Cool Runnings

The weather was perfect and the feedback on Decibel’s Tuesday beat down had the group off to great start. 25 Pax’s enjoy a late September morning in August, cutting down the sweat and increasing the intensity.

The Thang: Laces In: Q – CSPAN
Extremely slow walk to circle up.
A few minutes of stretching, low speed calisthenics, and some side-Santini-hops for good measure.

Slow mosey to playground.
5 sets OYO = 10 pull-ups, 10 merkins, 20 dips with a lap around playground.
Very little chatter

Slow mosey to WEP hill without a statue and many wonderful trees with leaves.
Several series of lounges, bunny hops and duck walk with rifle straight out in front of you with a 50% run back down
Crowd woke up
Split into partners with races uphill over a series of different events and speeds all with a 50% rest on the downhill.
Plenty of calisthenics and boxing moves to offset the heavy breathing or so called rest period

Trucker got us for 10 bomb jacks – “That’s what….”

Crab Cakes was willing to knock Fun House out to win final sprint up the hill, unsure who won that fight.

Clydesdale: Q – Menthol

5.5 mile run at ~ 9 min pace.

Gazelles: Q – Red Banjo

5.5 mile run ~7:30 pace with 4 hill repeats at the end –
10 merkins
10 squats
10 side-Santini-hops
between each hill repeat.

Cake Boss reminder for F3 on Friday morning at Starbucks

TClap |
0

Pino Pipes Rolls Again

The shovelflag was planted and 4 faithful headed into the Gloom

The Thang

Circumnavigate campus 2x

Figure eight campus 1x

COP – Something Different 5 Burpees OYO; IWx21; SSHx21; MCx21; Peter Parkerx21; Parker Peterx21

Stay-Puft Super Elevens – Pax chose two exercises (Prisoner squats and Merkans) to do 11 reps each time at either end of the church parking lot, descending 1 rep with each set – made it to five before had to call an audible and mosey to Plaza o Picnic.

Plaza o Picnic – RL Step Upsx21; Dipsx15; LL Stepupsx21; Derkansx11; Big Baby Crunches (back on picnic table with legs hanging off, swing legs to perpendicular from ground)x15; RL Stepupsx15; Southern Gentleman pushupsx10; Yankee Aggressor Pushupsx11; LL Stepupsx15

6MOM – LBCx21; Hello Dolliesx21; Freddie Mercuriesx11; Mercury Freddiesx10; Flutterx21; Crunchy Frogsx11; Right Oblique Vupsx15; Left Oblique Vupsx15; Superman; Queen Victoriasx11

Sprint down and back to COT

Naked Man Moleskin

Not sure if it is more o2 dep or desire for PAX involvement, but we had a number of Stay-Puft moments today (PAX calls out the first exercise that pops to their mind – comes from the scene inGhostbusters on top of skyscraper where the head evil chick says that their next villainous opponent will be whatever they think of next and they all agree to not think about anything, but then around the corner they hear the thudding of the steps of the Stay-Puft marshmallow man coming down the street and everyone looks at Dan Akroyd and he says, “What, surely the Stay-Puft marshmallow man can’t be all that bad…”).

Best Stay-Puft Moment of the day was when Iron Mags came correct with the “Queen Victoria” during Mary – lying fully stretched out with arms and legs in a V, bring both up at same time and touch hands to feet at top…  Great exercise, fitting name and we are all glad that there weren’t any cameras around today.

Best moment of the day came during nicknaming of FNG Steven – when asked to tell a little about himself, he mentioned Puerto Rico and it instantly brought a flood of memories of a Puerto Rican with whom I played ball at UNCC whose name was Pino Papuan Pipes.  Pino was 6’8″ 320 lbs, half Samoan, half Puerto Rican and totally unforgettable.  As a sophomore transfer to UNCC, Pino showed me around Charlotte in his 1985 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham that had speakers in it so big, my ears still hurt.  Pino was always into something and was an endless source of stories and entertainment, so it was great to be able to bestow his name upon FNG Steven – new Pino has some big (literally) shoes to fill!

 

 

TClap |
0

Do you know where the weight room is?

TBOY

14 Pax strolled out on a typical August morn to feel the velvety smoothness of the “Best Asphalt” of the Carolinas. Santini sprinted over from his homestead with his fanny pack on so that he could feast his eyes upon what he started that lazy sun tanning day by the mushroom pool. I fully expected a Tommy Boy line when he showed up, but was disappointed.

 

The Thang

One minute Sets w/15 sec rest between except as noted

Upright Rows

Snatch L&R

Windmill L&R (these still suck, audible out after round 2)

Diamond Merkins

Curls L&R

One arm deadlift L&R

Figure 8

Run a lap ’round the AO

2 Min rest, rinse and repeat 4x

Moleskin

The rooster was ready before I was for The Armory. Notable attendees were Crab Cakes (motion to rename Sabbatical) and Santini, as well as the regulars. Cable Guy continued to roll the dice constantly, and managed not to “crap out”. Windmills are still the least fun thing I do all week, but it must be due to lack of form (see below). I continue to be impressed by the effort of the PAX that brave The Armory. Weighted workouts are not in every PAX’s comfort zone, but getting out of your comfort zone is what it’s all about. It’s easy to say “I don’t do weights”, however, there are plenty of PAX that also did not. I have to challenge myself every day to do things outside my comfort zone, and it is not easy. These things don’t always have to be monumental leaps, but rather incremental changes. These small changes in your habits, activities, and lifestyle can lead to big improvements in your overall health, family life, and career. I challenge each and every one of you to strive each day to make a small incremental change in your life for the better.

Kettlebell-windmill

 

TClap |
0

Abundance of Core

The shovelflag was planted and the dirty half-dozen rolled into the gloom…

The Thang:

Circumnavigate campus

COP – Imperial Walkerx21; SSHx21; Mountain Climbersx21;

Mosey to Plaza o Picnic

RL Stepupsx21; Incline Merkansx10; LL Stepupsx21; Southern Gentlemenx11; Yankee Aggressorx10; LL Stepupsx21; Derkansx10; RL Stepupsx21

6MOM – Flutterx21; LBCx21; Superman/Canoex5; Superman; Dolliesx21; Freddie Mercuryx21;

Modified Murph – Partner up – One partner Circumnavigates while other partner does pullups; incline rows; swingset pikes; merkans

Plankorama – sprint out of the plank across gravel parking lot to 5 burpees, sprint back to Merkans; Rinse and repeat with LBCs and merkans

COT

Moleskin –

In true F3 fashion, the rain held off until completion of the DownPainment.  IronMags failed to show notwithstanding a L10 HC combined with an anticipated signing party (at which I had invited and procured the early am attendance of a notary public).  Excusorama included something about sirens, alien invasions and corresponding probes, a Micro-Earthquake followed up with a Micro-burst and something about kids waking up… Considering Hard Drive’s post from last week after a trip to the ER the night before, I had to come correct with the callout!

Kotters to Tide for posting with a torn meniscus – strong showing with the injury!

Larry Birds to Deacon and Duff on the plank to Sprints – the only one I had a chance at winning was the one where I got the jump on the start, all others were a smokefest.

 

TClap |
0

One of the Few

The shovelflag was planted and 8 Faithful headed into the gloom

The Thang –

Circumnavigate the campus 2x to COP (Something Different – 10 burpees; SSHx21; Mountain Climbersx21; Peter Parkerx21; Parker Peterx21; Imperial Walkerx21)

Sprint down traffic gauntlet of danger, mosey to top of Dozer Hill;

Dozer Hill Suicide – 1/3 way up to 5 Merkans, back to bottom; 2/3 way up to 15 squats, back to bottom; All the way up to LBCs until all finished;

Handoff to Duff for his Virgin Q:

COP at the intersection of Harrisburg and Regent Parkway – Jack Webbs at 4x Air lift to Merkan ratio x5 sets;

Mosey to gravel lot, lungewalks to top of parking lot;

People’s Chair/Plankorama pair off;

Partner up for Burpee Down and Backs (P1 does Burpees while P2 runs down, does 20 LBCs and runs back; Flapjack; Rinse/Repeat 4x)

COT

Moleskin –

Knowing that I had a handoff to Duff coming at 22 min and unable to come up with a team exercise to take advantage of the partially filled 5 gallon water jugs, an audible was called to Bulldozer hill.  With its double grade increase 2/3 of the way up, even one suicide was a smokefest and time crusher.

Tclaps to Duff on his first Q – even though he didn’t bring a watch, and even after I gave him mine, he still went six mins over and was headed to Mary (can you tell who is writing the backblast?), very solid lead.

During our group time while in the Chinese Chair/Plankorama switcheroo, Iron Mags brought a great word about how in life the many are indebted to the efforts of a select few; that our country, faith and salvation that is available to everyone is owed to the faith and walk of a select few.  We face a daily choice of whether we are going to be one of the many or one of the few – F3 PAX decide on a daily basis to be the Few.

TClap |
0

Lay Your Burdens Down

The Shovel Flag was planted and six faithful headed into the semi-gloom.

The Thang –

Inspired by a strong lead from    at Armor last Friday, I stopped by a recently completed house in my Aunt’s neighborhood and helped the builder there recycle some of the waste bricks.

After a rousing discourse about how we as sinners will oftentimes burden ourselves with unnecessary things (guilt, bitterness, rage, big mortgage payments, debt, etc., etc.), we each picked a burden (regular sized house brick) and launched into the workout.  At the start, that little brick seemed so small and light in my hand…

Circumnavigate campus 2x to COP;

COP with bricks (SSHx15, Flapjack SSHx15; Squatsx30; Merkanx15; Mountain Climbersx25)

Shake weight got his name at the first COP from the way he was holding his brick as we did squats – instead of the two handed lateral hold, Shake Weight had the two handed Vertical grip going, very akin to the Shake Weight infomercials that are on late night TV;

Mosey to Picnic Plaza (Right Leg Stepupsx25; Dips with bricksx15; Left Leg stepupsx25);

Run to hill in front of campus (Elevens with bricks – Crunches at top, Squats at bottom);

Plankorama;

Partner burden off – Partner 1 grabs both bricks and runs to bottom of gravel lot and does 10 squats, Partner 2 does 10 burpees and runs to bottom of gravel lot; Alternate double brick carry.

Mosey to Astro Turf (Life of Pix25; Squatsx25; LBCsx25);

Run to gravel lot for the Double Down on the Hard 12 – grabbed another brick and circumnavigated the parking lot to the cross in the woods, where we laid our burdens at the foot thereof.

Sprint back to front parking lot;\

Plankorama;

COT.

Moleskin –

That little eensy weensie brick didn’t feel very heavy at the start, but by the end of 45 minutes, it felt like it weighed 20 lbs…  Similarly, when we finally got smart and did what He tells us to do and laid our burdens at the foot of the cross, it was like we had shed carrying another person.  How true that is in our lives!

 

 

 

 

TClap |
0

Suburban Detours

The ShovelFlag was planted and seven faithful headed into the gloom.

The Thang

Circumnavigate 2x to COP (SSHx25; Squatsx25; Imperial Walkersx25; Merkansx12; Peter Parkerx25; Parker Peterx20);

Mosey to Field of Picnic – DipsX25; RL StepupsX25; RA Incline Merkan; LL StepupsX25; LA Incline Merkan);

Mosey to top parking lot for football practice – Down and Back  – Jump Skips, Karaoke, Backwards run; Parking lot suicides with 5 burpees and 10 squats at stops;

Circumnavigate to Gravel lot to the crowd pleasing Good Samaritan – push the Suburban up the gravel parking lot to top of hill, sprint back to astroturf for 6MOM (LBC’s; Rosalitas; Dollies; Flutter; heels to heaven; Oblique V-ups);

Mosey back to gravel parking lot for Ghostbusters Elevens with Starjumps and Squats and a Detour around the parked Suburban;

Plankorama;

COT

Naked Man Moleskin –

Like a true experienced QIC, I forgot my watch this am, so I was hesitant to go off campus for fear of having to pull a Cindy sprint in order to have a timely COT.  So, not knowing what time it was and suffering from O2 dep, I went back to the tried and true Pax and time killer of The Eleven.  Really suffering from O2 dep, I took it even further back by going Ghostbusters and called on the only FNG to Stay-Puft and not think of the worst exercise he could possibly think of to do as the front side of the elevens.  Apparently not knowing what an eleven was (or knowing what it was and really wanting to prove his mettle), he picked starjumps, thus he got dubbed Stay-Puft for a strong callout on his virgin F3 experience. Knowing that we needed a true Stay-Puft backside exercise, I asked Tide to do the backside Stay-Puft honors…  Thus, the squats.  We then threw in a detour right before the squats of running around the Suburban now parked at the top of the hill in our way.  I ended up having to call a double audible – first to end the detour madness cuz it was making me dizzy, and second to halt the starjump madness because we ran out of time.  Not sure if it was my uncanny sense of time from my internal clock or my desire to make the starjumps go away, but I asked Deacon for the time at exactly 0630, thus allowing for a prompt COT sans any Cindy Sprints.

TClap |
0

Abundance of Hills

A Brand New Shovel Flag was planted and 9 Faithful headed out in the gloom…

Circumnavigate the Chapel – 3x

Straight into a modified Century Club – 25 X of SSH, MC, IW, SSH; Circumnavigate again – Dips, Right Step Ups, Left Step Ups, Derkans; Circumnavigate again – Low Flutter, Dolly, LBC, V Ups;

Sprint down the Snake to Plankorama at corner of Regent Park;

Mosey to Bulldozer Hill – Jacob’s Ladder with Turkish Getups and Burpees;

Mosey to RP Corner;

Sprint back down the Snake to plankorama on Hamburger Hill;

COT

Naked Moleskin – When we arrived on foot to Bulldozer Hill and started running down it, I realized that I should have hit my odometer when I scouted it this morning before the workout, because it would have shown it as over a 1/4 mile…  So a full Jacob’s Ladder in the 15 minutes that were left would have been next to impossible, even for the trackstars.  An audible quickly cured my miscalc and got all the PAX, including the Six, back to Hamburger Hill at the precise time for COT.  Not a lot of Mumble Chatter from the Pax this am, except to remark that I don’t need to continue to try and prove my virility compared to WWL anymore…  Noted, but the beatdowns will continue until morale improves!!!

Li’l Mike, Out.

 

 

TClap |
0

Abundance of Off Campus

The shovelflag was planted and 5 of the faithful launched into the rapidly receding gloom.

The Thang:

Circumnavigate campus (2x)

Circle of Warmup – SSH (25); IW (25); Squat (25); MC (25)

Mosey to Circle of Picnic – Dips (25), Dollies (25), Freddie Mercury (25), Oblique crunches (15 each side), V-Ups (15)

Egress off campus down Dorman Road

Sidewalk Corner 2Corners – Sprint to Burpees (10), Sprint to Squats (15), Sprint to Merkans (10)

Plankorama in the Traffic Circle

Full Jacob’s Ladder up Hill 515 to squats at Top and Bottom

Mosey back to Sidewalk of Suck for more C2C, Burpees and Squats

All out down the Traffic Gauntlet to COT

Naked Man Moleskin –

After WWL put the smokedown last week and made my previous Qs look like nature hikes, the heat was brought, especially with the sidewalk of suck.  Hill 515 was also a crowdpleaser – we need a name for aforesaid.  Hamburger Hill and The Lurker are already taken.  5 PAX COT was pretty cool – it is good to be able to share amongst the Faithful.

TClap |
0

Abundant of Pain- WWL style

10 faithful converged in the Abundant Hope Church parking lot for a change of pace workout with a guest Q.

The Thang:

3 warm up laps around church property

COP: 10 burpees (had to start off strong that this wasn’t going to be your typical Little Mike as Q workout!), 30 SSH, 20 squats, 20 imperial walkers, 10 squat-merkins, 20 mountain climbers, 10 merkins, 20 bicycles

Line em up facing the long way of parking lot.

Sprint down and back

Karaoke down and back

side shuffle down, sprint back, change sides-repeat

Lung walk down, lunge walk 1/2 cave man walk 1/2

Modified beat- suicide with 10 squats 1/2 way, 10 merkins at starting line

Repeat with backwards run and 5 burpees

Plank series

Frog jump 1/2, alligator merkins 1/2

Frog jump 1/2, peekaboo street jumps 1/2

6 MOM (Beacon departs a little early…. missed the 4th quarter)

Mosey to hill in front of church

Bear crawl to top of hill, 5 merkins, jog down, 10 squats, repeat for 5 cycles

Partner up, partner A wheel-barrels up, jog down, partner B wheel-barrels up, job down, 10 sumo squats- repeat for 5 cycles each

COT

Moleskin: A solid hard work put in by all this morning. T-claps to Little Mike for keeping the mumble chatter going throughout the pax…. didn’t realize he was bilingual either…

Shout out to the Fort pax that joined this morning, Crab Cakes, Beacon, Cake Boss! Beacon and Cake Boss live a little too close for coming up with excuses for fartsacking on future posts.

BTW, who get’s named Iron Lady…. just saying….

WWL

 

 

TClap |
0