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Q-Swap Week – Disturbing the Peace

YHC hasn’t Q’d in a while and was eager to knock the dust off for Q-Swap. A workout was planned to handle a large crowd and to minimize the mumblechatter. Carpex is a difficult group to slow down. 13 for EC (of course SW PAX went for a run), 38 for the main event.

FNGs: Nope

ECP: Wahoo, Hamm, The Joker

EC: 2 milers: Warbucks, UTI, Slide Rule, Full House, Kosher, Redenbacher, Lipstick, 187

7.5 miles: Revere, Hanson

Warm Up:
YHC decided to start off on a high note with the slaughter starter (20 burpees OYO) to kill the mumblechatter before it really started. It slowed them for a bit before they were begging for a pledge and some good mornings.

A quick pledge of allegiance at the shovel flag and we were off on a mosey for carioca, side shuffles, butt kickers, etc. Circled up in the lot beside CC Jones park for:

Good mornings (SW style of course)
Goofball
Windmill
Sir fazio arm circles
Seal claps

Mosey back to shovel flag.

The Workout:
Thang 1:
Partnered up with PAX from rival territory for Flat tires across long parking lot with each partner working from 4:1 to 40:10 (wheelbarrow steps:merkins). When form broke down, YHC called recover and we mosey’d around to the other side of the church.

Thang 2:
Circled up for Howling Monkeys. 2 rounds were performed with each PAX doing 10 monkey humpers while other PAX held monkey humper starting position. Big circle, so we spawned off 2 active PAX. Slide Rule had enough and tried to stop the howling, but we continued for round 2. PAX then tried to mosey around to the other side of the building. It was at this point that Burt admired YHC’s pants and suggested I went shopping with M4L.

Thang 3:
Evolution of man (crawl, walk, run) x2 rounds

Line up on end of parking lot
Bear crawl to first island
15 merkins
Lunge walk to light pole
15 squats
Sprint to other side of lot
15 shoulder taps
15 WWIIs
*Repeato*

Mary:
Alphabet soup (CAPITAL LETTERS)
LBCs
American hammers
Hundreds

Mosey back to shovel flag for COT.

Announcements:
Q swap continues at Rush Hour tonight at 1800 (6pm).
New Carpex AO launches tomorrow at Waverly with 3rd F to follow

T-Claps (Recognition):
Carpex PAX for maintaining such a strong level of mumblechatter and living up their reputation.

Prayer:
No prayer requests, YHC took us out.

Thanks for the hospitality Carpex! It was an honor (and a challenge) to lead such a large and chatty group.

3 Year Mixed Bag

Drove in to see Pablo doing a solo EC run before the workout, nicely done!

FNGs: Nope

3 Years ago on this day, Tonka picked me up and treated me to a workout Q’d by none other than Midget at Disney.  It sucked.  I did every rep of the first set and was quite proud of myself, until I realized we were 10 minutes in to a 45 minute workout and I was quite done.  Sometime in the next 15 minutes as we were doing repeats on the stairs, Midget tapped me on the shoulder and told me to just wait at the top for everyone.  I think he was afraid I was going to fall out and hurt myself going up/down the stairs.  I also think he was right to be afraid of that.

It’s been a great 3 years.  One of my fond memories was training for my first HSHM.  That year, we did hill repeats & track workouts on alternating Wednesdays (“Speed Racer” was the AO) led by Pilgrim, Bernie, and Wrangler.  As a little homage, I brought out one of those workouts for this morning.

The Workout:

There was a lot going on this morning.  The Fritter Goobers + POTS went on a Ruck.  Not sure how far they went.  At some point they stopped for refreshments.  I’ll let them tell that story.

Double D was hoping for just miles, so Mookie mapped out a nice 4-5 mile route for him and he took off solo.

Forceps missed his alarm, but made it for COT & 2ndF 🙂

The rest of us did hill repeats on Stinson.  Starting at the bottom of the hill stop sign:

  • Run hard to Ivan parking lot; recover back to stop sign
  • Run hard to Cletus parking lot; recover back to stop sign
  • Run hard to Grigsby stop sign; recover back
  • Hard to Grigsby; recover
  • Hard to Cletus; recover
  • Hard to Ivan; recover

If you did the whole thing, it was right at 6 miles.

Mary: Pfft
Announcements:

Awesome COT after the run.  One of the best I’ve ever been at.   Too often it’s just “name / age / f3 name; quick announcement; let’s go”.  This morning we actually talked a bit about what we’re doing and why.  I really appreciated the time.
T-Claps (Recognition):  Oboe was a man on a mission this morning.  Awesome job beating down those hills.
Prayer: Running the hills made me think of a Pax I haven’t seen in a long time who used to be out there for these workouts — Princess Cut.  I know life hit him pretty hard for a while.  I wasn’t close enough with him to be there to help, but I know I miss him out in the gloom.  It made me appreciate what we’re doing with the Shield Lock even more.

Thanks for a great 3 years men, looking forward to the next 3.

I believe the children are our are future… 1st 2.0 Workout of 2020

During one of the throwback week beatdowns Sir Dawg and YHC came to the realization that the first Dads workout of 2020 was to fall on the coming Saturday.  No pre-blast had been sent and no notion of a Q had been seen.  The 2.0s must be represented we thought!  So we made a pact to ensure that the event would take place as planned.  A little chatter on the slack channel and we HC’d but YHC had not put a ton of thought into what we would do.  Luckily Dawg had an idea and 16-bit also had some thoughts on what to do and he joined our merry band.  YHC decided to let it roll and simply made sure the pre-blasts were in place to make sure the 2.os weren’t lost in the wake of the Throwback week.

Photoshttps://photos.app.goo.gl/3Myye3R6hLzAvZT99

FNGs: Welcome Mater!, son of Fanny Pack

Warm Up:  We mozy’d on over to the shelter and out of the rain.  Dawg ran us through some warm-ups.

  • SSH
  • Good Mornings
  • Merkins
  • Backstrokes

The Workout:

Thang 1

DawgPound had devised a game.  Cones were layed out in a pattern distanced at a 2.0 sized bunny hop in a zigzag fashion.  Dads counted off.  Half the dads and their 2.0s lined up at one side of the zigzag, the other half of the group and their 2.0s at the other.  One at a time, a PAX from each end of the zigzag hopped down the pattern towards each other.  When they met, a round of rock-paper-scissors commenced.  The victor continued to move down the zigzag until meeting another PAX.  The loser would get down on the ground for 5 merkins.  Repeato until the crowd grew tired.  (this kept going and going, the 2.0s really seemed to enjoy the game)

Thang 2

Dads and 2.0 teamed up for relay rounds by 16-bit.

  • Round 1 – Dads\Balls to the Wall, 2.0s bear crawl to the opposite side of the shelter and back
  • Round 2 – 2.0 Wheelbarrows, Dads bear crawl return with 2.os on their backs
  • Round 3 – 2.0 BullFrogs, Dads duck walk back with 2.os on their backs

Thang 3

YHC hosted some random-o-rama moves contributed in a popcorn fashion from PAX in attendance

  • Squats with 2.0s on the shoulders
  • Curls with the Girls (really 2.0s girls or boys)
  • 2.0 swings (passing 2.0s through legs and then upward in the air)
  • Squats with 2.0s on backs
  • 2.0 Carry Mozy down path towards former Ivan lot
  • 2.0 Carry Indian Runs turn around at Ivan
  • 2.0 Mozy return to the shelter

Mary: Picking up the 6.  The 2.0s turned around and we all went back for the 6.  We talked about what it meant to pick up the 6 and how everyone can apply it at the next 2.0 workout or really in anything they do.  Always look for an opportunity to support someone that is behind you and help get them to where you are.  Leave no man behind, leave no man where you found them.

Announcements:

  • QSwap Weeks coming up
  • Opportunities to keep Dads workouts moving through the months – Sign-up on the Q Sheet
  • Shield Lock Challenge

T-Claps (Recognition):  Mater – this FNG stepped up and took us out in the prayer today.  He was locked in on the entire workout and has shown from the start that he is an F3 HIM.  Despite being named for trashing the quality of his Dad’s car.  The car that takes him cool places and gets him around town everyday :-P.  Great work today Mater!

Thunder Sprinkles – Great work being the accountability partner your Dad needed to get to the workout.  He wanted to go straight to Dunkin’ and you said “No way!  I need to get my workout on!”  Most 2.0s would have gone right for the Donuts

Prayer:  Service men and women.

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.

Wet Starsky at U-Turn

FNGs:

None today
Warm Up:

SSH x10

Warm up lap around parking lot

Good morning x10

Warm up lap of kareokees
The Workout:

Standard 5 mile loop with a 2 mile out and back option
Mary:

Missing today
Announcements:

Christmas party. U-Turn moves to Panera in 2020.
T-Claps (Recognition):

Everyone who posted on this rainy morning.
U.T.I. with the Starsky – per the lexicon that’s fartsacking the workout but showing up for coffeeteria. Must say I hadn’t heard this term before – thanks Slide Rule.

Prayer:

Wallaby. Crab legs.

Accountability

FNGs: Mr. Terrific (aka: Quitter)
The Workout:

We worked out, it was hard.  Not a lot of mumble chatter to be heard.  I tried to mix up legs / core / shoulders / chest.  Got a bit more than a mile in, but I know my heart rate was up the whole time.

More importantly, though.  Twice during the workout, instead of a count-hold, I asked the PAX to share.  Why do you do F3?  What makes you keep doing F3?  What do you need from your F3 brothers during the holidays?

A quick sample of popular responses:

  • “Family is my biggest stress during the holidays (and also what I look forward to the most during the holidays)”
  • “I need / look forward to accountability from my F3 brothers.”
  • “I want to pray for a lot of close friends struggling with mental health / family issues (but don’t want to really admit I have the same stuff going on)”

Accountability in Fitness is why we keep coming back.  I hope we take a few moments to think about what Accountability would look like outside of a workout.  I’m glad that I’m 20 pounds lighter, a few minutes faster, a lot of pullups stronger after 3 years of F3.  I’m more thankful that I’ve got a group of guys who are helping me be a better husband / father / son.  In 2020, my goal is to make it easier for the whole of f3SouthWake to find that if they’re looking for it.

Announcements: Christmas Party; Oakwood 24
T-Claps (Recognition): Great to see Shredder back in the Gloom, especially FNG in tow
Prayer: Oakwood 24; Family burdens; Quiver; Mental Health; More Family

Nutcracker Rock,Rock,Rock

FNGs: none
Warm Up: Mosey, high knees, butkickers, karaoke

tulip pickers x10 sir fascio arm circles 10 forward 10 back, overhead arm circles 5 forward 5 back, SSH x 20
The Workout: Grabbed Rocks and mossied to workout location

Tulip pickers w/rock x10   curls x10   tricep ext x10 3Sets–sprint to 3 light poles in ascending order and mosey back

Bridge press x20  halo x10 lion king x10  3Sets—sprint to 3 light poles in ascending order and mosey back

bridge press x10 curls x10     tricep ext x10    3Sets–sprint to first light pole and mosey back

Mary:  windshield wipers x10   homer to marge x15
Announcements:   Christmas party sign up, Shield lock challenge
T-Claps (Recognition):
Prayer:

Cyber Monday Shopping

FNGs:  None

EC:  Not exactly sure.  But Slide Rule was on his six mumbling about questioning whether or not he had made the right decision this morning and a few other PAX looked shwetty (Abe, Coal Ash, Nemo perhaps).

Warm Up:  PAX of 9 came out for some Cyber Monday shopping with Dauber.  Took a tour of downtown with a nice jog to get the body warmed up.  Headed down to check out the deals happening with Dawgpound and the Pax doing Onnit.   A gaggle of shoppers out early this morning looking for sales in the cozy garage.  Lots of kettlebells, yoga mats, a piece of furniture and electronics.  We continued on our jog window shopping the brick and mortar shops on Main Street.  Pace Yourself Run Company had the best holiday lights in their window.  Headed back to the parking lot for the following warmup exercises:  In cadence – 25 SSH, 10 Don Quixote, 10 Daisy Pickers, 10 Fazio Arm Circles (F/B), 10 O/H claps, 10 Seal Claps, static hamstring stretching (L/R) and some Michael Phelps.

The Workout:  PAX followed Dauber (who removed his bulky sweatshirt hoodie) for a nice jog that included some karaoke (both sides) around the library down library hill.  Doc caught up to Dauber and mentioned the pace.  Pulled into the neighborhood’s clubhouse.  I remembered my first Downtown Train (inaugural) and Nemo brought us down here for some Jack Webb’s.  No fond memories voiced  but I did hear some concern about the wet grass. (I’m doing laundry as I write this BB hoping to Shout out the mud stains on the knees).  Jack Webb’s 1 merkin : 3 air push ups (from your knees).  On your six for 25 ic LBCs and 25 SSH ic.  Mosey / jog back up library hill and waited for the 6 at the top of the hill.  Frankensteins were added.  Dauber made sure all PAX were OK and then called a jail break to a parked trailer.  Coal Ash turned it into high gear beating out all the PAX.  Recalling doing rock exercises with Forceps, Dauber had PAX pick a medium sized rock and then had everyone circle up for the following 10 ic count exercises while rotating rocks:  Rut-Ros, Curls, Tricep Extensions, GroundPounders, Wonder Bras, Toe Taps, Side Turns, Toe-taps, Bus drivers, O/H presses.  PAX got on their 6 with the rock and executed the following 10 count ic exercises (rotating rock afterwards):  H2M, Tricep extension, Straight arm Reverse Curl, Chest press, WW IIs, 6 inch with rock above chest, legs up 45 degrees with rock above chest, rock straight out over your head with legs 6 inches of the ground…return rocks to rock pile.  Mosey to library amphitheater for 25 c BTTW and 25 c People’s Chair.  Rinse and repeat increasing count to 30.  FUN!  Mosey to shovel flag for Mary.

Mary:  Yoga stretches.  Runners, Pigeon, Child’s Pose.   Have a nice a day.

Announcements:  Holiday party.  CSAUP.

T-Claps (Recognition):  PAX who did EC today.

Prayer:  Unspoken.  Dauber took us out.

This is always a privilege leading you me.  When I am not leading Red October, I am trying to get around to other AOs.

We Tried to Kill Sliderule

Welcome to the first U-Turn following Richmond and HSHM. YHC was curious how many Pax would be out coming off off of some big races, but with recent PRs in their heads the Pax were looking for more and trying to find a way to keep accelerating. Plus YHC promised a couple BIG announcements coming today. There were lots of options for today’s workout. 3 mile option in play, 5 mile option in play, and a new Beta AO option for those that wanted to give it a shot. Emeril has been spending a lot a time in the kitchen lately and missed the talk about the new workout. Kudos to him for dropping the light vest and coming along.

EC: Aquaman and Shamwow at 0515, Sliderule, Bernie, and Skidmark at 0530, 187 and Alpine from home.

3 Mile: Oh Yeah!

5 Mile: Norm, Oyster, Cowboy, Aquaman, Shamwow, Full House, Katniss, Buford

Other option: Emeril, Pablo, 187, Lipstick, UTI, Alpine, Sliderule, Bernie, Skidmark

FNGs: None
Warm Up: SSHx20, IWx10, Hillbilliesx10
The Workout: 3 mile and 5 mile runs.

For those interested here is how the other workout went down:

3 Man Indian Run from Starbucks toward Buffalo Wild Wings: From now on when I say Standard Set it will mean 10 merkins, 10 LBCs, and 10 squats and all runs will be 3 man Indian Runs unless noted. Corner by BWW standard set. To New Hill Rd Standard Set. Thomas Mill Rd Standard Set. Sonshine Gymnastics Standard Set.

At Sonshine we did Triple Nickles. 5 merkins at the top of the hill, 5 merkins at the bottom. Repeat 5x.

At Premier Standard Set

Down to 55 auto works parking lot: prints one direction, mosey back to start  and 10 LBCs (repeat 5x)

Down to Green Oaks Standard Set.

Over to Irving Parkway Standard Set

Up to Thomas Mill Standard Set. At the top of the at Thomas Mill partner up. One partner runs to New Hill and recovers down the hills and sprints up. The other partner runs the other direction to the top of the next hill. This partner sprints down the hill and recovers up the hill. Return to Thomas Mill. Each partner went each direction 1x

Standard Set at New Hill

Standard Set at Tijuana Flats

At Tijuana Flats 2 set of Guantanamo’s around the Landscaping. Then did one set of raccoon crawls around the landscaping on the wall. This is a bear crawl on top of the wall.

Then we did some window shopping. Large group Indian run and we picked up some other U-turners and ran the whole shopping plaza on the side walk. Back to Starbucks and recover.

Mary: Have a nice day
Announcements: Shirt Order, CSAUP 12/7, Christmas Party 12/14, Beta AO, Skidmark brought Pie, U-Turn will be moving locations starting the beginning of the year. It will now start at Panera. Route will remain the same.
T-Claps (Recognition):
Prayer: Wallaby, Good to see Norm

Thanksgiving Convergence

With Thanksgiving feasts on the horizon, 32 PAX wanted to make sure to start the day with a caloric deficit so they wouldn’t feel so bad about blowing it out of the water later in the day (or at least that’s how YHC felt).  With an hour long workout ahead of us and three mystery Q’s no one was quite sure what to expect.

FNGs: Welcome Captain Planet!

The Workout:

Pikachu started off the morning’s activities by announcing the first mystery Q, everyone’s favorite reason to have it burn when you pee, U.T.I.:

When did Thanksgiving become the holiday that just wouldn’t end!?  I thought I had made this amazing/awesome feast for everyone at R4TJ.  I just got this whole mess cleaned up. I knew there was some mumblechatter about the day of Thanksgiving.  Cletus 3x in 3 days, 3Qs at Tiger Blood or even flag football. It’s my fault, I shouldn’t have said anything…  I overheard the conversation and said “3 strikes is a Turkey in bowling” Apparently that was enough to ask me to set the table once again.  I do make a mean Turkey… but this is different… A CONVERGENCE!?!? I mean that could be HUGE – It’s the whole freaking extended family! At R4TJs Turkey Day, Chris (you remember – that guy that moves like lightning) assured me that there would be 2 other cooks in the kitchen but there was a catch…  He wouldn’t tell me who. I mean Emeril would be a big help but… you know… celebrity chef and all… Would he even show? I know he has a new gig something called “I’m On It!” – must be one of those Chef saves the day in a crappy restaurant reality things… I guess I would have to wait and find out.

I arrived promptly at start time.  There was talk of appetizers (about 3 miles of food was offered, just something light to get started but a bit more than typical) – I was planning on saving some room for dessert so I just showed up for the main course.  As you can imagine, it’s the holidays and with everything mostly shutdown there aren’t many options to get your fill. I counted 20 heads when I got there and more were filtering in from their appetizers. Final count was 32 as we gathered for the meal.

I was up first, the other 2 chefs were still unknown – probably still cooking up their best offerings.  I had prepared, had an idea, wanted to play on the bowling concept that got me into this mess in the first place.  Who am I kidding, bowling alley food for Thanksgiving!? Scrapped that and realized that I was the first course. I had to ease them into it.  It was a simple and recognizable offering, didn’t want to upset the pallet. Here is the recipe in case you liked it. Just keep in mind, as my friend Alan pointed out, you’ve got to let these ingredients rest a bit before you add the next one.  Otherwise your guests get a little cranky about the results…

  • 10 Burpees OYO – I didn’t plan to use this ingredient but Jaron (comic book character complex) and Florence insisted.
  • 30 SSH
  • 30 Frankensteins – I need to work on these, timing was a little off and Cousin BJ made sure I knew…
  • 30 Windmills
  • 30 LBCs

Big crew for dinner – I thought it would be best to split everyone up into 3 groups and seat them together.  Just more manageable – We split up in the front and made our way to where the first course would be served. There were Indians (aka native Americans) at the first Thanksgiving.  Theming the party is always fun and engaging your guests can really make the day memorable for everyone.

  • Indian Runs with 10 guests run to their table.

The main course was kind of a build your own.  Some basic ingredients were provided but guests were asked to push themselves and create a dish to remember.

  • 10 guests at each table, each group at a different end of the large oval-shaped venue
  • 1 to 5 social guests got to run the perimeter of the Oval as fast as they could, greeting the 20 that they weren’t seated with along the way.
  • The leftovers at the table got to focus on an ingredient of their choice while their friends were away being social.
    • My table did some American Hammers, Low Slow Flutters, Pickle Pounders, and I went out for some social time so I’m sure I missed something on the list.  Great work at the table – very delectable stuff.
    • There was a friendly new guy at our table too.  Talked a bunch! Glad to have that kind of energy at the celebration.

I know I started out griping about being asked to make another meal on short order but sometimes I think I just like to complain.  It’s always a pleasure to serve the family. Just as I was starting to really enjoy hosting, the 2nd Chef was tapping his tall glass of water (dude really enjoys some high quality H20) for everyone’s attention.  It was time for me to handover the apron.

Aquaman:

QIC Aquaman circled up the PAX and never let them go.  Today’s exercises were brought to you by the letters A, B, and S.  YHC can’t remember the exact specifics of everything we did but we started with protractors with the Q calling out the angle while PAX took turns calling out a 10-count all the way around the circle.  Rinse and repeat with LSF and then again while holding various plank positions (regular, chill cut, right arm up, etc.).  At Potts’ request we ended with Boat/Canoes with variations mixed in as well.  I’m sure I missed stuff but just know that everything was ab focused and there was a lot of mumble chatter regarding it.

Our third and final Q was none other than YHC himself, 16-bit:

Having received a text from Pikachu Wednesday morning about Qing the last 20 minutes of the workout didn’t leave YHC much time to plan.  I didn’t know how many people to expect but I did expect a fairly large group.  And I got that group.  I spent the night scouring the official exicon for new exercises that would accommodate a large group, took notes, allowed room for modification, and was satisfied.

Not yet breaking the previous Q’s circle the group started with Crowd Pleasers.  These consisted of an x:x ratio of merkins and groiners.  We started with 1:1 and worked our way up to 5:5 and then back down to 1:1.  These seemed to live up to their name and I look forward to incorporating them in to more workouts.

After this we moseyed around to the other side of the parking lot to make use of the curbs.  Admittedly things got a little messy here because the curbs weren’t equal and there was some confusion but I think, overall, it went well.  We started with inch worms.  Feet against the curb in full plank position PAX slowing inched their hands forward until they couldn’t reach any further and then inched their feet up until they were back in full plank postion.  Continue this until the other curb and then work back towards the other curb.

Next up was modified ascending curb crawls where we started with our feet on the curb and performed a derkin, bear crawled to the other curb and did another derkin. Bear crawl back to the originating curb to do 2 derkins, etc.  We did this until we did 3 and 3 because they sucked and it was hard.

The last exercise at the curbs were broken wheelbarrows.  PAX partnered up and wheelbarrowed from one curb to the other.  The broken part of it was that the partner holding the legs only held one leg.  Partners switched after they crossed the parking lot.  Each partner took two trips.  These also sucked.

Mosey back to the original circle location for our last exercise.  Someone thought it was time for Mary, but not quite yet.  The last exercise YHC had planned was a Circle Burp.  Per the exicon, everyone in the circle started chopping their feet while PAX around the circle called to do a burpee.  As fun as this sounded I don’t think anyone wanted to do 32 burpees so YHC modified and just called out when to do a burpee.  I don’t know how many we did but it wasn’t too many.  However, had I known I was going to get so much Jane Fonda related hate during Mary I might have just had us do burpees until time was out.

Mary:

Staying in our circle we started with Coolers.  These start as a side plank on your forearm and done IC.  On one we lifted our top leg up towards the sky, two brought it back down, three brought our top leg’s knee to our chest, and four took it back down.  10 each side.  Bring on all the Jane Fonda references.

Afterwards we went on to sleeping hillbillies and American Hammers.  I might have done more but honestly can’t find my notes or remember.  We ended with Happy Thanksgiving, aka Have a Nice Day.

Announcements:

Christmas party on the 14th, Frosty CSAUP on the 9th.

T-Claps (Recognition):

Aquaman and U.T.I.  for helping bring the pain in their own ways this morning.  I know, for myself, it was challenging planning a workout not knowing who else was Qing and what they were planning but it all came together nicely.  These guys did an outstanding job in helping everyone clear some waist line space for the impending feasts, especially Aquaman with all his gut busting ab exercises.

Prayer:

Our brother Wallaby is going through hard times right now, struggling with substance abuse.  He and his family could use our support so if you are able to help in any way I’m sure the family would appreciate it.  Hardy has the flu which is no fun ever but especially during a holiday.  Continued prayers as well for Quiver and his family.

 

I know I speak for my fellow Qs when I say that being chosen to have the opportunity to lead this workout was an immense honor.  I’m thankful for all of you on this day where we reflect on the blessings in our lives.  I count each and every one of you among them.

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