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It’s official… I’m a professional

11 pax took the challenge to push themselves and each other. Today was about getting pushed outside of your comfort zone. I hope we all did that. Katniss was maybe too comfortable since he found 10 cents. He then gave me the 10 cents for my Q efforts. That is how I became a professional.

EC: Dawgpound, Cowboy, Slide Rule, Skidmark, Emeril, Dumbo, Katniss, Maybeline, Warbucks for a quarter mile
FNGs:  Sadly none
Warm Up:

Lap around the soccer fields with the following stops:

Top of the Ramp:
Side Straddle Hops
Fazio Arm Circles

Stop at the corner:
Good Mornings
Hillbillies
Imperial Walkers

Stop at the basketball courts for flutter kicks as I explain what we where about to do.

The Workout:

The goal was to do Indian Run Stack Em Up Suicides and Bring them down.  We did not make it through the bring them down portion though.  Pax got into groups of 3 or 4.

We would then do Indian runs until we reach a stopping point.  At the stopping point we did one of the exercises.  The first stopping point was 3 PGUSJ, second 5 Burpees, 3rd 10 Lunges.  We had a total of 7 stops.  At base location is where we stacked things up.  First when we got back we did 3 PGUSJ.  Then 3 PGUSJ plus 5 Burpees.  We kept on stacking as we went.  Then we tried to unstack.  We only made it to Monkey Hummers on the way down.

The goal was to push yourself past your comfort zone.  Your Indian Run group was supposed to help keep you motivated.

Exercises:
3 PGUSJ (Prisoner Get Up Squat Jumps)
5 Burpees
10 Lunges (5 Each Leg)
15 Hand Release Merkins
20 Monkey Humpers
25 Side Straddle Hops
30 Flutter Kicks

Mary:

Circle up for some stretching
Runners Pose
Pigeon Pose

Announcements:

Shirt order for Wrightsville is happening

T-Claps (Recognition):

All Pax that took the challenge to push themselves and their fellow pax

Prayer:

Forceps and his family
Wallaby
Lipstick’s sister

UTI Talks a Big Game

EC:  Banana Seat, YHC, Deadbolt, Mr. Terrific, Alpine – I’m sure there were others….  I didn’t get a great tally  Notable mentions are Pikachu, Lipstick, Katniss, Mr. Terrific, and Aquaman that were charting their own course this morning and did not COT with us today.

FNGs:  Brought into the gloom by Emeril.  Gilligan was once a rower which naturally means he must sail.  He didn’t say it but by the looks of him I’d say he likely has an eclectic group of friends that enjoy getting lost in remote and exotic locations.  Welcome Gilligan!

Warm Up:  As part of warm-up, YHC took a moment to get the runners sorted.  Immediately kicking the runners planning to go slower than a 10-min pace out onto the route.  Other runners (technically non-Uturners) were launching at the same time and they left pretty abruptly.  Having them filter through the crowd just added to the confusion.  The remainder hung with me for a little warm-up.  Daisy Pickers, Frankensteins, light jog, butt kickers, high knees, carioca, and Backwards jogging were all on the menu.

The Workout:  Standard Uturn route was the plan with mandatory Pick-up the 6 spots at the 12 Oaks Circle and at Irving.  Ultimate plan, have all waves finish the run at the same time.

Wave 1: Fun-paced

  • left at 0600, go your pace but stay together

Wave 2: Fast-paced

  • Warm-up at 0600 and left after a bit

Wave 2.5: The Sick Kids

  • left a little after Wave 2, we weren’t sure what we’d do.  We managed 2 miles.
  • Title explanation here:  I woke up this morning for 5 miles EC and 5 miles ME.  Apparently my health isnt quite with me (yet again).  I wound up back at Panera with 20 mins to spare about 6 miles EC+ME, grabbed a coffee and met everyone outside for COT with said coffee in hand.  The coffee was great, esp with my cough, etc.  A little fun to be very well rested and warm for COT while the rest of you just kicked ass but were probably cold.  I’ll be back to 100% soon and not look a like such a…  (what’s the F3 lexicon for A-hole?)

Wave 3: 3 milers

  • 0625 Start

Mary:  Gilligan kept talking about some named Mary-Ann…  Dude has it bad…

Announcements:

  • Showing support for Forceps today at Jon’s memorial – Hope Community Church 11:30 to 2PM
  • BRR, Looks like we have a new 12-man (16-bit) and 9-man (Yogurt) teams in formation.  A few slots left so reach out to YHC or a captain of your choosing to get locked in.  I’m averaging about 2 headlocks for every 2nd F this week so act fast.
  • Wilmingon race is a few weeks away – check out the slack-o-sphere for details on the walk with CrabLegs

T-Claps (Recognition):  It was a cold one this morning.  Great work starting your Saturday off right

Prayer:

  • Forceps
  • Wiggly
  • Wallaby

February 28 2020 / at Crazy Ivan (HS Parking Deck) QIC: POTS

February 28 2020 / at Crazy Ivan (HS Parking Deck) QIC: POTS

 

The PAX for Crazy Ivan packed the parking deck.

 EC: Deadbolt, Full House, Roger Roger

 PAX:  20

 FNGs: None

 Warm Up:

 Side Straddle Hops (SSH), Daisy Pickers, Imperial Walkers, Frankenstein’s

 The Workout

 PAX partner’d up.

Partner 1

  1. Curls for the girls (20 reps)
  2. Overhead press (20 reps)
  3. Floor press / bridged (20 reps)
  4. Side to Sid Lunge (Willy Mays Hayes (20 reps)
  5. Kettlebell Swing (20 reps)
  6. Goblet Squats (20 reps)
  7. Up right rows (20 reps)
  8. Dead Lifts (20 reps)
  9. Overhead Triceps Extensions (20 reps)

Partner 2

Run up stairwell, back down and around the block. (Not Town Hall – lol)

Mary:

The PAX took turns with several rounds of ab exercises to close out the Q.

Announcements

Happy Birthday 16-bit

Forceps son’s memorial service 2/29 12:30 ET at Hope Church (Apex)

Banana Seat sending update on Wrightsville

M4L – F3 Meal March 14 (Sat)

Check Slack for upcoming announcements

Prayers:

Wiggly’s family for loss of his father.

Flannigan’s upcoming heart tests.

Coal Ash’s  Brother in law’s father is battling cancer going into hospice care.

Unspoken,

Military, and First Responders.

Joe DiMaggio Dunks his Donuts!

YHC was able to grab the Q from Banana Seat and allow him time to focus on gains vs leading the troop. YHC was watching his nightly Seinfeld reruns and came across the Joe Dimaggio episode. Kramer sees him in the coffee shop and notices he dunks his donuts in his coffee. To get Joe’s attention, he smacks the table and chirps a few times 🙂 Hence why I was chirping this morning for the Fartlek times! This was for the fellas with the knockoff Apple Watches that can’t preload the workouts in their watches.

Warm Up: Stretching on the track, 800m warmup
The Workout: Mono Fartlek  2×90, 4×60, 4×30, 4×15 with breaks in between for same amount of time. 1 Mile cooldown
Mary: Yoga
Announcements: Forceps son Jon Memorial this Saturday 12-2 at Hope. Casual attire, drop in when you can.  3rd F Survey
T-Claps (Recognition): Da Business- Proud of this guy coming out to the track! I know how much he loves running 🙂
Prayer: Leahy Family, Wiggly’s Father

So foggy at R4TJ, no John to be found

A moist, damp, foggy and traffic filled R4TJ this morning as 15 PAX set out to face the gloom, literally.  Nice work men, all back in safe and sound!

FNGs: none

EC: Nemo, Redenbacher

Warm Up: 15 PAX circle up for some good mornings, SSH x 20, daisy pickers x 10, imperial walkers x 10 and light hammy stretching

The Workout: 12 took on the 5+ mile reverse Crossway route, carefully dodging cars in the fog.  3 PAX headed out on the 3 mile route and then back to Ting.  Various pick ups of the 6 along the way.  Cowboy the recipient of a nice honk from a driver clearly not paying attention this morning.

Mary: none, this is a running AO 🙂

Announcements: Run for Dee Dee, traffic continues to pick up on the feeder road between Main St and Hwy. 55 in the Ting parking lot – keep an eye out for those cars

T-claps: to Pablo for helping pick up the six

Prayer: Wallaby, Forceps, Wiggly and continue strength for Crablegs

You Say It’s Your Birthday…It’s My Birthday Too…and Mine Too!

Funny the coincidences you find in SouthWake. I had known there to be a very high population of PAX sharing the first name “Todd” (ie: Wiggly, Norm, Pablo, Maybelline, Coal Ash, and YHC), but what are the chances of 3 PAX posting on the same morning, sharing the same birthday. That’s just crazy talk. Arrived to Disney this morning not feeling any older, but definitely forgetful as YHC forgot his flag. Did remember the chalk to mark the ground with, but did forget the flag. As I was starting to make my way down the lot, Dawgpound came rolling in for some EC. Exchanged some pleasantries and headed toward the Community Center to the back side in front of the football stadium entrance.

This area is a nice one for circuit training as I did see Pablo introduce this once before. There is a lower level and upper level with staircases on opposite sides. Lots of room for running up and down and in between. At the bottom of the staircase, I labeled ‘Get Ups’. As you travel ahead and bend toward the right there is another stair case (mini abyss). At the foot of this staircase, I labeled “Wide Grip Merkins.” Travel up the stairs of mini abyss and straight ahead to the walkway that joins the original staircase in the distance, I labeled this spot “Diamond”. To the left there is a brick shelter, that has a perfect wall for B2W’s. Labeled that ‘B2W’ of course.

Made my way down the staircase back to the beginning and ventured back out to the large lot of Disney by the high school entrance. Noticed a yellow gate that was closed to the right, which would connect school traffic from either side.

Checked the watch, which left plenty of time to make it back without a mosey. A bit chilly this morning, but not too cold and would produce some comfortable workout conditions. Back to the starting point, saw a few more cars and more rolling in. 187 and I exchanged some ‘Happy Birthday’s,’ knowing from last year we shared the same day. Additionally, I learned on Monday at Paradise City that Doc also shared the same birthday, but would he be here this morning? Turn around and there he was to complete the birthday trio.

Who else was coming out to celebrate? I left an open invite on preblast the night before, but who would show? After all was said and done, we had 12 total PAX- The birthday boys- 187, Doc, and YHC, along with Emeril, Dawgpound, Java, M4L, Nemo, Bobby Dall, Potts, Quiver, and Pikachu. A great crowd. Unfortunately, most of 12 Oaks missed it, including Slide Rule who HC’d at Panera the week before (Pikachu was there and can vouch).

Quick check of the watch and it was 30 secs to lift off. PAX were greeted and thanked for attending this planned birthday bash. We had 3 birthday’s so YHC fortunately had 3 workouts planned. 5:30 hit and we were off with a skinny lap around the lot.

Warm Up: SSH X43, Imperial Walkers X20, Hillbillies X20, Morocan Night Clubs X10, Fazio Arms X10 F\10B, 2 Burpees… Quickly instructed PAX to form 2 lines. This was met with a Dawgpound groan. I think he knew what YHC meant when he said we’d keep things moving this morning- no 10 counts.

The Workout:

Birthday Party#1

Indian Run out of the main lot all the way to the community center, take a left down past the make-shift classroom buildings, all the way to the main entrance of the football stadium. Broke the Indian Run and quick had PAX squat hold for instruction. Informed PAX to find an accountability partner and that I labeled the ground with a specific exercise, starting with 2 Turkish get ups where we were standing, run around the corner to the base of the (small abyss) to perform 20 wide grip merkins, proceed up the stairs and straight to the walkway for 20 diamond merkins, and then Balls to the Wall on that shelter in cadence X20, before heading back down the stair case to do a rinse repeat of the circuit. If anyone ended early, they’d need to come back for the six until all were finished.

PAX did a great job staying together and in many instances all shared the same cadence counts. Squat hold at the bottom while waiting for the few remaining PAX to mosey down the steps after their second round.

Birthday Party #2

Formed back into same 2 lines and executed an Indian run to the yellow closed gate YHC saw earlier in the morning while setting up. Got to the front and instructed PAX to bear crawl underneath about 10 yards to the street, look both ways and mosey to the large Disney lot. Mosey’d to the far corner, where we would do a progressive circuit with their accountability partner..

Corner 1- 2 Burpees

Corner 2- 2 Burpees, 20 Prisoner Squats

Corner 3- 2 Burpees, 20 Prisoner Squats, 20 Mountain Climbers

Corner 4- 2 Burpees, 20 Prisoner Squats, 20 Mountain Climbers, 20 Shoulder Taps

Formed 2 Indian Run lines again and took PAX to the abyss

Birthday Party #3

At the Abyss, Partner 1 stayed for LBC’s, while Partner 2 proceeded down the Abyss and at the bottom performed Pickle Pounders X20 in cadence before coming back up. At the top, Partners Switched out

YHC remembers Nemo mentioning that it seemed kind of odd PAX were performing Pickle Pounders in silence at the bottom. Usually during this exercise, its a time of ‘Yo Momma’ jokes and ‘That’s what She Said’ humor.  Mumblechatter was really low this morning and appeared to be all business.

Once PAX finished up, YHC instructed a single file Indian Run back to the flag (fortunately Pikachu brought one). As we made it back to the beginning of the lot I’m not sure what 187 said to Bobby Dall, but there was a jailbreak that ensued…one for the books with both in an all out neck in neck foot race.

Circled up for Mary, but not before YHC called for a plank hold. Yep- YHC wanted to check his clock to make sure it was working. Clockwork merkins all the way around from 1-12 to finish up the morning. Nemo likes these, I could really tell.

Mary: Low Slow Flutter X20, American Hammers X20. Asked Doc for an exercise and did some dying cockroaches X10, 187 gave PAX some Peter Parkers X10. YHC also instructed on a series of stretches, Pigeons, Downward Dog, and one last Good Morning in cadence. What a morning it was!

Announcements: Emeril did have an announcement and lead PAX the singing of Happy Birthday to celebrate the birthday trio. Check 3rd F for community opportunities. Forceps’ son Jon’s service will be held next Saturday, Feb 29th at Hope Community Church from 12-2pm
T-Claps (Recognition): All PAX getting out there this morning and pushing each other. Potts is putting in work these past few weeks. I see a half marathon in November for that guy.

Prayer: Forceps and his family. Additional prayers for Lipstick’s sister, Wallaby, and those battling substance issues. All those unspoken and continued health for PAX and their families.  YHC took us out.

First Appearance of the Steel Mace

Snow came the day before. Still 10 men braved the chilly weather to come see the steel mace!!

FNGs: Nope
Warm Up:
Quick lap to warmup
Circled up for the following
Good Mornings
Fazio Arm Circles
Leg Swings both directions both legs
BackStroke
The Workout:
Counted off by three. We had four stations, but I wanted groups of three since there were three Pax present that had already did a steel mace workout. They should be the Shepard for the steel mace. The goal was to keep the legs fresh for tomorrow’s long ass run.

3 complete circuits. Each Station was 2 minutes and 15 seconds. Each pax did 5 to 10 reps each exercise. After completion keep on going till the timer sounds.

Station 1:
Stairs — Run them or carry a bell. Just get up and down them.

Station 2:
Kettlebell
LawnMowers
Push up On the Bell
Push Press
Chest to Chest in bridge

Station 3:
Battle Rope and Core
Battle Rope
Midget Love Handles
Midget Getups
Midget Cookie Pouches

Station 4:
Steel Mace
Upper Cut
Bent Over Rows
Side Paddle Overhead (No lunge)
Kayak
Ballistic Curl

Mary:

Circled up for some stretching:

Leg across and open up the hips. Like getting in a pigeon pose but keep the leg straight
Runners pose and open up the hip
Runners pose concentration on going deeper
Fire Hydrant Circles
Fire Hydrant Kicks

Announcements:

ATT run tomorrow

T-Claps (Recognition):
Prayer:

Wallaby as he comes home from Rehab
Forceps and his family
John, Deadbolt’s friend that is battling cancer

Good Times at Johnsville

EC: UTI, Skidmark, YHC had an abbreviated EC that included the John
Warm Up: Jogging, Karaoke, Frankenstein, shuffles
The Workout: Reverse Indian Run down Paradise City EC route to the Bridgewater Pool. Pax paired up based on speed for partner loops. Partners went in opposite direction and met back at full loop (0.4 Miles) for Patty Cake Merkins x10 in Cadence. Repeated this 5 times with increasing intensity levels – 1K Pace 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%.  Pax headed back to Ting with cool down mile
Mary: Went through some stretching as we talked Announcements.

Quick Note from the Q: I often find I have pain during or after running that typically go away. A big part of this has to do with no warmup and cooldown. I purposely (and selfishly) tried to integrate more warmup and a cool down during our time.  I always tell myself I don’t have the time to spend on it and just need to get going for the miles.  I tried something different today by integrating the cool down into our announcement time. It was a great opportunity for Skid to share his thoughts/connection on the Run for Dedee 5K, while we all appropriately stretched our muscle groups.  All this to say, Find time for the pre/post run work. It will lead to better things, speed, injury prevention, etc…

Announcements: ATT Run 2/22; Standing 2F Thursday’s at Lowes Foods @ 530; Run for Dedee 5K begining of April at Sugg Farm See Skidmark for details
T-Claps (Recognition): All Pax for sticking with me this morning. I wasn’t sure how the turnout would be and I was excited to see 14 heads as I came back from the John!
Prayer: Sick Families (UTI’s), All those going through Addiction, Pikachu’s Wife who is dealing with Back Pain

Only 12 poles…

FNGs:none
Warm Up:SSH, windmills, fazio arm circles, high knees, butt-kickers, and karaoke.
The Workout: Tabata style: 20 seconds of exercise, 10 seconds of rest, 3 sets each of 4 exercises for a total of 6 minutes per set of exercises.

Set 1 (lower body): Lateral jumps, Pop squats – wide squat followed by narrow squat (dubbed “Rice Crispies” by Dawgpound), jump lunges, sumo squats with kick

Ran to the top of the ramp for Set 2 (upper body): scorpion dry docks, dips, balls to the wall, and burpees.

Indian run around the park to the bottom of the ramp where we did 12s/ladder.  Sprint to the first light pole, do one merkin jog to the bottom of the ramp for 12 star jumps all together, sprint to second pole, do two merkins, jog to the bottom for 11 star jumps, etc etc

Mary: started Mary going around circle and each pax picking an exercise and 10 count.
Announcements: New permanent F2 at Food Lion on Thursdays at 6
T-Claps (Recognition):
Prayer: Pikachu’s wife, Snap’s employment

Greenhouse Build @ HSFC

PAX of 9, including 3 2.0s, assisted aspiring Eagle Scout Griffin assemble a greenhouse for the Holly Springs Food Cupboard. Great work out there men! This wouldn’t have happened today without F3 (we were the only builders besides Griffin’s father).

What we did today matters. What we did today will have far reaching impact in our community. I can’t begin to imagine how much food will be grown to feed our neighbors over the life of this structure. We also had very productive conversations with volunteers at the HSFC about additional ways we can continue to support our neighbors.

We will be designating one Saturday a month this year for a project at the HSFC. We are also exploring the option to host a golf tournament as a fundraiser. We will continue to make a difference in this community because we are an organization of selfless leaders poised to serve those who need it. Remember – it’s more than a workout…just show up!