A Slow and Steady Howler on Friday the 13th.

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Can you believe after all of my time at NaFo, I’ve never been on Q at Varsity? What?! Thankfully, Harry Carry noticed a gap in my portfolio and decided that needed to be filled.

This week has been rough… and when I mean rough I mean my taint has been kicked multiple times. Between Iron Pax week 2 and Shield’s 9/11 Stair Climb, my body was aching heavily. I took the opportunity to Q at Varsity as a chance to do some active recovery. The goal was to stretch and burn as much as possible. Some of the PAX were pretty excited when I brought it up at the front end of the workout, as was I. The focus was to hit one some Yoga/Recovery and a ton of Abs.

0515 hit and the disclaimer was disclaimed.

Run around parking lot to get the blood flowing. This brought some mumblechatter because I had previously said we would not be running today. It was only about 250M… and that was it!

Circle up near the Shovel Flag – which is where we spent the rest of the morning.

I led the guys in a full on Broga flow. Every position was held for 4-5 breaths to get a nice burn. #worthit

Broga

Sun (or in this case Full Moon!) Salutations with breathing – forward folds – halfway lifts x 5.
Chaturanga training – Moving properly from plank to upward dog to downward dog.
Jump to front – repeat salutations w/breathing.

This is where I looked up and Kielbasa was looking like a jigsaw puzzle. It was awesome, and he told me afterward he felt super limber and wanted to do more of this.

Chair Pose (AKA “Tipper Gore”) & hold – prayer twist both sides – catch outside of right knee with opposite elbow and flapjack.
Downward dog – knee to both elbows – knee to forehead
Warrior 1 – 2 – reverse – right angle – down, flapjack.

Chaturanga (AKA 6 inches) hold for 30 seconds.

Active Recovery – Leg Focus

Low Slow Squats x 20
Hold 60 Seconds at end of last squat
Pulse 16 times
I dare you to try this. Seriously. Do it. It sucks. 

Forward Lunges
Hold 60 Seconds (both sides)
Pulse 16 times after 60 second hold
Ditto.
Flap Jack

Plank –
Merkins in Cadence x 10
High Plank Hold – 30 Seconds
Lift one leg at a time, pulse 16 times up and down

I looked at my watch and was happy to see we had just enough time to work the abs.

Ab Ripper X – #fifteenminutesofmary

25 of Each Exercise
In & Out (Boats & Canoes)
Bicycles (Forward)
Bicycles (Backward)
Crunchy Frog
Cross Leg/Wide Leg Sit-Ups
Fifer Scissors
Hip Rock n’ Raise
Heels to the Heavens
V-Up Roll Ups
Oblique V-Ups (Left)
Oblique V-Ups (Right)
Leg Climbs to touch Heels – 12 each side
American Hammers (25 total, 50 taps)

I about collapsed at the V Up Roll Up portion and struggled through the rest of the work. My core is smoked! Oblique V-Ups = terrible invention.

Thoughts

This weinke was different than our typical face kick – but it was a face kick nonetheless. All of the PAX seemed to enjoy it. Especially Shield – who told me “I used to like you, Punch List” during the workout. That gave us all a chuckle.

Trust me, I love me some burpees, but I’m finding that I can’t do them day in and day out, so days like this are a MUST! Do yourself a favor and check out RPG on Fridays to get some good stretching in and take care of your body. It’ll be worth it in the long run.

 

Announcements

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Q v Q is coming in October to The Coop!

 

Prayers

Kaiser and his business. It’s at a crossroads and he needs to know what to do within a few days or else it may close down.

Ruby Slippers – close family friend has recently passed at the age of 35. Pray for the family and friends to come together and find solace with one another.

 

Thanks, Harry Carry for the opportunity to lead on this fine Friday. YHC always enjoys working out with you and the other HIM that showed today.

 

Punch List out.

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7 Pax for 7 of Diamonds

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COP
Mosied down to Papa Docs lot for:
Morracan night clubs x 15
Windmills x 10
Sun gods x 10
LSS x 10
Bonsai cherry pickers x 10

Mosey up to The Office lot for the Thang

7 of Diamonds – The Q finds a diamond and a single exercise is performed at each point in multiples of 7 for seven rounds. First round together, all other rounds OYO.

Round 1 – 7 Burpees
Round 2 – 14 Flutter kicks (4 count)
Round 3 – 21 Merkins
Round 4 – 28 Squats
Round 5 – 21 Merkins
Round 6 – 14 Flutter kicks
Round 7 – 7 Burpees + 5 thanks to the cat lady

LBCs for the 6

Didn’t let the pax know about rounds 5-7 until we got there. The second round of merkins wasn’t well received.

Made it back to COT for 5 mins of Mary called by each of the 7 PAX. Almost did the extra merkins to get to 200 for the Q, but didn’t want a mutiny.

Great push by the PAX and thanks to Costanza for the opportunity to lead.

-©

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Why run at Clydesdale’s?

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No no no.  It was a Y run loop at Clydesdale’s.  Run to the YMCA take the trail, turn left at road, turn right at the fountain and up the hill to Sutton and run down the hill.  Right at QT and back to Starbucks.  Rinse and repeat until you are tired.  We had 12 in total with a sighting of Dungaree doing 13mi. for a training run.  Why I ask?

COT and outta there.

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The Switch

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9 Pax plus YHC came out to the Pantheon this morning to Honor those lost in the tragic events of the 9/11/2001. I was Honored to have the opportunity to lead in the the gloom this morning.

Arrived a few minutes early to unload the blocks and setup the lights. Change of venue as the sprinklers where running on the field and the it looked quite soggy.  Moved the The Thang over to the road just outside the field.

As 0515 rolled up Gears and I noticed that Crab Cakes was not on hand. After a light bit of #Slack bullying he HC’d the evening prior.  AS it turns out there is #Slack evidence to show our Friend Crabbie had DeC’d around 2210 that same night. Something about getting Fia’d by the M and 2.0 was under the weather.  Well noted and understood. I’m sure that time was well spent working on the NXT Addition of the The Corner!

All seasoned Pax on hand so a quick disclaimer and off we went.

The Buy In Started out with a 400 meter mosey around the parking lot and down the hill to the bottom concrete pad.   Roughly 400 Fire Fighters, Police officers and Port Authority officers lost their lives running INTO the Twin Towers.

COP-09 MNC/ 11 SSH/ 20 Imperial Walkers/ 01 Burpee

Bear Crawl from Bottom landing to 3rd concrete landing. Roughly 110 Feet. 9 Peter Parker IC- Crawl Bear back down to the Bottom. 11 Parker Peter IC. Both the N and S Tower had 110 stories.

Mosey back up to the parking lot lane by the soccer field for The Thang.  Lead Pax into the middle of what would be our runway. Instruted them to hold an Al Gore or Plank for a the time line of events. All chose the Al Gore.

0846 AA Flight 11 Strikes the North Tower–0903 United Flight 175 crashes into the South Tower– 0937 AA Flight 77 Strikes the SW corner of the Pentagon in DC. With in mins of this the FAA orders a full ground stop of all domestic Air Traffic. Only time I have ever known this to happen. 0959 the South Tower collapses–1003 United Flight 93 crashes in a field outside of Shanksville PA after the passengers aboard attempted to overtake the hijackers–1028 the North Tower Collapses. Not including the 19 Hijackers 2977 people where killed in these deadly attacks. Took this opportunity to remind the PAX ( Still holding Al Gore) That tomorrow is never guaranteed and to ensure they are staying present and involved in the now with those closest to them. Recover!

The Switch

Team up in Teams of 3- In our case 2 teams of 3 and 1 team of 4.

P1 and P2  start at one end of the runway. P3 starts at the far end.

P1 does a coupon Exercise, P3 does body weight exercise at far end. On go P2 runs/sprints the distance between P1 and P3. Upon arrival they Switch. P2 does Body weight exercise and P3 Runs/Sprints back to P1 where upon they switch ect. The idea was to do MAX REPs of the respective exercises until the runners arrived and we switched. Running Distance was roughly 100-110 yrds. To move to the next round we needed to complete 2 cycles the current exercises.

Rnd 1 Block Curls and MErkins—-Rnd 2 OH Press and Squats—Rnd 3 Blocked BBS and LBCs

Rnd 4 Block Swings and Lunges—-Rnd 5 Block Squats and Flutter kicks

After dodging a few cars arriving to the parking lot we completed through the 1st cycle of RND 5.

Gather up the Coupons and head for COT.

 

 

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Remembering the First Responders on 9/11

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Getting the opportunity to Q on 9/11 is a big deal.  I’m happy to see that all the men who were given that chance took advantage by creating a tribute to those who lost their lives on that day 18 years ago.  I was not going to disappoint the men who showed up at the Abyss.  4 of those men arrived to kick it off at 5:15am so I shared my thoughts.

A special treat was having Boogie Down join us a few minutes into the warmup. As I was talking with him during the workout he shared with me that he lived in NYC during this terrible event. More on that later…

Today I wanted to honor the first responders who lost their lives on September 11th 2001.  They were:

343 firefighters (including a chaplain and two paramedics) of the New York City Fire Department (FDNY);

37 police officers of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department (PAPD);

23 police officers of the New York City Police Department (NYPD)

But that was not personal enough, so I gave each PAX a name of one of those 403 first responders and asked each of them to take some time today to look up this person.

I pulled the name of Martin McWilliams, who died at the age of 35 and was part of FDNY Engine 22.  He was a new dad, his daughter (Sara) was born only a few months before his death.  He was great at fixing things, he loved house projects and working on cars.  He played golf whenever he could and was an avid skier.  He was a daredevil, who tried flying lessons and skydiving.  His sister recalls that he was a terrible joke teller.  He would be 53 years young this year.

To pay tribute to these fallen heroes we did the following.

7 Burpees

Then 9 rounds of:

11 Pull-ups

11 Push-ups

11 Sit-ups

11 Squats

Finish with a 403 m Run around our small track = 2 laps

The combined reps for this workout would equal 403. I demanded that the PAX not short any of their counts today, as each rep represented a life lost.

We finished with 10 minutes to spare so we went to our regular hill.

Run down, at the bottom = 9 Bombjacks

Run up, at the top 11 Flutters (DC)

We finished up at COT.  I asked Boogie Down if he would share some of his recollections from that day.  It was moving, and I’m so glad he joined us to share his experience.  What caught my attention the most, was his remembrance of the smell of burnt “stuff” that lasted in Manhattan for months after the attack.  If he wants to share more, ask him next time you see him.

An Honor to Lead

Royale

 

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Honoring 5 heroes from 9/11 at the Honey Badger

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16 PAX joined me to honor our fallen heroes, this time I went off the book and decided to do my own version and honor some of the heroes from the tragedy of 9/11.

-During the September 11 of 2001 attacks, 2,977 people were killed (excluding the 19 hijackers) and more than 6,000 others injured

-The immediate deaths included 265 on the four planes (including the terrorists), 2,606 in the World Trade Center and in the surrounding area, and 125 at the Pentagon

-Of those who perished during the initial attacks and the subsequent collapses of the towers, 343 were New York City firefighters, 23 were New York City police officers and 37 were officers at the Port Authority.

We had hundreds of heroes that day but I decided to honor 5 that made a great impact, they are not in any specific order but here are their names:

  1. NYPD Officer Moira Smith was the first officer to report the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 when she saw the first plane strike the first tower of the World Trade Center. Smith, a 13-year veteran, ran into the towers and began assisting in the evacuation. Officer Smith is credited with saving hundreds of lives that day, giving her own in the process. She was the only female NYPD officer to die on 9/11.
    She was survived by her 2-year-old daughter and her husband.
  1. Welles Crowther was an investment banker working on the 104th floor of 2 World Trade Center (the south tower). When United Airlines Flight 175 struck the south tower, Crowther remained calm. Just minutes after the plane hit, Crowther called his mother to let her know he was okay. He then began assisting others in evacuating, at one point carrying a woman down 17 flights of stairs, only to return to the 78th floor to continue helping others.
    Crowther had made it out of the building and was running back into it with a “Jaws of Life” tool when the tower collapsed. He was 24 years old.
  1. Mark Bingham ark owned a public relations firm, the Bingham Group. He was a passenger on board United Airlines Flight 93. Bingham was among the passengers who, along with Todd Beamer, Tom Burnett and Jeremy Glick, formed the plan to retake the plane from the hijackers, and led the effort that resulted in the crash of the plane into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, thwarting the hijackers’ plan to crash the plane into a building in Washington, D.C., most likely either the U.S. Capitol Building or the White House. Before their final mission, Mark called his mother and told her that he loved her very much. His mother, Alice Hoagland, is a former flight attendant. Since Mark’s death, she has become a world-renowned expert on airline safety as well as an activist for LGBTQ issues in memory of her heroic son.
  2. Ronald Paul Bucca was a Fire Marshal with 23 years on the job with FDNY. An Army Special Forces reservist, Bucca was known as “The Flying Fireman” after a spectacular fall from a tenement fire escape. Bucca, a marathon runner, died responding to the 78th floor of the south tower moments before it collapsed.
    He was the only FDNY Fire Marshal to be killed on 9/11.
  1. Retired United States Army Officer Rick Rescorla was working as the head of security at Morgan Stanley on the 44th floor when tragedy struck. Rick was there during the bombing at the Trade Center in 1993 and believe that the Towers were still a target for terrorists. He even predicted that a plane might be flown into them one day. He implemented security procedures for Morgan Stanley, including having practice evacuations every three months.
    On 9/11, Rick systematically helped the firm’s 1,000 employees out by ordering them through the stairways. He sang a Cornish battle song to boost morale, as he had done for his troops in Vietnam. After someone told him that he also needed to evacuate Rick said, “As soon as I make sure everyone else is out”. He was last seen heading up the tenth floor when the Tower collapsed.

WARM UP

We started with a slow mossey around the parking lot with some toy soldiers in between runs.

Back to COP for warm up exercises:

Windmill

Moroccan night clubs

Low Slow Squats (crowd favorites)

Cherry pickers

THE THANG

Mosseyed to the pull up bars area were some utensils had been setup for the following 9-11 format WO, 9 exercises with 11 reps each and then RUN down the hill to the stop sign and NUR back up, RINSE AND REPEAT, the plan was to do this 5 times, one for each hero but due to time restriction we completed 4 circuits with just enough time to run back to COT for announcements, prayers and praises.

11 pull ups BAR

11 big boy situps

11 toes to BAR

11 sledgehammer swing

11 knee raises BAR

11 merkins

11 slam ball to ground

11 Carolina dry docks

11 tire flips

It was a tough workout but it’s totally worth it when honoring our heroes; everyone pushed themselves through it with lots of mumble chatter but at the end we left better men!!

I was honored to Q the Honey Badger this week, thank you Dirty Harry for the opportunity to lead. #NeverForget

TINSEL out…

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September 11 Memorial Stair Climb

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Today I was honored to lead 39 men of the Fort in my version of a 9/11 Stair Climb…. I asked these gentlemen to bring rucks or sandbags and headlamps. This was to simulate the equipment worn by the first responder’s who entered the World Trade Center to do their jobs. We also had Charetta appear courtesy of Dirty Harry…she was our victim that needed to be  carried up and down the NaFo bleachers ….everyman carried their fare share of weight.

The workout was simple!!!!  There was no warmup….we didn’t need one….

The object was to climb the bleachers 27.5 times up and down carrying a ruck or sandbag….the goal 1980 steps or 110 stories….NaFo bleachers are 36 steps up and down…the men of the Fort  conquered this simple request but there was a catch…..when they came back down they had to do 9 inclined merkins and 11 squats… I think most did more than the required amount and for that I’m in awe…. I love being part of this great nation

Before the climb I shared a little about my experience that day 18 years ago as an NYPD officer and I asked each man to reflect between the hours of 8:46 am to 10:28 am these were the hours that changed my life and change the world as we knew it….I also wanted to remember my friends who gave their lives to save as many people as they could that morning :

NYPD PO MARK ELLIS TRANSIT DISTRICT 4

NYPD PO RAMON SUAREZ TRANSIT DISTRICT 4

PAPD PO ANTONIO RODRIGUES PORT AUTHORITY BUS DEPOT

I worked with these gentleman and they will never be forgotten…

Thank you Punchlist for letting me.lead these great men .

We had one FNG Lassie….welcome

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Light on mileage, Heavy on the push

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While the research may vary, the average ant can lift/carry 10-50 times its own body weight. Luck for us at the Fire Ant AO today, we were only carrying ourselves and our Rucks, which varied from 30lb-45lb. So, to that I say, you’re welcome.

We had a small yet might group of Ruckers this morning as 4 others joined YHC. Once disclaimed, we Rucked to the playground for:

50 Pull-Ups (slick)

50 Push-Ups (with Ruck)

Ruck to the soccer fields for bit of a 4-corners covering half the entire field. Once we figured out the appropriate sides of the field for transportation between corners, it would be Bear Crawls (with Ruck) on two sides f the field and walk (with Rucks overhead) for the other two sides. In the corners:

Corner 1: 25 Ruck Curls

Corner 2: 25 Bent over Rows

Corner 3: 15 Hand-Release Merkins

Corner 4: 25 Upright Rows

We completed the circuit twice then made our way over to the flag pole:

15 Flutters w/o the press

15 Freddy Mercury’s with Rucks up

10 Flutters w/ the press

Ruck back to COT to hold the Al Gore position while each PAX recounted where they were when they learned of the events of 9/11.

Remember. Never Forget. Be Present

Maximus

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3 X 12 at Varsity

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Eight men in total posted at Varsity for a Tabata routine workout on a somewhat breezy morning.
Started with six pax and then an additional two Iron Pax gents joined in about 20 mins into the workout.

Warm Up
Mosey run
SSH (IC 10x)
Windmill (IC 10x)
Imperial Walker (IC 10x)
Merkins (IC 10X)
Plank stretches
Downward dog
Honeymooner
5 Pullups OYO

The tabata routine noted below was three sets of four exercises repeated three times, hence 3×12,

Thang 1:  I used the Seconds Pro timer to prompt us through the thang.  Also had tunes going.
Interval routines: exercise for 32 seconds, rest/transition for 10 seconds
Set #1:
Imperial Walkers
Dips
LBCs
Bobby Hurley’s
Repeat 3x

Short mosey Run

Set #2:
windmills
American Hammers
Step ups
OH claps
Repeat 3x

Short mosey Run

Set #3:
Derkins
flutters
Cherry pickers
Bomb jacks
Repeat 3x

Thang 2:
Sally routine (Moby’s song Flower): Leg lifts (down position should be 6″ off the deck)

Fini, COT

The 3×12 tabata was decent, but I’d bump it up to 45 seconds on exercise next time.

Doing the Sally  routine with leg lifts is a different take on the high plank/low plank version of it.  But it still rage-worthy by the twentieth time Moby cycles through “Bring Sally Up, Bring Sally Down”

Playlist:
The Man (Killers)
Got Nuffin (Spoon)
Higher Ground (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
Come on feel the noise (Quiet Riot)
South Bound Suarez (Led Zeppelin)
We Will Rock You (Queen)
Fire (Hendrix, live)
See Emily Play (Pink Floyd)
Living in the USA (Steve Miller Band)
Flower (Moby)

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