Tag Archive for: Cupid

Cletus: Yogurt 4 yr & 57 yr – Takin’ Care of Business

EC: Abe, Alpine, Bleeder, Cupid, Lipstick, Skidmark, Pikachu, UTI. In May 2018, @Skidmark invited me to an F3 workout. Probably the easiest headlock ever. On May 13, 2022, 27 men posted to celebrate my 4 years of F3 and 57 years of life. When we came rolling in from EC at 5:27 am, I was overwhelmed by more than two dozen men, circled up, ready to go.

Special invitation: Yogi, who was at my first workout. When it was time for my F3 name, after fruitless discussion around Raleigh native, environmental worker, and more, I got the “What was your first concert?” question. Answer: BTO, you know, Bachman Turner Overdrive, who sing, Takin’ Care of Business. Dorton Arena, ~1975. Yeah, Yogi chimed in, Takin’ Care of Business – TCoB! Slide Rule heard “TCB” and immediately thought TCBY – The Country’s Best Yogurt. Ok, your name is YOGURT!

Warmup: 1) Run to top of Ivan lot. 2) Circle up for 57 SSHs. Count off: 27! 3) Mosey to amphitheater lawn area. 4) Jack Webbs to 30; 19 pickle pounders, 19 squats, 19 Catalina wine mixers. (19 x 3 = 57) 5)  Mosey up to greenway, on your six. Guantanamo. Wide range of pushes from nice and easy to brutal by Pikachu. Long time to circulate 27 PAX. Mosey to truck to pick up gloves. Note: Should have picked up speaker too! Mosey to rock pile. Each PAX grab a rock.

During the workout, I missed several counts and received much-deserved grilling. During my days of Q’ing Cletus, I was never known for counting.

The Thang 1: Count off in 1s and 2s. Simple exercise – 1s bear crawl to top of parking lot and back, while pushing your rock. 2s do AMRAP curls for the girls (Round 1), rut rohs (Round 2), prisoner squats (Round 3).

The Thang 2: Circle up in “grassy” lot. Similar to Banana Seat’s and Pikachu’s AC/DC Thunderstruck workout, I used Takin’ Care of Business as the song and we did a burpee with every “Takin’ Care of Business.” That’s 27 (compared to 31 for Thunderstruck). Volume was way too low, so yes, should have grabbed speaker while at truck. Anyway, everyone grilled me for that.

Mary: Circle up on tennis courts, where it all began. Big boy sit-ups, Pickle pounders, Box cutters, Protractor. Have a nice day.

Announcements: #Junechallenge and more on Slack. Highlighter running for Congress.

Prayer requests: Yogi prepared a list of goals at the suggestion of his pastor. Boy George selling house and moving family. Highlighter pointed out those who need help mentally may not be reaching out. Find them.

Message: Thanks for all the F3 support over the years. It’s a real privilege to be part of this group. Each one of you has been a positive influence in some way. Thanks for keeping the F3 SouthWake standard high. F3 is the real gift.

AGS Mother’s Day “I have no idea where we are”

I was pleased to see @Coal Ash when I jogged up. HCs @Cupid and @U.T.I and @Bird Flu were there. Nice!
Warm Up: No EC’ers today, so at 6 am we took a quick jog around the parking lot and circled up. SSH’s x25 to continue jumpstarting the heart rate. Breathed through some GMs. Stretching OYO to hit whatever spots you need to hit before a run. You know where those are. Finally, a shout out to @Vasoline with 25-30 Merkins, OYO.

The Workout: Knowing that AGS was founded on sunrises around Bass Lake, I try to honor that tradition when I’m Q’ing (@Deadbolt @Mookie). Today was no exception. I explained the route: Across Womble, down Bass Lake Outfall Greenway, along this edge of lake, over to Salem Ridge, around the driving range, connect back to Stinson, on to Womble.

We took the fast route down the greenway. I knew we had no chance of a spectacular sunrise, only gloom, but we’re used to that, right? Maybe a little unexpected the first week of May though. Going down the greenway is super fast. I’ve always said, run fast where you can, and this is one of those places.

Along the way, we made connections. Cupid the flu vaccine plant employee caught with Bird Flu, the bird flu expert who is working to contain the bird flu itself. Coal Ash, UTI, and myself caught up with work and employment.

We dialed back the pace after reaching Bass Lake, because that early fast pace wasn’t paying off for all of us. We headed up Salem Ridge towards Linksland. Someone suggested that we do something in @Pikachu’s yard, but we declined. I would love to work in some of the loops in SSL, but from Womble that would put us over 6 miles and there’s just not time. On the back half of the run, we caught up on mothers and Mother’s Day plans.

We took Gable Ridge back towards Bass Lake Road. Over to Norwalk. “I have no idea where we are,” declared @Coal Ash. Bam, we arrived at Bass Lake Road and the lights came on! From there, it was an easy jog on Stinson back to Womble. Perfect, 5.45 miles and 7 am. COT, photo op with YHC and @Coal Ash stylin’ the same colors. I even turned my hat backwards.

Mary: None

Announcements and T-Claps (Recognition): Appreciation to everyone who contributed the very successful 3-Alarm Root Beer Float Mile. @Bird Flu really led the way, buying root beer and ice cream early on. Then, posting the pre-blast. @Wild Turkey was solid too, as usual. He set up the root beer and awards table and mapped up and set up the root beer course as well. Thanks to all who posted. Plus, we had enough money from our collection to make a significant contribution to the iPad 3-Alarm received for his birthday.

UTI previewed the June challenge. Largely modeled off the 2021 May challenge, but with improvements. Not to be confused with previous “Rune” run challenges in June.

Prayer: Remember your mother and be grateful. Strength to those who may not be having children. Keep all PAX healthy and strong.

Did you hear that?

EC: Emeril, Yoshi, et al

FNGs: none

Warm Up: Circled up and discussed the route.

The Workout:

16 PAX showed up for the scooter route.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mary: MIA

Announcements: Check Slack and FB

T-Claps (Recognition):  PAX picking up the 6.

Prayer: Lipstick and his family, Boy George and Bernie traveling this week for their race, Davis and his family, unspoken.

YHC took us out. Thank you for the opportunity to lead.

Trails? Sure, why not.

FNGs: none
Warm Up: SSH, Imperial Walkers, Merkins
The Workout:

https://www.plotaroute.com/route/1884470

Good mumble chatter along the route today. Bobby Dall had inquired about some trail running. I was already looking at a Bass Lake trip, so I was happy to oblige.

Started out with a quick sweep through Main Street Square (behind Dunkin / Tapline) before connecting in with the greenway. Followed the greenway out to Bass Lake and took a right. Not too many people on the trail. Good effort on the climb up the back side of the park to Bass Lake Rd (YHC had to slow it down towards the top, everyone else was kind enough to wait). PAX recovered on the down hill, especially Bobby Dall who zoomed out of site. At the parking lot, it was back up hill on the long stretch on Bass Lake Rd. Finally, left on Stinson for a quick down and up hill before meeting back in the parking lot.

Everyone was moving pretty quick today. YHC had a 9:29 pace and I was bringing up the six. Much sweat was poured and just over 5 miles were completed. I think we’re officially done with winter now.

April Ultimate

18 HIM came out for an exhausting game of ultimate. Lots of hustle this morning. Can’t wait until next month to do it again.

BS Out!

20’s on the ramp

EC:  Skidmark, Dawgpound, Emeril, Pikachu, Woody

Warm Up:  1/2 mile jog loop, 1/2 mile loop Indian Run with stops for Fozzy Arm Circles, Imperial Walkers, Hillbillies,

The Workout:

Two teams of 10 PAX each.  1 PAX from each team runs to top of the ramp to perform 1st exercise .  Soon as 1st PAX returns the 2nd set leave and perform 2nd exercise.  Continue thru until all 20 exercises are complete.

While the PAX are running the ramp to do their 1 exercise remaining PAX work their way thru the exercises in order.

MERKINS – X20
LBC’s – CADENCE 10 COUNT
BURPEES – X10
PLANK JACKS – CADENCE 10 COUNT
WWII’S – X15
SQUATS – X30
SHOULDER TAPS – X20 10 EACH SHOULDER
AMERICAN HAMMER – CADENCE 10 COUNT
ALERNATING LUNGE JUMPS X10 EACH LEG
4×4’S – Start arms raised, move to burpee position. 4 Merkins, 4 Mountain Climbers each leg.  Repeat x5
OVERHEAD CLAPS – SQUAT WITH X20 OVERHEAD CLAPS
BOAT CANOE CADENCE 10 COUNT
SIDE STRADDLE HOP CANDENCE 20 COUNT
DIAMOND MERKINS X20
DIPS X25 ON THE BRICK WALL
FLUTTER KICKS CADENCE 20 COUNT
FREDDIE MERCURY CADENCE 20 COUNT
HAND RELEASE BURPEES X10
HUNDREDS – on your 6. legs straight and at a 45 deg angle off the ground. head and shoulders off ground. arms straight and down by your side with palms facing ground. do quick 6 inch pulses with arms/hands until you reach 100.
RUN FROM TOP OF RAMP ALL THE WAY BACK AROUND TO REST OF PAX

Mary: Stretching

Announcements: Shirt order complete. Paradise City order coming soon.  Need aid/water station helpers for the Spring Classic.

Prayer:   Jessica and Melanie

Was I Missed?

After the callout from Dumbo last week, I realized I hadn’t been to Paradise City in a bit. Well, YHC decided to throw down a “no secrets here” workout, where everyone looped the entire park more than several times. I think around 3.2-3.5 miles, depending on watches, etc. All Pax stepped up to take several turns in calling 10 count exercises at our stops along the way.

FNG’s: none.
Warm Up: Warm up lap around the entire parking/soccer field L loop. Stopped at bottom of ramp, Top of Stairs, Corner of Sportsmanship, Guardrail, top of hill by tennis courts, over by dumpsters, knee wall at top of ramp. Exercises along the way were: SSH, Imperial Walkers, Frankensteins, Irkins, Good Mornings, Sir Fazio’s, Shoulder Taps…all x10.

The Workout: Split in two groups, that ran opposite directions, all stopping at the same spots, to do a PAX choice of a 10 ct. exercise. Two rounds were Indian runs, two rounds were Mosey. We finished a last round together until reaching the basketball courts…literally as time expired.
Mary: built in
Announcements: Long Ass Run Sat. Feb 12th on the ATT…details from Skidmark.
T-Claps (Recognition): Good to see Tetanus back out at Paradise City! Thanks Dumbo for the push!
Prayer: Spoken/Unspoken. Thanks fellas for the opportunity to lead!

RFTJ 17 strong

FNGs:none
Warm Up:SSH
The Workout: 3.5 and 5 mile options; lots of picking up the 6
Mary:stretch
Announcements: Q Source at Panera
T-Claps (Recognition):
Prayer: All PAX with Covid or illness, Emeril’s daughter just going through the struggles of being a teen.

All the Moves at the End

Today’s kettlebell workout featured a ground to standing flow with kettlebells and a joint Mary/COT that featured some of the sexiest moves in F3…Homer to Marge, Pickle Pounders, and Monkey Humpers. We showed the new FNG from Cletus “Ooops” how it was done.

FNG’s: Ooops (posted at Cletus)
Warm Up: Sir Fazios, Good Mornings, Foot Trace, Hip Hinge, Spinal Rotation
The Workout: The flow was: Pullover Boobity-Boobity’s, Midget Cookie Pouch, Plan Pull Through, Squat, Figure 8’s, 1 Leg Deadlift, Swings, Halos, Single Arm Press, Full Snatch. We started together at 5 reps each. Then we moved to an OYO model of 20 reps each, then did 18 reps each. We finished together with 10 reps each exercise.
Mary: 2 shake out mosey laps around the parking lot, some stretching, and some Homer to Marge.
Announcements: Reach out to guys you haven’t seen in awhile…it matters.
T-Claps (Recognition): Ooops for making it through his first workout!
Prayer: COVID and it’s impacts, Kosher and his family in uncle’s loss.

3-Alarm Fun Run – 2021 Year in Review

“How did these runs with 3-Alarm get started?” “What are 3-Alarm’ conditions?” “Why does it burn when I pee?” Here’s the answers to your burning questions.

First of all, shout out to everyone who posted in 2021!!! As you know, 3-Alarm wants to meet everyone in F3 SouthWake. Here’s our start: 16-Bit, Banana Seat, Bobby Bouche, Bobby Dall, Bondo, Cancun, Cash Roll, Cupid, Dawgpound, Dumbo, Emeril, Fanny Pack, Forceps, Full House, Gillette, Go-Gurt, Gump, Lipstick, Martini, Maybelline, Midget, Pikachu, Slide Rule, Snooze, Sprinkler, Swisher Suites, TomTom, U.T.I., Wild Turkey, Woody, Yogurt, Yoshi and 2.0s 3rd Down, 4th Down, Flower, Isabella, Slash, Sketch, Vader. That is an awesome start! Good times are in the attached photos. Who did I miss?

How did all this begin? My daughter (F3 Slow Pitch) and her boyfriend (F3 Go-Gurt) were friends with 3-Alarm from high school. One night in the fall of 2019, they were Facetiming with 3-Alarm and he got wind that I was in F3. I had never met 3-Alarm before. They handed me the phone, introduced me, and 3-Alarm immediately said his classic, “Heeeeeey!” and “Let’s go run!” That’s all it took.

Pure Joy – 2019 November 1st Run. I invited Pikachu and Go-Gurt on that first run. It was cold and dark and drizzly and I was definitely overdressed. See photo. I knew nothing about pushing a running chair and barely knew 3-Alarm. But I quickly learned, this kid is excited about running! He would yell out, “Weeeeeeeeee!” and “I’m happy!” What a blast! Pikachu remembers: “My just overwhelming memory from the first run, and really all the runs, is just pure joy. Every time I run with 3-Alarm it doesn’t matter what kind of day I’ve had or what mood I’m in – he has a contagious joy that has the ability to just completely turn my day around!” Wild Turkey has expressed this same sentiment. He looks forward to leaving the work behind and enjoying 3-Alarm’ enthusiasm for life.

Time Lapse – 2021 Spring. Covid had been around for a year or so. I hadn’t seen or heard from 3-Alarm in a looooong time. While dropping off my 2.0 Zumba at Holly Springs School of Dance (HSSOD), I pulled into a parking spot, looked to my left, and lo and behold, there’s 3-Alarm. “Davis!” I shouted. We were both glad to see each other. I asked Davis is he had been running lately. His joy quickly turned to dejection, as he answered NO. Sensing this urgent need, I said, “Let’s go run!” That’s all it took.

2021 Tuesday Runs – Pure Joy. Since early June 2021, F3 has been running with 3-Alarm every Tuesday. Why do we do this? Pure Joy! So much fun. I asked 3-Alarm what he likes most about our Tuesdays together. He says: F3 feels like family. Everyone welcomes me with open arms.

3-Alarm has impressed me in so many ways on these Tuesdays. He has an infectious enthusiasm that resonates with everyone. He literally has fans everywhere. During our runs, we’ve had fans stop their cars, shout out from their porches, stop us on their dog walks—just to say hello. In the summer, this happened over and over. What do you remember about your first meeting with 3-Alarm?

Tuesday Splashes. We were settling in on Tuesdays and more and more PAX kept trickling in. Early supporters included Bobby Bouche, Cancun, Dawgpound, Fanny Pack, Go-Gurt, Martini, Maybelline, Pikachu, Wild Turkey, and more. To sweeten the draw and to make things more fun for 3-Alarm, we added a splash down at the end of the run. By the time we reached August, we had a record turnout in the record heat. See photos.

FNGs. 3-Alarm has a keen ability to make friends and did his own recruiting for the Fun Run. While out walking with Mama Hope, one of his nurses, he met people and got busy. He texted me and was so excited to announce that he had an FNG coming. The following Tuesday, we dropped by Cole’s house. Cole wasn’t completely ready, but joined us for his first F3 workout. He was wearing very thick sweatpants in the August heat and I know he was roasting! We named him Snooze because he loves to chill and sleep. 3-Alarm also recruited Charlie, a 7th grader, who lives in Holly Glen and rides BMX and MTBs. We named him Cash Roll after a BMX trick created by BMX champion Daniel Dhers

911. Things were not always peachy on our runs. 3-Alarm has several conditions (Polymicrogyria, Dandy-Walker Syndrome, and seizures). In late September, the seizures were serious enough that Pikachu, Wild Turkey, and I followed our procedures for this situation. We timed the seizures and called Davis’s mom, then 911. Davis spent a few days in the hospital undergoing extensive diagnostic tests. For the next 3-4 weeks, we had second F instead of running. If we ever have to call 911 again, 3-Alarm wanted to request the specific medics who he had befriended on his ride to the hospital 😊.

“Out of the Goodness of His Heart?” In October, Bondo organized a special treat for 3-Alarm and all of us—A visit from Mr. and Ms. Wuf. See photos and separate backblast Wuf Sighting on Acorn Falls, October 26, 2021. Davis’ mom asked me this question during the October visit from Mr. and Ms.Wuf. The answer of course, was YES, Bondo did this out of the goodness of his heart. Certainly a highlight for 3-Alarm and all of us. Woody: Don’t take that picture without me!

“That’s a big cat” In October the Halloween lights and yard decorations were in full bloom. Wild Turkey did not wear his glasses on these runs or was hallucinating. A giant Rudolf looked like a cat 😊 This was followed by many Christmas light runs through Hilly Glen. Again, lots of fun, see photos. Wild Turkey says the neighborhood lights runs were among his favorites of the year. See my favorite in the BONUS FOOTAGE below. What your favorite 3-Alarm memory of 2021? Reply below.

Christmas Party 2021. Mr. Ambitious requested an F3 Christmas party at his house. I explained that it would be a little challenging to organize given the short notice, Covid surge, and busy schedules. But, all the F3 brothers came through. We had a party of at least a dozen PAX and 2.0s. Pikachu brought the magic hot cocoa maker and we showered 3-Alarm with some additional F3 swag and coffee gift cards (like he didn’t have enough!). See photos.

What’s next? 2022 brings another 52 opportunities to experience the Pure Joy for yourself. Are you ready?

BONUS FOOTAGE

2019 HS Half Midget, Pikachu, Snap. Midget lined up Pikachu and Snap to push 3-Alarm. Pikachu remembers:  I remember hearing I was recruited with Snap and knew we were gonna have fun flying through the springs! The joy that Davis has on race day is on a whole other level. And at Holly Springs Half that day the grit that he showed was on a whole other level too – the bumpy course definitely didn’t do him any favors but he persevered and definitely gave me one of my best HS Half memories (and there are plenty of great ones over the years!). Note that Pikachu also ran 3-Alarm in The Quay, where many of you met 3-Alarm on his way to the finish line.

2021 HS Half Banana Seat, Wild Turkey, Yogurt, and 3-Alarm plus Midget, Matt, and Wolfie. 3-Alarm called out this event as one of favorites in 2021. Banana Seat helped Matt push Wolfie. Wild Turkey ran 9 miles EC. I was feeling good but did not push 3-Alarm until around mile 7 of the race, which was mile 16 for Wild Turkey! Forceps, Cancun, Wild Turkey, Mama Hope’s son, YHC, and others joined 3-Alarm and his dad for Second F at 3-Alarm’s favorite coffee shop, Our Moments in Time.

“Erin, Erin, Erin!” A chance meeting at the FV Christmas parade. This is probably my favorite outing with Davis in 2021, maybe because it was completely unplanned and unexpected.

Davis’s sister and my 2.0 F3 Zumba were among the hundreds of dancers from the Holly Springs School of Dance performing in the parade. We had both dropped off our dancers early and by chance walked up the hill together to select a prime spot to watch. Davis’ dad (Dan), Davis, and I joined a woman who was sitting on one of the built-in benches in front of town hall, poised to see her kids and grandkids pass by in their 4-WD Jeeps and such. “Kathy” shared her bench with Dan and I while Davis positioned himself front and center on the curb to wait. I must admit, sitting on that bench had a real Forrest Gump feel to it. I had a blast just sitting there hanging with Dan, who I had only met once or twice. Kathy watched and listened to our interactions with Davis and was intrigued. By the time it was over, our new friend Kathy was a big fan.

Watching Davis interact with the parade was amazing. For once, I grabbed his phone and took photos from there. Everyone was friends with Davis.

“I’ll email you!” About halfway through the parade, a convertible rolls up among the elected officials waving to the crowd. Suddenly, 3-Alarm sounds the alarm. He starts bobbing up and down and yelling, “Erin, Erin, Erin!” over and over again. Dan and I looked at each other like, What? Davis kept yelling. Finally, the legislature representative Erin turned our way and saw Davis. She was so excited! Davis, how are you? Great to see you! And as she is rolling away, she’s pointing at Davis, twiddles her thumbs like she’s texting, and exclaims, “I’ll email you!” It was the craziest thing I had ever seen. Dan and I were flabbergasted. And I was so impressed. This just showed the range of Davis’ influence. All the way to the Legislature in downtown Raleigh!