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This Backblast sponsored by our friends at Academy Sports & Outdoor

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FNGs:  None

PAX:  Tom Tom, Wild Turkey, Cupid, Kosher, Warbucks, Hazmat
Warm Up:  Good mornings, frankensteins, sir fazio, seal claps, overhead claps
The Workout:  Merkins, merkins, merkins.  I really enjoyed my Q at DT a few weeks ago, hammering upper body, so I took the lazy route by copying/pasting that whole thing, with a few tweaks here and there.  Started out with 11’s on the hill, merkins and star jumps.  That’s enough legs for the day.  Mosey to rock pile, curls for the girls (hindsight, those little rocks aren’t great for curls, I should’ve done shoulder raises instead), mosey somewhere for merkins, mosey to the rail for dips, mosey to merkins then back to the rock pile.  Here we ditched curls and did Carolina Dry Docks instead – repeato, repeato, repeato, with variations on the merkins along the way – wide grip, diamonds, etc.

Mosey back to starting point, stopped again for merkins, then jailbreak to the flag.

Shoulders, chest and arms sufficiently toasted.
Mary:  Started to call a classic P90X core move, realized we were over time, audibled for one last set of merkins, instead – lol.
Announcements:  Not so much, but YHC shared a story of what happened to me the night before.  A guy I’ve known for 12-14 years, an acquaintance, lacrosse parent (his 2 sons, my 1), never knew him past pleasantries and getting drunk at travel lacrosse tournaments, he battled bladder cancer last year.  Nasty stuff, took a toll on him.  Last time I saw him, maybe 8 months ago, he was frail, shuffle-walking, wife steadying him, due to chemo.

A couple weeks ago, saw him out for a run on the street and was genuinely excited for him!  I mean, I clapped and pumped my fist as I drove past.  Happened to see him last week at a lacrosse tournament in Wilmington, he told me he’s clear of chemo and has some fitness goals, getting back to where he used to be, and beyond.  Very uncharacteristically for me (before F3), I hunted down his number, reached out and offered to go running with him any time.  He accepted and we met the next night for a 3 mile run/walk.

It turned out to be a pretty terrific moment, for both of us.  We immediately dove into a deep, meaningful conversation – far beyond what we’d been limited to previously – he shared his struggles, I shared mine – life moments, kids, work, faith, 2nd chances; all of it.  He thanked me 2 or 3 times for reaching out, it was clearly as meaningful to him as it was for me.

The point of the story – I don’t think I would’ve made that move had I not been in the F3 state of mind.  Life changing stuff, this is.  Keep it going, Gents.  Small gestures can make huge impacts.

T-Claps (Recognition):
Prayer:

America’s Favorite Pastime at Purple Cobra

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FNGs: None

PAX: Lipstick, U.T.I, Woody, Warbucks, Shredder, Full House, Cupid, Mr. Terrific, Wild Turkey, Maybelline, Kosher

Warm Up: SSH, Good Mornings, Daisy Pickers, Hillbillies, Imperial Walkers

The Workout: YHC had sent out a pre-blast saying that everyone’s favorite hill may or may not be in play, and that there may or may not be competition involved. THAT hill and competition were both in play.

After our warmup, we moseyed over to the parking lot in front of Town Hall Burger for a little baseball (aka America’s pastime). In honor of postseason baseball getting underway, YHC had gone out early in the gloom prior to the workout and placed my 2.0s rubber bases at various points throughout the parking lot, effectively creating 4 corners with a pitcher’s mound in the middle.

We split up into 2 teams for a several competition style rounds around the 4 corners. YHC informed the PAX that each trip around the bases would consist of various exercises at each base, and that a “prize” would be in play for whichever team completed the exercises and arrived back at home plate and then the pitcher’s mound first at the end of each round. YHC encouraged each team to push and stick together as the round was only complete once the last man on each team was back at the pitcher’s mound.

After each round, once a winner was declared, we moseyed to the bottom of THAT hill. Little did the PAX know that their “prize” consisted of the winning team selecting an exercise to complete at the top of THAT hill after we collectively sprinted to the top. PAX moaned about YHC’s choice of a “prize” – but we continued nonetheless. After each trip up THAT hill and exercises were complete, we went back to the baseball diamond for another trip around the bases. The exercises consisted of:

  • Round 1 around the bases: 1st base – Merkins x15, 2nd base – Squats x15, 3rd base – WW2 x15, Home plate – Star jumps x15, hold for the 6 at pitcher’s mound.
  • Round 1 up THAT hill – Sprint to top, Team 1 called out dips, U.T.I. dished out the count for 40 of ’em on the rail. PAX wondered if he would ever stop counting.
  • Round 2 around the bases: 1st base – Wide grip merkins x 15, 2nd base – Prisoner squats x 15, 3rd base – Crab kicks x15, Home plate – SSH x15 IC (I think), hold for the 6 at pitcher’s mound.
  • Round 2 up THAT hill – Sprint to top, Team 2 called out Turkish getups. Lipstick led the count with PAX shouting out random numbers. Lipstick wasn’t amused and punished us with more. I think we did 20 total.
  • Round 3 around the bases – 1st base – Diamond merkins x15, 2nd base – WW2, 3rd base – merkins x15, Home plate – WW1 x 15, hold for the 6 at pitcher’s mound.
  • Round 3 up THAT hill – Sprint to top, Team 1 called out Bulgarian Split squats. Woody led the count for 15x each leg.

After 3 “innings” – YHC led the group to the wall behind the shopping center. Mumblechatter about monkey humpers led to YHC spontaneously calling for us to to 25 Monkey Humpers IC over near the bushes. Mumblechatter was high around monkeys humping in the bush.

YHC took the PAX to the wall for balls to the wall – 5 count from each PAX, followed by Preacher’s chair 10 count from each PAX.

We headed over to the rock pile and picked up 2 rocks each for rounds of: Curls for the girls, shoulder press, rows, American Hammers with the rocks, and skull crushers.

Time to mosey back to the flag.

Mary: YHC called on various PAX to pick an exercise. We completed Freddie Mercury, LBC, 6 inches, and box cutters before we called time.

Announcements: Hollyfest (see slack for signup), 3 Alarm 2nd F signups (see Slack), Wild Turkey Trot run – see Wild Turkey for details

T-Claps (Recognition): Mr. Terrific for getting back out in the gloom! Great to see you, brother!

Prayer: Unspoken

YHC took us out. Prayed for the sky Q to help us be the light in our communities. Prayer for our military and first responders.

Always an honor to lead!

P.S. Woody and I are taking over co-site Q responsibilities from Cupid after him serving solo for 18 months. Great work holding it down, Cupid! Woody and I look forward to seeing many more of you out at Purple Cobra in the future!

A Case of the Dropsies

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It was the case of “dropsies” for most of the morning for 17 PAX playing Ultimate Mutiny @ Ting.

FNGs:
Warm Up: The warm up was quick n dirty to get out on the field and play
The Workout: 9 on 8 with 1 PAX leaving early to even it up
Mary: The game is Mary
Announcements: HollyFest

Expect the unexpected

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I thought it was just going to be Full House and I posting this morning because he threw out the only HC on Slack.  Wild Turkey also commented he would try to make it.  With BRR only 2 weeks over, 4PAX showing to U-Turn the day prior, cooler weather this morning, and the fact that it was a Sunday, I didn’t expect more than a couple guys including myself.   Full House and I went out for some EC prior to the ME and when we came rolling in and I saw more than a few PAX it made my morning.

FNGs: none

Warm Up: quick mosey, 10x windmills, 10x daisy pickers, 10x Frankensteins, 25-30x OYO Merkins

The Workout: Exit Womble, L on Stinson, R on Grigsby, L on W Elm, crossover Main St. and stay on Elm, L on Ballentine, R on Saranac Ridge, L on Onondaga Ct., follow the sidewalk on Onondaga to a hidden connector that will put you behind a daycare center on Earnie Lane, head straight on Earnie Lane, R on Holly Springs Rd, L on Tullich Way, L on Stonehedge Ct, L on Oakhall Dr, crossover Main St and stay straight on Crossway Ln, R on Skymont, L on Rhamkatte, R on Holly Springs Rd, L on Raleigh Rd, L on Grigsby, L on Stinson, and back to Womble for just under 6mi.

Mary: no time

Announcements: Holly Springs Half in November, Fanny Pack 7 Pack of Q’s this week to celebrate his 42nd bday, 2nd F opportunities for 3-Alarm (Yogurt sending out details soon)

T-Claps (Recognition): 8 strong coming out on a Sunday at 6am to get in some miles

Prayer: quick recovery of 3-Alarm, those battling COVID-19, sickness, mental health issues, addiction, quick recovery of Aquaman’s knee, prayers for all the unknown

New Faces, New Places (for me anyhow)

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FNGs: none (but TomTom JUST recently joined courtesy of M4Life and that was a new face for me)

Warm Up: quick mosey to adjacent parking lot, 10x windmills, 10x daisy pickers, 10x imperial walkers

The Workout: 6mi run, which included running through the creepy tunnel that runs under Hwy 55 (I’ve always wanted to run through this so that was a new place for me)

Mary: no time, workout ran over as it was

Announcements: Food Drive collection by Abe for Holly Springs Food Cupboard

T-Claps (Recognition): TomTom for showing up blind to the AO.  He only knew of the time and the meeting place and not much else but he ended up grinding out 6mi with the rest of the PAX

Prayer: safety of everyone running/participating in Run the Quay, safe trip for Maybelline and his daughter as they travel to OBX post-UTurn workout, my co-workers father who was struck by a vehicle last week and is now in a coma

4,s, 8’s, & 16’s

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FNGs: None
Warm Up: SSH, IW, Hillbillies
The Workout:
On the track. 4 man Indian Run
8 reps of the following: Merkins, WWII, Squats, Turkish Getups, Plank Jacks, Star Jumps, SSH, burpees
Run 1 lap do merkins, Run 2nd lap do merkins, WWII… Stack all the way up and then come back down. Each lap run a different lane. Begin with lane 1 and move to lane 8.
Mary: Stretching
Announcements: Skidmark running NYC marathon for charity. More info coming soon. CSAUPS coming up
T-Claps (Recognition):
Prayer: Injuries, Cancun traveling, first responders

3-Alarm 8/24/21 – Fartsack Explained, Gatorade Expired, With Some Dead Animal Stench in Between

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FNGs: Cole (F3 Snooze)
Warm Up: Count off and pre-run announcements
The Workout: 4 miles in Hilly Glen

Back in June, 3-Alarm (Davis) wanted to share a few words before each workout, so he texted me those words for my delivery at the next run. What I didn’t expect was to video myself speaking those words on Davis’ behalf and then sending the video to him for review. Since then, I’ve delivered Davis’ speech every time we have new runners at SouthWake’s best AO (certainly the most joyful). And I’ve embellished it each time with Davis’ approval. Davis also asked us to define F3 terms, so he can participate in the conversation and not be confused by Purple Cobra, Merkin, AO, COT, and of course, Fartsack. Today, @Dumbo entertained all—especially @3-Alarm, with his firsthand account of Fartsacking.

After these standard announcements and a count-off of 12, then 13 with Cupid’s late arrival, we took off. Very impressive seeing 13 PAX run up the street with Davis rolling and the flag waving.

For the second time this month, Davis brought an FNG. This week, we picked up Cole, a senior at HSHS and avid rugby player and sleeper. It took us a minute to find his house, but Davis came through. Cole joined us on a run wearing sweat pants—the big, heavy cotton type that would be great if you were camping in 20 degree weather. But it was 95 degrees out. I asked if he wanted to change and he said no. Cole hammered through the run in spite of bruises and old injuries (broken femur five years ago). At COT, he earned the name @Snooze because it takes several alarms to wake him up in the morning. When asked what he likes to do for fun, he said he likes to chill and doze off, hence the name @Snooze, penned by @Pikachu. Davis had met Cole and recruited him while on a walk the week before.

We also swung by Charlie’s house. Earlier in August, we picked up FNG Charlie—an avid BMX’er and MTB’er, who earned the name @Cash Roll after a BMX trick invented by Daniel Dhers (2021 Olympic Silver medalist, BMX freestyle; and owner/operator of Daniel Dhers Action Sports Complex, right here in little ol’ Holly Springs). Finally, we got going on rhythm with the run. Down Avent Meadows, up Holly Moor. Here, Cole pushed Davis straight up the hill with an assist from Pikachu. This is not an easy hill!

Several runners rotated in to push Davis—Emeril, Dumbo. We stopped at intersections to let cars go by and to keep our PAX together. Pikachu showed us how to climb Holly Thorn Trace, nearly a mile straight uphill, going faster pushing Davis than most of us can run solo. The stop sign at the top is a good spot to rest, catch your breath, and pick up the six. But today, there was the distinct odor of a dead animal. This thing made the landfill smell like roses. After picking up the six, we gladly moved on.

Cupid had the privilege to push Davis back down the hill. On the way back, Cancun found us as he drove his search vehicle through the neighborhood. He and both 2.0s rolled back to the house and set up the splash zone. Maybelline and I bolted back to the house—Maybelline to hop in the car to pick up his son and me to help splash.

Pikachu ran Davis back and forth through the sprinkler. Cancun’s 2.0 Oliver freely squirted just about everyone with a squirt gun and exclaimed the my SUV was not a “truck.” Wild Turkey soaked Davis’ hat and placed it on Davis’ head. Dumbo and others stuck their head in the sprinkler. COT and one burpee by Pikachu and we were done. Finally, after most had left, Wild Turkey and Snooze were enjoying some Gatorade, when Snooze realized it was expired by 2 years! Uh oh. Davis got a real kick out of that. If Wild Turkey and Snooze return next time, we’ll know they are OK. Another successful 3-Alarm run!

Mary: None
Announcements: Done
T-Claps (Recognition): All who posted for the first time today: @Bobby Dall, @Cupid, @Dumbo, @Emeril, @U.T.I., @Yoshi

 

Too Many Bush Puns From Which To Choose

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FNGs:  No
Warm Up:  Good morning, SSH, Merkin, …I dunno, maybe more.
The Workout:  EC Crew – YHC, Dahmer, Full House, and we picked up 187 on the way.  ME added Warbucks, Kosher, Wild Turkey, Cupid, Hasselhoff and Hazmat.

A little back blast background.  A distress call went out the day prior asking for someone to take the Q.  I didn’t want to, I knew I’d stress over putting it together, especially on such short time – so of course I knew I had to.  Get over yourself, Woody.  Put a leash on that anxious overthinking, you’re not organizing a group trek up Everest.  Well, I was right on all points.  Time crunch stress, check.  Overwhelmed by the multitude of exercise options, compounded by unfamiliarity with the vast majority of those goofy F3 names, check (choosing from a menu in a new restaurant can be a nightmare).  I even tried to back out last minute, messaging Cupid to see if he could step in because my stomach wasn’t feeling great – which was not untrue, I really am a bit off in that department, at the moment.  But soon after berated myself rather harshly for that chickens**t move, knowing it was just an excuse.

Realizing at the end of it all, that I’d once again needlessly worked myself into a tizzy because it really isn’t that complicated, check, check.  Stupid brain.

So I decided on stealing the simplest complete routine from the backblast archive, which came from a recent Deadbolt Q.  A bunch of suicides mixed with a bunch of sets of simple moves, for the entire show.  Turned out to be too simple, and after just three rounds, audibles were called the rest of the way.

  • Meet Me In the Middle:  Stole this one from Mookie.  PAX paired up at the bank and ran in opposite directions around the building, meeting on the other side for 10 Patty Cake Merkins.  Repeato for 3 laps (Total of 6 sets of PCM).
  • Moseyed to the middle-ish section of the parking lot, in front of the Tailor shop for the Deadbolt Special.  20 squats, 20 merkins, 20 lunges, 20 LBC, 20 SSH, then suicide run to 3 islands and back.  Repeat for a triple play.  Good show for all, picking up the six on this one.
    • Wild Turkey offered a fist bump on a suicide pass and I whiffed.  Sorry.
  • I couldn’t see how this could go on, so, audible time.  Moseyed to the stank wall for people’s chair, each calling a 10 count.
  • Then maybe LBC, IC?  I think that happened.
    • Disclaimer:  Items listed here may or may not have occurred in this order.  But probably did occur.
  • Mosey to the rail at Dunkin for some dips
  • Back to stank wall for BTTW
  • Mosey to another section of rail for more dips, realized the bushes were too overgrown and was referred to a larger section behind the car wash by PAX.
    • 187 moseyed through the car wash, but emerged on the other side no cleaner than when he had entered.
  • On approach of the more suitable rail/bush setup, many puns, double entendre, and otherwise inappropriate comments were thrown about.  Anyway, more dips here.
  • Mosey to rock pile, surprise burpees along the way.  PAX grabbed 2 smallish rocks for straight-arm shoulder raises, front and side raises.
    • All PAX were successful in throwing their rocks back into the pile except Cupid.  He missed.  Missed the whole quarry.  So PAX did 5 more burpees for that.
  • Mosey back to the tailor shop for a heap of LBC, IC
  • Jail break back to the start.

Mary:  I don’t think so.  Just a bit of stretching for the legs, IIRC.
Announcements:  Derek Davis run this weekend, and reminder that this is also a used shoe drive, so sign up and donate!
Prayer:  Full House’s mom scheduled for knee surgery.

Thanks, men, for the opportunity to battle my insecurities, indecision and scatter-brainness.  Keep coming back, get a little better every time.

Lucy Found New Ground

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As promised in the pre- blast, we’d be a traveling circus hitting some hills today. After an EC run where Dahmer joined us for a bit, we saw Flojoe and Poopeater pull in the parking lot.  After YHC asked if Poopeater was good for a field trip, we rolled on. It was like running through soup this morning, but Poopeater found some new lawns to fertilize!

FNG’s: None, otherwise YHC wouldn’t have done this.
Warm Up: SSH x20 IC, Seal Claps x 19 IC, Imperial Walkers x 7 IC, Hillbillies x 7 IC. Let’s go!
The Workout: The basic path was and out and back down Elm Street with a right turn up Library Hill and back again. Between 2-2.5 miles were logged by the PAX on our journey today. We stoppped along the way at various locales doing Hand Release merkins x 15, then Hand Release Merkins x 25, Prisoner Squats x 30, Monkey Humpers x 20 IC, Shoulder Taps x 30 IC, then Squat Jumps x 15. When we got to the traffic circle on Library Hill, we bearcrawled the circle, followed by fast-feet on the circle.  The return trip basically saw the PAX stop at the same places and doing the same aforementioned exercises.
Mary: LBCs x30 IC, Homer to Marge x20 IC, WW1 x 15. Plank and Pigeon stretch, then a 2 minute Have a Nice Day… I mean lay on the ground and look up and shut up… if you are like YHC… somebody has to force you to stop for a minute or two.
Announcements: Derek Davis 5k Aug. 21, Travis Manion 5K 9/12, Brute CSAUP Oct 16th.
T-Claps (Recognition):
Prayer: Cancun and wife with job opportunities, unspoken.  YHC took us out in the ball of sweat. Now… can it cool down please!

Serious Business

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AO: Paradise City
Workout Date: 08/09/21
The boys at Paradise City are serious about their high tempo. When I started checking out greater Wake County Q sheets back in May, I found Paradise City’s Q sheet full for THE ENTIRE YEAR. Helpful brothers on Slack sent me Skidmark’s way, and after promising to deliver a high tempo workout (and making a small donation to Healing Transitions for which I am still on the hook), I was allowed to swap in for Katniss on 8/9.

Warm Up:
State the mission, check for FNGs(0), and give the disclaimer. PAX ask if my somewhat lengthy disclaimer is the Carpex disclaimer.
Mosey up the back road and around the tennis courts to the top of the Ting Ramp to warm up.
Side Straddle Hops x20 In Cadence (IC)
Good Mornings x5 IC
Sir Fazio Arm Circles forward x10 IC
Sir Fazio Arm Circles reverse x10 IC

Main Event:
1) Elevens on the Ting Ramp. WW1s at the top, Burpees at the bottom.
2) Rack Em Stack Em in the parking lot. Corners and exercises: (1) Merkins x10 (2) Squats x15 (3) American Hammerx x20 IC (4) Burpees x25. We ran out of time before anyone made it to the burpee corner.
3) Squats x10 On My Down (OMD) since Skidmark said we had 30 seconds left when we arrived back at start

https://www.strava.com/activities/5762988079

Mary:
None.

COT:
9 PAX
Announcements and Prayers

Naked Moleskin:
Policeman pulled up as I was scouting the AO, but he ended up settling in to catch lead-footed citizens across from the electronic speed limit sign.
I wish we’d finished the Rack and Stack, but running out of time is much better than ending early.
Thank you for the opportunity, Skidmark!
This was my eighty-eighth #F3Q21 #2021Challenge Q (ninety-second overall). Next Q is Tuesday (tomorrow) at Claymore in Carpex.
-Pigpen

QIC: Pigpen
PAX: Skidmark, Pablo, Bondo, Dawgpound, Full House, Cupid, Bobby Dall, 187, Pigpen
Workout Date: 08/09/21