Posts

U-Turn 5-13-2023

Respect The 1st F

Warm-Up: Warm Up: Good mornings 10x to stretch out; 58 SSHs to recognize my 58 years of the good life.

The Workout: 5.8 mile run based on the Original U-Turn route: Irving, Thomas Mill, Green Oaks, Ballentine, Elm, Main, Holly Springs Road, Sprint to Starbucks

COT Message:

  1. Respect the 1st F. If you are a site Q, if you leading workouts, if you regularly attend a workout, then you should be flying an F3 flag. Why? The mission of F3 is to plant, grow, and serve small workout groups for men for the invigoration of male community leadership. Planting a flag at your workout is a metaphor for that mission. Without a flag, we’re just a bunch of guys working out together. Respect the 1st F, fly your flag, give others the opportunity to experience F3.
  2. Don’t wait until you’re in your 50s to develop an exit strategy for work. If we’re all lucky, we’ll live to be 90 years old. Do you want to work beyond your 50s or 60s? I don’t, at least not tied to a desk. Make a plan now.
  3. Don’t wait until your in your 50s to find Jesus. Turn your life over to Him now and your life will be much more peaceful.

Announcements: Udder has a bib to give for a half marathon in Umstead for next weekend.

T-Claps (Recognition): none called out today

Prayer: Safety to Redenbacher, who’s taking a deep underwater dive in Florida today. Strength and safety to Bobby Boucher, Gator, who are knocking out the New River Marathon near Boone today.

Second F: Panera. I brought a box of fresh strawberries from Miss Madison’s Strawberries. You can find one of their stands on the corner of Bass Lake Road/Hilltop Needmore and Sunset Lake Road (you know, the Citgo station). These strawberries were delicious.

Bottom Line: This was a great way to kick off my birthday. I really appreciate everyone coming out–I know many of you adjusted your runs and plans to be there, so THANK YOU! And I appreciate all the kind words and support throughout the day. Now, go build yourself an F3 flag and fly it!

Earn that Bacon

Today was a first in F3SouthWake. A few PAX have been talking for a few years about having a 2nd F breakfast after a workout to showoff their skills on the griddle. Finally, the day was here. We had an early start (0515) and a shorter (30 min) workout to accommodate this event. YHC had the Q and wanted to PAX to earn that bacon and sausage. We arrived at 0500 to get set up. There were 23 total PAX that came out to enjoy this first time event at Possum Trot, SW’s Original AO site. YHC forgot a cone for the workout so a banana would be the substitute. So I grabbed one and here’s what some PAX called 30 mins of Hell.

Warm up
Mosey down to lower part of park for some carioca, butt kickers, high knees, and slides.
Gather at concession stand area.
SSH’s
Windmills
Willie Mayes Hayes
Plank Jacks

The Thang
Partner Dora
100 – Hand Release Merkins
200 – Shoulder Taps (each side cts as 1)
300 – Squat Jumps
Partner not doing exercises bear crawls to the banana (roughly 25 yards), complete 3 burpees, run back.

With 3 mins to go, we completed Dora gathered back to the starting lot. This is Fuquay’s finest parking lot that comes with razor blade rocks for your liking. We were about to have pancakes with our meat and cup of Joe so I figured let’s try something I’ll call a “flapjack”. Pax lays on their back. Do a WWI then roll over and complete a merkin. 10 total OYO. Everyone got to experience this never forgetting parking lot.

COT
No new PAX.
Announcements: Breach with Travis Manion event on April 28. Details on slack.
Prayers: traveling PAX, those with injuries
Quick word: Easter weekend is here. Remember Jesus and what he went through this week. Hope that everyone can worship this Sunday and reflect on his sacrifice.

This was a very successful event. Hopefully we can do this again possibly in the fall. Thanks for all the PAX that attended and especially for those that contributed to an amazing breakfast. Fonzie and LED on the griddles. Abacus with coffee. Breach and his bigger table that wouldn’t fit in his micro machine car. Thanks for the support and allowing me to lead such a strong group.

BS Out!

 

tenor_gif2235867293817556799

2 Pet Rocks Per PAX

FNGs: Nada

Warm Up:

  • Mozy to Rocks and pick 2 hand-sized rocks each. 
  • Mozy to Ivan lot
  • Good Mornings
  • Windmills
  • Franks
  • SSH
  • Goofballs

The Workout:

  • Mozy to THE PIT and on the way hold rocks up, to the side, and out front while running.
  • That Hill!? – Drop rocks and Partner up.  AMRAP WW2s while the other guy crawls up the hill completes 10 Star Jumps.  Switch.  Continue until each PAX has crawled/walked/run up the hill.
  • Everyone runs up the hill – Rock work up top mixed with dips and derkins
  • Pickup Rocks and Mozy to pavilion passing R4TJ PAX on the way.  march up and down the picnic tables 2x.
  • Grab 1 bench each and perform 10x split squats per leg, 2x
  • Mozy to amphitheater for 20 box jumps
  • Mozy to rock pile and say goodbye to our rock friends. 

Mary:

  • Homer 2 Marge
  • Poop Eaters
  • Freddy Mercs
  • Low slow flutters
  • Pigeon Pose each leg

Announcements:

  • Garbage pickup with Breach this weekend.
  • Reach out to PAX and check in if you havent seen them. 

T-Claps (Recognition):

Great to see Boss Hog out in the gloom! 

Prayer: Injured PAX

U-Turn Segment Challenge – Use Segments to Get Stronger, Faster, Smarter

15 PAX ran the 12 Oaks Route, regular direction. That’s counterclockwise. Here’s today’s challenge: Pick a Strava segment along this route and see what you got. Using Strava’s segments, you can not only find out how you are doing against your peers (U vs. them), but you can also find out how you’re doing versus yourself (U vs. U).

Strava is full of segments. A segment is simply run (or ride) that goes from Point A to Point B. When you run the segment, Strava automatically records your run. Ever notice your Achievements on Strava? Could be your fastest mile, 5k, 10k, marathon or whatever. It can also be your best performance (PR) on a Strava segment.

Today, I identified three segments on the the U-Turn – Twelve Oaks Route (a segment in itself) and challenged PAX to lay down their fastest time:

  • 12 Oaks to Irving Pkwy (1.33 miles along Green Oaks Pkwy from New Hill Rd to Irving Pkwy)
  • Irving Pkwy Roller Coaster Hills (0.46 miles up/down Irving Pkwy)
  • Sprint to Starbucks (0.31 miles from shopping center entrance, right turn to Starbucks)

During the run, 187 coached Moose on the Climb out of 12 Oaks segment. Moose jumped into the Top 10, claiming 8th spot (6:30 pace uphill!). I saw @Pikachu take off on the Sprint to Starbucks. Already a Top 10 finisher there, he didn’t shuffle the Top 10, but he did get his third fastest time 5:07 pace!). @Woody laid down PRs without even trying!

In the end, Strava revealed Segment PRs for @Dawgpound @TomTom @Woody @187 and significant Achievements for @Dahmer @Pikachu and @Moose. Great work fellas!

Again, you don’t have to bust the Top 10! But, you can see how you are doing over time. Feeling strong? Tackle a segment along your run. How did you do? As an added bonus, every time you run a segment, you are essentially doing interval training, which leads to you getting stronger, faster, smarter.

Announcements: Pikchu’s church Oasis holds its first Sunday Service this weekend in the new building.

Prayer Requests: Injured PAX.

Like many of you, I’m trying to improve in 2023. On thing I’m doing is reading the book, Jesus Calling, a daily reader. I thought everyone could benefit from a passage I read this week. I read that as part of the closing prayer. See image below.

 

Paradise City Q of the Year?

YHC showed up early to set up some equipment for todays beat down. The preblast had a comment saying this would be the best Q of the year. Needless to say I think it was, considering there was only 1 other one. This is the rare occasion I have the honor to Q PC and know the standard mileage is 3 or more. YHC wanted to bring the intensity and keep the PAX moving with the option to push themselves. We had 11 HIM show up for the main event with a few ECers. One dude rucked it up as well. This is what we did.

Run big loop reverse with warm up exercises along the way.
Frankensteins
Windmills
Skiers
Copperhead Dirkens

7’s on ramp down to sportsman – burpees and worst Merkin ever
Agility ladders on the flat in the middle

Stack’ems in the parking lot (snake)
Shoulder tap merkins x10
Freddy Mercury’s x20
Chilly jacks x30
Bobby Hurleys x40 – didn’t have enough time

No Mary
No new announcements
Prayers for lady dying of cancer, church family had a loss, Pablo’s family with their loss.
YHC challenged the PAX to stop going through the motions and get out of their comfort zone. Do something to benefit someone each day.

Pleasure to lead men!
BS out

His stride is 3x longer than mine…

FNGs: none, but we did have two visitors. Mr. Woodchuck from Jacksonville, FL (Full House’s brother) and McFly from TN.

Warm Up:

SSH x 20 IC, Good mornings x10 IC, Sir Fazio Arm Circles forward and reverse x 10 IC, Seal Claps x 10 IC, Overhead Claps x 10 IC, mosey to other end of the lot, Hillbillies x 15 IC, Frankenstein x 10 IC, Squatted Moroccans x 15 IC

Mosey to THAT hill.

The Workout:

7s on THAT hill with squats at the bottom, sprint to top, star jumps, mosey back down

Mosey to the guard rail across from Dunkin for 3 sets of urkins, dips, and Bulgarian split squats with each leg. Did a decreasing count on each set. 20, 15, 10.

Mosey to rock pile and grab two rocks. Circle up and perform 3 sets of rock work including curls for the girls, overhead press, ruh rohs, wonderbras, flys, bus drivers, tricep extensions.

Between sets PAX went over to the wall behind the stores and completed 2 rounds of people’s chair x10 count each PAX. Also did Balls to the Wall x 5 count each PAX.

Mosey behind HT and back to the flag for Mary.

Mary: Popcorn Mary consisting of LBC, Heel Taps, American Hammers, something called Dr. W’s I think that 16-bit called – these required way too much coordination for YHC’s liking, Low Slow Flutter, out of time.

Announcements:

Moose 52/52 Murph’s for the year. Hell of an accomplishment. T-claps!

T-Claps (Recognition): Again Moose and all of the pax out on EC. Wild Turkey, UTI, Jellybeans.

Prayer: Those dealing with cancer, sickness, traveling for holidays, military and first responders.

YHC took us out. Honor to lead!

Apple Fritters at PC

FNGs: none
Warm Up: SSH, Daisy Pickers, Imperial Walkers, Hillbillies, Sir Fazio Arm Circles / Seal Claps, Overhead Claps / Chinooks
The Workout: The mumble chatter was rolling this morning, you would have thought we were in Carpex!
We started out on “that hill” with 7s. Squats at the top, WWIIs at the bottom. Mosey down, bear crawl up.
Moseyed over to the wall behind the stores for 2 rounds of People’s Chair and Balls to the Wall. Then we grabbed two palm-sized rocks for 2-3 rounds (bad memory) of Curls for the Girls, overhead press and Ruh Rohs. Someone said something about being cold and apple fritters and YHC almost lost his cadence.
Returned our rocks back to PRECISELY where we found them and moseyed around the back side of the shopping center, stopping for a few copperhead squats (in cadence).
Mary: Popcorn Mary (each PAX got to choose an exercise).
Announcements: Christmas party this Saturday! Be aware of heart attack signs, especially this time of year, and speak up if you don’t feel right.
Prayer: Softserve’s hand

Cletus Rules!

Lots of chatter the night before Cletus. YHC was inviting everyone to come out for an old school beat down. There were a lot of PAX getting in some early miles before the main event. After 21 PAX showed it was 0530. One more came flying in making it 22 total for the AO. We had a lot of smells coming from multiple guys but we survived. Here’s what was on the menu.

Warm up
Mosey to lower lot area, circle up
Burpees x5
Seal Jacks x20 IC
Burpees x5
Bat wings x20 IC
Burpees x5
Cotton pickers x10 IC
Burpees x5

Mosey to lot near volleyball
7’s Bonnie Blair squat broad jumps
– sea star jump ups
– Curb hand release derkins

Partner carry to ball field entrance
Partner wheelbarrow and switch until reach statue

Circle around statue on six for Guantanamo

Mosey to concession stand
BTTW shoulder taps x10 IC
Wall sit hallelujahs x10 IC
R&R

Indian run 2 groups to tennis courts
Stay in groups in corners
Crab bucket corners
1 – crab cakes
2 – crab humpers
3 – crab jacks
Crab walk to each corner
X10 reps IC for all

Mary
Sally abs
Side raises
Plank hold to Chillcut hold
HAND

COT was interesting as we had a buck walk over in the parking lot. Guess he was an FNG we missed earlier.
Announcements on slack
Pikachu took us out in prayer.

Excellent turnout and strong work from the pax today. As always, it’s an honor and a pleasure to be able to lead a group of HIM.

BS out!

Not Quite As Bad As A Dirty Delete

Pre-blast art by: DALL-E 2 with the prompt “fat purple cobra sitting next to half-eaten pumpkin pie”

FNGs: No

Lipsticks attendance was a surprise since he had HC’d and made a big deal about dirty deletes for Prison Yard… He overslept so we got him instead (yippee)

Warm Up: Good Mornings, Frankensteins, SSH, Imperial Walkers, Hillbillies

The Workout:

THANG 1 – Mozy to the church lot – Stack-em-up BLIMPS

  • Run to 1st Post
  • 5x Burpees
  • Run Back to Start 10 SSH
  • Run to 2nd post
  • 10x LBCs
  • Run to 1st Post
  • 5x Burpees
  • Run Back to Start 10 SSH
  • Continue on this way through 15x Imperial Walkers (IC), 20 Merkins, 25 Plank Jacks, 30 Squats

THANG 2 – Mozy to THAT HILL

  • 10WW2s
  • Sprint up the hill
  • 10 Star Jumps
  • Down the hill
  • Repeat 5x

Mary: Box Cutters, Ankle Grabbers, Crab Cakes

Announcements: Christmas Cookie Party – Ms and 2.0s invited

Prayer:

  • Sick PAX coming back from the holidays.
  • SoftServe, healing up after an ordeal involving his ring finger.  Also prayers for his family as they are faced with some tough decisions concerning one of their dogs.

Meet Charles Bronson

EC: Standard 2 mile route – solo

Warmups: Ran one lap around the main circuit and stopped for Good Mornings (10x), SSH (50x), and that’s about it. Back to the basketball court area for the ME. 

ME: I centered the workout on reaching 3 miles running. How do you get there? You run around the main 0.5 mile circuit 6 times. No problem. But what about the exercises? Hmmmmm. Hello Lexicon!

Meet Charles Bronson. Wikipedia: One film critic said that Bronson “oozed male life-force, stoic toughness, capability, strength.” Ha! That’s perfect for an F3 RESPECT week workout. 

In the Charles Bronson exercise, you begin with a 50-rep exercise–again, perfect for RESPECT week. We did overhead claps, jump lunges, LBCs, Merkins, and regular lunges. Next time I’ll make the exercises a lot harder

I had set up cones on the back stretch, where it’s slightly uphill, perfect for accelerated runs. We did the exercises and runs together. 

Cone 1: Accelerate to cone 1, but you must reach your top speed as you cross the finish line. So, you must accelerate all the way! 

Cone 2: Decelerate to cone 2. Because you hit top speed at cone 1, you need a short distance to slow down.

Cone 3: Bear crawl from cone 3 to upper corner of the lot. Then, run together, circling back to basketball court corner, rinse and repeat five times, at least.

Mary: 3 minutes ab work, including 50 big boy sit ups and more.

RESPECT Message: Be a positive impact on your community. Last weekend I was biking and was disappointed to see graffiti on the freshly painted white walls as I passed through the under pass tunnel. On my return, however, I could smell fresh spray paint. Aha! Thinking I was gonna catch the culprits red handed, I rolled into the tunnel to find a father and some teens spraying white, over the graffiti! I was so impressed. The community wins! 

So, if you see the opportunity to have a positive impact, go for it!