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A trip to the Five & Dime

23 HIM’s posted in the gloom at the Trot this morning for a little arm work with a little gray block of cement!

FNGs: None

Warm Up: Led by FedEx – 5 burpee penalties were doled out to all pax who showed up to run EC while remaining pax held squats, SSH, Good Mornings, IW, Hillbillies, Michael Phelps, Fozio AC forward / reverse all in cadence. YHC added an additional 5 burpees in honor of Puddles who had requested on Tuesday that the pax perform burpees on his behalf since he had to return to his new abode in Beaufort, NC. We miss you Puddles!

The Workout: Two year F3 anniversary for FedEx and Double D who co-Q’ed a trip back in time to the days of the local Five & Dime. Cinder blocks were conveniently placed across the parking lot and Pax were instructed to push, pull, drag, or get cinder block anyway they so chose across parking lot to tennis courts without block leaving the asphalt. Once inside all Pax lined up at one end and a series of sets of 5 & dimes were called by YHC across the courts of curls for the girls, overhead presses, uneven merkins, blocks around the waist, rut rows, box jumps and plank jacks on blocks. At each end FedEx called an exercise with or without blocks of balls to the wall, mountain climbers on blocks, LBC’s, American hammers, wonder bra’s, etc, and then the series of 5 & dimes resumed back to the opposite end of courts. After a several trips to the Five and Dime blocks were then carried back out off the courts to be pushed, pulled, dragged back across the lot to YHC’s truck to be loaded up for another day! An audible was called for 10 burpees OYO after loading up the blocks.

Mary: Led by FedEx for a series of LBC’s, American hammers, pickle pounders, Homer to Marge, WWII’s

Announcements: Both FedEx and YHC expressed our thanks for this group of friends who inspire and challenge us here in SouthWake. YHC encouraged the Q’s to mix up their workouts by adding whatever they so choose and to think outside the box like assigning penalties to those who performed EC. Yoga tonight at Snap Fitness, Deadbolt’s & Gump’s 5 year anniversary Q at Womble on 7-19-19 – don’t miss it! The Arena workouts every Friday at 2:30 PM – try to do our best to give back to those men at Healing Transistions

T-Claps (Recognition): Mookie sporting Breath taker this week. Strong work Mookie!

Prayer: Robinson family whose husband/father very recently suddenly passed away, Noah’s Ark’s wife FedEx led us out in prayer.

Butt holes and shoe holes but no squat holds

FNGs: Cobbler

EC: 187, Axe, Chips, Dawgpound, Dumbo, Emeril, Lipsync, Liquid Force, Pablo. 3 other PAX did some form of EC – Sidmark was out when YHC arrived at 5:05. M4L and Pikachu both ran from home to Ting.

Warm Up: 10 x Good Mornings, 30 x SSH, 10 x IW/Hillbillies, Bat Wings (10 arm circles forwards and 10 reverse, 10 seal claps, 10 overhead claps, 10 seal claps).

The Workout: Scout run to the green way across the street (1 mile there). The PAX were unfamiliar with a Scout Run and apparently YHC isn’t good at explaining thing because this was a ball of nonsense running through the neighborhood. The idea is that we form a LINE and the person at the front sprints as far as they like and then returns to the back of the LINE. We will try this again!

Launching from the top of the cul de sac we did Triple Nickle. PAX perform 5 big boy sit ups at the top of the hill and then run to the bottom and do 5 burpees. Rinse and repeat 5 times. A small group of PAX finished early so in lieu of a squat hold they did a 6th round. (1.2ish miles on the hill).

Mosey back to the parking lot to see if the hot chick Mary was going to be there today. It wasn’t in the cards again but my suspicion is that the high humidity had her hair all frizzy and she didn’t want to come out. Perhaps something else came up. Either way, we have a few minutes to kill before we name the FNG.

Mary: 20 x merkins, 30 x homer to marge, 30 x American hammer, 10 x boat canoes, 20 x merkins

Announcements: Take it to the interwebs!

Prayer: Chips has a co-worker that recently had a heart attack. He was sort of in decent shape but not too good. The comparison to Emeril was made.

As we are closing out a couple of PAX revisited elementary health class to remind us that we all have a hole in our butts. #OnlyInTheGloom! The FNG had a rather used pair of shoes on today resulting in the name Cobbler and thereby saving Schnuckles for the next unsuspecting FNG.

It’s always an honor to lead you men. I’ll try to do better next time!

Parental Advisory: Explicit Lyrics at Crazy Ivan

FNGs: Nope

EC:  Run:
Pikachu, Sliderule, Dahmer.  Yoga: Lucky, Skidmark, Dawgpound and Emeril

Warm Up:

Jog the parking lot, butt kickers and high knees.  Round 2 Karaoke
Fazio Arm Circle
Seal Claps
Merkins x20

The Workout:
Partner Up
Round 1: x50 each PAX Pull-Ups.  While partner does pull-ups other partner does Kettle Bell Twist
Round 2: x75 each PAX Goblin Squats.  While partner does squats other partner does Kettle Bell Lunge Walk
Round 3: x100 each PAX Kettle Bell Swings.  While partner does swings other partner does suicides
Round 4: x50 each arm KB Press.  While partner does presses other partner does WWII
Ground Pounder in cadence x20
Ran back to parking lot for quick Mary

Mary:
Pigeon Stretch
Fazio Arm Circles
Imperial Walkers

Announcements:

Everything else is on Slack

T-Claps (Recognition):
Bullseye won Breathtaker for the week – Additional T-Claps for SlideRule, 16-Bit, Wiggly and Pikachu for kicking in.

Prayer
:
Noah Arc’s wife is dealing with a lot of pain and Doctors are trying to figure out why
Midget so he can stop running his mouth at the workouts and actually start to push himself

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!

A Bone in Hand

PAX of 17 for new AO To Be Determined:
Co-QICs: Aquaman, Doc

FNGs: None

PAX of 17 showed up to christen a new AO.  Co-Qs promised a nice cool morning accompanied by a spectacular sunrise.  Delivered.  Today’s workout brought to you by the number 19 in honor of Doc’s 2.0 that graduated yesterday and the rest of the PAX connected to the Class of 19.  Thanks to everyone that showed up to help us break this in.

Warm Up: 19s (SSH IC out loud to 3 then silently to 19). Supposed to end simultaneously but failed.  Not to be deterred, continued with windmills X 19, arm circles X 19 forward and reverse, merkins X 19.  Mosey to the Ivan parking lot.

The Workout:
–Apple Turnover (bear crawl 9 parking spaces, crab walk 10 spaces.  Return by same route but reverse crab walk 10 spaces, crawl bear 9).

–Partner up at one end of the parking lot.  Five burpees each, run opposite ways and meet at other end of the parking lot for 5 broke back merkins each.  Repeat: 5 burpees, 4 broke back merkins for a total of 19 of both exercises.

In the middle of this circuit Aquaman mentioned a ‘bone popping in his hand’.  YHC thought this was mumblechatter about Aquaman’s Tuesday night extracurricular activities, but it turned out to be an injury report.  Some modification required until the bone popped back in (insert comments here).

–Sprints: PAX divided in half on each side of median.  Everyone does the following:
1. Sprint half the distance of parking lot, 5 burpees.  Sprint the other half, 5 burpees.
2. Sprint half the lot, 19 LBCs.  Repeat.
3. Sprint half the lot, 19 merkins.  Repeat.
4. Sprint half the lot, 19 pickle pounders. Repeat.
Might have been another circuit, can’t remember.  YHC running on fumes about now.

–One PAX arrived late.  So late, in fact, YHC thought it was just a dude that saw a workout underway and decided to join in.  5 burpees OYO administered.  Welcome back Popinkski, glad to have you in the group!

–Mosey around the parking lot for cool down, then around a second time and back to tennis courts for Mary.

Mary: Protractors, protractors and more protractors.  Long holds at 6 inches (expected mumblechatter about 6 inches, was not disappointed), 45 degrees, etc.  Straight into box cutters, followed by Freddie Mercurys, Homer to Marge (both legs then one leg each side), boat canoes.  PAX feeling the burn at this point, and some discussion about potential drop in attendance next week (Deadbolt: “Futures trending downward”).  Have a nice day.

Announcements: New AO in FV on Tuesday mornings at 5:30, Encouragement to attend Healing Transitions with and w/out 2.0s.

Prayer: Crab Legs, others spoken and unspoken.

Straight Bar Pull-ups Hurt

Pax of 5 doing Murph in rain and muggy weather.   Straight bar at Veterans park making pull-ups so much harder… missing the monkey bars at Womble.

Still can’t get a complete work-out without an unruly child giving us a hard time, only one though.

Warm Up:  Run on mile

The Workout: Murph:  100 pull-ups, 200 merkins, 300 squats

Mary:  Run one mile

Announcements:  New workouts starting this week and next.  Second F at John Deere’s house after Thunder on Wed.

Prayer:  Healing and safe workouts this summer.

Pablo’s Anniversary Q

25 PAX, 12 for EC, posted at Purple Cobra to support Pablo in his 1 year F3 anniversary.  I want to thank everyone who came out to show their support in celebrating this milestone.  I also want to thank Deadbolt for dropping truth bombs on the neighborhood Facebook page that led 187 to bringing me out to my 1st workout.  I also want to thank the F3 Goobers (you know who you are) who keep me accountable and make the daily grind a whole lot of fun.  1st year down, a lifetime to go…

EC: Pablo, Skidmark, Warbucks, 187, Pikachu, Redenbacher, Emeril, Axe, Dawgpound, LED, Fonzie

FNGs:  Welcome Crunch Berry (Scott Powell)

Warm Up: All exercises in cadence: SSH x 25, IW x 10, Hillbillies x 10, Fazio Arm Circles 10F & 10B, Seal claps x 10, overhead claps x 10

The Workout: PAX formed single file line for indian run that made it’s way behind the grocery store and to the stop light entrance of planet fitness.  Partner up for DORA 1-2-3 (exercises were Derkins x100, Irkins x200, Dips x300) where partner 1 did exercises and partner 2 ran to the bottom of the hill and back up to switch places.  After Q completed all of his reps, he had the group mosey to the wall behind the dry cleaner for additional partner exercises.  Partner 1 BTTW, Partner 2 mountain climber IC x 10, then switch.  Partner 1 BTTW, Partner 2 Nipplers IC x 10, then switch.  Partner 1 BTTW, Partner 2 plank jacks IC x 10, then switch.  Partner 1 People’s Chair, Partner 2 mountain climber IC x 10, then switch.  Partner 1 People’s Chair, Partner 2 Nipplers IC x 10, then switch.  Partner 1 People’s Chair, Partner 2 plank jacks IC x 10, then switch.  Mosey back to the flag for Mary.

Mary: LBCs IC x 25, Homer to Marge IC x 20, Low Slow Flutter IC x 20, Pickle Pounder IC x 20, Freddie Mercury IC x 20,

Announcements: New AO starting on Wednesday 05:30 at Womble tennis courts, all PAX are encouraged to sign up to Q a workout, AXE VQ next Tuesday at Purple Cobra

T-Claps (Recognition): Wallaby posting 2 consecutive days!!!

Prayer: Deadbolts wife having medical procedure, those effected by ocular melanoma, Crab Legs, Dumbo’s friend with returning breast cancer that metastasized to the bone, unspoken prayers

Appetite for Destruction Track 1

Welcome to the first fitness test.  The results are being kept in Southwake Challenge Spreadsheet.

FNGs: Wallaby
Warm Up:

Circled up for the following:
Side Straddle Hops
Fazio Arm Circles
Good Mornings
Daisy Pickers
Lap around the test lap

The Workout:

Results

The workout:

Paradise City Fitness Test: All must be done in order. Each rep is .01 points. Each lap is also .01 points.

15 Burpees
1 Lap
20 Merkins
1 Lap
20 Squats (as close to parallel as you can get)
1 Lap
20 WW II (Non Cadence)
1 Lap
20 Scorpion Dry Docks
1 Lap

1 Lap will be around 2 parking medians.  We left the basketball court and made a left.  Then down past the cars and made a right.  Ran past one aisle then the next aisle turned right up past the median then right and ran back to the basketball court.

Mary: No Time
Announcements:

New AO Wednesday Aquaman and Doc are Qs

T-Claps (Recognition):

All for completing the first Fitness Test

Prayer:

Unspoken
Pax Parents going through health issues
Shredder

After the Rain..11 PAX get stronger with Rucking Miles and Hill Work

Heading into this morning, it was really a toss up. The heavy rain from the night before was likely to alter our plans for a run this morning, but the Sky Q had our best interest in mind by holding the rain off and sending down some extra humidity to dry the roads prior to 6am. Clown car in Knight Rider was full this morning, complete with a shovel flag, a sack carrying Midget, and a Deadbolt. Arrived to Womble with a fleet of cars already parked. Wait a minute…. “Abe?” A newcomer to AGS, looking for some honest miles. This guy is showing up and making a statement, first breathtaker and now posting on Sundays. Then followed by Draper, the big Red Truck toting Skidmark and Bullseye, then followed by Full House, and Wood Creek’s finest- UTI and Lipstick. Oh and don’t forget Redenbacher, picking up a 1/2 mile EC before the Main Event.

A solid 11 at 6 o’clock start- 3 Ruckers (Skidmark, M4L, and Bulls Eye with 8 Runners). Started Warm Ups that went a little like this.

Warm Up: Light jog to the back lot with carioca L\R, R\L to the start. Continued to the other side of the lot with Butt Kickers and circled up for Hillbillies X10, CP’s X10, Fazio Arms 10 F\10 Back. Frankensteins back to the start with alternating toe walks\heel walks and circled up for air squats X10. Ruckers proceeded to their route and headed to Main St, while the running PAX proceeded to mosey with YHC. Stopped at the first picnic shelter and circled up for some GM’s X10. Quickly lined up in tight formation for a solid Indian run to the Ivan Lot. Circled up in the back lot while YHC explained this morning’s route. At this point it was starting to mist a bit, which provided a good cut in the humidity. Fortunately for us, the Sky Q waited until after our run was over to let the rain fall and provided some gentle breezes throughout the run.

The Workout: The menu today called for Hills. With BRR just a few short weeks away, we put some elevation in the plan for this morning. PAX would proceed down and up Stinson where they would be taking a left onto Bass Lake Road. Follow this to the stop light at Holly Springs Rd. and proceed to Rhamkatte Village merging left into the development and onto Jones Hill Road with a slight shift down Old Ride Road to the end of the development with a U-Turn around back onto Holly Springs Road, proceeding left to Homegrown, right on Linksland, right on Salem Ridge, Right onto Bass Lake (up the BDH-Big Damn Hill), and back onto Stinson for the final push back up to Womble.

Strong pushes from start to finish by all PAX. A big shout out to Lipstick and UTI for picking up the six throughout the run and for pushing YHC up Bass Lake and the final Stinson push. By the 5th and 6th mile of this route, YHC is usually pacing at 10min, but this morning, lots of inspiration drawn by all PAX to help me find a new gear and a steady climb up Bass Lake with an 8:36 in the final 1 mile. #ironsharpensiron.

Rejoined the Rucking PAX at the Womble lot for stretches and COT just as the rain started to open up.

Mary: Stretches OYO
Announcements: Fitness Test tomorrow at PC, Moving help at Midget’s this afternoon. Skidmark carrying Breathtaker this week and will be calling on PAX to wear an eye patch during workouts this week in support of A Cure in Sight (this months charity).

T-Claps (Recognition): Abe for his AGS debut and putting in some solid work this morning. All PAX for conquering the hills and those rucking with weight strapped to their backs. Speaking of backs, I’m not sure if anyone saw the light banter from the pre-blast last evening, but I am suddenly intrigued by this BRR “see my back ” exchange between M4L and Pikachu last night. Looking forward to seeing how the training unfolds in the week to come….

Prayer: YHC reminded PAX about goals. Shared that part of attaining your goals and achieving what you set out to do is knowing what you have to give up in order to achieve them. That can sometimes mean doing the things that you don’t like to do (ie: hills, burpees, getting up on Sunday) in order to ensure optimal performance on race day or any goal you set in front of you. Challenged PAX to find 3 things (fitness-wise or personal\work related) that they like least and do these first each day this week.

Deadbolt took us out.

Feel the Flow

I was watching some kettlebell flows and figured we should do that.  I do apologize for getting gassed during the workout.  I blame myself and a little bit of Dumbo for getting into that situation.  Huge congrats for Skidmark for finally getting his Fritter.  I had the shirt ready for him for some time.

EC: Skidmark, Pikachu, 187, Dumbo, Axe, Dawgpound, Lucky

FNGs: Nope

Warm Up:
Circle Up for the following
Side Straddle Hop
Fazio Arm Circles
Good Morning

The Workout:
The first Flow:
The first flow is supposed to be done with two kettlebells but we only have one each so we modified it.
4 Merkins
3 Each Arm Bent over Row
2 Squats
1 Each Shoulder Press

We did the flow 4 times

Recover on the Midget love Handles

The Second Flow:
Right Arm Row
Right Arm Kneeling Clean
Right Arm Press
Stand Up
Rack and switch Arm

We did 5 Reps each arm.
2 Rounds with Midget Love Handles and Around the world in between

The Third Flow:
Start in a squat
Bicep Curl
Stand Up
Bell over head
Tricep Press
Squat

We did 10 Reps of the following

We then took the bells for a walk around the loop.  With the bell press overhead.  We switched arms half way.

Circled up at the far end of the parking lot.
5 One Arm Kettlebell Swings Right Arm
5 One Arm Kettlebell Swings Left Arm
10 Two Arm Kettlebell Swings

Walk back with the bell press overhead.  Switch half way

We then repeated The third flow, Second flow and first flow

Mary:

Three rounds of the following
Little Baby Turkish Get Ups
Homer to Marge with bell on pelvis
Homer to Marge with bell over head
Low Slow Flutters with bell over head
LBCs

Announcements:

Fitness Test at Paradise City
Crab legs is doing a fantastic thing where he is going to a ball game at each MLB park.  He will be interviewing other folks with ALS to get their stories out there.

T-Claps (Recognition):

Skidmark, Pikachu and 187 did 5 ECs and 5 Posts with their own breath takers.

Prayer:

Crab legs and his travels
All unspoken
Pax and their Parents going through tough times
Getting Pax Healthy