Cupid – Page 8 – F3 South Wake

All the Moves at the End

January 18, 2022/in Crazy Ivan/by Fanny Pack

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

January 17, 2022/in AO Post/by Yogurt

“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 3^rd Down, 4^th 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 1^st 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 7^th 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!

Ultimate 10 vs. 10

December 6, 2021/in AO Post, Mutiny/by Yogurt

20 Men Showed Up for an Ultimate Show Down

FNGs: Sonny, now F3 Flicker, named for his awesome left-handed forehand throw, which is also known as a flick. Member of the RESPECT club at 57? Brought his own cooler, discs, and work clothes. :). Other new F3 faces to SouthWake: Sketch, MIA, Doogie
Warm Up: 25 SSH while Dauber ran and got the “pennies,” GMs x 10. Many had arrived in time to throw a few. I knew everybody was ready to play, so we got started. Disclaimer to our FNG Sonny. A few quick rules/procedures. If there’s a turnover in the end zone, you can walk it up to the goal line. Also, when “kicking off,” move up so that your clears mid-field.
The Workout: Ultimate for 35 minutes with exercises on the turnovers: SSHs, jump squats, squats, merkins. Plus, exercises upon scoring: burpees, WWIIs, merkins, and more. Final 10 minutes with no exercises except after scoring. We never really keep an official score, but it helps gauge the match. This morning, the “pennies” jumped on the scoreboard with two or three unanswered trips to the end zone. The “skins” finally settled down, shortened our throws, and got on the scoreboard. Again, unofficially, we had several ties and lead changes. Looks like my completely random passout of the pennies led to equal teams! This was fun!

Tons of great plays out there by all. Too many to remember. Lots of “jump balls” for high throws just about anywhere. Quiver tracked down a floater that looked like it was way beyond his reach. Banana Seat made some great catches but claims he can’t throw. Sonny posted in the middle and was the field marshal for the skins. He could pretty much place the disc anywhere he wanted, with a razor sharp forehand. Blue Hen and Fram knocked down multiple discs on defense. I could not shake Bobby Dall and Warbucks, who stuck to me like white on rice. Dauber had and excellent throw right down the middle to the end zone for the score. Shredder worked the edges and Mr. T worked the middle. And of course, Cupid and Roaming Gnome worked the end zone for their respective teams. Maybelline always lurking on defense, ready to knock one down. Kubota making solid throws in the middle. Great to have Sketch, MIA, Doogie join us–solid players who will join us the first Monday in 2022. Again, many good plays. Maybe we should get the TOHS footage! Meant to get a group photo, but many posted for second F at Panera, so I got one there.

Mary: No time for Mary, this was all game time.
Announcements: CSAUP The Judge this Saturday, December 11, 2021, starting at Fleming Loop Park. Also, Shop With A Cop is live on Slack. Make a donation. Kids within the local community in need will be paired with officers from the Holly Springs Police Department to go shopping for holiday presents for their families and themselves.
T-Claps (Recognition): Thanks to Dauber for sharing the Q. Especially after his pre- pre- pre-blast. I know he was feeling it, ready to play!
Prayers: Unspoken. Fram gathered in the spirit and took us out with a nice prayer.

The Ultimate Mutiny

November 1, 2021/in Mutiny/by Gump

18 PAX joined in for some wet frisbee Ultimate!

FNGs: 2 thanks to Yogurt for bring them out @DingSing @GatorPit
Announcements: If you can, volunteer for the upcoming Holly Spring Half
Prayers: Those struggling with COVID, Cancer

This Backblast sponsored by our friends at Academy Sports & Outdoor

October 20, 2021/in Purple Cobra/by Woody

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

October 7, 2021/in AO Post, Purple Cobra/by Kosher

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

October 4, 2021/in Mutiny/by Gump

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

September 27, 2021/in Any Given Sunday/by Vasoline

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)

September 20, 2021/in U Turn/by Vasoline

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

September 16, 2021/in AO Post, Speed Racer/by Skidmark

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

Tag Archive for: Cupid