Q vs Q at The Ridge

Well, temperature drops a few degrees and only a few Pax show up for the battle of bells vs bootcamp. A bit of bad timing since another Q vs Q battle was happening down the street between The Fort and The Rock.
We kicked it off with a warm-up by YHC. SSHs, Imperial Walkers, Windmills, Plank Stretches.
Atlas had the first 20 minutes with cones spread out in the parking lot. Exercises (15 reps each) at each cone, back to the middle of the parking lot for 5 burpees. Lots of Kettlebell exercises and burpees. He gave credit to Jekyll for idea.
YHC had the second half. We stayed in the same general area so we could listen to Atlas’ music selection.
Round 1: Bear crawl with merkins at every odd parking space. Sideways crawl around the parking lot island
Round 2: Lunge walk with squats at every odd parking space. Sideways crawl around the parking lot island opposite direct.
Round 3: Crabwalk with LBCs at every odd parking space. Toe taps on curb
Round 4: Inch worm merkins
Round 5 Burpee broad jumps

Back to COT. Great job by everyone. Lots of mumble chatter. As Cohiba mentioned in the video “We are all winners”

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The Beast has Awakened

The Tomahawk was awaked and is not pleased with what it sees. This fabled AO is riddled with mystic and lore. Did it ever exist? Was there ever really an F3-Indian Land? Where did it go?

YHC is here to tell you Tomahawk was too much for this modern world. It was a place where men wore weight vests for the 5-mile pre-runs, then did kettlebell work outs for cool downs. I can assure you, the worst stories you have ever heard are watered down at best.

We are getting soft, and mushy. We talk too much. We lift things that weigh under 30LBS. We video stuff and talk about trendy topics.  It’s time for a rebirth by fire. Tomahawk is coming back to take teeth and kick names. There will be no fluff. Leave your Lululemon at home.

Launching 2-22-23 we will begin a Legends series where you can expect to see the royalty of AO pasted. YHC has an abundance of devilish delights for the coming months…so stay tuned.

There seems to be a vacancy at Catawba Ridge so we will plant our flag there and reclaim what is rightfully ours. You got what it takes?

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The Bushwood Gamble

While I tagged the entire PAX from both AOs, the BB is only for Bushwood.
WARMUP: Essentially non-existent. We ran to the bottom of the hill on the backside of the school. We then NUR’d about 75 yards back up the hill then ran back down to the benches for 30 Derkins. We then did 15 pull-ups, ran to the stop sign, NUR’d back for 15 more pull-ups & planked for the 6.
THE THANG: Run back to the parking lot for the deck of cards:
For the 1st-Timers, each suit is an exercise and each card represents the reps (Ace=14).
Hearts: Jump Squats
Diamonds: Diamond Merkins
Spades: Carolina Dry Docks
Clubs: V-Ups
For the other 4 cards, ya know, the ones that have the ads or some other nonsense on them, those were 25 American Hammers I/C.
MARY: Included in the above.
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Read the NYT article, watch (record) Fox News at midnight tonight for additional F3 sharing. Be grateful for this brotherhood and welcome the FNGs.
COT: You had to be there.

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Let Me Wobble

The Arsenal. Full Moon. 28°. Shorts.

Soft Pretzel and Atlas showed at 0500 for the pre run.

Looped around parking lot twice as the stragglers rolled in.

COP

Movements –
SSH x 25
Merkins x 11

Static Stretching –
Tappy Taps x 10
Groin Stretch
Runners Lunge L/R w/Arm Raise, Deep Squat stretch

Weinke

Main form of transportation: Bataan Death March (BDM). Indian run w/rear PAX doing 5 burpees.

BDM around back side of school to playground.

Aiken Legs
20 Squats
20 Box Jumps (Step Ups dude to icy conditions)
20 Bonnie Blair’s (Jump Lunges)
20 Bomb Jacks
Run a lap around playground

Jack Webbs
1:4 – 10:40

Pause. This is the first time I’ve ever successfully completed Jack Webbs from 1-10. Thanks to the community of F3 and the Qdrenaline for the continuing acceleration.

#morethanaworkout

Repeat Aiken Legs

BDM to new location up the hill from practice field

Aiken Arms
10 Merkins
10 Plank Jacks
10 CDD’s
10 Donkey Kicks

Ass Webbs
Squats + Al Gore Pulses 1:4 – 10:40

It was during the Ass Webbs that One Niner decided to beat box to the cadence of our squat pulses. It was well received by all, and we all decided we would wobble. Some twerked.

Head back to COT w/light mosey

Hamstring stretch because I thought I thought I would collapse during the mosey…

Mary
LBC x 30
Protractors
Heels to the Heavens

COT
Bounty Hunter’s friend – 6 month old passed away while sleeping (SIDS we believe).
PAX whose 5 year old had a small stroke (sadly I cannot remember his name)
Other PAX currently dealing with loss and health issues.

Thanks to Happy Meal and Brexit for the opportunity to lead.

Punch List out.

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Frying Pan Fun

Sometime in the last couple of weeks, YHC’s youngest 2.0 wanted to watch a Disney movie that I never wanted to see.  I did my best to pick apart the plot holes and inconsistencies to keep myself entertained, and the thing that stuck out the most was the fact that the main character, some lady with absurdly long hair, could wield a cast iron frying pan as if were a hair brush or whiffle ball bat..  I walked into my kitchen and picked up my iron skillet and noticed that swinging it around would require someone to be JACKED…

The Setup

The night of the 23rd, a plyometric box, 3 bells (20, 25, and 30), as well as a cast iron skillet (with lid) were loaded into the back of YHC’s suv.  The M was very confused.  The morning of the workout, I arrived around 0505 and had to navigate through half a dozen runners who answered Polaroid’s call for a pre run.  It’s alway encouraging to see such bad-assery so early in the morning.  Today would be a good day to Q.

During setup PAX continued to arrive in droves. I plunked down the plyo box in a parking space and held onto the cards I made to deploy depending on group size. Thankfully, Polaroid threw his slam ball into the COT, so I grabbed it and threw it into the plyo box space so everyone would be able to have fun

Overall, 20 PAX appeared in the gloom at The Tomahawk.  A lot of faces were new to YHC, and so we quickly talked about the 5 core principals and disclaimed.

The warmup

Started with a quick mosey around the parking lot to warm up those whom had not already accumulated a couple miles, circling up on the east side (more of an ellipse).
2 sets of single-leg stretches (one leg bent, six close to the earth, other leg straight with toes up) Lots of mumble chatter already
Hands down into plank
10 werewolf merkins – The chatter continues
Back into plank

The workout

Mosey to pick up the bells and count off by 5’s.

Four stations were created including that of the plyo box.

PAX worked on their station exercise while the timer group grabbed the cast iron skillet and walked to the other end of the lot and back. The skillet was to be held with arm at a 90 degree angle, holding the handle with the skillet extended (in theory but not often in practice). At 15lbs it’s not that heavy, but holding just the handle makes for a sneaky bit o pain. The other PAX of the group would distribute the remaining bells and walk with the skillet holder, trading off as necessary. Optionally, the PAX could do lunges at the station.

Genuinely cannot recall the ORDER of the exercises, but below is what was available to the non plyo spots.
Snatch and squat
Plank Row
American Hammer
Goblet Squat
Upright Row
Man Maker
Plank Pass Through
Lawn Mower Pulls
Swings

One station was dedicated to the plyometric box (20x24x30) and the slam ball.

After each group visited each station the PAX were pulled aside for some group exercises.
Between sets 1-2
10x Imperial Walker
10x Merkin

Sets 2-3
10x Imperial Walker
10x Hillbilly Walker
10x Straight leg kicks (each leg)

One station short of a full third set and it was time to hit COT. Name-o-rama revealed the presence of an FNG, now named Tricycle (WELCOME!!!).

Polaroid got the former site Qs together and handed off the shovel flag to 3D.

Announcements were announced and the COT ended with a prayer. Great work by all the PAX. YHC is truly humbled and honored to have gotten to Q this day.

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Keeping it moving at FMHS

No FNG’s but made sure to deliver a Disclaimer on this brisk 23-degree morning. The crowd was a little light this morning, but strong.

Warm-up

SSH x50- for Trucker

Quick stretch

Mosey- HS Lot- Toy Soldiers in between heading to big parking lot

Mosey to Hive area-

Circle up

  • Imperial Walker x20
  • Hillbilly Walker x20
  • Moroccan knight club x20

Mosey to Cut through

  • Shuffle/Karaoke
  • 20 squats

Mosey to light post

  • 5 burpees

The Thang

Mosey to front of school- Partner up for some DORA

  • 100- Flying squirrels
  • 200 merkins
  • 300 flutters- double count

 

Partner 1- works through the exercises until Partner 2 returns

Partner 2- Runs the outside of the parking lot area around the 4 posts

Flapjack until Exercise goal is reached

Head to the benches- 20 dips OYO

Find a spot on the curb for calf raises- 25 reg, 25 out, 25 in

During the calf raises, I reminded the PAX of the upcoming theme for February- Living. It was great timing after Ginsu’s message last week at the Fort on finding JOY in every day. With everything going on, that is unbelievably a challenge. We need to start asking ourselves why? Because we are trying to keep up with everyone else instead enjoying what is right in front of us? Or maybe we are holding on to old scars that keep our mind from enjoying the moment?  I need to work on this and try and fail every day. So much to be thankful for, but yet we (and I) struggle to live that way each day.  PAX reach out to your Whetstone, or me, and let’s work together to get there. AYE!

 

Mosey back to cut through

  • 15 LS squats/ 25 LBC’s/ 5 burpees

Mosey to end of parking lot to the curb and turn and face lot

  • Suicides- 4 lines x 3 three rounds. After each round, 5 merkins and 5 CDD

Mosey to COT

  • Heels to heaven
  • American hammers
  • Hello Dolly

COT-

Announcements-

Joe Davis- March 9th

YETI- Feb 23rd

OP Sweet Tooth- Virtual run in FT. Mill area. Check Pre-Blast

 

Praises-

JWWOW- family member cancer free (I might have messed that up but I think it is close)

PAX appreciation for the group that was present

Family

 

Prayers-

A lot of prayers went around which was positive. Good to hear PAX putting it out there for support

Laura

Rock Thrill’s daughter (recovery after a bad spill at school)

Family/ Children

And anyone else that was mentioned and missed.

Appreciate the PAX who made it happen today, and thanks LIL’ E for the opportunity.

 

Frat Boy

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Round and Round

Lightning Backblast

  • Scant disclaimer
  • 1-mile Warmup jog at SirTopham’s conversation pace (8:05 🤮 )
  • COP Stretch exercises (SSH, Windmills, Imperial Walkers, Cherry Pickers)
  • The Thang
    • 400m run, 400m recovery pace
    • 800m run, 400m recovery pace
    • 1200m run, 400m recovery pace
    • rinse and repeat
    • suggested stepping up the pace for the last 200m of each regular run part
  • Cool down lap or 2 and a quick stretch

YHC got a total of 5.7 miles in.  I believe MacGyver and STH got north of 6 miles.  Beasts.

Thanks for the opportunity to lead, Atlas!

Onward!
-old bay

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Movement keeps one warm

21 gathered at Laces Out and Laces In – 8 and 13 respectively – to prove the theory that movement keeps one warm in chilly December temperatures.

YHC had promised site Q for months that I would take a Laces In Q and it was great to finally fulfill that with such a strong group of PAX and make it through with good fellowship, a little mumble chatter and 45 minutes (or an hour for the 8 runners) of getting a little better than we were the day before.

After a disclaimer and delegating the assumption of risk to all gathered, we moseyed to the FMHS Band parking lot for COP:

COP: Moroccan Night Clubs IC x 20, arm circles – forward and backward in varying quantities, SSH IC x 30, Merkins IC x 12, Windmills IC x 15

Mosey back to the Stadium entrance for Jacob’s Ladder.  Since our workout was 12 days before Christmas, it only seemed fitting that the exercises add up to 12 instead of 11.  YHC, therefore, modified the ladder, given the date on the calendar.

Burpees at the bottom – 11, 10, 9, 8, etc.

Lunge Walks uphill to the 2nd lightpole (crowd pleaser )

Carolina Dry Docks at the 2nd lightpole – 1, 2, 3, 4 and mosey back down

Mosey to the main parking lot for a little partner Dora

100 merkins total – Partner 1 starts, partner 2 does a roughly 120 yard shuttle run  – switch until 100 is reached.

200 squats – Partner 1 starts, partner 2 runs, you get the idea

Had a plan for 300 as well, but YHC was compelled to call an audible at 5:57 (time ran short) to head back for a little ab work…..but just a little.

Boxcutters IC x 30, American Hammers IC x 15, and a body destroyer promptly executed at 5:59 AM.

There was much movement, a little chatter, varying amounts of sweat and a few comments in the days that followed relating to the amount of lunge walks – complimentary of course.

Announcements – Christmas Eve convergence – 12-24 at the Abyss – Palisades Park Elementary and Q source begins on Saturday 1-5-19.

Prayers for all traveling for the holidays.

Relatively new to leading workouts, it was great to see some #HIM’s who, years ago, were encouraging of this serial runner guy to get out of his comfort zone and go do something else.  You each know who you are.  Thank you.

My thanks to Lil’ E for the opportunity to lead.  It was a privilege.

Cyclops

 

 

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Can we just get along?

Life is not always how we thought nor visioned it would be. There are a lot of personal experiences YHC could pull from, but as I reflect back to our COT, who would have thought that we would have another mass shooting at a concert – less than 2 weeks after Pittsburgh’s??

*jump ahead to COT* As we circled up and voiced our praises and prayers (which I will list at the end), I mentioned the need to continue to pray for Pittsburgh and the need for all people – no matter what color, race, or religion – to just get along when one of the PAX mentioned that there was another mass shooting the night before. My heart sank. How? Why?

It doesn’t make sense. As I sat in my  aunt & uncle’s house in Pittsburgh 2 Saturday’s ago watching the local coverage of the synagogue mass shooting, seeing my aunt’s face of shock, crying, confusion, I began to realize that we may never have it the way we vision. Forgive me for harping on this, but as some know, my extended family in Pittsburgh are Jewish. It was the most surreal experience knowing that my cousin and her husband live in Squirrel Hill, 3 blocks from the synagogue (luckily that was not their synagogue) and seeing the devastation. Unfortunately, for my cousin’s husband, unfortunate news arrived late Saturday night as 2 of the deceased were extended family members of his. Sunday, they televised a local memorial service where they had clergy from all religions speak. The message: we are all one community. This, this is the vision our GOD has for us all, not what we thought we needed, bought, nor material stuff we have, but to be true good stewards of our neighbors – Love one another. Forget color, race or religion, we are all one in this community and the vision for us all should be to make peace with everyone, live in a world without hate, terror, wrongful deaths….etc….

Now that I vented (my apologies), the morning started with a nice crisp cool morning. As PAX rolled in, all eyes turned to one of the last cars pulling in; a white Accord blasting hip-hop music, the driver head bobbing to the beat (thanks for the entertainment mixxmaster Flat Tire). This definitely got the PAX fired up. Plus 2 PAX were stupid or courageous (not sure which) to don rucks. After posting in Pittsburgh 2 weeks ago at the Point State Park AO, the Q that morning broke out a WO from one of our local AOs in Lake Norman – Sharknato. Ever since then, I thought, wow this would be a good one to lead next time I Q.

So after a mossy to the band field, we circled up and did COP. Yes YHC lead off with SSH’s, so I can now omit that from any future Qs. Each PAX would do 20 merkins & run a lap around the field, 20 squats & run the lap, 20 LBCs & run the lap, and 20 V ups & run the lap. Once that cycle was done, rinse and repeat until time for COT. Halfway through the AO, Pusher did a smart audible and relocated to the student parking lot since FMHS band members started to pull in to load up for their trip to Indy for the marching band nationals. We ended 5 mins early to do 5 minutes of mary.

COT prayers: Sir Topham Hat’s brother in-law who is a member of the Pittsburgh SWAT and was one of the first responder’s who had to witness the situation first hand, Frat Boy’s daughter in her upcoming cheer leading competition,  MOAB’s need for children’s clothing for their 2 foster kids, and all the rest that I seem to have forgotten – sorry.

Thanks for the opportunity to lead this awesome group of #HIM

Trucker

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Laces In / Out : Garbage IN Garbage OUT! and The Class of……

 

13 men showed up at FMHS for some get better positive habits.

4 runners hit the track with Sir Double D doing some mile repeats…..ouch!!

9 others followed YHC off campus to the local Catholic Church for some ladder climbing

The Thang:

Mosey out of FMHS lot up hill to St Phillip Neri lot and COP

  • Plank
  • SSH
  • Merkins
  • Moroccan Night Clubs
  • Sumo Squats
  • Peter Parker
  • Parker Peter
  • Toy Soldiers
  • Shuffle left
  • Shuffle right
  • Mosey to back of church building
  • Dips
  • Calf Raises

9 Stations building on each

1 – 5 burpees, run
2 – 5 burpees, 10 ‘merkins, bearcrawl
3 – 5 burpees, 10 ‘merkins, 15 LBCs, run
4 – 5 burpees, 10 ‘merkins, 15 LBCs, , 20 dry docks, bearcrawl
5 – 5 burpees, 10 ‘merkins, 15 LBCs, , 20 dry docks, 25 squats, run
6 – 5 burpees, 10 ‘merkins, 15 LBCs, , 20 dry docks, 25 squats, 1 minute plank, bearcrawl
7 – 5 burpees, 10 ‘merkins, 15 LBCs, , 20 dry docks, 25 squats, 1 minute plank, 30 American Hammers, run
8 – 5 burpees, 10 ‘merkins, 15 LBCs, , 20 dry docks, 25 squats, 1 minute plank, 30 American Hammers, 35 shoulder presses in peoples chair, run
9 – 5 burpees, 10 ‘merkins, 15 LBCs, , 20 dry docks, 25 squats, 1 minute plank, 30 American Hammers, 35 shoulder presses in peoples chair, 40 side straddle hops, run to COT

 

COT:

Circle up with runners and hit up the announcements

  • 10/27 – Fastest 5k & F3 Soccer
  • 12/1 – Fort Christmas Party

Prayers for Jwow travel and Double D nephew/family.

Spoke about all the hours in the day and if we are filling our heads with trash, trash will come out. It is in the form of negative outlook, pessimism, depression. Instead fill yourself with encouraging positive productive things and don’t feed off of the culture…..it only lies to us which leads to disappointment. Connect with Sky Q often and find out his plan for you and how to navigate this crazy life!!

Thanks Lil E for the Q!! Humbled and Honored!

Cake Boss out

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