It was a privilege to be invited back to the Colosseum on this brisk Tuesday morning to lead 15 other men in what has become a painful favorite of mine. The Twitter-teasing began a day early and you have to be extremely careful when you embark on this type of banter. You never want to set the expectation too high just to come up short. While it’s comical to begin the advertising, it is also a bit convicting. The Colosseum has become synonymous with pain and the opposite of a moderate workout.

One workout that is consistently awful is the deck of cards. And lest you forget where this originated, we have Package to thank for reminding us that it was my sister’s idea. Keep in mind, she smoked me through 2 rounds with 8 different exercises so going 1 round with 4 exercises almost seems JV. That is, until you see the 4 I chose.

If you haven’t had the blessing of being part of one of these workouts before, whether mine or a few of the other Q’s and you’re not familiar with how this works, let me give you the shakedown. Keeping a good pace throughout, each suit represents an exercise and the number on the card is the rep count. 2-10 is obvious and Jack=11, Queen=12, King=13 and yes, the ACE=14 (not 1). There were 2 Jokers and 2 other cards so these 4 represented a 20yd run.

In all, here’s how it went down:

After a disclaimer which included the statement that this would not be moderate, we mosey’d to the back parking lot and circled up.
SSH
Plank Jacks
Wide Arm Merkins
Mountain Climbers

Line up with the cones and sprint with ALL YOU GOT to the second basketball pole (about 50yds). Wait just long enough to think that you’re getting a 10ct then again, ALL YOU GOT back to the cones. Helluva warm up huh…you’re welcome.

Circle up to play cards fellas:

Clubs: Jumping Lunges
Spades: Burpees (oh yes I did)
Diamonds: Diamond Merkins (feeling these the next day)
Hearts: Mak Tar Jahs (This definitely looked better on paper…#bloodyelbows)

In all, you completed:
104 Jumping Lunges (who knew these would be the “breather?”)
104 Burpees (thought hard about an audible at about 60)
104 Diamond Merkins
104 Mak Tar Jahs (pure awful-ness)
(4) 20yd runs

It wouldn’t be complete without an appearance from Mary:
American Hammers (of course)
Freddy Mercury
Mountain Climbers
Super Man with a couple 10cts
Peter Parker

Bring it home to COT

Announcements: If you’re still reading this, please do sign up for the Christmas Party. My man Italian Job fronted the cash for this party and you know how you’d feel if someone left you hanging. It’s a great time with great food and great-er people. Get yo-selves a sitter and join us 12/17 at the Dairy Barn. Yeah, it’s Ft. Mill so we party at places called the Dairy Barn. Touch base with Longshanks regarding Operation Sweet Tooth that is Q’d by Olive. Curious what strength looks like…look no further. Bring toys to the Christmas Party. Reminder to bring your food donations tomorrow to the Thanksgiving convergence.

Prayer Requests: We really need prayers for marriages amongst our PAX; lots of struggles out there. Please have safe travels always but especially surrounding these next few days with all the traffic on the roads. Prayers for safe and healthy baby deliveries. Prayers for Bing and his family. Remember to pause this season to be silent and take time to be thankful.

TO THE PAX: HAVE A SAFE AND VERY HAPPY THANKSGIVING. I look forward to seeing you tomorrow 0600 for our annual Convergence, unless I see you before for the run at 0500.

As you were.