2 Years Strong

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First, it was Memorial Day and we made sure to acknowledge before we started the workout.  Important to focus on what the day really means.

It was my 2 year anniversary so I took the Q at Paradise City, one of the most influential AOs for me during my F3 time.  I have since started Downtown Train as an alternative for Monday mornings but PC will always be near and dear to my heart.  So, we did a convergence.  We had several for EC including a group of  doing a run from Womble as EC then a return run to Womble for the Murph, thus creating their own CSAUP.  Kudos to UTI, Lipstick and Aquaman.  Don’t recall who we had for EC exactly.  Think there were 5 of us, but what I do remember is, in rare form, all of us stuck together the entire 2 miles, and that was cool.  One thing I really love about F3, every workout is a bit different and it is all driven by the guys you post with.  We have so many great characters and the mix we had today was really a strong reflection for me of my time in F3.  Thanks to all who came out top post.

FNGs: None
Warm Up: On the jog to bottom of ramp for SSH (a Nemo favorite) and extended count Good Mornings.  On the jog to top of ramp for SSH and Goofballs.  On the jog around to back corner for Sir Fazio.  On the jog down to end of guard rail to stretch the arms.
The Workout: On the guard rail we did a rapid set of tempo dips ICx10 followed by Mt Climbers ICx10.  3 sets.  Sweat was already in play thanks to the muggy air.  On the jog to the rocks each man picked a rock, and a couple picked a wasp nest, then we headed over to the tunnel with half lined up on each side.  Did a few rounds of exercises with one group on the exercise in tunnel and the other on the run to end of path and back.  Had to wait to switch until all were back and in People’s Chair.  Started with curls for the girls, then ground pounders.   2 sets of each.  Might have been more, I don’t recall.  Ended with some BTTW with a long count down the line.  Stench was building so we returned the rocks and headed back to bball courts.
Mary: A couple quick sets keeping the legs up for LBC, 6″, Low Slow Flutter, American Hammer and a Pickle Pounder to close it out.
Announcements: See Slack
T-Claps (Recognition): Abe for putting in total effort with BreathTaker.  This guy has been an inspiration for me from his first post.
Prayer: YHC shared 2 things I hope all of you will think about.  1. If any of you think you are not making a difference in someone’s life – if you have ever posted with me, 1st, 2nd or 3rd F, if we have posted together only 1x, or if we have been out in the cold weeks on end pushing each other – know that you are making a difference for me.  And 2. something that F3 has done for me – just like the rest of you I carry a lot of stuff around with me, some of it I share, some I don’t because I might just not be ready, but what F3 has done for me is it has made me stronger in identifying and more patiently dealing with my “stuff’ and maybe that’s because I know that at any time I need it, one of you will have my back, and that has been a difference maker.  YHC took us out in prayer with respect to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.

That Which Doesn’t Kill You…

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Will make you stronger!!!

PAX: 187, 3rd Cousin, Abe, Axe, Bernie, Breach, Da Business, Kid Cracker, Lipstick, Pikachu

FNGs: 0

Another great morning to get out in the gloom and better ourselves.  As Kid Cracker overshot the turn into the parking lot, there was hope from some of the pax that he would “Bo Duke” the curb.  Didn’t happen…..  5:30am hit, and we were off.

Warm Up:

Half a mile warm-up that finished over at the steps on the other side of the library.  Bunny hops up the steps to circle up for some dynamic warm-ups.

  • SSH x 15 IC
  • Squats x 10
  • Hillbillies x 10 IC
  • Frankensteins x 10 IC
  • Hacky Sacks x 10 IC

The Workout:

YHC set up cones to mark off 100m for some strides with a twist.

  • 10 to 12 100m strides.  Recover back to start, stopping halfway to do 5 reps (cycle through merkins, squats, burpees)

After stride work, we moseyed on over to the steps at the library for a round of drop-sets

  • Round 1
    • 5 Derkins, 5 Merkins, 5 Irkins
    • 7 Squats, 20sec Chair, 7 Monkey Humpers
    • 10 Incline dips, 10 regular dips, 10 decline dips
  • Round 2
    • 7 Wide Merkins, 7 Merkins, 7 Close-Grip Merkins
    • 10 Squats, 20sec Chair, 10 Monkey Humpers
    • 10 Incline dips, 10 regular dips, 10 decline dips
  • Round 3
    • People’s Chair x 30 IC
    • Frog Sit-ups x 20
    • Balls2Wall x 20 IC

Mosey to starting point for Mary

Mary:

Leg stretches: Calves, Hips, Quads, Hamstrings

Announcements:

  • Wear R.E.D. (Remember Everyone Deployed) on Friday to either Cletus or Ivan, and Breach will donate $1 for every Pax who does so to the HS Food Pantry
  • Help out the HS Food Pantry this weekend from 9am to noon

T-Claps (Recognition):  To all the Pax.  100m strides with little rest and exercises in between definitely gets your heart rate up.  It’s not about beating other Pax, it’s about beating yourself and putting in the effort.

Prayer:

Prayers up for Crab Legs, Pilgrim’s dad, my father’s wife, and those dealing with ailments.

Honored to lead.

-Bernie

Rock Work

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Great weather this morning and a good number for EC as Emeril, Dawgpound, Cowboy and Dumbo headed out.  YHC was on the run a little after and we all headed down and around Womble.  Saw Bernie and Pilgrim doing some serious speed work along the way – killer pace and always cool to see a couple guys out there working together, holding each other accountable.
Warm Up: Standard jog around the big block but with more traffic than usual.  Circled up in the lot for the regulars and then added 5 burpees OYO by accident.  YHC saw Dumbo jump in late on the jog but it was just for a bathroom break.
The Workout: On the jog to the rocks and we each got a solid rock to use for an arm set.  Circled up behind library on one side of what I call the smile.  Started with biceps doing 7s.  After 1st set we ran to far end of smile, plank hold then 10 merkins.  Back to the rocks and we did 2 sets with a break in the middle for SSH.  Another run and merkins then 1 more bicep set.  Next we did the same routine but it was tricep press and skull crushers.  Rounded it all out with the classic Ground Pounder.  Overall, lots of reps and plenty merkins.  Returned the rocks and headed back to start for a bonus set keeping the arms up we did bat wings, 10 count hold, penguin claps, 10 count hold, overhead claps, 10 count hole, penguin claps, 10 count hold and back to bat wings.  Brutal.
Mary: Quick sets of LBC, low slow flutter, American Hammer
Announcements: Cletus now 5:30, Crazy Ivan needs more kettlebell, Holly Springs Food Cupboard this Sat.
T-Claps (Recognition): Happy early 2 year to Dawgpound.  I know I am not alone in saying there have been plenty of days this guy carried/inspired me including when we launched Ivan.
Prayer: Pilgrim and Bernie dealing with illness in family.  YHC took us out

Get Your O-Face On!

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Pax: 187, 3rd Cousin, Axe, Bernie, Chips, Cowboy, Da Bizness, Dawg Pound, Emeril, Foghorn, M4L, Nemo, Pablo, Rainmaker, Snap, Slide Rule

Beautiful morning temps as YHC started his extra credit from the house.  On the way, I saw several Pax getting some EC as well as they were returning to the AO.  Got to the parking lot with a couple of minutes to spare.  16 Pax were off to feel the Bern.

FNGs: Nil

Warm Up:

Moseyed on over to the parking lot by the front entrance of the library.

  • SSH x 15 IC
  • Good Mornings x 10 IC
  • Hillbillies x 12 IC
  • Merkins x 10
  • Squats x 10

After a brief warm-up, YHC broke the Pax into groups of 3.  I joined a group to make 4.

The Workout:

Within each group of 3, one Pax lined up in a parking space while another lined up in a parking space directly across on the opposite side.  The 3rd Pax had to travel from one side to the other via the called exercise as the Pax on each end did a different exercise.  Once you got to one end, you switched with the Pax and did that exercise while they traveled to the other side.   This was AMRAP-style for 7 minutes for each round.  A lot of moaning after we were a minute into the first round, and I announced that we were going for 7 minutes!

  • Round 1 (7 minutes)
    • Side 1: T-Rex Merkins –> similar to military push-ups but hands were further down by your lower rib cage; feet against curb.  Pax modified for difficulty
    • Travel: Bear Crawl
    • Side 2: Modified Man Makers –> Burpee with a shoulder tap on each side after the merkin, then stand up and do an additional squat.
  • Round 2 (7 minutes)
    • Side 1: Mountain Climber Crossovers –> knee to opposite elbow
    • Travel: Duck Walk
    • Side 2: Frog Situps –> WW2 with bottom of feet touching each other
  • Round 3 (7 minutes)
    • Side 1: Plank
    • Travel: Crab Walk
    • Side 2: Suicide Squat Jumps –> alternating jump lunge and then a squat

After these three rounds, we moseyed on over to the steps at the library for the next round.  We stayed in our groups of 3 for this one as well.  For this round, the reps for exercise #1 served as the timer; so you switched to the next exercise in line one the Pax in your group doing exercise #1 finished.

  • Round 4 (2 sets)
    • Exercise 1: Step off from 2nd step into a squat jump (Timer: 10 times and then change exercise).
    • Exercise 2: Low slow flutter
    • Exercise 3: Inch worm

After round 4, we circled up in the grass for a finisher.  This was announced as a 5-minute glutes/hips finisher, but the jokes kept coming.  So we have a name for it below.  5 minutes straight (no stopping).

O-Face Finis(her)

  1. 30-sec donkey-hydrant with leg #1 (donkey kick/fire hydrant combo)
  2. 30-sec donkey-hydrant with leg #2
  3. 1-min hip thrusts (picture sitting back on your feet and sitting up to your knees – squeeze the cheeks.  Pablo kept looking for something to hold on to in front of him here
  4. 1-min Homer-2-Marge
  5. 30-sec 1-legged hip thrust with leg #1 (almost like a single-leg Homer-2-Marge, but instead you are holding yourself up with your arms and letting your planted leg do the work) – Emeril kept begging me to look in his eyes on this one.
  6. 30-sec 1-legged hip thrust with leg #2
  7. 30-sec lunge with kickback (lunge with leg #1 with a straight-leg kickback with leg #2)
  8. 30-sec lunge with kickback (lunge with leg #2 with a straight-leg kickback with leg #1)

Wrapped this up and moseyed back to start for 1 quick Mary exercise and COT.

Mary:

Quick 25 LBCs since we had a little time left.

Announcements: This month’s charity is Holly Springs Food Pantry.  Slide Rule going for a half marathon and distance PR with doing 15 miles on the ATT this Saturday.

T-Claps (Recognition): Slide Rule has gotten a bunch of PRs for a lot of distances in the last couple of weeks (1-mile, 5k, 10k).  Kudos to all the slappin da bass you’ve been doing to get faster.

Prayer:

Prayers up for Crab Legs, Shredder, Pilgrim’s dad, and the Morrisville police officer who passed.

 

Honored to lead this morning.

-Bernie

2 words “Sarah Beth”

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FNGs: N/A
Warm Up: Mosey over to “The Point” church lot.  SSH x 50, Daisy Pickers x 15, Merkins x20, Shoulder Taps x15, Mountain Climbers x15, Nipplers x15
The Workout: This morning was about making the most out of our Steam Engine and not forgetting about the Caboose.  Mosey down Raleigh St. and down HS Rd to the Mama Birds lot.  I had a nice dream last night about Chips and in the dream I was asked to do something Chips would do.  All I could remember was the suicides we did at Ting and Chips telling us we wouldn’t stop until we merlot.  We did suicides end to end in the lot with Merkins x10 at one side and YHC choice at the other (LSF, American Hammer, H2M) We repeated until early morning Cigarette runs encroached on our lot.  We mosey North on HS Rd until the cut in road to cemetery hill.  YHC wanted to give the PAX a beautiful view perched up top cemetery hill this morning.  We then did hill repeats with Burpees x5 at the bottom and LBC x15 at the top.  We repeated until YHC felt it was necessary to head back to the station.  2.5-3 miles round trip
Mary: YHC did his best to lead the PAX in Yoga stretches to close it out
Announcements: Discounted Wrightsville Half/Full will end May 1st,  Q Sheet– Sign up! Our Q sheet is embarrassing compared to CARPEX.  I went out there and signed up for 3 workouts this week alone.  I inspire you all to do the same!

T-Claps (Recognition): Peak Week and Foghorn with weighted vest.  I told you all in the beginning you would hate me by the end, hopefully I met that expectation!
Prayer: Moby’s father Tom, Henry from 12 Oaks, Marriages

Always a pleasure to lead you men. Thanks Nemo for the opportunity!

Is this just a warm up?

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Downtown Train has been an interesting AO, never know what to expect.  This week YHC rolled up for EC and headed out solo at 0506 for 2.2 miles to Womble and the long way back.  As I rolled back in the lot I saw a few cars including an overloaded clown car from 12 Oaks.  One consistent part of DT as been that guys show up and just want to put in the work and have a strong start to their week.  Here’s another DT disclaimer, my company has tagged the F3 site as high risk because they think it is associated with gambling, so I am not able to do my BB when I hit the office.  Thing is, by the end of the day it’s a given if I did not record name-o-rama I will forget a couple #HIM.  We had 9 this morning and if I failed to tag you let me know so I can update and give credit where credit is due.

FNGs: None today
Warm Up: On the jog around the big block and circle up in start lot. ICx15 Good Mornings/Daisy Pickers/Goof Balls. Did a couple rounds. On the jog to the back lot traffic circle for arm stretches.
The Workout: Jog down library hill to the pool lot for a few sets of LBC/6 hold/low slow flutters without rest.  Wash, rinse repeat a few times. On the jog back up library hill and over to what is now known as “Craigslist Corner” aka the side lot by the book drop where we usually see a few suspicious passing vehicles.  Each set up in a parking spot and we did ICx20 Mt Cllimbers/SSH/Tempo Merkins.  Wash, rinse repeat for 3 full sets and those tempo merkins were hurting.  On the jog back to start we circled up for a Fazio Arm Circle burnout with 3 sets doing ICx15 forward – 10 count hold – ICx15 reverse.
Mary:  2 full rounds of plank-o-rama as the 1st time around did not seem to stick with the “plank” part of the plan.
Announcements: Safety training Thu night – chip in batteries or detectors, Dad’s Camp registration is now live, for real
T-Claps (Recognition): Great to meet Abe, who has posted at Cletus the past couple weeks and joined us for DT this morning – strong work today
Prayer: Continued prayers for Moby, his Dad and family, the rest were unspoken and YHC took us out

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

Keep the Change

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2 for EC to start the week with a nice run for YHC down to Womble and back while Bernie was out on the roads for a couple miles around town.

1 FNG welcome Grandmama – lived in HS since ’98 and an old school Hornets fan, also “respect” and welcome.  He is looking for some of our run workouts so let’s get him out to U Turn

Warm Up: Standard 0.4 mile jog followed by circle up for the usual exercise including arm stretches, which were needed based on what was to follow.
The Workout: On the jog to the traffic circle at the top of Library Hill where we lined up on the sidewalk (knowing the usual traffic of unusual suspects pursuing craigslist-driven dream would soon be driving through) and engaged in 3 rounds of a modified “short change ATM”. 5 count plank – shoulder taps ICx5 – 5 count plank – tempo merkins ICx5 –  count plank – 5 count merkins – 5 count plank and recover on a 10 count.  Upped our game on 3rd round and went to 10s.  When we were done we “recovered” on the jog down library hill and reconvened in the pool lot. Found the grass along the back curb and lined up for a set of Jumping Jack Webbs.  This is a variation of the Jack Webb that adds my beloved SSH.  1:3:5 merkins:air press:SSH (IC).  Climbed all the way to 10:30:50 for a grand total of 275 SSH. “Recovered” on the jog back up library hill. Stopped by the drop box for a short bear crawl and lunge on our way back to start.
Mary: Circle up for a quick plank-o-rama
Announcements: Banana Seat taking breathtaker on a tour of AOs to spread the important message about testicular cancer. Let’s all step up this month and promote awareness and support the cause.

Prayer: Moby’s dad, Crablegs for his opportunity at Johns Hopkins and YHC took us out in prayer

Buck Furpees

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21 STRONG showed up to Downtown Train (which I believe is a record) for YHC’s VQ.  Mumble chatter was on point. Thanks for coming out. I’m glad I found F3 and it was a pleasure to lead today. The accountability, encouragement, along with the admiration of fellow PAX, certainly inspires me to try everyday to be a better version of myself.

EC: Blue Hen, Coal Ash, Da Business, Dawgpound, Dumbo, Emeril, M4L, Maybelline, Nemo, Pablo, Particle Board, Slide Rule, Yogurt

It was a chilly spring morning, but we got warmed up pretty quick.

Warm Up: Standard Downtown Train lap to start.  Circled up, 5 burpees (oyo) to start things off followed by daisy pickers, windmills, some tricep stretches, Michael Phelps, fazio arm circles (forward and backward), and air presses.

The Workout: Moseyed over to the parking lot in the back of the library for the workout. YHC had two goodie bags, one with 10 standard exercises, the other with 10 variations of burpees. Pax partnered up. YHC pulled one standard exercise from the bag 1 and a burpee variation from bag 2. One partner completed as many reps of the exercise pulled from bag 1, while partner sprinted to the opposite end of parking lot, completed reps of whatever burpee variation was pulled from the bag, and then sprinted back. Partners then switched to complete the other exercise. As each group finished they held plank for the 6. Once everyone was in, YHC reached in the goodie bags for two more exercies. Repeated this until it was time to head back for Mary. Lined up for a short indian run back to the starting point and Mary.

Exercises and burpee variations included…

Plank jacks, plank jack burpess (5), star jumps, star jump burpees (5), split leg jump squats, altrenating leg burpees (5), monkey humpers, twist (180) burpees (10), hand release merkins, lateral burpees (6), Jack Webs (5 merkins, 15 airpress), traveling or leap frog burpees (5), Plank shoulder taps, tuck jump burpees (5), squat jumps, mountain climber burpees (5 burpees with 10 mountain climbers each round).

Mary: LBCs in cadence
Announcements: This Saturday, 9 am, Southwake Dad workout, couple of upcoming tri workouts (talk with Yogurt), be on the lookout for Slack/Facebook posts from Pickachu.
Prayer: Nemo volunteered to take us out. Crab Legs (that he is selected for trial drug therapy), Forceps’ friend who is recovering, any Pax out there injured or sick in our thoughts for a quick recovery.

Curls for the Girls

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2 for EC Nemo and Maybeline on a new 2+ mile route to avoid construction on HS Road.  Ran to Womble, around soccer fields, back to start with a little extra to get over .

Warm Up: Jog 0.4 mile around the block and back. Circle up for some of the regulars.
The Workout: Set up in a line for some station curl work. 4 weight stations – 20lb kettle curl – 25 lb right arm curl – 25 lb left arm curl – 35 lb kettle curl. Started in a line and as we worked through we did a set of 12 count, and before you got the first curl, and between each set of curls, did a 12 count of merkins along with the 12 rep curl sets.  Did this until each had done each of he 4 curl sets 1x, recover on the jog. Repeated but this time the exercise offset of curls was squats, recovered on the jog, then last round was LBCs. Each PAX got to do each of the 4 curls 3 full sets. Had a few extra mins so we knocked out some bear crawls.
Mary: Quick set homer to marge, low slows, hammers
Announcements: See slack
Prayer: Recognized spoken and unspoken, YHC took us out