Tag: First Watch

Ten strong launched pre-dawn (and pre-WDOG) and set the First Watch of the day. Weather conditions remained steady at sunny and 70, exceptional for early December. The Q cannot find his actual watch, so Honey Do called “close enough” at 4:59:45. Apologies to any PAX who showed up on-time.

Mosey around the parking lot and across to the front of the church for the COP

SSHs
Dead Man Hang
Its
Helicopters
HRMs
LBCs

The PAX (well, those who are old enough to remember) were reminded of a long-ago Q with the cadence. “You can do it,” “stay with me now,” “my count is true.” Some PAX found this inspirational. Good for them.

Mosey 10 Feet to the church steps for Touch-a-Tree

Triple up for Touch a Triple Check. Directions…blah, blah, blah. There are 7 big trees (not bushes or little trees, Splinter). If the plant is shorter than you, it does not count. Touch every darn one of those big ones. Swap places with your partners. Do this three times. Non-runners do WWIIs and Derkins. This worked so well, YHC plans to do it again soon.

Slow Mosey Around the Church Building. At each “sign,” meaning a thing attached to a pole or post in the ground and having standard letters of the Latin alphabet, stop, drop to the ground, and perform 5 WWIIs. If the sign is a handicapped sign, do 5 Lt. Dan’s.

YHC drove around most of the building this morning counting signs. Alas, “most” and “all” are not synonyms. Turns out there are about 10-12 signs in a very small area that was not re-conned pre-Beat Down. Happily, the PAX pointed out that the bushes there are very well manicured. The PAX also adapted (and griped). YHC apologizes.

Assemble on the back steps of the church for a triple check. One man carries a high-end tire (They are beautiful tires. The best. Lotta people are saying those are the best tires. Very classy.) to the fully bricked-in garbage area (again, very fancy) and back. Remaining partners do balls-to-the-wall and reverse crunches.

Continue the mosey around the parking lot with 5 WWIIs at each sign.

(At some point during this exercise, a small group assembled at W-Dog, patted themselves on the back for successfully awakening, and started to exercise. Good work, fellas. Way to get after it. You should take pride in starting second.)

Mosey back to the parking lot for a little Lindsey. Or, Lindsay. Or, Lin-zee. Or, Lin-z. Or,…

Pick up a block. Do a total of 40 flutter kicks and squats (with block). Debate with your neighbor the possible varieties of counting to 40. Run to roughly the 4th tree in the parking lot. Stop. Repeat the above. Do this again and again until mental exhaustion or time.

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

NMS:

Lots of griping today about the WWIIs. Lotta griping.

Anniversary of YHCs Dad going home to God on Friday. 10 years. Let’s keep Mom in our prayers – big day for her.

OSOTW goes to eHarmony who has developed enough self-confidence at F3 to have his VQ next week. Way to go. Little #$*(er.

UpChuck spits the bit.

With 2 newish regulars added to the mix, First Watch numbers remain consistent despite some of the original Redwoods’ absences.

Here’s what transpired:

Mosey to the church patio. 

COP Hot Potato Style

• SSHs
• Cherry Pickers
• DQs
• Merkins
• Reverse Crunches
• LBCs
• Suzanne Somers
• Jazzercises

Mosey back to rear corner of SF parking lot

Endless Escalator – Exercise 1, Run a Lap, Exercise 1 + 2, Run a Lap, Exercise 1+2+3, Run…..Exercise 1-10 and Run a Lap (20 reps of each exercise)

1. Merkins (200 total)
2. Imperial Squat Walkers single count (180)
3. WWIIs (160)
4. Carolina Dry Docks (140)
5. Dips (120)
6. Crunchy Frogs (100)
7. Block Curls (80)
8. Block Thrusters (60)
9. Heals to Heaven (40)
10. Burpees (20) – No finishers, UpChuck came closest on the Burpees

Mosey back to SF

Numberama, Nameorama, COT

MOLESKIN

YHC’s typed exercise list generated some snickers from the PAX, but after a few rounds the routine proved no laughing matter.  Groans, moans, grunts, farts, and many other intimate UpChuck sounds say this workout was a smoker.  No one was able to finish, a slightly briefer COP next time will put the PAX right on time.  No official OSOTW award, however Handshake did recently enjoy the same cinema classic as Mr. and Mrs. Bone Thugs.  Praise that UpChuck’s MIL is doing pretty well, despite what she’d say about his FIL.  Great job by the youth movement and Last Call was never more than a few steps behind the lead PAX.  Solid 2^nd F coffeteria with UpChuck and Handshake centered around ring tones, publications, and toll roads.  You had to be there.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Convergence at Mary Munford Thanksgiving – 6am

CSAUP Forest Hill Loops Black Friday – 7am, 8am, 9am, whenever you want to join

8 Early Rising Sexy Men converged on the humid streets of First Watch to start the day with minimal running. YHC had been sucking wind that last few weeks with First Watch becoming a 2nd Spider Run AO. To avoid another tour of Westham, I grabbed the Q last week to minimize miles and promote stationary exercises with some light jogging.

5.30 rang and off we moseyed down passing bumpers for Burpees to front of the Church for THE THANG:

COP #1 included F3 waiver, DQ’s, Helis, Cherry Pickers, Arm Circles, Reverso, Freddies, LBC’s, Scorpion Kicks, Merkins.

COP #2 Parking Lot Beast: A Typical Beast is an up and back routine. This beast was a modification with a mixture of 4 corners and 2 additional stops along the way. 6 Exercises at 6 stops for 6 rounds. Routine included Hand Release Merkins, 2 count Mountain Climbers, WWII’s, 2 count American Hammers, Plank Jacks and the always popular Burpee.

COP #3 Mankillers: Following a quick rest to allow for some oversharing, mosey to the Main Church Entrance to circle up. Would not be an SOJ Q without bringing in a SOJ tradition of Mankillers. After a quick counting error, YHC got the ball rolling for 10 sets of SSH’s starting at 10 Full SSH, 10 3/4 SSH, 10 1/2 SSH, 10 1/4 SSH. Next up is 9, 8, 7 etc. Not much mumble chatter.

COP #4 Circle Work: With the calves burning, slow mosey back to original parking lot for some routine circle work. Coupons were brought out for some AMRAP work with 8 exercises. Timer was a jog around the parking lot. Rotate exercises upon runners return. Chest Press (w/ coupon), Curls (w/ coupon), Rows (w/coupon), Squats, WWII’s, American Hammers, Mountain Climbers or Lunges. 1 round with each exercise.

Stay in the Circle for a Merkin Ring of Fire. Variety of 10 merkins OYO in order while rest of the PAX planks.

Numbers, Names, Announcements. YHC took us out.

Announcements:

– Veterans Day is today. Thank you to Honeydo and all those Service Men and Women that help keep our country safe to allow us the ability to live of life of freedom.

– Thanksgiving Miseducation by TYA at Mary Munford at 6 am Thanksgiving morning. See Slack for details.

– Black Friday runathon following – see Slack for details.

Moleskin: Running is not a specialty of YHC so seeing the Q was open, was quickly grabbed to minimize future miles. Great Mumble Chatter this morning including some Honeydo oversharing, penisillin, and stories for “friends” getting busted watching Cinemax late night. Future generations have it so easy now with 24/7 internet. YHC always enjoys the challenge of Mankillers that Doozy started at SOJ. Glad to hear the PAX enjoyed this time burner.

Honor leading you boys today. Thank you for the good times and laughs along the way.

Nine men shook off the lure of the Fartsack and one FNG just never went to bed at all (heck yeah!) in order to celebrate one-year anniversary of F3RVA’s earliest sharefest, First Watch. To the surprise of no one, temps were sunny and 70. With a Hot Potato Q on order, the PAX launched for:

Kubota-Q: Mosey to the front of the Church for the COP:

Don Quixote’s
Side-Straddle Hops
Helicopters (??)
Little Baby Crunches
Hand-release Mercans
Scorpion Kicks
Reverse Scorpion Kicks

Mosey to the Triangle for a Triple-Check:

First Man: Run the triangle
Second Man: World War II sit-ups
Third Man: Lt. Dan’s

Toss to HoneyDo and Mosey to the Parking Lot:

Partner up and grab a block (to share).
Timer: run to end of parking lot
Second Man: Perform an exercise until the runner returns.
Round 1: Swings
Round 2: Overhead press
Round 3: Squats
Round 4: World War II + Press

Toss to Splinter and Mosey to the Other Side of the Parking Lot for:

Evil.

AKA, Elevens.
Bear Crawl across parking lot.
10 Burpees.
Crawl Bear back.
1 Jump-Squat (which should really be called a Squat-Jump, but no matter.)
Repeato 9-2, 8-3, 7-4, 6-5, 5-6, 4-7, etc.

Toss to UpChuck for 5 Minutes of Mary.

Flutter kicks (x20 4-count), hold 6 inches (normal and spread eagle), Hello Dolly (x10), hold 6 inches, reverse crunches (4 count x47), hold 6 inches.

Number-a-ma, Name-a-ram-a, EF Hutton took us out.

Announcements:

Let’s keep Offshore’s family in mind. MIL passed away.

Big day at the HoneyDo house. The PAX is behind you all – good luck, Erin!

NMS:

YHC arrived at 4:50 a.m. Already present were Hutton, Kubota, and a man who introduced himself as “Josh.” YHC has decided Josh is a Stud. Josh is 32, has 2 kids (including a 2 month old), and is friends with MARV and POG. YHC calls him a stud because Josh didn’t sleep last night – was up with his 2 month old daughter. Still posted to his first workout – alone. That sounds like our kind of guy. Josh found F3RVA through Google – we think he found his true love online. Welcome, eHarmony.

He also won the Oversharer of the Week Award.

A lucky 7 beefcakes arose earlier than most to get their sweat on before the sun could peak above the trees. Perfect weather for an autumn smoker. As typical YHC promised a minimal running Q, this is it is rumored to have occurred.

5 am struck, lets mosey to Henrico’s darkest park. Warmorama included SSH’s, DQ’s, Helis, Arm Circles, Gumbo Style Freddie Mercuries and a Pax favorite – Scorpion Kicks. Warm, lets get started

Mosey to parking lot for a bit of 4 corners SOJ style (prostitute). 10 Lt. Dans (switched to lunges after round 2), 20 Bone Rubs, 30 Dancing Bears, 40 WWII’s.

Mosey to front of church stopping for a burpee check at each speed bump. A perfect number of Coupons were found for a TABATA workout. Circle up at your favorite cinderblock with everyone leading 4 sets of 20 second exercises AMRAP with a 10 second rest. Coupon included exercises were overhead dips, squats, curls for the girls, around the world, coupon run, chest press and the very popular American hammers.

Just enough time left to coupon carry BTTF to deposit coupon on the pile for future use.

Numberama, Namerama, Announcements – YHC took us out.

Announcements – Shoe Drive continues. Seems to be a bit of competition between Nanoregions. See your local rep to collect lightly used footwear. Prayers for Hightower, F3 brother from South Carolina that was seriously injured in the line of duty.

I may have missed other announcements so please see comments below.

Moleskin: YHC was hoping to get a 4 corner and Tabata workout in but the parking lot was a bit larger than planned. This led to the audible to lunges and elimination of decreased corners after WWII’s.

Tabata workout was a 1st for YHC but PAX came up with some great exercises and mumble chatter was excellent. Music is certainly recommended in the future. Thank you for indulging me in this effort. Luckily the coupons worked out perfectly.

Appreciate the regulars coming out and encouraging YHC out of the fartsac on a weekly basis as today was a glorious morning. Great chatter during and afterward, really shows why this is such a great group.

All in a mere 45 minutes at First Watch this morning as 6 regulars were met with clear skies and perfect 60 degree weather.

COP: SSH, Don Qs, Russian Soldiers, Merkins, Freddy Mercurys, Scorpion Kicks. Mosey to main lot for Dora 123:

100 Derkins, 200 Heels2Heaven, 300 Jump Squats while other runs the lot & back. Mosey back to Cinder block drop area and retrieve all 6. Head over to River Rd for an ill-advised Lindsey: Bicep Curls & Squats with run across road between.

Partner up again for 3 sets of 20 PLTs then 100 block presses & 50 Block swings. Overhead carry blocks back to drop zone.

4 rounds of sprints down the road then back to flag for 1 min of Mary. YHC took us out.

NMS: Lots of mumblechatter before, during, & after this am. First off kudos to Upchuck who was hauling on the Dora. Like hella fast, like way faster than Splinter fast. He rightfully was beaming on this newfound speed.

EF Hutton warned the pax upon arrival that the other end of a lot had a mangly fox who did not move for his car while pulling in, YHC thought it best to avoid that side lest we end up with someone getting rabies shots later today. At the end we were greeted by one of Henrico’s finest who shouted at us to get out of the road.

This morning’s weekly “Oversharer in the Gloom” Award goes to Splinter, wrestling the title from Handshake for last week. Only those who post will get the joke. Kubota reminded us that First Watch is coming up on 1 year. This little experimental AO has turned in to a favorite for YHC.

Announcements: Retreat this weekend, cornhole spots are still available. October we are gathering gently used shoes to donate. YHC will be the West end collector – see Gypsy pre-blast & Slack announcements. Malpractice posted on Slack about another opportunity to help Crossover Ministry. check it out. Also Upchuck posted about Breaking Bread starting back up – see Slack. LOTS of opportunities to help out right now with F3RVA – pick one or more and dive in!

4 Corinthian warriors of the Ancient Gloom volunteered to take up the First Watch, today consisting of Zeus’ perpetual mountain penance, “The Sisyphus.” (Credit: Mr. Holland) With several FW regulars called away on various forms of Family Duty, the PAX set off precisely at 05:00, collectively commenting on the particularly pleasant, precisely sunny and 70, weather conditions.

Mosey 30 yards to South Westham, Ridge, and some other street.

SSHs
DQs
S’s DMH
Downward Dog (right leg high, then left leg high)
Hip and hamstring stretch

Note the First Orange Disk marking the Top of the Hill. That’s the Return Point for each round.

Round 1: Run downhill on South Westham to the Second Disk. Bear crawl uphill to the Return Point.

Round 2: Run downhill to the Third Disk. Pick up a block. 25 curls. Leave the block. Run uphill to the Return Point.

Round 3: Run downhill to the Third Disk. Pick up a block. Continue downhill to the Fourth Disk. 25 Downhill Facing Derkins. Leave the block. Run uphill to the Return Point.

Round 4: Run downhill to the Fourth Disk. Pick up a block. Continue downhill to the Fifth Disk. 25 Uphill WWIIs. Leave the block. Run uphill to the Return Point.

Round 5: Run downhill to the Fifth Disk. Pick up a block. Continue downhill to the Sixth Disk. Quadra-Triple Check. One PAX runs back to the Fourth Disk. Other PAX rotate through Flutter Kicks, Box Cutters, and Block Presses. Leave the block. Run 20 Yards to the First No Parking Sign.

Park in the No Parking Zone – Complete 5 WWIIs at the next four No Parking Signs. Run to the Last No Parking Sign. Return to the Blocks.

Round 6: Pick up a block. Carry it up South Westham BTTF. Accumulate any Orange Disks and Blocks along the way. YHC thanks the PAX for their clean-up efforts.

Announcements:

YHC is taking up a collection to buy Handshake’s wife an electric toothbrush.

Ts&Ps for Florence’s MIL and Handshake’s Grandmother. Also, the entire Kubota Residence has been put under one of those 1970s Insect Infestation Nets for Fumigation purposes. YHC assures the PAX that no actual organisms will be harmed in this process; rather, they will be captured humanely and offered sanctuary on the Hardywood Family Farm, where the guineas, chickens, goats, alpacas, and bats will simply consume each organism to the point of its natural death.

NMS: YHC has been itching for several years to attend and/or Q this workout ever since Mr. Holland introduced it at Twin Team. YHC thanks Mr. Holland. Good stuff. Each round brought an additional level of grip-i-tude from the PAX.

For more on Sisyphus, https://www.ancient.eu/sisyphus/

UpChuck spits the bit.