Hells Bells at The Tomahawk

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I realized last week that I hadn’t Q’d a workout in a few weeks and was itching to get back at it.

As always, I try to challenge myself in each workout I lead, but more importantly I try to focus on encouraging others to challenge themselves.

We started out on what was hopefully the last cold morning of the lagging spring, with thermometers readin 39-40 degrees, moseying the Dobys Bridge Elementary School parking lot for some warm-ups.  We circled up with the PAX completing a litany of windmills, imperial walkers, Merkins, hill billy walkers, morroccan night clubs, mountain climbers, and some SSH.  We then grabbed the bells and mosey’d to the bottom of the hill at the entrance to the school, where we “found” some additional tokens (cement blocks and medicine balls).

The thang:

The PAX split into 2 groups of 3 and roughly equally distributed the KB weight. The 1st PAX was the timer and would run with the token to the top of the hill and back, while the other two PAX would complete AMRAP of the prescribed exercise.  Each of the 3 PAX would cycle through running with the token and completing the exercises.  The goal was to challenge yourself by using heavier weight than you normally would.

Exercises: KB swings; squat, curl, and press; KB pull through w/ row; clean and press; squats, curls,  overhead triceps extensions; LBCs w/ KB overhead; Weazy Jeffersons with KB overhead; Lawnmowers; Burpees w/KB.

With a few minutes left, the PAX picked up their KBs and the tokens and mosey’d (more like rucked or farmer carried) back to COT.  This may have actually been the hardest part of the workout – Hells Bells!

Count-o-Rama, Name-o-Rama, Announcements, Prayers/Praises, BoM

Praise for Pin-ups 2.0 making football team.  Prayed for families and kids in general.

– Continue reading →

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Styrofoam

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Back at The Yard and it was a glorious morning, and time to bring back my Styrofoam coolers with tickets of pain inside.

Plenty of moderate running space between coolers, as the PAX were divided into two groups and we ran past each other as we pulled tickets of misery out of three different coolers, spread out down the back driveway of the school. This was moderate, so I kept that in mind as I printed out the pain tickets late into the night before, and contemplated whether to print the ticket with 50 CDD’s, or leave it at 20. 

For those who haven’t seen my Piggly Wiggly coolers filled with tickets, stay tuned for an appearance near you.

Maybe we got in a little over a mile of running, but I forgot to ask Barry.

Great COT, and a good dose for Jiffy’s EH, Snowman (Jerry Reed from Smokey and the Bandit)

Thanks to Hasselhoff for the opportunity!

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Old School WEP.

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As cars rolled in one after another I was greeted by faces of men I knew and a few of some I didn’t. It is always great to be back Qing at the home where The Fort took shape. It was even better sharing this Q with my friend Mainframe. We got started with Mainframe giving the tasteful disclaimer. We then took off and the rest went something like this.

normal warm up stuff, mosey over to short wall for 15 derkins, 15 dips, 20 step-ups, mosey down to small lot in front of springs, 15 donkey kicks then bear crawl to other side, 1 merkin, crawl bear back, 10 DKs then bear crawl to other side, 1 merkin, crawl bear back, and then 5 DKs then bear crawl to other side, 1 merkin, crawl bear back

Mosey up the hill to upper lot and divide up into 3 groups. 2 groups working, 1 group resting for 2 rounds (1&2, 2&3, 1&3, 1&2, 2&3, 1&3). First was 10 burpees per set so total of 40 burpees per PAX. Run down hill and back to top. Second was 16 jump lunges (64 total per PAX). Run down hill, then run backwards up hill. Third was 15 monkey humpers (60 total per PAX). Run down hill, then run backwards up hill. Times up and over to you.

Was glad that was over. Wasn’t sure my portion would hold up to what we just did.

Start with Merkins 10 normal, 10 diamond, 10 wide arm.

Move over to light pole.  20 shoulder presses, 20 flutter kicks, bear crawl to other light pole 15 CDDs 10 big boy sit ups. crab walk back to light pole 15 Moroccan night clubs 15 hello dolly’s in cadence, bear crawl back to light pole 15 shoulder pressed 10 grave diggers each side.

Circle up for Jack webs 1-5, 4-20

stay in circle for plank hold while we run around the clock hurdling the other PAX.

Mosey down hill to veteran memorial Pledge and moment of silence for Fallen Local Firefighter Richard Sheltra.

Mosey over to wall. take a seat while pax do broad jumps and both leg single jumps.

Mosey to short walls do 10 derkins, 10 box jumps and 10 dips on wall X2.

Mosey to yet another wall. BTW but while up in cadence 5 presses and 10 Peter Parkers.

Mosey back to COT.

announcements- Cannoli run, reading in Paradise, and Strawberry Festival.

Prayers- Sheltra family, Badger and Family

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Hopping, crawling, sneaking, and pushing at Laces In

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Truth be told, YHC did not consult his work calendar when Lil E asked him to Q Laces In, and he probably would have turned it down had he thought about it. Once committed, there was no excuse to pass it off. Plus, it’s nice to get over to that side of the Fort from time to time.

We had nine total, with Tesh not posting despite requesting a welcome celebration and a couple others bailing last minute because of “sore shoulders.” Nevertheless, the nine faithful and strong pressed onward into the gauntlet.

Warm Up

Long mosey around to the far side of the school, which is really actually pretty close but takes a long time to get to it. There was some butt kicking and high kneeing thrown in before we made a small circle in the square parking lot with the special spots for teacher of the year and whatnot. We did some windmills and Moroccan night clubs, and that was it for the warmup. On to

The Thang

Not having a ton of time to plan, the gauntlet approach seemed best. Set up the course, then let the PAX work through it at their pace. The basic layout was:

  • Start with two-foot hops onto the curb
  • Bear crawl to next curb
  • Incline merkins (hands on curb)
  • V-sits on path on island
  • Derkins at next curb
  • Sneaky gorilla across middle section to next curb
  • Incline merkins
  • V-sits on path
  • Derkins
  • Bear crawl to last curb
  • Run one lap around the inside of the square

Start with 20 hops and sets of 10 incline merkins/10 derkins, then work down the ladder with each pass (18 hops and 9 incline/derkins; 16 and 8, etc.). Always with 5 v-sits per island. If you got through the whole thing, that works out to 110 hops, 110 derkins, and 110 incline merkins, with 100 v-sits and a lot of crawling and sneaking.

I appreciated the symmetry of this workout.

Time was not sufficient for all PAX to complete the workout, especially since Greenwave and Crab Cakes got confused and never climbed down the ladder, doing sets of 10 the entire time. Crazy.

Funhouse handled COT as part of the A$$ Kicking April tour, so YHC checked out.

Thanks to Lil E for the opportunity to lead.

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Honor at the ARMory

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Perfect morning with 8 PAX gathering to the only work out with kettle bells at FHC- ask DH.  Needed help with a KB- Mr. Clean said I could use his rock but I had to give him a ride.  Deal.  Short Sale offered his on twitter- and that bringing his would assure he would escape the FS Monster.  Done.

Disclaimer Disclaimed. Warmed up with #usualsuspects and primarily targeting our verbal jabs at Twister.  He appreciated it.

The Thang- other than picking it up and putting it down, I wanted to isolate and wear out the muscle groups.  In between KB reps of 5, 10  15,- correlated bodyweight exercises were spliced in.

Run Lap

  • Curl
    • Merkin 10
  • Tricep Extension
    • Carolina Dry Dock 10
  • Turkish Getups
    • LBC 10
  • Goblet Squat
    • Lunges- 10 each leg

Run Lap

  • Lawnmower Pull
    • Merkin 10
  • Shoulder raise or press
    • Carolina Dry Dock 10
  • KB Swings
    • LBC 10
  • Figure 8
    • Lunges 10 each leg

6 Minutes of Mary

Naked Man Moleskin

Had the great privilege of attending an Eagle Scout Ceremony where 4  young men including Twister’s son were awarded the highest rank in Boy Scouts.  Of the many dignitaries that spoke, former marine in original dress blues from 1967 spoke of the most repeated word that day- Honor.  There is no greater compliment or description of a man than that of a man who has or act honorably.  In your words and actions- we must be honorable!

Prayers for new chapters in 2.0s lives: Stones’s son’s upcoming marriage, JWOWW’s daughter communion, and for Short Sale’s family as it has been one year since his brother’s passing.  God be with these men today.

Aye!

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April Showers Bring More Burpees

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It rained all day Monday, through the night and the forecast was for more on Tuesday.   CSPAN was Q at The Ballroom, promising stories of OG glory along with cover.  Funhouse’s Ass Kicking April band wagon was rolling into Block Party as well.  So the question was how many pax would post to Colosseum for YHC’s first Q there in a LONG time.  The answer = 4 brave pax.  Some brief comments about rain coming and grumbling about Gunsu’s Q the prior week followed a brief Disclaimer, and then we launched.

The Thang

No wind and rain or lack of headlamps was going to intimidate this group so we took off for a run out the front parking lot and up the hill to 160 and the drive through cover at the bank branch on the corner.

COP – SSHs, Mtn climbers, IWs, Windmills, Merkins,  10 burpees OYO

Mosey over to the day care under the front entrance cover

People’s chair, Sumo squats, People’s chair, monkey humpers, People’s chair calf raises, 10 burpees OYO

Mosey to the  office building and the cover there

Merkins, Freddy Mercury, wide arm merkins, Flutter, diamond merkins, hello dolly, 10 burpees OYO

Mosey to Velux office under the front entrance cover

Shoulder taps, plank sequence, shoulder taps, plank sequence, shoulder taps, 10 burpees OYO

Run back to school

10 Burpees OYO

Run home

COT

NMM

Turned out to be a very nice morning for a workout.  Just enough light rain to provide cooling amid the sweat and gloom.  I was more than willing to take advantage of some cover for the workout, but there was no way I wanted to pass up the chance to run through the rain and stomp through some puddles.  The pax complied quite willingly and put forth a strong effort throughout.  Well done!

We spent the mosey time comparing notes on each man’s workday ahead.  We spend a lot of time in the gloom and I’m always amazed how little I know about the careers among the pax.  It was a treat to learn a little about everyone.

Before banging out the last set of burpees, we touched on the workday ahead and how we should all relish the privilege. Even the worst parts of the day would be better than those faced by people fighting disease (like Badger) or those without work or the many other people in the world who would gladly trade their challenges for our own.

Thanks to the men for posting and to Jekyll for the opportunity to lead.  We missed you, brother.

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What was Paula Abdul doing at the Poopdeck!?

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There were 11 PAX including Adretti, who we lost to I.R. a couple months ago, at the Poopdeck on a nice Thursday morning.

At 5:15 sharp I gave  a quick dislamer we moseyed to the gravel-filled parking lot below where we circled up for some cadence exercises.

Warm-A-Rama

  • SSH x20
  • Moroccan Night Clubs x20
  • Windmills x10
  • Imperial Squat Walker x10
  • Evil Lance Armstrong x20 (10 each leg) Got this from our F3 Plano brothers.  It consists of extending 1 leg out 6″ off the ground and then doing a Freddy Mercury with the other leg.  And then switching legs.  It pains so good.

1st exercise: Spartans runs

After warming up a bit I discussed our first exercise of the morning which were some Spartan runs.  I had setup some cones about 100 yards apart.  We were going to sprint 100 yards “AYG” and then 20 merkins (5 each of wide, normal, diamond, ranger).  We repeated this 5x. Grand total 100 varied Merkins and a whole lot of heaving breathing and a couple of premature starters (Royale, Wolverine).  I wonder….

2nd exercise: Del Brown

I had some additional cones setup 25 yards apart.  We were to do 5 diamond burpees, crab walk 25 yards perform 5 wolverine burpees (thanks to our false starters) crab walk back 25 yards and do 5 more diamond burpees.

We did this 2 times, although I felt bad and called and Omaha on the Wolverine burpees during round 2.  I figured once was enough punishment.  Grand total 5 normal burpees, 20 diamond burpees, and 5 wolverine burpees, and 100 yards of crab walking. FUN!

3rd exercise: Paula Abdul!

Yep, she was spotted at the Poopdeck and as it turns out, I think the Poopdeck is just where she belongs.

I had 6 cones about 50-60 ft. apart.  Each of the 6 cones had an exercise written on them.  In typical Paula fashion, we were to Bear Crawl to the 2nd cone, perform the exercise, and then Crawl Bear back the 1st cone.  We were going to do this until we got to the end.  So, 2 cones forward 1 cone back, breakdown as follows:

  • Cone #2 – 15 Flutters IC
  • Cone #1 – 15 “Hand Clap” Merkins (did we skip this one or did I just black out?)
  • Cone #3 – 10 Crab Cakes IC
  • Cone #2 – 15 Flutters IC
  • Cone #4 – 10 Donkey Kicks
  • Cone #3 – 10 Crab Cakes IC
  • Cone #5 – 5 Kraken Burpees
  • Cone #4 – 10 Donkey Kicks
  • Cone #6 – 10 Jumping Spiders
  • Cone #5 – 5 Kraken Burpees

Then a nice mosey back to CoT for 4 minutes of “Ablab” where 4 of us called out some exercises which ended up consisting of LBC’s, Dying Cockroaches, Flutters, and Big Boy situps.

We finished up with the tycial Announcments, Praises, & Prayers.  We prayed for our children, specifically, prayers to overcome struggle as they grow into adulthood.

This was  a tough workout, we all survived and got better.  Shout out to Andretti’s for making it through a tough workout to return to.   Thanks for the Q Peg.

Until next time…

Flux

 

 

 

 

 

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WHETSTONE…Relaunches at THE FORT

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Several weeks ago, it was announced that our region, THE FORT, would be closing all Saturday AO’s and holding a convergence at FMHS to get the PAX together as we thank Rebel for his leadership of Whetstone and relaunch it under Repeat and World Wide Leader (WWL). I was excited to hear we’d be getting many of the region together but I wasn’t expecting what came next. It was a text asking if I’d Q the workout.

Q, like part of it, half of it or …? The response was, THE WHOLE THING. I love to Q every chance I get but to do so on a day like this, well, I better make sure it includes a little something for everyone. Or, almost everyone.

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And this is where I let life get the better of me. I try to follow the 48hr rule on posting a BACKBLAST, especially when they’re significant but I let life and travel get in the way. It is now Saturday, one week later, and I’m just finishing this BB. Life can get challenging, it can get stressful, it can get you riding the highs or down in the lows. And this past week, our family has experienced some of each. Maybe this was the week where I really came to realize how valuable having a Whetstone partner can be. Someone that I can share the highs with and someone to help get me out of the lows; or to keep me honest when it’s my own doing that has me on the outside looking in on the joys of life.

That said, I’ll take you back to last Saturday, April 21 where we had a a few pre-ruckers and a total of 58 PAX converge to re-kick off this critical program.

We got ourselves into an odd-shaped kidney-like shape for the disclaimer, the announcement of why we were there this beautiful morning and to acknowledge our 2 FNG’s in the PAX. We counted off in 4’s then took off toward the big parking lot for a warm up jog in 4 lines. This jog included some karaoke’s and 4 lines doing an indian run which was way harder than it appeared on paper.

In these last 2 years, Whetstone has brought together some extremely HIM. One of those men has gone through a tough 18mos and he was gracious enough to share some of his story to include the impact Whetstone had on his life as we circled up to hear his words. I know he wouldn’t endorse this comment but anytime Mr. Clean wants to share experience or wisdom, the PAX listens. And listen we did.

After backing the group back out to a circle-like shape, I was giddy to honor Santini in the only way I knew how…with a deck of cards. However, on this day we utilized 1/2 the deck and considered it our warm up:

Hearts = Side Straddle Hops

Diamonds = Carolina Dry Docks

Spades = Squats

Clubs = Merkins

Then a little action from the Burp-Merk: Standing, we then dropped to a plank, did 5 merkins then jumped up. That equals 1 and we did 5 total.

This was when we got to listen to our very own Nantaan, Cake Boss, as he shared the impact Whetstone has had on him. Yet again, another powerful testimony.

Then off to do 4 corners in the lot with:

Corner 1 = Dancing Crabs x 15ea and Dips x 20

Corner 2 = Dying Cockroach x 15ea and Flutters x 20ea

Corner 3 = Burpees x 10 and Jump Squats x 10

Corner 4 = American Hammers x 25 and Freddie Mercury x 20ea

Mosey over to the wall for B2W while doing 5 “push ups” followed by 15 calf raises. We did this 3 times.

To close out our testimonies, my man Chicken Hawk laid it down for us. He shared the impact Whetstone has had on him, his marriage, his family…his life. Life isn’t meant to be traveled alone. Well said brother.

6ct Burpee which I needed a little help from the Helmet of Darkness to remind me the steps. Remember the line, “If you can’t Q it, don’t do it?” Yeah, me too but I obviously didn’t follow that too closely here.

This is where the cat-herding became evident. The PAX exhibited patience with me as we attempted a modified DORA series consisting of:

50 Flying Squirrels, 50 Diamond Merkins and 50+ Flutters

We then took off for the main entrance to the football stadium and lined up in 4 lines facing down the hill. Once everyone readjusted, it was 15 American Hammers, 15 Flutters and 15 Hello Dollies. This was done several more times.

Well, that put a bow on the workout portion of this convergence and after the COT, FNG naming of RBG and Whiskers, we then handed it off to World Wide Leader and Repeat to lead the Whetstone discussion.

Announcements: The relaunch of Whetstone. Thanks to Rebel for getting this off the ground 2 years ago and to Repeat / World Wide Leader for taking the reigns.

Prayer Requests: Badger. Camp Care 5K. Jennings Palmer’s transplant. Olive’s 8K in memory of Sweet Tooth. Elmer.

Honored and appreciative of your patience.

Maximus

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It’s 5 O’Clock Somewhere

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5 HIMs showed up at the NaFo “bar” this morning, and by bar I mean the pull up bars.

We started off with a mosey around the parking lot, with some buttkickers and high knees mixed in for good measure.  At the top of the bus loop we circled up for some warm-ups and completed SSH, windmills, imperial walkers, cherry pickers, hillbilly walkers, and seal jacks.

From there, we continued the mosey down to the pull-up bars, behind the JROTC building.

The thang:

Pyramids consisting of 1 pull-up, 2 chin-ups, 3 merkins, 4 alt lunges, 5 squats, 4 alt lunges, 3 carolina dry docks, 2 chin-ups, 1 pull-up, followed by either jog to the bottom of the hill near Sugar Creek Elementary School or sprint to the stop sign in front of the JROTC building and back, on your 6 for Mary (led by the PAX – protractor, dying cockroach, front and side LBCs, hello dolly, plank jacks, v-ups) and then back to the bar.  Rinse and repeat until COT.  Completed a plank waterfall with 1 min left before COT.

We spoke of the importance of good form, challenging yourself (UvU), and encouraging one another other (ISI).

Count-o-Rama, Name-o-Rama, Announcments, Prayers/Praises,

Prayed for teachers and unspoken prayers.

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Moderately Crabby

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Thanks to Smithers for allowing me to lead this morning.  23 HIMs started with the disclaimer and then took a little twist on the mosey down the hill to the back side of Lowes for the warm-up and beat down. Two lines formed up at the shovel flag and proceeded to Blacksnake all the way to the warm-up.  It was noted that surprisingly no one was injured bobbing and weaving while running in a line.

The Warm-Up was short and sweet to get the muscles ready and not tired.

  • Brisk 25 SSH
  • 25 Moroccan Night Club
  • 20 Imperial Walkers

The familiar Burpees that are often limited or lost at Slow Burn were tweaked slightly to provide a little 4×4 action!

Immediately following the 4x4s, we jumped right into a round Batwings.  All to a 4-count cadence:

  • 20 Forward Arm Circles
  • 20 Reverse Arm Circles
  • 20 Seal Claps
  • 20 Overhead Claps

After the shoulders were smoked, we met up along the wall of Lowes facing the side parking lot.  Everyone partnered up for some 123’s with a rotating exercise for the traveling partner. The partners completed their 100 Merkins, 200 LBC’s and 300 Squats while crossing the parking lot performing either Bear Crawls, Crab Walks, Lunge Walks, or Toe-Walks.  The parking lot had 3 distinct rows of spaces along each PAX to determine the length of their crawls or walks.

Following the 123’s we circled up for a bit of core work; Abs and Back.  I thought it was important to incorporate the most often forgotten part of the core.  This is where the real “crabbing” started among the PAX.  All exercises done in cadence:

  • 20 Crab Cake
  • 20 Crunchy Frog
  • 20 Crab Humpers
  • 20 American Hammers
  • 20 Crab Jacks
  • 20 Big Boy Sit Ups
  • 20 Mountain Climbers
  • 15 Merkins done with several pauses at 6″

The PAX moseyed its way back up to the top at their own pace in preparation for COT

At COT, the origin stories for  a couple of PAX were shared so that we can all get to know one another a little better.

Great work from all the HIMs who pushed through some serious shoulder exercises and goofy crab work.

 

MOAB…out

 

 

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