16 Pax posted to Block Party on a perfect, crisp fall morning.

The theme for the workout was SIDEWAYS.  Other than the opening warm-up run, other movements on feet between spots were to be done sideways (or backwards).  From a fitness standpoint, the aim was to concentrate on cross-training or countering the heavy dose of forward motion in most of our workouts.  But, the theme applies heavily to life, and is one that has had its hold on me in recent weeks.

Like most men, I live my life going forward, not looking back too often, and generally traveling at a high rate of speed.  That’s what I do.  I am a man, I take action, I want to make an impact.  That’s my addiction (at least one of them).

Invariably, life brings setbacks where something takes me backward.  Those times are not fun, but they can be fruitful – a time to consolidate knowledge and experience and move forward wiser.  Again, it’s about moving forward, even when I am going backward.

The truly challenging periods for me are when things go SIDEWAYS.  I am certainly not going forward, but at the same time, I am not failing, losing ground, dropping balls, creating a mess.  What is going on?  I may be working hard, but having no impact.  I may be dialing things down, but still don’t feel rested.  I am uncomfortable.  I am restless.  I am going SIDEWAYS.  For me, this is frequently the hardest recurring phase in life.  SIDEWAYS demands patience, humility, awareness, surrender.  These periods of wrestling with SIDEWAYS have a big impact on Faith.  Will it deepen my Faith or erode it?

The Thang

Warm up run to out parking lot to Springs lot

COP — Mtn climber x20, IW x20, Squat x20, Parker Peter x20

Gather at bottom of lot

Bear crawl to top of lot, karaoke across to far side, backward bear crawl to bottom, karaoke back to start

Sideways bear crawl to top of lot, Karaoke across to far side, sideways bear crawl to bottom, Karaoke back to start

Backwards run around perimeter of lot

COP — Sumo squat w/overhead clap x20, Peter Parker x20

Karaoke/backward run to Springs lot on Ardrey Street

Side lunges left across lot, backward lunge to bottom, side lunges right across lot, backward lunge back to start

Karaoke across street to playground and partner up

Partners complete aggregate of Pull ups x50 + Merkins x75

Partner complete aggregate of CDDs x50 + Dips x100

Mary — Rosalita x20, Gravedigger right x10, Hello dolly x20, Gravedigger left x10

Line up along playground boundary for sideways jumps x15, turn 180 degrees sideways jumps x15

Karaoke to path and karaoke back

Bomb jacks x15

Karaoke to path and karaoke back

Bear crawl to path

Karaoke home

COT

Naked man moleskin

Welcome to FNG/Spinal Tap!  T-claps to Stang for the EH!

We had a Kotter siting today as well – Orange Crush made an appearance after an absence that spanned two winters and two summers.  Hope you stick around!

Only 5 days out from Q School training and I whiffed the opening intro/disclaimer…teacher needs to pay attention to his own lessons.

Thanks to the pax for enduring the SIDEWAYS experiment outside the usual fitness comfort zone.  Not sure that the “suck” lived up to Pusher’s expectations at launch, but it helped me work out some of my own issues with the sideways realm of life.  Probably will leave some soreness in unfamiliar spots as well.