With only 2 PAX posting last week, YHC sent a pre-blast drawing inspiration from a 20+ count at U-Turn. The temps are getting warmer, but the rain and clouds are still making their presence known on the weekend AO’s. This morning temps called for 65 degrees, with a 35 percent chance of rain. Received 2 HC’s on the pre-blast post from Full House and ShamWow, with a possible SC by Maybelline. Don’t think there has ever been an HC on a Sunday for the following Sunday, but Yogi laid one down last week, and so was at least expecting 3, possibly 4 this morning, including YHC.

A Cowboy slack post indicated interest on this mornings route and what shoes to wear, provoked thoughts of a 5th brother. Rolled up on Womble this morning to discover quite a few cars…As expected, Cowboy. Then I see as an added bonus, the Sir DawgPound emerged to the parking lot. No sooner did a I turn around, I see the guy I hoped I’d see return to AGS this morning in the form of Double D. There was a post on Slack the night before that came from Forceps indicating he’d make an appearance to ruck parts of AGS this morning. As I saw him emerge from his truck, I considered the irony given that it was Masters Sunday. Is it me or is Masters Sunday a bit different when Tiger Woods is in the mix and pushing for another Major?

That’s the way I feel when Double D steps into any AO that he posts in. It’s just different. I can’t effectively put it into words. The bar is raised to another level and you know it’s gonna be a good day when he’s present and benefit from his energy. Great to see him back in the gloom!

Bobby Dall then shortly rolled in followed by Full House, and then a fleet footed light up vest emerged from the soccer field fences. The figure was fast and swift and yep…you guessed it, SkidMark! Did a quick turnaround and there was Maybelline emerging from the shadows cashing in his ‘SC’ on slack for an ‘HC.’ This was the result of a solid headlock that was applied by ShamWow the night before. The final piece to our HIM Team came in the form of Lipstick, who is always ready to run and can always count on him visiting YHC about 5-6 times throughout the route as he picks up the 6.

Clock hit 6am and with the Team assembled, YHC welcomed the 10 PAX to AGS by sharing that this morning’s edition of AGS was sure to be an interesting morning. PAX followed YHC for a lap around the soccer fields with intermittent exercises that went a little like this….

Warm Up:

Light mosey to first picnic shelter. PAX spread out and circled up for SSH X10. At count 7, YHC’s cell phone flung out of pocket and at count 8, ShamWow landed awkwardly on his ankle. Not an ideal start, but after a careful check to ensure all was ok, ShamWow assured the Q his ankles were the strongest part of his body and could continue. Continued mosey to Ivan parking lot for a series of carioca L\R, R\L to the opposite corner. PAX circled for Imperial Walkers X10. Continued Mosey into lunge walks and then morphed for Frankensteins, Butt Kickers, and mosey back to originating parking lot. YHC called for a series of prison squats X10 and then explained the route to PAX

The Workout:

With PAX already a 0.5mi in with the warm up and provided they already started their watches on the warm up, today’s route would keep us on the road (given the rain) and away from Bass Lake. Double informed YHC that he would be rucking this morning and would navigate a 4-mile route near and\or along the lake. This morning’s running route would provide heavy doses of hills, starting downhill on Stinson. PAX would then proceed left on Bass Lake Road. This would offer Lipstick two opportunities to drop gross weight at Lowe’s, before continuing onto Rhamkatte Village. Later learned that he bypassed Lowe’s for a porta potty option (evolution of BRR training starting to take shape). Once inside Rhamkatte Village, PAX would continue down Jones Hill Road all the way down the row of townhouses and U-Turn back out to Holly Springs Road. PAX would then continue left onto Holly Springs Road all the way down to a right on Linksland and then a right on Salem Ridge Road before gathering their thoughts and oxygen to proceed with a right up Bass Lake road. Knowing that we had some glowing (light up vest)  gazelles in the mix this morning, YHC gave them an extra mile to have them continue onto Earp with a left on Raleigh. For the six (YHC included) we had an alternate route back up Stinson and onto Womble where all PAX met within 5 minutes of each other back to the flag. A big shout out to Lipstick for picking up the six periodically throughout the route and gaining 8+ miles and additional PAX getting 7 this morning…

Mary: Stretches OYO with Mumblechatter

Announcements: YHC shared the underlying inspiration for the pre-blast post centered around the importance of being a great teammate. Earlier in the week, YHC came upon a letter that was written by Brad Stevens (former Butler University Head Coach and current coach of the Boston Celtics) to his daughter for a Leaders and Daughters event. The entire letter is attached here for those interested, but to paraphrase it spoke of the importance of choosing to be a great teammate:

https://leadersanddaughters.com/2019/03/04/brad-stevens-be-a-great-teammate

“Great teammates raise the energy in the room. They smile a lot. They show gratitude. People know that when they walk in, they have others’ best interest in mind, and want to bring out the best in each and every person. Who doesn’t want to surround themselves with energy raisers?”

“When times are good, be the great teammate that others want to celebrate with. When times are tough, be the great teammate who offers a shoulder to be leaned on. When you get older, you’ll realize that it wasn’t about the good or bad times, it was about who you navigated those times with, the lessons that you learned and the relationships that you forged.”

YHC further explained that it is always an honor to lead, but more importantly, the PAX I see in the gloom are usually the first faces YHC sees in the morning. Collectively we set the tone for that day and for the week. We need to continue to be great teammates not only in the gloom, but at home. As a Team, we need to continue to be those shoulders to lean on and push each other to be better men, husbands, neighbors, and fathers.

T-Claps (Recognition): Double D return to AGS, Lipstick for picking up the six, Solid Runs by this morning’s gazelles (Skid, Maybelline, Full House, Bobby Dall, Lipstick, ShamWow). Cowboy and DawgPound for pushing YHC up Bass Lake and Stinson.

Prayer: Special prayers for Double D and his family. Sally Hart (who was coached by Double D) and whom many of us F3-HIM have been fortunate to run with is running the Boston Marathon tomorrow. Good Luck to her and additional prayers for a great run tomorrow. YHC took us out.