cancer 
  • PDGA – Westham Open

    5 tremendously talented individuals showed up for the inaugural Westham open. I was told the 5-hole tourney would be on ESPN the Ocho but no cameras or spectators were around. Maybe better publicity next time.

    COP: DMH, DQ mosey to Club Vista Lane, 25 merkins, mosey to College Road, 25 WWIIs. Mosey to hole 1 at the famous Spider disc golf club. Helicopters before we start.

    Hole 1 – Throw disc, bear crawl, etc. until your disc is in the basket. Every shot gets 3 burpees.

    Hole 2 – Throw disc, lunge, until your disc is in the basket. Each shot gets 10 jump squats.

    Hole 3 (really hole 18 because hole 3 is hard to play at 5:20 in the morning) – Throw disc, crabwalk forward, etc. Each shot gets 5 CDDs.

    Replay Hole 1 – EF Hutton has a shot within 4 feet of the hole; that young fella learns quick. He gets the one birdie.

    Replay Hole 2

    Mosey back to Club Vista – 25 wide grip merkins, to Westham – 20 diamond merkins. To home base.

    Finished with Freddie Mercuries and American hammers.

    Ef Hutton wins the tourney with an average of par and the tourney’s only birdie. Congrats and you will receive a prize to be determined at a later point in time.

    Prayers for Fudd’s sister and Splinter’s mother and Fireman Ed’s father n’ law. Enjoy the humidity.

    Fireman Ed

  • And Then There Were Seven

    Seven men of principle came forth on a glorious morning. Temperatures were 70 and sunny. According to the lady in the orange Miata, the following quite possibly happened.

    Mosey west in the parking lot, head fake Senor Frog to the left, then go right and across the street to the River Road Church, Baptist.

    COP

    SSHs (4 count) x50
    Dead man hang and various other stretches
    Monkey humpers
    Hand release merkins
    Imperial Walkers
    Flutters kicks

    Mosey to the edge of River Road for Touch a Tree. 1, then 2, then 3. Partner does WWIIs.

    Mosey to the left side of the church. Form one, single-file line. Bear crawl along an assorted set of walkways. Arrive at center of church portico. Three pencil rolls to the right. Continue the bear crawl through various walkways to the portico of whatever that thing is that is not the church.

    Mosey to Senor Kubota’s truck and grab a block.

    Mosey to the guard rail in the parking lot. Circuit is 10 4-count derkins, 10 4-count presses with block, and flutter kicks.

    Carry the block across the street to the county’s smallest park. Partner up. Partner 1 does murder bunnies. Partner 2 chooses whether to run the park loop without the block or run to the street sign while carrying the block.

    Mosey back to the VSF.

    Touch a Tree. Rounds of 4, 5 and 6. Options: carry the block and touch any trees. Or, do not carry the block and the usual Harvard Business School approved Touch a Tree rules apply.

    3 burpees to wrap it up.

    Numbers, names, and YHC took us out.

    Announcements:

    None.

    Prayer Requests: our pal Splinter’s mom and his family are going through a new illness. Let’s keep her and all of them in our prayers.

    NMS: Nice energy level today, fellas. Awesome morning to be out there with you. Way to push!

  • Pencil Rolls are totally a thing

    11 bad mofos joined for a First Watch that was both epic and sus and this is what transpired.

    Start with 1 Burpee.

    Mosey to the top of the Park just outside of the Parking Lot for a COP.

    Mosey down S. Ridge to Country Squire for some uphill Pencil Roll fun. (3) 3-Count Pencil Rolls, 10 WWII’s, 5 HRM’s x 5 Rounds. Switch sides for 5 more Rounds.

    Indigenous People’s Run up to the light at River/S. Ridge for a Compounding Four Corners. Run up to the corner of Ridge and University. 10 Booyeah Merkins. Run to Ralston and University for 10 Booyeah Merkins and 10 Booyeah WWII’s. Mosey down Ralston to Rose Hill and do 30 Squats. Reverse Bear Crawl up to the next Mailbox, roughly 40 yards away. Mosey up to Kubota’s house and do 60 Monkey Humpers. Mosey all the way up to River and Ralston and do 10 Booyeah Merkins, 10 Partner WWII’s, 10 Partner Jump Squats. Mosey down to River and Ridge and complete 10 Booyeah Merkins, 10 Booyeah WWII’s, 10 Booyeah Jump Squats, 10 3-Count SSHH’s.

    Mosey to the Parking Lot for WWII’s and end with 1 Burpee.

    Announcements – Pickelbell every day all day all summer, but most especially at Batteau on Mondays.

    Prayer Requests – Hitch’s wife, Emily, as she goes through the last month of pregnancy.

    NMS – great morning, 11 men for First Watch. Glad to take the lead. Happy Birthday to Upchucks daughter (16) and to YHC’s son (11).

  • Handshake’s Kryptonite is a Little Wet Spot

    7 men of leisure strolled forth for the latest edition of The First Watch. Conditions were 70 and sunny, albeit with a very small amount of rain and a handful of wet spots. According to the Teen Aged Female Yale Student (YHC apologizes to any actual Teen Aged Girls reading this) griping about getting even a little bit of water on his whittle clothes, the following 100% dry exercises might have happened.

    Hutton is on the DL, but posted anyway. Walked Alone for the workout. Clearly, he’s not a Liverpool fan. Good choice. Liverpool FC can suck it. Yeah, Mr. Holland.

    Mosey to the side of the River Road Church, Baptist for the COP.

    SSHs x25
    Dead Man Hang
    Imperial Walkers x10
    Downward Dog
    WWIIs (Handshake’s alternative exercise to avoid getting wet: American Hammers)
    HRMs (Handshake’s alternative exercise to avoid getting wet: Merkins, or maybe it was Arm Circles)
    Inverted Scorpion Kicks (Handshake’s alternative exercise to avoid getting wet: Stand Still, in cadence)

    Handshake wanted to show his “I really do get wet sometimes” bona fides, so the PAX moseyed back towards his truck to see his “wet balls spot” on the driver’s side seat. Really. Can’t make this up. YHC stopped to do exercises among the sprinklers on the grass. The PAX rebelled and refused to enter the wet grass with live sprinklers. Soon, the PAX arrived at Little Blue, and YHC shined a light on the driver’s seat. YHC can attest – Handshake’s balls spot exists as advertised. Handshakes’ balls apparently sweat profusely ‘cause they certainly do not get wet from the rain.

    Partner up. But, do nothing with that partner for the time being. Mosey to South Ridge.

    Remember your partner.

    Mosey to the house with many cream colored pillars on a long wall. Using the first light as a starting point and the black-and-white striped sign as the turn-around, the Pax did the following:

    50 merkins – each man
    100 monkey humpers (team total)
    150 4-count SSHs (team total)
    1 burpee or 3 merkins as a transition.
    (Note: all exercises were done in a dry, climate controlled environment with a warm towel waiting at the end).

    Upon completion, the Pax moseyed to the striped pole. Repeat the general concept with the next turning point being the Country Squire sign. (A change of clothes / Lulu (see what I did there?) Lemon pants was/were provided to anyone / Handshake who had started to sweat or get wet).

    Hand-release merkins
    Slow squats
    SSHs (YHC thinks)

    Continue moseying down S. Ridge until YHC says stop. Then, partner up.

    First partner runs to Country Squire sign. Second partner bear crawls. When the first partner returns, swap. Second exercise was lunge. Third was butt kickers or high knees (Dealer’s Choice).

    Mosey back to the county’s smallest park for a four-cornered, no-right-angles exercise. Corner 1, 10 merkins. Corner 2, 20 WWIIs. Pencil roll across the grass. Or, just walk across the grass as the Pax still refuse to get wet on a rainy morning. Change into dry shoes. Corner 3, 30 monkey humpers (and a bunch of SSHs…) and mosey BTTVSF. One WWII, one pencil roll, one merkin. Enter that air-dry blower machine that they have at King’s Dominion after the water rides so the Pax can dry off.

    Numbers, names, and YHC took us out.

    Announcements: Someone thinks there might be a Memorial Day Convergence at Tredegar.

    NMS:

    OS F3: Show up, find the biggest puddle / temporary lake in human history in Bird Park. Water must be 6” high to qualify. Run halfway across that puddle / lake in the rain. Stop. Perform 10 burpees or merkins in that puddle. Repeato. Until time.

    NS F3: gripe about doing 1 WWII on a slightly wet spot of asphalt. Until time.

  • Esther Williams Running Fan Club

    Senor Frog led our 8 man crew in a run-heavy Bootcamp. Last Call complained even though he should have been stretched from Broga. We ran to Walgreens at the corner of Ridge and Forest and completed various Ab exercises then ran around the building. Some said it was 3 miles.

    There was also conversation about Saab’s love interest of the youth, Esther Williams, but Pucker and YHC couldn’t remember her name.

    Announcements – WestHo lunch at Firehouse Subs at Innsbrook on May 14th and noon.

    Prayer Requests – Ronnie’s puppy passed away. It’s always tough for those who love their animals. Ronnie also had to return his Miata because he’s old and it made his back hurt. Its been a tough couple weeks to be Ronnie.