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Yes, We Do Take Requests

EC for Bernie and Brexit who ran over from home, and for Cowboy, Abe and Nemo – thanks Cowboy for inspiring us to get in a solid run despite the late start.  Bullseye was first on scene as he was so excited tto get his hands on the brand new breathtaker.  A couple guys reached out to ask about running today and there were some request to keep he running to a minimum.  When you are riding your bike to post, with breathtaker, and going on several days in a row, I will listen to your request.  Opened with the news about Warchild, many black shirts to represent and a moment of silence

FNGs: Nope
Warm Up: Regular lap around the big block, circled up for some quick w/u exercises

The Workout: Stayed right in the same spot the whole time.  Picked up rocks and circled up.  The workout was a build as we did everything ICx10 and added an exercise each round until we had 10 different exercises.  Some guys picked up on the patter, others thought it was totally random.  Either way, I like to think it was an even, consistent workout with no real breaks.  The exercise order went like this: curls, SSH, triceps, Goof Balls, Ground Pounders, Mt. Climbers, Wonder Bras, Merkins, Bus Drivers, Burpees.  So that means we did curls ICx100, SSH ICx90…all the way to just the 10 burpees, but we did them slow and in cadence to focus on form.  Time was on our side as we wrapped up, returned the rocks and circled back up.
Mary: 2 sets, all ICx10 and without letting the feet touch the ground: LBC, 6 inch hold, low slow flutter, Homer to Marge
Announcements: Mention of new AOs
T-Claps (Recognition): Great to see Coal Ash back out there today as he continues to recover – strong effort
Prayer: We took a silent 10 count for unspoken and YHC took us out

U-Turn

13 PAX came out this morning to enjoy the cool weather and pick up some mileage. Good work men!! 

FNGs: Welcome Alpine!

Prayer: praying for all the fathers out their this weekend.

R4TJ BB

EC: Pre-EC included 2.5 miles performed by YHC, Post-EC involved Yogurt’s patented 8-min abs Ting hill repeats which he performed solo.

FNGs: uh uh… nope…

Warm Up:  Frankensteins, Daisy Pickers, Butt Kickers, and High Knees

The Workout:  Synchronize watches… and… GO!  PAX of 13 charged towards their hill laden destiny on the BROKED course.  We liked it so much last week, we just had to do it again.  These 13 brave HIM decided to make their legs hurt on purpose in the name of getting stronger- they got 4.9 miles for their efforts today.  The call out to the BRR crew yielded Sir DawgPound, Aquaman, ShamWow!, Blue Hen, Dumbo, and YHC

Mary: had a little lamb… little lamb… little lamb…

Announcements:

  • New AO that hasn’t been named will commence next Wednesday at Womble.  Check Slack and see Aquaman/Doc
    • Please note their is a superior alternative AO to this TBD AO and the Trot…  please see R4TJ 😀
  • Ultimate Frisbee at Tiger Blood this week.
  • YHC has your Q at Dad’s workout this weekend.  I hope you enjoy Kickball… specially modified kickball of course 😉
    • Anyone running an obstacle course or missing the Dads workout should still shoot for 2nd F at Dunkin’ if the time lines up.
  • Paradise City will be hosting a quarterly fitness test (stolen from Carpex) – see DawgPound for details and to make sure you show up for the right day if you are interested in tracking your progress moving forward.
  • An informal running option will commence in 12 Oaks on Fridays at 5am – Bring on them hills!!!

T-Claps (Recognition):  Great work out there this morning guys.  Crossway is no joke and the humidity doesn’t make it any easier.

Prayer: ShamWow! took us out.  Way to lead!

Laps for Days

22 PAX came out for Purple Cobra beatdown by YHC. 8 PAX showed up for an EC run before what turned out to be a run-centric workout. We had it all, burpees, hills, running, what more could you ask for? Boogie EH’d his 2.0 to come out this morning, so a quick disclaimer for the FNG and we were off.

EC: 187, Axe, Dahmer, Dawgpound, Full House, Plex, ShamWow, Warbucks

FNGs: Iceman – Boogie’s 2.0, training to prepare for Air Force > Top Gun > Iceman.

Warm Up:
Mosey to Goodwill lot and circled up for:
SSH x30 IC
Morrocan night club x10 IC
Sir Fazio arm circles x10 forward/x10 backward
Steve Earle x15 IC
Mountain climbers x10 IC

The Workout:
PAX got into groups of 3 (1 group of 4) and repeated a lap with 4 stops for exercises, starting with 10 reps at each station, decreasing by 1 after each lap.

Station 1. Burpees – bottom of Lassiter Rd (Fun for all)
Station 2. Underdogs (rows) – on guardrail at top of Lassiter Rd (ShamWow wasn’t a fan as the guardrail gave him a boo boo)
* Bootcamp workouts in general consist of a lot of pushing exercises and very little pulling. I add these to try and balance out the workouts. Here is a good article on having a balanced bootcamp workout. The blog has a lot of ideas for those Q’ing and want to do something different. https://bootcampideas.com/balancing-your-bootcamp-training/
Station 3. Monkey humpers – sidewalk at Sunset Lake (did these on the road to give passerby’s a show)
Station 4. Pattycake merkins – Goodwill parking lot (these were interesting with 3)

Groups got in 5-6 rounds before being out of time.

Mosey back to start.

Mary:
ShamWow led some plank holds and shoulder taps until all were back.
Absolution: Groiners (legs out and back for 1,2), down to chill cut (3,4), chill plank jack (5,6), back up to plank (7,8)
Gas pump – Start in the LBC position and straighten your legs to the Dolly position and then back to the LBC position.
LSF x20 IC
Homer to marge x10 IC
right leg up x7 IC
left leg up x7 IC
LBCs x30 IC

Announcements:
Special Co-Q at Disney on Thursday.

T-Claps (Recognition):
8 for EC, good work fellas.
Good work put in by all today!

Prayer:
Warbucks dad with back issues, injured PAX.

YHC took us out.

Core on the Run

Monday early start we had 7 on EC with Pikachu, Skidmark, 187, Slide Rule, Axe, Cowboy and Nemo.  YHC was looking to accomodate several subtle requests so I came up with a little something new for DT and added in a new stop along the way.

FNGs: None today
Warm Up: Regular lap around the big block, circled up in town hall lot for some IC SSH, Good Mornings, Squats, Fazio Arms
The Workout:  On the jog back up Main St we went all the way to the abandoned drug store on the SW corner of Main and Holly Springs.  Why?  Because they have a wall.  We got right to business with BTTW 10 count, drop to plank hold for 10 count, Mt Climbers ICx10, and up to a 10 count squats.  Recover on a 10 count, and repeat for a total of 5 sets with the last set being to 15.  Back on the run we headed over to cemetery hill.   Squat hold for the 6 at the top.  At the top we safely dropped for a round of modified ATMs – 10 count plank hold, ICx10 shoulder taps, 10 count plank hold, 10 count merkins, 10 count plank hold.  Recover on the jog down the hill for 3 burpees OYO and climb back to the top for another round.  We did 4 climbs up the hill and upped he last round to 15 IC/count,  On the jog back to start.  Finished with over 2 miles.
Mary: 2 quick rounds LBC/Homer to Marge/6 inch hold/low slow flutter
Announcements: See Facebook/Slack for lots of unique opportunities.  Tea Time location change, Ivan/Cletus merge for COT for new month for breathtaker
T-Claps (Recognition): It was a great group out there this morning and everyone was giving a huge effort.  T-Claps to Katniss for pushing through that workout with breathtaker.  Also, I just want to say I have been doing quite a few runs with Cowboy recently and this guy is showing up, putting in the work and getting stronger every day.  Always great to be out there with you and congrats on your run this past weekend at the Quay RFTQ.
Prayer: All unspoken so we took a silent 10 count and YHC took us out.

10 Foot Woodage.. A New Standard at AGS

I’m gonna start this backblast a little different to help illustrate a lesson in Iron Sharpens Iron. For those that are familiar with the movie, Pulp Fiction, I’m gonna ‘Tarantino’ this one. Here we are- Pikachu, Skidmark, Cupid, YHC, and a newly named four legged-F3 canine- Backstroke lounging with Dunkin cold brews on the outdoor seats at 7:20am for a second F reviewing the Strava feed from this morning’s run. Skidmark turns to Pikachu with Strava segments in display and says something to the effect of good recovery run, but I think we went a little  slow…..

If anyone saw their times during yesterday’s Run the Quay, Skidmark was not far off in this statement as the run today was a little over 2 minutes what they recorded yesterday. Let’s face it, these guys are fast and their recovery run was my fastest paced run of the year. Did YHC take offense to this comment, absolutely not. In fact, I knew if I could keep the shirtless wonders in my site this morning, I knew I was having a good run and that’s the point of the story, along with the great push and fellowship shared by the 7 PAX that posted this morning, 2- with a 4-legged accountability partner in tow.

Arrived to the parking lot with a clear air at our backs with almost no humidity. A huge change from a week before. Red Truck- Skidmark, Grey Truck- Nemo, Pikachu rolls up and then in the backdrop I see Cupid making his debut and picking up an early morning deposit from his FNG. Yogurt comes rolling up with Crumb Snatcher, and then followed by Maybelline.

Warm Up:

5:59 hit just as something foul exited Pikachu. With that YHC called ‘Go Time’ manuevering around the scene of crime to the first picnic shelter. Called for PAX to occupy a picnic table for a set up 10-step ups IC. Mosey’d to Ivan lot for carioca to the halfway point and butt kickers to the far end where we circled up for Imperial Walkers X10 IC. Mosey’d back to the flag for a set of stationary high-knees X10 IC.

The Workout: YHC called for a squat hold while calling out the route. With 4 PAX looking for recovery runs, some looking for 3, others 6. YHC had a mix of payement and trails planned. Those wanting 3 would head down Stinson, left on Bass Lake, right on Holly Springs Road heading down to Linksland and head back. For those wanting 6, they would take a right on Linksland, right on Salem Ridge, and a left onto Bass Lake to the trail along the boat house by the canoes and then head to the greenway. At the greenway, we would take the HSHM route up the trail into Sugg Farm and then back out to Grigsby. With the first mile down, Maybelline made the first push out ahead of the PAX followed by Pickachu, Skidmark, Nemo, Yogurt and Crumb Snatcher, YHC, then Cupid and FNG-Backstroke. As we made our way to Linksland with Yogurt picking up the six, gave Cupid the heads up that if he heads back from the point where we stood, he’d have a little over 3 by time he made it back to Womble. “I think he “Backstroke” is ok and we can do 4. Yogurt gave the nod and said, “I’ll head back with you once we hit 2mi.” This seems to happen spontaneously at AGS, PAX are always recording more miles than they think they’ll record. With a few extra fist bumps at the pole, YHC was off to join the remaining PAX. Made the right on Salem Ridge dreading that up and down hill before hitting Bass Lake. Just as I was thinking stop to take a quick breather at the bottom of the short hill before Bass Lake, down comes Skidmark to pick up the six. He began to start a conversation (which I can’t remember as I was focused on the hill and keeping up), but in any event, I somehow managed to carry the conversation and the hill at the same time. Somewhat relieved that I survived and kept up, we then joined the remaining PAX- Maybelline, Nemo and Pikachu. Nemo gave the warning to not venture 10 feet into the wooded area just to the right about 50yards up. Apparently, Pikachu adjusted gross weight, but was polite enough to do so while maintaining ’10 foot woodage’- a new standard for pathway deposits delivered during running AO’s.

PAX took note of the Sky Q’s incredible sunrise before making their way up the trail to Sugg. Strong push up the hill and to the remaining stretch to Womble, where we reunited with Cupid, Yogurt, Crumb Snatcher, and Backstroke

Mary:Stretches OYO
Announcements: Crazy Train next Saturday
T-Claps (Recognition): Cupid, Skidmark, Pikachu, and Yogurt for strong showings on Saturday and having the energy for a run this morning. Maybelline for setting the pace and Nemo for the added push throughout the run.

Prayer: Maybelline’s dad and all PAX with family members who are battling cancer. All PAX with injuries and safe\healthy returns to the gloom. YHC took us out.

Nice Ass POTS

I wanted to provide the PAX that are doing the Triangle Tri and Run the Quay tomorrow a friendly workout that should loosen everyone up.

EC: 16-bit, Dawgpound, Chips, Aquaman, Lucky, Pikachu, Skidmark, Bullseye, Nemo
FNGs: None
Warm Up: None
The Workout:
Yoga with Kassandra Minimal Cues.  She says at the beginning you know the part we skipped that with the minimal cues she expects us to be more advance.  🤷‍♂️

Mary: None (Kassandra did this part too)
Announcements:

Run the Quay
Triangle Tri

T-Claps (Recognition): None
Prayer:

Unspoken
Accordian’s Daughter
All injured pax

R4TJ gets B.R.O.K.E.D.

EC: YHC did 2 miles solo before official start / Yogurt completed his Ting Sprints solo afterward

FNGs: Nope, everyone knew what they were getting into…

Warm Up: Frankensteins, Windmills, Skipping

The Workout: Some running AOs refer to themselves as “BRR Friendly” (air quotes). R4TJ likes to refer to their flavor of BRR training route as the BLUE RIDGE OUTRAGEOUS KLIMB ELEVATION DEMO. We here at R4TJ like to say that your legs will feel B.R.O.K.E.D. when you’re done – Satisfaction Guaranteed! Or your money back!  So…We got B.R.O.K.E.D.!!!  For the uninformed, this is done by running from Ting, down to Crossway, continued to the dead-end on Crossway, and turned around for the return to Ting.

Mary: I think she fartsacked….

Announcements:  Best of luck to everyone racing the Quay and the Triangle Tri this weekend

T-Claps (Recognition): Aquaman for joining us on his first R4TJ, we hope to have him back more often.

Prayer:  Maybelline’s dad is fighting prostate cancer

2 Years Strong

First, it was Memorial Day and we made sure to acknowledge before we started the workout.  Important to focus on what the day really means.

It was my 2 year anniversary so I took the Q at Paradise City, one of the most influential AOs for me during my F3 time.  I have since started Downtown Train as an alternative for Monday mornings but PC will always be near and dear to my heart.  So, we did a convergence.  We had several for EC including a group of  doing a run from Womble as EC then a return run to Womble for the Murph, thus creating their own CSAUP.  Kudos to UTI, Lipstick and Aquaman.  Don’t recall who we had for EC exactly.  Think there were 5 of us, but what I do remember is, in rare form, all of us stuck together the entire 2 miles, and that was cool.  One thing I really love about F3, every workout is a bit different and it is all driven by the guys you post with.  We have so many great characters and the mix we had today was really a strong reflection for me of my time in F3.  Thanks to all who came out top post.

FNGs: None
Warm Up: On the jog to bottom of ramp for SSH (a Nemo favorite) and extended count Good Mornings.  On the jog to top of ramp for SSH and Goofballs.  On the jog around to back corner for Sir Fazio.  On the jog down to end of guard rail to stretch the arms.
The Workout: On the guard rail we did a rapid set of tempo dips ICx10 followed by Mt Climbers ICx10.  3 sets.  Sweat was already in play thanks to the muggy air.  On the jog to the rocks each man picked a rock, and a couple picked a wasp nest, then we headed over to the tunnel with half lined up on each side.  Did a few rounds of exercises with one group on the exercise in tunnel and the other on the run to end of path and back.  Had to wait to switch until all were back and in People’s Chair.  Started with curls for the girls, then ground pounders.   2 sets of each.  Might have been more, I don’t recall.  Ended with some BTTW with a long count down the line.  Stench was building so we returned the rocks and headed back to bball courts.
Mary: A couple quick sets keeping the legs up for LBC, 6″, Low Slow Flutter, American Hammer and a Pickle Pounder to close it out.
Announcements: See Slack
T-Claps (Recognition): Abe for putting in total effort with BreathTaker.  This guy has been an inspiration for me from his first post.
Prayer: YHC shared 2 things I hope all of you will think about.  1. If any of you think you are not making a difference in someone’s life – if you have ever posted with me, 1st, 2nd or 3rd F, if we have posted together only 1x, or if we have been out in the cold weeks on end pushing each other – know that you are making a difference for me.  And 2. something that F3 has done for me – just like the rest of you I carry a lot of stuff around with me, some of it I share, some I don’t because I might just not be ready, but what F3 has done for me is it has made me stronger in identifying and more patiently dealing with my “stuff’ and maybe that’s because I know that at any time I need it, one of you will have my back, and that has been a difference maker.  YHC took us out in prayer with respect to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.

5 Year Anniversary Special

As always, it is an honor to get out and lead the group.  Around this time 5 years ago PeakWeek EH’d me into coming out with him to F3 while drinking a cold one by the pool.  It was one of the best decisions I made to say, sure let’s do it.

To celebrate the 5 years I thought it only appropriate to run 5 miles prior to Cletus.  It was great to have 11 join in on the fun (Flanigan, VanPatten, Emeril, M4L, Dawgpound, Pilgrim, Bernie, ShamWow, Nemo, BlueHen, and SlideRule)

The past 5 years of involvement with f3 have provided me with many things I wouldn’t have had as a sad clown… lifetime friendships, strengthened faith, improved health, greater faith, perseverance, many laughs, many miles run, and the list goes on and on…

Below is my 5 must do F3 SouthWake list that I shared with the PAX after Cletus.   Be sure to check these off the list:

  1. Pick a Big Goal and get after it, don’t quit, fall down, and keep trying until the goal is accomplished. It can be fitness, health, marriage, work, etc. You can accomplish more then you thought is possible with this group of brothers behind you.  Mine was to complete a marathon under 4 hours.  It  took me five marathons to make it happen, but each year I got faster and the goal was accomplished.

2. Participate in a CSAUP (completely stupid and utterly pointless) event. These are a great way to form a closer bond with brothers that you wouldn’t normally have the opportunity in the normal gloom.  Some of the memorable CSAUP’s over the years for me; GoRuck Tough, Beer Ruck, Raleigh Convergences (especially the one below), and ATT Long Ass Runs.

3. Find someone that you can get behind and support.  Maybe it is helping them reach a goal or supporting challenges they are facing.  You will find that you get so much more by helping someone reach their goal then achieving your own.  Many of us in the picture below have had the opportunity to support each other crossing that finish line at the HSHM.

4. Step up and Lead.  If you haven’t led a site Q – Do it.  Move on to leading a 2nd F or 3rd F.  There are many opportunities to become a stronger leader. This picture is the first kids workout I led and my 2.0’s still talk about it today.

5. Put March 21 and the Wrightsville Beach marathon on your calendar (every year).  The Wrightsville marathon has become a SouthWake tradition and a great way to get behind our brother CrabLegs! #OurLegsForCrablegs

Now on to the workout….

Warm Up:

Quick mosey over to the grass parking lot for warm ups.

Good Mornings X 10

Jacked UP!

SSH X 50 IC

Seal Jacks X 40 IC

Smurf Jacks X 30 IC

Plank Jacks X 20 IC

Chilly Jacks X 10 IC

The Workout:

Play Ball (two rounds)

PeakWeek brought me out to Cletus for my first F3 workout.  I really don’t remember all that we did, but no I almost died out on the baseball field so it only seemed appropriate to get things start on the field.

Here is how it went down…

Partner up.  Each partner went in opposite directions from home plate jogging the infield baselines.  When the PAX passed 1st or 3rd pate sprint to the outfield foul pole and drop down for 10 merkins.  After the merkins sprints to centerfield  meeting up with your partner for 10 brokeback merkins each and continue back to home plate.  Everyone completed two rounds and held people’s chair until all were finished.

Next up….

Wall of Pain- concession stand

Australian Mountain Climbers X 20 IC

Recover with 10 squats holding wall IC

Ascending testicles, 5 inch, 15 inch, 30 inch X 5 each IC

Recover with 10 squats holding wall IC

Balls to the wall X 20 IC

Recover with 10 squats holding wall

Each of the partners joined up with another group for small group Indian run back to the tennis courts taking the long way by Crazy Ivan.

Finally the PeakWeek special…

One round of suicides on each line followed by partner frog jumps.  Each partner did one court and switched with the frog jumps, then switched to wheelbarrows on the way back.

To drive home the pain of the Frog Jumps we did two rounds.

People’s chair until everyone is finished.

Mary:

  1. 5ive inch leg hold X 5 IC
  2. 15 Inch leg hold X 5 IC
  3. Americana Hammer X 15 IC
  4. Freddie Mercury X 15 IC
  5. Boat Canoe X 15 IC

Announcements:

Bottle share tonight (see Pikachu), helping with HS Food Kitchen tomorrow (see Fritter Foundation), Yogurt will continue to lead sprints after workouts including today. PAX for sprints today: Yogurt, BlueHen, Hoff, Flanigan, Slide Rule, and Kid Cracker.   Yogurt will help you get faster – Give it a try!!

I shared 5 F3 Southwake recommendations above.

T-Claps (Recognition):

I brought with me one of the original F3 SouthWake shirts to give to give to the PAX that is newest to the group.  Abe was the lucky recipient of the shirt and is challenged to pass this down on his 1 year anniversary. Yogurt who brought Abe out will be his accountability partner.  Abe is starting off strong stepping up to take the breathtaker – T-Claps man!!

Prayer:

CrabLegs and all those who have and are serving!

2nd F followed at Dunkin. Congrats to the newest Fritter remembers and thanks M4L for the cake!