Paradise City has to be one of my favorite AO’s in all of SouthWake. Over the past two years some of the more memorable moments for YHC happened right there in that parking lot..like the time Chips almost made half the PAX merlot with a combination of WWII’s and wind sprints. That may have been the time someone questioned the complexity and the difficulty being offered at PC. Yep- Chips almost made me merlot that morning and may have been one of the hardest workouts ever delivered to YHC. Other more memorable moments were the 4 man Indian Runs where Emeril makes quick eye contact with you to partner up and then with the bait and switch, pulls in Lucky Charms and Warbucks to run with you.  Good Times!

And who doesn’t love a Banana Seat beatdown? Build-a-Bears for days. After that morning, I don’t think I could lift my arms for a week. Suicides in the tennis courts trying to match Brony stride for stride and who could forget the Return of Stark Q, where Dumbo went missing a few times. Felt like deja vu this morning, except Dumbo was completely missing and was really hoping he’d return. Unfortunately, fell victim to the fartsack.

Paradise City is also the physical place where Roger Roger tricked YHC into running a half marathon without even knowing it. At the time I hadn’t invested in a Garmin watch to track runs, so completely relied on the other PAX around me to know the routes and ran whatever they decided for the day. That morning we met in the parking lot and just decided to go out and get some miles. We talked and ran for a while and by the time we returned to Ting, he turns to me and says, “let’s do the ramp and around the back to finish up.” As we finished up past the basketball courts he asks, “how far do you think we went?” Not sure, 8-9 miles?, I say. “Well Mookie- you just ran your first 1/2 marathon.”

Paradise City also happens to be my first AO and home of one of my favorite phrases that I’ll credit Emeril with… “Recover on the Jog.” This has always been the phrase I hear heading up the ramp. So this morning with so many memorable Q’s and so much material to work with, YHC decided on a run-centric Q putting the ramp and tunnel in play.

Early morning EC’ers: Emeril, DawgPound, Buford, Cowboy, Full House, Lucky Charms, UTI got some extra miles for the main event. As they returned schwetty they were joined by Deadbolt, Wiggly and Steamboat, Snap, Katniss, Redenbacher, with a surprise visit by Midget. The morning got even better with DoubleD making only his second appearance ever to PC just to celebrate YHC’s 2-year anniversary. No FNGs so no disclaimer needed. 6am hit and it was Go Time!

Warm Up: Alternating runs, with shuffles and carioca weaving up and down the parking lot until we all circled up in the middle in front of the ramp entrance. Imperial Walkers X10, Hillbillies X10, Good Mornings X10 IC, Fazio Arms 10F/10B. One last set which was an exaggerated Prison Squat with a 2 count all the way down X10. Fellowship run up the ramp. At the top of the ramp performed clockwork merkins at 1, 2, and 3 o’clock (YHC messed up the count and short changed the PAX), “recovered on the jog” to the back of the lot on the downslope in front of the tennis courts for merkins at 4, 5, and 6 o’clock. Proceeded with the fellowship jog to the basketball courts for 7, 8, and 9, and then finished up in front of the ramp with 10, 11, and 12 o’clock. PAX held squat hold while I explained the first segment of the workout.

The Workout: Decided on some 7’s this morning with an exaggerated squat at the bottom of the ramp to start and 6 star jumps at the top. PAX continued until they were down to 6 squats at the bottom and 1 star jump at the top. YHC recommended PAX grab some accountability partners to push them up and down the ramp. Added a final instruction that if PAX ended early, we’d pick up the six and continue until all finished. Although I didn’t have Yogurt this morning to talk his typical trash talk about Tom Brady as we sprint up the ramp, I had Steamboat and he provided a consistent pace up and down the ramp with some encouragement from Emeril, who urged us not to let Snap lap us. If he only saw Snap laying down the hammer at Derek Davis this weekend, he’d know that I would easily concede him lapping me 2 times over. At least it wasn’t 3. Newsflash- Snap is fast…Very Fast.

While picking up the six, we eventually ended at the top of the hill where YHC kept the PAX loose with additional Star Jumps and Squats in cadence while waiting for the remaining PAX to finish. Once all accounted for, we split the PAX into 2 Indian Run lines and continued the lines all the way to the guard rails on the opposite side of the basketball courts.

At the guard rails, PAX performed some Erkins, Derkins, and Dips (a nod to Slide Rule). YHC then instructed PAX to remain in their lines and venture to the tunnel. Didn’t have a great name for this, but called it Mookie’s carwash. PAX lined up tight on opposite ends of the tunnel. PAX would wall walk B2W style to the opening and run out to the end of the paved path. PAX performed this exercise on each side of the tunnel and ran both paths. With 8 minutes left, YHC instructed PAX to the flag and circle up for Mary.

Mary: Mountain Climbers X15, Shoulder Taps IC X15, Pickle Pounders X15, Freddy Mercury X15, LBC X30.

Announcements:  Deadbolt has Purple Cobra tomorrow, while Pikachu has the Nutcracker. Should be a great Tuesday, Men! Get out there and post.
T-Claps (Recognition): All PAX who traveled out this morning to support this anniversary Q. Additionally, those getting EC on top of this 3 mile Q.

Prayer: Prayers for Noah’s Ark and his M, Michelle. PAX who are injured and recovering from injury. YHC took us out. Men- It has been an honor and privilege to lead you this morning and get to know each and everyone of you in F3-SouthWake over these past 2 years. Here’s to many more good times and quality years in the gloom.