YHC had the honor to once again lead the PAX in an little early morning HR raiser. Good mix of old (CSPAN) and new (FNG – Samsonite) on this cool but pleasant morning. Even a guest appearance from my man Apache (although without his promised sidekick Italian Job). Disclaimer given and off we go for a little warm-up lap around the parking lot with the standard butt kickers, high knees and shuffles. As we rounded the corner, we see a jeep screaming in on 2 wheels…ahhhh, CSPAN didn’t forget us after-all. Circle back to pick up the #Grandtan and quickly cancel the Silver Alert that had been put out. Off to the basketball court for some further warm-up (SSH, LS squats, planks, arm circles) and then on to the Thang.

Tabata with active rest was on the menu today and YHC tried to make it as total body as possible. Each exercise was performed AMRAP with good form for 30 sec. with 30 sec. of SSH active rest between each exercise. There was also a 30 sec. recovery between sets. Here’s how it went down:

Set 1
– Deep squat to touch the ground
– Merkins
– LBCs
– Squat jumps

*Cake Boss joined us somewhere along here – not sure where he came from but he always seems to pop up and brighten the group.

Set 2
– Forward to backward lunge alternating legs
– Dips
– Freddie Mercury
– Wide arm merkins

Set 3
– Burpees
– Narrow feet squats
– American hammers
– Mountain climbers

Set 4
– Apollo Ohno
– Diamond merkins
– High knees
– CBLs

Set 5
– Bomb jacks
– Plank punches
– Flying squirrels
– Box cutters

With a little time left, we headed over to the entrance hill for 2 rounds of sprints up the hill with 5 burpees at the top. Just before the start of our first sprint up the hill, Longshanks had a premonition and mentioned that the lunch lady could be coming in hot right around this time of the gloom. Sure enough, half way up the hills…”Car!” Unfortunately, ‘Shanks was a victim of his own clairvoyance and caught an ankle on the curb…words were said….compassion was given….now back to it.

After a couple rounds, we headed over to the front of the school to finish out the final couple of minutes sitting on the wall. Over to COT where announcements included The Yeti and to be on the lookout for a pre-blast from ‘Shanks on the upcoming Savage Race CSAUP. Prayers and praises all around and then CSPAN took us out. The naming of the FNG was a quick one…I’m not even sure that FNG Luke Swanson even got his last name completely out of his mouth before Package rang in with “Samsonite!” Done.

Thanks for the honor of leading what was truly a great group this morning – a nice mix of veterans, 1-2 year guys and the newer studs.