Poker at the Fire House

YHC pre-blasted with the promise of picking things up and putting them down. The implication was that was simply kettle bells – the fire hose waiting to greet pax as they pulled in proved that was not necessarily the case.

EC: Full House and Deadbolt for some miles, Dawgpound, Flanigan, and YHC for some yoga.

Pax just kept pouring into the parking deck – not sure if it’s the pleasant location or the attractiveness of the scaleable workout, but for two weeks in a row we landed at 20 pax for Ivan.

FNGs:

None today – a shame.
Warm Up:

SSH x20 IC

1x Burpee

Right leg swings x10 IC

2x Burpee

Left leg swings x10 IC

3x Burpee

Daisy pickers x10 IC

4x Burpee
The Workout:
Pax maintained the circle around the fire hose. One pax left their kettlebell and picked up the hose for a lap around the bottom of the parking deck. Another pax flipped a card out of the deck which determined what exercise we did while the pax was traveling.

For the first 12 minutes we did:
Diamond – Squat Thruster – Tragically we didn’t get to do a single one of these. The problem with randomization I suppose.
Spade – Kettlebell swing
Clubs – Curls
Heart – Merkin shuffle (Merkin with one hand on bell, slide bell, merkin, repeato)
Joker – Turkish Getup

For the second 12 minutes we did:
Diamond – Lawnmowers
Spade – Midget cookie pouch
Clubs – Triceps
Heart – Midget getup
Joker – Turkish getup

At some point in this second set a 3rd and 4th joker were drawn and the pax learned that YHC’s deck was a bit doctored…..woops, might’ve failed to mention that at the start.

For the third 12 minutes we did:
Diamond – Boobity boobity (squeeze bell and press up from one pec to the top down to the opposite, repeato)
Spade – Low slow flutter w/bell overhead
Clubs – WW1 w/bell
Heart – Single leg deadlift
Joker – Turkish Getup

During this set UTI remarked that there was a difference between Jacks and Jokers. YHC assured him that there were in fact only 6 jokers in this “deck” of cards.

Mary: Incorporated into last set

Announcements:

Run for Dee Dee – https://www.eventbrite.com/e/4th-annual-run-for-dee-dee-5k-registration-84539745655

T-Claps (Recognition):

Yogurt for the triple down option this morning (Crazy Ivan, Mountain biking in Umstead, 5K in Umstead). Keep your eyes out for this one to repeat itself!

Prayer:

A note about the requests – we have some of the same requests that come up for long standing issues. Please do remember to conciously lift these up in whatever way matches with your creed – don’t just check the box at the end of CoT, make it real.

Wallaby. Forceps and his family. Lipstick’s family and his sister. YHC’s M’s back.

YHC took us out.

Hey Pax, Can Someone Give Me a Ride to…

YHC discovered a new way to get someone to a workout.  There’s the standard EH. Then there’s the “smack talk ‘em into it”. Finally, there’s the I locked my keys in the car, need a ride to the AO, and btw…I’m supposed to Q. That’s where I was after some miles at U-Turn this AM. But Sprinkler came to the rescue to give me a lift. Without my shovel flag, gloves, dice, winky, and other non-sweated through gear in my locked car… we began the AO at 0730.

FNG’s: nada
Warm Up: SSH x30, and then 10 counts of: IW, HB, Good Mornings, Frankenstein’s, Moroccan Night Clubs, Seal Clap, and Overhead Claps.
The Workout: To the rocks men!  YHC called a series of exercises with 20, 15, and a few 10 counts of the following:

Rut Rows x 3, Ground Pounders (only 1x), Squats x 4, Curls for the girls x 3, Tricep Press x 2, Bus Drivers, Wonder Bras, Shoulder Press x 2, Toe Taps, and, of course, in true GP fashion…the Rock Spanks! Pax switched rocks frequently.

Pax bring rocks to parking lot with everyone on their six. 6 rounds of Chest Presses and 6 rounds of ab work all with rocks. Ab work was 10 cts., presses were 10,15,20,20,15,10 counts.

Over to the bleacher area…an area apparently historically underused at this AO judging by the mumblechatter. Let’s open up this can!

Pax grab a fistful of fence for 30 count fence squats.

Half the pax engaged in a bleacher close grip Merkin ladder up and down the bleachers as the “timers”. Remaining pax did AMRAP dips at the knee wall. Switch.  Arms spent!

20 count step-ups at the knee wall.

We moseyed over to the restroom hut for some alternating series of People’s Chair and BTTW.  3 rounds of this with all pax counting the time with 7 counts, then 6, finally 5.

Moseyed back to the flag.

Mary: YHC realized we skipped dirkins, so we did 10 of those IC. Finished with 5 burpees OYO.
Announcements: Lots of things to get involved in on Slack. Wilmington race coming up.
T-Claps (Recognition): Needless to say…Sprinkler for making my Q happen. Farva… for always choosing a rock that makes the rest of the pax suffer…I mean…get stronger. Martini for doing a triple down after running like 14 miles or something this morning.
Prayer: Those sick and the hysteria that seems to follow Corona Virus situation. DOA’s family with sickness and M close to giving birth. Laid hands on our brother Forceps. Honored to lead… even without my car, keys, or gear!

3 Ring Circus at U-Turn, but No Dumbo…

Q Tour rolled into U-Turn this morning. Nice brisk temps. Pre-Blast went out late last evening from YHC after assessing the multiple feeds on Slack to determine what many of the PAX were thinking heading into their Saturday runs. Saw many were looking to get in some early morning miles, some looking for 5 as usual and others feeling nostalgic, looking for the ‘old school’ U-Turn route. For YHC, the plan was to start em off with warm-up and close em down with COT, but lead a 3 mile route for those looking for shorter distance. The combination of age setting in, my stupidity on Monday ‘getting way after it’ at PC, as well as my unfortunate lack of common sense trying to make Emeril all salty during Indian runs has earned YHC a well-deserved hip issue. To that existent, YHC had to rely on the strength of the PAX to push each other during their 5 mile runs.

Lots of PAX rolling in from EC and also many rolling in for Main Event. Planted flag, exchanged pleasantries with several PAX. Around 5:58am, Pablo was seen coming in hot, but no co-pilot in the form of Dumbo to be found. After seeing some early morning feeds from Slack on my porcelain throne this morning, it appeared that a great evening was had by many PAX at the NC State game last night. Dumbo’s morning scratch, however, was about as disappointing as Danny Manning’s .411 winning percentage at Wake Forest to many PAX in attendance,  including DawgPound, Pablo, and Emeril.

6:00am hit and after confirming no FNG’s we were off with the following warm-up.

Warm Up: Light jog around the lot with alternating carioca R\L, L\R. Continued on the light jog and circled up for SSH X15, Imperial Walkers X10, Hillbillies X10, Good Morning X 10 IC. Squat hold while YHC explained the options.

The Workout: Old School U-Turn with Dauber and Doc, Newer School (current standard U-Turn) route with 10min\mi and higher starting first, and a 3 mile with YHC, heading in either the New School or Old School direction. After explaining the route options, YHC sent the 10min pace groups first, but then Slide Rule said he’d have to be back before 7am, so would head out with the 10min group and then at that point after witnessing his long strides, the gazelles got triggered and just headed out all at once. They all knew what to do so…run pick up the six, repeat for 5 miles.

Boy George, Vasoline, and YHC stayed back, did some additional exercises to continue limbering up and to burn some time at the beginning so our 3mi route would end around the same time as some of the 1st PAX starting to filter in from their run. We chose new school route and headed up about 1.5 mi and just circled back to the lot. 15 PAX at the start and about 21ish PAX on the return for COT, accounting for those that headed out for early EC. Definitely didn’t lose anyone, but gained a few along the way.

Mary: OYO
Announcements: Dad-2.0 Workout with Mr. Terrific at 9am Womble.
T-Claps (Recognition): Deadbolt shaving 20seconds this morning compared to last week’s U-Turn post. Kudos to DawgPound with a strong finish at the end in picking up the six onto a solid 5mi run pacing around 9:13. All those getting extra miles out there this morning and pushing each other

Prayer: Continued prayers for Forceps. YHC took us out.

Oh! It’s a car thing!

Abe was set up to Q Cletus, but his 2.0 was under the weather and he needed to stay home to be a good husband and father.   YHC stepped into the void to lead this AM.  Much to Da Business’ disappointment, I did not popcorn the Q and instead went for a regular Cletus beatdown.

FNGs: Nosir
Warm Up:
Run the lines on the courts
SSH, Imperial Squat Walkers, Mtn Climbers, Merkins

The Workout:
Bear crawl the lines, then repeat-o the other direction (star jump x10 between)
Hop the lines, both legs, both directions (merkin x10 between)

Burpee-indian-run, then double-burpee-indian-run
Plank Hold for indian bear crawl
Indian run to lot

Grab a fence, 10x derkins on the low run, 10x derkins on the high run
Sprint to end of fence, 10x sumo squat jumps, sprint back
Repeat 8x, 6x. etc

2 line indian run to the playground for
PULL UPS (and 90 degree hangs)

Mary: POPCORN! (just for Da Business)
Announcements: Please make Wrightsville a priority.  Also, 2.0 workout tomorrow
T-Claps (Recognition): we all had fun.  not a lot of chatter, so appreciate everyone pushing themselves this morning
Prayer: FloJo’s accident; Crab Legs, Forceps, Lipstick’s sister, lots of others

Protect the Jewels!

FNGs:None

Warm Up: Lap around soccer field, overhead seal claps, seal claps, fozio arm circles, windmills, imperial walkers and hillbillies.

The Workout: Headed to the play ground area for rounds of exercises followed by running around the parking lot.

Round 1: 30 Merkins, 30 Dips, 15 each leg single leg side step ups.

Round 2: Banded upright rows, squats, and curls 30 count for each

Round 3: Hip flexor exercises, peoples chair 10 count down the line followed by balls to the wall

Round 4: Derkins, Dips,  and Prisoner Squats

Round 5: banded shoulder presses, step ups, and merkins

Pax then moseyed down the decline driveway area to do single leg hops.

Pax then jail broke up the hill for Mary

Honor to lead! Great job!

Mary: hip flexor exercises, homer to marge regular and one legged, v-sit up hold, six inch hold with circles and then low slow flutter.

Announcements: Mule 6-9am next week, Garner High School on Wednesdays AO.

T-Claps (Recognition):

Prayer: Wallaby, Forceps and New Mexico’s family radiation therapy.

Pulled Some Fire Hose For A Barn Burner

I pulled in at South Park around 5:00 am to set-up. One vehicle in parking lot. Could not tell who it was. Looked back at 5:05 and they were off. I got everything in place and the vehicles started rolling in. I was worried that we may have too many PAX and not enough props. It all worked out. So, I made mention that we may have a Fire Drill. Comment made, what is a Fire Drill? I stated it was a surprise…show up and he did not (Dauber). 14 PAX showed up for a barn burner of exercises and some fire hose workouts with no water this time.

FNG: None

Warm Up: Moseyed a lap around the track. Circled up for the following: SSH-25, Imperial Walkers, Hillbillies, Moroccan Night Clubs, Fazio Arm Circles, Daisy Pickers and we are off to the workout.

The Workout: Moseyed to where the props(stations) were staged and explained what was about to take place. It was complete silence especially when PAX saw the PALLET. M4life was even quiet, I know that’s rare!

1st  partner did station while the other did the following exercises and they would rotate until that station was finished…move onto next station. Rinse and Repeat for almost 4 rotations all the way through

Merkins, LBC’s, Squats and towards the end whatever you had left.

1st Station, 100’ 3” fire hose drag from one end of the parking lot to the other

2nd Station, Farmers carry with 44lbs each arm

3rd Station, 150’ 3” fire hose on your shoulder. Run from one end to the other of parking lot

4th Station, More tractor weights (1) lunges one end to the other of parking lot

5th Station, Rotational Hose slams around a tree with 1 3/4″ fire hose

6th Station, 100’ 3” fire hose drag from one end of the parking lot to the other

7th Station, The most fun for all PALLET PUSH with 50’ 1’ ¾” hose on pallet. You guessed it from one end to the other. It was rough so we had partner push it back to starting area.

8th Station, Tractor Weights John Q form one end to the other of parking lot.

Mary: I knew it was too good to be true M4life started bumping those gums.

Low slow flutter, Box cutters, Downward dog, Leg and pigeon stretches, Have a nice day

Announcements: Check Facebook and Slack

T-Claps (Recognition): EC: Beater by himself. Gamecock for running to AO from his house. Great job to all. It was a tough work out!

Prayer: Beater, Uncle and Cousin Palliative Care called in. Modify sister-in-law broke her back (Molly), passing of Wiggly Dad, Fedex co-worker 50lb box fell on his head, still out of work, Forceps Family

It was a Honor to Lead! Sprinkler

Start at the light, end at the light

FNGs: nope!
Warm Up: Butt kicks, High knees, Karaokes, A skips (B skips and C skips for @LED and YHC)
The Workout: Lights set the stage for the speedsters at each corner of the track, marking out each 100m. @LED started his morning before the other PAX arrived to get done by 6am. Even though the workout called for picks ups and slow downs, @Da Business refused to slow down, he just powered lap after lap. After a 1 mile at 10k pace to start, PAX briefly recovered. Then did repeats for 10 min, 300m pickups with 100m jog to recover. After an easy 800m recovery, PAX did more repeats for 10 min of 200m pickups with 200m active recovery. Every pick-up ended at the finish-line. A few PAX closed with 50m strides, some did 4, some did 1.
Mary: Walking
Announcements: Dee Dee 5k, Family friendly AO on Saturday at 9am
T-Claps (Recognition): @LED starting early and pushing solo, @Slide Rule keeping good form, @Pikachu for embracing the track and @Da Business being a solid rock!
Prayer: Family prayers for: Forceps, Slide Rule, Pikachu

All Kinds of Merkin Madness

Great night for an AO! Mid- 50’s, mostly dry ground, no fog. All unexpected pax for tonight’s study in the “Way of the Merkin”. YHC got this idea just hours earlier and some brave pax even helped me try out a few new Thangs that I’ll use at future Q’s. We learned first hand about the evolution and many forms of the Merkin tonight. Flag planted and feet moving at 1900.

FNG’s: No

Warm Up: Moseyed to the batting cage lot for 10 counts of: Good Mornings, Frankenstein’s, Fazio Arm Circles F/R, Standard Merkins (13 ct. my lucky number), Moroccan Night Clubs, Imperial Walkers, Hillbillies, 13 ct. Diamond Merkins, Daisy Pickers, and Windmills.
The Workout: Thang 1. 4 corners with 5,10,15,20 count exercises at each successive corner. Exercises were LSF (IC) and for 2nd round, Prisoner Squats. 3rd round was 3,6,9,12 of double merkin burpees with lunge walks on short ends. This challenged the pax and YHC. No mumblechatter by corner 3.

Thang 2.  Rocks. YHC called 13 counts of the following exercises: Curls for the Girls x 3, Tricep Press x2, Squats x2, Deadlifts, Rut Rows x 2, Shoulder Press x 3, Ground Pounders x2, Trunk Twists, Bus Drivers. Scattered among these sets were 13 count Hand Release Merkins, Staggered Grip Merkins (13 on each side), Dirkins, And Irkins. Rocks were rotated sporadically throughout. Got on our  six for some chest Press blowouts. Each set was 13 count then pass the rock. We did 5 sets of these and a final set of 26. YHC took “the big rock” for final set since I accidentally stick Shredder and The Natural with it for Bus Drivers and GP’s.

Thang 3. To the pavilion. 2 pax complete merkin crawl w/irkins on every table and bench surface around the loop. This was completed while other pax completed SSH in cadence. We switched so both groups could feel the unique aspects of the strengthening qualities of these very different exercises. Did a People’s Chair 10 count from each pax for recovery followed by 20 wide grip merkins.

And no merkin workout would be complete without some Jack Webb’s at the tennis court. We went to a 5 count on this as time expired.

Mary: None
Announcements: Lots of stuff and opportunities on Slack. Q sheet. Try to get out and support VQ’s…helps more HIM to jump in and want to Q.
T-Claps (Recognition): Shredder for getting in some miles before AND after this workout.
Prayer: Injured, sick pax.  Dusty’s brother dealing w/mental health and stroke issues, Kubota’s workplace, The Natural’s M for more recovery. Honored for the opportunity to lead gentlemen!

Not Your Average Hump Day In The Gloom

I was especially excited this morning. After all, I created my first F3 Shovel flag the night before and even had time to throw some camo paint on it. Got to the AO and set up shop as I stared at my masterpiece waving in the wind. I wasn’t alone though. There was a dark colored truck in the lot. Then the men’s bathroom door swung open and YHC assumed it was lipstick for sure with his IBS and all, but to my surprise it was Dahmer. Shortly afterward an unfamiliar PAX walked up as we were about to start by the name of Sea Legs. We met Mr. Kotter with greetings of welcome.

Warm up:

The Windmill X10, SSH X25, Imperial Walkers X12, The Frankenstein X10, wide squat stretch OYO for 10 count… and a mosey down to the outside corner of the soccer field.

The Workout:

B.L.I.M.P.S around the soccer field stopping at each corner for an exercise. PAX started at Corner 1 with an exercise, then moseyed along the long stretch to Corner 2,  stopped for an exercise, sprinted across the short stretch to Corner 3, stopped for an exercise, moseyed down the back stretch to Corner 4 and stopped for an exercise, before sprinting back to Corner 1.

Round 1: The “B” round…..5 burpees to start us off and a mosey to Corner 2. Five more burpees and a sprint to Corner 3. Five more burpees and a mosey to Corner 4 for 5 more Burpees before sprinting back to Corner 1…total of 20 burpees for Round 1

Round 2: The “L” round…..10 lunges for each corner with a mosey on the long stretches and  sprints on the short sides

Round 3: The “I” round….15 imperial walkers at each corner with a mosey on the long stretches and sprints on the short sides

Round 4: The “M” round…..20 merkins in the corners with a mosey on the long stretches and sprints on the short sides

Round 5: The “P” round……25 plank jacks in the corners with a mosey………..and sprints………….

Round 6: The “S” round……30 squats in the corners with a mosey……….and sprints

Mary: We were at 6:15 exactly…and so Name-O-Rama began

Announcements: Reminder to all that we need to fill up the Q Sheet and to frequently check Slack

T-Claps: Sea Legs for posting after 7 months absent

Prayer Requests: Continued prayers for Wiggly, and prayers for Forceps and his family. Prayers for all our military and their families

Beach body Ab work at Downtown Train

Ten strong for an ab workout at Downtown Train even had a nice surprise and rare visit from several PAX we don’t see too often!

FNGs: Nope

Warm Up: 10 burpees OYO, SSHs, Windmills, Merkins, 10 squat jumps OYO

The Workout:

Mosey to library parking lot and partnered up for Dora. Exercises and count was 200 American hammers, 300 dying cockroaches, and 400 LBCs. Partner 1 did exercise while partner 2 ran lap around parking lot. Rotate and repeat. After total rep count for each exercise was finished, held plank hold for 10 second count by each PAX (3 rounds).

After Dora , moseyed to parking garage for  some suicide ladders of WWIIs (5, 10, 15) and once to the far end of parking deck 50 mountain climbers (two rounds).

Mary: Wen’t around the circle and each PAX called an exercise. 20 burpees OYO, Homer to Marge, good mornings, Freddie Mercury, can’t recall the rest but each PAX got a turn.

Announcements: Check Facebook and Slack

T-Claps (Recognition): Fed Ex, LED, Fonzi, and Warbucks for making the rare trip to Downtown Train.

Prayer: Spoken and unspoken, friend of Pumpkin Spice, YHCs brother-in-laws father, Wallaby, Forceps, Fed Ex’s co-worker.