FNGs: none
Warm Up: jumped right in
The Workout: YHC hasn’t been out to Hilltop Needmore in a while, so when Sprinkler put out the call for a Q I was more than happy to jump on it. 4 PAX set out and kept a good pace. Good weather, good mumblechatter.
Mary: nada
Announcements: F3 Picnic / June 26th / 11am / Harris Lake
T-Claps (Recognition): Scrapple for not letting a bad knee keep him down.
Prayer: Scrapple and his family for recovery from various injuries.
FNGs: Nope
Warm Up: SSH, Good mornings, Sir mazio arm circles, Willie Mays Hays & Michael Phelps.
The Workout: Took a mosey over to the rock pile to grab a medium size rock then over to the library parking lot. Due to my time constraints YHC called an audible.
5-10-15-20 reps of Chest press, skull crushers & WW1 (with a rock).
5-10-15-20 reps of Merkins, squats, lunges & monkey humpers.
5-10-15-20 reps of Mountain climbers, plank jacks & star jumps.
10 reps each of curls for the girls (full curl, half & half), overhead triceps, shoulder press & bus drivers.
Mary: Ankle grabbers, box cutters, homer to marge, American hammer.
Announcements: Checkout slack for Warbuck’s donations to UNC in honor of his son Maddox.
T-Claps (Recognition): Grasshopper 5K which raised $30k for Sgt Leach.
Prayer: Prayers for our injured F3 brothers. Safe travels to Buford for work.
Kung Pow is a fake AO created out of convenience by those Wescott guys and those older PAX from Fuquay looking for an easier paced workout on Fridays. When you travel to AOs over time, you hear things. Sometimes you hear a few things here, you hear few things there, or you get anecdotal accounts from a friend of a friend, culminating in a perception like the one I have painted in my opening sentence. Remember when everyone thought Mikey from the Life Cereal commercial died due to an overdose mixture of carbonated soda and Pop Rocks? Pop Rocks got a really bad rap after that. This morning was all about protecting the street cred of Pop Rocks…er Kung Pow.
Though the perception shared above was all from a good place, formed out of high quality banter and mumblechatter over the past year with no ill will and a lot of salt, YHC set out this morning to debunk this Urban Legend.
You see, at Kung Pow, we teach lessons. Last week, DB shared with us the finer points of being Edward. After the workout was over, it was clear..Don’t be Edward. This week was extra special as we had one PAX member (after a ton of back and forth on a group chat) that had HC’d early that had yet to step foot inside Wescott on a Friday morning (not even when points were involved for a May Challenge or the promise of a name in large font on a T-shirt).
With the HC in place, YHC began working on the lesson plan. Some Q’s can wake up the morning of without any preparation or planning and deliver, others may drink a bunch of bourbon and put the PAX on auto pilot the next day with a Dora for 45 minutes at Paradise City (circa 2017-2018), but not YHC. Everything has to be mapped out, everything has a reason, it has to be calculated, and there has to be a message. Don’t get me wrong, there is improvisation to speed or slow things down throughout, but you will get a full 45 minutes of whatever was planned for that morning by YHC starting and ending on time.
As I was planning the workout for this week, YHC was also very aware of what was being transferred from pen to paper, so much so that my posting this week started on Thursday. Lesson to all Q’s- “If you can’t Q it, don’t do it”- plan accordingly.
Arrived early to the lot to see a parking lot with many vehicles. Lots of EC this morning- some runners and a few ruckers. Planted the flag and saw a car roll in I hadn’t recognized. Door opens and was pleasantly surprised and greeted by CrabLegs, who had been headlocked by M4L to come hang out in his old neighborhood. Little known fact about CrabLegs- he is an OG Wescott alum. Was great to have him back in the hood this morning. At about 5:25 our EC’ers and Rucker’s came rolling back in to grab a quick squirt of water before our 5:30 kick-off.
5:30 hit and YHC welcomed everyone to Kung Pow, including one PAX that was a man of his word and showed, Emeril. He had also managed to headlock Yoshi into EC and the ME this morning, but no Dawg.
Damn, Dawg! To think I had “The Man” by the Killers Q’d up for COT and you didn’t show. Next time I guess. Maybe you and 187 can post together as he has been dodging my Q’s for weeks.
Warm Up:
After a pleasant greeting to start the morning off, we quickly transitioned to the warm-up that I affectionately term “The Pablo.” It is named the Pablo after one of the toughest workouts recorded by its namesake at Kung Pow where for 40 minutes we Indian Ran lower and upper Danagher with burpees (which is a long street at the top of Wescott that has a hill at top). Indian Runs stop periodically at 7 separate sewer caps were PAX perform a progressive set of burpees. 1 then 1-2 then 1-2-3 and so forth.
This morning we didn’t do that version of the Pablo. If he posted, we would have, but this morning we fellowship ran all the way to the lower Danagher cul-de-sac and performed 5 Burpees OYO at the first sewer. YHC asked for a quick count off…A total of 15 with 3 PAX- DoubleD, Deadbolt, and CrabLegs on a fellowship walk while solving student loan debt.
Mosey’d to the next sewer cap- 10 merkins, mosey-Fazios X10 F\B-Chinooks at the 3rd Sewer cap, 5 burpees at the 4th sewer cap, Imperial Walkers X10 at the 5th cap, Hillbillies at the 6th sewer cap, Good Mornings X10 at the top. Mosey back down to the 4 way intersection- squat hold for the 6- 5 burpees.
The Workout:
Breathtaker-Kung Pow Style
With 15 PAX, YHC split the group into 3 lines. My man Sprinkler brought dem hoses out this morning. Asked the lead guy in each line with a hose to fall to the back of the line. PAX would stay in their lines the entire time for this rotation. Each line would perform an Indian Run with trailing PAX with the hose double timing to the first. Upon the trailing PAX making it to the front, the entire line would perform 5 Burpees in unison, with the front guys continuing on the run and now the last guy in the line picking up the hose and double timing to the front…more burpees, rinse repeat. Lines continued to the last tree of the fairway down Wescott Ridge and continue back to the start at the pool entrance. Lead lines picked up the six, returned the hoses to the curb and mosey’d to the next circuit.
On the mosey, YHC informed PAX to obey the speed signs. At each speed sign facing them, we would perform 20 merkins. There were 2 on the route to Brightling Way. YHC missed the second of the two, but we have a lot of honest PAX that didn’t want to get cheated this morning, so doubled back to complete the 20 owed. Continued on the mosey to YHC’s home.
Mookie’s Brickyard
Rolled up to YHC’s driveway where PAX were instructed to pull 2 bricks each from a perfectly stacked pile. They were delivered fresh by M4L the day before and with all the rain that rolled through yesterday into the early morning, they may have soaked in a little extra weight. First exercise called was bicep curls. As we were curling, YHC shared a little factual history on Kung Pow and how it was born out of the pandemic.
Originally when things shut down around SW and parks and playgrounds closed, PAX weren’t left with many options. Home gyms, garage-mahal workouts, and occasional neighborhood runs were the norm. Out of strong desire to continue core F3 values within the guidelines in front of us, black ops workouts continued on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays in rotating fashion. This continued until the restrictions started to lift and we were continuously seeing double digit numbers on Friday. I think at one point after numerous post blast PAX numbers of 14, 19, 23 on the 1st F channel of Slack continuously surfaced, Shredder said “Black Ops?…Why don’t you just legitimize this AO.” So we did and we have been serving the geriatric community with these weak sauce routines I’m describing in this backblast ever since. Hell- I made it so convenient for myself this morning, I didn’t even bring the bricks to the pool lot.
As I mentioned earlier, YHC does things for a reason. This morning we were going to transport these rocks back to where they originated-Midget’s truck, which was conveniently parked back at the pool.
After the bicep curls, we quickly transitioned to front raises with the bricks X12, Lateral raises with the bricks X15, Shoulder presses times X10, Shoulder Taps with bricks in hand X10. Recover on the mosey with bricks to the end of Brightling Way.
YHC called Squat hold with tricep extension X20, hold squat, Moroccan Night Clubs with Bricks in cadence X10, mosey with bricks to Roslyn Hills. Squats with Bricks on my up; on my down X15. PAX got into 3 lines of 5 again and performed Indian runs with bricks to the other side of Roslyn Hills. Plank hold for the six.
All 15 accounted for, YHC called brick merkins X20. Recover on the mosey with bricks. Stop at the 4 way intersection-squat hold for the six. PAX got back into their 3 lines of 5 and called for an Indian Run with bricks to the start of the tree line fairway up Wescott Ridge, in front of the 20mph speed sign- 20 brick merkins.
Cusack’d the bricks with alternating lunge walks along the tree line to the intersection at Danagher, squat hold for the 6, continue on the mosey with bricks back to M4L’s truck parked next to the flag. Deposited bricks and circled up for COT reuniting with Deadbolt, Double D and CragLegs with 3 minutes left.
Mary:
Series of stretches- Right over Left, Left over Right, Downward Dog, Calf Stretches, and a 10 count Shawshank.
Dawg- Not sure how you feel about cheating these PAX out of a rendition of “The Man,” but I think deep down they would have thanked you for not showing if they knew I was gonna pull out this additional activity as the finale. Next time- I have faith you will some day show.
Another interesting thing about Kung Pow…COT takes longer. It takes longer because we have to use extra words like “Respect” and “Honor” a dozen times during name-o-rama. What more can I say? The “old” guys like the soft serve they dish out at Kung Pow.
Announcements:
Bed Build, Yogurt looking to gather additional PAX to go on some runs with Davis.
T-Claps (Recognition):
Emeril for trying new things and trying a Fake workout today (see his Strava- 2.79mi and fails to mention “with” phantom bricks and imaginary hoses). Also for headlocking Yoshi for EC and getting him out for the Main Event. A very impressive and notable memory made during 2nd F with Fonzie this morning. Apparently he and Fonzie live almost across the street from one another and Fonzie was unaware of Yoshi’s hospital name…That’s F3 for you. Do any of us really know each other by anything other than our F3 names?
Always an honor and great to see CrabLegs in the gloom. Thank you for posting and hope to see you out and about the neighborhood again soon. All PAX posting this morning. Those bricks are a reminder that running is tough enough, but running with extra weight is tougher. Today we got through it together. Never do life OYO.
Prayer:
YHC took us out. Prayers for Emeril and his family member with cancer. Additional prayers for Sprinkler and Cancun. Continued prayers for first responders and healthcare workers. All PAX traveling and those battling illness.
Always an honor to lead. Thanks for giving me this opportunity this morning.
Had 4 at Downtown Train for some 4 corners.
FNGs: None
Warm Up: Moseyed down to pool area for 10 burpees OYO, 10 merkins, 50 lbcs in cadence, windmills, SSH x 40 in cadence, daisey pickers
The Workout: Moseyed to rock pile for start of 4 corners. Exercises in 4 corners includes:
Monkey jumpers, squats, people’s chair, merkins, burpees, lunges, Jack Webb’s, curls, chest press, trip extensions, lbcs, dying cock roaches, bear crawl, shoulder press, heel taps
Mary: No time
Announcements: See Facebook and Slack
T-Claps (Recognition): 3 Downtown Train rookies.
Prayer: Unspoken
Driving down Optimist Farm Road this morning. Several PAX ECing and I blew the horn. Fanny Pack said I scared the crap out of them. M4life rolled in with maybe 1 second to spare barefooted. He said he did not need shoes for this easy workout.
FNG: Nope
Warm Up: We moseyed over to the baseball PVA. We did Good Mornings, Imperial Walkers, Hillbillies, Frankenstein’s, Side straddle hops, merkins, Burpees to 10 all IC.
The Workout: Moseyed behind school and broke off into 2 groups. 1st group BTW while second group did monkey humpers, switched-then we moseyed back down stretch of school for some burpees. Moseyed back to the wall for wall sets with seal claps, group 2 was doing Turkish get up. Moseyed back behind school where we rinsed and repeated. I left a little earlier and got called out. So when we moseyed around the back of the school for another BTW while group 1 did Turkish get ups. Went into the circle where some steps were for step up, Urkins, Derkins and dips. Left there and took the scenic route to the Abyss behind the ball field. While enroute we used steps, ramps wherever they were in sight. Once we arrived at the we split up in our groups for 2 rounds of LBC’s at the top while the other group ran the steps. Moseyed back for Mary.
Mary: Circled Up and squatted down low. The circle shuffled to the right and left. I called on several PAX for their favorite exercises. FRAM’s were the least liked. Peter Parker with a hold on the way up and down. (Sucked)
T-Claps: 2 visitors from NE Wake region-Thing-a-ma-bob and Tube Top Several PAX’s out getting EC this morning. M4life did workout barefooted! (I bet he is hurting)
Announcements: Bed Build Kohls PVA Saturday morning. %K race this weekend. Check slack for details.
Prayers: Lipstick’s M, Hastelhoff Prayers as well. YHC took us out!
It was an Honor to lead fellas!
It was drizzling rain when I arrived at 5:10 am to unload all the toys.4 cars were in Parking Lot. All F3 guys getting in some EC. Glad the rain held off.
FNG: Nope
Warm Up: Ran a lap around the club house. Circled up for Good Mornings, Merkins, Fazio Arm Circles, seal claps, overhead claps, Hillbillies, Imperial Walkers all 15 IC.
Workout: We worked in Teams of 2. 2 runners were the timers for each station around the club house. Each person rotated after runners were back.
Rotated through 4 times.
Mary: Circled up for Low-Slow-Flutter, Homer-to Marge, Plank Hold all IC
T-Claps: Fram head locked 2 neighbors to come that have not posted in a while.
Announcements: Bed build this Saturday, Holly Springs 5k
Prayers: Breach travel mercies the rest of the week, Friend of mine and DoubleD has cancer, Inspector Gadget rolled his ankle during EC. Hope he recovers quickly.
Honor to lead you Gents!
FNGs: Yes! Welcome Sharknado
Warm Up: side straddle hops, arm circles forward and reverse, seal claps, overhead claps, arm stretches, good mornings.
The Workout: Mosey to the rock pile and grab a large rock. Circle up in the main parking lot to begin the 1st event.
My 4yr Q centers around time so we started with some clockwork using 4 different exercises. Started with 1 rep of each: curl for the girl, overhead press, ruh roh, and squat. Set down the rock, rotate, and do 2 of each. This continued through the 12 rounds of the clock for a total of 78 reps of each exercise.
Next up the calendar beatdown as follows, all with your original rock:
Mary: LBCs, Boat Canoes, and the introduction of Krispy Kreme’s (12 count move that targets your abs), then 20 Merkins as it was only called a decent Q. After the merkins it was deemed reasonable.
Announcements: Picnic, 2.0 workout at 9, Bed project next weekend
T-Claps (Recognition): My 4 year anniversary, Cyclops for bringing an FNG, and Sharknado for making it through his first post.
Prayer: We all took a knee and I took us out. Very thankful for what F3 has done in my life and in the lives of others, I’m definitely a better man for it.
FNGs:N/a today
3 Pax for Monthly Challenge EC and several for an EC run.
Warm Up:Side straddle hops, arm circles forward and reverse, seal clap, overhead claps, daisy pickers
The Workout: I started with a blast from the past, my first visit to this AO was the 1776 workout on July 4th 2018.
Mosey around the parking lot and head towards the shelter for 16 rounds of 31 seconds on, 9 seconds off Tabata work:
Bear crawl across the parking lot and 7 burpees to finish it off
Mosey to the legendary Abyss for some Dora style partner work
Mary: Mosey back to the parking lot for an Embrace the Suck hold (3 minutes). Finished with 25 low and VERY SLOW flutters.
Announcements: Several Pax doing the Triathlon Saturday and they are looking for volunteers, some 3rd F opportunities coming up, my 4yr F3 Anniversary is this Saturday and I’ve got the Q at GP.
T-Claps (Recognition): Everyone that came out this morning despite the threat of pouring rain, and especially those that did EC.
Prayer: We all took a knee and I took us out.
FNGs:none
Warm Up:4 pax with 2mile EC. circle up and did some SSH, windmills,Fazio arm circles and prison squats
The Workout:Moseyed down to the concession stand wall where we did 20count of erkins, derkin , and dips. Moved over to the hill and did 7s of LBC and alternating lunges. Made our way back up to rock pile and performed several exercises while the last pax bear crawled to the front. After rolling through we did jack webbs only to realize that it was reverse jack Webb’s. So we did 1press and 4 merkins up to 5/20. And the came back down doing 20 press and 5 merkins. After burning out the arms rocks were put back in place and hit the tennis courts. Used the four corners and stacked the following exercises sprinting the long ends and Karaoke the short sides. 10-SSH, 20- calf raises, 30 IC BTW, 40 IC 6 inch hold.
Mary:Mary consist of single leg v ups, big boy sit-ups, hello dolly, dog pointers which was on all 4s extending left hand right foot and the repeating for other side. Lifted knees off ground while in crunch position and did 20IC mountain climbers.
Announcements: Sleep in Heavenly Peace June 12. Fritter challenge 6/14. Picnic
T-Claps (Recognition):Fram for using largest rock in Fuquay
Prayer: brother in law recover from sickness, first responders,
It’s been a while since I’ve written a backblast. Not sure I’ve written one this year and the fact of the matter is, I used to enjoy writing them as much as I enjoyed Q’ing and planning the workout. Truth be told, I’ve been in a funk this past year for a variety of reasons. I can sit here and blame it on a pandemic, make a dozen excuses of why things got in the way and didn’t have time, but when you boil it down to its parts, I got run down.. caught in a bunch of excuses, got salty, and just flat out lazy.
Now that I took accountability for that as your Weasel Shaker- the guy who is expected to follow the rules and ensure others are abiding by the rules. I’m gonna make a pact right now…. I will no longer miss a backblast moving forward and nor should any of you Q’ing an AO. Believe it or not, its more important than the workout itself, in my opinion. Its an account of what you did, who was there, who we lift up in COT, but more importantly its a written account of that moment when you lead and how you did it.
It can be 4 lines, it can be a novel, but write something… anything. Just do it and feel free to send me a virtual finger letting me know I’m number 1 as you do it… And that’s the bottom line, cuz Mookie said so…
Alright-enough with the PSA’s…So this morning was also a return to the gloom after a week long hiatus. I have now officially hit the reset button. No more sandbagging, full speed in all areas of F3. Saw a Q slot open at Purple Cobra for this morning while enjoying some time yesterday with the kids at the pool. Figured if I was Q’ing, there would be no way I’d miss posting. Also mentioned it to a few fellow Wescott PAX, while i was leaving, but apparently they had other plans this morning. I’d like to think as I saw them drive past Purple Cobra that they didn’t want any part of my Q after being on 7 days rest, but these Wescott guys are absolute beasts and probably would prefer a Q from our resident Pokemon giving a caveless caveman workout.
Probably for the best. Arrived a little early. Planted the flag and greeted Maybelline, Warbucks, and Woody. Four PAX- 2 fresh off a Murph the day before. Perfect- they are gonna love what I have dialed up this morning. 5:30am hit and we were off straight down the lot.
FNGs:Would be alot cooler if there were, but alas…no
Warm Up: Mosey to the end of the lot. Circled up for some Good Mornings IC X10, Imperial Walkers IC X10, Hillbillies X10 IC, continue on the mosey up the entrance to Sunset Lake Rd and all the way down and back to the bank parking lot entrance. Circled up for some Squats X10, Fazios 10F\B, Morrocan Night Clubs X10 IC. Squat hold while YHC explained the first sequence of sweat.
The Workout:
Sequence 1: Meet me in the middle- PAX partnered up for a session of meet me in the middle- 3 full loops meeting 6 times with 10 patty cake merkins at each meet up. Recover on the mosey behind the Teeter.
Sequence 2: Rocky Horror Shoulder Show- Each PAX grabbed two handheld rocks of the same size and weight (1 for each hand)
2 Rounds: Front Raises X20, Lateral Raises X20, Bent over Lateral Raises X20, In\Out Shoulder Presses X20, Tricep Extensions with hands clasped together with rocks X20.
Recover with Jack Webbs with rocks 1:3 ratio ending with 10 merkins\30 rock airpresses
Recover on the bear crawl with rocks in hand to the wall.
B2B X20, People’s Chair X10 with palms up- Rinse Repeat X3
Recover with cusack of both rocks back to the rock pile. Mosey to the back of the car wash
Erkins, Derkins, Dips X20
Recover on the mosey to “The Hill”
Sequence 3: Aaliyah’s Revenge-Back and Forth’s
Bottom of the hill 20 LBC- Backwards sprint to the top- 1 Burpee, mosey back to the bottom
Bottom of hill 20 Low Slow Flutter- Sprint Forward to the top- 2 Burpees, mosey back to the bottom
Bottom of hill 20 Freddy Mercury- Backwards sprint to the top- 3 Burpees, mosey back to the bottom
Bottom of hill 20 Shoulder Taps- Forward Sprint to the top- 4 Burpees, recover on the mosey to the Goodwill
Sequence 4: Oliver’s Last Supper- Think I may have heard Warbucks say, “Please sir, I want some more”
First corner- 5 Star jumps- mosey to 2nd Corner- 10 Chili Jacks, mosey to 3rd corner- 15 Merkins, mosey to 4th corner- 20 Squats mosey across the street back to the lot
Sequence 5: Run Down the Clock- 4 man Indian run back to the flag
Mary: R over L\L over R stretches, Downward Dog X10 IC, Calf Stretches, Pickle Pounders X15 IC, Exaggerated Shawshank X6
Announcements: Congrats to Team Sprinkler on the May Challenge and all getting out there this month to Q and visit other AO’s.
T-Claps (Recognition): Those attending the Murph and posting yesterday and especially those getting back out there today to get after it.
Prayer: First Responders, Law Enforcement, those traveling in the upcoming weeks and continue to keep all PAX and their families safe and healthy.
Until next time-SYITG