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10 PAX for AGS

EC: Fonzie, LED, H1N1, Redenbacher

FNGs: None

Warm Up: Standard Mookie Warm up…light mosey around the lot and  alternating butt kickers and high knees, which then morphed into a set of carioca. Squat Hold while YHC explained the route.

The Workout:

Standard Half Marathon route from Womble to the Greenway, around Bass Lake (counterclockwise),  up through Sugg Farm, and back to Womble for YHC, Nemo, and Master Shake. Yogurt ran essentially the same route after CoT.

Bernie and Pilgrim completed their power testing at the Womble loop.

H1N1, LED, and Fonzie continued on toward Ting and back after EC to get in 9 miles total.

Oboe rucked with breathtaker +20…solid work Oboe.

Mary: Not today, we were short on time when we arrived for CoT.

Announcements: Check Slack and Facebook.

T-Claps (Recognition): All PAX for showing up to get some miles. Oboe for a solid Ruck.

Prayer: Continued prayers for Bernie and his family and all unspoken requests.

YHC took us out.

You Show Up and So Do I…

Remember those episodes of Mr. Rodgers we used to watch as kids? They had a magic word with every episode. Later through mainstream TV in the 80’s and 90’s, shows like Saturday Night Live and Nike commercials featured Eddie Murphy and the “Admiral” David Robinson, providing parodies like Mr. Robinson’s neighborhood, where each provided comedic satire mimicking Fred Rodger’s word of the day. Well, Southwake….Today’s word of the day on this Sunday was…Ready?….ACCOUNTABILITY.

Full disclosure in this backblast in an effort to be completely transparent with PAX who continue to inspire me on a daily basis. YHC put up the pre-blast yesterday afternoon advertising a 5mi EC with a 6mi Main Event. The alarm was set for a 4:20am rise. Hit snooze twice.. Something about those 18 minutes, made YHC feel a false sense of security, knowing that I had enough time to make it to Womble in time to plant the flag and get PAX started for this morning’s run(s). As YHC finally woke, the back wasn’t feeling right. Same feeling from the week before. Surely PAX would understand if I ‘mailed it in’ this morning and decided to stretch instead of running EC. Last week I got a mile in and had Maybelline lead PAX on the designed route. In retrospect, stretching was the logical option, but after reading Aquaman’s FB post on discomfort this week, I should have planned better and ultimately would have been fine continuing on the route.

Arrived late to EC- about 4minutes. As I drove down Stinson across that set of speed bumps I know all too well from Cletus and Ivan EC, I had convinced myself that I’d plant the flag and tell LED and H1N1 that I just didn’t have it this morning.  They were the only PAX with an HC and a planned route that started at 5am heading into this morning. I had convinced myself that I would save it for the main event and even had a line…”You guys go ahead on your route. I’ll stay back and stretch and prepare for the PAX at 6am.” As I made the right into the Womble lot, I see the light up vests and headlamps. “Damn it, Mookie…If you can’t Q it, don’t do it.” And with that gentle reminder, YHC mumbled, “If you are showing up, so am I..suck it up” and pulled into the parking space next to LED’s truck. No more excuses… These guys were now waiting on YHC. It wasn’t just H1N1 and LED. We had Pikachu, Bernie, and Cupid, making a 6 pack for this morning’s EC run.

Asked LED if he had a route. He and H1N1 were doing the escape route to Ting for around 7-8 miles. Perfect. The remaining 4 would follow and circle back when we got to the Paradise City EC neighborhood. I think the last time I saw LED and H1N1 all morning was in that parking lot. Those dudes exited Stinson with a purpose and as we reached Jones onto Veteran’s Park, those light up vests faded to black. Cupid, Bernie, and Pikachu kept YHC honest. As I sat back in a comfortable 9:10 pace, I could still see them and knew if I kept them in sight, I’d be holding my own on the run. As we made our way out of Veteran’s, YHC lost them them on the ‘Boardwalk’ into the PC neighborhood. Light up vests then proceeded back toward YHC and at that point knew they reached the turn.

Made it back on the ‘Boardwalk’ and on to Veterans. Pikachu called an audible and indicated that we could bypass Veteran’s and venture toward Holly Springs Road by way of Rhamkatte Village. Also determined at that juncture to ride on the left side of Pikachu instead of behind, while also picking up the pace to be in front. Something was brewing inside of Pikachu and had enough wits to be above the fray instead of below…At that point, YHC’s back issues from earlier subsided. Guess its a part of getting older and just takes longer to warm up. Made our way through Rhamkatte and onto Holly Springs Road. Asked for a route confirmation… Do we go straight down Bass Lake to Stinson or do we get back to Womble via Holly Springs Road-Raleigh, Grigsby-Stinson?….

Neither. We ended up going Bass Lake to Earp, Left on Raleigh and then Grigsby and onto Stinson. All EC PAX arrived back to the lot and were greeted by an AGS regular- Master Shake. While YHC switched out Hokas, Pikachu made a pit stop, Cupid did some stretching, Bernie adjusted his earbuds.

And….then here it is.. just what in the hell is going on here at AGS?  In rolls DoubleD, followed by 187, Lipstick, SkidMark, Pablo, and an FNG UTI headlocked at Dunkin Donuts after the Saturday Dad’s Workout. Second FNG in 4 weeks at AGS.. Honestly, only in F3-Southwake do we see FNG’s showing up to first workouts getting 6 miles, having only run 3mi ever as their longest run prior. What’s even more impressive is that they keep showing up after and in impressive fashion.. Look at Master Shake- think he is on 4 straight weeks of AGS.

Walked over to greet Skidmark and mistakenly asked if he was ‘Getting 10mi this morning.’ His standard was vastly different than YHC’s standard this morning as he replied with a, “No Mook, I’m getting 18.” Yeah- note to self, next time YHC asks how many miles Skidmark, 187, Bernie, Pikachu, Lipstick, and Cupid are getting on a weekend day, just take the number YHC has in mind and multiple by 2….or in Pikachu’s case..muliple by 3. Good Lord, Pikachu…31 miles at 8:40 pace? Seriously? #Respect

6:00am hit and we were off with the following workout.

FNGs: Welcome, Juul!

Warm Up: Light jog around the tennis court lot. Circled up for Imperial Walkers X12, Hillbillies X12, Good Morning’s X12, Fazio Arms 12F\12B, Prison Squats X12, One extra Prison Squat with a hold for Morocan Night Clubs. One final squat hold to explain the route.

The Workout: Bernie and the additional gazelles (Skidmark, Cupid, 187, Lipstick, and Pikachu) had a planned 18 mi run, which would take them down and up Stinson, with a right onto Bass Lake, Left on Salem Ridge, Left on Linksland, and down Holly Springs onto Starbucks and the U-Turn route. YHC decided to change this morning’s planned route to mirror the first 3-4 miles of Bernie’s route so that PAX could run together for part of the way. The only exception to this morning’s 6 mi route was a slight detour within Rhamkatte for a lap and then back onto Holly Springs Road to Raleigh, Grigsby, and Stinson to the lot. Kudos to Pablo and DoubleD for picking up the six throughout the 6mi route.

Mary: Stretches OYO after the run.
Announcements: F3- Family Cookout next weekend. Sign up sheet on FB and Slack.
T-Claps (Recognition): All PAX getting quality miles this morning 6-18-31 mile distances. Also to Redenbacher, Full House, and UTI for completing a preview 1/2 marathon this morning. Also T-claps to FNG-Juul on his first workout and Master Shake for making AGS a ‘thang’ this past month.

Prayer: COT was conducted before the Main Event. Continued prayers for Pikachu’s friend, Josh whose grandmother passed last week. Continued prayers for Bernie and his family. YHC took us out.

Men- Listen up. I want you all to know that every one of you, those I’ve come to know well these past 2 years and those I’ve met a few times in the gloom..Whether you know it or not, you all continue to inspire YHC. Truth be told, I had no desire to run and workout this morning and is sometimes true from week to week. In fact, as stated earlier in this backblast, I am sometimes totally reserved to ‘mail it in.’ The power of ‘showing up’ is a real thing. It’s one thing to ‘show up,’ but it’s not just a matter of ‘showing up,’ its a matter of ‘showing up’ with intent. Every one of you showed up with the intent to make each other better this morning and every morning I make my way out of the fartsack and into the gloom. It’s what I enjoy most about morning’s in the gloom. You are the first faces I see, and the one’s YHC knows will be there in those times of discomfort (including rounds of DoubleD inspired Coyote Ugly’s) whether its in the gloom or in life. The Richmond Marathon and Holly Springs Half are just around the corner…. After what YHC witnessed this morning, there is no question…F3 Southwake is ‘Showing Up.’ Always an honor to lead on Sundays and looking forward to many more in the upcoming months.

PSA for R4TJ

EC: Cowboy, Dawgpound, Emeril, Lipstick, Nemo, Redenbacher, Skidmark, UTI, Warbucks

FNGs: None

Warm Up: Some good mumblechatter, discussed the routes and headed out.

The Workout:

UTI was enfuego with his Public Service Announcement for R4TJ this week and as a result, a strong contingent of PAX were fired up and ready for some miles. We aim to please at R4TJ so YHC had a 3 mile and 5 mile option available for PAX to take advantage of this morning.

3 Mile Route:

 

 

 

 

 

 

5 Mile Route:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mary: MIA

Announcements: F3 Family picnic October 12th.

Sign up sheet:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1wdWIZv-meI2jnoS8Kgl0g5fCiBk9lBbIyXsDGdXTyyc/edit?usp=sharing

T-Claps (Recognition): Emeril, Lipstick, Nemo, and Warbucks for picking up the 6.

Prayer: Bernie and his family, unspoken

YHC took us out. It was an honor to lead.

Get On the Philly Bus V2

With the excitement of UTI (HIM) pushing the limit on breathtaker to raise $ and awareness for the Travis Manion Foundation and a big game for the Philadelphia Eagles playing Flanigan and BlueHen decided to dial up version 2 of Get On the Philly Bus at TigerBlood.  Version one was held prior to their Super Bowl LII championship and certainly brought some good philly mojo the hope was alive that the same would hold true and the birds could get back on track.  The BB was intentially delayed until the outcome of this game.  The Birds are back baby – Discount Double take tossed up an interception to seal the cheesehead fate with seconds left in the game! Fly Eagles Fly!

Although TigerBlood got beat out by Disney due to a mole (M4L)  coming over to BlueHens house at 7:45 to distract him and Flanigan allowing for bids to come in at 7:58, we were happy to help contribute to a great cause and in the end it looks like everyone won – additional $ for Travis Manion and Birds Victory!

FNGs: N/A

Warm Up:

Mosey over to  the parking log behind the middle school.

  • SSH X 11  (BlueHen)
  • Good Morning X 7 (Flanigan)
  • Clock Merkins (BlueHen) 1-wins this year,  3- Super bowls, 10 NFC East Championships, 11 Carson Wentz

The Workout:

Eye of the Tiger

The PAX made their way over  to the track.  While BlueHen fired up the Philly DJ stand, Flanigan directed the PAX to do 3 hot laps around the track stopping after each lap to knock out 13 merkins (in honor of Agholor catching babies).  Eye Of the Tiger was planing and the PAX needed to make their way back before the song ends or a penalty would be applied.  The PAX made it back and no penalty  was needed

E A G L E S

The PAX transitioned into an indian run over to the far side of the elementary school parking lot near the bloody wall.  Everyone partnered up for a round of E A G L E S.

E – Empty wheelbarrows. With partner empty wheelbarrow from bloody wall to middle of parking lot, switch and make their way back.  The facial expressions while crabwalking with a partner lifting the legs were classic.

A – Australian mountain climbers.  Everyone on the wall for 20 count of AMC .

G – Goofballs.  The PAX did 20 IC Goofballs.

L – LBC’s.  The PAX did 20 IC LBC’s.

E – Empty wheelbarrows.  Time for another round of partner empty wheelbarrows.  (fan favorite)

S – Star jumps. the PAX did 20 star jumps IC.

Rocky (Gonna Fly Now) Tabata

The  PAX made their way over past the tiger prints to the front of the elementary school and everyone found a spot at what of the tables.

With Gonna Fly Now playing two rounds of Tabata as follows went down.

Set 1 – box jumps & merkins

Set 2 – box jumps & derkins

Set 3 – dips & Urkins

Set 4 – squats & dips

Rinse and repeat four times.

Prior to Mary two rounds of wind sprints in the parking lot.  Partner one sprint to the greasy pole while the other partner did squats.  Rinse and repeat.

 

Mary:

The pax took turns with several rounds of ab exercises bringing as we closed things out. Plenty of sweat with minimal blood.
Announcements:

F3 Southwake picnic coming up Oct. 12.

T-Claps (Recognition):

UTI – he continues to do great work with the breathtaker and raising $ and awareness for Travis Manion Foundation.  As mentioned earlier, although TigerBlood got beat out by Disney due to a mole (M4L)  coming over to BlueHens house at 7:45 to distract him and Flanigan allowing for bids to come in at 7:58, we were happy to help contribute to a great cause!

Prayer:

Warbuck’s babysitter who has been sick.

A Nutcracker Trip to Vegas

FNGs: N/A
Warm Up: Standard things.  SSH, Imperial Squat Walkers. Fazios.  A little jog.

Then we did the “Fast Feet Burpee Dash”:
– Hit each parking divider 3x with fast feet
– Burpee between
– Race your partner to the end of the lot

The Workout: Da Business’ Trip to Vegas (Or, as I put it, 5 Stations of Suck)

Partner up with someone of equal fitness who will push you.  Pick a station, any station, and rotate through the “fun”

Station 1:
10x Burp-Ups (1 burpee + 1 pull up)

Station 2:
Run up the hill backwards.
5x star jumps at top
5x blue devils at bottom
Repeat 3x, then move on

Station 3:
10x Irkins / Derkins / Dips

Station 4:
BTTW Crawl toward parking lot (20m?)

Station 5:
Burpee Broad Jump to entrance
Bear crawl back (50 yd?)

Repeat-O The Circuit 3 Times!

Mary:
It happened.  Normal stuffs
Announcements: Let’s party in style.  Sign up for that there picnic
T-Claps (Recognition): Props to UTI for following through with BT auction and showing up!
Prayer: Bernie, Norm.

Especially Bernie.  Bro, we’re here for ya.

Always Tape Your Nipples…#Meateater

FNGs: None
Warm Up: SSH x20, High Knees, Wide Knees, High Knees, Butt Kickers, Daisy Pickers x10, Frankenstein x10, Stretching
The Workout: The U-Turn. Nothing Fancy, well, except for some conversation into mile 2. Bits and pieces were picked up by YHC from the PAX just ahead but what I picked up was that @Aquaman is a Meat eater… I’ll leave that right there.  Little did we know that @Redenbacher was having a DNA retention issue. The pictures explain it all, but maybe @Aquaman smelled blood in the air??

Reminder: Always tape your nips.

Mary:
Announcements:
T-Claps (Recognition): All PAX, YHC noted that for the first time in awhile that most of the pack was pacing together. It was awesome to watch and so many 6 pick-ups and guys just staying together. Well done. Great morning!
Prayer: Bernie, His M and Family. All those running BFC that day (@BoyGeorge), Shredder and his family

9/11 Stair Climb

At 5:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 11, over 250 men gathered for the fourth annual 110-flight stair climb at Carter-Finley Stadium to honor the first responders who risked or lost their lives during the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in 2001. South Wake represented well with almost 50 Pax posting.

FNGs: Welcome Side Piece, Smokey, and Swanson!

Warm Up: SSH x20, mountain climbers x20, good mornings x20

The Workout:

110+ flights of stairs.

Pump Up the Volume

FNGs:

N/A

Warm Up:

To the song Get Low by Dillon Francis…

While song starts SSH X 10. As the song says get low gradually go into squat as low as you can go. Hold squat during … low… low… low…low. Some struggling here,  but effort made. This may have caused some turtle heads, especially SlideRule. Back into SSH X 10,  Morracon night clubs X 20, Plank jacks X 20. Repeat – As song says get low gradually go into squat as low as you can go Hold squat during …. Low… low ….. Low … low. SSH X 10, Morracon night clubs X 20, plank Jacks X 20.

The Workout:

Circle of Burpee Pain.  Playlist was a preview of upcoming evolution of men and continued until everyone finished. (All  along the Watchtower, Immigrant Song, Eye of the Tiger, Livin’ on a Prayer, Smells Like Teen Spirit, Everlong, Mo Money Mo Problems. )

55 – burpees in total with exercises in between.

10 burpees OYO, Plank Hold X 55 IC

9 burbees OYO, Freddie Mercury X 45 IC

8 burbees OYO, Plank Jacks X 40 IC

7 burbees OYO, Flutter kicks X 35

6 burbees OYO, Alternating Shoulder taps X 30

5 burbees OYO, Merkins X 25

4 burbees OYO, Diamond merkins X 20

3 burbees OYO, Slow low merkin X 15

2 burbees OYO, Spider merkins X 10

1 burbee OYO, Ranger Merkin X 5

With everyone winded the PAX transitioned into Evolution of man suicide run.

First up – Spiderman crawl – to first bush along the long parking lot beside the school. Sprint back and plank hold.

Next up – Bear crawl to second bush. Sprint back and plank hold.

Third round -Duck walk to third bush. Sprint back and plank hold.

Final round – Run to the last tree bush.  Sprint back and plank hold.

Evolution of man and song concluded and the PAX formed an Indian Run with most with most winded at this point. The PAX made their way back to the cars for Mary.  Along the way back a sighting of the bearded mystery man appeared. He very much looked like Bernie.

Mary:

Partner up and while listening to Roxanne by the Police the PAX did SSH’s for the entire song and with each “Roxanne” a  partner Merkin Clab was executed.

One round of guantanamo’s followed by plank hold with each pax jumping over each PAX in the circle.  To conclude a quick round of AH’s X 20, Boat Canoe’s X 20, and have a good day.

Everyone gave it what they had with minimal complaining.  The Q had a request for limited running, but a little over a mile was clocked.
Announcements:

See Slack
Prayer:

Noah’s ark and Crablegs.

17 AT THE NUT FOR A VQ

EC: Norm, Slide Rule, Pigpen

FNGs: Nope

Warm Up:

Jog around the parking lot and circling up back at starting position. 5 burpees OYO just for fun.

SSH X 20

Fazio F/B X 10

Daisy Pickers X 10

GoodMornings X 10

The Workout:

PAX moseyed to playground with an explanation of 4 different stations before counting off in 4’s.

Group 1: Pullups AMRAP

Group 2: BTTW

Group 3: Merkins AMRAP

Group 4: Sprints up the hill x 4

Once PAX finishes the sprints, rotate. After completing two rounds of this PAX moseyed over to the soccer field for some 11’s.

 

Lining up on the sideline of the soccer field started with a 10 count of planks, ran to other sideline of the field and completed 1 squat, ran back to the other side completing a 9 count of planks, run back to complete 2 squats. Continue until reaching 1 count of planks and 10 squats. Halfway in to this YHC realized planks were much too easy and should have switched it up. Noted for next time!

5 burpees OYO before moseying back to starting position for Mary

Mary:

Circled up and went around with each PAX naming a different ab exercise.

Announcements:

9/11 stair climb

T-Claps (Recognition):
Prayer:

Norm heading to Fort Jackson, SC in a couple weeks, kids going back to school, unspoken

Your social schedule for the next year…

FNGs: Nope!
Warm Up: SSH x25 (mumble chatter about a running workout…), Imperial Walker x15,  Hillbilly x10, Stretching, Daisy Picker (slow) x10. on to the thang..
The Workout: HIM all over Holly Springs this am and some comments about Deer, I mean PAX, on the roads. Great work to the numerous miles out there this am for EC….Too many to mention. The U-Turn was in full effect!
Mary: Not this time
Announcements: Well this was interesting… What started as a notification about 2ndF bbq on 10/12 at Harris Lake turned into a South Wake who’s who of events basically through holding time for next July 4th’s CSAUP….Check slack as my fingers couldn’t catch up past JOCO Convergence next weekend and Christmas.
T-Claps (Recognition): Good seeing you out there again Skidmark! Looking forward to your full return! Also, so many 6 pick-ups today. Really great job men!
Prayer: All PAX recovering from injuries, please try and make sure you reach out to those who aren’t posting and on IR. Keep your shield lock strong!