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Easter Egg Hunting at U-turn

FNGs:none

Warm Up: Quick jog around parking lot.  Circled up for SSH, Good morning, Moroccan Night Clubs, Daisy Pickers, Static Leg Stretches

The Workout:  Pre, pre blast tempted PAX with an Easter egg hunt with lots of prizes.  Secured a wingman (Fanny Pack) to plan out the morning and help with execution.  We met at 0515 and set off with a basket of 75 eggs.  As I drove with my hazards on, Fanny Pack gentle threw eggs out the open window on the grass by the sidewalk (trying to find well lit areas).  But there were more goodies in store.  One of our best runners (Vasoline) is notorious for searching for 4 things during his early morning runs:  sport balls (e.g. tennis, golf, lacrosse), money, tools, and the elusive albino deer.  YHC had 6 special balls and 2 pics of the elusive albino deer.  Would Vasoline or any of the PAX find these beauties?  Time would tell.
Before runners started reverse U-turn standard 5-plus mile route or 3.5 mile route, YHC highlighted the following rules:  only PAX who began U-turn were eligible; based on 19 PAX, three egg minimum (no more than 4); must return eggs to YHC at Mary.  Prizes awarded post COT.

Dauber ran with Mookie, Bobbie Boucher and Forceps.  Headlocks work fellas.  I promised Mookie I would come out to Kung POW if he returned the favor; a man is as good as his word.  Same thing with Forceps:  he HC’d after I committed to Ground pounder.  Always great catching up with Mookie.  He reminded me of a certain t-shirt when I announced I had to divert to the woods.  Thanks for picking up the 6 too Mookie.  We caught up with Bobbie Boucher and Forceps and continued mumble chatter.  With first ones in, we slowly saw additional PAX come into the parking lot.  I think Emeril took a short cut to and came in hot needing to adjust gross weight at Panera’s. Within 15 mins, all PAX were accounted for.


Mary:  The thought was there but then we began collecting the eggs for my M and may have forgot.  PAX grabbed their tickets and were eager for the numbers to be called.  Vasoline was very excited about his discoveries:  two golf balls, a penny, and a tennis ball.  I pleaded ignorance.  Emeril founded a golf ball too.  Fanny Pack found an albino deer.

I pulled out my phone and showed pax my dubious pic of the “Dauber” sport balls.  See pic.

YHC drew the first ticket and called the lucky number:  Winner – Bobbie Boucher.  He then drew the next winner:  Forceps who then drew the final winner, Alpine.  Each Winner chose an envelope.  Gift cards from local merchants in each envelope.  PAX happy.  See pic.

Announcements:  Willow Springs 3rdF today – See Gump; see Slack/FB for more announcements.

T-Claps (Recognition):  All the PAX who shared their extra eggs making sure each PAX had at least three eggs.  Nice.

Prayer:  Forceps’s friend Todd who had a heart attack; Praise for Doc’s kid and her successful surgery; Banana Seat gave us a PSA:  testicular awareness month; Unspoken.
YHC took us out.  Happy Easter to you all.
This was a lot of fun.  Thank you again Fanny Pack for your help this morning.
Honored to lead. -Dauber

The Kneeler is Born…

21 Strong rolled out at 5:30 for 5+ miles.  The route took us up and out of Jones Park, turning left, we made a hard right on Johnson (which seemed to get Lipstick excited), then Right on Earp, up Cemetery Hill, back to HS road and then Main St. all the way back to Ting.  Numerous PAX out this am for early morning miles and EC.  Follow the mumble chatter on Slack for where the name of the route, “kneeler” is derived from.

Announcements: Long ass run this weekend, be there or be square
Prayers: Doc and Vasoline’s kids both with upcoming surgeries

 

The Mario Cart Lineup Continues

Saturday March 20th, 2020

FNGs: Welcome ‘Peach Beach’

Another recruit brought out by Emeril that knew Mario, Luigi, and Yoshi.  YHC was having a tough time on deciding between Koopa Troopa or Peach Beach so I put it to a vote amongst the other PAX.  Peach Beach won by a landslide (I don’t believe there were any votes for Koopa Troopa…ha).

Warm Up:  quick mosey around the parking lot, Michael Phelps arms, 10x Good Mornings, 10x Frankensteins, 25-30 Merkins OYO.

The Workout: 3mi and 6mi option

Mary: no time today

Announcements: Long Ass Run Saturday 3/27 on the ATT – plenty more details to be posted on Slack

T-Claps (Recognition): 25 PAX at U-Turn on the first day of spring!  Emeril recruiting a 4th FNG in just as many weeks

Prayer: all the unspoken, teachers/students/state workers back in schools getting readjusted

The Mario Cart lineup continues…

Saturday, March 13th

FNGs: welcome Yoshi!

This FNG was another recruit by Emeril.  3 weeks prior Emeril had brought out 2 FNG’s that were named Mario and Luigi because of their moustache’s and also because they knew each other.  Well it just so happened that Mario and Luigi knew the FNG so I had made up my mind during the ME he was going to be Yoshi…one of my favorite Mario Cart characters.  The FNG did the standard introduction in front of the group but I decided to shut it down quickly in case some of the PAX needed to get over to Grounder Pounder.  “Everyone say hello to Yoshi.”

Warm Up:  Michael Phelps arms, 10x Windmills, 10x Daisy Pickers, 10x Imperial Walkers, OYO 25-30 Merkins.

The Workout: U-Turn standard route in reverse, with a 3mi option.  This was the last weekend to earn a Mt Dew branded long sleeve T-shirt

Mary: no time unfortunately

Announcements: Long A$$ Run on Sat. March 27th, Blood Drive on Sat. March 2oth hosted by Holly Springs Rotary Club, Gillette will be a St. Baldrick’s Participant and shaving all that beautiful hair

T-Claps (Recognition): 25 PAX at U-Turn!  Picking up the 6.

Prayer: all the unspoken, those suffering from sickness, mental illness, addiction, loss of a loved one, and those who have lost their way.  Thankful for everything the good Lord provides.  YHC took us out.

Why Would 21 PAX Post for a Wednesday Run? Must Be the Sprints!

Was looking forward to Q’ing R4TJ because I wanted to do two things: Launch a new route and bring back sprints. Needed to get off Crossway for some variety, but wanted to retain the elevation gain. Had lots of ideas, but when it came to mapping, it was challenging. Plus, I told Bobby Bouche that I’d map out a 3 mile option. Initial routes had too many turns, which lead to confusion and frustration. Finally occurred to me that Skymont to Daisy Grove was the perfect solution.

Must Be the Warm Up! Multiple PAX EC’d already. PAX kept rolling in as 0530 approached. Had to get in the middle of the parking lot where we could circle up. 21 PAX make a big circle. With so many EC’ers, I just wanted to warm up the remainder. SSH 25x, Daisy pickers 10x. We got a count and Bobby Bouche agreed to lead the 3.5-mile runners. We all took off. Felt like start of the HS Half.

Must Be the Route! HS Half start, climb Anchor Creek, right on Wellspring, down to the greenway, across the boardwalk. Beginning at the long boardwalk, Skymont goes straight up for a nice elevation gain. This is a very functional route. At the top of Skymont near Daisy Grove, 3.5-mile runners peel off at the greenway connection to Jones Park, head to HS Road, then follow Main back to Ting. At Daisy Grove, 5.5-mile runners turn left, make a couple of simple turns to get to Homegrown, then HS Road and Main to Ting. Finally, we all meet up at Ting for COT and sprints!

Must Be the Workout! This “one hour” run that goes by like nothing. Why? The chatter, the junk talking, the climbs, the descents, the sunrise, the picking up the six, getting to know new PAX, catching with PAX you haven’t seen in a while, and finally, the shenanigans—ask Lipstick and Roger Roger. I tried to run with as many people as possible, while turning back for the six regularly. This was fun.

Must Be the Mary! No, actually it couldn’t be, there was no Mary
Must Be the COT!

Announcements: Long A$$ Run, March 27, multiple mileage options accompanied by multiple starting points, all end in Durham
Prayer: Maggie P and family

Must Be the Sprints! Yes, it must be the Sprints! All 21 of us lined up for sprints, yes! Wait, that’s not what happened… But, shout out to Bobby Bouche, UTI, and Lipstick for hammering out some sprint to AC/DC Long Way to the Top.

Man I love some old-school NES

18-strong at U-Turn, including 2 FNG’s on a freezing 24 degree morning!  I’ve never had the Q where any FNG’s showed up and although I had the final say on their F3 names, I decided to allow a majority vote on 2 sets of names:  the first set was Biden Bucks and Mittens and the latter was Mario and Luigi.  While Biden Bucks and Mittens were great names suggested by Pikachu based on both FNG introductions to the group, I was sold immediately on Mario and Luigi when Dawgpound shouted it out.  Let it be known to all that 1st of all both FNG’s knew each other so in my mind their names HAD to be somehow paired together and 2nd of all both had moustaches (no other facial hair…just moustaches).  I grew up playing the original NES and I occasionally STILL play the original NES, but let me tell you as soon as Dawgpound suggested Mario and Luigi I took a look at both FNG’s and I totally saw Mario and Luigi….plus they were both FAST on the U-Turn route; it was like Mario Cart out there.  Welcome Mario and Luigi!

FNGs: Mario and Luigi (recruited by Emeril)

Warm Up: mosey around the parking lot followed by some Michael Phelps arms, 10x Fazio Arm Circles (fwd & rev) 10x Good Morning’s, 10x Daisy Pickers, 10x Imperial Walkers, 10x Hillbillies, 25x-30x Merkins

The Workout: U-Turn standard route (always important to list the running route the evening prior to the workout so anyone joining us late meet us out there (cough, cough, Cupid, cough cough)

Mary: ran out of time unfortunately

Announcements: Sunday Q school, Holly Springs 1/2 Marathon registration now under way, my 1yr anniversary on Sunday 2.21

T-Claps (Recognition): Emeril for bringing out 2 FNG’s, 18 PAX showing up in 24 degree weather

Prayer: strength for the family and friends of a co-worker of mine that was struck and killed by a vehicle while crossing a busy intersection Sunday night 2.14, prayers for Pikachu’s M, all the unspoken.  YHC felt led to take us out today.  It was such a honor to lead a group of PAX this big (definitely one of my bigger ones) and name a couple of FNG’s that literally hit the ground running on their first day of F3.