Tag: First Watch

River Road & Ridge

  • Well Manicured Bushes

    Well Manicured Bushes

    A surprising 13 appeared at various times, either for early morning star gazing or for the main event, for today’s edition of First Watch. Mosey via the backdoor drive to the back parking lot for COP. Word count was high this morning.

    COP

    • 25x SSH
    • 10x Hellicopters
    • 10x DQ
    • 10x Copperhead Squats
    • 10x Arm Circles
    • 20x LBCs
    • 10x Merkins

    The Thang

    Mosey north on North Ridge to University. Stop for rules of the day. At any point during our meandering if you pass a well manicured bush on your left, 5 diamond merkins. Well manicured bush on your right, 10 monkey humpers. Started off with 5 & 10 as the homeowners association is keeping up with their manicuring.

    Short jaunt down to the bottom of university for 11s. Merkins & jump squats. 10/1 then run up to Ralston for 9/2. Back down for 8/3, etc. There happened to be a well manicured landing strip of a bush on the right, so we did 10 monkey humpers every time at the bottom. Finish at the top (of course).

    Wander south on Ralston to a well manicured lawn for something similar to a prison workout. There were 13 of us, so we lined up single file in the lawn facing the street. Each person was assigned an exercise they would pass to their right when rotation was due. Exercises were decline merkins on the swings, WWIIs, squats, SSH, burpees, incline merkins, lunges, LBCs, shoulder tap merkins, jump squats, flutter kicks, reverse crunches. The 13th exercise was the pace car, running to the yield sign at Rose Hill. All of this makes sense for everyone who was there.

    Two line native american run back up Kingston to Gaymont, BTTVSF.

    Numbers, names, announcements, YHC took us out.

    Moleskin

    When the cat’s away, the mice will play. When is the perfect time to do a workout in someone’s yard? When they are on a 2 week vacation of course. Hopefully the neighbors weren’t too disturbed by 20 minutes of 13 men working out in Kubota’s front lawn. Perhaps it’s time for a ring cam.

    You know that feeling when you have been out of town for a few days, come home, and your significant other has a lot to say? Well that was Handshake this morning. He didn’t take a breath the entire COP.

    Coffeeteria was strong this am as usual. Sorry I had to jet early.

    Announcements

    • Sign up for breaking bread. See Oyster.
    • Pickleball tourney 8/26 @ 6. Find a partner. Don’t bother showing up at Forest Hill during the daylight hours. Oyster says the competition is fierce.
    • Paddle 5PM tomorrow at Huguenot Flatwater. HH following at Honeydo’s.
    • Prayers for our PAX that are healing, spoken or unspoken.
    • Wojo is celebrating 6 years in F3RVA by continuing to complain about our lunge form

    Splinter out.

  • Come for the oversharing, stay for the Corn

    A titillated ten came out to see what the Q had to share and which of the 4 FW quadrants YHC was able to achieve in the last 24 hours. For those wondering the answer is: 3

    COP: SSH, Don Qs, Imperial Walkers, Merkins, APDs, Scorpion Kicks

    Mosey all the way down to bottom of S Ridge. Stop for some pickle pounders on the way. Partner up and work way back up: Alternate Bear crawl & lunges with 5 burpees and chase. Switch to 10 Merkins and chase while partner Bernies. Stop for Diamond Merkins, then keep going up with side lunges and 5 burpees again. Back at top switch partners for a Dora 123: 100 Merkins, 200 Flutterkicks, 300 LBCs.

    Over to parking lot: new partners for Wheelbarrow half way across. 3 Sets of 25 Dips and 15 Reverse Crunches. Finish back at flag with more pickle pounders and some slow & steady Alabama Prom Dates.

    Announcements: New morning option coming soon: F3 Croquet. Get your white shirt and shorts ready!

    NMS: Strong and rowdy bunch at FW this morning. You know it’s going to be a fun one when Last Call shows up with a trashbag full of corn at 4:57 in the morning! Oyster made the trip to FW and although he has posted 5 times in the last week this was his 1st bootcamp in a while…

    Florence made the trip to FW and tried to win OSOTW with his Snip-Snip countdown clock. Alas YHCs activities were able to secure the award for the week. Hopefully more of those to come.

    Coffee after was great as always. If you get injured at Coffeeteria Ronnie will be happy to represent you, he’s a closer.

  • Plethora of Sweat

    Dusty Bottoms, Lucky Day and Ned Needlelander rose early to prune the hedges of many small villages. Humidity was in the forecast. Here is what was rumored to have occurred according to legend of El Juapo.

    5.30 struck, short mosey to the Henrico’s smallest park only to find a dewey mist on the meadows. Quick change of plans to the point of the triangle for introductions, disclaimers and warm ups that included Arm Circles, Invisible Jump Rope, SSH, Merkins, LBC’s, Jazzercise and others that YHC has forgotten.

    Ventrue down to the Devils taint with a Lindsay along the way at each intersection. Carolina Dry Docks and Flutterkicks were the chosen exercises.

    At the warm, humid center of the taint a triple check was called. Dancing Bears and WWII’s performed while timer runs to the 4th No Parking Sign initially, change after round 1 to the 3rd No Parking Sign for the final 2 rounds.

    Love Hill back up S. Ridge. Timer runs to Overlook and returns. Bearcrawl, Lunges and Broad Jumps performed by the mobile partner.

    Mosey back to the flag stopping at Country Squire and the triangle for 20 merkins and 20 squats each.

    BTTF for quick mary of American Hammers, APD’s and LBC’s

    Numbers Names, Announcements, Prayers, YHC took us out.

    Announcements: Pickleball is spreading like STD’s in a nursing home and is now taking of 45MoM tommorow. Bring your paddle and protection. Use caution.

    Safe travels to Kubota on his 2 week exodus.

    NMS: Lite crew today with summer tours, vacation and the temptation of the fart sack always strong. Good mumble chatter on this wandering Q. No air circulation at the taint as expected but still enjoyable. Thank you fellas for joining YHC today.

  • Frogger

    Five traffic dodgers endured the 76 degree morning and sweated out the previous day’s celebrations. After the time keeper (EF Hutton) gave the word, the following likely happened:

    Mosey to the tiny park for:

    COP:

    Helicopters, DQ’s, Jazzercizes. That’s enough, lets roll.

    Traveling Lindsey to the UofR lake: LBC’s and Carolina Dry Docks

    Bear crawl across the bridge to the island.

    Elevens in the gazebo: Reverse Crunches and Dips

    3 x 10 Pole Smokers

    3 x 10 Box Jumps

    15 Incline Merkins

    15 Derkins

    Heels to Heaven, Box Cutters

    5 Burpees OYO

    Lunge walk across the bridge

    Traveling Lindsey back to Saab’s house: LBC’s and Carolina Dry Docks

    Alabama Prom Dates and Monkey Humpers in Saab’s driveway

    30 squats on the way back to VSF

    Time called by the timer

    Numbers, Names, Announcements, and Lighthouse took us out!

    NMS:

    It was nice to have Lighthouse join us for his first First Watch only to pretty much do the same thing he does when he posts at WTH, a Traveling Bootcamp. A couple miles were covered and the morning twilight/sunrise was enjoyable. The heat, humidity and the traffic were not enjoyable. There was a lot of car dodging and a possible roll of the ankle, but the crew made it back to the VSF safely. Not much mumblechatter this morning as a few of the noisiest First Watchers were out of town.

    Way to work this morning, men!

    SYITG!

    Kubota

  • Lucky #7

    6 men broke free extra early from the fartsack to post at First Watch for the second helping of a Gumbo double-header and here is how it was served:

    Mosey two laps around the parking lot and then circle up for COP with various exercises. Despite LSU’s impressive record of 68,888 jello shots consumed at the CWS, we did not do 68,888 of any exercise.

    Grab 2 coupons and head over to the parking lot behind the church for:

    7 of Diamonds (4 corners) – in honor of Tigers 7th College Baseball National Championship (2nd most all time)

    • Round 1 – 7 Burpees at each corner
    • Round 2 – 14 swquats
    • Round 3 – 21 2-ct mountain climbers
    • Round 4 – 28 2-ct flutter kicks
    • Round 5 – 21 SSHs
    • Round 6 – 14 merkins
    • Round 7 – 7 WWIIs

    Triple Check – PAX 1 runs to dumpster building does 5 DKs and runs back, PAX 2 does box cutters, PAX 3 overhead press with the coupon.

    Make our way back to the cars.

    Numbers, Names, COT

    Announcements – Convergence Tuesday 7/4 at 0700 at Dogpile

    Prayers – Ron Whitley (affectionately knows as Uncle Ron in my house) battling skin cancer got some bad news yesterday. Take skin care seriously men – put on sunscreen, see a dermatologist regularly. It is no joke!

    Have a great day men and GEAUX TIGERS!

    No More Gumbo for You!

  • Deliverance 4 – Sand and Rain Edition

    Deliverance 4 – Sand and Rain Edition

    10 Completely Stupid and Utterly Pointless Thrill Seekers decided to get wet this morning with not just sweat, but rain water and river water. After all boats had captains at 0500, the task force steamed over to the North Bank of the mighty James River.

    Paddle up the little creek to our new beach area and waddle up the sand dunes for:

    COP:

    Dead Man Hang, Reach for the Sky, Helicopters, DQ’s, Sand Merkins, LBC’s, Flutter Kicks, Sandy Scorpion Kicks 🙂

    5 Burpees OYO

    TRIPLE CHECK:

    Using the three coupons that were collected on the voyage over, we did:

    Partner 1: Carolina Dry Docks

    Partner 2: Squats

    Partner 3 (Timer): Carry coupon Hallelujah-style across the knee, then waist, then shoulder deep creek and back!

    Three rounds, of course.

    Lunge Walk 50 yards back to the boats, stopping on the way for 5 more Burpees. Go ahead and do your burpees in the water, Machismo 🙂

    Hop back in boats and head out of the creek into the main river for:

    INTERVAL PADDLING:

    60 seconds on Hard Paddling upriver/30 seconds light paddle

    10 minutes of this. Time is now 0545. Gather together and spend a minute of silently reflecting, praying, meditating. Turn to the American Flag on the South Bank and recite the Pledge of Allegiance out loud.

    15 minute paddle/float at your own pace back to the landing! No pretty sunrise this year.

    Circle up on the landing for 5 more Burpees OYO. Time!

    COT:

    Numbers, Names, Announcements, Pictures and Upchuck to us out!

    NMS:

    What a fun time this morning, Men! We knew we were going to get wet, but that did not slow us down or make it suck. The new beach wasn’t too bad to workout on compared to the old beach the first couple of years. No one flipped over this year like last year, but there were a couple of near full immersions with cinder blocks that occurred. The rain didn’t get heavy until the float back, but who cares, we were already wet.

    Thanks for coming out this morning, gentlemen! This will be done again in June 2024 as close to the Summer Soltice, as possible.

    Happy Summer, everyone!

    SYITG!

    Kubota

  • Rock out with your block out

    SOJ takeover of First Watch complete. According to the female runners using the Spider’s campus as their personal toilet (ask Splinter), here is how it went down: 

    With Wildcat as copilot, we roll up to the AO with a truck full of borrowed cinderblocks (via Satan’s Hill) around 4:50 a.m. to find three homeless men apparently asleep on the pavement. False alarm. Just some of the Pax knocking out a little broga. 

    Began to discreetly unload the surprise cinderblocks and get greeted by a down range Pax member from Florida aka “Papa Smurf.”  He apparently was a second cousin of someone (I forget). 

    Rally the guys. 5 on the dot, I announce the official SOJ takeover and we get rolling. 

    Warmorama: Mosey down Cameron road back up to Culpepper road.

    Various warmup exercises performed along the way including copperhead squats, merkins, LBCs, dead man hangs, etc. 

    Roll back into the parking lot and greet the guys with our twelve cinderblocks. Apparently the guys appreciated the pristine condition of the New Market blocks, citing the lack of rust water or whatever stuff is in the back or Kubotas’s pickup. 

    Part 1: Line up along long end of the parking lot for 11s (cinderblock press and air squats on other side). We started with 10 cinderblock press/1 air squat. Ended with 1 cinderblock press/10 air squats. Fun. 

    20 second rest. Alternating arm farmer carry around the lot and overhead cinderblock hold (hallelujah). 

    Part 2: Perfect number (9) for triple check, so that’s what we did. Three teams:

    1. Wildcat/Kubota/Hand Shake
    2. Heist/Senor Frog/Papa Smurf
    3. Splinter/EF Hutton/Last Call

    Exercises were incline pushups/cinderblock swing and runner to the utility box off River Road. 

    20 second rest. Alternating arm farmer carry around the lot and overhead cinderblock hold (hallelujah). 

    Part 3: Circle up with blocks. Little hot potato session, where each guy took a turn calling out an exercise. Next round that guy would rotate as runner for time (lets say 30/45 seconds. Examples of exercises called:

    1. Curls
    2. Squats
    3. Dips
    4. Derkins (feet in block)
    5. Somewhat modified APDs ?
    6. Burpee block presses
    7. Tricep extensions

    Only a few minutes left so another round of alternating arm farmer carry around the lot and overhead cinderblock hold (hallelujah). 

    Pax helped me put blocks back and time!

    Numbers/Names. 

    Announcements: Kayak adventure next Wednesday from 5 to 6 am. Need to bring own kayak. See Kubota for details.

    Wildcat took us out in prayer. 

    Many thanks guys. Good seeing everyone. Good mumble chatter as always. People need to check out First Watch at least once. Good times. 

  • 8 Years +1

    An appropriate Eight PAX came out to see how gimpy the Q was and if an audibled Hot potato would be served. A light mist kept us cool while we did:

    COP: SSH, Don Qs, Imperial Walkers, Helicopters, Merkins, Flutterkicks, Scorpion kicks.

    Mosey to main lot for: 4 Corners. 10 burpees, 20 HRMs, 30 Heels2Heave, 40 Jump Squats. Repeato again but add 5 to each corner. Partner up for Wheelbarrow across lot and back. Mosey to HCsP. Partner up in 4s for Quad-Triple check: Merkins, WWIIS, Squats, and run to light and back.

    Over to small lot. Mix of Bear crawls and Crab walks a few rounds then finish with 1 min of Mary.

    NMS: Maybe Bodos posting classes up the collective group’s Mumblechatter but we spent most of the morning debating the pros & cons of Airstream campers instead of falling for the chum in the water that Handshake offered with his pending Snip-Snip news.

    YHC has been doing F3 in RVA for 8 years now. Can’t put into words how impactful this group of men has been for YHC. This group has and continues to challenge/support/encourage YHC through 8 years of Ups & Downs. Those Ups and Downs will continue as such is the nature of life. Having a good group around you makes the journey so much better. Let’s continue to give this great gift away as so many more men need this.

  • Miata lovers club

    7 warriors descended upon River Road Baptist south to get a good workout in the books.

    COP: DQs, DMH, HRMs, MCs, FM (Freddie Mercuries AKA Flattulence Makers), ACs.

    Exercise 1: Mosey to speed bumps (5 burpees per speed bump), mosey to entrance – 20 2 count flutters, 30 box jumps and 40 SSHs. Long mosey to University and Ralston with 25 Carolina Dry Docks and 25 monkey humpers.

    Exercise 2: Elevens up the hill at University with diamond merkins and sumo squats (which after a while look like regular squats). Somewhat long mosey back to church parking lot with 20 WWIIs at each intersection and car dodging on Forest (Zing Fit must have had a special class this morning).

    Exercise 3: Curb crawl with bear crawls up to 5 down to 1. Not a well-defined curb at FW so some of us had to improvise. Mosey to home base.

    Finished with American Hammers and DMH.

    There will be a 7/4 convergence (love the heat). There was a bit of complaining about the # of steps (4500 per Handshake). Was our workout WTH worthy? There was a comment about preferring the disc golf workout. Maybe next time. Afterwards, a few of us went to coffeeteria and a lady drove up in an orange Miata and Ronnie was rather excited. Perhaps they can share Miata stories in the future.

    Thanks for letting me lead. Sorry there was no Jets theme today.

    Fireman/Fireperson Ed

  • A FirstWatch Block Party

    10 partygoers, including 2 early bird yogis, showed up for a block party – gloom style. This is how we rolled…

    Mosey around the parking lot in case there were any LIFOs – there were none. Circle up by the vehicles for COP, including DQs, Helicopters, SSHs, Imperial Walkers, Hillbillies, Shoulder Taps, Toe Taps (a crowd pleaser), Merkins, LBCs and APDs.

    Grab the party favors (blocks) and cross River Road at your peril – carry blocks to the church parking lot and circle up for several rounds of block exercises each followed by a mosey around the parking lot or a lunge walk to the steps and back. Exercises included block burpees, squats, curls, shoulder presses, bench presses, WWIIs (without the block), overhead shoulder work on the curb, step-ups and more. Some plank-o-rama and mountain climbers and other fun while we wait for the SIX and catch our breath in between reps.

    Carry blocks back across River Road and load them in Kubota’s truck.

    Four Corners – 10 merkins; 10 merkins + 20 single count mountain climbers; 10 merkins + 20 MCs + 30 squats; and 10 merkins + 20 MCs + 30 squats + 40 SSHs and back to the original COP Circle.

    4 minutes of Mary, COT, numbers, names and YHC took us out.

    Great, cool morning and some good block work accomplished. Thanks to Kubota for bringing the blocks. Splinter’s account will be charged for breaking his block – inflation is a bitch. Not a ton of mumblechatter, but YHC lost the group in COP with the toe taps and then subsequently when one PAX member (YHC isn’t exactly sure who) cleared the deck and I’m pretty sure left skid marks in the parking lot. We regrouped however and put in some good work. Thanks for letting me lead.

    Also great to catch up with WOJ over coffee!

    Announcement – Memorial Day Convergence 0700 at Tredegar – bring your Shovel Flag and a Friend.

    No More Gumbo For You!