Getting Old-School, Around The School

While YHC has posted to TheRanch a number of times, it’s been a while, and this was possibly the first time Q’ing there (according to my Evernote Weinke folder).  I arrived a bit earlier than usual to confirm a few geographic details that Google Maps and my memory were shaky on.  Already there was Straight Up, getting some stretches in, and What-Did’s empty car, as he was out for a pre-run.

Shortly after, What-Did and the rest of the pax rolled in, and at 0515 the disclaimer was given.

  • 25 SSH
  • Mosey clockwise around school, 1/4 of the way
  • Variety of warm-up exercises (in no particular order)
    • Mountain climbers
    • Butt Kickers
    • High-Knees
    • Imperial Walkers
    • Shuffle Left/Right
    • Windmills
    • Karaoke
    • Run-stance-switch squats
    • Run Backwards
    • Mountain Climbers

Found a wall for People’s chair.  Pax, one at a time, bear crawled “down the line”.
Repeat with crab-walks

Ran around back of middle school to car-rider drop-off driveway.  Found some grass for under-over railroad tracks (until we ran out of grass).

Ran around the driveway to the bottom of the hill (that leads up to the upper part of the driveway) for a Jacob’s Ladder (7) – Morning Wood at the top, Burpees at the bottom.

Continue mosey around the school to a nice piece of grass not far from the shovel flag for traditional Jack Webb (1:4 ratio, to 10).

Finish with some Mary:

  • Flutters
  • American Hammers
  • Chop-sticks

TIme’s up.  Head to COT.

Thanks to Backdraft for allowing me to Q.  I look forward to hopefully being a regular on the schedule.  Great work by all pax this morning for a pretty traditional beating.  Until next time…

-old bay

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Little bit of Shoulders at Colosseum

It was a dark and stormy night, but that didn’t deter 14 pax from giving the face palm to the #fartsack.  No FNGs were presesnt and a less than flawless disclaimer delivered.

The Thang:

Mosey to lot past the dumsters for COP – SSHx25, IWx15, Low Slow Squatsx15, Merkins x 10, Windmillsx10,

Divide pax into two circles:  First round – Wave Merkins 1-5 count.  Second round – Wave Squats (Crowd Pleaser) 10-8 count.

Mosey to playground and remember your group from the circles.  3 sets of 10 pullups, 3sets of 20 swing crunches.  Flap jacking between the two

Quick mosey to Brick Wall – 3 sets of 10 muscle ups, with Morrochain Night Clubsx15 in between.

Mosey to front of middle school –  10 Burpees, 10 Step Ups (each leg), 10 CDDs – run a lap of the dropoff loop.  Repeat the 3 exercises but drop a rep each round.  Several speed demons made it to 7 reps (4 rounds).  Most made it to 8 reps (3 rounds)

3MOM – LBCs, 6″, Slow Freddie Mercuries, ‘Merican Hammers

NMM: After an eventful night where thunderstorms tripped my smoke alarms, woke up my 2.1 a couple of times, and a canine with GI issues, I was worried I would sleep through my alarm.  Most pax can relate to nights like this but knowing I was the Q and had other pax needing a lift, I was ready to roll at 4:45.  I love the accountability of this group.  Everyone pushed themselves this morning.  Great work Men!

Lots of announcements so read your newsletters.

Get after it today!

STH

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The Colosseum 2017.31

This was an impromptu Q that I had forgotten I committed to while Seacrest was in charge, but I love to Q, so being reminded the night before made me a little happy (in my pants).  When training I like to focus on “tactical” strength or “functional” strength.  This means that you may be able to use the strength and endurance you cultivate during one of my workouts.  Today I covered picking up a lifeless body.

Mosey to basketball lot for warmup (simply for space reasons):  SSH, hillbilly walkers, windmills

Mosey to the bottom of the entrance hill and partner up for the main event:
10x Superman Squats (aka, squat picking up your partner from sitting to standing)
20x Jump squats
30ish Lunge walk holds then sprint to top of hill
Rinse and Repeat

Mosey to wall by the flag for 4 minutes of holds
6 in & B2W (you and partner alternate when one fails)

Mosey to half wall around back for quick dora, 100 Merkins, 200 LBCs, 300 squats
Start at edge of lot then run to wall do one muscle up and run back.

Last,  4 minutes of hold
Protractor 10deg & Support position on wall (alternate on failure)

And that’s all she wrote.  This was  a lot of fun.  Prayers and announcements.  Prayers for the guys at VC Summer that were told to go home (which suddenly got a lot more personal).  Prayers for the #Give2Give campaign and the hope that we may reach more guys and improve the quality of life for the Sadclowns that know no better.

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Once again, ya never know with Straight Up!

Qing is Fun! 

Straight Up! at the Ranch hangin’ with ya. Below is the fun we had!

I missed a 6-29 Q date due to injury so I did a throwback to June 2017 where our theme was Faith.

  1. Disclosure mentioned
    1. No FNGs
    2. Theme: Faith
    3. First thought on faith today:
      1. “It is never a question with any of us of faith or no faith; the question is always in what or whom do we put our faith.” – Author unknown.
    4. A head’s up that we will have partners today and teams
      1. Find a partner of (hopeful) equal athletic ability
    5. During warmup, asked partner:
      1. What do you do?
      2. If you were not working, how would you prefer to spend your time?
    6. Divided all partner groups up into 2 teams: Team Trust and Team Faith

II. Groups – 2 lines

Mosey around close circle with some high knees, side shuffles, figure 8s, toy soldiers.

Butt kickers

Side Shuffles

III. Circled up by Springfield Elementary playground to:

(The next exercise is . . ./Starting Positions . . /Move!/Pause/In Cadence/Pause/Exercise / Recover)

Seal Jacks – 19X

Slo Mo Squats with toe raise – 17X

Parker Peters – 15X

Slow Single Merkins with alternating “Straight Up!” hand & foot raise – 5X

Ab Bigoda (Slo Mo Windmill) – 11X

Slow Carolina Dry Docks – 13X

(Fast) Peter Parker – 17X

Partner hamstring stretch (careful, careful)

III. First Segment: Mosey around Springfield school

A. Mini-competitions

(Did 1/2 SSHs or imaginary towel hop while we waited for our partner and others to finish each exercise)

The Hill: Bear crawl half way up the hill, then

Backwards run to end of circle

High knees up the next (smaller) hill

Wall games:

How many can you do? (pushing your partner)

1. Merkin then touch wall in plank position with one arm, another merkin, then other arm; go to failure; How many did you do vs. your partner?

2. Single leg wall squat each leg for max time; (challenge your partner)!

3. Partner’s People Chair (Partner squats-you are not using a wall but the back of your partner); hold for 45 seconds

“The issue of faith is not so much whether we believe in God, but whether we believe the God we believe in.” R.C Sproul

2 group lines mosey together to hop-scotch squares doing high knees:

Hop-scotch games: (While you are waiting for your turn 1/2 SSHs. After you finish your challenge, move out of the way and do 1/2 SSHs or towel hop until your partner is finished).

Key question: Will you challenge your partner?

  1. Broad jump to the end race
  2. Non-dominant 1 legged hop back race
  3. Race: Backward bear crawl for one block, then high knee and high arm backward run, then backward bear crawl, then backward run, rotating until completed

“Faith is seeing light with your heart when all your eyes see is darkness.”

2 group lines mosey together toward playground:

1. “Skip like a child” for 100 yards

2. Indian Runs: Back to front (somewhat race the other team)

At playground:

  1. Pull up challenge with your partner – Round 1
    1. Max reps good form, legs straight, no cheating

2. The “Burnkin” (new exercise; gotta be there to experience it!) Round 1 –  2 warm-up, then first to 6 between partners

3. Back to pull up challenge Round 2

4. The “Burnkin” – Round 2 – first to 6

5. Back to pull up challenge Round 3

2 group lines mosey together to dumpsters and speed hump:

Sprint challenge vs. your partner:

  1. Sprint #1 to end of soccer field but on pavement next to it
  2. Turn left and walk 25 steps to rest; hang out in plank position after the 25 steps
  3. Sprint #2 to soccer field goal area closer to our parked cars
  4. Did SSHs as we waited for everyone else

Field Work:

Team Trust: passed the 30 lb kettle bell alternating sides twisting to pass it to your teammate behind you. Run to the back of the line when you finish your turn. Each person has to do it 2X. Do Squats while you are waiting in line.

Team Faith: Kick-thru burpees until Team Trust was done.

Once Team Trust was finished: immediate switch

OYO max set Clerkins

Mosey to COT

III. COT

A. I encouraged the PAX to have faith in something to build your character. Explained a bit about my faith.

A man is what he believes.

As we reflect back on what we may have learned last month in our journey in understanding Faith better or increasing our faith, I pray that God has blessed you in your own adventure.

B. Announcements

    1. Whetstone – consider getting involved;
    2. Praises – we are blessed.
    3. Prayer requests.
    4. From Brigid of Gael:

I arise today

Through a mighty strength:

God’s power to guide me,

God’s might to uphold me,

God’s eyes to watch over me;

God’s ear to hear me,

God’s word to give me speech,

God’s hand to guard me,

God’s way to lie before me,

God’s shield to shelter me,

God’s host to secure me.

Lord, we thank you that for all who call on You in true faith, earnestly from the heart, will certainly be heard, and will receive what they have asked and desired. Amen.

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13 HIM stepped onto the Pain Train YHC and Repeat were delivering in the gloom. With no FNG’s present, a quick disclaimer was given.  The thang….

Mosey over to the front of the middle school and the flag poll for COP.

  • 25 SSH IC
  • 15 Windmills IC
  • 3.5 Imperial Walker Squats IC? This was a bad idea. YHC should have practiced the cadence count on this more prior to breaking it out.  After intense mumble chatter…an audible was called
  •  15 Imperial Walker IC
  • 10 Merkins IC10 Mountain Climbers IC

Post the COP, we took advantage of the hill in the driveway.  Start on the right side of the hill….

  • 25 Merkins OYO
  • Run backwards up the hill to the center & flag poll
  • 50 LBC OYO
  • Run down the other side of the hill
  • 50 squats
  • Run backwards up the hill to the center & flag poll
  • 50 LBC OYO
  • Run down the other side of the hill
  • 20 Merkins OYO
  • **Repeat until we we’re down to 15 merks

***plan was to finish this, but I wanted to hand it over to Repeat (Bad Option)

Repeats Train

Focus was on accountability, one man holding another man accountable, and doing the exercises fully and properly. We partnered up (size didn’t matter).

  • 10 Squats
  • 10 Flutters
  • 10 Burpees

When you and your partner were done, mosey to the next light pole and repeat. When done again, mosey to the next light pole. Continue until the time ran out (felt like forever).

NMM

Not much to add here, but Backdraft did comment that by having WWL at his site that he must have a major announcement.  Maybe similar to his post 7 months ago to let us know that he was expecting his first child.  Well, no major announcement.  Mom and baby are doing well and life will change in 2 months.

Thanks for the honor to lead this fine group of HIMs.

WhatDid & Repeat

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Fate Dealt our Pain at Armory

Warmup:  Jog with kettlebell to circle of power, then 3 exercises in cadence:  low slow squat jumps, morrocan nightclubs, low slow wide grip merkins.

The Thang:   Partner up.  Deck of cards present. Partners drew 2 cards with an exercise on each.  We multiplied the numbers on each card together and did reps for those two exercises.  Aces multiplied the reps by 2.  If a joker was drawn, partners had to do 100 burpees total.  TWISTER drew the Joker!!!

Breaks – 1st:   wall sits with kettelbell pass through legs while a person! did bear crawls to the end. 2nd:  Indian run with kettlebell in right hand, then another lap in left hand.  3rd:  catch me if you can with partners with LBC’s as the exchange exercise.

Announcements  – 8/4 convergence.  Bear Grylls seeking BRR team.

Prayers:  Bullwinkle family illness, Assassin travel, Murphy/Sheaffer sympathy, Patrick Caldwell Chemotherapy.  Good start to August.

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BackBlast 7-25-17: That One Big Thing @ #Colosseum

Humidity was at an all time high in the swamp they call the Colosseum on Tuesday morning. 22 men showed up ready for some action and they got what they came for.

Mosey to the parking lot.

WARMUP:

  • 30 Side Straddle Hops
  • 12 Windmills
  • 10 4-count Merkins
  • 10 4-count Mountain Climbers
  • 10 4-count Peter Parkers
  • 20 Moroccan Night Clubs

Mosey to the first light post (you know what’s coming next).

The Thang (Light Post Workout – $1 to Jekyll):

  • 10 LBCs/post
  • Mosey back to start
  • Plank for the six
  • 5 Burpees/post
  • 6 Inches for six at top
  • 20 LBCs in cadence
  • Mosey back to the bottom
  • Plank for the six
  • 10 Diamond Merkins/post
  • 6 Inches for the six
  • 20 4-count Flutter

Mosey back to COT

  • Captain Thors to 5×20

Announcements

  • New Thursday 3rd F led by ChickenHawk
  • Last QSchool next Tuesday the 1st led by Funhouse & Senator Tressel

Prayer Requests

  • Lutefisk’s Mom
  • Cornerstone’s Daughter
  • Ginsu’s Adoption

Maximus took us out in prayer.

Moleskin

For years, adoption has been something that I’ve thought of doing, but it seemed too big. I have a heart (as most people do) for the less fortunate, especially children, but didn’t think that we could handle bringing home another child to live with us. It was my one big thing that I new I was being called to do, but I couldn’t do it. It was too hard, too much, made me too uncomfortable. Fortunately for me, my M has a bigger heart and far more faith than I do and over a series of months, convinced me that this is what God was leading us to do and that we should trust the He would give us everything we need along the way. Also, fortunately for us, we had others around us (e.g. Maximus & his M) who been through it before and provided all the support and advice we could ever need.

That was my one, big thing. The thing that I knew that God was telling me to do, but I didn’t have the faith or courage to pursue it…until now. I’m still scared of what is around that corner, but I know that God will be with us every step of the way.

What is your one, big thing? That thing that has been tugging at your heart for weeks, months, years, or even decades? For us it was adoption, but for you it may be bigger, require more sacrifice, more faith, and more courage.

I encourage you to pray about it. Trust that God will take you through whatever He is calling you to do. Do that one big thing, whatever it is.

Ginsu

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Last Day in my 30’s

Today marks YHC’s last day in his 30’s. So why not celebrate with a little BOP – 40th Birthday Edition. 12 posted not knowing what they were getting into even though Backdraft tried to tell YHC that the BOP was outlawed at The Ranch.

Disclaimer given and off we went into the 80 degree, 200% humidity.

The Thang

Mosey lap with High Knees and Butt Kicks

Circle up for Warmup of:

SSH x 39, Windmllls x 10, IW x 10, PeterParkers x 10, ParkerPeters x 10

Mosey over and explain the BOP. Do the reps then run down to the Shovel Flag and back (.25 miles roundtrip:

  • 40 Hip Thrusters
  • 40 Merkins
  • 40 Bombjacks
  • 40 Burpees
  • 40 Calf Rasises
  • 40 Squats
  • 40 LBC’s
  • 40 Carolina Dry Docks
  • 40 Mac Tar Jais
  • 40 Jump Squats
  • 40 Mountain Climbers
  • 40 Hello Dolly
  • 40 Wide Arm Merkins
  • 40 Sumo Squats
  • 40 Plank Jacks
  • 40 Burpees

Mosey back and pick up the DH Shovel Flag and then head home for COT and BOM

Announcements – F3 Dads this weekend

Prayers – Diesel and his GF as they go through pre-engagement counseling, Newt and his familyu as they travel to Michigan, marriages and injured PAX in general.

Moleskin

  1. Thanks  Backdraft for getting me on the schedule so close to my Birthday. You told me not to bring the BOP and as usual I didn’t listen. Probably gonna get banned from the ranch now too.
  2. Speaking of being banned (and shameless plug), YHC has had his SlowBurn ban lifterd for his 40th Bday tomorrow. YHC promises it will be moderately entertaining.
  3. Not a lot of Mumblechatter today during the BOP. 12 men working to finish. 12 men humbled by the BOP. Backdraft and a few others were closest, finishing up their Hello Dolly’s as time was called.
  4. Will save my thoughts on my 30’s until tomorrow’s BB, just so you have to read tomorrow’s as well.

Longshanks out (mic drop)

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