River Road & Ridge
It started as seven and then broke out into two groups of two and three groups of one for a series of Tabathas after COP.
Series 1 – Seal Jacks, Squats, HRMs, Elbow Plank, and Box Cutters – Timed across stations and three times through the series.
Series 2 – Rocky Balboa’s, Lunges, Dips, Elbow Plank, and Flutter Kicks – Timed across stations and three times through the series.
YHC took us out. Prayers for those in our schools and Last Call’s friend’s grandson.
As the clock struck 0500, Splinter and Hutton returned from their pre-workout run and Fudd came screeching into the parking lot. YHC knew it was time to get started. Slow mosey around the parking lot to pick up everyone.
Mosey across River to the front of the church and circle up. Warm up exercises included:
Mosey around to the back of the church and partner up for a triple check. P1 – BTTW. P2 – WWIIs. P3 – run short loop around dumpsters.
Staying at the same spot, partner up for a dora. P1 runs to the church vans at the end of the parking lot. P2 completes 50 merkins, 100 flutter kicks, 150 jump squats.
Short mosey towards Ridge for 4 corners.
Mosey around to the side of the church for 11s.
Mosey back to flag for a few minutes of Mary
Numbers / Names / Announcements. YHC took us out.
Moleskin
Lots of good mumble chatter this morning. Topics included whether 1-900 numbers still exist (not verifying while in my office), whether YHC is a Gen X or millennial (YHC thinks of himself as a Xennial: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xennials), and the brick pattern used at River Road Church, Baptist (which is the source of the backblast title). During 11s, Fudd asked if anyone knew the pattern and YHC knew that it was flemish bond (which is alternative short and long bricks). After much discussion surrounding the origination of flemish bond, Splinter complained about spending too much time on the topic. A brief tour of Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flemish_bond) indicates the name references a region of northern Belgium (not the Netherlands as the pax initially believed) but originated in Northern and Central Europe in the Middle Ages. It became popular in England in the 17th Century, and then became popular in Virginia.
At the start of another year around the sun, I am eternally thankful that I am part of this group coming together in the early morning hours, rain, heat, cold, whatever, to push each other to be better men. Thank you for letting me lead today!
The elite of the elite gathered in the church parking lot at 0430 for pre-game exercises. One chose one path, the other chose another. Those same two gathered again at 0500 for today’s First Watch edition.
Traveling COP
The Thang
Partner up for Dora 1,2,3,4. 100 burpees, 200 squats, 300 mountain climbers, 400 LBCs. Travel back up south ridge after each increment of 100 by playing catch me if you can with 5 HRMs and bernie sanders.
We made it most of the way through before shuttling back for 3 minutes of mary.
Numbers, names, Handshake took us out.
Announcements
Moleskin
A workout of two offers an opportunity to slightly modify planned approach while engaging in coffeeteria throughout the entire workout. Great to catch up with Handshake as we navigated down and back up south Ridge.
YHC will assume the weather scared people away and it wasn’t that my workouts are too soft.
Splinter out
Eight bros went hard in the taint. WTH isn’t the only workout with mileage.
Here’s what transpired:
Long slowsey to the dead end of Ross Rd.
COP
Double Trouble
Mosey up Culpepper with a Lindsay along the way – Plank Jacks/ 2ct Shoulder Taps
Mosey to the parking lot
Mary
Numberama, Nameorama, COT
MOLESKIN
Feels like there’s a lot of chatter about visiting a particular place when YHC has the Q. Sometimes you gotta give the people what they want, and it’s always better to go there with friends. There may not be a darker place on earth than the 30 yards or so before reaching the clearing at the Devil’s Perineum, bka Satan’s Taint. Apologies to the dog and its walker startled by 8 men doing booyahs at the end of her driveway. Splinter enjoys a good All-Skate.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
5 of F3RVA’s finest looking chaps and 2 not so much (you know where you stand) enjoyed the welcome abodes and comradery that the brisk fall Tuckahoe weather to see what was in store. A few early risers took part in running or stretching prior but this how the meat and potatoes of the beatdown went down.
Mosey to the church patio for introductions and disclaimers. Warm ups included Invisible Jump Rope, Jazzercise (with flair for some), Arm Circles, Reverso, Quick Tempo Merkins, Suzanne Summers left, LBC’s, Suzanne Summers right, Dying Bedbugs/Cockroaches, followed by a bit of stretching. All seem loose and ready to get cooking.
Mosey down River to Country Squire. Brocode Mailboxes for all. Perform 10 hand release merkins at each mailbox on the left, 10 WWII’s at each mailbox on the left. 5 burpees performed at the For Sale sign. Continue down Ridge to Overlook. Partner up for Love Hill. Timer runs to top of the hill and returns. Exercises were walking lunges, Broad Jump Herpes, Bear Crawl. Skip/Glide back down to Ridge. (Try to stay on the road if you can).
Keep your partners or find new ones for more Love Hill action back up Ridge. Timer runs to closest intersection while exercises include Lt. Dans, Bernie Sanders and Lunges.
At the base of the triangle partner up for a triple check. Timer skips to the light and jogs back. LBC’s and Carolina Dry Docks. 2 rounds completed before time to get BTTVF.
Dead Man Hang Ring of Fire for 1 minute. Numbers, Names, Prayers, Announcements (see Slack). YHC took us out.
NMS: The bat signal went out yesterday for a worthy Q. No one answered so you got stuck with YHC. There was talk of hitting the taint but YHC thought the better to ease the running and enjoy ample mumble chatter. Highly recommend skipping be a part of future workouts to release the flamboyant nature of each individual to the PAX. Great work today fellas. Thank you for the opportunity to lead on a perfect morning.
Three star gazers arrived for pre-launch activities but none were shared. One ran, one walked, one broga’d. All came back together to wait for the cavalry to arrive. Once the clock struck five, away we went for an audible Q. Mosey to the back parking lot for:
COP
The Thang
Three is a perfect number so triple-check was the theme of the day. A few strides over to the corner of the parking lot. Burpees, mountain climbers, run a loop.
Slowsey to the eastern corner of the triangle for merkins, squats, skip to the mailbox and run back.
Attempted flying headlock. We will see this guy soon.
Zig-zag back to the launch parking lot for WWIIs, lunges, karaoke to Kubota’s truck and back.
BTTF for something, something else, and 5 burpees for the pace car.
A few minutes of mary with APDs, Freddie Mercuries, American Hammers.
Numbers, names, YHC took us out.
Announcements
Moleskin
Small numbers makes for great mumblechatter. Triple check is a tried & true F3 exercise. It wasn’t what YHC had planned for today but it seemed appropriate given the numbers. You know you are a true F3er when you can carry on two different conversations depending on who you are mixed with while the pace car does his thing. Today was perfect evidence of this.
Thanks y’all. Will save the actual workout for another day.
Splinter out.
16 exceptional men joined YHC in celebration for the latest edition of First Watch. Conditions remained 70 and sunny. According to my father watching over us, the following might have happened:
Mosey to the UofR athletic fields with a short pause for the six at Casa de Saab.
Circle up at the field goal uprights for the COP.
100 SSHs (4 count)
Dead Man Hang (OYO)
Fudd’s Wife
Roaring 20s – one set of 20 exercises for each year he lived in the 20s
Carolina Drydocks
Imperial walkers
Hillbillies
LBCs
Gas pumps
Lieutenant Dans (to remember the accident)
1940s – Dad served from 1943-1946, USAAC/AAF. ETO.
Triple Check. WWIIs, Flutter Kicks, Army Crawl 30 yards.
50s…we tried, and time took this from us. But, 5 burpees, then traverse ~50 yards (in the dark, maybe this was 30).
Variety of options for traversing…wheelbarrows, partner carry (some PAX knew better), Bernie, AYG Sprint, bear crawl, army crawl.
Time was growing short, so Mosey BTTSF, stopping off at Saab’s driveway for the obligatory 20, 4-count Monkey Humpers. If anyone was peering out the window, the got a dog’s eye view of Honeydo’s keister (and everyone else’s).
Numbers, names, and we ate cupcakes and pecan sandies and swigged Gatorade for the COT. YHC gave a note of thanks to this group for their friendship.
Announcements:
Tuesday, Heartbreak Ridge, “Jason,” aka Senor Frog running his 50th birthday Q. Be there.
Wednesday, Moseley Elementary (don’t go to “Mosley” Elementary) in Chesterfield. New AO.
August 31 – Launch day of The Bridge. State Farm has the Q. Workout is at 7:30 a.m.
Labor Day Convergence. Short Pump. New AO. Nuckols Farm Elementary. AO needs a name…bring your best play on words.
September 14 – The Bridge, again. Heist is leading.
Team Brightside…let’s keep building this charity to help research ways to address Children’s Cancer. Unbelievable impact from these guys. $50,000+ raised already. YHC is super proud of those running this. Way to go. Let’s see how much we can raise to help. If you have not given, let’s do this!
NMS:
OSOTW goes to HoneyDo, running away.
Happy birthday in Heaven to Papa Goldman (Gumbo), would have been 87 years young yesterday. And, congratulations to the proud parents of a West Point Cadet. Grandpa would be proud of his son and his grandson.
Happy birthday to my dad, 100 years young today. As the lady said when they gave my mom his flag at Arlington National Cemetery, “On behalf of a grateful nation…” Thank you, Dad, for being a wonderful parent and a patriot for this country.
With the departure of EF Hutton making a multi-stop summer tour, this group of six completed this week’s installment of First Watch.
Over to the church for COP. The pace and types of exercises were well received by the Pax, including a new unnamed exercise that was named by the Pax and serves as this back blast title.
Off to the back parking lot for 4-Corners, Tabata style. 30 seconds of one exercise, 30 seconds of another and mosey to another corner for four corners total for that set. Despite technical difficulties, we conquered the following:
Set 1 – Mountain Climbers and Merkins
Set 2 – Squats and APDs
Set 3 – Carolina Dry Docks and Box Cutters
Back to the flag for some Mary.
YHC took us out.
Announcements:
Coffee was great as always with Blue Moon and Fireman Ed.
A handsome septet of FW regulars welcomed this SOJ tourist into their lively gloom chatter, everyone anticipating something challenging and fresh, which is of course the Tryhard motto. Here’s how they (miraculously) earned ZERO burpees:
The THANG:
WARMERAMA:
THE WESTHAM EXICON ABC’s:
Mosey BTTVSF for COT:
NMS: Not dissimilar to the sweatfest of the F3 Beatdown Deck, this high rep and movement combo turned out to be a solid beatdown. As a relatively simple challenge that keeps the PAX together well, YHC imagines this could be easily completed at any AO in a pinch. Twill be added to YHC’s personal battery of beatdown options! Also amazing resilience of the FW gang assisting YHC with a few exercise options to avoid ANY burpees! Also excellent mumble chatter as always with the FW gang. It was suggested since we traveled in the opposite direction of the “Devil’s Taint” perhaps this route could be the “Angel’s Eyebrow” (or some other body part …YHC can’t actually recall, but it came from the murky depths of Handshake’s mind, so who knows). Great Coffeerama with Upchuck and some others at Starbucks. As always, appreciate ya’ll permitting YHC the honor to lead. Yours AYE! ~DTH
Announcements (SEE SLACK!)
Three First Watch regulars watched as our visitor, Boberry, took a new route to the parking lot (hopefully the Church doesn’t have a Ring doorbell). Once the group was assembled, this is what went down.
COP – SSH, Ukrainian soldiers, hillbillies, merkins, reverse crunchies, and arm circles.
Next, mosey around the church and then a Dora – merkins, LBCs, and flutter kicks.
Over to the church steps for 3 rounds of dips, chair sits, and balls to the wall.
Then it was off to the parking lot.
Back to the flag for a merkin ring of fire.
Numberama, nameorama, and Last Call took us out.
Announcements:
Always fun to lead this crew. With many of the FW regulars out leading other AOs, the mumblechatter was kept to a minimum.