Hills and More Hills

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Nine men showed up this chilly morning to get better.  It was nice to see Walker venture up from Rock Hill to show us how things are done.  After the disclaimer, Senator Tressell kicked us off.

Mosey out of the parking lot, take the path to the back of the park, down the big hill, hang a left and go up to the cul-de-sac on Mariner’s Court for COP. All in cadence:

SSH x 30, Merkin x 10, Squat x 20, IW x 20, Freddie Mercury x 20, Carolina Dry Dock x 20, Mountain Climber x 25, Jumping lunge x 15, Moroccan Night Club x 40 and begin walking toward the bottom of the hill.

Mosey back up the hill to the pull-up bars along the path park. Split into 4 groups:

Group 1: 5 burpee pull-ups
Group 2: Big Boy Sit-ups
Group 3: Merkins
Group 4: Step-ups

Rinse/repeat until time runs out

Hand off to Fish Sticks

Mosey to the bottom of short hill, backwards run up the hill to the top.  Back down to the bottom, lunge walk up to the top and back down to the bottom.

Ran down the side street and up the hill to the corner.  One set of dips (15) on the landscape timbers.

Mosey back to the park for some boulder exercises:  Overhead press (15) and curls (15).

Ran to the baseball field, split up into two groups.  The first group ran to the outfield fence, jumped over the fence, and did 5 bomb jacks (no jump over the fence, 15 bomb jacks). The second group planked until the first group returned.

Round two:  5 burpees at the top of the hill (no jump over the fence, 20 burpees).  Olaf chose to take the 20 burpees option (great example of choosing to do difficult things to make you better).

Round three:  bomb jack option.

Mosey back to the basketball court for six minutes of Mary.

COT

Prays for all who are battling cancer along with their families supporting them.

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Sweet Sixteens at The Fort

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Five men posted at The Fort/bootcamp on a cold, but dry morning.  Two pax posted for Milkshake.

Warm up
Mosey run on the path, stopped along the way for some burpees.  Ended at playground and did:
SSH (IC 12x)
Windmill (IC 12x)
Imperial Walker (IC 12x)
Moroccan Nightclub (IC 12x)
Low Slow Squats (IC12x)
Peter Parker (IC 12x)
Plank stretches
Downward dog
Honeymooner

Thang 1 Sweet 16’s
1 merkin, then run to walking path (~150′) and do 15 LBCs
Run back, 2 merkins-14 LBC’s, etc.

Mosey run to Springs Global side lot.

Thang 2 Fishy Tracks
Distance of approx 200′
Curb plank walk 10 steps/2 merkins, down the whole length, then run return to start
Crawl bear 5 steps/then 10 CDDs, down the whole length, then run return to start
Lunge walk 6 steps/10 squats, down the whole length, then run return to start

Mosey run back to WEP.

Thang 3
Global warming (did Monkey Humpers, Cherry Pickers, Bobby Hurleys, Smurf Jacks, Goof Balls)

Thang 4 Bear vs. Crab Soccer 
Split pax in two teams
Yoga ball in the middle
Team 1 bear crawls only, Team 2 crab walks only
Get the ball and try to score
After score, switch animals. Repeat.

Mary, actually seven minutes worth.

Fini, COT

The Milkshake fellas joined us at COT.  Happy birthday to 3D!  Prayers for aged parents; bring them comfort and guidance for the physicians caring for them.

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Black Diamond at the One Word Convergence

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If you’re going to call it a Black Diamond, well then I owe it to the guys who show up for it to give them a true Black Diamond.  Even if that makes 12 guys hate your guts for 40 min.  They’re mad because it sucks, which they willingly signed up for.  I think the below was sucky and vomitty at times, but we’re all better men because of it.  Here we go:

“Warm-up” – 5 exercises, 5 rep counts, we do 1 exercise every minute on the minute (EMOM).  Translation, the faster you finish the one exercise, the more rest you have until the next minute starts up again.

Minute 1 – 20 burpees (do it, its possible)
Minute 2 – 30 jump lunges
Minute 3 – 40 toe touches
Minute 4 – 50 carolina dry docks
Minute 5 – 60 side straddle hops

From there, we broke into two groups.  I informed the pax that we’d be doing a good old fashioned indian run, but notched up a level since it’s a Black Diamond.  Call it a “competitive” indian run.  3 laps around the full Harris Teeter complex (behind the store and then out to the road near Wendy’s).  Measured the lap online and 1 lap was 0.33 miles.  3 laps = 1 mile Indian run.  Guy in back drops and does 3 burpees and then has to haul a$$ back to the front of the group and the last guy drops again.  Do this for all 3 laps.

One team starts on the far side of the parking lot (near Pizza Hut), the other team starts on the opposite end of the parking lot (Moe’s).  Goal is beat the other team to the finish w/ loser having to burpee broad jump 100 yards.  Since the two groups ran in opposite directions, at one point every lap you had a good feel for how your team was performing vs. the other team and the hope was that it would speed up the laps…you can say it worked.

For the first lap I knew we’d have a better understanding of how competitive this was going to be – we passed the other team coming towards us at the same exact spot in the lap (going opposite direction) and both teams were going hard and I’d say were dead even.  This was the point when things got a bit vomity.  Fast forward 3 laps, and without really seeing the other side of the parking lot, I think team Pizza Hut won it out.  In an effort to compromise and make everyone feel equally terrible, we shared the punishment.  We did about 80 yards of burpee broad jumps, turned around and bear crawled back the 80 yards.

Next up – a Jack Webb spiced up for a Black Diamond.  2 exercises w/ a 1:4 rep ratio, up to 10 reps of the first and 40 reps of the second.  Mack Tar Jai / Jump Squats.  1 mack, 4 jump squats, 2 macks, 8 jump squats.  Somewhere around the 6 mack tar jais and 24 jump squats is when I got the feeling some guys might lay down.  I challenged the pax to give it all they got and finish strong, by doing some sort of rep, even if the jump squat was modified to a squat.  Some needed it, others didn’t.  We all finished.  Final rep count – 55 mack tar jais, 220 jump squats in about 10 minutes.

We had 5 minutes, so as promised, we ended where we started with a repeat of the every minute on the minute (EMOM).  Going down for that first burpee of the 20 in minute 1, after 220 jump squats almost ended me.  Arms went down, legs froze and wouldn’t move.

The Black Diamond takers finished and limped over to CoT to close it out.  Great effort fellas.  My only requirement was to make it harder than most workouts we get on a regular basis, so hopeful it met your expectations.  Until next time!

Cha Ching

 

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Hearts-a-Pumpin at the Abyss

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Twas a warm but damp morning when 6 PAX chose to beat the fartsack for a Wolverine beatdown at the Abyss.  Here’s the dealio:

Warm-o-Rama

  • Brief mosey to the back to the school
  • 8 Windmills, IC
  • 20 SSH, IC
  • 15 Imperial Walkers IC
  • 10 Merkins, IC
  • Downward Dog
  • Honeymooner
  • 20 Moroccan Night Clubs, IC

The Thang, Part 1

  • Each Pax, at his own pace would execute 40 pull-ups and 5 laps around the track behind the school

The Thang Part II

Using 8 cones, 10 yards apart, alternating tall and short cones:

  • Suicide to large cones, 1 burpee at the 1st, 2 at the 2nd, 3 at the 3rd, 4 at the 4th
  • Lunge between large cones, execute called out exercise (merkins/squats etc.) broad jump to next cone etc.
  • Break from cones over to wall for People’s Chair – 3 burpees down the line while others hold
  • BTTW for 30 seconds
  • Back to the cones
    • Team suicide – entire team of 2 or 3 finishes together
  • More action between cones with exercises – crab walk, bear crawl, crab cakes, pistol squats

Moleskin

It was a relatively quiet bunch as we were counting and sucking wind.  Upcoming convergence announcement around the “one word” for 2020. Praise and prayers for a prosperous 2020, sick and injured pax.  Prayers for widsom and gratitude for Grace.

It was an honor as always,

Aye, Wolverine

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9 Branded by the Ring of Fire – 3D’s 1st F3iversary

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In honor of my FNG post on Jan 15, 2019, I led 9 PAX reenacting the Ring of Fire dealt by SkateOrDie during my first post.  Weather was warmer than last year.

Warmup – Mosey, Moroccan Nightclubs, Hillbilly and imperial Walkers, windmills, Cherry Pickers, Plank, honeymooner, Plank, Downdog with calf stretches

Workout – PAX in circle with their respective weights.  Skate or Die also brought a concrete brick.  10 exercises.  Started with 20 reps and then worked down by 2.  Rotated weights after each exercise.  After each round I randomly rotated us or mixed us up so we used the weights in different order.  Threw a mosey in after 2 rounds.  Were only able to get down to 12 when Polaroid reminded us it was 6!!

Overhead Press

Squats

KB Swing

LBCs

Tricep Ext

Lunge Pass thru

Curls

Calf Raises

V Ups

Rows

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Long Duck at The Coop

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It was a brisk morning at The Coop. As Site Q I feel led to write a quick Backblast for LD.

COP
30 SSH
20 Wind Mills
20 Tappy Taps
Mosey to Pull Up Bars

Partner up. Partner 1 runs down and up hill once while other partner chips away at the board of pain.

100 Pull Ups
100 toes/knees to bar
200 Merkins
200 Big Boy Sit Ups

Mosey to parking lot – 2×50 yard sprints

Back for COT.

Great lead by Long Duck!

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NYE at the “Ant”- BB 2wks late

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Link to the Pre-Blast: https://f3thefort.com/2019/12/18/the-force-to-bring-us-back-in/

The script changed but we discussed burnout and the challenges associated with getting burned out. Nevertheless, we did some work with heavy sand bags and rucks. The legs were put to the test and teamwork was present.

A lot remains on the written weinke which should see the light of day or the darkness of the gloom…some day.

Until next time.

Maximus

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PRE-BLAST: 2020 Yeti…5 Year Anniversary!

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2/23/20 Updates:

Parking: Please DO NOT park at WEP but in the parking lot next to WEP behind the Springs building.  There will be plenty of parking and this way, we aren’t taking up the park parking lot for the entire morning.

Where/What time: We will start at WEP and will end at WEP.  Depending on what you are doing: Ruck 0500, Ruck/Bike 0530, Run 0600, Run/Bike 0630, Bike 0700.  The YETI will average about 4 hours so we will be wrapping around 10:00.

After / 2ndF: We will be meeting at Amor Artis as you finish (they’re opening their doors at 10am for us).  We will have food catered from Improper Pig.  Please invite your M (or significant other) and your shorties!  There will be a $10 contribution for food and Amor will gladly take your $ for a frothy beverage which you will need after the YETI.  Please contact Shady with rough numbers for food count.

_________________________________________

Original pre-blast:

The time has come for the annual CSAUP of…THE YETI….5 YEAR ANNIVERSARY YETI!!!  The date has been set (no not February because we’re late to the game, we have the Dam to Dam, the Rooster CSAUP in our neighboring region of Rock Hill we should be supporting, etc.).  We missed the mark for Feb ok, so get over it and get ready for early March…talk to the M, and get.it.on.your.calendar!  This also means more prep time for the Qs, you to mentally prepare your bodies, gather your teams (if that’s your jam), make sure your reflective gear isn’t in need for a dusting…all those things.

So get ready for not only some 1st F, but some 2nd F, as you run, ruck, ride, sweat, freeze (wait…freeze? Well, we can’t predict the weather and it will be outside, duh) next to your fellow PAX.  Build that bond, push that guy next to you, and get better!

High level deets…

Why: Well, why not.  It’s stupid and pointless, it’s fun, you’ll do some major bonding with fellow PAX, uh…it’s early and what else do you need to be doing – sleeping….good one!!!!  And did we mention it’s a 5 year anniversary!!  We’re also working on a shirt (yes, this is an annual shirt, not some minnow pond shirt some site Q drummed up to hype up his site…who does that!)  More details coming on the shirt.  And patches…yes, patches!  For those of us that are motivated by patches and want to add another patch to our collection, well, look no further (and there may be another special edition Zima patch…like I said, more things in the works).  (Cost on Yeti patch is approximately $5…more details on this in the near future.)

What: Annually, the YETI makes it’s way to the Fort and we pay our dues and take what the Yeti gives us.  This can be accomplished via a combo of different ways, or just one way: running, rucking, biking, put a team together and break it up.  Modify as needed!  A course will be provided prior to the CSAUP, AO pain stations will exist along the route where PAX will endure whatever said Q tells them, and water/energizing snacks will be provided.  Past years courses range from 14-20 miles…Zima miles will be included this year for those interested.  What’s a Zima mile you ask, you’ll need to ask around on that one.

Who: All PAX…so you, reading this…you’re invited and it will be fun.  Trust us.  Not recommended for younger 2.0 PAX.  If you want to create a team to break up the course, totally fine and modification acceptable…trust us.  PAX do accomplish the YETI on their own as well and it’s doable so don’t be scared and push yourself.  After the Yeti, families are invited to pat you on the back and tell you how stupid you are…or I mean how proud they are of you.

When: Date is above, but in case you glazed right over it in your excitement, it’s Saturday 3/7.  The times tentatively are as follow (but subject to change): Ruck 0500, Run 0600, Ruck/Bike 0600, Run/Bike 0630…you kind of get the idea.  We would expect to be done by 10:00am.  After the Yeti if you’re able to stick around, we will plan to meet at a local establishment for some food/drinks (BBQ maybe) and more 2nd F.

Where: We’ll start and end at WEP (Block Party / The Fort / Millllkshake AO).  Parking at WEP, or potentially in the bigger parking lot next door may be advised.  Food and drinks (and BBQ maybe) location are in the works.  We’ve had to pull in #TheCorner office staff to pull some strings and get the 2nd F training rolling.  Yep, it’s that big of a deal in these parts.  Stay tuned for more updates.

 

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Push, pull, who mows your lawn…what?

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8 (soon to be 9…then 10) PAX gathered for chilly Snake Pit morning.  Getting the formalities (disclaimer) out of the way, YHC didn’t waste time moving b/c it was COLD!  We took off behind, I guess it’s behind, the football field for a short mosey down to the break in the road, then circled back to the side parking lot where warm-up would be conducted (before we ran back to the parking lot, 5 burpees were thrown in…yep, that kind of warm-up). As we were running back, this is where PAX #9 (JWOW) graced us with his trademark tardy appearance…glad you made it my friend!  Better late than never and he was energized out of the gate like a kid on Christmas morning!

Warm-up included: mountain climbers, Morracan night clubs, imperial walkers, cherry pickers, SSH, windmills, burpees (yes burpees in the warm-up is a crowd pleaser), squats, then some up stretching.  Stretching was downward dog, honeymooners, leg and back stretches.  The warm-ups above were for the most part counts of 10 with exception of burpees (3) and SSH (30…only b/c we were waiting so long for Trucker! hahaha).  Birdcage was kind enough to pay YHC a “compliment” that he needed a 10 count during the warm-up…joking/not joking is how I took it but we moved on to The Thang.

The Thang

As we all got mentally prepared for next steps, YHC tried to start some tunes which turned out to be an interesting topic for the workout.  90’s hip hop was first up…hopefully no one was offended by Biggie or Snoop’s lyrics b/c there was about zero movement from YHC to stop that “parental advisory” train from coming.  The following exercises were called out in sequence after each was completed by the PAX.  About midway through these exercises, the local legend (and PAX #10) joined our group of merry men…none other than Spitz!  Just in time for Snoop to bust some rhymes…Spitz was not entertained by these lyrical beats.

  • 30 swings
  • 30 squats (bell hits the ground and that doesn’t mean lean over, it means bend your back…)
  • 30 shoulder presses
  • 30 up rows
  • 30 (15 each leg) lunges
  • 30 (15 each arm) clean and press

With the first set done, our “cool down” was running lines in the parking lot (old school suicides) so 3 lines of different distance became our next task to attack.  Once the PAX finished their cool down, it was back to business.   Prior to getting back to business, 80s rock station was selected (much to Trucker’s approval!).

  • 30 (15 each arm) plank rows
  • 30 American hammers (single count)
  • 15 manmakers (crowd pleaser)
  • 30 (15 each arm) lawnmower pulls….or Javier pulls…huh Birdcage?  If you’re reading this and have questions, take them up with the Cage’iest of all Birds.
  • 30 KB presses (on your back, bench press)
  • 30 triceps extensions (on your back if you want Trucker…jeez, but those are technically skull crushers which we didn’t call, but you do you)
  • 30 shoulder shrugs

Back to our 3 sets of lines for cool down…and no, we didn’t do any 10 counts that I can recall.  That’s what running lines is for.  Back to the mix where the music changed again, not without some ribbing from Birdcage, who was quickly satisfied by the new selection “Beastie Boys” channel.  Uhaul also started to bust some rhymes, but nothing to the effect of what can be thrown down by the likes of Flat Tire, Jekyll, or rap goddess Pusher (goddess just seems to fit better)…sorry Uhaul, you’ve got to see these guys go and then you’ll see where I’m coming from.  Before we got started, beachbody enthusist 3D was asked to select “1 or 2″…he choose 2 without knowing why, only to be informed we were doing the 2nd set of exercises all over again.  C’mon man, I thought this was a softball of the 1 or 2…YHC was way wrong on him picking up on this.  Can’t win them all.  See set #2 above for what we did again.

Once this was done, another cool down was in store, then 3 short exercises of MARY.  We stayed where we were for COT, did all things at the end, and collected some great praises!  Thanks for the opportunity 3D, hopefully I qualified to the Snake Pit standards.  If not, bring me back and we can dial it up a few more levels if that’s what the Site Q wants!  Great group today and I’d give the group a 8-9 on the mumblechatter scale which is good when it’s cold!

Shady

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All the yogging

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YHC showed up about ten minutes early to mark the path and found that there was a great crowd of PAX gathered and at least 4 running the EC miles.  The disclaimer was disclaimed and no new faces were visible in the gloom, so I announced that the BCs would be going with me… and 10/13 ran away with Gecko.  Did not see that one coming.

The warmup

A very short mosey to the pillars for a light warmup. This involved simple stretching of the hips and firing off a quick 20 SSH.  Then we got right into it.

The Thang

Simple. Run to all the checkpoints… At each checkpoint, do some reps. Then keep going.

Stops:
1. 30 dips – At the SW end of the parent lot
2. 35 LBC – N corner of field (by the tree)
3. 30 plank jacks – By the sidewalk
4. 60s (or so) BTTW – dumpster enclosure
5. 30 CDD – N crosswalk

Three loops were completed with a good deal of mumblechatter between the 3 PAX.  YHC does not believe this means that the workout was “light”. In fact, the ability to carry on a (labored) conversation during heavy cardio workouts has always helped me the most. If I’m gasping for air, I’m not going to hit 3 miles.

At checkpoint four the 3 PAX mounted the wall and took two turns doing a 10 count to try to estimate 60 seconds.  Then, when we got up, everyone got another (silent) 10 count to let the blood seep back into the extremities.   The third time around we counted down from 15 as we were getting close to the end.

Three full sets were completed and we made it to checkpoint 3 in the fourth time around, YHC noticed we had ~5min left and we ran back down the short loop, around to the pillars where the yoggers were yoga-ing for 30 dips. The alarm went off and we quickly moseyed over to COT.

COT

Some good announcements were announced. Decibel is looking for mentors for Children’s Attention Home. If you have the time, or can make it, this is an excellent way to go from PAX to HIM. There are some races coming up. Dam2Dam relay is having a fundraiser at the Baxter Grapevine on January 29th.

Lots of prayers extended. YHC asked for prayers to help him lose the “dad bod” by cutting out the casual pint of beer most evenings with dinner. Lots of hurting family members.  Our troops are in the direct line of fire again.

 

I’m always very thankful to be asked to Q.

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