The Path to Nowhere

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YHC posted a pre-blast promising some Easter fun and didn’t want to disappoint. I rolled up at 0445 in time to refuel the Trailblazer and do a little exploring. With a full tank and flag planted, YHC headed out to hide some Easter eggs and see where an oddly placed sidewalk went. After stashing the eggs, it was off for the mystery path. It appeared to run behind the parking lot, but there was only one way to find out. So YHC in an anticlimactic kind of way headed down the trail. This turned out to be a nice wide .25 mile greenway trail that ends just behind Jiffy Lube, perfect for today’s warm up. Today’s workout brought out 16 PAX, with 6 for EC. 4 for the standard EC and 2 EC commuters. Promptly at 0530 YHC found no FNGs and we were off.

EC: Chips, Dahmer, Pablo, Warbucks, Lipstick, 187

Warm Up:
Warm up jog down the path to nowhere. We stopped at the end for:
SSH x20 IC
Mtn climbers x20 IC
Sir Fazio arm circles 10 forward/10 backward

Ran back path and crossed road to doctor’s office parking lot

The Workout:
Partner up for accountability. Bunny Hop Burpees (burpee + 3 bunny hops) around parking lot with lunge walk back to pick up the 6 for those over achievers such as Lucky.

Mosey back to start.

It was at this point that YHC noted a failure as the Q. I put PAX in danger as we crossed the busy Holly Springs road. We should have (and will next time) ran up to the crosswalk and crossed safely. Instead, we had a surprise game of Frogger, that we luckily won.

PAX split into 4 groups of 4 for an egg hunt. Group 1 did indian run to end of lot and retrieved an egg filled with an exercise. PAX held plank until 1st egg was returned and exercise was called. PAX did exercise (AMRAP) while Group 2 retrieved and egg. Multiple PAX jokingly called more Bunny Hop Burpees, so I’ll take it that those were a hit.  This was repeated until all eggs were collected and all exercises were completed.  That jerk the Easter bunny left us the following exercises:
Hand release merkins
Captain Thor
Squats
Jack Webb
Pickle pounders
Plank jacks
Low slow flutter
Side straddle hop
Wide-grip merkins
Burpees
Dan Taylor
V-ups
Jump lunge
Star jump
Shoulder Taps x50 IC

Mary:
Circle up at start for:
LBCs x20 IC
Low slow flutter x20 IC
American hammer x20 IC
Have a nice day

Announcements:
See social media
Dirty Pipes interested in swim meet-up,will connect him to #tri-sprint Slack channel.

Prayer:
Injured PAX
Crablegs drug trial

YHC took us out.

Get off my playground you Grandpa

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April 15, 2019 / Tea Time / QIC: Dusty

Pax:  Dusty, Pikachu, Skidmark, Spam

Pax of four impressing the girls who shared the monkey bars with us at Womble playground

Warm Up: Run one mile

The Workout:

Strandard Murph: 100 pull-ups, 200 merkins, 300 squats

Mary: Run another mile

Announcements:  See Facebook

Prayer:  Crablegs, Shredder, Gratitude

Shenanigans at Devils Ridge – a Non AO BB

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Warm Up:  At 0734, Dauber received a text from his young gun A player that he was a scratch due to a stomach bug for todays golf tournament supporting the Heritage Leadership Academy.  A quick Slack post to ShamWow got the three remaining golfers busy texting friends and family in search of a 4th.  Luckily, Forceps was on vacation and responded eagerly to the request for help and a promise of F3 fellowship.  A few balls were hit on the range.  Nothing pretty.  Some wrist pain experienced by Aquaman with complaints about hitting an iron.   Lots of young guns on the range:  Long ball hitters were a plenty.  On to chicken and pancakes and to check-in.

The Workout:  Started this best-ball golf tournament on number 10, second group off.  Thank goodness.  We were waiting for Forceps who had an ETA of 0855.  (Just in time to tee off at 0900).  PAX were excited.  It was a beautiful Carolina day:  blue skies, high 60’s, sunshine!  However, the course was WET.  (And slippery – more to follow on the moistness).  A tremendous storm rolled through in the early hours.  Cart path only.  Wet conditions meant mud, plugged balls, no rolls, but an ability to take dead aim at pins.  We approached the blue tees (only 60 year olds RESPECT, RESPECT earned the right to hit from the whites) and began our play.  Aquaman smoked his drive finding the middle of the fairway.  Dauber (the lefty), pulled his ball to the right hitting the first of many trees on the right hand side from the tee.  ShamWow killed his drive left and Forceps needed some more time to warm up.

Throughout the next 18 holes, PAX had a ton of great shots, some absolutely horrible ones but more importantly had an unbelievable time.  Birdies were few, but F2 was strong at the Ridge today.  Lots of banter.  Lots of laughter.  Lots of fun.

Highlights from the outing:

ShamWow took a header in the wet conditions descending a hill.  The pic below looks like he dropped a deuce before making it to a portapotty.  Luckily, he had brought a change of clothes before departing early to catch a plane later that afternoon.  We missed you brother on the last 5 holes.  Safe travels!

F3 works men!  Check out the calfs of Aquaman:

Forceps found his “A” game and began crushing the ball.  Look at his arms (Popeye?)

Dauber continued pulling his tee shots.  This picture shows his poor set-up – something to work on this year at address.  But he looked damn good in that Masters polo.

 

Aquaman needed to change up things a bit on the back nine.  Not sure what he did in there.  But it worked!

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Mary:  What a great spread (Hamburgers, Sausage, potato salad, beans, etc.) post tournament by the Devils Ridge chef!

Announcements:  Aquaman could not hang with us as he grabbed a refreshment and headed out for another 18 hole tournament.  Ten hours of golf in one day!

Special thanks to Banana Seat for bringing this golf tournament to our attention.

T-Claps (Recognition):  Without a doubt, Forceps coming to our rescue at the 11th hour.  Thank you brother.

Prayer: A few were said over some putts today.

Too bad highest score doesn’t win in golf!

Congratulations to the team of Banana Seat and Slide Rule for finishing in third place!

5 On The Rocks

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Downtown Train is still a work in progress. Parking deck is not done yet, weekly struggle between going run-centric or sticking with boot camp, already had to adjust the EC route due to construction, etc.  That said, every week has proven to deliver a strong group of #HIM for a strong workout. This morning YHC had his first miss of EC since we started, but Warbucks held down the fort on a solo EC and we were glad he had the opportunity in his schedule to join us. Third Cousin was ready to go and let me say this guy has contagious enthusiasm and has had a great first weeks in the gloom.  Snap showed up on the jog and it was a pleasure to introduce him to a non-running AO – great to have you out there with us this morning.  Forceps showed up right on time and was a fitting addition to the 5 as I was stealing some of my favorite parts of his great Qs at Ground Pounder.  As much as I appreciate how much we have grown, and the opportunity to post with so many different #HIM, I really do enjoy the smaller crowds from time to time.

Warm Up: On the 0.4 mile jog around the big block and circled up for SSH, Mt Climbers, Arm Stretch, Fazio Arms, Morocon Night Clubs, Imperial Walkers, Hillbillies and a few others I don’t recall
The Workout: On the jog to the rocks and each selected a medium size rock to share.  John Cusak over to what I now refer to as the smile lot behind the library.  Set up in a circle and we worked through sets doing 2 exercises each set, all to a slow ICx10. Do 1st exercise, rotate to rock your left, do 2nd exercise.  Did 4 sets of each exercise.  Recover on the jog around the smile and we did a plank hold 5 count into shoulder taps ICX15 and built it up ICx20 and ICx25 on the next rounds, another 5 count plank hold and then jog back to rocks.  The exercise sets were curls/tris, ground pounder/weighted tempo squats, wonder bras/bus drivers.  After last set we did walking curls to return rocks and then on the jog to start.
Mary: A couple quick sets, keeping the feet off the ground, LBC, 6 hold, low slow flutter into homer to marge.  Did this twice and wrapped with Have a Nice Day.
Announcements: Talked about getting on facebook/slack, talked about some of the ways F3 is more than just a workout
T-Claps (Recognition):
Prayer: Forceps mother-in-law for a safe move, unspoken, took a silent 10 count and YHC took us out

Engagement Party

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YHC arrived at his typical time for EC. No other cars in parking lot, no light vest of Pikachu. YHC thought it was going to be a solo EC today. About 0512 Lipstick and Yogurt pulled in. We 3 started out and picked up Pikachu at the light at 55. Nevertheless a very light EC today at Paradise City where the EC number is typically around 10. When we returned the parking lot still appeared empty buy the numbers picked up as we neared the 0545 start time. One FNG present, disclaimer given, all HC’s present and accounted for, and we were off.

EC: Yogurt, Lipstick, Pikachu, Skidmark

FNG: Steamboat

Warm Up: No thanks, no time.
The Workout: Was this completely different than our usual bootcamp, no. But YHC felt it was different in the targeted area. Pax focused a lot on strengthening their core. Lots of engagements today, even more first dates. The workout was simple in theory. Run for 2 minutes, exercises for 2 minutes, rinse and repeat. Started off in the mosey for 2 minutes then:

Station 1: Plank hold, Chill cut, Right arm up, left arm.

Run for 2 minutes

Station 2: Side glute raise Right, hold and do 10 runner leg drives, Switch to left. Rinse and repeat until 2 minutes up.

I hope you get the idea now.

Station 3: Single leg squats at the wall, Steps ups. Yep for 2 minutes

Station 4: Hold squat and do Side Shuffle right. After 10 do 1 burpee. Then 10 left, 1 burpee. 2 minutes

Station 5. Side plank hold, side plank crunches.

Switched to Indian Runs to get the Pax together. Yep Indian runs for 2 minutes.

Repeat the whole thing again with some variations. Added some arm forward and leg up plank holds. One set of erkins, derkins, and dips.

Q’s goal was to get the pace around 9:00 mm. Final average on Q’s Garmin 8:58 mm

Mary: As if we didn’t do enough core we did some pickle pounders, Peter Parkers, Imperial Walkers, Hillbillies.

Announcements: Nothing new.
T-Claps (Recognition):
Prayer: Spanx Father in Law, Katniss coworkers, crablegs, hopefully no significant damage to the area of some storms last night.

Kick Ball in the Gloom

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Warm Up:  Run through the parking lot; quick feet on the curb in both directions.  Circled up for the following exercises:  20 SSH, 10 Good AM, 10 Daisy Pickers, 10 Sir Fazio Arm Circles (F/B), 10 Windmills, 10 Goof balls

The Workout:  KICK BALL – F3 Style:  Fields were flooded due to an overnight storm so Q moved the kick ball event to the parking lot.  Ground rules set:  if ball was kicked outside of parking lot into grass, the kicker executed 5 burpees OYO; pitcher calls out exercise, kicker runs after ball while remaining PAX performed the exercise.  This was modified after a few rounds with ALL PAX running to the kicked ball.  Numerous exercises were called including wide merkins, merkins, diamond merkins, Squats, SSH, LBC, WWII, planks, spider man, mountain climbers, leg kicks, Burpees, Homer to Marge,  B2TW, 6-point Burpee, etc.

 

Mary:  Circled up in the parking lot and each PAX called out a 10-count core exercise:  LBC, WWII, reverse LBC, American Hammers, H2M, Freddie Mercury, Box cutters…

Announcements:  Triathlon Training (with non AO swimming) – See Gump;

SEE ANNOUNCEMENTS on social media

T-Claps (Recognition):  Great to see our F3 brother back in the gloom – Noah’s Ark!

Prayer:  FedEx led us out;  Holy Week – Good Friday, Easter.  Lots of whirlwinds in PAX lives; work transitions, Messi taking a huge test this week, injured PAX,  Job interview, unspoken.

EC:  LED and H1N1 running; Messi on the bike.

Honored to lead you men in the gloom!  Appreciate your enthusiasm with the use of the kick ball today!

AGS 10 Count for Hill Mastery and The Rise of Double D

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With only 2 PAX posting last week, YHC sent a pre-blast drawing inspiration from a 20+ count at U-Turn. The temps are getting warmer, but the rain and clouds are still making their presence known on the weekend AO’s. This morning temps called for 65 degrees, with a 35 percent chance of rain. Received 2 HC’s on the pre-blast post from Full House and ShamWow, with a possible SC by Maybelline. Don’t think there has ever been an HC on a Sunday for the following Sunday, but Yogi laid one down last week, and so was at least expecting 3, possibly 4 this morning, including YHC.

A Cowboy slack post indicated interest on this mornings route and what shoes to wear, provoked thoughts of a 5th brother. Rolled up on Womble this morning to discover quite a few cars…As expected, Cowboy. Then I see as an added bonus, the Sir DawgPound emerged to the parking lot. No sooner did a I turn around, I see the guy I hoped I’d see return to AGS this morning in the form of Double D. There was a post on Slack the night before that came from Forceps indicating he’d make an appearance to ruck parts of AGS this morning. As I saw him emerge from his truck, I considered the irony given that it was Masters Sunday. Is it me or is Masters Sunday a bit different when Tiger Woods is in the mix and pushing for another Major?

That’s the way I feel when Double D steps into any AO that he posts in. It’s just different. I can’t effectively put it into words. The bar is raised to another level and you know it’s gonna be a good day when he’s present and benefit from his energy. Great to see him back in the gloom!

Bobby Dall then shortly rolled in followed by Full House, and then a fleet footed light up vest emerged from the soccer field fences. The figure was fast and swift and yep…you guessed it, SkidMark! Did a quick turnaround and there was Maybelline emerging from the shadows cashing in his ‘SC’ on slack for an ‘HC.’ This was the result of a solid headlock that was applied by ShamWow the night before. The final piece to our HIM Team came in the form of Lipstick, who is always ready to run and can always count on him visiting YHC about 5-6 times throughout the route as he picks up the 6.

Clock hit 6am and with the Team assembled, YHC welcomed the 10 PAX to AGS by sharing that this morning’s edition of AGS was sure to be an interesting morning. PAX followed YHC for a lap around the soccer fields with intermittent exercises that went a little like this….

Warm Up:

Light mosey to first picnic shelter. PAX spread out and circled up for SSH X10. At count 7, YHC’s cell phone flung out of pocket and at count 8, ShamWow landed awkwardly on his ankle. Not an ideal start, but after a careful check to ensure all was ok, ShamWow assured the Q his ankles were the strongest part of his body and could continue. Continued mosey to Ivan parking lot for a series of carioca L\R, R\L to the opposite corner. PAX circled for Imperial Walkers X10. Continued Mosey into lunge walks and then morphed for Frankensteins, Butt Kickers, and mosey back to originating parking lot. YHC called for a series of prison squats X10 and then explained the route to PAX

The Workout:

With PAX already a 0.5mi in with the warm up and provided they already started their watches on the warm up, today’s route would keep us on the road (given the rain) and away from Bass Lake. Double informed YHC that he would be rucking this morning and would navigate a 4-mile route near and\or along the lake. This morning’s running route would provide heavy doses of hills, starting downhill on Stinson. PAX would then proceed left on Bass Lake Road. This would offer Lipstick two opportunities to drop gross weight at Lowe’s, before continuing onto Rhamkatte Village. Later learned that he bypassed Lowe’s for a porta potty option (evolution of BRR training starting to take shape). Once inside Rhamkatte Village, PAX would continue down Jones Hill Road all the way down the row of townhouses and U-Turn back out to Holly Springs Road. PAX would then continue left onto Holly Springs Road all the way down to a right on Linksland and then a right on Salem Ridge Road before gathering their thoughts and oxygen to proceed with a right up Bass Lake road. Knowing that we had some glowing (light up vest)  gazelles in the mix this morning, YHC gave them an extra mile to have them continue onto Earp with a left on Raleigh. For the six (YHC included) we had an alternate route back up Stinson and onto Womble where all PAX met within 5 minutes of each other back to the flag. A big shout out to Lipstick for picking up the six periodically throughout the route and gaining 8+ miles and additional PAX getting 7 this morning…

Mary: Stretches OYO with Mumblechatter

Announcements: YHC shared the underlying inspiration for the pre-blast post centered around the importance of being a great teammate. Earlier in the week, YHC came upon a letter that was written by Brad Stevens (former Butler University Head Coach and current coach of the Boston Celtics) to his daughter for a Leaders and Daughters event. The entire letter is attached here for those interested, but to paraphrase it spoke of the importance of choosing to be a great teammate:

https://leadersanddaughters.com/2019/03/04/brad-stevens-be-a-great-teammate

“Great teammates raise the energy in the room. They smile a lot. They show gratitude. People know that when they walk in, they have others’ best interest in mind, and want to bring out the best in each and every person. Who doesn’t want to surround themselves with energy raisers?”

“When times are good, be the great teammate that others want to celebrate with. When times are tough, be the great teammate who offers a shoulder to be leaned on. When you get older, you’ll realize that it wasn’t about the good or bad times, it was about who you navigated those times with, the lessons that you learned and the relationships that you forged.”

YHC further explained that it is always an honor to lead, but more importantly, the PAX I see in the gloom are usually the first faces YHC sees in the morning. Collectively we set the tone for that day and for the week. We need to continue to be great teammates not only in the gloom, but at home. As a Team, we need to continue to be those shoulders to lean on and push each other to be better men, husbands, neighbors, and fathers.

T-Claps (Recognition): Double D return to AGS, Lipstick for picking up the six, Solid Runs by this morning’s gazelles (Skid, Maybelline, Full House, Bobby Dall, Lipstick, ShamWow). Cowboy and DawgPound for pushing YHC up Bass Lake and Stinson.

Prayer: Special prayers for Double D and his family. Sally Hart (who was coached by Double D) and whom many of us F3-HIM have been fortunate to run with is running the Boston Marathon tomorrow. Good Luck to her and additional prayers for a great run tomorrow. YHC took us out.

Why do we do this again?

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22 PAX posted for YHC’s Q. On the drive we all were regretting not fart sacking this morning when the rain was coming down sideways, but we all still showed up in numbers and a couple that have gone missing at U-Turn for a while. Dahmer even brought an FNG to the party. Welcome Lumbergh!  Going for the extra extra, Pikachu and Skidmark got soaked on a 5 Mile EC.

 

Warm Up:

High Knees & Butt Kickers

SSH IC X 15

The Goof Ball IC X15

Daisy Pickers IC X10

Fazio Arm Circles IC10 F/R

Michael Phelps; L/R, R/L

The Workout:

The U-Turn… Some found their way through this ball of yarn for the 5k, the rest went the distance for 8k.

Mary:

Left her waiting.

Announcements:

Helping Shredder in the afternoon – double check slack because of the rain may audible for a cozy spot watching Tiger tear it up.

Prayer:

Silent Prayers, Those who couldn’t be with us and for the Ferns, YHC took us out.

Lucky 7 @ GP

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Warmup:

20 Fozie Arm Circles, 20 SSH, 15 Daisy Pickers, 10 Don Quixote’s (Windmills), 10 Emperial Walkers, 10 Hillbillies,  10 Plank Jacks

The Workout

Mosey to the Wall

3 sets of 35 ct (5 ct down the line) BTTW and 3 sets of 70 ct (10 ct down the line) Wall sits.

Mosey to the Rock Pile – rotate around rocks between sets.

  • 4 sets of 20’s – Curls for the girls
  • 4 sets of 20’s  – Overhead Tri-press
  • 4 sets of 10’s – Ground Pounders

PAX Cousak’d to the playground with the Rocks to finish our Rock work.

  • 4 sets of 20’s Standard Press (rotating rocks clockwise)
  • 10  Windshield Wipers
  • 10 Boat Canoes

Aik’n Station Time:  PAX pair up and rotate stations clockwise after each set

  • Aik’n Abs: 15 (1.2.3.#) American Rock Hammers,  20 ct (1.2.3) 6 inches, 10 Rockies, 30 ct Chillcut Planks
  • Aik’n Legs: 20 Squats, 10 Star jumps, 15 Mountain climbers, 20 Step Ups
  • Aik’n Arms: 15 Merkins, 20 Dips, 15 Derkins, 10 (1.2.3.#) Shoulder tap planks
  • Aik’n Abs: 20 LBCs, 20 Pickle Pounders, 10 WWIIs, 20 Homer to Marge (10 standard then 5 ct each leg)
  • Aik’n Legs: 20 Step Ups,  15  Lunges, 15 High Knees, 10 Split Jacks
  • Aik’n Arms: 15 Shoulder Tap Merkins, 15 Plank Jacks, 20 Dips, 15 Hand Release Merkins

Return the rocks to the Rock Pile then mosey to COT

Announcements: Yard work day at Shredder’s at 1PM today (weather permitting).  If weather is bad, we may get Shedder out to watch the Masters golf tournament

Prayer Requests:  Praise for Banana Seats recent check up on cancer – all clear.  Prayer’s for friend of Mufasa and Kitty Litter’s friend who is having a c-section as well as a co-worker with breast cancer.

YHC took us out.

April Madness

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Cupid was our guest Q this morning, and PAX was wondering what kind of pain was in store when they saw basketballs on the sidewalk. There was a request for B2TW, but Cupid had other plans.

Warm Up:

Jog around the lot, circle up for side-straddle hops, Michael Phelps, Sir Fazzio arm circles, and then one round of suicides down the lot. Grabbed the basketballs and moseyed to the back.

The Workout:

“Knockout”: 2 people on the court each with a ball. At “Go” the first person starts on the free throw line and tries to get a basket, while the person behind tries to knock out #1s ball and get a basket first. With the all-white cast with no evident Michael Jordan genes, and despite the shorter 8-foot basket, misses were plentiful, giving the waiting PAX plenty of time to hold their exercises.

If #1 gets a basket first, he passes it to the next waiting PAX, and #2 now becomes #1, while the new PAX is #2.
If #2 gets a basket first (achieving “knockout”), then #1 passes the ball to the next waiting PAX and commences with a penalty exercise.
Rest of the PAX hold an exercise while knockout is going on.

  1. WAITING: plank hold; PENALTY: 5 burpees
  2. WAITING: LBCs; PENALTY: 5 jump squats
  3. WAITING: Boat-canoes; PENALTY: 10 merkins
  4. WAITING: monkey humpers; PENALTY: 10 merkins

Continued this until time for Combatives.

Combatives:

Defense from sitting; included seated front and turn kicks, and a shin takedown

Mary:

LBCs, American Hammers, Pickle

Announcements:

Minuteman Muster 5k & 8k on May 19 (Norm); Get a Road ID (Gump)

T-Claps (Recognition):

16-bit completing his first half (at Disney in FL)

Prayer:

Shredder, Pikachu