Tag: First Watch

8 warriors of the gloom graced First Watch for a coupon party. We have been requested to remove them or they would be removed. Time to take them around the block. Here is what went down:

Mosey to front of church for COP:

20 – SSH

Stretch it out – touch toes and sky

Helicopters

Arm Circles Small and Big – reverso

10 Hand Release Merkins

10 Imperial walkers

The Thang:

Since coupons are being relocated to Kubota’s, thank you Kubota!, as mentioned above it seemed fitting to carry them around with us today.

Mosey to former coupon staging area to pick our block and then slowesy  to the corner of Henrico’s smallest/finest park for a triple check. Timer ran to the light on River and back with partners completed Swings and Over Head Presses with Coupon. Splinter arrived about this time since the swim team found the light switch, glad to have him join.

Mosey back to main lot so Splinter could get his very own coupon. Time for 4-corners around the parking lot, exercises were

• First corner – 5 WWII presses
• Second Corner – 5 WWII presses, 10 Curls
• Third Corner – 5 WWII presses with coupon, 10 Curls, 15 Squats
• Fourth Corner – 5 WWII presses with coupon, 10 Curls, 15 Squats, 20 alternating merkins on coupon
• What goes up must come down, repeat descending order

We made it back to where we started and YCH called for 20 bench press and 20 ASP.

Mosey a short way for block the plank, real crowd pleaser – would recommend, partner lunged across parking lot and back while other held strong with coupon on back. 3 rounds.

We gathered all coupons and played tetris getting them arranged in the truck and had enough time for a Mary, exercises were 30 flutter kicks, 20 APDs, 60 LBCs (oyo).

Appreciated the opportunity to lead, great work today fellas. YCH took us out, please keep those in need in your thoughts this holiday season.

Announcements:

West End – Friday Canned Goods Ruck

HDHH – Next Tuesday

See Slack

A partner unfriendly 7 Pax showed up to First Watch to see what was in store. A stroll to the corner of the parking lot for COP. Grab some blocks and off to the small triangle park.

Partner up for Pyramid Doras – 50 block swings, 100 tricep extensions, 200 curls, 300 bench press, 200 curls, 100 tricep extensions, 50 block swings. The other partner was bear crawling, karaoke, and bernie.

Over to Country Squire of half Dora for one broken into bite size portions. 25 Carolina Dry-docks, 25 Carolina Dry-docks, 50 Monkey Humpers, 50 Monkey Humpers, 50 Flutter Kicks, 50 Flutter Kicks, 50 Flutter Kicks. In between sets, we ran the neighborhood back to the AO.

YHC took us out.

7 First Watch regulars and 1 SOJ traveler woke before most to brave the tepid temps along River Road to see what YHC had in store. According to the 5.30 biker that cuts across the parking lot, this is what was rumored to have or have not occurred.

5.01 hit on Handshakes timer so off we go to the front of the church for disclaimer and warm ups that included DQ’s, Helis, Invisible Jump Rope, Jazzercise, Merkins and a bit of Broga to finish us off.

Mosey to the small side parking lot for 11’s. Donkey Kicks, bear crawl to the opposite side for Merkins. Lunge back.

Mosey to the front of the church for quadruple check. Timer runs to the vans, Australian Mountain Climbers, X Planks, LBC’s.

Mosey down Ridge to the southern end of the park for Burpee Dora that included 100 mountain climbers, 200 merkins, 300 jump squats.

Still time on the clock. Florence selected option A so BTTF for 3 minutes of ab work. Not So Lazy Boys with each Pax performing 10 ab exercises on their own.

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

Grow your stache for November. Merkin challenge vs. Jersey happening.

NMS: Good to have Florence join up today with an overshare. A bit mumble chatter but it seems the group is on a bit of a dry spell. Maybe the warmer temps and the leaves falling on Splinters trampoline will provide better tales next week. With Kubotas hopeful return, could some Florence Nightingale adventures be forthcoming? Well done fellas. Enjoy the day.

A Baker’s Dozen posted to First Watch on this warm, misty, gloomy, foggy morn in order to celebrate some anniversaries. There was also a workout, that went like this:

Mosey over to the tiniest of Henrico parks for:

COP:

SSH’s x 20, Helicopters x 10, Ukrainian Soldiers x 10, DQ’s x 10, Jazzercises x 10

Mosey down S. Ridge Road to almost the bottom for:

Traveling Lindsay:

Merkins and V-ups (ouch!)

High Knees, Butt Kickers, Ukrainian Soldier Walk, Bernie Sanders, Bear Crawl in between sets.

Toss the Q to Honeydo

Mosey back up to the parking lot and everyone grab a block.

Teams of 4 rotating between and completing two rounds of Overhead Press, Bench Press, Swings and run a lap around the parking lot.

Toss the Q to Splinter

One lap around parking lot with block in hand.

Redeposit blocks and mosey over to the curvy brick wall by the church.

Everyone complete/attempt to complete a Balls to the Wall Hand Walk along the length of the wall (this is sure to be shelved until the FW 10th Anniversary)

Mosey around behind the church to the main parking lot and complete 5 Jump Squats at each handicap sign (there were a lot) and bear crawl in between each sign. Turn around at the end and complete 5 Hand-Release Merkins at each sign and Lunge in between. Made it halfway before YHC took the Q back over (sorry, Splinter) and headed back the the shovel flag.

3 Burpees for the First Watch 3rd Anniversary

5 Burpees for YHC’s 5th F3RVA Anniversary

Numbers, Names, Announcements and YHC took us out!
Announcements: See Slack

Prayer Requests: Splinter’s former running coach, Coach Chuck. Splinter’s cousin’s family.

NMS:

Three years for First Watch and five years for YHC! Double celebration! To start off with, First Watch was an experiment that Honeydo and YHC started that seemed strong at first, waned for a while, grew back stronger for a few months, then really got strong and has stayed that way leading up to today. First Watch has been called a “Stand around and Watch each other” AO by one pax member early on, an “AO for those on the Injured Reserve” by another pax member early on and an AO that’s “not going to make it because it starts a 5am” by a host of others. Well, YHC calls BS!! We are now averaging around 12 each Wednesday with a high of 17. But, it’s not about numbers here. It’s about having a good time oversharing and just letting loose! Broga helps beforehand and coffeeteria helps afterwards. At this AO, anyone can share anything and not worry about any repercussions, especially those repercussions from our M’s. The workout this morning was a repeat of the first workout conducted here, by the same Q’s, at the end of October 2019. Thanks to all for helping make this AO what it is today!

In closing, YHC wants to thank everyone in the F3RVA pax for the last five years. YHC may not post regularly like he used to, but the brotherhood and friendships get stronger every week. YHC appreciates each and every one of you!

SYITG!

Kubota

Ten box hunters gathered, in shorts only of course, for today’s super creative First Watch Q. After Handshake and Marv rolled into their positions, we took a short lap around the lot before COP.

COP

• DQ x10
• Arm Circles x15
• SSH x20
• Hillbillies x15
• Mountain Climbers x10
• Scorpions x10
• Inverted Scorpions x10
• LBCs x20

The Thang

Short mosey to the near corner for some fresh air and instructions. 4 corners with 5x burpees, 10x dips, 15x jump squats, 20x WWIIs. Bear crawl the shorts and bernie the lengths. Repeato.

Medium mosey through the carpool lane and settle on the back side of the church for medium sized 4 corners. 10x burpees, 20x merkins, 30x Lt Dans, 40x 2 count flutters. Run length 1, karaoke 2, bernie 3, karaoke 4. Repeato with squats instead of Lt Dans.

Short mosey to the northeast corner and settle for large 4 corners. 20x burpees, 40x CDDs, 60x humpers, 80x LBCs. Run to the corner of river & ridge, carpool entrance, northwest corner, northeast corner.

One burpee then mosey to the traditional COP area for Mary which included HTH, Freddie Mercuries, Reverse Crunches, Dying Cockroaches, APD, right leg high APD, left leg high APD. BTTVSF where Marv improved to take us out.

Announcements

• 10/29 beer mile @ Faceplant’s
• Clydesdale shirts for sale only for the mega chungus in the group. Handshake was first to order.
• Call your parents for no reason

Moleskin

No overshare this week but the overflatulence award goes to the entire PAX whose GI apparently doesn’t adjust well to the cold weather. Multiple stains ensued.

Marv was the second to last to leave the parking lot and head east. YHC believes that Marv almost went left of the median on ridge, quickly adjusted, barely missed the sign, then scurried home. Only Marv, who likely won’t read this backblast, can confirm or deny.

I enjoyed it fellas. Splinter’s 195159th Q out, but who’s counting.

Nine guys bore the wrath of an angry Q.  Here’s what transpired:

Mosey behind the Church

COP

• Imaginary Invisible Jump Ropes
• Helicopters
• Copperhead Squats
• Arm Circles
• Imperial Walkers
• Merkins
• Suzanne Somers L/R
• Freddie Mercurys
• Hello Dollys
• Inverted Scorpion Kicks

Mosey back around to the Church patio

Super 21s

• Merkins/ WWIIs 1:1, 2:2, 3:3…18:18
• Monkey Humpers IC and a lap of Church after sets 10 and 15 (w Speed Bump Burpees)

Mosey to Block Pile

Lindsay – Overhead Block Press/ Block Squats (Super 21s sets 19 and 20 after Lindsay 20/20)

Block Curls x 20 IC

Return blocks and mosey to Henrico’s Tiniest Park

Boxing Cockroaches 2×25

Mosey back to Flag

Super 21s – set 21

Finish with Monkey Humpers

Numberama, Nameorama, COT

MOLESKIN

In the grand scheme YHC has no reason to complain, but the fact is YHC was a tired irritable Q this morning.  With barely a plan in place, YHC needed to work through some frustration.  Sorry, not really, sorry to those receiving the brunt of the punishment.  First Watch can really change a man’s mood and perspective though.  Thanks to all.  Coffeeteria topics of the day included proper birthday celebrations, teacher appreciation, retirement and the economics of Millennials and Gen Z.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Beer Mile 10/29 – See Faceplant

YHC wanting to be sure to be early to set up arrived to about 10 parked vehicles already in the lot…wow at 4:50am. Broga was in session across the street and those folks returned around 4:58 and cars were still coming in! Photo of the PAX below:

COP

We moseyed to the SE parking lot corner, so we had room for the large circle for warmups of: 20 SSH, 10 helicopters, 15 Arm circles (10 small 5 big), reverso, 10 DQ’s, 10 Imperial Walkers, 10 4ct LBC’s, 10 reverse scorpions, 10 scorpions and 20 merkins.

THANG

We mosey to the long part of the lot where a Red Barchetta was set up with glow sticks and the group ran to the far island past the glow stick for 100 SSH, run back to start and plank for 6. Run to blue glow stick (about 75 yards) for 75 lunges back to start plank for 6. Rund 2 second red stick and 50 squats back to start and plank for 6, run to first stick for 25 merkins back to start and plank for 6.

Next YHC has the pax count from 1-5 then repeat until we had 3 groups of 3 and 2 groups of 4. We mosey to the blocks and grab a block for each team (2 blocks for the 4 men teams). and we are ready for the first triple check. P1 – Runs lap around parking lot as timer, P-2 LBC’s and P3 – Upper body exercise of choice with coupon. WE do this rotation 3 times for a triple check.

Triple check number 2

P1 – Runs lap as a timer, P2 – merkins of choice, P3 – Squats with Block this is first rotation, second rotation the same except P2 -Flutter kicks, Third Rotation the same except P2 – Hand release merkins.

Triple Check number 2 (on 2 rotations as time ran out)

P1 -runs lap as timer, P2 Ab Exercise of Choice, P3 upper body coupon exercise of choice.

Mosey to flag for Numberama, Namerama.

COT

We circle up in man ball and YHC took us out in prayer.

Announcements – Please check the holiday weekends (Thanksgiving and Christmas) for the Breaking Bread activity as we need volunteers for these weekends.

Beer Mile event is happening October 29th at 7PM in Ginter Park…there will be details in Slack in 2nd F.

Moleskin

IF you ever think of slowing down in F3, just make a road trip to another venue and your cup will be refilled quickly. Like visiting old friends from school or home, just a nice warm bro-hug to feel recharged and ready for the day. Getting up at 4:15 to make this AO is well worth it as you also get the 2nd F benefit at Starbucks and can really catch up with the gang and even from my area north of the wall be home well before 7. Thank you, gents, for posting this morning and allowing me to lead at this great venue as it was a record one this morning. Enjoy the day brothers, Cheers….CB!

11 dedicated HIM set their alarms a bit earlier than normal to come together and talk about things that probably should not be repeated in polite company. According to the bats in the church bell tower, the following may have occurred:

Mosey from the VSF to the brick pavers in front of the entrance to the Baptist church for COP, consisting of 45 SSH’s, Deadman Hang, Downword Dogs, Merkins, Don Quixote, Arm circles (big then small), & Hillbillies

Mosey back to the parking lot to pick up coupons…..1 for every PAX. Mosey to the middle of the parking lot for parking lot circles with the block. We all did overhead press, curls, and block swings followed by overhead carry, lunge, and reverse lunges for a full circuit of the lot.

Mosey to the grassy triangle with blocks for a circuit of murdered bunnies. Start at the southern end of the triangle and murder bunny north to the first tree, jog back to the start and do 5 merkins, crab walk back to your block and murder bunny further north to the 2nd tree, jog back and do 10 merkins, then bear crawl back to your block and murder bunny north to the 3rd tree, jog back and do 15 merkins, then lunge back to your block and murder bunny the rest of the way to the fence, jog back and do 20 merkins. We did Al Gore for the 6 after each leg.

Mosey back to the parking lot to return the coupons, then mosey back to the bricks in front of the church for birthday burpees and abs. Do 1 burpee, then an ab exercise, then 2 burpees, another ab exercise, on upward to 9 burpees so we did 9 sets of ab exercises….usually 20 reps IC of each. Ab exercises included: Freddie Mercuries, Hello Dollies, Flutter Kicks, Dying Cockroaches, Crunchy Frogs (I think?), American Hammers, LBC’s, and something else. Once completed, mosey back to the VSF for numberama, namerama, and YHC took us out.

NMS:

YHC rolled in hot today with about 2 minutes to spare prior to launch. Several PAX expressed having doubted whether YHC would show and seemed to be quite relieved that they did not have to pivot to a hot potato. YHC was happy to be there to celebrate (belatedly) his birthday F3 style. For those that weren’t aware, YHC was out of town this past weekend, enjoying time at family at a location that will remain nameless. All I will say is it was an island and there was a beach.

YHC was appreciative of the moral support during the birthday burpess/abs session. There was some confusion as to which ab exercise a “crunchy frog” actually is, and the PAX was very gracious in letting YHC know that the exercise that I thought was a “crunchy frog” is actually a “dying cockroach”. YHC ran over the total workout time by about 2 minutes and again, the PAX were very understated and kind about how they let YHC know about that as well. Everyone seemed to be appreciative of the extra time needed to complete the 45 burpees each to celebrate YHC’s birthday.

Mumblechatter was at an all time high today, with several stories and comments that would make a lady of the night blush. Next time you see EF Hutton, ask him about precocious puberty……or maybe don’t, especially if you’ve just eaten. Splinter had some choice analogies with regards to arm circles…big then small…..full then partial. I’ll let your imagination fill in the rest.

OOTW involved activities that kids sometimes walk into unexpectedly that they could go through their entire lives without seeing and be the better for it. Once seen, some things in life cannot be unseen. Properly engaged locks are an often underappreciated blessing.

Coffee afterwards was enjoyable as always and it was great to have BT join us following WDog. It seems Hitchiker’s absence resulted in a lack of caffeine post workout that sent the PAX looking for alternate sources. Glad to accomodate boys! #FirstWatch is 30 minutes earlier but Starbucks is right down the street.

YHC is thankful on this, his 45th birthday, for the 8 years he has been involved in F3. These friendships have sustained me during some really hard times and you also helped me build maybe the most robust shed that has ever been raised in RVA. Thanks for everything boys!

Fudd out.

10 strong took on a humid start to fall at FW. We searched for the crane from last week at the start in the COP but managed to find it on the other side of the church. We did:

COP: Invisible Jump rope, Don Qs, Arm Circles, Freddy Mercurys, Merkins, Scorpion Kicks.

Mosey to back lot and partner up: Dora 123 of: 100 Derkins, 200 Donkey Kicks, 300 Flutterkicks. Switch partners and Wheelbarrow across and back of the lot. Head over to side of church for 4 rounds of: bear crawl across, 15 Merkins, lunge back & 20 LBCs. Mosey over to Coupon drop zone.

Partner up. 1 PAX runs to end of lot & back while other does exercise. 4 exercises were: Block Swings, Curls, Squats, Presses. Stay with partner. Lunge the entire parking lot and back while partner does 5 burpees, runs to catch up and switches block. Finish up with 1 min of American Hammers.

NMS: Solid group this morning. Temps and humidity made for more challenging conditions than the last week. Was nice to have the crane in the back lot as a marker, Upchuck would have created a new exercise: Touch a Crane. BB title comes from Bacon Bits filling in for Handshake by coming in hot at 4:59.

Crazy to have 2 PAX members in their 20s post to a 5:00 am beatdown, that’s dedication. When the blocks were grabbed nobody took the new mega-blocks. As a FW founding member YHC declares Marv a First Watch probationary regular, which means he is under probationary status for 2 months where he can overshare and then earn full regular status.

A, reportedly, record breaking 14 men were seen in the gloom on this sub 60 degree, well before the crack of dawn, First Watch.

An interesting note before we get started…

–Who knew that some of the guys really do get together at 4:30 for Yoga. Here I was, this fledgling member of First Watch, thinking that the chatter on the text was pretty much tongue in cheek. No Sir. When they say that they are on the mat at 4:30 am, they are on the mat at 4:30am. I would say that I would never do that…but then again, I can remember thinking that I’d never do First Watch, yet here I am.

It’s been awhile since YHC, HC’ued a boot camp style workout. When I say awhile, I probably mean over three years. Reading that in print is pretty embarrassing, YHC needs to probably jump into that a little more. That being said, we decided to go THEMATIC for the morning…”Build a Bear”.

The Thang…

The morning got off to an auspicious start with a huge freaking crane where we planned to circle up to warm up. That moved the circle to the relatively damp grass in front of the soon to be under construction church (either that or someone just left a crane there).

10 Donkey Hoetees. 10 Helicopters. 20 Side Straddle Hops. 15 arm circles forward, 15 arm circles backwards. 10 mercans. 10 Ukranian Freedom Fighters

Mosey south on River to Country Squire Lane.

The “Build A Bear” instructions were, apparently, lacking to some of the Pax and the mumble chatter ramped up a bit. Fair enough. Essentially, we were going to do three different sets of partner exercises on three different hills around the neighborhood…each having to do with a bear (Bear Crawl, Crawl Bear (thanks for the assist on that one Kubota), Polar Bear). Whichever “Bear” exercise you did for your first one, you could NOT do at the next location. Had YHC had to do it over again, he would’ve said “We are going to three locations over the course of the Q, this is our first one, you have to choose one of the three Bear exercises…whichever one you choose, you cannot do in the next two heats.” But it didn’t come out that way.

Handshake mentioned that while YHC can run fast, I’m not that efficient. That’s been a lifelong struggle, but I also invite Handshake to run with me on Friday morning for 45 minutes.

The Q went up the Country Squire hill by the Goodwin house, which I think is finally finished. Or maybe it’s close to finished and they just park their crane by the church on off days.

Q then went down Westham Station road and “Built the Bear” (get it?) on Overlook Drive.

Arm Circles and Mercans at the bottom of the hill.

Q then went up Westham Station road and “Built the Bear” up to Ross.

Arm Circles and Mercans at Ross.

“Built the Bear” (the 4th time, alternationg from Polar Bear to Bear Crawl to Crawl Bear” back to Country Squire Road.

Executed three Richard Kimballs on the way back to the flag.

COT–Iron Cross, 20 American Hammers, Spell “Build a Bear”, Superman’s (with song), 10 Mercans

YHC Took Us Out.

Great to have Monroe visiting us from Wilson, NC.