Posts

All those rides and we only rode one

FNGs: None
EC: Aquaman, Dahmer

On a beautiful and unseasonably comfortable morning, 20 PAX came to the greatest place on earth. Two of these men decided EC was the way they would start their Thursday. Flag is planted. The sky is starting to turn purple and the birds are chirping. YHC has a moment of regret knowing that Disney has so many rides and we are only going on 1 today. There isn’t a plan B and now its 5:30 and a circle has formed out of the gloom. There is only one thing to do at this point…warm up.

Warm Up: GM x 10, SSH x 30, IW x 10, FAC x 10 F/R.

Thankfully Wallaby was able to beat the fartsack this morning . The struggle is real! To celebrate triumph over the fartsack, PAX did burpees OYO while Wallaby parked his chariot and joined us for the remainder of the warm up.

The increasing mumble chatter during arm circles signaled it was time to get this party started. Afterall, YHC had posted a pre-blast offering an opportunity to blow shit up. A man who gets out of bed before 5am has expectations that must be met. I’m tired and can’t think of any interesting warm up exercises so we do the only thing we could do – Mosey. Our destination is Disney’s most beloved ride, The Abyss.

The Workout: Abysmal B.O.M.B.S.
B – Bupees (50)
O – Overhead claps (100 IC)
M – Merkins (150)
B – Big Boy Sit-ups (200)
S – Squats (250)

When arriving at the Abyss, PAX found a partner and the workout is explained. Exercises are done at the top of the hill by one partner while the other partner goes to the bottom of The Abyss and does star jumps (start at 1 and +1 each trip down). Switch and repeat until all 750 reps have been done.

BOOM! Burpees > Stairs > Burpees – my heart is racing. BOOM! Overhead claps > Stairs > Merkins > Stairs – my arms are blowing up. BOOM! Squats > Stairs > Squats – my legs felt the explosion. I don’t know if it was the star jumps or the squats or the stairs but it worked! It worked real good. I’m pretty sure everyone got to ride The Abyss at least 10 times during the routine. PAX who finished early were given the option to continue riding or wait up top and do plank jacks while everyone finishes up.

We are done and YHC is glad there wasn’t a plan B. While I usually like variety, sometimes its nice to just dig in and get to know something. These 20 PAX are familiar with The Abyss now so its time we head back over to the parking lot to meet up with this hot chick everyone calls Mary.

As usual, Mary isn’t at the flag. I’m sure something came up last minute. I’ve yet to meet Mary but I keep posting and I just know she is going to be there one day. I’m going to be all hot and sweaty when I get back to the flag and there is Mary. I’ll play Homer and she’ll play Marge and then I can show her my pickle pounders. I’ve been watching Lucky so I can impress her.

Mary: Nipplers x 20, H2M x 20, LSF x 10, Have a nice day!

Since Mary is not at the flag and we have some time we might as well do a couple of exercises. YHC asks Pablo to get us started while I retrieve the phone to memorialize name-o-rama. Pablo has obviously heard of Mary and he has been thinking about her on his way back too. How else do you explain his call for Nipplers? Feeling validated and seeking to increase my preparedness for the eventual meeting with Mary, Homer to Marge is next. Round out the day with some low slow flutter because the legs hurt and doing things that hurt makes you stronger. Have a nice day!

Announcements: Put them on the interwebs!!!

T-Claps (Recognition): YHC decided today to spend a couple of minutes talking about what F3 means to me. We constantly say “it’s more than a workout” but we don’t always say what that means. I am grateful to have you men in my life to strengthen me both physically and emotionally. Its important that we have each other in our lives to support one another. I cherish the friendships I’m making in this group and look forward to accelerating with you all.

YHC also called on Slide Rule to tell us what F3 means to him. Those of you there know what you heard this morning from a man who obviously cares about F3 and all of us. If you weren’t there, I encourage you to seek him out and talk to him. We all have a story to share and I am thankful I was able to hear part of a great one today.

Who will you share your story with? What kind of support do you need in your life? If you don’t need it today, are you preparing for tomorrow when you do need the support? I encourage all of you to take the time and invest the energy in forging strong relationships outside of the gloom. The men of South Wake are remarkable and the kind of guys that you can build a sure foundation.

Prayer: YHC took us out remembering those praises and concerns shared during our COT.

It is a honor to lead you men. I’ll try to do better next time!

June Ultimate

EC: Cupid, Fonzie, LED

FNGs: None

Warm Up: None

The Workout: Ultimate Frisbee, with exercise penalties for drops and goals.

Mary: None, we played right up until the end.

Announcements: New HS AO Wednesday mornings 530 at Womble, starting next week (12Jun). 2nd F Wednesday morning will be moved from  Stickboy to Bagels Plus starting next week as well to make it in between Possum Trot and the new AO.  New Fuquay AO Tuesday mornings 530 at Falcon park, starting 18Jun.

We will be playing Ultimate the first Monday of every month during the summer at Mutiny. Come join the fun! Next one is 01Jul.

T-Claps (Recognition): Yogurt for some serious movement out there today, including a full layout dive. Breach and LED for some barely in end zone catches.

Prayer: Lipsync’s calf, Shredder, Crablegs. Trojan, H1N1, and Messi travelling.

Sprints: Banana Seat, Cupid, Yogurt

5 Year Anniversary Special

As always, it is an honor to get out and lead the group.  Around this time 5 years ago PeakWeek EH’d me into coming out with him to F3 while drinking a cold one by the pool.  It was one of the best decisions I made to say, sure let’s do it.

To celebrate the 5 years I thought it only appropriate to run 5 miles prior to Cletus.  It was great to have 11 join in on the fun (Flanigan, VanPatten, Emeril, M4L, Dawgpound, Pilgrim, Bernie, ShamWow, Nemo, BlueHen, and SlideRule)

The past 5 years of involvement with f3 have provided me with many things I wouldn’t have had as a sad clown… lifetime friendships, strengthened faith, improved health, greater faith, perseverance, many laughs, many miles run, and the list goes on and on…

Below is my 5 must do F3 SouthWake list that I shared with the PAX after Cletus.   Be sure to check these off the list:

  1. Pick a Big Goal and get after it, don’t quit, fall down, and keep trying until the goal is accomplished. It can be fitness, health, marriage, work, etc. You can accomplish more then you thought is possible with this group of brothers behind you.  Mine was to complete a marathon under 4 hours.  It  took me five marathons to make it happen, but each year I got faster and the goal was accomplished.

2. Participate in a CSAUP (completely stupid and utterly pointless) event. These are a great way to form a closer bond with brothers that you wouldn’t normally have the opportunity in the normal gloom.  Some of the memorable CSAUP’s over the years for me; GoRuck Tough, Beer Ruck, Raleigh Convergences (especially the one below), and ATT Long Ass Runs.

3. Find someone that you can get behind and support.  Maybe it is helping them reach a goal or supporting challenges they are facing.  You will find that you get so much more by helping someone reach their goal then achieving your own.  Many of us in the picture below have had the opportunity to support each other crossing that finish line at the HSHM.

4. Step up and Lead.  If you haven’t led a site Q – Do it.  Move on to leading a 2nd F or 3rd F.  There are many opportunities to become a stronger leader. This picture is the first kids workout I led and my 2.0’s still talk about it today.

5. Put March 21 and the Wrightsville Beach marathon on your calendar (every year).  The Wrightsville marathon has become a SouthWake tradition and a great way to get behind our brother CrabLegs! #OurLegsForCrablegs

Now on to the workout….

Warm Up:

Quick mosey over to the grass parking lot for warm ups.

Good Mornings X 10

Jacked UP!

SSH X 50 IC

Seal Jacks X 40 IC

Smurf Jacks X 30 IC

Plank Jacks X 20 IC

Chilly Jacks X 10 IC

The Workout:

Play Ball (two rounds)

PeakWeek brought me out to Cletus for my first F3 workout.  I really don’t remember all that we did, but no I almost died out on the baseball field so it only seemed appropriate to get things start on the field.

Here is how it went down…

Partner up.  Each partner went in opposite directions from home plate jogging the infield baselines.  When the PAX passed 1st or 3rd pate sprint to the outfield foul pole and drop down for 10 merkins.  After the merkins sprints to centerfield  meeting up with your partner for 10 brokeback merkins each and continue back to home plate.  Everyone completed two rounds and held people’s chair until all were finished.

Next up….

Wall of Pain- concession stand

Australian Mountain Climbers X 20 IC

Recover with 10 squats holding wall IC

Ascending testicles, 5 inch, 15 inch, 30 inch X 5 each IC

Recover with 10 squats holding wall IC

Balls to the wall X 20 IC

Recover with 10 squats holding wall

Each of the partners joined up with another group for small group Indian run back to the tennis courts taking the long way by Crazy Ivan.

Finally the PeakWeek special…

One round of suicides on each line followed by partner frog jumps.  Each partner did one court and switched with the frog jumps, then switched to wheelbarrows on the way back.

To drive home the pain of the Frog Jumps we did two rounds.

People’s chair until everyone is finished.

Mary:

  1. 5ive inch leg hold X 5 IC
  2. 15 Inch leg hold X 5 IC
  3. Americana Hammer X 15 IC
  4. Freddie Mercury X 15 IC
  5. Boat Canoe X 15 IC

Announcements:

Bottle share tonight (see Pikachu), helping with HS Food Kitchen tomorrow (see Fritter Foundation), Yogurt will continue to lead sprints after workouts including today. PAX for sprints today: Yogurt, BlueHen, Hoff, Flanigan, Slide Rule, and Kid Cracker.   Yogurt will help you get faster – Give it a try!!

I shared 5 F3 Southwake recommendations above.

T-Claps (Recognition):

I brought with me one of the original F3 SouthWake shirts to give to give to the PAX that is newest to the group.  Abe was the lucky recipient of the shirt and is challenged to pass this down on his 1 year anniversary. Yogurt who brought Abe out will be his accountability partner.  Abe is starting off strong stepping up to take the breathtaker – T-Claps man!!

Prayer:

CrabLegs and all those who have and are serving!

2nd F followed at Dunkin. Congrats to the newest Fritter remembers and thanks M4L for the cake!

That Which Doesn’t Kill You…

Will make you stronger!!!

PAX: 187, 3rd Cousin, Abe, Axe, Bernie, Breach, Da Business, Kid Cracker, Lipstick, Pikachu

FNGs: 0

Another great morning to get out in the gloom and better ourselves.  As Kid Cracker overshot the turn into the parking lot, there was hope from some of the pax that he would “Bo Duke” the curb.  Didn’t happen…..  5:30am hit, and we were off.

Warm Up:

Half a mile warm-up that finished over at the steps on the other side of the library.  Bunny hops up the steps to circle up for some dynamic warm-ups.

  • SSH x 15 IC
  • Squats x 10
  • Hillbillies x 10 IC
  • Frankensteins x 10 IC
  • Hacky Sacks x 10 IC

The Workout:

YHC set up cones to mark off 100m for some strides with a twist.

  • 10 to 12 100m strides.  Recover back to start, stopping halfway to do 5 reps (cycle through merkins, squats, burpees)

After stride work, we moseyed on over to the steps at the library for a round of drop-sets

  • Round 1
    • 5 Derkins, 5 Merkins, 5 Irkins
    • 7 Squats, 20sec Chair, 7 Monkey Humpers
    • 10 Incline dips, 10 regular dips, 10 decline dips
  • Round 2
    • 7 Wide Merkins, 7 Merkins, 7 Close-Grip Merkins
    • 10 Squats, 20sec Chair, 10 Monkey Humpers
    • 10 Incline dips, 10 regular dips, 10 decline dips
  • Round 3
    • People’s Chair x 30 IC
    • Frog Sit-ups x 20
    • Balls2Wall x 20 IC

Mosey to starting point for Mary

Mary:

Leg stretches: Calves, Hips, Quads, Hamstrings

Announcements:

  • Wear R.E.D. (Remember Everyone Deployed) on Friday to either Cletus or Ivan, and Breach will donate $1 for every Pax who does so to the HS Food Pantry
  • Help out the HS Food Pantry this weekend from 9am to noon

T-Claps (Recognition):  To all the Pax.  100m strides with little rest and exercises in between definitely gets your heart rate up.  It’s not about beating other Pax, it’s about beating yourself and putting in the effort.

Prayer:

Prayers up for Crab Legs, Pilgrim’s dad, my father’s wife, and those dealing with ailments.

Honored to lead.

-Bernie

Small Light Poles – there’s 13

FNGs:

ECEC: ShamWow, Pikachu

EC: ShamWow, Pikachu, 187, Axe, Skidmark, The Natural
Warm Up:  Axe lead the warmup with running around ting after each exercise, Side straddle hop, Good Mornings, Imperials, Hill Billies, Arm Circles and Merkins
The Workout:  Partnered up – playing catch me if you can with BLIMPS.  Each pax started with 3 Burpees as they ran and caught the next pax, then that pax did the exercise.  3 Burpees, 4 Lungs, 5 Imperials, 6 Merkins, 7 Pickle Pounders and 8 Squats.  After this, we got at the bottom of Ting ramp and did Merkin Suicides.  We followed the instructions left by Skidmark, but were not certain if he meant suicides where we did latter Merkins at the large light poles or small light polls.  Pikachu liking pain and whatnot determined it must have been the little light poles, 13 total.  1 light pole 1 Merkin, 2 light pole 2 Merkins … to 13.
Mary:  Various ab exercise such as low slow flutter, LBC’s, Freddy Mercury’s, and some taps – lots of taps (shoulder taps, nipplers, back of the head and then butt taps).  You cant make this stuff up…
Announcements:  Rugged Maniac this Saturday, Memorial day at Womble, Cletus is now a 05:30am workout, Derek Davis Aug 17th.
T-Claps (Recognition): Axe leading the warmup and did a hell of a job (he is ready to be Q…)
Prayer: Skidmark –  for the calf, 187’s neighbor Tom for breathing issues Saturday night hospital visit, unspoken

Better, Stronger, Faster – $6 Million or TOAST?

One year F3 anniversary Q apparently had an impact: “I think you toasted us all,” was the compliment coming from Banana Seat.

But, it wasn’t me really, it was all the workouts that I’ve done over the past year. Today, I simply incorporated memorable parts of those beatdowns.

EC: Intervals for Slide Rule, Warbucks, YHC
Warm Up: Mosey to amphitheater, SSH x 55 (shout out to The Natural, who Q’d the entire week of his 55th birthday); yoga moves (shout out to Slide Rule, who Q’d yoga last summer); Bat Wings (shout out to Banana Seat, who always brings excellent material).
The Workout: 15-20x Dips on the ledge, followed by 15-20x Australian Mountain Climbers (shout out to Blue Hen, who brought AMCs to my first Nut Cracker workout–in the rain). Rinse and repeat 3x dips and Australians today.

Mosey to greenway. Guantanimo until each PAX had moved to the front 3x.

Mosey to parking lot: Partnered up. Wheelbarrow to top of parking lot. Add a burpee every time you switch drivers (shout out to Moby, who brought this to Nut Cracker one day). Next, Merkin shuffle (shout out to 187, who seems to like this one). This is where some real “toasting” occurred.

Lots of “recover on the run,” which is my favorite from CHiPs and Emeril Q’ing Paradise City.

Mosey to dirt parking lot. Time for some Jack Webbs to 21. Shout out to Nemo for burning up Disney with this one hot Thursday.

Mary: Slide rule led LBCs while I got ma phone. Next, I led low slow flutter, Hello Dollys, pickle pounders, and Banana Seat led Australian Snow Angels.
Announcements: 2.0 workout Saturday Womble 9 am, check Slack, FB
T-Claps (Recognition): All those great workouts and Qs over the past year.
Prayer: Nemo’s mom’s friend, who fight with cancer is about to end, Breach doctor visit today, Banana Seat’s father in law.

A little parking lot work at Disney

YHC was working on 5 days in a row of posting since AGS on Sunday and was doubting his commitment to Pablo to Q Disney.  The body was saying “no” but the heart was saying “Hell yeah”.  I found my commitment (not motivation) and rose from the fart sack to post.  Several showed for extra credit but YHC missed that!

Warm Up:  A short lap around the parking lot mixing in some high knees along the way.  Great to see New Mexico drive up and join us as we started.  No penalty burpees.  We circled up for a warmup on this clear 42 degree morning.

  • Good morning x 10 I.C.
  • Daisy Pickers x 20 I.C.
  • Standard Merkins x 20
  • Goof Balls x 15 I.C.
  • Arm Stretches and Michael Phelps

The Workout:

Form 2 groups and indian run to the Middle Creek High School

  • Apple Sauce Indian Run
  • Pax at rear does one burpee before running to the front
  • (New Mexico was our drill sergeant)

We gathered at the corner of the Middle Creek parking lot for the instructions on 10 Rounds with Tyson

Five pain stations (Corners and Lower Center)  – 10 reps of same exercise at each of the 5 stops (50 reps each lap).  Goal is always 10 laps but rarely have time  Laps were

  • Round 1:  Standard Merkins
  • Round 2: Prisoner Squats
  • Round 3:  LBC (cadence)
  • Round 4:  Wide Grip Merkins
  • Round 5:  Mountain Climbers
  • Round 6: Brokeback Derkins

…we ran out of time!

Indian Run (no apple sauce) back to the start for COT

Mary:  Low Slow Flutter

Announcements:  Maybeline – 18 posts in a row.  2.0 workout this Saturday at Womble – Peak Week and Roger Roger have your Q – info on Slack / Facebook

Prayer:  Prayers for Crablegs as next Tuesday he is going for an experimental ALS drug – prayers he gets it.  New Mexico’s 2.0 for asthma – Moby’s father – Glass Jaw’s Grandfather.  Unspoken

Always an honor men!

where’s midget

Midget had your Q today. He was also going for the Fritter. Dumbo’s workout yesterday must have been too tough for he was a no show for EC. He is the first official drop out when going for the fritter.  There was hope for Midget to arrive for the workout.  As the clock got closer to 5:30 it was clear there was going to be no Midget.  But wait at the last minute a Buick roles into the parking lot.  All got excited that Midget made his Q… it turns out it was an FNG.

I really wanted to head to the abyss so I decided to step up and lead.

Welcome FNGs:

Welcome Babe. Crab legs brought out Babe. He has been cutting down trees in his backyard. The name Paul Bunyan was floated and then Breach recommended Babe. For those that don’t know Babe is Paul Bunyan’s Blue Ox.

Welcome Diddy.  Pac-man brought out Diddy.  By the way he drives the Buick above.  He works at Epic.  Nintendo was thrown out then Donkey Kong and then finally Diddy Kong.  I believe Breach was two for two today.

EC: Dawgpound, Dumbo, Warbucks, Maybelline

Warm Up:

Ran down to the bowl and circled up for the following:
Side Straddle Hops
Seal Claps
Good Mornings

The Workout:

Ran to the abyss. We went right into it. Partner up for the following.
Partner A did monkey humpers while Partner B ran down the stairs did 5 Burpees and returned. Then Partner A went down the abyss and Partner B did monkey humpers. We went down multiple times as we count down from 5 Burpees, 4 Burpees, 3 Burpees, 2 Burpees and 1 Burpees.

We then ran back to the bowl. One Partner ran up the one hill as the other partner ran up the other hill. We did 10 Merkins when the Partners meet at the bottom of the bowl they did 1 Burpee High Five. We repeated this counting down from 10 merkins to 1 Merkin.

Ran to the parking lot for the last bit. Circled up and did Circle merkins. Started with the Q doing 10 merkins. Everyone else planked hold. Then the pac to the right did 10 merkins. This went around the circle. If no break we went right into 5 merkins and then 1 merkin.

Mary:

Floor Wipers
Homer to Marge
LBCs
Pickle Pounders
Plank O Rama

Announcements:

Mason Dixon Convergence Saturday at 7 o’clock at Pullen Park
Shirt Order through April 5th

Prayer:

Prayers for those that where supposed to be here and where not. Hoping that they are okay.
Prayers always for Crablegs
Prayers for Shredder recovery

4 Corners for V Q

Warm Up:12 PAX for virgin Q at Cletus. Quick Lap around the soccer field to get the heart going.  20xSSH, 10xgoodmorning, 10xmerkins, 10xmtnclimb, 10xcottonpicker, 10xmorrnightclub, another quick lap around the soccer field and to the rock pile.  Select medium to large rock
The Workout: 4 Corners:  Each Pax would complete a different set in each corner of the parking lot.  1ST SET: Corner 1: 20 Wonderbras, run to next Corner.  Corner 2: 20 Sumo squats, run to next Corner.  Corner 3: 20 curls for the girls, run to next Corner.  Corner 4: 20 total lunge squats, finish.  2ND SET:  Corner 1: 20 Bent over Rows, lunge walk to next Corner.  Corner 2: 20 straight leg dead lifts, bear craw pushing rock to next corner.  Corner 3:  20 total tri extension, lunge walk to next.  Corner 4: 20 total Lion Kings.  Return rocks and mosey to pavilion where we did 20 total one legged box squats while half the PAX did B2TW.  We completed 2 sets and then 2 sets of 10 Urkins, Derkins and Dips.
Mary:10xbox cutters, 10xLBC’s, 10xfreddyM, 10xWW2, 10xanklebiters, 10xamerhammer
Announcements: kids workout tomorrow, North/South Convergence, Tobacco Road Half/full on Sunday
Prayer:  Several spoken and unspoken alike.  Pleasure to lead men, thank you.

Disney’s very own has the Q

Did you know that Dumbo was Walt Disney’s favorite movie he made?  Seems like a fitting place for YHC’s virgin Q.  Thanks for the opportunity to lead you 31 Pax.

EC: Aquaman, Bulls Eye, Dahmer, Dawgpound, Maybelline, Nemo, Pikachu, ShamWow!, Warbucks

Warm Up: Quick mosey through the half pipe and back to the parking lot.  PAX circled up for the following: 24 SSH IC, 12 Good Mornings IC, 10 Fozio Arm Circles IC (forwards and backwards), Michael Phelps OYO, 10 Burpees OYO

The Workout: Mosey over to the big parking lot at the high school for 4 Corners with an accountability partner.  Pax did the following at each corner: 5 burpees, 10 plank jacks & 20 WWII.  Round 1 we moved between corners jogging on the long side and sprinting on the ‘short’ side.  For round 2 we replaced the 20 WWII with Al Gore for a 20 count.

Having finished round 2 it was time for a change of scenery so we moseyed back to the soccer fields.  With your accountability partner, one PAX runs to the middle of the soccer field while the other does balls to the wall on the fence.  We did two rounds of this.

Mary: PAX did 15 diamond merkins while YHC retrieved his phone for COT.  We then did the following: 20 Low Slow Flutter, 20 Homer to Marge, 20 Pickle Pounder, 10 Homer to Marge, 10 Pickle Pounders and Have A Nice Day!

Announcements: Check Slack/Facebook.  F3 Dad’s Camp registration opens soon.

Prayer: Moby’s father, Double D and his family.

YHC finished the morning with a few words about Lent.  During this time in the church year we are striving to either remove the things that keep us from being close to God OR to take on new things that would bring us closer to God.  That corresponds with this week QSource topic (The Jester) as well.  We all have things that keep us from being as close to God as we could be.  I challenge all of us to spend some time thinking about what they are for you and committing to work on them.  YHC took us out.

Thanks again for the opportunity to lead you men.  I will do better next time!