Tag: GridIron

A cooler, late summer morning brought a PAX of 8 for GridIron.  Byproduct arrived first followed by Mr. Holland (new to the GridIron AO), Alpo (recently relocated to Fredericksburg from Kernersville, NC F3), GridIron regulars Attila, White Deer, and Flip Phone, and YHC.  Right, you count 7 names.  More on that later.

We planted a ShovelFlag at the edge of the parking lot, exchanged proper pleasantries, and proceeded with this Thang:  Startup COP with SSHs x 25, 20 x Imperial Walkers, Don Quixotes, and Helicopters, and 15 x Arm Circles (forward and reverse, big and small).

Most other Saturdays, we’ve had Pouncey Tract Park to ourselves and we’ve sometimes used the Bermudagrass football field for our workouts.  This week, the sides of the field were roped off and the field itself included fresh lines prior to the Tuckahoe Tomahawks’ first home game.  YHC planned to use one of the fields.  We moseyed around the fresh field and up the short hill to the Middle School’s football field and started a deconstructed all-Burpee Beast.

Takeru Kobayashi has won Nathan’s hot dog eating contest multiple times and has done so by separating the hot dogs from their buns and eating each separately.  We broke the usual Beast into smaller parts, completing 9 Burpees and running about 40 yards (over 25 yards) and back, and doing so 24 times.  We collected the PAX every couple of rounds by having faster finishers complete other exercises until all were done, including LBCs and APDs.  We also moved from the field to the nearby high jump area for other exercises, including Box Cutters, Squats, and more LBCs and APDs.  We completed the final rounds with a couple of minutes to spare and remained on the field for a couple of stretches.

We moseyed back to the ShovelFlag and, amid gathered youth football players and fans, we found Night Crawler with 2.0s in tow, and preparing to workout.  COT, with all 8 of us, and Attila took us out.  Coffeeteria afterwards at the usual spot, Einstein Bros.

Moleskin:  We’ve talked over the past few months about an all-Burpee Beast.  Sorry to do this without Johnsonville, but J’ville was in NC completing BRR legs with our F3 brothers.  Get better soon Earthworm.  Good to see the guys this morning – the regulars, of course, but also Mr. Holland and Alpo.  Keep coming back fellas.  Good seeing Cecil and M Cecil at coffee – Cecil will be back in action soon.

Announcements:  1) ReeseStrong 5K followed by Circle K Crabfest – next Saturday, 2) GridIron AO Anniversary – next Saturday – hot potato Q, and 3) Broader F3 Richmond Anniversary celebration through Convergence – September 30th.  Second F pregame at GridIron starting in October – details later.

Today was a challenge at Gridiron as this AO’s faithful have been ravaged by injuries (more to come).  For those that are still standing, here is how it went down:

• COP
  • 25 SSH
  • 25 Russian Soldiers
  • 10 merkins
  • 20 Freddy Mercuries
  • 20 Crab Cakes
  • 20 DQ
  • Arm Circles – 10 small/5 big – both forwards and backwards
  • Bear crawl around parking lot island
• Mosey to playground for 24/7’s – 7 jerkins and 24 PLTs x3 (some guys got in an extra set of jerkins while waiting for the group to finish
• Mosey to the football field for a Lindsay with dips and WWII sit-ups
• Mosey to the track for 10 minutes of intervals – 30 seconds hard run followed by 30 second mosey
• Over to SPMS field for a Dora – 100 Carolina Drydocks, 200 Hello Dollys and 300 squats
• Mosey to the picnic pavilion for 25 one-legged step-ups with each leg
• AMRAP on football field – bear crawl ½ width of field, run ½ width, backwards run back full width
• COT with YHC taking us out

We have some significant injuries amongst various Gridiron posters/faithful as noted below:

• Earthworm – eye injury, OUT
• Cecil – back injury, TAKE HEED TO PRE-WORKOUT DISCLAIMER
• Ragweed – back stiffness, TAKE HEED TO PRE-WORKOUT DISCLAIMER
• Nightcrawler – ¾ inch deep cut on foot, OUT
• White Deer – swallowed by fart sack due to lack of testosterone, OUT
• Loose Goose – injured calf/Achilles; TAKE HEED TO PRE-WORKOUT DISCLAIMER
• Johnsonville – no known current injuries, but it is only a matter of time

Stay healthy my friends.  The humidity is gone.  The weather is spectacular.  There is not a better time to post at your favorite AO’s.

Announcements:

• Convergence on September 30th – 6 am and 7 am workouts; bring the numbers

It was a privilege to lead these men this morning.  Nothing better than the fellowship that comes from a good beatdown.

Attila

A half dozen regulars posted for GridIron.  Arranged after Circus Maximus on Thursday, Johnsonville, Earthworm, and YHC agreed on a Hot Potato Q.  The Qing sequence was quickly agreed-upon just before the starting bell with Earthworm opting for the finish, Johnsonville taking the start, and YHC taking the middle slot.  Jville commandeered the Clown Car bringing White Deer, Hoops, and Cletus.  Earthworm and YHC arrived solo.  The air was worm and humidity was very heavy.

Johnsonville led off the starting COP with SSHs, Merkins, Hillbillies, Pickle Pounders, and Don Quixotes.  We completed 23 of the first exercise, 13 of the second, 19.5 of the third, and YHC lost his ability to count thereafter.  Jville led our mosey over to the sideline of the nearby fine turf football field and we completed a Bear Crawl across, a Crab Walk back, Karaoke facing west and headed back across the field, and, facing the same way, Karaoke back.  Hit the endline and turn around to complete a Back Pedal for the entire length of the field, complete 10 Burpees, and Back Pedal all the way back.  One more pass down the length of the field via Plank Walk facing north for about 10 yards, turn the other way and plank walk, Bunny Hop, Duck Walk, and Polar Bear, stopping at the far end zone.  From under the goal posts, run downhill to the bleachers at the lower field and Back Pedal back up the hill, completing 5 rotations.  Q tag with YHC.

Completed 100 LBCs OYO in the end zone.  Up and mosey to the school parking lot.  Complete 6 exercises in sequence:  Wide Grip Merkins, Squats, Flutter Kicks (2 count), Carolina Dry Docks, Forward Lunges (1 count), and Box Cutters.  First round – complete 30 of the first exercise followed by 15 of the others. Move to another parking space.  Second round – complete 30 of the Squats and 15 of the others, moving the 30 reps through the sequence.  Audible called as time approached 7:40 AM.  Had just finished the 3rd round.  For 4th and final round, completed 15 reps of the first 3 exercises and 30 of the last 3 exercises.  Q tag with Earthworm.

PAX self-selected, following Earthworm’s instructions, long or short mosey routes back to the starting parking lot.  The PAX had deposited kettlebells on the sidewalk prior to the start of the workout and returned to this spot.  Lined up on our backs with our heads at the edge of the curb, we completed rounds of Pullovers, Alabama Prom Dates, Skull Splitters, and APDs once again.  Earthworm had the PAX pass around a nickel and the individual receiving the nickel would complete 5 additional reps of the next exercise.  We completed, by YHC’s count, five full rounds of this sequence.  Finished with a couple of minutes to spare and circled up for one-armed Upright Rows, passing around the heavier bells.  In the same spot, COT and Jville took us out.

Announcements – Convergence, ReeseStrong, and BRR – check this week’s other posts.  Jville and Earthworm – correct where needed.

Two of the faithful posted at GridIron in the driving rain, while most of the regulars decided that they deserved a cozy respite. Johnsonville took Q, thus completing his SOJ leadership duties. This is what went down:

Warmup COP with 50x ssh, 50x LBC, 10x merkins, 25x crab cakes, etc.

Mosey to gridiron for beast with
burpees
burpees
monkey humpers
WWII situps
burpees
flutter kicks

Mosey to track. 1/4 mi. intervals. rinse and repeat several more times.

Mosey to front of school. Descending merkin ladder.

Mosey to VSF. COT with Attila taking us out.

Coffeeteria.

YHC contemplated a full burpee beast, but put that back in the lineup so that we can get full, or nearly full, participation. I hope everyone enjoyed their travels and rest, because it’s only a matter of time….

Great job, Attila! Thank you all for giving me a chance to lead during SOJ week. Jville

9 Gridiron faithfuls and 2 new redwoods showed up for beatdown this morning.  I do not hate them; I just hate myself.  Here is how it went down:

• COP
  • 25 SSH
  • 20 Russian Soldiers
  • 20 Freddy Mercuries
  • 15 Crab Cakes
  • 20 Hello Dollys
  • 30 APD
  • 10 merkins
  • 20 Copperhead Squats
  • 10 8 count body builders
  • 20 Helicopters
• Mosey to the playground and partner-up
  • 4x – 20 PLT/10 jerkins
• Mosey to the SPMC field for an abbreviated beast with burpees, monkey humpers, LBCs and merkins
• Mosey to the short hill by for 10 Bernies
• Mosey to the football field for a triple check
  • Dips
  • KB high pulls
  • Run across the field and back
• COT with YHC taking us out

Today was an awesome example of why Gridiron is great.  Nightcrawler was flying solo as a single parent this weekend with 3 young girls…God bless you Nightcrawler!  You are a brave man.  He brought his girls, and MEarthworm came and played with them while Daddy got a beatdown.  Not going to see that every day or at every AO.   These girls now know that Daddy is one of the boys.  Thankfully, he did not hurl in their presence.  Sounds like he was on the hairy edge today.

Welcome to EF Hutton; hard to believe that you have been to Gridiron before.  It has been a while since we had a double dipper at Gridiron.  Major t-claps for him.  He did mention that it was good to miss the jerkins after Swirly’s traditional arm beatdown.

Welcome also to Screwball!  Good to have another connection to the Gloucester corridor.  Hoops’ cousin got a taste of his growing strength.  Hoops was strong today, leading the pack during the beast.  Where did that come from?  White Deer might need to check that boy for chest hair.

Announcements:

• Convergence on September 30th – 6 am and 7 am workouts; bring the numbers
• Cecil will be bringing back the pre-game devotional back to Gridiron in September – more details to come

It was a privilege to lead these men this morning.  Nothing better than the fellowship that comes from a good beatdown.

Attila

A PAX of 7 familiar with the offerings of GridIron posted for this morning’s workout.  We gathered in the usual spot at the Pouncey Tract Park parking lot, exchanged greetings and/or barbs, then started the Thang like so:

Jog across the well-manicured football field to the edge of the western endzone for the startup COP with 5 Burpees, then Seal Jacks x 20, Russian Soldiers x 20, Helicopters x 20, Merkins x 10, and LBCs x 30.

Mosey eastward across the football field and down the hill from the scoreboard to the smaller field for a Four Corner variant.  Jog to the first corner of the field for SSHs x 10 then to the following corner adding Carolina Dry Docks x 20.  Continue to other corners adding exercises to the other exercises with Copperhead Squats x 30, then Box Cutters x 40.  Continue back around the field removing the earlier exercises.  Plank at final corner until the full PAX is collected.

Return the bleachers on the groomed football field for an AMRAP round, completing Back Extensions x 10, Rosalitas x 20, and Alabama Prom Dates x 30.  Target was at least 4 rounds within about 12 minutes.

Brief Ark Loader interlude with Bear Crawl to mid-field, Crab Walk back, Bear Crawl back to mid-field, and Bunny Hop back.

The bleachers once again for a second AMRAP round, completing Plank Jacks x 10, Incline Merkins x 20, and Alternating Step Ups x 30.  Target, again, was 4 rounds within about 12 minutes.

Finish with Ring of Fire.  Start jogging in place with each PAX member completing 3 Burpees, then passing it around one round.  Down to plank, then 5 Merkins each around the circle from Plank position.  Flip over and hold Dead Cockroach, passing around 5 WWII Sit Ups.

Back to the parking lot for COT with name-a-rama and numberama.  Attila took us out.

TNM:  Missed some GridIron regulars.  PAX thoughts and prayers with White Deer’s family.  Wishing speedy recovery for Cecil and Earthworm.  Nice work from young Yale today staying just ahead of J’ville.  Nice work also Ragweed in knocking out that last AMREP set.  The morning mist was refreshing, but it was good catching up indoors after for the coffeteria.

Announcements:  Convergence at GridIron on Saturday, September 30th.  Offerings of 6 AM and 7 AM workouts.  More details to follow.  There are hopes for filling the large football field – bring FNGs and Kotters (and yourselves).

It is the dog days of summer, but that did not stop 8 strong redwoods from posting today at Gridiron.  YHC and White Deer shared the Q, with YHC starting us off.  Here is how it went down:

• COP
  • 25 SSH
  • 20 Russian Soldiers
  • 20 Freddy Mercuries
  • 25 APD
  • 10 merkins
  • 20 Helicopters
  • 8 8 count body builders
• Mosey to the playground and partner-up
  • 25 PLT/10 jerkins x2
• Mosey to the Pavillion – 25 dips, 25 one leg step-ups (right leg), 25 dips, 25 one leg step-ups (left leg) at the picnic tables
• Mosey to the Gridiron for 4 corners
  • 4x 10 burpees
  • 4x 10 LBC
  • 4x 10 monkey humpers
  • 4x 10 WWII sit-ups
  • 2x 10 merkins/2x 10 Carolina dry docks
• Bear crawl 1/4 of the football field and then run to the end zone before YHC passed the Q to White Deer
• Mosey to the parking lot
  • 2 minute plank challenge
  • 10 merkins with left leg raised/10 merkins with right leg raised
  • Boat/canoe with KB
  • 10 KB presses with each arm
  • 20 KB Alabama honeymoons
  • 10 one armed curls with each arm
  • 10 KB halos
  • 10 second KB hold
  • Bear crawl around the island
• COT with YHC taking us out followed by coffee at Einsteins

YHC and White Deer were supposed to split the Q 50/50.  In actuality, YHC took 75%, much to the joy of Johnsonville’s back.  As always, Johnsonville led the charge with a strong performance, but there were some concerns that he might (re)injure himself during the workout.  Raise your hands if this surprises you.

Strong showing from Cecil in his grand reappearance.  In addition, it was great to see Ragweed back at the Gridiron.  Great perseverance on a humid morning!

The highlight of the workout was White Deer demonstrating jerkins on the playground.  As always, White Deer was fast and reckless, slamming is head on the bars.  Most people would be impacted by such a fierce blow to the head.  Not so with White Deer; no harm and onward he went.  Draw your own conclusions.

Finally, as for announcements, there was a happy hour for Toga on Wednesday.  Sorry if you missed that.  The event appeared to fly under the radar.  Toga, we will miss you; come back soon!

Stay cool in this heat.  Drink plenty liquids (or was that what the M told me to do this morning before I left).

Attila

Eleven experienced PAX posted for Gridiron on a sunny, humid Saturday morning.  YHC arrived a little early and planted the ShovelFlag.  In contrast to other times of the year, the parking lot already contained a few cars – those of some other guys getting some sweat going somewhere else on the AO.

The Thang:  After an abbreviated disclaimer, including an explanation that while we’d discussed one day taking on an all Burpee Beast at Gridiron, YHC had not planned one for the morning.  We did start with some Burpees (only 5) followed by 20 each of SSHs, Don Quixotes, Imperial Walkers, and Helicopters, 15 Arm Circles (each way of differing diameters), and 10 Alternating Arm Hugs.

Jog to the northern edge of the parking lot.  Knock out 5 Burpees then Lunge Walk the length of the nearby footbridge.  Alternate 5 Burpees and Lunge Walking or a Light Jog three more times completing the jog at the edge of the Strikers Park parking lot.

Using the seven columns of parking spaces in this parking lot, complete exercises in each space one column at a time.  Per column, from Pouncey Tract Road and working east, complete Burpees, Squats, Hello Dollys, Carolina Dry Docks, Side Lunges, Flutter Kicks, and Merkins.  Complete 1 Burpee per parking space, 2 of each arm and leg exercise, and 3 of each abdominal exercise – resulting in 25 Burpees, 60 Squats, 90 Hello Dollys, 64 Carolina Dry Docks, 64 Side Lunges, 96 Flutter Kicks, and 64 Merkins.  The PAX split up and completed columns in whatever order desired.  Time check before 8 AM followed by mosey back to the ShovelFlag.

Several PAX left kettlebells near the flag.  Completed 15 Curls and 15 Pullovers OYO to complete the workout.  COT and Attila took us out.

Moleskin:  Cru, Flip Phone, and Byproduct pulled in as the flag was being planted.  The White Deer clown car followed – out of which popped White Deer, Hoops, Cletus, and Johnsonville.  Attila, Nightcrawler, and Earthworm arrived minutes later.  White Deer-led mumblechatter started immediately.

J’ville disclosed that Earthworm had missed Circus Maximus earlier in the week because he’d been confused about the day of the week by the July 4th holiday.  Apparently this disclosure by J’ville may have run afoul of J’ville and Earthworm’s partnership agreement – no really.  White Deer took some joy in giving Earthworm a hard time about this in spite of missing Circus Maximus himself.

Cletus arrived wearing a UVA sweatshirt and kept it on until the PAX arrived at the Strikers Park parking lot – hardcore long sleeve action rivaling Wilson.  Hoops, White Deer’s kid, and Cletus, Hoops’ buddy, are both 15 years old and at least 30 years younger than the rest of the PAX.   These guys stuck together during the parking lot portion of the workout and seemed to maintain way more capacity for conversation than the rest of us.

Given the choice of exercise to start with in the parking lot, about half of the PAX started with the Burpees.  The ab exercises proved more challenging – while involving low reps, these involved getting down and up repeatedly from a coarse gravel lot.

In the mosey back to the ShovelFlag, YHC witnessed the race to the flag involving Johnsonville, Flip Phone, Cletus, and Hoops.  Johnsonville had a slight lead, but not sure who won.

Nice to have you return to GridIron Cru and Byproduct and good to see Nightcrawler back after some time away.  Good also to have the young guys post.  And of course YHC appreciates the time with the GridIron regulars.

We spoke about the DogPile workout that finished right as GridIron started.  From all at GridIron, take care Toga and see you soon.

Announcements:

July 9th – Central Virginia Orienteering bike-O event at Pocahontas State Park – Google Central Virginia Orienteering Meetup Group for info – more Orienteering events throughout the year.

July 12^th – HDHH / Toga send-off at The Answer Brewpub – check website(s) for earlier Preblast

August 7^th – Charity golf tournament in Stafford – see Upchuck for details.

September 16^th – Reese Strong 5K –Signs ups will open soon. Join the F3 team.

The temperatures were moderate, the humidity was unseasonably absent, and the Gridiron AO was filled with lush, green grass.  Today was made for a classic Gridiron boot camp workout (void of White Deer’s mumblechatter).  Here is how it went down.

• Warm-up
  • 20 SSH
  • 15 Helicopters
  • 20 IW
  • 10 merkins
  • 20 deep squats
• Mosey to the football field for a lindsey with dips and WWII sit-ups
• 15 Freddy Mercuries/25 APD
• Mosey to the practice field for 11s with burpees and LBCs
• 25 APB/25 PLTs
• Mosey to the back of the school for 5 pull-ups and 10 jerkins
• Mosey to the softball field for an arch loader
  • Bear crawl
  • Karaoke
  • Crawl bear with backwards run
  • Karaoke
  • Lunges
  • Combat crawls
• Ring of fire (10 merkins)
• Mosey to the parking lot for COT
• COT – Earthworm takes us out with a great prayer for Cheech’s family and all involved/touched by the fatal accident of a week ago; we continue to remember them.  Earthworm, thanks for leading us in that time.

Today was great day at Gridiron.  It was a blessing to have Pew visit us from Lexington, SC.  Our F3 brethren in SC are still mourning the loss of our brother Cheech.  I was floored to hear that Cheech’s wife was teaching VBS this week.  She is an amazing woman.  In addition, the F3 PAX in SC have shown great grace and mercy to the young woman who was driving to work that morning.  These men have loved her, and give us a great example to follow.

Welcome to Gridiron Byproduct!  Thanks for making the drive from DaVille and joining us today.  Your effort was strong, and we enjoyed your fellowship.  You are always welcome back to be a part of our brotherhood.

I have one thing to say about Krü, the man is slow, steady and determined.  It is something to behold.  I have immense respect for our brother’s effort.

Finally,  the PAX got a great shot of energy when Nightcrawler rolled into the parking lot just as we began to embark on our workout.  It has been a long time, but we are glad to see your familiar face.    Do not be a stranger brother!  Spare us from any future interventions.

Many of the PAX enjoyed some fellowship at Einstein’s after the workout.  It was a great turnout on a holiday weekend.  Hopefully we burned enough calories to partake in some extra BBQ, bourbon and brews this holiday weekend.  Remember that there is a convergence on our nation’s birthday at Dogwood Dell.  Stay safe!

Attila