Tag: Off The Books

  • No Excuses…

    26 fighters rolled into the Milestone community clubhouse parking lot this morning for a second-longest day of the year workout that went something like this…

    YHC and Spit gave an introduction about F3 in terms of the purpose and history (both the start in Charlotte and the beginnings in the RVA). YHC then gave an overview of the flow of the workout for the FNGs.

    Mosey to the far side of the field.

    COP All IC – 20 SSHs, arm circles, 10 don quixotes, 10 helicopters, 10 imperial walkers, 10 merkins, 20 LBCs, 10 mountain climbers, 10 copperhead squats.

    Mosey to the front corner of the field.

    Partner Four Corners

    Partner up. One partner heads in one direction around the field. The other partner heads in the other direction. Stop at each corner for an exercise. Corner 1 = merkins, Corner 2 = WWII sit-ups, Corner 3 = burpees, Corner 4 = jump squats. Stop to do BOOYAH merkins when you meet up with your partner.

    First round – 5 exercises each. Second round – 10 exercises each. Third round – 5 exercises each.

    Mosey to the tennis courts.

    11s (part-way)

    Bear crawl back and forth across the width of the tennis court. Start with 10 hand-release merkins (HRMs) and 1 two-count flutter kick. Decrease/increase the reps of each. YHC called an audible halfway through.

    Mosey back to the field.

    Plank Leaps

    The PAX counted off by three. The three groups formed lines, went into plank position and the last guy leaped over each person in the group. Continued this until all the way across the field.

    Tunnel of Love

    Turn around and army crawl under each planking PAX member with the last guy going through the tunnel. Continued this until partway across the field.

    Mosey to the front corner.

    Minutes of Mary all IC – 10 LBCs, 10 american hammers, 10 heels to heaven, 10 freddie mercuries, 10 ALABAMA PROM DATES, superman…

    Numberama, Namerama, Announcements, YHC took us out.

    Announcements:

    • More updates on the purpose and benefits of F3
    • 5 AOs in the DaVille region – Tomato Run on Monday at Atlee HS, DaVille boot camp on Tuesday at Atlee HS, MANNDate kettlebell workout on Wednesday at Washington-Henry Elementary, The Anvil boot camp on Thursday at Mechanicsville Elementary, The Creek boot camp on Friday at New Highland Baptist Church – ALL ARE INVITED!

    Naked Moleskin (NMS):

    This morning brought to fruition a vision that YHC has had for many months. YHC has heard all of the excuses for not coming to a F3 workout. He also has seen how many of the PAX are growing in strength and how we can easily lose track of a someone new in terms of his strength and endurance. The “No Excuses Workout” was born out of these streams of thought.

    The Facebook event along with personal invites from the PAX to potential FNGs and those who haven’t participated in awhile (re)opened the doors for many to consider trying out a F3 workout.

    Most of the PAX was arrived by 7:30 am and was greeted by an introduction and overview from YHC. Spit received a download of the history of F3 RVA this morning and he shared that background. As he was sharing, YHC noticed someone looking out her door across the street at the strange sight of 20+ men gathering in the parking lot. Joggers, dog-walkers and others driving out of the neighbor took notice as well!

    The PAX went to work in the COP with a reasonable amount of SSHs (sorry to those who wanted 100 SSHs for our FNGs) and a buffet of COP exercises. Emoji brought his high energy and laughter permeated the circle.

    The partner four corners provided ample opportunities to encourage and support the FNGs and those who came back. Spit, Phonics and Helix took the lead on making sure to pick up the six and keep everyone feeling included. That was an important goal of this morning’s introductory workout.

    The 11s in the tennis court started out well but YHC realized that it would drain the rest of the time so he called an audible. This allowed for more FUN in the field. YHC wanted to include at least one exercise that would bring the thought, “I would never do this on my own. Never…” Leaping over 8-9 others and then army crawling through a “tunnel of love” qualifies for that line of thinking! The PAX crushed it with the necessary modifications when required.

    Welcome to Green Top (Spit invite), Clinger (Mudface invite) and Dixon (Wild Thing invite). Welcome back to the college guys on summer break (Jif, Flea, Bucketmouth) and to others who returned for some F3 fun/pain (Bam Bam, THUMPER, Pick 2, MayTag).

    This event brought around 10 FNGs or return guys to the PAX this morning while allowing for some of the newer PAX to clock in another workout in order to gain confidence.

    We are not sure where this will lead in terms of future Saturday morning workouts like this in the DaVille region. YHC sees the potential for engaging new guys and re-engaging guys who have dropped back into the fart sack through a Saturday option like this. How often? Quartertly? Monthly? All the time with specific “road trips” to Dogpile? That will be determined as we let the experiences and memories of this great morning sink in.

    YHC shared during the COT about how much F3 means to him personally and shared what he has seen in the lives of other men. F3 is more than a workout. F3 is a way to go on OFFENSE against the problems of loneliness and lack of purpose that many men (including YHC!) experience. We can easily fall into the trap of trying to take on life’s challenge alone or feel like we have lost our way/purpose. The PAX, the workouts, coffeeteria, ways to serve and all of the different parts of F3 attack this problem.

    Let’s keep it rolling. Let’s stay on offense! See you in the gloom!!

    The Carpenter

  • Full boat at OTB

    2 clown cars, a 4-legged friend and a couple lone SOjers made a total of 9 out for a few miles on Fathers Day Sunday. As the PAX gathered we discussed some routes and decided on the reverse Salisbury route with some alternatives to shorten the mileage. For those looking for the route, it went a little something like this. Right on Woolridge, right on Charter Colony, Left to Le Gordon and across Midlo Turnpike onto Winterfield. Right on Elmstead, all the way to the end for a right on Oakengate. 3rd right onto Castlebridge then a left on Salisbury Drive. Take the hidden passage onto the dirt road and up a surprisingly steep hill to a left onto Midlo Turnpike. Right on Woolridge and around the lake to hit that magic 6 mile distance. Ceranno and Recall did their own shortened version and the rest of the crew followed Wilson and Hermie through the neighborhoods.

    Great time with all 9 at the coffeteria. COT was done with drinks in hand with the varying finish times of the PAX. This seemed like a much better way to do the naming of the FNG since we had much more time to think. Lots of choices but Hacksaw was the final unanimous decision. Welcome Hacksaw, hope to see you back again soon.

    Apologies to Ceranno, apparently he looked up past OTB backblasts to find his own shortened route but YHC has not been posting details recently with the haiku and abbreviated backblasts.

    Have a great Father’s Day, enjoy being a father, remember those who have passed and celebrate your own dads.

  • Visitors at OTB

    Challenge accepted

    Midlo mines, less than haiku

    Coffee decent

  • OTB Variety

    5 posted at OTB with Oyster finding the group in the hidden location at 5:59. A mix of routes today with YHC and Honeymoon taking a flatter route into Salisbury, Wilson and Aisle 5 slowing things down with some walking and Oyster doing a bit of both and needing to cut out a little early. Close out with some excellent 2nd F at Urban Farmhouse.

    According to our resident connoisseurs the coffee is not nearly as good as the 2nd F. The first F will stay here with possibilities of taking the 2nd F elsewhere. See one of the SOJ crew for the password to unlock the key to the hidden parking location if you are looking to hit the summer tour OTB workout with us.

  • OIC, McDonald’s, Politics, Cornhub and so much more!

    YHC has no idea how to add to this website anymore (probably need to Q more often). Picture three PAX – two “respects – Beaker & Aisle 5” and Wilson for a comfortable yet challenging 3.73 mile walk at 6am. The topics were…………….all over the place and Aisle 5 kept us laughing. Finished strong with three old men talking about everything over a strong cup of coffee. As Flatline says – you’ll know if you were there!

  • New OTB runner

    YHC and Honeymoon hit the roads for a planned 6 at 6 but he brought a newbie to Sunday OTB. His pup Annie got up with him and came with us. After a little positioning issue with Annie used to running on Honeymoon’s left and on wider roads we settled in to a groove. New route through Charter Colony, JTCC and the Grove finishing with the Woolridge hill that is tougher than it seems. The roads were quiet but the humidity is coming.

    Next Sunday is doubtful since it’s Easter and YHC has plans for early family breakfast.

  • Early Risers is a thing now

    3 PAX disregarded the fartsack and weather to run in the very early morning gloom. With no rain at 4 we took to North Bank to Browns Island. We then chose to not push our luck, head up to Main street and head West to meet up with that other Pre-Dogpile group. 7 miles when we reached ETs.

    NMS- Running the trails in the dark was awesome this morning, as it always is. Thanks to Vinny and Shakedown for showing up for this first one.

    Next Early Risers will be in May. Come out to give it a try. Also great BRR/Colonial practice…

  • Cutting through the fog

    As YHC approached the AO, the fog thickened. Happy to find 2 SOJ men ready to hit the roads. Normal route planned through the mines but between the good conversation and fog a turn was missed so we skipped the mines. Around Midlothian with an extra lap around the lake. The hill coming up from the lake is a good one, somehow we usually manage to miss that hill.

    Great run, excellent fellowship during and afterward. Thanks for the company guys.

  • Beautiful morning to be out

    4 men started their Sunday off right with some running and rucking. 2 for an out and back to Timberwolf and 2 for a ruck around Midlothian. A short stop for coffee at Urban Farmhouse afterwards made for a great start to the day.

    Off the books is unofficially back on now, if you want to run early on Sunday touch base with Honeymoon or I, no guarantees we’ll be there but we’ll try. Wilson and Recall can be convinced to do a little rucking from there too.

  • Mexico

    F3 – Mexico version .

    6 miles everyday on the beach followed by a few swims in the pacific ocean.

    Boom !

    Swirly is back – see y’all in the gloom…