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Avoiding the Quarantine 15

There are so many things I want to say right now. So many ways to begin this backblasts, all make sense, all important, but I don’t think I can truly find the right words to express what this morning meant not just to me, but for a lot of other Pax. On Friday, I went for a run and ran past a few AOs that had kicked off again. Each had 3 Pax, despite warm weather and a bit of excitement in the air. Saturday is a long run day and we know about SW’s reputation. Sunday AGS wasn’t as large as typical. So, what would today bring. And the Q promised 3 miles of high intensity bootcamp. I love this group of guys and we lean on each other more than we realize. 12 men posted at Paradise City this morning and the mumble chatter was on point.

2 for EC: ShamWow!, Skidmark

FNGs: Welcome McNugget and Chaps. Warning: Be very careful when disclosing your first job.
Warm Up: Group stayed together for 1 lap of warm up with SSH x 30, IW x 10, Hillbillies x 10, Good mornings x 10, and Fazio Arm circles x 10 F/R.
The Workout: Group split into 2 with Emeril and YHC taking over.

Emeril’s Q:
1. Erkins/Derkins/Dips on the guardrail
On the Tennis Courts:
2. Suicides, LBC, Preacher Chair
3. 11’s (Merkins/Squats), Balls to Wall, Preacher Chair
Mosey to Ticket Booth
4. Step-ups, Dips, Balls to Wall, Erkins, Balls to Wall, Derkins
5. Top of Ramp x 10 jump squats, Bottom of Ramp x 10 star jumps

Skidmark’s Q:
Stack up suicides: starting at basketball court. Stops at 1st island, bottom of ramp, halfway up ramp, top of ramp. 5 burpees each return to court. Stack em up and break em down.
1. 5 Star jumps
2. 10 merkins
3. 15 Plank Jacks
4. 20 Step ups

Mary: Stretching as a group of 12. Open those hips up and avoid injury.

Announcements: Not right now.
T-Claps (Recognition): Dumbo and Dawgpound PRing 1/2’s on Saturday
Prayer: Wallabe, Fanny Pack’s daughter Julia battling a stomach bug.

Ground Pounder Reopened for Business

FNGs: None

6 HIMs showed up to GP this morning. 

WarmUp:

10 Good Mornings, 10 Daisy Pickers,  20 Fozzie Arm Circles, 10 Emperial Walkers, 10 Hillbillies, 10 Willy Mays Haze, 10 3 ct Windmills,

The Workout

Mosey to the Rock Pile. Rotate around rocks between sets.

  • 3 sets of 20’s – Curls for the girls
  • 3 sets of 20’s  – Overhead Overhead Tri-press
  • 3 sets of 10’s – Ground Pounders
  • 3 sets of 10’s – Trunk Twists
  • 3 sets of 10’s – Bus Drivers
  • 3 sets of 10’s – Rutrows

PAX who chose puny rocks swapped out to small boulders

  • 4 sets of 10’s – Standard Bench Press
  • 10ct  Windshield wipers
  • 30ct 6 inches
  • 10ct Scissor Kicks
  • 10ct Box Cutters

Mosey to the Wall of Pain

  • 2 sets of 60ct Wall Sits (Prisoner and Al Gore style)
  • 1 set of 30 count BTW and 1 set of 30 ct Ascending Testicles

Return Rocks and mosey back for Mary

Cards of Pain

  • 2 sets 10 x 3ct Plank Jacks
  • 2 sets of 10 x 3 ct American Hammers
  • 2 sets of 10 Dips
  • 2 sets of 10 Rockies
  • 2 sets of 10 x 3ct Split Jacks
  • 2 sets of 10x 3ct Mountain Climbers
  • 2 sets of 10  x 3 ct Lunges
  • 2 sets of 10 Merkins
  • 2 set of 10 Burpees (courtesy of Pikachu who chose Jokers)

T-Claps for Dumbo running his first half marathon and for all those who joined him in support. T Claps for Fanny Pack for doubling down posting U-Turn prior to posting GP

Announcements:  AOs now open for business keeping rules of 6 ft spacing and circle of COT in place.  Run the Quay cancelled (virtual run available),

Prayer Requests:  Prayers for  Fanny Pack’s 10 yr old daughter recovering from a bout with stomach bug, prayers for Flojo’s wife recovering from a fall.  For our country’s leadership and for all those suffering physically or financially from the COVID crisis.

 

April 23 / at Disney (Middle Creek Park) QIC: POTS “Take’n the Hill”

April 23 / at Disney (Middle Creek Park) QIC: POTS “Take’n the Hill”

 Social Distancing was in place

 EC:

Nemo, Redenbacher,

PAX:

8

 FNGs:

None

 Warm Up:

Side Straddle Hops (SSH), Good Mornings, Fazio Arms Circles (forward and backward) Imperial Walkers,

 The Workout

 Take’n the Hill (backside of soccer fields)

 1st round 20 merkins, run up hill to frisbee golf hole / net, run to frisbee golf tee, 20 merkins, run back to bottom of hill.

2nd round 20 squats

3rd round 20 American Hammers

4th round 20 lbc’s

5th round 5 burpees

 Mosey’d to the Abyss for some 7’s which included Plank Jacks at top with Star Jumps at bottom.

Mary:

Some leg / hip work lead by Foghorn. Name of exercise yet to be determined.

 Announcements

Check slack for further announcements.

 Prayer:

Nemo’s Aunt and Uncle

Pablo’s Mom

It’s Just Another BOMB-Track!

This is the way we lead. We know people are counting on us…so the HIM shows up! He shows up for himself, his family, his fitness, his mind, and for his F3 brothers!

Word was today could be last official post for awhile with COVID lockdown…so no way was YHC missing this. Truth is…YHC is pretty banged up.  Got a hamstring and knee injury that was making all this much more difficult. Have absolutely no spring in the step, it’ll be time to rest up soon…but not today! Thanks to the pax for waiting for my 6 a few times as we travelled to many places in the jungle looking for Tiger Blood!

FNG’s: None
Warm Up: Warm up was really done along a mosey path that integrated into the workout. We did a 15 for 15. 15 light poles on our mosey path – 15 exercises at each. Exercises were: SSH, Imperial Walkers, Seal Claps, Good Mornings, Merkins, Frankenstein’s, Prisoner Squats, Monkey Humpers, Staggered grip merkins L hand, Overhead Claps, Burpees, Hillbillies, Staggered Grip Merkins R hand, Nipplers, and Fence Dips.
The Workout: Down the stairs for just another BOMBS Track! Like the great Rage Against the Machine track…this series brought grunts and words of displeasure from the pax. Pax split up and run opposite directions. When pax met up again…BOOM! An exercise was called. Each lap had an exercise as follows: 15 burpees, 25 Overhead Air Presses, 35 Merkins, 45 BB Sit-Ups, 55 Squats.

Headed back up through the jungle to the parking lot. Each pax was instructed to line up with 8 parking stripes in front of us heading up hill. Bear Crawl to 1st stripe, perform a Diamond Merkin, lunge walk back. Bear Crawl to 2nd stripe…2 Diamond Merkins…so on and so forth. Pax did a few series of H2M and Freddie Mercury’s while YHC was about a lap being and going low and slow on the knee.

To the Wall Tigers! Pax did a 15 count each of BTTW, repeato but with a 10 count, then again with a 5 count. Let it be known…Breach counts  slower than Snap and I. Also worth noting, Snap runs faster on a track than Breach and I… or maybe faster than any pax I’ve seen!

Finished with 20 count People’s Chair from each pax. Mosey back to the flag for Mary.
Mary: only time for 15 count Pickle Pounders IC.
Announcements: Follow Slack closely today for continued instrux. Breach shared that this is a great time to reach out to other pax and family members to check on them and encouragement.
T-Claps (Recognition): These two pax for keeping me honest and motivated to get out here and Q despite the pain.  Way to work hard!
Prayer: Our Nation, health and safety. Acceleration despite limitation. YHC took us out. Honor to lead. Time to heal up… glad I have weights, kettlebell, and heavy bag at home…leg needs a rest.

2 PAX for a soggy wet morning

When I woke up this morning the rain was coming down. I initially thought why I signed up to Q. I already had a couple of text messages saying….I’m out this morning. So, I got up and headed that way. I had pretty much made my mind up if no one shows I will head home. It was raining hard. As I was headed West on Wake Chapel Road with my turn signal on to turn left low and behold a car was turning into Action Park. I was like….NO I want to go back home. Oh well, Fanny Pack did not disappoint and fartsack like others I will not NAME: F_N__E? _E_? lol

FNG: None

Warm Up: Moseyed a lap around the tennis courts. SSH-20, Imperial Walkers 15, Hillbillies, Moroccan Night Clubs, Fazio Arm Circles, Daisy Pickers, Seal Claps, Overhead Claps

The Workout: Moseyed down to the concession stand. Around the clock Merkins, 12/3/6/9. Over to the wall for 15 count Dips, Urkins and Derkins. Rinse and repeat. Headed to the concession stand where Fanny Pack took over. Peoples Chair while the other one bear crawled around the building. Then together BTTW IC for a 15 count. Rinse and repeat.

Lunged walked to end of parking area. 15 Squats IC bear crawl back. Rinse and repeat. Back to the wall for Dips, Urkins and Derkins. Rinse and Repeat. Moseyed to the rock pile by the tennis courts. By this point we were co-Qing the workout. 15 count IC curls for the girls, ground pounder, over head triceps, dead lift, bus drivers, wonder bras Rinse and Repeat. Great mumble chatter this morning with Fanny Pack.

Mary: Wind Mills, Plank Jacks, Squats with long hold and Have a Nice Day.

Announcements: See Slack and Facebook

T-Claps: Fanny Pack for getting out in the rain and pushing me to be better this morning!

Prayer: All those affected by Corvid-19 virus. Sickness, job loss, business owners suffering, and thing will never be the same. This has for sure brought families closer together however prayer for needing a break from one another. Prayer for Fanny Pack nursing a hamstring strain.

Remember, no storm lasts forever, Hold on. Be Brave. Have Faith! Every storm is temporary and we never face the storm alone. God is with us. Always.

Privilege to lead with Fanny Pack!

You Checked this Place for Fire Ant Hills, Right???

YHC’s eyes opened for some reason at 03:57 this morning. I don’t normally EC but it’s something I want to start adding to my game. I’m awake anyway, so why not today? A great morning for a workout at “the Dog”!

YHC pulled up, strapped on the headlamp and to my surprise another guy gets out of his car and says, “Hey, I’m the new guy. Todd invited me…good to see you.” An FNG…in all this COVID madness…and he’s here for EC! Way to go EHing Norm. Now Norm is usually like clockwork when it comes to EC, so YHC was surprised he didn’t join FNG and I for the EC.  After a few neighborhood loops we also caught up to Forceps. That’s 3 for EC today. A solid start.

EC: Fanny Pack, Forceps, Tool Time

FNG’s: Welcome Tool Time!
Warm Up: After mandatory disclaimers, we mosey to the back of the school and circled up for SSH x 30, and 10 count of Good Mornings, Seal Claps, Overhead Claps, Sir Fazios, and Frankensteins.
The Workout: Indian run around the school.  YHC had promised in pre-blast that I’d be doing something I’ve never done at Sheepdog before. Being a man of my word, we moseyed to the very dark soccer fields and called for 5 pax to bear crawl all the way to the tree line. One pax said, “ALL the way to the tree line?”  The role of the other 2 pax was to lunge walk to the treeline. When a bear crawling pax could go no further, he would shout for help, say I’m done, tap out, or as Dovetail did call out, “medic!” The lunge walker would then take over the bear crawl in true “pick up the six” fashion. Sometimes in life, we need others to take over the bear crawl for us, but we have to communicate and shout out for that help. Once we got to the treeline, we repeated this procedure on the return. At one point, Forceps asks, “did you scope this out for fire ants first?” YHC actually did s little recon two days ago to make sure it was mostly clear. Told Forceps that, he says, “well, they build those hills fast!” Now done with a couple pax a little pushed that I Q’d that Thang, we moseyed behind the school for a round of 7’s.

7’s were hand release merkins on my down and star jumps on my up.

To the wall. Each pax did a 10 count for People’s Chair the 5 burpees OYO. Repeato. We then performed BTTW for a 5 count from all pax followed by 5 burpees OYO.

Each pax took turns running a lap around the track while the rest of the men did AMRAP sets of: Dips, Irkins, Step Ups, Pistol Squats, and Dirkins.
Mary: 15 counts of Box Cutters, Dying Cockroach, H2M, and Pickle Pounders. Dovetail took over with a Wing-Chun punch ring of Fire for the last 3 minutes while talking about the importance of awareness and mindfulness, not only for personal safety, but for those who seek our help and attention (ie. our families and kids who many of us are around much more lately). Good words brother! Have a nice day!
Announcements: Check Slack.  Stay safe! Take care of Eachother. Ask for help if you need it… don’t “bear crawl it” on your own!
T-Claps (Recognition): FNG Tool Time getting after it this morning with the post +EC…brave soul!
Prayer: Our nation right now, those that are sick. Our brother Martini who had to have a COVID test done. Wives and families who need to adapt to a new normal of being together… ALL the time…with both work and play! Honor to lead men.

Looking for Some Normalcy at TBD

FNGs:  None

EC:  Deadbolt, others?

Rolled into Womble with a ton of weight in the back of my SUV, ok actually about 300lbs of iron.  Planted the flag and secretly set up the dumbbells and kettlebells at the other end of the parking lot opposite from the gathering of PAX.  Fog was thicker than pea soup.  @Deadbolt grabbed an epic picture of Old Glory.  I had a game plan in place for contingencies of 2-12 PAX showing up.  I personally was in a fog from the recent social post form the G.O.A.T. saying his goodbyes to all New England Patriots fans.  It had to come to an end at some time. I would honor him during the warmup.

 

Warm Up:  Nice and easy lap around Womble tennis courts and soccer pitch.  POTS was moving like a HSHS XC kid.  Nice speed!  Circled up in the parking lot for the following 12 count cadence exercises in honor of Tom Brady:

SSH, Seal Claps, Overhead Claps, Good am, Fozio Arm Circles (F/B), Ospreys (F/B), Daisy Pickers, Michael Phelps, Karaoke (alternating) to the opposite end of the parking lot.

The Workout:

PAX found the surprise of 7 sets of dumbbells and two Kettlebells on the sidewalk with index cards listing three exercises.  The exercises were broken down in 3-4 main areas:  legs, arms, abs and back/lats.

8lbs:  seal claps, overhead claps, straight front arm curls – palms down

10lbs:  American hammers, WWIIs, Straight arm Tricep extensions

15lbs:  Bus drivers, Tricep curls, Ground pounders

20lbs: Lunges, step-ups, 2 arm overhead squats

25lbs:  Curls for the girls, single arm lawn mowers, Upright rows

30lbs:  Goblet squats, while on your six, hold dumbbell over your chest while holding 6”, hello dollies

40lbs:  PAX Choice – 1 Arm, 1 ABs and 1 Leg exercise

16lb KB:  Lunges, Goblet squat, midget love handles

20lbs:  thrusters, swings, halos

Two PAX with no weights – TIME Keepers – Run around the parking lot twice.

Once the PAX completed their run, the remaining PAX rotated two positions.  EachPAX member got to do each exercise card at least once while running two separate times.

After last PAX finished running, PAX helped Dauber load his car up.

Mary:  Mosey to the tennis courts for 12 counts of pickle pounders, homer to marge and box cutters.  It appeared we had an audience of some “Golden Seniors” getting their cardio on next to us under the pavilion.  Thought those three exercises brought some of the best moves from F3 to the non-indoctrined.

Announcements:  I honestly do not remember any with all of the cancellations.

T-Claps (Recognition):  All the PAX who came out for some normalcy in the fog this morning.  And special recognition to Fanny Pack for earning a free breakfast beverage (compliments of YHC) for reading yesterday’s BB and following up with my request.

Prayer:  All of our families, especially those traveling (Pumpkin Spice’s kid flying from Chicago today).  We will get through this COVID-19 stuff.

 

Honor to lead – Dauber.

Shenanigans at the Nut

St. Patrick’s Day has always been one of YHC’s favorite days of the year. Though with all going on throughout this crazy planet right now, this St. Paddy’s day will be different. Not nearly as much social drinking, celebrating, or general hooligan-ship. But no reason to not have a wee bit o Irish influence upon the workout today. Originally planned to have some tunes such as the Dropkick Murphy’s, Flogging Molly, and “The Foggy Dew” going, but rain in the forecast cancelled those plans. 4 pax got their miles in ( Skidmark, Pikachu, Slide Rule, and Cupid) while the rest of us got down to lollygagging.

FNG’s: With COVID our there…good luck EH-ing!
Warm Up: Mosey lap out front followed by 10 counts of GM’s, Sir Fazio’s, and Moroccan Night Clubs. Mosey to the back to grab some bricks and mosey back to the map circle. 10 counts of IW’s then HB’s. Now something YHC  did not know and pax did not inform until COT…this AO played with bricks yesterday too! Thanks pax for respecting the Q and giving me the sad news at the end.
The Workout: John L. Sullivan. First heavyweight champion ever and an Irishman too! Guy had hands like bricks. Today, pax were told that their hand would be attached to these bricks almost the whole workout. 2 rounds of exercises with bricks in sets of 20. Shoulder Press, Front Raise, Lateral Raise, Rut-Rows.

Irish Car BOMBS! Pax partnered up to complete these exercises as a pair. 1 pax ran the length to the gate and back holding bricks, while other partner did the exercises. Keep switching until done, all exercises and runs done with bricks except burpees.

25 burpees, 50 overhead press w/ bricks, 100 Merkins, 150 BigBoy Sit ups, 200 squats.

Next. The Rocky Road to Dublin. Pax lunge walk with bricks about 100 meters. Lay bricks down. Bear crawl back to start, the run back for the bricks. With bricks back in hand, we did Curls for the Girls and Tricep Press to a 13 count (my lucky number) the mosey back to the beginning where we did 7 counts (the lucky number) of each of these along with 20 mountain climbers to close out the trip to Dublin.

Mary: All exercises done during AO, returned bricks, and moseyed back to flag to greet our running faction as time expired.
Announcements: Stay with the COVID regulations for AO’s. Skidmark running constantly this week…join him sometime! Remember to laugh despite the seriousness of the situation..,connect with your ShieldLock.
T-Claps (Recognition): Banana Seat and all racers who continue to change plans for this weekend’s race.  Tough decisions…but that’s what HIM’s do!
Prayer: Those sick and those with fears around us. Our leaders and country, those with plans that have to change them, the depression that can be brought on by these crises. YHC took us out.  Thanks for letting me lead the St. Paddy’s Day celebration.

Paradise City Anniversary Q YHC

EC: ShamWow!

Pikachu, Skidmark, and Cupid were flyby’s that stopped back in for COT.  It was an honor to lead these HIM’s on my 1yr anniversary.  YHC thought it was only appropriate to repeat the 1st workout that I was EH’ed into by Aquaman.  Why you would take someone to PC for their 1st AO, I may never know? 1yr later and the 187 tribute beat down wasn’t much easier.

Warm Up:  SSH IC x 20, Fazio Arm Circles IC x 12 FWD and 12 BWD, 10 Burpees OYO

The Workout:

Parking Lot –

Jog  to bottom of Ting Climb

Clock Merkins – 12, 9, 6, 3, 12 (because I don’t know what a Merkin Shuffle is)

Partner-up

Partner 1 runs up Ting Climb and does 5 star jumps while Partner 2 Bear Crawls. After Partner 1 finishes Star Jumps, run and trade with Partner 2 who runs up Ting Climb and does 5 star jumps. Repeat until both Partners are at the top.

Jog back to bottom of Ting Climb

Partner 1 runs up Ting Climb and does 10 monkey humpers while Partner 2 does Backwards Crab walk. After Partner 1 finishes monkey humpers, run and trade with Partner 2 who runs up Ting Climb and does 10 monkey humpers. Repeat until both Partners are at the top.

At tennis courts –  11’s with Merkins and Mountain climbers

A circle around PC and back up the ramp – partnered up:

partner 1 runs to end of parking lot and partner 2 does peoples chair

partner 1 runs to end of parking lot and partner 2 does BTTW

Mary:  Plank-o-rama: Pickle Pounders, Box Cutters, Merkins, Low Slow Flutters and WWI’s

Announcements:

2020 Census – fill it out as it will make your biggest asset grow, heed the advice of the professionals during this time and look to help others

Prayers:

Florence’s father in law, Cupid’s grandfather, all leaders during this time

T Claps:  ShamWow! for a solo EC

Did you find that in your shoe?

FNGs: None

16 HIMs showed up to GP for the best mumble chatter in SouthWake. 

WarmUp:

10 Good Mornings, 10 Daisy Pickers,  20 Fozzie Arm Circles, 10 Emperial Walkers, 10 Hillbillies, 20 3ct SSH, 10 Willy Mays Haze, 10 x 3 ct Pigeon Pose stretches

The Workout

Mosey to the Rock Pile. Rotate around rocks between sets.

  • 3 sets of 20’s – Curls for the girls
  • 3 sets of 20’s  – Overhead Overhead Tri-press
  • 3 sets of 10’s – Ground Pounders
  • 3 sets of 10’s – Trunk Twists
  • 3 sets of 10’s – Bus Drivers
  • 3 sets of 10’s – Rutrows
  • 3 sets of 10’s – Rock Taps
  • 4 sets of 10’s – Standard Bench Press
  • 10ct  Windshield wipers
  • 30ct 6 inches
  • 10ct Scissor Kicks
  • 10ct Box Cutters
  • 10ct WWIIs
  • 10ct Rockies
  • Ended rock intimacy with 10 x 3ct Homer to Marge Rock Humpers

Mosey to the Wall of Pain

  • 2 sets of 80ct Wall Sits
  • 2 sets of 30 ct Ascending Testicles

Mosey to playground

  • 2 sets of 20 x 3ct Step Ups
  • 2 sets of 10 Star Jumps
  • 2 sets of 10 x 3ct Split Jacks
  • 2 sets of 10x 3ct Mountain Climbers
  • 20 Dips
  • 20 LBCs
  • 10 Merkins
  • 10 Derkins
  • 10 Erkins
  • 10 x 3ct Pickle Pounders

T-Claps for many who doubled down posting U-Turn prior to posting GP

Announcements:  Though Wilmington’s race is cancelled, many are still going down to run and participate in the ALS sunset stroll. Census is coming:  make sure you get counted in the census (fill out the form in the mail – due April 1st).

Prayer Requests:  Prayers for FedEx’s mother-in-law in poor health, Continued prayers for Forcep and his family, DOA’s wife due in 10 days.

Mr Terrific took us out.