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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.

Cruisin

FNGs:

None today
Warm Up:

Mosey to the track for a warm up lap

Good morning x10 on my down/up

Daisy Pickers x10 IC

Grab some fence – leg swings 5x side to side and front to back

Tiger claws x10

100m of A skips and B skips
The Workout:

Cruise Intervals courtesy of coach Jack Daniels. Target was 8×1,000m intervals at ~10k pace with 200m recovery. Pax were encouraged to start with a pace that was slightly slower than 10k pace and work it down over the 8 intervals.

We were running short on time so YHC called it after a few pax finished interval 7.
Mary:

Recovery mosey to the parking lot.

Yoga – chattaronga, downward dog, runner’s lunge, pidgeon
Announcements:

Q School the 21st
T-Claps (Recognition):

New site leadership at Tiger Blood – t-claps to Lipstick for stepping up.

T-claps to Wiggly who didn’t know this was track work but joined us none the less and got some work in!

McNugget for getting after it while he works on getting off the IR. Good 2nd F this morning bro.

Prayer:

COVID. Our schools going back. Those being vaccinated.

Flest okkar hlupu hratt í dag

EC: Shamwow

FNGs: None

Warm Up:

The Workout:  Dumbo ran this route awhile back, was a great day to run it again.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mary: MIA

Announcements:  Check Slack and FB

T-Claps (Recognition): PAX for picking up the 6 the whole route.

Prayer: Unspoken, PAX racing this weekend, anyone who is struggling

Rolling 14 Deep Through Holly Springs

I wasn’t sure how many PAX would show for U-Turn with 25 degree weather @ 6am.  I noticed 5 HC’s Friday evening and figured a few more would show but 14 is STRONG considering how many of these PAX are posting on weekdays, have families, have exhausting careers, etc., etc, and of course the cold a$$ weather.  There were also another 5 PAX that either ran EC or went on a 9-mile run beginning at U-Turn as well (@Lipstick, @Skidmark, @Maybelline, @Katniss, @FullHouse, @187).  For the most part, the 6am U-Turn crew stayed together throughout the run and also afterwards at Panera for 2nd F.  Man did we own those streets rolling 14 deep through Holly Springs.

FNGs: none today

Warm Up: quick parking-lot mosey to get the blood flowing, 20-seconds Michael Phelps, 10x Good Mornings, 10x Daisy Pickers, 10x Frankensteins, 10x Imperial Walkers, 10x Hilly Billy’s, 25-30 Merkins

The Workout: 6mi total: exit Panera, L on Grand Hill Place towards Target, L on New Hill Rd, R on Irving Pkwy, L on GreenOaks Pkwy, crossover Hwy 55 onto Ballentine St., R on Elm Ave, R on Grigsby to the backside of Womble, cut through softball fields to tennis courts, L on Stinson, R on Grigsby, R on Raleigh St, L on Holly Springs Rd, crossover Hwy 55 to New Hill Rd, R on Grand Hill Place, and back to Panera.

Mary: no time today

Announcements: Kettle Bell Snatch Challenge begins Monday, @Fanny Pack hosting 2021 1stF leadership and planning session Monday night 8pm-9pm

T-Claps (Recognition): all U-Turn PAX that got 6+ miles in prior, during, post ME

Prayer: comfort and strength for Lipstick and his family for the loss of his Aunt.  Dumbo took us out with another great prayer and I believe this is the 3rd week he’s taken us out @ U-Turn in a row

Squirtle on the Track

The second Pokemon Q of the week was dedicated to Squirtle, the water type starter. Squirtle is the 7th Pokemon in the Pokedex, so in honor of that we were going to be doing 700m repeat at short interval pacing. Those familiar with track work know that this is quite difficult (800m is the transition between short and long interval) so this was lined up to be a hard workout.

Had a good flurry of HCs the night before so it looked like we were going to get a good showing – the 10 pax that showed did not dissappoint that feeling, including some that are not regulars at the track. Great to see this AO gain a little bit of popularity.

YHC didn’t send out a watch workout to program – rather I was committed to keeping everyone realtively together and instruct on the fly.

FNGs:

Not today!
Warm Up:

Mosey to the track

Mosey lap around

SSH x10 IC

Daisy Picker x10 IC

Good Morning x12 IC

Grab some fence – side to side and front to back leg swings x6 IC each leg

Tiger claws x10

The Workout:

Pax split into two groups of 5 for an indian run of 400m (1 lap). Mosey to the 100m mark for the start of the 700m at short interval pace (the remaining 3/4 of that lap + one more). Pick up the six and indian run another 500m to recover. We repeated this for 4x 700m repeats – there were some good efforts in those repeats with multiple hacking instances after the finish, but sadly no merlot.

After a nice fellowship lap to cool down we lined up for some 100m strides. There was a bit of competition and it was opened up quite a bit. YHC called for 3 in honor of the three starters but Full House must’ve wanted to make sure Pikachu didn’t get left out and called for a 4th. I’m not one to dissappoint so we did a 4th.

Mary:

Mosey back to the flag for some yoga. Downward dog, forward fold, and a very fart filled happy baby.
Announcements:

Long ass run moved to March 27th based on new Wrightsville date. Refocuse of Wrightsville on Our Legs for Crab Legs – wear red on Fridays!
TED talks are online. Last one was kinda weak but the others are great – check them out! https://photos.app.goo.gl/DkR2igUggkb7V5tY9
T-Claps (Recognition):
Red (Red, not Redenbaucher) for really showing up today to support Emeril and Dawgpound. Pax of the year material there boys.
Prayer:
Our country. YHC took us out with a request that pax go out and act on the leadership skills they are gaining.

Emeril is Gonna Be Pissed

Last minute changes can bring both good and bad. Sunday afternoon YHC was asked to swap the Q due another Pax being uncertain if he could make it. A site Q backs down from no challenge even though there was high probability I was going to sleep in but who am I to say no. I gladly accepted. The other Pax being uncertain of attendance now put his fate in M4L arriving at his house sometime prior to 0530. Good news. All were successful. YHC pre-blasted the workout, called out a few pax, and see who showed.

FNGs: None
Warm Up: Mosey around the complex with the first exercise being Good mornings x15 cc (LOL Emeril). Imperial Walkers x 10, Hillbillies x 10 with a fast Cadence count. Guess what was next, and why…5 burpees OYO (too much mumble chatter). Then 1 more burpee OYO for comments not satisfactory to the Q.
The Workout: Split the 14 men into 2 Indian Run lines. 1st lap Merkins, 2nd lap squats, 3rd lap LBCs. One leader was chosen from each group and when that pax got the front the group performed an the exercise. Started with 5 and increase by 5 every time he got to the front.

Mosey to the tennis courts for 7’s of reverse burpees and turkish getups. Indian run back to the basketball courts
Mary: Various stretches
Announcements: Lots. Ted Talk with Pikachu, Dumbo needs someone to help with a gate at HSFC, Long Ass Run, Q-Source discussions
T-Claps (Recognition): Bondo with the pulled calf pushing through
Prayer: Full House and Lipstick family, this country

You Titled this Prefontaine Insanity?

YHC brought out his favorite workout at Tiger Blood this morning. The screenshot of the workout indicated what the Q had titled it in his watch gave the Pax a good indication of what was coming.

FNGs: None
Warm Up: Mosey around the track. Leg swings s2s, tiger claws, Leg swings f2b, A skips, B skips
The Workout: Prefontaine 30/40
5k pace for 200 meters, then about 1:20 slower for 200 meters for 2 miles
400 recovery
Do it again for 1 mile

Cadence work over 100 meters
Progression strides at the end

Mary: Stretching
Announcements: GrowRuck coming up. Long Ass Run.
T-Claps (Recognition):
Prayer: Gigawatt, Full House’s co-worker, Fumunga, Our Country

R4TJ Holiday Bowling Party

EC: Skidmark, Pikachu, Redenbacher, Full House, YHC

FNGs: Had the place all to ourselves…

Warm Up: We left the parking lot abruptly at 5:30 – Couldn’t wait to get this over with started!

The Workout:

A few of us got started in the parking lot early for a little “Extra Credit”, pre-gaming for the company party.  We didn’t go too overboard (well maybe Skidmark did a little) just a few miles to get us in the mood.  These things are always a little dull.  At least we were going to be doing something other than eating finger foods and staring at each other pretending to pay attention to the boss’s next big fish story.  The Boss, or “Nantan” as he likes to be called is always doing something Crazy, Stupid, and Utterly-Pointless…  OOOhhh, we’re impressed you and 3 of your buddies ran 200 miles through the mountains in like a day – big whoop!

You never know quite who plans to show up.  I volunteered to take the lead on this one and sent out invitations (check out that banner up top) in plenty of time and a few extra nudges on the company Slack.  Some of these funny and entertaining videos get a laugh and get people a little more excited about showing.  It’s not like this event lasts forever…  It’s not like running a marathon or anything.

Photo

Honest Abe rolled in right on time like he always does.  McNugget promised to bring the Chicken Minis but none were to be found.  He looked drowsy like he had eaten them all in the car on the way over.  Shredder came, didn’t think he was into bowling…  said he saw the map tucked in the invitation (look right) and that got his attention for some reason.  ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

187 and Lipstick showed up next.  Now the fab 4 were all going to be here… FML…  “remember that time we all nearly died running 200 miles” 🙄

Alright, let’s get this over with started!  The games were set.  The fab 4 were on a team and got started first.  They move fast and it’s best just to let them go.  As we got started, Shredder suggested we sing some carols.  I lead a few bars but it nevery really went anywhere.  Was it me or was no one really feeling festive?  Is Jingle Bells office appropriate?  Shrug it off – let’s keep bowling.

The party split up into appropriate groups, it was nice though we always managed to come back together every once in a while and catch-up around the 6th frame.  Everything was pretty decked out for Christmas, nice assortment of lights.  Way better than the Nantan’s attempt at a light show the week before.  I wouldn’t tell him that though “Great lights last week, huh boss!?”  Gotta get that Christmas bonus.. with this years check I’m putting in a pool for the family..

At one point I was mid-stride, lining up a strike when I heard “Hey Buddy” from somewhere unknown in the distance.  Come to find out Lipstick was doing his business and was trying to talk to us from the John.  Man I hope he left that bathroom in some decent shape.  If any of the other establishments we frequent knew what kind of presents he leaves around… we’d never be welcomed back.

Near the end of the event there was a bit of a snafu.  The alley had to shut down one of the lanes around the 4th mile (our office measures the number of games in miles, strange right?).   The guy came out from behind the pins to let us know.  He only had one arm…  maybe not too surprising I’m sure it gets a little tricky back there.  He told us something about an icy bridge on the greenway???  That’s some pretty high level bowler tech lingo I guess….  We endured through the last 2 miles (games remember) and the party was at it’s end.

Remember:  Don’t Eat Yellow Snow!

Mary:  Mary got fired a few years ago.  Tragic story, remind me to tell you sometime.  Not here, not now…

Announcements:

  • BRR Teams are forming – find your team and get signed up for 2021

T-Claps (Recognition):

  • 187 thanked everyone for all the prayers and support, his M is doing well

Prayer:

  • Prayers for cancer diagnosises in the extended families of Full House and Lipstick
  • Prayers for all of those impacted by Covid, especially those

I thought that was FedEx

Chilly, windy Monday mornings always brings out the best in people: great workouts, great mumble chatter, great fellowship. Nice to see a consistent showing at PC as 13 strong ventured out to let FML take the Q. We make this promise, you will get a variety.

EC Bells: Dawg and Emeril
EC Running: UTI, Lipstick, Skidmark
Commute: Pikachu

FNGs: One new member to F3 moseyed across the street to join rather than making the commute to Garner. Welcome Brah. Good thing he didn’t tell us he joined slack with a fake name or this could have been ugly. Someone pointed out a slight resemblance to FedEx.
Warm Up: Lipstick ran us up the ramp for some SSH, Imperial Walkers, and Hillbillies. Down the ramp for burpees for sleepy Kat and Frankensteins.
The Workout: Lipstick with the first Q who took us on a 5 minute mosey to the entrance to Oak Hall. The first one. BUT depending on you point of reference that could easily change. Regardless we had to run up there in 5 minutes and back in 3:45. Valiant effort.

Pikachu with part Deux. Suicides on the ramp. 3 star jumps at the bottom and Monkey Humpers at the light post. Add 3 humpers at each light post to get you to 39 humpers of monkees.

Mary: Skidmark at the rear. 3 man indian run to the courts for about 7 minutes of plank hold for varying exercises. Forgot Dumbo hurt his shoulder so he exercised his abs from his back. Lots of guys on their knees at this point. Guess they were all sucking…wind

Announcements: 2nd F leadership, 3rd F looking for more guys to join the committee
T-Claps (Recognition): FNG, Bondo is 60 and getting after it.
Prayer: Fanny’s wife, 187 and Tracey, Holiday goods and bads

I’ll take an order of hills hold the lights

FNGs: Nope!
Warm Up: Nada – we had 6 miles to cover
The Workout: An attempted route to see Christmas lights.

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/47106280

Sadly they were very lacking. So we ended up with an order of hills hold the lights.

Slight miscommunication on the way back when a Cayman audible was called – good moral to do more picking up of the six when going through neighborhoods where there are lots of side streets.

Mary:

There was no appetite for Mary in ~35F rain.
Announcements:

Christmas party.
T-Claps (Recognition):

Laettner is still crushing it!
Prayer:

Tracy, Full House’s extended family, Fanny Pack’s M