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Poker at the Fire House

YHC pre-blasted with the promise of picking things up and putting them down. The implication was that was simply kettle bells – the fire hose waiting to greet pax as they pulled in proved that was not necessarily the case.

EC: Full House and Deadbolt for some miles, Dawgpound, Flanigan, and YHC for some yoga.

Pax just kept pouring into the parking deck – not sure if it’s the pleasant location or the attractiveness of the scaleable workout, but for two weeks in a row we landed at 20 pax for Ivan.

FNGs:

None today – a shame.
Warm Up:

SSH x20 IC

1x Burpee

Right leg swings x10 IC

2x Burpee

Left leg swings x10 IC

3x Burpee

Daisy pickers x10 IC

4x Burpee
The Workout:
Pax maintained the circle around the fire hose. One pax left their kettlebell and picked up the hose for a lap around the bottom of the parking deck. Another pax flipped a card out of the deck which determined what exercise we did while the pax was traveling.

For the first 12 minutes we did:
Diamond – Squat Thruster – Tragically we didn’t get to do a single one of these. The problem with randomization I suppose.
Spade – Kettlebell swing
Clubs – Curls
Heart – Merkin shuffle (Merkin with one hand on bell, slide bell, merkin, repeato)
Joker – Turkish Getup

For the second 12 minutes we did:
Diamond – Lawnmowers
Spade – Midget cookie pouch
Clubs – Triceps
Heart – Midget getup
Joker – Turkish getup

At some point in this second set a 3rd and 4th joker were drawn and the pax learned that YHC’s deck was a bit doctored…..woops, might’ve failed to mention that at the start.

For the third 12 minutes we did:
Diamond – Boobity boobity (squeeze bell and press up from one pec to the top down to the opposite, repeato)
Spade – Low slow flutter w/bell overhead
Clubs – WW1 w/bell
Heart – Single leg deadlift
Joker – Turkish Getup

During this set UTI remarked that there was a difference between Jacks and Jokers. YHC assured him that there were in fact only 6 jokers in this “deck” of cards.

Mary: Incorporated into last set

Announcements:

Run for Dee Dee – https://www.eventbrite.com/e/4th-annual-run-for-dee-dee-5k-registration-84539745655

T-Claps (Recognition):

Yogurt for the triple down option this morning (Crazy Ivan, Mountain biking in Umstead, 5K in Umstead). Keep your eyes out for this one to repeat itself!

Prayer:

A note about the requests – we have some of the same requests that come up for long standing issues. Please do remember to conciously lift these up in whatever way matches with your creed – don’t just check the box at the end of CoT, make it real.

Wallaby. Forceps and his family. Lipstick’s family and his sister. YHC’s M’s back.

YHC took us out.

3 Ring Circus at U-Turn, but No Dumbo…

Q Tour rolled into U-Turn this morning. Nice brisk temps. Pre-Blast went out late last evening from YHC after assessing the multiple feeds on Slack to determine what many of the PAX were thinking heading into their Saturday runs. Saw many were looking to get in some early morning miles, some looking for 5 as usual and others feeling nostalgic, looking for the ‘old school’ U-Turn route. For YHC, the plan was to start em off with warm-up and close em down with COT, but lead a 3 mile route for those looking for shorter distance. The combination of age setting in, my stupidity on Monday ‘getting way after it’ at PC, as well as my unfortunate lack of common sense trying to make Emeril all salty during Indian runs has earned YHC a well-deserved hip issue. To that existent, YHC had to rely on the strength of the PAX to push each other during their 5 mile runs.

Lots of PAX rolling in from EC and also many rolling in for Main Event. Planted flag, exchanged pleasantries with several PAX. Around 5:58am, Pablo was seen coming in hot, but no co-pilot in the form of Dumbo to be found. After seeing some early morning feeds from Slack on my porcelain throne this morning, it appeared that a great evening was had by many PAX at the NC State game last night. Dumbo’s morning scratch, however, was about as disappointing as Danny Manning’s .411 winning percentage at Wake Forest to many PAX in attendance,  including DawgPound, Pablo, and Emeril.

6:00am hit and after confirming no FNG’s we were off with the following warm-up.

Warm Up: Light jog around the lot with alternating carioca R\L, L\R. Continued on the light jog and circled up for SSH X15, Imperial Walkers X10, Hillbillies X10, Good Morning X 10 IC. Squat hold while YHC explained the options.

The Workout: Old School U-Turn with Dauber and Doc, Newer School (current standard U-Turn) route with 10min\mi and higher starting first, and a 3 mile with YHC, heading in either the New School or Old School direction. After explaining the route options, YHC sent the 10min pace groups first, but then Slide Rule said he’d have to be back before 7am, so would head out with the 10min group and then at that point after witnessing his long strides, the gazelles got triggered and just headed out all at once. They all knew what to do so…run pick up the six, repeat for 5 miles.

Boy George, Vasoline, and YHC stayed back, did some additional exercises to continue limbering up and to burn some time at the beginning so our 3mi route would end around the same time as some of the 1st PAX starting to filter in from their run. We chose new school route and headed up about 1.5 mi and just circled back to the lot. 15 PAX at the start and about 21ish PAX on the return for COT, accounting for those that headed out for early EC. Definitely didn’t lose anyone, but gained a few along the way.

Mary: OYO
Announcements: Dad-2.0 Workout with Mr. Terrific at 9am Womble.
T-Claps (Recognition): Deadbolt shaving 20seconds this morning compared to last week’s U-Turn post. Kudos to DawgPound with a strong finish at the end in picking up the six onto a solid 5mi run pacing around 9:13. All those getting extra miles out there this morning and pushing each other

Prayer: Continued prayers for Forceps. YHC took us out.

Start at the light, end at the light

FNGs: nope!
Warm Up: Butt kicks, High knees, Karaokes, A skips (B skips and C skips for @LED and YHC)
The Workout: Lights set the stage for the speedsters at each corner of the track, marking out each 100m. @LED started his morning before the other PAX arrived to get done by 6am. Even though the workout called for picks ups and slow downs, @Da Business refused to slow down, he just powered lap after lap. After a 1 mile at 10k pace to start, PAX briefly recovered. Then did repeats for 10 min, 300m pickups with 100m jog to recover. After an easy 800m recovery, PAX did more repeats for 10 min of 200m pickups with 200m active recovery. Every pick-up ended at the finish-line. A few PAX closed with 50m strides, some did 4, some did 1.
Mary: Walking
Announcements: Dee Dee 5k, Family friendly AO on Saturday at 9am
T-Claps (Recognition): @LED starting early and pushing solo, @Slide Rule keeping good form, @Pikachu for embracing the track and @Da Business being a solid rock!
Prayer: Family prayers for: Forceps, Slide Rule, Pikachu

Beach body Ab work at Downtown Train

Ten strong for an ab workout at Downtown Train even had a nice surprise and rare visit from several PAX we don’t see too often!

FNGs: Nope

Warm Up: 10 burpees OYO, SSHs, Windmills, Merkins, 10 squat jumps OYO

The Workout:

Mosey to library parking lot and partnered up for Dora. Exercises and count was 200 American hammers, 300 dying cockroaches, and 400 LBCs. Partner 1 did exercise while partner 2 ran lap around parking lot. Rotate and repeat. After total rep count for each exercise was finished, held plank hold for 10 second count by each PAX (3 rounds).

After Dora , moseyed to parking garage for  some suicide ladders of WWIIs (5, 10, 15) and once to the far end of parking deck 50 mountain climbers (two rounds).

Mary: Wen’t around the circle and each PAX called an exercise. 20 burpees OYO, Homer to Marge, good mornings, Freddie Mercury, can’t recall the rest but each PAX got a turn.

Announcements: Check Facebook and Slack

T-Claps (Recognition): Fed Ex, LED, Fonzi, and Warbucks for making the rare trip to Downtown Train.

Prayer: Spoken and unspoken, friend of Pumpkin Spice, YHCs brother-in-laws father, Wallaby, Forceps, Fed Ex’s co-worker.

What’s a Coupon?

FNGs: None  PAX of 7 enjoyed incredible temps (60s) in the darkness.  Shorts weather in early March!

Warm Up:  Pre-blast mentioned circuit training and the use of coupons.  Some PAX inquired what a coupon was on Slack.  They come in many sizes, shapes, etc.  I chose to bring various dumbbells weighing in from 8lbs to 40lbs.  Planted the flag at 4:45 am and got busy setting up the numerous dumbbell stations.  Needed to adjust gross weight and found a tree line by an old fairway.  Broke out the hand sanitizer and greeted the PAX.  I think one of the PAX had the same idea as he disappeared for a few mins.  He mentioned FedEx’s home or front lawn if the door was locked.  Hmm.  I think the early start time of Prison Yard had interrupted our normal morning routines.  As I looked around, 5 PAX present EXCEPT for the only PAX who HC’d.  I was told he would be racing in on 2 wheels in no time.  A utility truck was spotted and an F3 brother came out but went running off in another direction.  Some said it was Pipe fitter; I cannot confirm.  Clock struck 0500 and we were off for a nice jog around the clubhouse/parking lot.  Circled up for 20 SSH, 10 Don Quixotes, 10 Fazio Arm Circles (F/R), 10 Hillbillies, 10 Imperial Walkers an 10 Daisy pickers.  It was about this time New Mexico graced us with his presence.  Sprinkler was pissed because he knew what was coming:  5 burpees OYO for tardiness.

The Workout:  I got an idea from Shredder at a recent 2ndF to incorporate running while PAX conducted circuit training, moving from one station to another.  He emphasized the importance of rotating among three/four muscle groups:  Arms, Abs and Legs.  (I added Back too).  I wrote down three exercises using (Coupons) dumbbells on index cards and set the cards next to the dumbbells spread out under the covered clubhouse area.  Turned on the iPad Pro to Pandora’s Classic Rock station.  (Fonzie was very happy with the tunes.  Lots of singing and great mumble chatter.). Each PAX started at a station, executed 8-12 reps of each exercise on the card.  One PAX ran around the clubhouse twice before PAX rotated positions.  Circuit training consisted of the following exercises:

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, Farmer’s Cary, while on your six, hold dumbbell over your chest while holding 6”

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

PAX with no dumbbells – TIME Keeper – Run around the clubhouse twice

RINSE AND REPEAT; modify the run; CHANGED to Farmer’s Carry with two 40lbs dumbbells around the building 1X

RINSE AND REPEAT but back to RUNNING TWICE around the clubhouse

Mary:  PAX helped me put the dumbbells back in my vehicle.  Circled up for Mary.  Lots of arm stretches, static, pot-stirring, Michael Phelps.

Announcements:  MULE – Lots of positive affirmations from NM supporting this Raleigh CSAUP; LED and his great effort securing a road clean-up opportunity with NCDOT – please sign up on Slack/support this endeavor 4X/year.

T-Claps (Recognition):  PAX trying something new at the Prison Yard

Prayer:  Forceps/family

Fonzie and his family making a tough decision having his M stay home with the kids – financially, mentally, physically

LED considering mentoring a child of a single mom; friend of his family that had a stillborn

New Mexico mentioned an F3 brother, Package, recovering from addiction; asking for strength keeping him strong

Dauber’s mom having eye surgery this week.

UNSPOKEN.

Dauber took us out.

 

An honor an privilege leading you all. – Dauber

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

Light it up!!

FNGs:1 FNG. (Armpit) 5 for EC.  Fonzie, breach, born & buttermilk
Warm Up:16 pax total started with SSH, Windmills, daisy pickers, fazio arm circles, seal claps, over head claps.
The Workout:9 for Red October

one person did battle rope twist while the others did the exercise 20 count IC

Rows

Squats twists

Push up drags

Burpee press

American hammers

Leg raises

Curls for girls

Step ups

side bends

Wonder bras/ (mountain climbers/ opp mc/ peter Parker)1:4

Half burpees curls

Mary:

all in 20 count Cadence

lsf/6 inches/ hello dolly

lbcs, homer to marge, pickle pounders, shoulder taps. 10 burpees oyo.

Announcements:q sheet need a filled out. Q all AO challenge. Forceps sons service at Hope Saturday
T-Claps (Recognition): Att runners along with half milers last weekend
Prayer:forceps and family, military and 1st responders, marriages and families health issues

Yosemite Kringle

YHC got in from the airport a little after 0100 and, according to Garmin, got 3 hours and 55 minutes of sleep before getting up and heading to Holly Springs to lead this below-freezing ramble.  Knowing that there were three planning 5-mile EC I was curious how many would actually show up.

Much like the DPG that ran last week we were having staggered starts with 5-milers leaving around 0600 and the 3-milers heading out around 0625.  Let’s see how it went.

EC: Yosemite, Warbucks, Martini

FNGs: This is a joke today, right? I didn’t even want to go out in this, let alone someone new.

Warm Up:

The same warm up was done for both groups.

SSH x10 IC

Frankenstein x10 IC

Hip openers x10 IC

The Workout:

At 0600 and after being told to watch the ice, each PAX began Forward Foot Flops (FFF’s) OYO.  Some started by putting their left foot first, followed by the right, and then back to the left.  Others went right, then left, and then back to the right.  Rinse and repeat x6000+ times (individual results varied based on milage).

Once the first group was gone YHC climbed back in to his warm vehicle to pass the time.  The devil on my shoulder started suggesting that, if no one else show up, maybe I should just say in there until closer to 0700 and then just run in a circle until the runners get back.  Luckily Sprinker showed up to run 3 iles with me and after we warmed up we also started with FFFs.

Also, apparently when you have a long beard and you run in temps like this you end up looking like something out of a Christmas special.

Mary:

Some stretching and yoga were done once everyone was in.  We successfully had all PAX in (including ECers) around 0700.  I think this staggered start thing might actually work.

Announcements:

ShamWow!’s baptism at Hope tomorrow morning, following the 0930 service

T-Claps (Recognition):

To all SW PAX.  You know why.  You are real HIM.

Prayer:

Forceps and his family.  Today is going to be a difficult day.  Take a little extra time today to talk to God and offer to lend some of your strength to help Tim and his family.

 

Always an honor, even with no sleep and frozen hands.

 

010000

3 Peat

Warm Up:
Frankenstein walks, skip jumps, high knees

The Workout:
Today’s workout is geared toward finishing strong on tired legs. That last mile of a race should be all you got. The PAX pushed hard today on that last mile.
400M Warm up
1 mile at 10K pace
2 min recover
1 mile 30 sec faster than last mile
2 min recover
1 mile 30 sec faster than last
800M Cool down

Mary:
Grab some fence
Leg swings
Squats with pulsing at the bottom
Quad stretch
Ham stretch

Announcements:
nothing new

T-Claps (Recognition):
Few PR’s set today. Great push

Prayer:
Forceps family, those battling additions, safety with weather coming

Great job to all that came out today. Thanks for letting me lead again.

BS Out!

The Prison Yard 2/18

Pax of 9 got stronger in the Prison Yard on a mild February morning.

Double D, Fonzie, LED, FedEx, 8-Bit, Sprinkler, New Mexico, Dirty Pipes and Breach on the Q

Warm Up: Mosey around the parking lot and then circle up for some 22 rep counts of SSH, Frankensteins, and Imperial Walkers/Hillbillies

The Workout: 9 Stations (90 Seconds of work, followed by 15 seconds of rest to rotate)

Stations:

Tires

Flips

Sledge Hammer chops

Squats

Ropes

Double arm Slams

Waves

Weight Plates

Squat press

Squat Curl

Med Balls

Overhead Slams

Squat Toss

Kettle Bell

Swings

Sandbag

Reverse Curls

Tricep Extensions

Ab Roller

Jump Rope

Mary: 15 Burpees OYO for 3 pax members that were running behind today.

Announcements: Long Ass ATT Run on Sat 2/22

Prayer: Prayers for Forceps and his family and for a friend of New Mexico who is dealing with recovery from substance abuse.

The message for today was about slowing down and looking around. Live speeds by and if you don’t stop once and a while to enjoy it, it can blow right by you. Take the time to be in the moment and don’t let them all pass you by