Tag: The FORGE

Lovely cool gloom welcomed a sixpack of faithful HIM’s, including our prodigal darling Fiona, who we joyfully welcomed back into the F3 fold today after a 2 year hiatus. With YHC’s shoulder still on IR, a no-merkin beatdown was the name of the game, and it went a little something like this:

The THANG:

WARMERAMA:

• Moseyrama over to the school front and circle up
• Welcome & Disclaimer
• Variable IC Reps to get the muscles warm top to bottom

COP #1:

• Mosey around to the amphitheater 
• ABBITHEATER ASCENTS:
• Variable IC reps on each step with a short mosey in between
• Exercises: Big O’s, Dips, Flutters, Freddie Mercury’s, Boat/Canoe, Variable Plankorama, DR.W’s

COP #2:

• Mosey through Snuff’s Gate to the Field
• OLD HUNDRED:
• Descending OYO reps, decrease from 100 to 10, with a variable movement or sprint length of field between
• Exercises: Calf Raises, Mtn Climbers, LBC’s, SSH’s, Oblique LBC’s, …Can’t recall…, Plank Jacks, Donkey Kicks, Heels to Heaven, Snuffing (deep breathing)

Mosey BTTF for COT:

• Counterama # 6
• Namerama
• Announcerama (see Below)
• YHC took the PAX out in Prayer

NMS:  It was really great to see Fiona out this morning – welcome back bro!!! Always fun to remember how he earned his nickname – cause he said wearing gloves was for princesses. Haha!  There was a generally light spirit to accompany the grind (with the ever clever quips from Thugs), and a nice cool temp was welcome while the six pack perfected their six packs. SYITG! ~DTH

Announcements:

• Iron Pax Challenge continues at TwinTeam tomorrow with Florence on Q
• See Slack for more details on the 9/24 Convergence and Retreat (join Slack using this link: https://join.slack.com/t/f3-rva-workspace/shared_invite/zt-1ehuupnad-eVbVRVin1amRp1rqmBdfEg)
• Sign up ASAP for the upcoming Cornhole Tournament at the F3RVA retreat on 9/24/22 HERE: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-L8e9W24ygnU0suaGyKxzi1PgPqY1CBd57hLrKTZI-g/htmlview#gid=1658878854

Prayer Requests:

• Prayers for our BRR brothers as they head out today for the relay
• Prayers for YHC preparing for a big presentation next week at the World Medical conference

10 men, forged in the gloom fires. YHC was yet again informed that the Q was his.

Mosey to the circle for warmups: SSHs, DQs, dead man hangs, Imperial Walkers, mirkins, LBCs, etc.

Flagpole dora: 100 pole smokers, 200 mirkins, 300 jump squats with timer running the short loop.

Bear crawl to the top of the stairs.

Breath-slowing exercises.

Indigenous rail crawl the entire length of the ramp.

Starting from the bottom, 11s with burpees and WW2s. Halfway through, audible to hand-release mirkins.

At the road, mosey up to the top of Mt Chaplain for a new exercise called ‘sunrise appreciation.’ 1 full minute of quiet contemplation.

Another day to be alive and give thanks.

Peace.

9 Ryan Reynolds doppelgangers met for the casting call for 2023 summer blockbuster that has yet to be named. According to the top notch security and catering crews this is what occurred.

Regular parking location was coned off by Snuff last night so we relocated to a lower deck that seemed adequate. Quick mosey to the front of the school to warm up with Invisible Jump Rope, DQ’s, Imperial Walkers, Freddies, APD and some Dead Man Hang. Warm…. lets head to the turf.

RED BARCHETTA: Short Mosey past the amphitheater and thru Snuff’s Gate to the plush turf fields. Red Barchetta was the call. 100 yard sprint followed by 100 merkins (1st one completed calls out). Slowsy back to the starting point. 75 yard sprint – 75 squats with a slowsy back. 50 yard spring, 50 World War II’s, slowsy back. 26 yard sprint – 26 lunges (single count), slowsy back. 10 yard bear crawl, 10 burpees OYO.

DORA: Move up to the open space behind the bleachers. Partner up for a DORA- 100 Carolina Dry Docks, 200 Monkey Humpers, 300 LBCs. Timer runs the bleacher loop.

CATCH ME IF YOU CAN: Mosey back thru Snuffs Gate and partner up. Bernie up the road to Forest Hill until overtaken by partner who performed 1 LT. Dan and sprinted to catch.

POLE WORK: Heading back to the flag, stop at every pole along Forest Hill alternating between 1 burpee and 2 LT. Dan.

Numbers, Names, Announcements. Draper took us out.

Announcements: Florence is leading the Labor Day Convergence at Dog Pile Monday Sept. 5th at 7 am. Coffee after. Prayers for Dealer and his family in preparation for the upcoming arrival of their son. Good luck to House Party with starting a new job. Prayers for those out injured or not able to join us today. Hopefully they are back on their feet and into the gloom soon.

NMS: YHC noticed a good amount of activity at Huguenot during a predawn scouting mission. Seems they are using Thompson or the high school for filming of “Swagger” and not the 4th American Pie sequel as YHC had hoped. Seems the turf fields have much to offer as the gate seems to remain open if we respectfully keep it closed after use. Humidity seems to have crept back in but still a good morning to welcome back Dealer and Sundance, who is now becoming a regular. Great work men, enjoy the day.

A swarthy half dozen gloom warriors took the Forge by storm, kicking off with DTH doing some kinda freaky rain dance that Juanita later came to regret…

The THANG:

WARMERAMA:

• Mosey down to the culdesac, stopping for x3 Groiners at each light pole en route
• Circle up, Welcome, Disclaimer
• Variable IC Reps to get the muscles warm top to bottom

COP #1:

• Mosey to the handicap ramp, completing x3 Merkins at each light pole
• Bear Crawl half way up ramp, Lunge walk the rest of the way
• Partner up for Jerkins
• x3 Sets of x10 each

COP #2:

• Tooth Fairies up the steps
• Partner up for PLT’s
• x3 Sets of x20 each

COP #3:

• Mosey up to the School Wall
• x10 Hoedowns IC
• x10 Hip Slappers IC
• x10 Dirty Hookups IC (each side)

COP #3:

• Mosey around to the Soccer Field
• Team up 3V3 for 10min of pick-up soccer
• x3 burpees if you get scored on

Mosey BTTF for COT:

• Counterama # 6
• Namerama
• Announcerama (see Below)
• YHC took the PAX out in Prayer

NMS:  Awesome time with the Forge fellas today, and with such cool weather! Enjoyed hearing all about Sundance having blue ribbons affixed to his banana hammock – but actually congrats, that’s a ton of work to win a body building competition! Was also entertaining to overhear during PLT’s Juanita ask “Is it raining?”, to which Last Call replied ”No, that’s ball sweat bro!” Yikes, hope you didn’t taste that salty rain. And we finished the morning with a quick game of pick-up soccer in the dawn light. Very kind of the HHS grounds crew to cut the grass – it’s only been about 3 months since the last trim! Notable soccer highlights were Posey megging Sundance for the first goal, Last Call doing a fancy behind the back kick, and YHC taking about 10 hits in a row to stop a Juanita goal from happening. It was fun and definitely got the heart rate up. Until next time, YHC, DTH

Announcements:

• 9/24 F3 Retreat – sign up for cornhole on the challenges spreadsheet

Prayer Requests:

• Doublemint, Fresh Prince, Heartburn, and plenty of other guys on IR

The meticulously manicured lawns of Huguenot High School were the ideal setting for another amazing edition of the FORGE. 8 HIM’s were up for the challenge on this fine morning. A brief summary for your viewing pleasure:

Mosey to the lower parking lot for Warm up:

Imperial Walkers, Ukranian Soldiers, Hip Flexor Stretches, Alabama Prom Dates, Hand Release Merkins, Arm Circles, Butt Kicks across parking lot, High knees, Squatting side shuffles (x2), Walking Helicopters.

Tooth Fairies up the staircase, then mosey to the top of Mt. Chaplain for Exercise One: 75 WWII sit ups. Stop when the first person is finished (Rosie).

to the Amphitheater for Exercise Two: Triple Double Team Check
Team One: Chicken Peckers on the wall
Team Two: Side Wall Hoppers up, then run back and around the staircase.
Rotate through 3 rounds.

Mosey through Snuff’s gate to the football field for Exercise Three:
10 x 100 yard sprints with 15 second rest in between. Bonus 11th sprint at the end.

Lt. Dan’s back down the length of the football field.

Exercise Four: 50 Hand Release Merkins.

Back to the flag for Numbers/Names/Announcements/Prayer Requests

DTH took us out

Final thoughts: Strong work by all today. Great to see Lumbergh back out – he had an extra gear on a couple of the sprints! Digging Deep is a common cliche used in a variety of sports settings. But there is some truth – can be applied to F3 workouts, or life in general.

“Ask yourself: ‘Can I give more?’ The answer is usually, ‘Yes”.
Paul Tergat

Six brave souls posted to the Forge for our second attempt at the quarterly New Glory. We were dripping with humidity before even getting started, but with the skull and shovel banners planted, the PAX went to work!

The THANG:

WARMERAMA:

• Circle up at the Flag
• Welcome & Disclaimer
• Review of the “New Glory” circuit, and complete a tour mosey around the circuit highlighting each of the 14 COP’s

!!! NEW GLORY !!!

• The Forge quarterly fitness litmus test, to provide PAX the opportunity to monitor their individual physical progress
• Timeframe: 30 minutes
• Style: BEST form possible, You vs YOU!
• THE CIRCUIT:
• Starting point at the Shovel Flag
• #1:  Complete x10 Burpees at the flag
• #2-5:  Run down S.Coleman Rd to the Handicap Ramp, stopping at each light pole (x4 poles total on the right side) to complete x5 Hand-release Merkins
• #6:  Bear Crawl halfway up the Ramp
• #7:  Lunge walk to the end gate
• #8:  Complete x20 Jerkins on the Rails
• Run up Mount Chaplain, stopping at each new paved landing to complete assigned exercise…
• #9 (Level 1):  x5 Burpees
• #10 (Level 2): x10 Ball Dippers (2-ct)
• #11 (Level 3): x15 Heels-2-Heaven
• #12 (Level 4): x20 Squats
• #13 (Level 5:) x25 Mtn Climbers (2-ct)
• #14:  At the top of Mt Chaplain, complete x30 WWII’s, then run BTTF to begin next Circuit 
• THE GOAL: Complete as many circuit rounds as physically possible with good form until time is called. If you cheat or cut corners you are only hurting yourself and your baseline. If you take all 30 minutes to complete a single circuit, that will be the baseline you will work towards crushing next time.

NEW GLORY completion points have been posted on the F3RVA Challenge Spreadsheet, where PAX can review progress over the years! Link HERE:  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-L8e9W24ygnU0suaGyKxzi1PgPqY1CBd57hLrKTZI-g/edit?usp=sharing

TIME CALLED! 

Mosey BTTF to Cool Down

COT:

• Counterama # 6
• Namerama
• Announcerama (see Below)
• YHC took the PAX out in Prayer

NMS:  Sooooo, THAT doesn’t get any easier, especially with 9000% humidity. YHC was also missing the Hardywood rabbit to chase. Strong effort from all the PAX, and extra proud of Snuff for being the only other man to come back for seconds – excuses or silence abounded among those others who posted for the inaugural New Glory in April but who were conveniently indisposed today. Maybe we’ll see some of you guys come out for #3 in cool Autumn temps. Also gonna give a shout out to Splinter crossing the river – hope we didn’t discourage your soon return! And last but not least, it was noted that the name should be changed to “New ASS Glory” since there’s so much asphalt involved. Or maybe because it’s a guaranteed ass kicking. Hey, you gotta try hard or die tryin’ fellas. SYITG, DTH

Announcements:

• The Crucible – kicking off this Sat 0730 – see slack for details

Prayer Requests:

• Doublemint Knee Surgery today, and he’s requesting help moving stuff this weekend – pls DM him for details

Once the Broga session was finished, everyone gathered for what they thought would be a Dealer VQ, 8 found out that they had been dooped and YHC would be leading this party.

Mosey to the front loop for COP and disclaimer

DQs, Helicopters, Run 1 lap around small island, Merkins, Elbow touches, LBCs, Run 1 lap around the island, Imperial Walkers, Copperhead Squats

Mosey to the coved area at the bottom of the hill

Triple Check partners 1 & 2 do Boyah Merkins while partner 3 runs a lap. One partner will always be doing double rounds before he runs. Doublemint had other plans and decided this did not sound like fun, he took a hard fall on the sidewalk that stopped the festivities for a bit. Last Call ran back to get Doublemints car, the PAX helped get him in the drivers seat and away he went. It’s always nice to have an actual Dr in the PAX when these things happen, even if DTH wasn’t 100% able to fix anything YHC thinks it brings a level of calm to a situation knowing there is a professional in the group.

Once that excitement was over we moseyed back across to the bottom of the stairs by the Football field entrance.

Balls to the wall, Hip slappers (IC), 15 Donkey Kicks (OYO), Balls to the wall, Hip slappers (IC), 15 Donkey Kicks (OYO), Dirty Hookups (IC), 15 Donkey Kicks (OYO), Dirty Hookups (IC), 15 Donkey Kicks (OYO)

Move over by the steps and partner up

Partner 1 does tooth fairies up the steps mosey down the hill and back, partner 2 does called exercise

Dips, Derkins, Incline Merkins

Mosey up to the first parking lot

Last Call asked if we could do Parking Lot Crawls so YHC was happy to grant his request but limited it to 10 spaces

Mosey out to the entrance road by light poles

Lung up hill to next light post finish with just enough time to do about 30 yards of broad jump burpees

Numbers / Names DTH took us out

NMS:

Lots of excitement today, the kind you don’t really want at a beatdown. YHC will try to keep up with Doublemint and let the PAX know how he’s doing. Doublemint says he has it on ice and is resting it, he will be going to Ortho on call in a bit so he will know more after that. YHC did say push yourself don’t hurt yourself at the COP but Doublemint must not have heard that part. It is a reminder to us all to watch out for those street monsters, curb catchers and asphalt grabbers its going to be getting darker and they will sneak up on you if your not watching.

11 pipe hitters showed up armed and ready, full of Tiger blood for a good ole fashioned circus of Seal PT and war games at The Forge to celebrate the 32nd anniversary of the movie Navy Seals.  Fresh off the success of Platoon and before we knew that he was banging seven gram rocks, Charlie Sheen starred in this ’90s classic. YHC should have done his back blast sooner, because details are getting sketchy like the morning after a party at Charlie Sheen’s house.  (Are these jokes from 2011 doing anything for you?)

Playing by our own set of rules like Lt. Hawkins, we went in hard and fast with the deflated boat (ran out of time to blow it up), heading straight for the logs; we ran around the nearest parking lot with them and then put the logs on the ground.  Everyone picked a parking space for some:

Side straddle hops

Smurfjacks

Rocking Superman’s (assume the Superman pose and use your core to rock you back and forth)

Seal Burpees (Burpees mixed with extra Merkins and mountain climbers.)

Crossing the Line’s

Log play:

We broke out into teams and picked up the logs again for a four corners. 

Curls for the girls

Overhead presses

Squats

Run around the parking lot

War Games:

We split into two teams with a cooler full of ammo at the top and bottom of the hill. Team one defended the high ground, and Team two was on offense.   

If you were hit with water, you had to do three merkins and return to your ammo supply to get back in the fight. We had three team matches and then the fourth was an all-out free-for-all.  

Back to the flag for announcements and prayer requests.

Thank you all for indulging me in my nod to pop culture. However, when you get the chance, read up on the history of naval special warfare!  You won’t regret it.  If you’re interested in a brief summary, copy the link: https://www.navysealmuseum.org/about-navy-seals/seal-history-the-naval-special-warfare-storyseal-history-the-naval-special-warfare-story/seal-history-origins-of-naval-special-warfare-wwii

I was a radioman in the Navy, met a few Navy Seals, but never was one. I also didn’t realize until recently, there is a cottage industry of people who fraudulently pretend to be Navy Seals for monetary benefit.  Check out Retired Navy Seal Don Shipley as he busts these frauds and exposes them on YouTube.

Lastly, we train at these AO’s not only to just prepare our bodies but also the mind. We are all in this fight together.  Even if you get knocked down, get back in the fight.  The only easy day was yesterday!  I am Bone Thugs, and I’ll see you at the crossroads. 

10 Minutes before the Forge Q , a familiar face was walking the parking lot. A man we’ve seen many times round these parts and who has been invited by several PAX including Doozy, DTH and YHC. Well, this day that man walked straight up to DTH and said he was going to join us! His name is Butch but now he will be called Sundance. 7 of his newfound F3 Brothers welcomed him for the following rodeo.

Mosey from parking lot to school building flag poles

Definition of 3 F’s and 5 Core Principles

Warmarama (Fresh Prince finally joins us) : 20 SSH IC, 10 Ukrainian Soldiers IC, 10 Imperial Walkers IC, 10 Don Q’s IC, 10 Cherry Pickers IC, 10 Merkins IC

Mosey to the Snuff Gate to enter the astro turf football field

Santa’s Ladder from sideline to sideline: run to opposite sideline and back to starting sideline then do 10 burpees. Repeato with decreasing reps of Burpees by 1 until you complete 6 burpees. Then switch to Merkins for the 5 to 1 reps.

Black Jack : Start on the sideline of football field. Perform 1 Merkin – run to other sideline – perform 20 LBCs. Run back and do 2 Merkins. Run back for 19 LBCs. Repeat until you do 20 Merkins and 1 LBC, running between the sidelines. Always adds up to 21 – BLACK JACK! (YHC completed 16 Merkins and 5 LBC’s then called time so we’d have enough time to mosey BTTF)

On the mosey BTTF, sprint up 2 hills on the way. Circle back for the Six periodically and throw in some Bernie Sanders if you’re farther ahead. When we got to the parking lot, finish with a sprint to the Flag.

2 MOM : WWII’s IC until time expires

DONE

Numbers

Names

COT : Tomorrow is DaVille takeover of all Q’s. Come on out to support them.

Next week Tues 7/19 there’s Ultimate Frisbee at No Toll and Happy Hour that same evening at Triple Crossing Midlothian. Feel free to show up as early as 5 pm or whenever you can get there.

Next week Thursday 7/21 : Bone Thugs Navy Seal Q at the Forge. **Bring a water squirt gun.**

Thursday 7/28 : Dealer VQ at the Forge

Prayers for McGruff dealing with a back injury and continued prayers for Heartburn’s jaw healing and return to his work.

YHC took us out

NMMS : Man it pumps me up when FNG’s come out, especially ones that see us at an AO then decide to join. Welcome Sundance!

Proverbs of Solomon 3:13-18 NIV :

13Blessed are those who find wisdom,

those who gain understanding,

14for she is more profitable than silver

and yields better returns than gold.

15She is more precious than rubies;

nothing you desire can compare with her.

16Long life is in her right hand;

in her left hand are riches and honor.

17Her ways are pleasant ways,

and all her paths are peace.

18She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her;

those who hold her fast will be blessed.

A handsome set of Forge regulars showed up for superhero training. It was humid, and exhausting, and a perfect way to choke out the Jester of excuses and sloth.

The THANG:

WARMERAMA:

• Mosey to the flagpoles and circle up
• Welcome & Disclaimer
• Variable IC Reps to get the muscles warm top to bottom
• Mosey down to the lower lot

Batman Workout: 

• 10 sets is the goal
• Each set:  x20 squats, x40 Punches, x10 Ball Dippers (2-ct), x10 Merkins, x20 Shoulder Taps, x20 Mtn Climbers (2-ct), x10 WWII Punches, x10 Straight Leg Raises, x10 Am.Hammers (2-ct)
• After each set, run the parking lot loop

Mosey BTTF:

• En route hold Al Gore for Doozy putting the headlock on a local sad clown walker
• Bernie up the hill BTTF

COT:

• Counterama # 8
• Namerama
• Announcerama (see Comments)
• YHC took the PAX out in Prayer

NMS:  So apparently great minds think alike, considering Florence did a version of this Batman Workout at R&R last Saturday while YHC was out of town. House Party was the only one who had the “pleasure” of double dipping, and informed me after that they’d done the x10 sets of each exercise in succession rather than in circuit. Either way, The Batman workout is a absolute smokefest. TClaps to Fresh Prince who finished all x10 Rounds and did an extra round while we ran down the clock. YHC completed 8, and pretty sure Doozy quite nearly got to 10. YHC closed out our COT with a testimony and encouragement to reconsider to quality and quantity of that which we consume, which the QSource specifically refers to as The Queen. It doesn’t matter how much we workout if we are loading our systems with junk. Choose something to give up for a day or a week, and use the ensuing hunger you feel for that normal indulgence to pray/meditate or consume something healthier. Accountability matters, so tell a brother what your doing. Love, DTH