Posts

Don’t drop it!

FNGs: None
Warm Up: Mosey to Church Parking lot. Asked the PAX what the Mission statement is for F3.  We had a couple correct answers so we only had 5 burpees. SSH I/C 15 Std, Double Time I/C 15, Smurf Jacks I/C 15. Sir Fazio Arm circles. 10 I/C small to large. Repeat reverse. OH Claps, Michael Phelps, Seal Claps OYO. Good Mornings I/C 10 slow.
The Workout: Divide into 2 Teams, Half got rocks.  Cones set up at varying distances with a 15lbs, 25lbs, 40lbs. PAX had to John Cusak the weight to area behind last cone. Run back throw the frisbee to other team member. Finish same exercise through all three cones. Each a little farther apart. Rd 1 > frisbee drops were 2, 4 & 6 reps. Depending upon cone location. While Frisbee was thrown all remaining PAX did various Exicons and alternated between the groups. I/C was set at 15. We rotated rocks 1/2 way through.  After Round 1 we had only done 14 burpees. Lots of great throws and catches. Rd. 2 > we repeated same set up but frisbee drops were set at 5, 10, 15… Ended up with another 60 burpees after the last round. 84 burpees in total. Not everyone finished  but we came close.
Mary:  In workout
Announcements:  Watch Social Dilemma on Netflix, Dumbo needs some help for HS 3rd F drive, Deadbolt Qing next week.  Dumbo Shared his WHY.  (Who he is, How he got here and whY he is a HIM in F3)
T-Claps (Recognition): All pax had to say a praise and a prayer.  Family, leaders, Relationships, Jobs, Jesters, Friend’s House,
Prayer:  YHC short close after the Praise and Prayer.

There’s Darkness on the Edge of Disney

Today marks the 71st birthday of my musical hero. You’d think with all the heavy music YHC is into, that my selection would be different. But that artist is none other than the great Bruuuuuce! Springsteen from the great state of New Jersey! His music captures themes of brotherhood, loyalty, perseverance, rising above your expectations of yourself, using your good heart to do good things, and the ass-kicking power of rock n roll! It was a dark morning in the places YHC took the pax today. It’s in dark places we can find faith and we can measure our strength. Contrary to the pax initial thoughts, we did not only do activities reflecting that we are Born to Run.

FNG’s: None
Warm Up: Mosey loop around soccer field with a detour to the bottom of the large disc golf hill. “Take the Hill” warm up commenced. Good Mornings x10, take the hill!, Imperial Walkers, run along the ridge, Hillbillies, return to bottom. Repeated the loop 2x more with SSH x20, Frankenstein’s, Windmills, Sir Fazios, Squatted Seal Claps, Overhead Claps. 1 pax disappeared to lighten his load and met up with the pax later.
The Workout: Indian run the 3/4 mile-ish to the Abyss. Pax who disappeared, met us there. YHC called for a DORA. Pax partnered up and completed 100 hand release-release merkins (a move from IronPax), 200 Star Jumps, 300 monkey humpers. Pax going down the stairs started with 3 burpees at the bottom and added 1 with each trip down. Most pax got to 8-9 burpees. YHC just about gassed out twice on the abyss. Hit me like a dump truck.  When finished, we fellowship ran back to the flag for Mary.
Mary: 10 WW1, 15 H2M, 20 LBC’s IC.
Announcements: 3rd F Ted Talk next Tuesday featuring Dahmer. F3 HS half chatter.
T-Claps (Recognition): Midget for checking on YHC when he was woozy a few times. Kid Cracker for finding the most “wonderful AO in SouthWake”
Prayer: Firefighters in Clayton for the loss. Our brother Nemo. Our brother Tetanus with injury. POTS took us out. Honored to lead this group today!

What is that smell?

With many PAX recovering from BRR, YHC pre-blasted a 3 mile option. Dumbo reached out to me and said he and Dawg had a 5 mile route ready as well. We always aim to please at the John so come on with it.

FNGs: None

Warm Up: 10x SSH, 10X Imperial Walkers, 10x Hillbillies IC

The Workout:

3 Mile Route:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5 Mile Route:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mary: MIA

Announcements: Mulch project at Bass Lake, WebEx to start 5 mile EC option on Wednesday to give PAX a 10 mile option during the week. Stay tuned for more information.

T-Claps (Recognition):

Prayer:  Unspoken, Man who died from carjacking, Roger Roger’s family, Crablegs, hurricane victims, those dealing with Covid-19

Dumbo took us out.

Sunday Funday

FNGs:

None

Warm Up:

10x Fazio Arm Circles (Fwd & Rev), 10x Imperial Walkers, 10x Hillbillies, 10 Daisy Pickers, quick mosey up and down the parking lot to include butt-kickers, high-knees, karaoke to the right and left

The Workout:

4PAX completed “I Believe It’s Jogging…or Yogging…It’s a Soft ‘J’ Virtual 5K” (@LipSync, @RogerRoger, @Dauber, @Forceps).  7PAX completed the “standard route” of 5-6mi at AGS that I learned from @Mookie, which is leaving Womble, R on Stinson, R on Bass Lake, L on Salem Ridge, L on Linksland, R on Holly Springs Rd, L on Raleigh Rd, L on Grigsby, and follow Grigsby to the backside of Womble and enter the 2nd entrance back to Womble.  This ends up being around 6miles, give or take a little depending if you’re the “6” or you’re picking up the “6”.

When YHC and fellow 6PAX finished our 6mi jog, the 4PAX who completed the “Kind of a Big Deal” Virtual Run https://runsignup.com/irun2stayclassy were already in their T-shirt’s, wearing their medals, sipping cans of Coors light, and had already taken a memorable group picture with the classic AGS sunrise in the background (Photo available on Slack 1stf channel at 9:27am Sunday 8/30)

It was a beautiful day today and the humidity felt like half of what it was the morning prior…thank you to all of those who came out and joined.

Announcements:

2020 IronPAX Challenge Week 1

T-Claps (Recognition):

Picking up the 6

Prayer:

Gave thanks for bringing us together for fitness, fellowship, and faith {F3}, as well as keeping us safe Sunday morning.  We prayed that God will look over our friends, family, and loved ones.  We also prayed God to give strength and comfort to those struggling from addiction, disease, mental illnesses, and sickness.  Lastly we prayed God will look over those who have lost their way and we ask that they are given the strength to once again follow His path.

Good thing my M knows math or my kids would be screwed.

Another glorious morning at the greatest place on earth. YHC was excited to see Deadbolt doing some weasel shaking last night on Facebook as a pre-blast so I followed up on Slacks.  I had an FNG coming out and it was great to see all the HC’s coming in. Welcome FNG OJ!

I promised simple and effective. If my math was better, it might have been a little smoother. The whole jack webb thing messes with me.

FNGs: Welcome OJ!
Warm Up: FNG Disclaimer, Lot Mosey, SSH x40 IC, Frankenstein x10, Sir Fazio, Seal Claps, OHC all x10 IC. Daisy Pickers x10, Standard Merkin x15.
The Workout: Mosey to the Abyss. Split into partners.  1 Partner at the top cycle through Standard, Wide and Military Merkins AMRAP until partner 2 returns from down the stairs and 10 Star Jumps at the bottom. Cycle through until each person has done the bottom 3 times.  We all went down and picked up the 6 with 10 Star Jumps.

Mosey back to the fields.

Suicide Lines

1st Set: Halfway, all the way.  At halfway, Mt Climbers IC x15, End WWII x15

2nd Set: Halfway: Chilly Jacks x15 IC, SSH x15 IC

3rd Set: Jack Webb 2-4 finish with 10-20 (or something close to that, this is where my math went off the rails)

Mary: Homer to Marge x10 IC (L/R), Box Cutter x10, LBC’s x20 IC
Announcements: HS/FV Q battle next week. Bring “all the clothes” for healing transitions
T-Claps (Recognition): Goldilocks, Bondo for hitting it hard today and FNG OJ!
Prayer: Those impacted by the storm, Families in Beirut, Small Business owners, YHC took us out.

What Is A Mahktar N’ Diayes Anyway?

FNGs: Yes! Welcome Omaha!  Arch nemesis of his (former) Patriot’s QB often used this in cadence…hearing it makes the FNG nauseous, and that made YHC smile, so we knew it was perfect.
Warm Up: Following the welcome and disclaimer to the FNG, mosey across the street to the church parking lot. 10 each IC: Good Mornings, Sir Fazios F/B, Overhead Claps, and Hillbillies. 25 IC Side Straddle Hops.
The Workout: 18 PAX showed up after the preblast by Mookie. After much EH’ing by fellow PAX (specifically Pablo, Dumbo, Mookie, Deadbolt, and M4L), YHC was provided with the opportunity to put the EH’s to rest. With that, YHC spent an inordinate amount of time preparing for this Virgin Q (afterall, YHC was still pure and wanted it to be with the right one, time was right, he was ready, etc.). His kids and wife may or may not have seen him pacing the halls as if he were about to give his left kidney. YHC even bought a watch, which he struggled with towards the end, and was lucky, frankly, to end on time…but not really because we were across the street and still had to get back to the pool parking lot. My bad if you were late to your next engagement.

Ok, the workout: Mosey to the curb where YHC had already chalked the named exercises on the asphalt. ALARMS and BLIMPS were in play. Some PAX had never heard of them, but they were about to find out. Split into 2 teams. Special thanks to Mookie who offered to lead Team 1 while YHC led Team 2. Six exercises were spaced across the parking lot for the ALARMS and BLIMPS. PAX on Team 1 would travel to each location via Bunny Hops (Stations 1 – 3) and Lunge Walks (Stations 4 – 6). PAX on Team 2 would travel to each location via Bear Crawl (Stations 1 – 3) and Crab Walk (Stations 4 – 6). Squat or plank hold for the 6 before starting each exercise. Teams that were doing BLIMPS then did ALARMS, and vice versa. Thank you to all PAX who helped YHC get through the counting…he was winded for sure.

BLIMPS: 10 Burpees, 15 Lunges IC, 20 Imperial Walkers IC, 25 Merkins, 30 Plank Jacks IC, and 35 Squats.

ALARMS: 10 Burpees, 10 Jump Squats, 10 Mountain Climbers IC, 10 Rocky Balboas IC, 10 Mahktar N’ Diayes IC, and 10 Seal Claps Sobriety Style (YHC felt this was fitting given his recent F3 ‘departure’).

Question was asked after the fact: What is a Mahktar N’ Diayes anyway? YHC answered that it was a plank hold to chill cut and back up IC. PAX said, “Oh, we did more than that.” YHC responded, “Yes, you were doing Absolutions but there was no reason to correct you because you were doing more than required.” Well done!

Following the completion of the circuit, YHC was a little stressed because we still had 20 minutes to kill (lesson learned). YHC was not feeling that a ‘rinse and repeat’ of previous exercises would be well-received. Audibled for an Indian Run to Mookie to meet at the parking lot entrance (each Team goes opposite way). At the entrance, YHC called for a jailbreak back to the mailbox followed by a mosey to the rock pile.

At the rock pile, PAX picked up a medium sized rock. The following exercises were performed IC between 15 and 25 reps, and much thanks to the PAX that stepped in to help YHC get through this: Curls for the Girls, Tricep Extensions, Rut Rows, Bus Drivers, Midget Love Handles, Midget Cookie Pouches, American Hammers, Overhead Press, Low Slow Flutter, and Chest Press.

Mary: With 6 minutes remaining, YHC lucked out. Mary consisted of the following IC: Freddie Mercuries, LBCs, Homer to Marge, Pickle Pounders, and Have A Nice Day.
Announcements: Mulch at Bass Lake – get signed up! Continue to visit AO’s that you don’t frequent very often; and Q Swap in August.
T-Claps (Recognition): Mookie for his assistance; all other PAX for their encouragement and willingness to step up and get YHC through this VQ.
Prayer: Those in recovery due to substance, verbal, physical, or mental abuse and/or health; Bondo’s granddaughter Piper; YHC’s cousin (cancer) and M’s grandfather (hospice has been brought in); Omaha’s marketing career; First responders; and Leaders of our country that we may get through the chaos that is rampant today; Unspoken.

Dumbo took us out.

It is a privilege to lead; thank you. YHC will keep learning, striving to do better next time.

Let Me Teach You a Lesson…

It normally doesn’t take this long to squeeze out a backblast, but this one needed to take some time to do it justice. We all joke at the lessons M4L can provide. Sometimes he shows to workouts he commits to, sometimes he doesn’t. Sometimes he does 1/2 of the workout, sometimes he does 1/2 Side Straddle Hops, sometimes he does a full one or just flaps his arms. On that Friday, last week at Kung Pow, he delivered one of the more memorable Q’s I’ve been a part of, and truth be told…when he shows to Q, they always have a lesson.

On an aside, these guys at Wescott are bringing it and I’m not saying it because it is home turf. I have yet to see a duplicated workout and every single one has a signature footprint. Pablo’s manhole merkins, Deadbolt and DoubleD’s Reagan era burpeefest, and who could forget that time where YHC almost killed Fram, DoubleD, Sprinkler, and Fonzie with cardio cul-de-sacs a few weeks ago.

I will say this, anytime I have seen M4L Q, I always come away with something. It could be an exercise routine, it could be something personal he has shared, but more importantly, his Q’s always extend beyond just a workout (hence F3- more than a workout) and have always shown me to appreciate the moment and embrace these great things we have… F3 and each other. Just like we tackle these workouts, we are also going through everything life throws at us together.

On this Friday morning, it was destined that something special was gonna happen. Pre-Blast yielded 8 HC’s, which was a really high number considering none of the regulars were HC’ing the night before. Also, nobody HC’s anymore…anybody else notice that?

Picked up Deadbolt… yes- we drove only being a half 0.4 mi down the road.  Arrived  to a completely full Wescott parking lot, 13 PAX limbering up, representing all areas of SouthWake-some from Fuquay, another from 12 Oaks, even one from Cary and also from Raleigh. 15 total- A new record at Kung Pow.  Full House later shared that he was undecided that morning, but just like Nemo from a few weeks ago, he was drawn by the pre-blast marketing campaign.

What on earth did M4L have planned? Whatever it was, it was about to go down as we were at 5:29 and the mumblechatter was starting to rise above the level that gets us exposed on our neighborhood Facebook page.

Time to mosey. Extended the 15 PAX group across the street to do some warm-ups at the Veterinary clinic across the street.

FNGs: None, but would be alot cooler if there were…
Warm Up: SSH X10, Burpee X10, Uneven Merkins- Right arm extended forward x10\Left Arm extended forward X10. Mumblechatter= more burpee X10, then followed by a mosey back to M4L’s vehicle.

The Workout: Upon arrival, M4L pops the trunk. Strategically stacked where several bricks with the words “No OYO” spray painted on them. Everybody grab a brick- one for each hand. I’ve seen this workout once before, but judging by the other faces they had not and wasn’t sure what they were more surprised by…the possibility that they’d have to carry these bricks the whole workout or what M4L meant by “No OYO.” As suspected, Midget instructed PAX to mosey with bricks in hand down Wescott Ridge. PAX stopped about halfway down among the trees lining what we refer to in Wescott as the ‘fairway.’

As a tribute to New Mexico, PAX performed a series of quick feet with bricks in hands. Recover on the mosey to Bells Walk (oh- if anyone puts the bricks down, 10 burpees with bricks for all PAX). At Bells Walk, M4L calls for a Indian Brick Walk with curls where the trailing PAX double times it to the front curling alongside group of 14 PAX who are also curling in single file. Made it to the end of the cul-de-sac for 31 Monkey Humpers with bricks (31 years since entering the US) . This was also in honor of one of our favorite Wescott residents, bless her heart. She is looking for a gently used Oboe, so if anyone knows a friend of a friend who has one let us know. A real Oboe…not you, Oboe. Really- not kidding.

After those were performed, M4L called for a faster paced Indian Run with bricks, except halfway down the street, Q ended up ‘dropping’ his bricks.. 10 burpees OYO all PAX. Continued to the end of Bells Walk and onto Dumbo’s house. How we were able to fit all 15 PAX in his driveway was beyond me, but we did and its unfortunate he did not have a Ring camera to capture this. There was mumblechatter as to the other cameras he has in his house, but we would need to wait for him to return from vacation to either confirm or deny.

Inside the driveway, all 15 PAX performed 31 tricep extensions , followed by 31 overhead presses. With arms already significantly torched, M4L now reveals the true meaning of the lesson behind the “No OYO” bricks. He instructed PAX to partner up. From here, one member of the unit would give their bricks to the partner, so one carries all 4 on the mosey, while the other stays with him for moral support. Do not leave your partner- He will need you.

Not sure Fram got that memo, even with 4 bricks, he was running a 5K pace and YHC was having trouble keeping up with him as he made his way up Wescott Ridge and down to the Palm City cul-de-sac where M4L used to live. At the cul-de-sac, M4L shared a story of what F3 means to him and specifically how PAX should never do life alone- hence the “No OYO” bricks. We all carry something and should never feel afraid to ask for help and lean on your brothers to help you through difficult times. A message that hit home with everyone that morning.

On the return, PAX mosey’d with their bricks again, making sure that each partner didn’t leave the other behind. At the top of the hill, M4L did a quick check of the lead PAX to ask where their partners were. If they were left behind, he instructed them to apologize for leaving them behind as a reminder that we are all accountable to ensure we are picking up the six.

Mary: Merkins on the “Bring Sally Down”- A tribute to “Gone in 60 Seconds” (67 seconds to be exact-the amount of time remaining in the workout)
Announcements: Q Swap coming in August; New AO- Something Awesome on Monday
T-Claps (Recognition): All PAX getting out there this morning. A great crowd, great workout, great message.
Prayer: Healthcare workers, Bondo’s new grandchild Piper. Continued health for families near and far.

Double D took us out!

Tire-go-Round @ Prison Yard

FNGs: None
Warm Up: Mosey to 4 corners of building and explain exercises. 10 SSH, 10 Imperial Walkers, 10, Hillbillies.
The Workout: At each station PAX had to do abs of choice, arms, legs using a 15 count in cadence. Station 1 > weights and kettle bell  (curls/tries/press & goblet squats) Station 2 > 12 lbs sledge swings on big tire & fast feet on small tire.  Station 3 > Front Raises with fire hose. Squat with med ball press and release.  Station 4 > Sand bag toss (hit ground and leave body) Pain stick (anything upper body) After 3 exercises rotate to next station.  1 person would drag the tire from station to station and pass to a new person.  Every lap around the circuit took 5 burpees off the 50 burpees in the bank.  Circuit timer was set at 30 min.  Team did 10 burpees OYO at the end…the tire only made 8 laps around the circuit.
Mary: Hamstring and Hip/Glute stretch
Announcements: Sign up for Mulch at Bass lake, Prison Break (in beta) after Prison Yard.
T-Claps (Recognition):
Prayer: Kid battling cancer (Roger-Roger).  (New Mexico) friend is seeing some recovery progress from Leukemia. (FRAM) wife going in for health screening from feeling bad. (Double D) Pray for all the tension and first responders during this time. All spoken and unspoken prayers. New Mexico took us out.

They’re Coming From All Directions

YHC did not sleep well last night nor is in perfect operating condition (hammy/knee). Shocker right… Truth be told, seems like most pax are banged up a bit at most times. but we keep pushing… for ourselves and each other to become a better version of ourselves each day. The bar for Paradise City is set high. It’s supposed to be high intensity with a goal of getting 3 miles. We just don’t stop for too long in the City.  YHC challenged himself with putting together this Q and also going on a 5 day Q tour this week with EC each day. Get the ice bags ready! 15 determined pax attended stop 1 at Paradise City.

EC: Dawgpound, Dumbo, Pablo, Skidmark, Pikachu, Cupid, Boy George, Fanny Pack

FNG’s: nope
Warm Up: Loop mosey around the soccer fields and tennis courts and down the ramp stopping for Good Mornings, Frankenstein’s, Imperial Walkers, Hillbillies, and Seal Claps all IC.
The Workout: YHC pre- blasted a rounding the bases theme, so that’s what we did. Home plate was bottom of the ramp… 5 burpees. First base was at the b-ball court… 10 merkins. 2nd base was at the top of the hill… 15 squats. 3rd base was by the ticket booth at the top of the ramp… 20 mountain climbers.  Back to home plate was 25 Freedom Hammers IC.  Pax travelled to each base and back home again, before going to the next base.  Pax stopped to do exercises on the way out AND on the way back in. In all, 25 burpees, 70 merkins, 75 squats, 60 mountain climbers, and 25 Freedom Hammers with just a tad under 3 miles running. Toward the end, there was some confusion among the pax as to where to wait/how to bring in the six.  This guy went this way…that guy went that way. When in doubt, circle up for some Mary exercises.  YHC knew we needed about .3 more miles. I had a plan!
Mary: LSF’s IC, Dying Cockroach IC. With all pax back, we “emptied the tank” as Yogurt calls it and ran hard up the ramp to the top.  Stopped for some H2M, then mosey back to the flag.  Finished up with some trash pickup and some Pickle Pounders.
Announcements: July 4th workout.  Womble Park. 0600. 1776 exercises with 7.4 miles.  Sign up to mulch at Bass Lake.

T-Claps(Recognition): Moped for coming a long way in a short few weeks of AO’s. That guy is coming to get it! All pax determined to finish today’s challenge.
Prayer: All those struggling with addiction.  The Jensen family…a young boy battling cancer.

Prison Yard is Back

9 Pax members got stronger at the reopening of the Prison yard.  Roll call was taken promptly at 5:00 sharp with Double D, LED, Fonzie, Fram, Deadbolt, New Mexico, Roger Roger, 8-Bit and Warden Breach on the Q.

Warm-Up: A little mosey around the parking lot followed by 22 count reps of SSH, Imperial Walkers/Hillbillies and Daisey Pickers.

The Workout: 9 Stations of pain, 2 minutes of work followed by 15 seconds to rotate between stations

Tire Drag down the parking lot and back

Battle rope double arm waves

Jump Rope

Heavy Bag Squats

Tire flips with a merkin

Pain stick overhead press

Firehose reverse lunges

Ab roller

Med ball overhead slams

Mary: Circle up for a slow burn v-Freddie mercury

Announcements: New AO possible in the Garner area on Mondays getting up by New Mexico, details to come

Prayer: Roger Roger mentioned a family with a child dealing with cancer and his father in law is having surgery, Double D mentioned a family that lost their 14yr old.