Posts

Lots of training, lots of miles

Lots of HIM this morning putting in lots of work.  There were a lot of guys getting in various lengths of EC.  All three of South Wake’s BRR teams were represented as training is intensifying as the start was 41 days away.  We were also briefly joined by Aquaman and Bernie as they were casually running around Holly Springs.

EC: 

Pikachu, Cupid, Skidmark, Katniss, Redenbacher, Dawgpound, Emeril, Vasoline, Boy George, McNugget, Cupid

FNGs:

None

Warm Up:

SSH x15 IC

Butt Kickers x10 IC

High Knees x10 IC

Frankensteins x10 IC

Daisy Pickers x10 IC

The Workout:

Standard loops with lots of picking up of the six.

Mary:

Nothing formal but some dudes did some yoga after CoT

Announcements:

Mulch is still going on.  Fill up the Qsheet.  Be aware of your HCs, too many AOs this week were solo or only had two.  If you’re planning on going give an HC so the Q can get an idea of who is going to be there.  If you HC, actually go.

Qswap week coming up soon.  More details will be coming.

T-Claps (Recognition):

Cupid finished his masters!

Prayer:

Praise for Cupid and also for Boy George who got an offer on his house.  Pray for everyone out there that is sick, or dealing with a sick family member, or just dealing with the stress of life right now.

 

010000

One

FNGs: Nope
Warm Up: SSH, Hillbillies, imperial walkers, sir fazio’s, good mornings
The Workout:

 

Ran Clockwise around the track till I got to the amphitheater.

Alternated between BTTW/Box jumps and various core exercises (half pikes, pickle pounders, LBCs, mountain climbers, Freddie Mercuries, Windshield wipers, box cutters, LSFs). Took a lap after every couple sets
Mary: 2 extra laps around the track to get me to 6:30
Announcements: Mulch probably
T-Claps (Recognition): Me for making the most of it.
Prayer: Everyone

Crossing the Aisle

Bringing people together is important.  We each have the power to unite or divide. Men, in particular, have an opportunity to bring people together. Our families, our co-workers, neighbors, and friends. Sadly, a lot of guys go it alone and don’t engage. I’ve been there.

One way men get together is through competition (usually proceeded by smack talk, then usually followed by the smack down) and cooperation. Well, we had all that and more going on today. You see, there has been a lot of smack talk between R4TJ and TBD here lately. These co-site Q’s apparently inherited a beef that goes back.  Well, YHC decided to cross the aisle, plan a small convergence of sorts, and plan a competitive Thang for us to come together, workout, and have some fun before the smack talk re-ensues.  With both site Q’s negotiating the plan and timing, we were ready to roll.  14 pax from TBD rolled up on 8 pax from R4TJ on the parking deck to get squared away. There was an additional, 5-6 R4TJ pax that had “other hills to climb”.

EC: YHC solo.
Warm Up: Told the fellas I wasn’t wearing gloves cuz I didn’t want to hear R4TJ complain about it for the limited ground work we’d do. Circle up for SSH, Good Mornings, Windmills, Squatted Seal And Overhead Claps, Moroccan Night Clubs, Annie’s, and Frankenstein’s. Mosey the .6 mile over to the parking deck. Picking up the six before crossing Main.
The Workout: Thang 1 was meant to be for my crowd only. SSH in circle, then a Guantanamo style 45 degree side shuffle down the line and a plank hold hop down the line.  Alternated position every 3 or so pax.  Just happened to finish as R4TJ arrived.  After a quick count off, rules of engagement, etc. YHC decided to partner up mixed teams of R4TJ and TBD pax. YHC planned beforehand that if we couldn’t match numbers to compete… we would cooperate and compete. 2 teams… 3 points to be won. All pax in a parking space on their six.

Thang 2: 1 pax sprints wall to wall and back to their spot. All other pax await their turn to run by doing WW1. In the end, 1 point was awarded to team that finished sprints first. 1 point for most cumulative WW1’s. 1 point for team who could calculate their WW1 total the fastest. This fella named McNugget is crazy fast and closed the distance. Halftime result- 2-1 for team 1.

Thang 3: Down below to the underworld for last man standing BTTW. Turns out, 4 minutes and 8 seconds declared a winner. Team 2 awarded the point, but crazy cheers, coaching, and valiant effort put in by all. We finished in a 2-2 tie.
Mary: Mosey back to the TBD flag. Laughs were had, encouragement happened, we got loud downtown in the early morning, men worked out. It’s really all that YHC hoped would happen this morning. F3 can be fun too. #morethanaworkout
Announcements: Mulch continues, Sign up. Mookie will be reaching out to site-Q’s with info about Q swap in the coming weeks. As per Banana Seat, try to get out in the coming weeks to AO’s you usually don’t frequent.
T-Claps (Recognition): Cupid for being agreeable to arrange this idea of mine. Goldilocks apparently made a return to the gloom?
Prayer: Unspoken, those in recovery.  We are thankful.  YHC took is out.

Filter or Cowboy Style?

The air was thick down in the Teeter bowl this morning.  Cigarette butts were abundant among the parking spaces that were used just about all through the workout. Mumblechatter surrounded cigarette style preference, proper exercise form, slow bear crawlers, and the size of sweat stains. “Hey, can get that last drag?”  “You got menthol filter over there?” “Nah, this ones cowboy style.” “ How many merkins on these burpees?” These were only a few of the mumblechatter examples as we moved constantly throughout today’s AO.

EC: YHC, 187, and Aquaman. Why did we take the Wescott hill route.

FNG’s: None, but Bullseye is officially an FNG behind the wheel with his permit now!
Warm Up: Mosey around the lot a bit stopping for Good Mornings, Sir Fazio’s, Squatted Seal And Overhead Claps, Frankenstein’s, and Imperial Walkers.
The Workout: Bear Crawlers Choice as we laid down some tracks along the parking spaces. Each pax in a parking spot. First pax calls an AMRAP exercise and bear crawls to the end.  Continued this procedure for the whole workout. The only break in action was when we hit an island, we all jailbreaked to the end of the lot, moseyed back to our spots and continued. Did this twice. Lunge walked back the second time. All kinds of exercises were called. Merkins, Irkins, dirkins, dry dicks, squats, lunges, pistol squats (ouch!), Shoulder Taps, WW1s and 2’s, Pickle Pounders, H2M, LBC, LSF, Guantanamo’s, burpees, Star Jumps, absolutions, Peter Parker’s, Box Cutters, Boat Canoes, American Hammers, mountain climbers, Freddie Mercury’s, wine mixers, plank holds, side planks, and several more.  The pax altogether called out a solid workout!
Mary: During the Thang.
Announcements:  Mix it up, get to other AO’s this week.  Mulch continues. Q Swap at the end of August.
T-Claps (Recognition): Lots of sweat stains on the lot this morning.  Great work HIM’s!
Prayer: Military, first responders, teachers to have peace and service during uncertain times.

I discovered today we could not do this routine all the way to the end of the lot.  We got about 2/3. Thanks brothers for helping me learn new things each time I Q. Honored to lead.

Out and Back

3 PAX showed to AGS for some miles, but only two were eager to knock them out this morning. YHC was still sore from all day yard work the day before, and perhaps some residual soreness for the bricks M4L made us run with for 40 minutes on Friday. In any event, Cupid had a good suggestion to do some 1.0 out and backs, with Womble as the focal point, making sure YHC didn’t feel left out and would be able to check in throughout the workout. Perfect!

FNGs: None
Warm Up: Half circle to the back of the soccer fields. Imperials X10, Fazio, 10 F\10B. Good Mornings X10. Continued on the mosey back to the picnic shelter on the opposite side of the soccer fields. Squats X10

The Workout: Out and Back #1- Get your Groceries- From the top of Stinson to Lowe’s Foods and then back to Womble

Out and Back #2- Cletus EC route- Top of Stinson to Raleigh Street

Out and Back #3- Continuation of Out and Back #2, and instead of heading back to Womble, PAX took Grigsby all the way around and to the fence at Sugg. Great work throughout by Cupid and Oboe, who got a solid 6+ mi in.

Mary: Stretches OYO
Announcements: Q Swap coming in August
T-Claps (Recognition): Cupid and Oboe for getting out there this morning and additionally to Cupid for getting a 60 mi week. Great Work
Prayer: Health Workers, those with family members near an far that are ill. YHC took us out.

Don’t Buy The Fake News From Dem Boys Runnin For The Toilet

Me and Fanny Pack were up late getting ready for this morning’s workout. Fanny Pack was mowing the grass while I cleaned the bathrooms in case any random speed walkers with irritable bowels needed to make a pit stop. 520am came quickly and the gloom brought out some star power including the likes of M4L and Doc among others, and the place was looking pristine. We also welcomed back Cotter Kid Cracker, and Bondo who was making his second appearance since his FNG workout on Monday.

FNGs: Nada

Warm Up:

We started with a mosey around the soccer fields (doing our best to steer clear of the tennis courts) to the far parking lot for some warm up exercises….

Daisy Pickers x10, Annies x12, Imperial Walker x15, Hillbilly x15

The Workout:

Indian run around and past the amphitheater and make a left turn over the small bridge and another left at the fork in the path around the baseball fields. Stopped at the volleyball courts for a spontaneous 5 burpees OYO. Then continued to loop around baseball fields with an Indian run until we reached the bottom of the decline in the path (behind the fence of the outfield). This made for a nice hill to incorporate into the workout.

11’s with the Hill – Side Straddle Squats at the bottom and burpees at the top…Poop eater decided to make a stinky in the middle of our burpee reps. Luckily Florence was “Johnny on the spot” with a plastic baggy…

Next was an Indian run to the parking lot for a Dora rock workout.  Performed triceps extensions, shoulder presses and curls for the girlz – x100 reps each. PAX were told instead of doing high reps, to go slow and focus on form. Partner A started the rock reps while Partner B did evolution of man (Bear crawl 25 yards, lunge walk 25 yards, sprint back to their partner) around parking lot. Then trade places until all 100 rep goals were achieved.

Mary:

Plank hold while we went around the circle and each PAX gave a 10 count for a good shoulder burn.

Low Slow Flutter x20, boxcutter x15, LBC x20, homer to marge x20, monkey humper x20, have a nice day

Announcements:

-New seasonal AO @ Womble on Wednesdays at 1745 (Vicious Cycles)

-Greatest Place On Earth (Disney) Celebrates Dumbo’s 2 yr Anny tomorrow

-Volunteers still needed as Mulching Continues on Saturdays

-Consider donating to N2N…every little bit helps…more info and how to donate on 3rd F

-TBD NOW RATED BEST WEDNESDAY AO In SOUTHWAKE per all major news outlets

T-Claps (Recognition):

Kid Cracker for Getting back out to the gloom

Prayer: Florence starting a temporary job in South Carolina, Family that M4L mentioned that is going through a difficult separation (wife Aria), military and first responders

Escalations at Purple Cobra

FNGs: None

Warm Up: Moseyed over to the hill for 15 SSH IC, 10 Sir Fozio Arm Circles F+R, Michael Phelps, 20 Mountain Climbers.

The Workout: Escalating Doras.

50 merkins, 100 squats, 150 LBCs.

100 peter parkers, 200 squat jumps, 300 reverse LBCs.

50 burpees, 100 star jumps, and most of the planned 150 big boy situps…we ran out of time.

Mary: Moseyed back to the start for 10 pickle pounders IC.

Announcements: Dumbo Anniversary Q at Disney

Prayer: Wisdom for our nation’s leaders, COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness

Bit Up and Gassed Out in the Swimming Pool

EC: Fanny Pack and Nemo

FNG’s: None

Warm Up: So there are some “cardinal rules” as I’ve found within F3 such as “If you can’t do it…don’t Q it”.  This is a great rule.  One that I’ve tried to live by in the 30 ish Q’s I’ve taken since joining F3 in October. One that I’ve been able to do well so far.  Today, YHC almost failed to push through his own Q.  Nemo even said during EC, “my legs are just not feeling it”. It was the same for me, and by the second time we took Library Hill, YHC relied on his brothers to take some IC counts and continued on… for them!

Warm-Up: SSH x 30 IC, Good Mornings, mosey, Sir Fazios And SSH x 20 IC. Head to the bottom of Library Hill.
The Workout: With BRR coming up, gotta mix the hills in.  We did 3 Library Hill repeats from the bottom with stacked exercises at the bottom and top.  Bottom: 5 burpees. Top: 5 burpees, 10 reverse lunge IC. Bottom: 5 burpees, 10 reverse lunge IC, 15 squats. Top: 5 burpees, 10 reverse lunge IC,15 Squats, 20 Shoulder Taps. Bottom: 5 burpees, 10 reverse lunge IC, 15 squats, 20 shoulder taps, 25 mountain climbers. To the top once more for about a minute long plank hold, form focused, control your breathing, etc. Mosey to the rocks, Cusack to the barber shop for some haircuts.

10 second each pax count for People’s Chair. Grab your rock and do 25 Curls and 25 Rut Rows. 10 second count each pax BTTW and do 25 Shoulder Press and 25 rock spanks IC. Do People’s Chair for 10 count each pax and then grab the rock for 25 Tricep press and curls. Finish with 10 count pax BTTW. Cusack the rocks back and head over to Mary.
Mary: 25 counts of the following: LBC, Freddie Mercury’s, Dying Cockroach, H2M, Standard Merkins, Heel Taps. Plank hold for about 90 seconds.  Have a nice day!
Announcements: Mulch… Sign up! Emeril and M4L collecting donations for Neighbor to Neighbor and Healing Transitions.
T-Claps (Recognition): Pax grabbing some cadence counts and following my exhausted butt around downtown!
Prayer: I’m celebrating 18 yrs.  with the M today!  Unspoken. YHC took us out.  Honor to lead…but I’ve got some work to do!

AGS- No Random Birds..Lots of Hills and an F-Bomb

With BRR just around the corner, YHC called for around 5ish hill miles in the pre-blast. The goal would be to keep all PAX together while tackling some of the favorite inclines surrounding Womble. Was arriving late to the lot, but saw some great leadership with Aquaman getting Cowboy and Oboe warmed up. No time to plant the flag, so joined the semi-circle to take over while Aquaman gathered some last minute items from his truck. Vasoline came rolling in from some EC a few minutes later.

Some PAX get 20-30 miles a week, this guy Vasoline is all about efficiency, getting his 20-30 over the weekend. 17+ yesterday and back at it this morning with 5 before the main event.

Warm Up: Asked PAX if they were ready to mosey and all were accounted for, so we proceeded out of the lot towards the base ball fields. At the intersection to head left or right around the fields, we circled up one last time for some Imperial Walkers X10, Hillbillies x10 and then headed right and all the way out to Grigsby. Proceeded right on to Grisby until we got back to the intersection of Stinson.

The Workout:

Hill #1

Stinson- PAX would proceeded down to Stinson all the way til they got to Lacombe St. and then would head back up to the top. I remember when this thing called Speed Racer was a ‘thing’ and we used to do this about 5-7 times. It was brutal. This morning we were only doing it once so as to get a feel for the other inclines for the weeks ahead. Great job of picking up the 6 and as we approached the top, PAX looked to YHC to see what was next.

Hill #2

Next hill would be Library Hill, of course. Proceeded down Grigsby to Rogers St. and crossed Main St. to get to the top of the traffic circle at Library Hill. Proceeded down to the pool lot at the bottom and then made our way back up. Great fellowship and mumblechatter through the run even though these hills weren’t helping YHC keep up with the conversations. At the top of the hill, I got another “What’s next?” That would be W.Elm. And with that, the first and only F-bomb of the morning by Oboe.

Hill #3

Proceeded back down Library Hill with a left on W. Elm. This hill is the worst, but it builds character. Again some strong work by the HIM out front picking up the 6 and tackled this segment together all the way out to Avent Ferry. Took a left and headed back out to the backside of Main St. to My Way Tavern before heading back up to cross Main Street. A quick look at the watch had us at about 6:55, which was perfect for a 7:00am parking lot arrival. As we made our way back to Stinson, Aquaman pointed out that there were no strange birds flying around today, referencing the fact that every time Aquaman posts at AGS, we always see random bird sightings like hawks picking up squirrels or relentless woodpeckers aimlessly attacking gutters. Not this this morning, however.

Solid work with PAX getting close to 4.5-5+miles.

Mary: Stretches OYO
Announcements: Mulch sign-ups. Q swap coming in August
T-Claps (Recognition): All PAX showing up this morning and sticking with the plan of segmented hills vs. a regular routed run. YHC tends to switch things up at AGS from time to time to keep the workouts from getting stale, so I always appreciate PAX willingness to try new things.  Nobody wants to run the same routes every time. Some other AO’s try to name their routes after a constellation or a Thanksgiving Day delicacy to make them sound unique and more appealing, even coupling their pre-blasts with toilet bowl humor. They may do that other places, but not AGS. We even hold 4mi bootcamps from time to time. Hopefully, one day U.T.I may want to lead it. I suppose I’ll have to ask him tomorrow at Paradise City before Banana Seat delivers the beating he has planned for tomorrow.

Additional T-Claps to the HIM on the 8.5 mi ruck this morning. Breach, LED, Sprinkler and the rest of the PAX who joined in support of rucking food pantry items for Mama’s House. Great community building, representing all 3 F’s!

Prayer: LED’s uncle. Crablegs. Those battling illness due to covid and other health-related issues. Aquaman took us out. A great morning, Men, and always appreciate the opportunity to lead.

6 Year Anniversary Gala at Cletus

Wow – 6 years.  When I first gave into the 18 month long headlock by Gnard Dogg from Raleigh – I remember telling my M that “maybe this will be good – I can catch a Friday workout a few times a month to change up things for me at the Y (Sad Clown).  Little did I know that 6 years later, I would have accomplished the following:

  • Probably 1,000 posts
  • 7 half marathons completed
  • 2 Blue Ridge Relays
  • Maybe 3,000 miles of running
  • 10+ CSAUPs
  • 100+ Q-ed workouts
  • Hundreds of Clown Car rides
  • Stronger Marriage and relations with my kids
  • Major advances in my career / leadership (I accredit some of this to F3)
  • Countless memories with hundreds of new friends

WOW

Rolling into the parking lot at Cletus, Mookie and I got a little concerned.  On the way over in the clown car, we discussed what we would do if we had more than 25 Pax.  I did not want too many in our group(s) given Covid.  I quickly discussed what I had planned to Mookie as we drove over.  I remember him looking at me like “Are you crazy?”

As it became obvious that the Pax count would be near 40 – we decided to go with the Audible and split the pax.  I am very glad we did.  T-Claps to Mookie for the co-Q

FNGs:  None – Shovel flag planted at 5:29
Warm Up: Got things started with a mosie down to the field near the small pavillion.  The one we always warm up in when the crowds are big

  • Hand Release Burpees x 5 (OYO)
  • Good Morning x 10 (IC)
  • SSH x 20 (IC)
  • Moroccan Night Clubs x 20 (IC)  – note:  no one of Moroccan decent was offended with this reference
  • Mountain Climbers x 20 (IC)
  • Hell – it’s time to go

The Workout:

Pax of 38 was split into roughly half.  Mookie too one to the lower field and YHC kept the other half up top at the Soccer field.  It went down like this

Thing 1:  The Elle McPhereson

The Split pax on the soccer field would split again into two groups.  Groups would perform exercises on duct taped sheets in two (2) of the four corners (diagonal from each other).  Group 1 would sprint 50% around the track while Group 2 did the exercises.  Group 2 does AMRAP until all of Group 1 makes it to the opposite corner.  Group 1 would signal with a “yell” for Group 2 to stop the reps and run the same direction (clockwise around the field to them).  This was repeated for 20 minutes while the other Pax was down on the field.  Basically we were looping the 1/2 miles around the soccer field.

Group 1 (Arms and Chest)

  • Burpees
  • Wide Grip Merkins
  • Carolina Dry Docks
  • Diamond Merkins

Group 2 (Legs and Abs)

  • Jump Squats
  • WW1
  • Star Jumps
  • Mountain Climbers

Thing 2:  “The Michigan”

This workout was from the original scrolls of Southwake.  It was named by a Ohio State fan.  “Because it sux”.  The pax gathered on the end line of the soccer/football field.  All we did was sprints and Jack Webbs.  It went like this

  • Ten – 100-yard dashes +  2 Hand Release Jack Webbs (2 hand release merkins and 8 halleluiahs) 
  • Eight – 80 yard dashes + 4 Hand Release Jack Webbs
  • Six – 60 yard dashes + 6 Hand Release Jack Webbs
  • Four – 40 yard dashes + 8 Hand Release Jack Webbs
  • Two – 20 yard dashes + 10 Hand Release Jack Webbs

That went on for 20 minutes – it was a smoker

The 2 groups converged on the North Tennis Courts for Mary and COT

Mary:

  • Low Slow Flutter
  • LBC Ladder (IC)
    • 5
    • 10
    • 15
    • 20
    • 10
    • 5
  • Have a nice day

Announcements:

  • Mulch
  • Q Swap in August

T-Claps (Recognition):

  • Gump for 5 years of F3!
  • YCH for 6 years
  • Kid Cracker for the Kotters – welcome back brother!

Prayer:

  • Unspoken
  • 1st responders
  • Brony’s friend with Cancer

YHC took us out in prayer

Photos, 2nd F and Busch Latte

I love you all

DB Out!