Tag: Heartbreak Ridge

December 5, 1492 was the day that Christopher Columbus first landed on the island of Hispaniola. In recognition of a man who didn’t know where he was, who he was talking to, or what he’d find upon arrival at his unknown destination, six intrepid explorers ventured into the gloom of the Ridge to pretend we’d found India.

First, traced our route through the parking lot. Tracers included running, reverso, sideways, karaoke. COP: SSH, IW, arm circles, LBC, merkins. Mosey to track.

Groups of 3 for Indian runs. One team clearly the Nina, Pinta, & Santa Maria. The other started as rival explorers Amerigo Vespucci & Co, but somehow morphed before the end into those Three Ships from the Christmas song (YHC has many questions for the moleskin on this). Ships hit stormy weather, and had to add 3 burpees for the 6 of each run line.

Mosey to HBR. In honor of the captain of the Pinta, who must’ve asked at least 22 times, “Are we there yet?” PAX completed double 11’s: 20 merkins, 2 WWIIs; run to the top of the hill, 18 merkins, 4 WWIIs, etc (how did Columbus know about WWII??). SSH @ the top when complete, waving the rest of the ships safely to port.

Mosey to back field, for our brave explorers to scout the terrain. Run 5 yards, plank. Next man jumps over, planks 5 yards out, continue across field. For the return trip, army crawl underneath, careful to avoid stalactites. Midway, switch to over/under alternating, continue to end of field.

Mosey to parking lot for triple checks: copperhead squats, flutter kicks, run across lot. Theme ran out of juice by this point, but the clock hadn’t, so the beatdown continued.

MOLESKIN: I love a good themed beatdown, even one somewhat improvised like this one. Mention of the Christmas Carol, “I Saw Three Ships,” however, has left me puzzled. I’ll leave it to you fine folks to help me make sense of this cryptic song:

“And what was in those ships all three, on Christmas Day in the morning?/Our Savior Christ and His Lady…”

1. Is the third ship just empty?
2. Do Christ and His Lady travel with body doubles (maybe they were both in all three of the ships)?
3. Is “His Lady” his mom, or his girlfriend/wife? I know that’s getting a little Da Vinci Code on us here, but seriously, who refers to your own mom as your Lady?

“And wither sailed those ships all three?/And they sailed into Bethlehem…”

Bethlehem is about 27 miles from the closest body of water, the Dead Sea. How did they sail there? Is this whole thing just a parade float after all?

On this day in 1821, Panama declared itself free from Spanish rule, joining Simon Bolivar’s project of a unified continent in Gran Colombia. In 1912, Albania shook free from the Ottoman Empire. 1958 saw Chad, Gabon, and Republic of Congo gain autonomy from France. Two years later on this day, Mauritania followed. East Timor saw it as a good day to go solo as well in 1975, and not to be left out, South Ossetia did its best in 1991 to part ways with Georgia.

In celebration of so many independence movements, six brave souls set out across Heartbreak Ridge to stand in solidarity with the rights of men everywhere to live freely. Life began simply enough… COP included SSHx20, Don Quixote x 10, Arm Circles x 15 & reverso, Freddie Mercury x 25, Merkins x 20.

THE OPPRESSIVE RULER. Since many independence movements begin under an oppressive government, Q continued to work the PAX in cadence, removing all freedom of thought or movement. Three rounds through the following:

• 20 copperhead squats
• 10 2-count mountain climbers
• 20 merkins

POLITICAL UNREST & PERIODS OF STABILITY. Independence movements always come with some combination of unrest and stability. Mosey to the top of HBR. Partner A demonstrates “political unrest” by running down HBR, Bernie back to the top. Partner B demonstrates “stability” at each interval: Balls to the Wall, Wall Sit, Squat & Hold, Elbow Plank.

Mosey to bus loop. In honor of Nov. 28 occurring a mere 56 times on a Tuesday over the last 400 years, 56 LBCs.

FUGITIVES. Even successful independence efforts end up with players on the wrong side of history who’ve gotta make a run for it…fugitives form groups of 3. Partner A carries B on his back, while C completes 20 merkins. C becomes A, A becomes B, B becomes C as they complete a lap around the school.

Partner leg toss x20, curb dips x 20, repeat for good measure. Mosey back to flag for Mary. 25 WWII’s (plus a few since Q started w/o the 6!), Ring of Fire, 2-count chicken peckers x20, American Hammers x 20.

MOLESKIN: Well done today, men. I first picked up with y’all here at the Ridge back in August and was just trying to survive. Glad to take the next step and have a VQ this morning!

4 RVA spuds appeared in the gloom this morning to take on Heartbreak Ridge. As of 5:14am today the Q sheet was empty so YHC took the chance to get worked up for 33 lucky minutes of true “you against you” pain – as long as there were a minimum of 5 PAX in attendance. When the requisite number wasn’t achieved, a hot potato audible was called. In it together, with no hesi-tating the PAX took off to start a true beatdown. Here’s how it went…

Figurative Potato Holder: Loose Goose
Mosey to the upper field for a table steaks (fries) COP. Lots of mumblechatter and common-tating along the way about the length of the grass in the field
– Invisible jump rope x20 IC
– IW x20 IC
– Russian Soldiers x20 IC
– WWII situps x20 OYO
– Imperial Squat walkers x15 IC
– Merkins x20 IC
– IP Lunges x20 IC
– Scorpion Dry Docks x20 OYO

Mosey to the tennis courts for a vichyssoise King of Hearts. Do the following down and back as Q calls it out. Plank when finished until Q calls start to next itertation.
– Sprint
– Backwards run
– Side shuffle facing school
– Bear Crawl down, sprint back
– Karaoke
– Suicide

After assessing who was ready to grab the potato by the eyes, pass to Mr. Holland.
Mosey across the entire AO to the Jerkin Gym. Partner up & do a Jerkin (aka small fry pull-up) Ladder from 6 down to 1
Mosey to the track. Partner up, do the following:
– Lap 1: Partner 1 run lap, Partner 2 does 30 Merkins, 50 LBCs, Squats until Partner 1 returns. Switch.
– Lap 2: Partner 1 run lap, Partner 2 does rotation of 10 Merkins, 10 LBCs, 10 Squats until Partner 1 returns. Switch.

Inquire who was ready to chip in… Gomer Pyle said, “I yam!” The goal? “I want the Pax’s arms tubern”
Mosey to the a-peeling pull up bars. Partner up & do 50 pull-ups
Mosey to the hill near the shovel flag. Partner up and do:
– Sets of 20, 20, and 10 partner-assisted plank-under-leg(ume)s dips
– 3 sets of partner-assisted merkins
Stand at the root of the hill… Proceed up and down a bunch of times – forward run, backward run, polar bear/bear polar, forward run, backward run, forward run
Back to shovel flag- quick Ring of Fries… er, Fire.

Announcements:
– Convergence 6-7am at 45MoM Thursday 11/23
– Circus Maximus 7:00am same day
– Normal workouts resume on Fryday

NMS
– YHC knows he ruffled some feathers by teasing the Lucky Horseshoe and then not delivering, but that 33 minutes is much better when you have enough PAX to have others around you most of the time. To be revisited soon.
– We have a lot to be thankful for, and today YHC is grateful for the privilege of being able to take part in the Q this morning, and to have fellow PAX with whom to enjoy the gloom. It’s good to be over the bronchitis and be back to posting regularly. Thanks to all of you for being an important part of my day today.

Eight faithful Heartbreak warriors welcomed colder temperatures with a spirited workout.  Here is how it went down:

• COP
  • 30 SSH
  • 25 IW
  • 20 DQ
  • 20 merkins
  • 20 FM
  • 15 crab cakes
  • 8x 8 count body builders
• Mosey to the track for 10 minutes of intervals – alternate 30 seconds on/30 second mosey
• Mosey to the jerkin gym
  • 25 PLT
  • Jerkin ladder – 7,6,5,4,3,2,1
• Mosey to Heartbreak Hill for a modified Lindsay – merkins and LBCs with 2x run up/down hill after each 40 count interval
• 25 PLT
• Mosey to parking lot for some Mary
  • 15 pickle pounders
  • Ring of fire with 10 merkins
  • 25 WWII sit-ups
  • 20 flutter kicks
• COT with YHC taking us out

YHC learning that this AO has two places that are cannot misses for any of my Q’s – Heartbreak Hill and the jerkin gym.  Honeydo loves the jerkin gym and is nudging us their if possible, but YHC questions if anyone is begging for the AO’s namesake.  Either way, good to get some running in post Richmond race weekend, even though this group was not part of those festivities.  We were there in spirit.

YHC was however reminded that the frost on the ground is cold, especially when you plan a lot of the workout on your six.  It will leave a mark.  Thanks to the PAX for letting me lead them today.  It was a fun group.

As always, God is good all the time!

Attila

A hearty PAX of 8, including a F3 brother from Charlotte, enjoyed a balmy morning at Heartbreak Ridge.  Here’s what went down:

Mosey around the school for a tour of HBR.

COP

SSH

Don Quixote – I tried my best to emulate Saab’s form.

Imperial walkers.

Arm circles

Russian soldiers

10 merkins

 

Mosey to the race track.  Complete 20 merkins at each end with 10 burpees in the middle.

Then to the bleachers for two sets of 20 dips.   Partner up for 2 sets of 10 jerkins in between the dips.

Back to the race track for another lap, this time merkins on the ends and monkey humpers in the middle.

Partner up again for Dora – 100 merkins 200 WWII (audible – make that LBCs) 300 squats.  Partner runs up HBR in between sets.

Numberama, nameorama and COT.

Announcements: there was talk of trying to organize a HDHH for the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.

Moleskin:

This was my one year anniversary with F3.  TCLAPS to Lockjaw for his slow burn EH and to the rest of the F3RVA PAX for welcoming me into this group and making me stronger, both physically and mentally.  It has been a great year and I look forward to many more.

Ronnie out.

 

A frightful five came out to Heartbreak Ridge to train up for this evening’s festivities lest they take a turn for the worse.

COP- SSH, Imperial Walkers, Don Qs, Flutterkicks, Merkins, Scorpion Kicks. Mosey to school wall facing parking lot for Sprints. 2 Rounds of Sprint lot and back like someone was chasing you.

Head to baseball field, audible since field was waterlogged. Head to blacktop. 20 Coffin Openers (aka WWI Situps).  Then gather in middle of blacktop for Scatter drill. 1 PAX does 2 Burpees and then chases down PAX who are bear crawling to safety of grass. Each pax takes turn as chaser. 20 more Coffin Openers. Then grab piece of wall and try new Goodbye Dollys, an upside down Hello Dolly while in Balls2Wall.

Head to track. Each pax does 10 Captain Crunches while rest do Jerkins. Head to Heartbreak Hill for injured partner carry up hill. So much fun repeato. Mosey to benches for reverse crunches, Flutterkicks. Then 2 more rounds of Sprints. Finish with Pickle Pounders and LBCs.

Mr Holland took us out.

NMS – The PAX took to the survival theme with gusto. EF Hutton led the sprints but that may be because Garbage Plate isn’t 100%. The zombie scatter chase on the blacktop was a blast. YHC was the only one to make it to the grass although EF Hutton proved hardest to catch.

We now now how to make Heartbreak Hill worse, just do partner carry up it. If you get injured don’t expect Atilla to carry you away from danger as he’ll drop you for dead.

Pickle Pounders were added as no good horror movie is without sexual activity.

Happy Halloween from the Silent Assassin!

 

Five faithful Heartbreak warriors trudged through post-rain slog and mud.  We learned that a little wetness never hurt anyone.  Here is how it went down:

• COP
  • 25 SSH
  • 25 IW
  • 25 DQ
  • 25 helicopters
• Mosey to the saturated practice fields for a beast with burpees, LBCs, Carolina drydocks, flutter kicks, merkins and box cutters
• Mosey to the playground for a series of jerkins – 6,5,4,3,2,1
• Mosey to the football field benches for 4 quarters – 25 dips, 25 WWII sit-ups, 25 dips, 25 WWII sit-ups
• Mosey to the Heartbreak hill for 10 uphill sprints
• COT with YHC taking us out

YHC knew that it had rained on Monday night, but those fields have no drainage.  Lots of unfamiliar noises as we ran and exercised on the saturated AO.  Thankfully, I did not channel my inner-Viral and call for a tunnel of (sewage) love.  As we learned, a little dampness never hurt anyone.  As for the workout itself, good to see Angus back.  Do not be a stranger brother!  In addition, our departed comrade Toga would be proud.  Toga was the godfather of hill sprints/runs.  Garbage Plate and Seymour annihilated them today.  Strong finish!

As always, God is good all the time!

Attila

Four West Enders came out to celebrate YHC’s 2 year postiversary.  Here’s how it went down.

Mosey to front field

COP (IC)

• SSH x 25
• Merkins x 15
• LBCs x 25
• IW x 25

Mosey around track to backside hill

Triple/ Quadruple Check (3 rotations)

• People’s Chair
• Plank
• Bunny Hops up hill/ LBCs x 25

Bear Crawl Mosey to side hill

• Lunge up
• Dips x 30
• Deep Knee Bends x 30
• Repeato, Repeato

Clock Merkins (12:00 x 10, 3:00 x 10, 6:00 x 10, 9:00 x 10, 12:00 x 10)

Mosey to bars

Jerkins x 10 x 3 sets

Mosey to football field

20 Yard Shuttles

• Bearcrawl/ Crawlbear
• Broadjump Burpees
• Lunges F/B
• Polar Bears
• Broadjump Burpees

6 Minutes of Mary IC (Box Cutters/ Heels to Heaven/ Flutter Kicks/ WWIs/ Superman x 2)

Mosey back to SF

Numberama, Nameorama, COT

MOLESKIN

Today’s beatdown was the same workout (plus some and modified for the AO) Bleeder threw at the PAX on this date 2 years ago for a cool Saturday DogPile that had but a mere 8 post.  A few things that stood out that day to YHC.  One, why are jumping jacks and push-ups called side straddle hops and merkins?  Two, these guys workout in this kind of weather?  Laughable now.  It was basically sunny and 70 (clear and 40) that day.  YHC has since posted in monsoon-like rain, crawled through a river of raw sewage, faced howling winds that nearly carried Lockjaw and his pants off the Nickel Bridge, and slung cinder blocks in single digit temps.  Three, these guys are legit.  Blood Test was one of the seven that day and running circles around YHC at Double Respect plus.  Four, this is definitely for me.  Little did YHC know what F3 would become in his life.  YHC knew he’d had a great workout, but knew nothing of the 2^nd and 3^rd F to come.  Lastly, what the heck is an EF Hutton?

Either the BB from that workout left out a number of details, or the PAX today obliterated that workout in half the time, because YHC was forced to ad lib half the workout.  No doubt the PAX has made strides.  Attila, Honeydo, and Garbage Plate all crushed it without a thought of a 10 count.

It’s been an awesome 2 years in the PAX.  YHC never imagined completing a half marathon or a 200+ mile relay race, or simply pushing through an all burpee Beast at a quarter of 6 in the morning, but those things all became a reality thanks to the support, inspiration, and grit YHC gleans from this group every day.  YHC used to believe he had limits, thanks to F3, YHC believes limits are nothing more than silly suggestions.  YHC is grateful for the men of F3 RVA and looks forward to many years to come.

Here’s the BB from that date.  8 PAX and 2 comments for a Dogpile Q, my how things have changed.

A quiet Saturday until…

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Monday evening Punisher

Tuesday evening KBs?

7 warriors rose to greet the dawn of a new day.  It went a little something like this.

Grab a cinder block of success (CBOS) and mosey to field for a little COP.

IC: 20 X SSH, 10 X DQ, 20 X IW, 20 X LBC, 20 X FM, 11 X Merkin

Lindsay:  Begin with 10 decline merkins (feet on CBOS) then pick up CBOS run to the other end of the field and complete 20 WWII situps.  Then 15 merkins/25 situps, 20 merkins/20 situps, 25 merkin/15 situps, 30 merkins /10 situps.

Catch Me If You Can:  Grab CBOS, mosey to track and partner up.  One partner grabs 2 CBOS and starts running.  Other partner completes two burpees then runs to catch up with the other partner.  Then switcheroo.  Complete one lap as a team.  For lap two same as above, but complete 3 burpees before running with CBOS.

Dora 1,2,3: Mosey to hill with CBOS and partner up.  One partner runs up hill with CBOS and other partner begins a set of exercises.  Exercises are 100 merkins, 200 squats, 300 two count flutter kicks.

Numberama, namerama, COT and the great Honeydo lead us out.

Moleskin:

YHC is in the process of moving offices and came across a pile of cinder blocks.  Since that moment their only destiny was to make an appearance in a workout.  Not quite sure of the exact weight, but it seems to make everything a little more difficult.  Of particular note was the carrying of two CBOS during Catch Me If You Can.  Such fun was had that this shenanigan may make another appearance in the near future. Big thanks for the Tuckahoe tribe for the privilege of spending a morning in their fair hood.

News:

Hampton Roads 1 Year Anniversary Convergence is on Saturday Nov 11 at 7AM located at Stink HIll.

Our western brothers in CVille are recruiting for the Mens Four Miler on Sunday Nov 12.

Please put October 29th on your calendar for Breaking Bread. Details to come soon.

There was a light fog covering Heartbreak Ridge that created an AO befitting a group of mighty gladiators.  Every PAX should have the privilege to get beat down in such glorious conditions.  Here is how it went down:

• Karaoke parking lot tracers (yeah, we did a whole row, and yeah it is long)
• Mosey to the front of the school for COP
  • 25 SSH
  • 25 IW
  • Arm circles – 10 small/5 large; both forwards and backwards
  • 20 flutter kicks
  • 10 merkins

• Mosey to Honey Suckle Hill
  • 10 burpees
  • Triple check –  bear crawl the 30 yard terrain, WWII sit-ups, copperhead squats

• Mosey to the football field
  • 10 burpees
  • Triple check – 100 yard run, Carolina dry-docks, LBCs

• Mosey to Heartbreak Hill
  • 10 burpees
  • Triple check – backwards run up the incline, crab cakes, heels to heaven

• Mosey to the parking lot for ring of fire
• COT with YHC taking us out

With YHC taking three Q’s on the West End this week, it only seemed appropriate to start it off with a series of 3 triple checks.  With a PAX of 6, plan was confirmed.

If you have ever exercised in the fog, it is the stuff of gladiators.  As Seymour noted, nothing cooler than running to the other PAX members who are slightly hidden in the low hanging fog.  If that does not give you a little juice, you are not living.

Enjoy your Tuesday, and remember to take note of Viral’s backblast on Saturday’s Hammers and Ales.  Come support a good cause.

God is good all the time!

Attila