AKA – Board of Pain 2025

The [vintage] Challenge:
– Burpees – 100 (Ruby Slippers 0, Slash 7)
– Calf Raises – 150 (50 regular, 50 toes pointed in, 50 toes pointed out)
– Ski Abs – 100 (Barry Manilow started)
– Merkins – 100
– Deep Squats – 100 (Anchorman started, Cake Boss 10, Short Sale 50, JWOW 51)
– LBCs – 200 (Cohiba – completed)
– Carolina Dry Docks – 100 (Time Machine 10)
– American Hammer – 100 (Harry Carry? Vuvuzela & Band Camp completed)
– Mac Tar Jai – 100
– Jump Squats – 100
– Mountain Climbers – 100
– Shoulder Raises – 200
– Mary Catherines – 100
– Hello Dolly – 200
– Wide Arm Merkins – 100
– Squat Jacks – 100
– Nippler– 100
– Burpees – 100

The Board of Pain isn’t that hard. It isn’t completable in 45 minutes. But it ain’t about finishing, it’s about seeing how far you can go!

You:
– Show up
– Put forth the effort
– Share suffering amongst the PAX
– Build camaraderie
– Teach yourself that
– You can take on challenging tasks
– You will improve
– You accelerate when other men are striving alongside you

There are plenty of harder workouts. But the Board is doable by ALL MEN. Be present and try; that’s all it takes! You don’t have to get far; you just have to go.

How is it in our lives that we have a problem and the solution is the same? Be present and try

We ain’t getting it all done today, but today’s effort still matters!

TClap |
0

Q school at ROF

Five students attended Q school, and 3 runners posted at NAFO this morning. This is what they did:
WARMUP: Disclaimer and slow Mosey around NAFO parking lot. Circle up for COP
THE THANG:
COP: SSH x 30, windmill x 10, squat x 20, merkin x 10/hold/Peter Parker x 10/Left arm and leg high/6″/regular/mountain climber x 10/6″/recover, LBCx20, Morrocan night cub x 30
Run to the bottom of the hill by the ROTC building for Jacob’s Ladder (1-7), pull-ups at the top of the hill
People’s chair along the ROTC building x 90s, recover, round 2 with the Pax each running to the road, doing 3 burpees, running back to the wall.
Mosey back to the parking lot for cocaine bearcrawls along the parking spaces (1-5 merkins at each line)

MARY: American Hammer x 20, hello dolly x 20
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Fastest 5K in a couple weeks, Bethel Men’s shelter this Thursday, April 3
COT: Prayers for families, Splinter’s 2.0 in a difficult situation, Becky with cancer, Cash’s family
NMM:
It was a privilege to lead Q school this morning. Here are my pearls of wisdom from Qing workouts for the past 12 years:
1. Always have a watch to keep track of your time (start and end promptly).
2. Ease into the workout with a light jog, SSH’s, and windmills to stretch the major muscle groups.
3. I typically count at a slower cadence for more effective training. I make sure the workout is balanced with strength and cardio conditioning.
4. Use pull up bars whenever they are available at your AO. Try to work a back exercise into every workout (like Superman).
5. Steal shamelessly from other Q’s. I stole frequently from South Charlotte and local Pax (Geronimo was one of my favs). Today’s cocaine bearcrawls were stolen from Poppins (who stole from someone else, I think).
6. Due to my early work schedule during the week, I can’t stay for COT, and it’s something I truly miss. F3 has been a blessing in my life.

TClap |
0

Shield is a lean mean pain making machine

WARMUP: Did couple exercises
THE THANG:
4 rounds of board of pain
In between exercises take 400m lap
MARY:
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Ruby and Splinter are training for Marathon :clap: :muscle: :bacon:
COT:
Be light in the darkness :bulb:

TClap |
0

The Impossible Mile

20 men rolled out of bed and got better this morning. There were ruckers, runners, and bootcampers. Conditions were pleasant (44 and clear). Here’s what we did:

The Thang
“The Impossible Mile Challenge”
– 1 Lap Burpee Broadjump
– 1 lap Lunge Walk
– 1 lap Bear Crawl
– 1 lap Run

<@UGU3XR5RP> finished first and thus was crowned “King of the Ring.”

NMM
We take on these challenges to prove our strength. On the surface, this was a physical beast. But during the challenge, it was apparent that this was just as much mental. No one chooses to do these exercises on their own. Candidly, it’s dangerous, difficult, and dare I say, impossible. But there’s a lesson in the face of challenges: will you quit when it gets hard or will you dig deep and push through? Whatever it takes to keep going, do that. If it means taking a rest and going again, do that. You must push past your perceived limitations to find the strength within. You have what it takes. Keep going.

Aye!
IJ

TClap |
0

Q School — Lead, Presence, Shared Suffering, Fun

WARMUP: Yes! Brief mosey with some carioca, NUR, etc

This is a key step for YHC in a weinke as a means to assess pax fitness levels/mobility, loosen everyone up, and for me to get out of my head and into the moment.

THE THANG: We moved around the AO, using benches and building walls at points along the way. With a collection of experiences Qs, everyone shared ideas and preferences from their archive.

The shared suffering push took place along the wall with a series of exercises done until each pax’s Failure: People’s Chair, Balls to the Wall, Elbow Plank. Yes, Harry Cary was King of all of them!

MARY: Passed the baton to give each pax the chance to call an exercise IN CADENCE

Cadence calling is a core element of Qing a workout in my book. Not only does it keep pax together and in sync it also established the Q as the Leader when he calls exercises in cadence. It’s a core skill for all pax/Qs.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Key points recap:
1. To Q is a privilege (not work or an obligation); humbly accept the honor gratefully and prepare accordingly
2. LEAD! The Q is the leader, so lead the pax — that’s what they expect. A solid intro, Disclaimer and Cadence Count establish the Q as leader at the outset
3. Be present! — stay in the moment, aware of how pax are doing, how you’re doing, and you all stay together in all realms throughout (regardless of what your plan from day beforeifht indicate). The warmup is an example of a way to start on this path.
4. Shared suffering — push the pax somehow during the workout. It doesn’t have to be a 100% crusher…just find a way to push them beyond themselves in some way. They come out to be pushed and it’s the Q who has to deliver.
5. Have fun! — it’s ok to steal ideas from others and work then into your plan. Just make sure why you’re calling is something you enjoy and your joy shows through in your leadership and messaging.

COT: Yes, always!

TClap |
0

Rhabdo Ladder

WARMUP:
SSH, an Imperial Walker – Squat mix, merkins, Peter Parkers

THE THANG:
tel:10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 Pullups
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10 Handstand pushups or modify to squat thrusters with a Cindy

Called an audible to move to the next workout after 1 person was done.

Moved to the track and partner up for
100 merkins and 100 squats between partners followed by 400m run
Then 80 merkins and 80 squats, 400m
60 merkins and 60 squats, one last lap

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Jaeger, Rooster, Battlebot’s last Q and farewell at Printshop, Bethel

COT:

TClap |
0

Double Cindie date

WARMUP: did some hopping around and other stuff
THE THANG: everyone grab two cindies. Farmer carry between lights in the parking lot and do exercises at each light with the cindies
Step ups
Wide Merkins on the blocks.
Calf Raises
Decline merkins with double stack
Squat thrusters
Diamond merkin on single block
BBSU
Triceps
Curls
Mak Tarja on blocks
Dips
MARY:
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
COT:

TClap |
0

Poop virus

WARMUP:
Because it’s 35 degrees and raining, we will warm up
SSH
Low Slow Merkins
Peter parkers
Low slow squats
Run a lap

THE THANG:
Every Minute on the Minute:
10 burpees
Until failure

After failure:
Run a lap of shame
then 10 Merkins EMOM until failure

After failure:
Run a lap of shame
then 10 squats EMOM until failure

MARY:
Tie breaker between Dark Helmet, Italian Job, and Battle Bot:
Max dead hang

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
COT: “on Earth as it is in Heaven”

TClap |
0

Q School at RoF – Leadership

YHC was honored to lead the Pax at Q School at Ring of Fire. T-claps to Cake Boss for leading this monthly event in an effort to standardize the Q across the region. While well suited for FNGs as part of the onboarding for the Fort, Q School represents an opportunity for all Pax as being the Q represents a leadership opportunity and leadership requires practice.

WARMUP:
After reviewing this disclaimer, YHC instructed the Pax on leading as a Q as part of the responsibility to positively influence himself and others. Within this responsibility lies trust that the Pax will follow the Q until the he leads them beyond reason until an unsafe environment or without proper instruction.

Mosey to NaFo band lot for COT and review of cadence counting
SSH x 20
Mtn x 20
IW x 10
CDD x 10
MNC x 10
Merkins x 10

THE THANG:
The next discussion focused on preparedness as a Q and focused on the following:
– Reading backblasts
– Simple in design
– Scalable
– Challening effort across all fitness levels

Mosey to end of the lot for “lazier Dora” which included an explanation on Dora from Harry Caray.

Partner Up
100 merkins alternating by 10 while other partner holds plank
Run to flag pole and back
200 Squats alternating by 20 while other partner holds Al Gore
Run to flag pole and back
300 LBCs alternating by 30 while other partner holds protractor aka 6 inches
Run to flag pole and back

Next up a discussion on Vision and Articulation and a reference to Exhortation.

Mosey back while stopping for “Death By” for burpees.
Every minute counts go from 3 to 6 to 9 to 12
MARY:
Finished with 10 Big Boys
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
– Wine Dinner
– Bethel Men’s Shelter
– Jaeger
COT:
We went around the Pax “CSPAN style” expressing gratitude and prayers across jobs, healing, children being saved and our parents. YHC was blessed by the presence of these men today and hopefully each feels challenged to be the light for the remainder of the day.

TClap |
0

30 / 30

WARMUP: SSH, Moroccan Night Clubs, Imperial Walker, Honeymooner, Downward Dog, Pigeon
THE THANG:
Track
Run Lap – 30 Merkins / 30 Squats
Run Lap – 30 Plank Jacks / 30 LBC’s
Run Lap – 30 Merkins / 30 BB Sit-ups
Bear crawl to 50 YL / Lunge walk back
Run bleachers / Up & Down stairs back
MARY: Yes
ANNOUNCEMENTS: RYN
COT: Always

TClap |
0