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Cold Start and Unexpected Opportunity

The temperature read 28 degrees as I stepped out of the car this morning to be greeted by 7 fellow PAX who decided like me to get stronger and forsake the fartsack. After 2 mins of mumble chatter it became apparent that we would call an audible since it was 05:30 and no Q present. YHC took the opportunity to lead these mighty men for the workout today in what became my VQ. Now… if I could only figure out what Thangs we would do.

QIC: Fanny Pack

Pax: Da Business, Fanny Pack, Mr. Terrific, Oboe, Quiver, Shredder, Tetanus, 3rd Cousin 

FNGs: None
Warm Up: Mosey the standard loop around the parking deck. Circled up in parking deck for: SSH x 20, GM’s x 10, Sir Fazio’s x 10 F/R, Mountain Climbers x 20, Hillbillies x10, and Imperial Walkers x 10.
The Workout: Now I had a plan, or at least half a plan. We ran 7’s down the length of the parking garage starting with standard merkins on one end and dips on the other. Each PAX ran hard in between. Moseyed over to the rock pile.  Circled up for what was primarily 2 exercises at each rock (we would rotate counter clockwise) an upper body move and a lower body/core move. Each exercise had a 10 count. Let it be disclosed that YHC miscounted on a couple of moves. After each pair of exercises, pax did merkins starting with 1 and going to 10 before shifting spaces. Thanks to Shredder for reminding YHC to move the circle to a safer place in the parking lot.  Exercises: Curls for the Girls x 20, Shoulder Press x 20, Tricep Extend x20, Ground Pounder x 20, Bus Driver x 10, Squats x 10, Torso Twist x 10, Goblet Squats x 10, Rut Rows x 20, Rock Spanks x 20, Dying Cockroach w Rock x 10, LSF x 20, Homer 2 Marge x 10.

Mary: YHC called 10 counts of: Shoulder Taps, Freddie Mercury, and Catalina Wine Tasters (I referred to these in error as Catalonia Wine Smellers which caused some confusion). Remaining PAX took turns calling out 10 counts of the following: Fire Hydrants, Box Cutters, LBC’s, Mountain Climbers, Pickle Pounders, American Hammers. Plank Hold was done for a 5 count by all PAX.
Announcements: YHC’ s non VQ will be at Purple Cobra Tuesday. Quiver let us in on some fine arts he’s had the pleasure of viewing recently.
T-Claps (Recognition): Shredder for keeping me on time. I did not expect to need my watch today.
Prayer: Our Armed Forces and Nation, those PAX that are ill these days, unspoken.  YHC took us out.  It was an honor to lead you fellas in getting stronger this morning.

8 PAX @ R4TJ

FNGs: None.  Another, crazy 60 degree, balmy, foggy morning in January!  Shorts and short sleeves!

Warm Up:  Volunteered to Q at the last minute at this AO I had never attended.  Came up with a route only to find out later I had the wrong starting point.  This AO meets at Ting, not Womble.  Thank you Pikachu.  Took some playful heat/banter on social media.  Was not falling for it.  I screwed up and owned it.  Adapt and overcome.  Went back to the maps and planned out a route.  Luckily for me, I had seven PAX who were very familiar with the area.  I shared my plan of running a 5K with some hill repeats.  After our pow pow, we began warming up when the clock struck 0530.  15 SSH, 10 Don Quixotes, 10 Daisy Pickers, 10 Frankensteins (OYO), static leg stretching (L/R).  Light vests and head lamps were turned on and we began our run.  Felt good not having to wear stinky gloves for my normal boot camp workout.

The Workout:  PAX stayed together throughout the entire run.  Maybe they were worried about the Q getting lost.  Terrific mumble chatter along the way.  So impressed with the support for the six throughout the 5k.  The route I planned was changed and there is no way I could recreate it on the map.  It would look like a John Madden explanation of a play by the time I got done with it.  As mentioned on FB, Valdez had to depart and head home halfway through the workout – thanks for letting the Q know.  Anchor Creek Way hill was repeated – again great support cheering on the six. Finished the 5k with a sprint up the ramp.  Excellent job PAX!

Mary:  Cool down as we headed back to the planted shovel flag.  PAX completed gate openings, Frankensteins and karaoke.

Announcements:  ATT long ass run; look on Slack/FB for some other social/volunteer opportunities.  LED is looking for volunteers.  Great movie last night – one continuous shot (incredible).

T-Claps (Recognition):  PAX for coming out in the gloom this morning and supporting each other.  We were definitely not fast, we gave 100% and got better.

Prayer:  Crab legs, Noah’s Ark wife, Nemo’s distant family member that passed away, UNSPOKEN.  Thank you Fanny Pack for taking us out.  It’s hump week; take a look at your day.  Look at your priorities.  Evaluate how much time you are spending in things that really should matter.

 

I got to meet some new guys and have some good discussions with folks I normally do not see.  Thank you for your help today.  An honor to lead you men!  -Dauber

No Hoopla, Just a Beat Down

FNGs:  None

Warm Up:  Rolled into DT parking lot and planted the shovel flag.  I found a handful of PAX slowly emerge from their cars into the sprinkles, temps in 60s! and fog.  Some had rain jackets and hats in preparation for the wet conditions.  Alerted PAX the majority of workout would be under the parking deck where the Onnit kettlebell workouts were held last quarter.  Some mumble chatter about the NFL games over the weekend, the college football championship game tonight and PAX simply wanting to avoid any Hoopla this am, wanting simply, a nice beat down in the gloom.  Not wanting to disappoint, we ventured off into the darkness of downtown Holly Springs.  Nice easy run around the block and then  had PAX center up in the parking garage.  Lead PAX in the following warmup exercises: 25 SSH, 10 Good AM, 10 Daisy Pickers, 10 O/H claps. 10 Seal Claps, 10 Sir Fazios (F/B)

The Workout:  PAX followed Q executing Ws sliding side to side slapping the ground at the apex all the down the lengths of the garage.  At the end of the garage, PAX started at the wall in front of a parking lot stripe.  PAX bear crawled the length of the stripe and completed one burpee and then back peddled to the start of the wall.  Next go -increased burpees to 2.  Rinse and repeat until we reached 5 burpees.  Recovered on the wall with 5c People’s Chair immediately followed by 5c BTTW.  Q called out a different PAX to lead the cadence count increasing the count from 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 for both exercises.  With sweat rolling off the brow, we set off doing karaoke, switching up at the halfway point, until we reached the end wall.  Why not more BTTW/people’s chair?  Q started with a 5 count.  Had PAX execute lunges alternating L/R until they reached halfway point.  Q called 10 merkins.  Back peddled to the wall.  10c BTTW/PC.  Alternating lunges to a shorter distance.  Executed 10 wide grip merkins.  Back peddled to the wall.  More 10c BTTW/PC.  Lunges again.  10 Diamond merkins.  Back peddled to wall for 10c BTTW/PC.  Karaoke to the opposite end of garage switching up at the halfway point.  Feeling frisky, Q called for more BTTW 10c.  Followed by 10 squats.  Rinse and repeat.  Mosey back to the far corner for Mary and COT.

Mary:  Each PAX called a 10c core exercise 2X.  Exercises included:  Boat/canoe, Pickle pounders, plank hold, Freedom hammers, Supermans, Box cutters, crab slap? (forgot name Shredder), LSF, H2M, merkins, WWIIs, Freddie Mercury, and some YOGA thrown in for good measure.  Pot stirrers and ospreys.

Announcements:  Game tonight at M4L – Geaux Tigers!  Movie night tomorrow at HS – 1917, show starts at 745PM.  ATT long ass training,  see Slack, FB.

T-Claps (Recognition):  Fanny Pack for completing a 7 pack last week – OUTSTANDING effort; good luck making your shovel flag

Prayer:  Sprinkler took us out (thank you).  Unspoken prayers, prayers for out first responders, firies in Australia, military around the world keeping us free.

 

An honor leading you men in the gloom.  No hoopla.  Just a beat down.  – Dauber

21 at U-turn! Be SAFE!

FNGs:   My car was on auto pilot and almost turned into Target enroute to Starbucks.  Second time this week I went to an old AO site.  Luckily, I remembered we were meeting at Panera Bread.  Got out of my car and planted a shovel flag. No FNGs, but lots of new faces at U-turn.  Expected a handful of PAX to show up.  Blown away by the number who PAX who came out to run in this incredible, January weather!  (Temps in the 60’s – balmy). Mumble chatter from Dumbo blaming it in global warming.

Warm Up:  I wanted to change the flow of things up a bit knowing that PAX were running at different distances (3-7 miles) and different paces.  I grabbed my phone and started recording for name-o-rama after we sounded off.  Made some announcements and prayer requests (see below) and got into the warm-up.  20 SSH, 10 open doors (L/R), 10 Don Quixotes and some static stretching L/R with the legs.

The Workout:   Before starting out, I brought up partnering/running with a PAX that had a head lamp or a light vest.  I emphasized safety highlighting the route and the rules of the road for the first-timers.  I identified the Clydesdales running 3 miles (I knew I was going to run with them) and asked the Gazelles running 5-7 miles to ensure they had the six.  Appreciate LED, Mr. Terriffic (nice toe shoes) and other PAX bringing in the six on the longer run.  Shout out to Dawgpound who alerted me two PAX who took off running before circling up.  I learned later that Pablo was CPR-trained and volunteered to run with Emeril who had a commitment later in the morning down range and needed to skid daddle immediately post workout.  Thanks Pablo for your help keeping Emeril safe.
PAX:   May I suggest checking in with the Q prior to taking off running in the future.

During the Gallop with the Clydesdales, we had a lot of mumble chatter about movies, actors, and running techniques up hills (thanks Shredder).  Some of the PAX were running only three miles knowing they would be doubling down and attending GP later that morning.

Mary:  None

Announcements:  Accomplished prior to running; Bowl game at M4L – Go Tigers!, Movie night “1917” – 8 PAX going, five bucks this Tues in HS.  Invest in a head lamp or light vest – could save your life.

 

T-Claps (Recognition):  Martini – EC and 5/6 mile long run.  (AND GP afterwards). Killed it today

Prayer:  Thank you Shredder for taking us in (out) leading us in prayer.

F2 at Panera Bread with all PAX accounted for.  An honor to lead, thank you Sham Wow for the opportunity. – Dauber

Mumble mumble chatter chatter

FNGs: None

11 HIMs showed up to GP and mumble chatter started before the clock started.  We may have had a record attendance outside of the anniversary event of GP.  

WarmUp:

10 Good Mornings, 10 Windmills, 10 Daisy Pickers,  20 Fozzie Arm Circles, 10 Emperial Squaters, 10 Hillbillies, 20 3ct SSH, 10 Willy Mays Haze, 20 ct Pigeon Pose

The Workout

Mosey to the Rock Pile. Rotate around rocks between sets.

  • 3 sets of 20’s – Curls for the girls
  • 3 sets of 20’s  – Overhead Overhead Tri-press
  • 3 sets of 10’s – Ground Pounders
  • 3 sets of 10’s – Trunk Twists
  • 3 sets of 10’s – Bus Drivers
  • 3 sets of 10’s – Rutrows
  • 4 sets of 20 – Standard Bench Press
  • 10 x 3ct – Windshield wipers
  • 10 x 3ct – 6 inches
  • 10 x 3ct – Low Slow Flutter
  • 10 x 3ct – Box Cutters

PAX pair up:

2 sets of Rock/Crap Planks w/ Bears

1 does Rock Plank Hold while other Bearcrawls 20 yards and jog back

1 does Rock Crab Hold while other Bearcrawls for 20 yards and jogs back

Mosey to the Wall of Pain

  • 55ct Wall Sits Prisoner style
  • 55 ct BTW

Tunnel of Love: PAX line up single file and to make tunnel. Each PAX took turns belly crawling through the man made tunnel.

Mosey to playground for Aik’n Legs:

  • 20 x 3ct Step Ups
  • 20 x 3ct Prisoner Squats
  • 20 x 3ct Lunges
  • 10 x 3 ct Mnt Climbers
  • 10 LBCs  

T-Claps for everyone who doubled down this morning. Especially to Martini with 7 miles @ U-Turn prior to posting GP

Announcements:  Carpex Q’s in SW next week staring Monday at Paradise. M4L hosting the Tiger’s game on Monday night.  1917 Movie night on Tuesday night – check with Dauber if you haven’t signed up.

Prayer Requests:  For our military and the families of our military.  Continued prayers for Noah’s wife Michelle and for ALL the M’s and our families.  Prayer is powerful and changes lives.

YHC took us out.

How could I forget?!!

FNGs: 1 But Shredder asked we save his naming until Groupounder – Colt45
Warm Up: Standard ShamWow! U-Turn: SSH, Frankenstein, Imperial, Hillbilly, Daisy Picker
The Workout: The U!
Mary: Nope
Announcements:
T-Claps (Recognition): Nemo, Maybelline, Skidmark – 4 Mile EC in the rain and cold!
Prayer: YHC took us out

Full House

Pax of 15 out in the gloom for a Sheepdog record. A bunch for EC. Many guests including Crab Legs and Howard in attendance. Co-Q with Shredder taking combatives. May it truly be said that a good (sweaty) time was had by all.

Warm Up:

Leg lifts, SSH, trunk twists.

2 rounds:
30s Plank hold
30 Mountain Climbers
20 Alternating Reverse Lunges
10 cadence Plank Up Downs
5 Squat Jumps

The Workout:

4 rounds, every 2 mins, split into even groups
10 imperial squat walkers
10 pullups
10 box jumps

Wing Chung punching circle while each pax in turn does an exercise, recover in between each round
10 capoeira pushups
10 break dancers, double punches
(ran out of time for round 3 with triple punches 🙂 )

Combatives:

Mechanical Advantage Control Holds, Theory and Application, parts I-III.

Mary:

Core incorporated. Good thing since we were outta time anyway.

Announcements:

Last AO of Q-Swap with Carpex tomorrow, 6:30 at Bond Park, led by Slide Rule and Skidmark(?)

T-Claps (Recognition):

Crab legs, successful carpal tunnel surgery for Dovetail’s M.

Prayer:

Crab Leg’s father-in-law Bob (new lease on life), Howard’s son (pneumonia + flu), Shredder’s coworker Danielle (cancer + other).

B.O.M.B.S and Biscuits

EC: Nope although Shredder came “a running in” just before we circled up for Warm ups

FNGs: Nope

Warm Up: Perfect morning in the gloom with clear skies and a full moon.  PAX circled up for some:

Hairy Rockettes X 10

Deep Squat stretch with legs slightly wider than shoulders at a 10 count OYO (to stretch out the groin), or what I call the Lipstick Squat Stretch (similar to being in a position to make a “Stinky” out in the gloom)

Fazio Arm Circles X10

Then we mozey to the back of HRMS to get the blood pumping a bit. Stopped in the back lot of the school for some:

Imperial Walkers X10

Hillbillies X10

The Workout:

Chow Time!! We headed down to the track for a Bojangles Blueberry Biscuit……mosey in the corners and sprint down the stretch of the track followed by 5 burpees (the blueberries). Some found it to be satisfying….. others were a bit disappointed (sorry not sorry).

Then it was time to partner up for some Track B.O.M.B.S…One Pax runs clockwise around the track while the other runs counterclockwise. When they meet, they complete the first exercise in the B.O.M.B.S series, then continue their run until they meet again for the second exercise….and so on and so on….

-Burpees X20

-Overhead claps X40

-Merkins X60

-Big Boy Sit-ups X80

-Squats X100

That biscuit must have given these HIM some extra energy because we finished a bit early, so we returned in mosey fashion to the back parking lot for a round of “Evolution of Man”. Bear crawl for about 30 yards, followed by 30 merkins. Lunge walk 30 yards, followed by 15 squat jacks (like a SSH only sink into a deep squat when legs are apart).  End with a 30 yard sprint back to the starting line, followed by 15 overhead/seal clap combos.

It was time to mosey back to the COT for Mary, and not a minute to spare.  I could feel that biscuit hitting my lower intestines right about now.

Mary:

-Pretzel Crunches X10

-Homer to Marg X20

-Freddie Mercuries X10

-Low Slow Flutter X15

-Box Cutters X10

-Make Today Meaningful (2nd cousin to “Have a Nice Day”)

Announcements:

-Tomorrow is last QSwap at Carpex

-Oboe’s band is playing Saturday night in Raleigh….go check out a bada$$ band and support a HIM…

Prayer: Prayers for our military serving at home and abroad as well as the families they leave behind while serving our country

3rd Watch Co-Q

Pick’ed up the Q late for Warbucks so he could go beatdown the Carpex Guys. Put it out to my shield lock group if anyone would want to CO-q and Shredder took warmups and mary. We had 6 people and most of us were part of our shield lock group.

FNGs: None
Warm-Up: Joogged over to good-will for the warm-up, which consisted of Shredder leading Squats with Overhead claps, Sir Fazio Arm Circles, Imperial Walkers & Hill Billy’s
The Workout:
              Thang 1: 4 corners:  start at 5, go to 10. Monkey Humpers, Carolina Dry Docks, Prisoner Squats, Merkins
              Thang 2: Mosey to the Wall behind Harris Teeter, do 3 sets of alternating People Chair with claps, and Planks, BTTW and Freddie Mercuries, People Chair Morrocan Night clubs and LBC’s.
             Thang 3: Ran to the Bank for 2x wide grip merkins Dips and Derkins

Mary: Shredder lead mary with LBCs, Crab Cakes, Break Dancers, Embrace the Suck, and Have a nice day
COT: 6
Announcements: Continuance of Q Swapp week
T-Claps (Recognition): 3rd watch shield lock group with another strong showing, including honorary member Forceps. Also Good to See Bobby Dall again.
Prayer: Fanny Pack took us out: Booby Dall Family, YHC’s Wifes Aunt who is in hospital, our troops and their families, and prayers for a safe resolution of the current conflict

NMS: I have really enjoyed the shield lock challenge so far, our group is filled with people I did not know well in Southwake, so it has been great to get to know them better.

Throwback 5 – Day 5 – Riding the Murphy-Go-Round at Cletus

46 PAX IN THE GLOOM!  Way to end the week HIM!

EC: Norm, ShamWow!, Martini, DawgPound, Skidmark, Maybelline, Redenbacher, Pablo, Buford, Cowboy, Mr. Terrific

FNGs: NOPE

Warm Up:  YHC felt a little odd Qing the final Throwback of the week.  I wasnt here when these fine AOs were established.  I needed some star power…  I needed CrabLegs!!!

No, not those delicious buttery delicacies… This HIM!

I reached out and luckily enough he was available. CrabLegs was wrapping up some vacation in New England and he made the push to get back and join in on the fun.  Crablegs put the PAX through their paces in the warm-up.

  • SSH
  • Runners Pose
  • Pigeon Pose
  • Overhead Stretches
  • Daisy Pickers
  • Good Mornings

The Workout:

41 PAX were present when we started the workout with an initial count-off.  YHC watched as a few men filed in at various moments but was unable to get the count.  This called for 6 Burpees OYO!

PAX had counted off 1,2,3,4 and broke into 4 groups.  We were headed to the Murphy-Go-Round.  Most Murphs would last about an hour and we would have enough room for everyone to grab some pull-up bars.   We didn’t have that today and with 41 (later 46 PAX) there were some logistical challenges.  YHC had his heart* set on some sort of Murph-like event today so a contingency plan was in place to make it happen.

*One of my earliest memories of attending Cletus was when a Murph was announced instead of the normal workout.  As a new PAX at the time, I was intimidated and I remember being pretty shattered the day after.  It was brutal and humbling and oddly it now made me feel nostalgic and happy…  this F3 really changes a guy.

The Actual Workout  Finally…

We mozy’d to the railing on the greenway between the pond and the baseball fields.  The railing would serve as our pull-up bars, strike that Inverted Row bars.  Group 2 was dropped here and told to get started AMRAP until they were relieved by Group 1.

We mozy’d to the parking lot beyond the baseball diamonds.  As we entered the lot, we dropped off Group 3.  There job was to do AMRAP Merkins until they were relieved by Group 2.

We mozy’d down the lot to give some space and dropped off Group 4 off.  AMRAP Squats until relieved by Group 3.

From there, Group 1 set off on a Run around the Baseball diamonds until they got to Group 2.

The Murphy-Go-Round was set in motion and continued until time was called.

Mary:

Back to the tennis courts…

  • 6 inch leg holds
  • Boxcutters
  • Superman Ws and Ts
  • LBCs

Announcements:  Check Slack because my memory don’t work so good…  here is a round-up

  • Paradise City starts at 5:30 from now on
  • U-Turn launches from Panera from now on
  • Support a local Eagle Scout and the food pantry.  Donations happening now, building out a greenhouse later
  • Dumbo has setup a FREE CPR class at Hope next week – sign-up and show-up, you could save a life
  • Dad’s Workout 1/4 @9am Womble

T-Claps (Recognition):  To the OGs that set South Wake in motion.  Great representation this week from some of the earliest PAX including Howard.  Amazing leadership and great whetstones to reference as we push forward with the 2020 vision.

Prayer:  Those PAX that are working on physical and mental battles among us.  For our service members that keep us safe and guarantee our freedoms.  CrabLegs took us out.