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Welcome to Casino Royale

It’s not often that you get a chance to Q the official launch workout for a new AO, so I jumped at the chance. There was some chatter about EC the afternoon before the workout, so YHC went out and scouted a nice hilly 2 mile route with a shot at a couple Strava segments aka hills. Rolled into the parking lot at 0500 to 2 PAX eager to get after it, waited until 0505 then headed out.
EC:
Fumunga, ShamWow, Boy George. T-claps to Fumunga charging the hills to try to take the crowns away from the notorious Evan Darm, some dude who has stolen many of them from me in Fuquay. Got one, maybe the other next time. The full 2 mile route is also a segment, hoping this is enough to lure some PAX from the Sprangs to go after that crown.
FNGs
: none
Warm Up: Knowing we needed to get 3 miles today, we started off on the mosey. This AO has a great 800ish meter loop (1/2 mile) with easy landmarks every 200 meters. We spent the warm-up lap stopping every 100 meters for exercises, and I also noted where our 4 corners would be for the workout. Exercises were Daisy pickers, windmills, seal claps, Frankensteins, overhead claps, Sir Fazio arm circle forward/reverse, and good mornings. All had 5 reps in cadence (6 for GM).
The Workout: After returning to the starting corner, we reviewed our stopping points. Each lap would have the same exercise at each corner, with increasing reps. Once the faster PAX finished running back to the start, they loop back to pick up the 6, and then we finish each 1/2 mile loop with a bonus exercise.
Corner 1 – Dips IC
Corner 2 – Carolina Dry Docks
Corner 3 – Diamond Merkins
Corner 4 – Arm Haulers – laying on your belly with your knees and head up off the ground, starting in the Superman position, bring your arms back to slap your glutes, then back to Superman is 1 rep.

Lap 1 – 5 reps at each station, bonus exercise is…. crap I forgot the bonus exercise! Probably because I was up all night stressing about not forgetting the workout, and I was so tired I forgot the workout.

Lap 2 – 10 reps each station. Bonus exercise is 5 burpees – had plans to make this a double merkin with a plank jack burpee (so down, merkin, plank jack, merkin, back up), but was feeling nice this morning.

Lap 3 – 15 reps each station. Some mumble chatter about how we were going to die if we ended up getting up to 25 reps. They didn’t know YHC had something nice and easy in store for them. Bonus exercise – 5 absolutions.

Lap 4 – 10 reps each station, because I’m a nice Q and we were running short on time (not really). Bonus exercise – 6 Blue Devils (3 each side) – a Bobby Hurley (squat jump with a basketball jump shot form), into a Turkish Getup (flopping like the Dukies are known for).

Lap 5 – Chase the Rabbit. We ditched the exercises this time in favor of some fast strides. A bit of confusion on stopping points, but the intention was to run hard for 100 meters then recover for 100 meters. YHC counted down 3…2…1…Go! for each PAX, and you were supposed to try to chase down the PAX in front. We did 4 of these and at that point we were pretty smoked.
Mary: The PAX all pushed hard to finish our miles so quickly that we still had 6 minutes left, just as I had hoped. I have a yoga stretching routine I like to do after runs that usually takes about 15 minutes, but I condensed it down and we quickly moved through about 8 different positions on each leg, stretching out our quads, hamstrings, hips, back, and glutes. Pretty sure everyone felt like a million bucks after that. Ended with Have a nice day, and one last leg stretch while doing our count-off/name-o-rama.
Announcements:

  • Casino Royale is open! We discussed our monthly schedule and think we have it – 1st Friday – HIIT/3 miles like we did today, 2nd Friday – Dealer’s Choice (card deck, dice game, etc.), 3rd Friday – Running / speed work, 4th Friday – Kettle/dumbbells and TRX bands. Get on the Q sheet!
  • 1776 workout being led by Skidmark. 0600 at Womble on Saturday July 4th. 7.4 miles of running, 1776 reps of exercises.
  • Continuing mulch work at Bass Lake. Almost 1/2 mile done. No mulching July 4th.

T-Claps (Recognition): EVERYONE for pushing hard today! There were some pretty large sweat puddles after COT
Prayer:

  • Praise! Natty Ice and M’s pregnancy is going great. Baby Hannah is at 26 weeks. Prayers for continued healthy pregnancy and delivery.
  • Fumunga’s co-worker dealing with breast cancer and upcoming surgery
  • LipSync’s M’s friend’s husband (can’t remember his name) – an F3 guy that also runs a lot was out for a run and had some chest pains. Found out he had a blockage in his widowmaker but was able to get fixed up and make a full recovery. Good reminder to PAX to listen to our bodies and not overdo it, and get checked out if something doesn’t feel right.

YHC took us out. Always so much fun to Q, and I appreciate all the H.I.M. that came out to help get this AO off on the right foot.

Fully Involved

A pax came in a terrible mood and left feeling encouraged… maybe it was the burpees. Another pax gave blood yesterday and struggled at times but was asked several times by his brothers if he was alright. Another pax completely hauled ass up the Abyss and was met by pax willing to finish the mosey back to the flag and pick up his six when he was running low on gas. Guys finished SSH’s for the opposing team to pick up their six. Several guys including YHC grind out the workout despite aches and pains and limitations. At the end, a pax needs a kettlebell for tomorrow and like 3 pax talk about how to get him one and 1 gives him his own kettlebell out of the trunk.  All of this and more examples like them happened at Disney today…plus…we worked out.  Why did this happen? Because this is F3. Its great how a beatdown can help us help other brothers and be our best more than just physically. It was my honor as Q today to help set the stage for that.

EC: Mookie, Dawgpound, Shamwow!, Dahmer, Fanny Pack

FNG’s: Today would’ve been a good one for it
Warm Up: Good Mornings, Windmills, Chinooks, Frankenstein’s
The Workout: Split into two even teams for whole workout.  A little competition goes a long way! Teams Burpee Indian run around the soccer field in opposite directions and back to the flag. Team 2 wins! No penalty yet…mercy given during round 1.

Next, teams burpee Indian run to the large lot where the challenge is a 4 Corner stack up.  5 dirkins, run, 5 dirkins, 10 squats, run, 5 dirkins, 10 squats, 15 irkins, run, 5 dirkins, 10 squats, 15 irkins, 20 SSH IC. Team 2 wins again. Penalty is 5 burpees while winners plank hold. Not too bad..,

Mosey to the abyss. Each team on each side of the stairs. Teams send 1 pax at a time down the stairs, 5 star jumps, and back. While pax at the top complete an AMRAP exercise called by YHC. When each pax returns, exercise changes. We did two rounds of the whole team line before finishing.  Exercises were: merkins, squats, Freedom Hammers, Shoulder Taps, lunges, WW2’s, Nipplers, squats, LSF’s, Diamond Merkins, Lunges, and Freddie Mercury’s. All pax came out of the Abyss alive and Team 2 edged it out again. Penalty was 10 burpees with the winning team doing a squat hold.  Then we all did 5 burpees because even though we were two teams, we are all brothers in F3. Burpee Indian run back to the flag where there was ample picking up the six. Lots of smoked pax led to quite a broken line.  But, nevertheless, team 1 finally wins.  Shamwow! Calls 10 absolutions upon team 2.
Mary: H2M southwake style, 15 each side, 5 burpees, 15 Box Cutters, 5 Star Jumps, 15 Pickle pounders. It was a great day!
Announcements: YHC has the Q at Ivan tomorrow to finish the 5 pack Q with EC.  New AO in Garner in lieu of Detox.  Hardy will be the very first F3 ninja warrior.
T-Claps (Recognition): All the pax today… did you see above?
Prayer: FloJoe wife got a good gig, Quiver’s friend with ALS. Shamwow! Took us out.

Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum Takeover

The mouse was away so two of the misfits from Alice in Wonderland were in charge. Tweedle Dee and Tweddle Dum grab the reigns.

FNGs: None today
Warm Up:

Got into an Indian run to head to the warm-up location. As we proceeded on the run we noticed the current pathway was roped off. This resulted us in turning around and running pass the abyss. This turned out to be a good thing. We were able to check out the wait time. Only 5 minutes. What a great day this was going to be.

Made it to the parking lot on the other side of the baseball field.

25 Side Straddle Hops
Bat Wing With Randy’s
Fazio Arm Circles forward
Fazio Arm Circles backward
Seal Claps
Overhead Claps
Randy’s
Good Mornings

It was time to get back in the Indian Run and head to the abyss. We were concern that the wait time was increasing. The queue for the abyss is nothing like the queue for Peter Pan’s flight. So we had to hurry.

The Workout:

We split up into two groups. Group one started with the exercises up top and the other group went down the stairs first.

Up top, we did 10 absolutions. At the bottom, we did 5 Prisoner Squat Get Up Jump Squats. Each pax did 2 rounds at the abyss. LBCs were done while waiting on the six.

Now it was up for Tweedle Dee to take over. We all got into the Indian Run to hit up a new ride “The Tilta World”.

Pax found a partner for some bear crawl dora. Each group went to a small island. As one pax bear crawled around the island the other pax did the exercises. 100 Merkins, 200 LBC, 300 Squats.

As pax were riding “The Tilta World” Tweedle Dum received notification that the abyss was up to a 40-minute wait. This meant we wouldn’t get to ride it again today. Though as we proceeded with 15 minutes to go Tweedle Dum got a notification that 13 Fast Passes just opened up. We grabbed them and Indian Run to the abyss.

Once back at the abyss we did the same exact ride as before.

Up top, we did 10 absolutions. At the bottom, we did 5 Prisoner Squat Get Up Jump Squats. Each pax did 2 rounds at the abyss. LBCs were done while waiting on the six.

This time coming up the stairs was a lot harder than the first time. The PGUSJs did not make getting up the steps any easier.

After this was all done we headed back to the starting point.

Mary:

Tweedle Dee took over with Mary.

Homer to Marges South Wake style was done.
Big Boy Situps
Have a Nice Day

Announcements:

Sign up for Bass Lake. 2.3 miles to go.

T-Claps (Recognition):

Prayer:
Praises to Flojo’s wife for finding a job
All addicts struggling.

Foggy U-turn

FNGs: none
Warm Up: Good morning, SSH x 20, Merkins x 20, IW’s x 10, Hillibillies x 10, various stretching
The Workout: PAX of 20 for 5+ miles this Saturday morning through the fog.  Numerous PAX picking up the 6 along the way, nice work!
Mary: none
Announcements: sign up for mulch at Bass Lake
T-Claps (Recognition):
Prayer: Martini, Skidmark and M healthy baby and for Natty Ice’s M.

Have you lost your mind?

Today was my first Q as AO Site Lead for Disney. It’s an honor to take this location over. It’s got a long history of beat downs and just the space you have to work with is unmatched to any other AO in SW. Overhearing conversations last week, and picking up from my last Q here that was character themed, I listened to Dawg talking about the street artists at the Park… Let’s see what we can do with that…

FNGs: NADA
Warm Up: Quick Mosey, Good Morning, SSH, Frankenstein, Sir Fazio, Overhead Claps, Seal Claps. Let’s go.
The Workout:

1st Stop: The Bowl – Q split the PAX down the middle and groups were instructed to up one side 5 merkins, down and up the other 5 merkins – That’s 1.  Continue to 5 for a total of 50 Merkins.

Regroup and form 1 line for Bataan Death March. (Those unfamiliar – Leader sprints out from line, runs to back, as he passes the line the next person up sprints out, and so on and so on..) Continued to the large lot at the School. As we made our way through the lot, Q called out corner locations as landmarks.

2nd Stop: Circle in front of the school. Count off by 2’s.

Group 1 – Plank walk around the circle curb; Group 2 – 3 corners as a group in the parking lot – Counterclockwise. Corner 1 10 Star Jumps, Corner 2 10 Squats, Corner 3 10 Plank Jacks IC.

Switch & Repeat following clockwise

Group Moved to adjacent circle’s curb – Crab walk around the circle – 3 moves, 3 baby-dips. Group 2 Back around the parking lot again for same exercises above. This is where shit hit the fan…. Everyone started complaining and I thought my plans would go off the rails… (Note to first-time Q’s. When people start bitching you usually have a stellar thang going…. Work through it… Press on…) Both groups did some level of modification and some picked up on my plans and supported with a mosey around the circle!

I tried, Hidden Mickey!

 

Enough of that. Mosey back to the flag

 

Mary: WWI x20, LBC x20 IC, 6 inch hold 10 counts (x3), LSF IC x20, HND.
Announcements:
T-Claps (Recognition): Flo-Jo. Dude powered through the first traffic circle. I think he was the only one to make it all the way around with no break!
Prayer: YHC took us out

A Sisyphus inspired workout

11 PAX and 1 dog posted at Disney for a Sisyphus inspired Q.

FNGs: None
Warm Up: Lap around the soccer field.  Circle up for the following exercises in cadence: SSH, Windmill, Good Morning, SirFazio Arm Circles
The Workout: Mosey to the bottom of the lot to select a rock for today’s workout.  Start on walkway around the soccer field, stop at the first corner for RuttRows ICx10.  Continue around soccer fields, john cusak the rocks, until we reached the split in the path with the hill.  Partner up for a Dora 1-2-3 (shared exercises of 100 goblet squats, 200 overhead presses, 300 curls for the girls), partner 1 ran started the exercises while partner 2 ran down the hill to complete 5 merkins and run back up to switch.  Once all groups were finished, continue to john cusak around the soccer fields stopping along the way to do: Merkins with 1 hand on the rock (10 each side), Midget cookie pouches, tricep extensions.  Once we made it back to the bathroom building we regrouped with our partners to complete 2 rounds of each: partner 1 hold BTTW while partner 2 did LSF while holding the rock x10 in cadence, partner 1 hold peoples chair while partner 2 did Homer 2 Marge with the rock in their lap.  Return the rocks and back to the flag for Mary
Mary: All exercises in cadence: LSF x 20, Box Cutter x20, pickle pounders x10
Announcements: check slack and FB
Prayer: Martini’s Family, Pablo’s Family, Cupid’s Family, First Responders

What’s Wrong with You?

My first post at Disney was on January 2nd of this year. This was after starting F3 back in October and maybe 15-20 total posts up to that point. Not 100% sold on F3 yet, this was the workout that started the fire! I think it was a throwback co-Q by Deadbolt and somebody else. I had only heard of Disney from others prior to this.  Stories of a pax named Pablo who would make fellas “Merlot” on this thing called the Abyss circulated around me enough that I was honestly a bit nervous that this was the AO that I would simply not be able to keep up with, considering just coming off about a 3 year layoff from working out. The workout on January 2nd was focused, intense, constantly moving, and structured. We went so many places in the park in such a short time that morning. Though I started Q ing late in January, I knew enough to know that a quality Disney Q needs to bring it! So about 30 lbs. lighter and in much better shape YHC took the reins at Disney with 10 other pax ready to ride as many rides as we could.

FNG’s: none

EC: Nemo, Shamwow!, Mookie, Emeril

Warm Up: SSH, GM’s, Seal Claps, Overhead Claps, Frankenstein’s. Mosey to the big hill on the far side of the field.
The Workout: Take the hill stack. 10 burpees, take the hill. 10 burpees, 20 squats at the top.  Run the ridge, 10 burpees, 20 squats, 30 mountain climbers.  When I called this is when Emeril looked at me and said, “What’s wrong with you?”

Mosey to other side of fence for 5 count per pax People’s Chair followed by 30 ct. fence squats. Mosey to the Abyss.

We did split group 7’s on the Abyss with burpees at the bottom and WW1 at the top. Plank hold for the 6.

2 line Indian runs to the high school. 30 bench dips.

With Indian run lines remaining in effect, we did a few hill repeats with 2 merkins at the bottom, run to the top, 4 star jumps, back down, 6 merkins, to the top, 8 star jumps, on the way down, several pax were quick to let YHC know we didn’t have a whole lot of time to get back to the flag. OR they didn’t want to do more hill repeats. Either way, these pax were right on so we finished with 20 merkins. Indian run in a whole group back to the flag.

Mary: H2M, H2M single leg, Box Cutters, Pickle Pounders.
Announcements: Rune continues.  Bass Lake mulch project.
T-Claps (Recognition):
Prayer: Pablo has lost his mother. Pray for his family. Martini’s mom and family. Hardy got staples after suffering a hit to the head and ninja training. Praises from Quiver for his daughter getting good news on high school placement. Praises from FloJoe and a family member of his who is recovering and we were praying for. Our Nation, leaders.  Honor to lead men!

Back to avg numbers at the U!

FNGs: NOPE
Warm Up: Quick mosey, the usual – SSH, Frankenstein, Good Morning, Daisy Pickers
The Workout: Standard U-Turn route, there had to be at least 15 of the 21 present make the first 6-pick up. Amazing site to be seen!
Mary: Not a chance
Announcements: RUNE!
T-Claps (Recognition): 4 Mile EC Crew! @Vasoline @Alpine @Skidmark @Aquaman @Bullseye @ShamWow!
Prayer: Martini’s Mother, Pablo’s Mother, Unspoken – @Aquaman took us out

I’ll stomp a decaying coon but I ain’t stepping on that!

EC:  ShamWow, Katniss

It started out as a normal day.  I passed ShamWow as I drove in late for EC and he politely turned around to accommodate my lack of discipline.  We traveled the familiar route with some mumblechatter along the way.  At about the first mile along holly springs road, we abruptly parted from our path like the red sea did before Noah.  There was something in the road that caught both our attentions.  I can only describe it as a cylindrical object about 8 inches in length, purple-ish, and appeared to be made of silicone rubber.  Neither of us had any interest in positively identifying the object as we never broke stride as we abruptly (key word) parted from our path and continued on our way.

FNGs: Not today
Warm Up: 25 SSH, 15 Hillbillies, 15 Imperial Walkers, 10X Fazio Arm Circles FW & REV, 15X Overhead Claps, 15 X Seal Claps, 25 SSH
The Workout:

With a full week of rain, it was hard finding motivation to get back in the gloom.  I’m glad the Q sheet was open for Cletus forcing me to endure another workout in the rain.  It brought thoughts of discomfort and made me ponder why we seek comfort and shun discomfort.   It brought spiritual reflection.  My take away – I have never grown or gained anything by being comfortable.  We grow and gain from discomfort and hard work (discomfort).  Comfort is a time for praise and recovery so that we may go do uncomfortable things!  And balancing them is the trick.  I think everyone can find examples of this in their life by asking the question – What made you who you are?  I imagine there are some uncomfortable memories balanced with times of great joy.  As we get older it is much easier to accept the normal and seek what we have found to provide us comfort.  An F3 workout is a great 45 minute (only) discomfort embrace that provides the correct perspective for the rest of the day whether it brings us challenges or rewards.  We shall conquer the day and be thankful that mostly we have 1st world problems.  This message was less succinctly delivered during Thing 2 which brought a lot of discomfort.

Trying to avoid the downpours so headed to the shelter.  Divided into two groups.

Thing 1

Group 1 BTW  Group 2 10X Derkins Switch

Group 1 Preachers Chair Group 2 20X Dips Switch

Group 1 BTW Group 2 20X Erkins Switch

Repeat

Break in the rain so a trip around the soccer fields, plank hold for the six

Repeat Group 1 and 2 exercises with Derkins going to 20X

Trip around the soccer fields, plank hold for the six

Thing 2

Mosey to the rock pile to select 2 small rocks (some did not heed the advice)

Tabata – 1 minute AMRAP, 10 second rest

5 rounds – overhead press, squats, tricep extentions, curls for the girls, shoulder arm raises

Completed 2 sets, and needed a break, so a trip around the soccer field plank hold for the six

No time for a 3rd set and no time for Mary!

Mary:  Not today
Announcements: RUNE – last day to sign up, ShamWow dropped some knowledge on us and reminded us the treasure is in the journey and not the destination.  Should have been there if you want to know more!
T-Claps (Recognition):  All Pax for embracing the discomfort today in order to grow
Prayer:  Cupid’s grandfather is not doing well and has been battling cancer for a long time (10 years).  Prayers for Cupid, his grandfather, and family during this time.

Suck a Golfball Through a Garden Hose

EC: Everyone but Red

FNGs: Not today

Warm Up: 10 X SSH, 10 X Frankensteins, 10 X Good Mornings. All exercises IC

The Workout:

We took a tour of Holly Springs finest hills, so fine that we decided to repeat them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mary: THE Dawgpound led us in some stretches and cool down.

Announcements: Rune will be starting soon. Get signed up, it is going to be a blast! Check Slack and FB for details.

T-Claps (Recognition): All PAX for getting EC in and for picking up the 6 all through the route.

Prayer: Wallaby, unspoken, those that are struggling.

YHC took us out. Always an honor to lead.