Consider my leg swept

We ran fast and stopped when I needed for merkins. (did forget to hit pause on the mileage calculator once so the numbers are a tad off) Actually the first two miles were upper body, mile 3 was lower body, there was a little yoga thrown in cause we had time and needed it.

I think we hit 100 merkins, 50 dips, lots squats, and then finished with 10 burpees EMOM until 0600. Also 3.3 miles  

https://www.strava.com/activities/4678144477

NMM:

No vocal message today. I’m actually trying to be still and listen a bit more. It’s against my natural instincts, but so is waking up for a workout at 0515….so there’s that.

Thanks to VuVu for the call. Really grateful for the opportunity to lead at this AO. The amount of super fast PAX pushes me to MOVE. When I Q at STL, I know I can’t (shouldn’t) fall back to the 3 or the 6. It makes me give more effort than I might otherwise. Oh that we all could be leaders in groups that push us to be better.


Band Camp dismissed

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The Bubble’

We ran around and did some bodyweight exercises.

May have stopped at every American Flag for a burpee at one point. Also Bear Crawled a long way across limited greenspace. Made it to the urgent care and back.

There may have been a set of 7s with burpees and bomb jacks. Also a possible pistol squat somewhere in there.

NMM:

Beowulf is still awesome. Grendel’s mom is the issue. Grendel is the symptom. Solve what gave birth to the symptoms in your life.


Band Camp dismissed

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Drishti

6 PAX in the rainy gloom moved over to the awning of the pyramid building for some Broga.

I lead some movements that required little hands on the ground to keep us from getting too wet:
Volcano Pose
Standing forward bend
Triangle
Extended Side Angle
Warrior 1
Warrior 2
Warrior 3
And a little Vinyasa flow through Surya Namaskar A

Experimented with leading out front and mirroring (e.g., I used my right foot, but called left to match the PAX). I prefaced it by saying: “if I mess up, do what I do, not what I say.” Which is pretty much happens when we’re leading anyway, right?

Bass lead the run portion:

Returned to COT for some more of Surya Namaskar A during the last few minutes prior to 0600.

A thought for today on Warrior 2. A “drishti” is a focal point that you gaze at over your middle finger in Warrior 2. The visual focus brings the pose into physical focus. What’s your drishti when you’re at your computer later today? Or right now reading this? Is your visual focus assisting your body’s focus? Your mind’s focus? Your spirit’s focus?

Do you want it to?

Thanks Body Wash for the opportunity to lead


Band Camp dismissed

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Upside Down

SkyQ was stirring the Site Q’s spirit 30 days ago, suggesting he needed to loop YHC in for a New Year’s Eve Q at The Ranch.  Little did he know 12/31 happens to be my birthday, so there was no way I could pass up the invite. 12 pax posted in the damp (but not rainy) Gloom to make it official.

The Thang

Warm up yog around parking lot

Extended COP — familiar set of exercises interspersed after every two with increasing rounds of Burpees, starting with 2 and increasing by 2 each round up to 12

Mosey to the picnic tables and partner up

Partner 1 = 12 Derkins + Partner 2 = Balls to the Wall  / Flapjack (3 rounds)
Partner 1 = 12 Bombjacks + Partner 2 = People’s Chair / Flapjack (3 rounds)
Partner 1 = Donkey kicks + Partner 2 = Plank / Flapjack (3 rounds)

Mosey to soccer field and muster up

The next series will involve moving down and back across the soccer field…BUT…in recognition that 2020 was a year when “holding ground” qualifies as success, the objective is to make the trek with backwards or sideways moves (ie, Carioca, NUR, Crawl bear, Backward or sideways lunge,  side shuffle).  The only acceptable method forward is Bear Crawl)

We proceeded to move back and forth across the field and each down/back was marked with a set of Burpees declining by 2 with each series (10-8-6-4-2).  Final traverse for all pax was a Bear crawl

Circle up for Mary

Series of core exercises, capped off with Superman rendition of Happy Birthday song courtesy of JWOW and Backdraft.

Mosey home

COT

Thank you to Ruby Slippers for the opportunity to tie off 2020 —  it was truly an honor to be in The Gloom IN PERSON with the pax to finish the strangest year any of us have experienced.

It was an upside down year given that no one could have foreseen a pandemic coming.  Or a stock market rally in the aftermath.  Or legalization of pot in some states along with criminalization of holiday family gatherings.

This upside down and backwards orientation aligns perfectly with the Gospel and sets the stage for a new approach to 2021.  I’ll pick my One Word for 2021 (Now) and review 2020 and make plans for 2021…all the things that I would typically DO in prior years.  But 2020 has taught me that NONE of these matter unless they’re connected to the will of my Creator.  Rather than focus my energies on what I’m doing, I first need to create space for what He’s doing…and then fit my part in as accompaniment ( I think that might be a musical term, Band Camp?).

Thanks to the pax who posted to help me celebrate the completion of my 54th year on the Big Ball.  And thank you to all pax of The Fort for carrying me and each other through an upside down year.

Cheers!

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Bulgarian 7-10 Split

11 PAX gathered in the crisp gloom.

Disclaimer was given.

Hard charge out of the gate.
With the ageless Straight-Up and Harry Carey moving quickly behind YHC, we hit the first mile at 6:56/min pace.

As the PAX regrouped into a circle at the Teacher Parking lot area of the elementary school, Poppins rolled his ankle. Splinter ran back to get his truck and transported Poppins to his vehicle. Unfortunately, he was done for the day.

Warm-Up:
Yoga
Merkins
Shoulder Tap
SSH
Burpees 10 in cadence
IW
HW
Yoga

Thang:
Mosey toward the “black-top” area between the schools and find a bench

Bulgarian Split Squats
-10 each leg
-10 more each leg
-10 more each leg (this was a crowd favorite)
Step Ups
-10 each leg
-10 more each leg
Bulgarian Split Squats
-10 in cadence each leg (this confirmed their crowd favorite status)
-10 more in cadence each leg
Box Jumps – 10

Moved to the track-ish area
Lined up on the front line
Bear Crawl across the track
Crawl Bear back
15 burpees in cadence
Lunge Walk to the other side
Burpee-Broad Jump back
Some Yoga

11s w/
1 Merkins – 10 Shoulder Taps
got to 5 merkins and 6 shoulder taps

Moved back to benches
more Bulgarian Split Squats
– 10 in cadence each leg
– 10 more in cadence each leg
– (crowd favorite status confirmed)

Mosey to COT
Finished the 11s
Freddie Mercuries
Some Yoga to close us out

Prayers for:
– Poppins’s ankle
– blessing of science and medicine
– strength for those facing COVID
– the Spirit to remind us this isn’t our permanent home

NMM:

Make someone, just one person, feel special today

Thanks Long Duck for the opportunity to lead.

Band Camp Dismissed

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Mettle Forger 12.18.2020

5 pax gathered at Turner Field with 2 shorties playing in a rock pile.

Warm-up
-SSH
-IW
-HW
-some yoga
-Mountain Climber
-Peter Parker
-Parker Peter

Take a lap (about 1/3 mile)

Circuit:
2 min at each station (20 seconds on, 10 second rest)
Battle Ropes
– Double Whip
– Alternating Whip
Manmaker w/50lb
KB Swing 35lb
Carry 65lb
Run another lap as active recovery

Made it through the circuit 2.2 times

Finished with some mary
– freddie mercury
– dying cockroach
moved quickly between the two

 

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Minnow Pond 12.17.2020

The promo:
https://twitter.com/jisenhour/status/1339217811231674368

The route:
https://www.strava.com/routes/2773907426356036818

10 stops along the way
5 burpees/10 merkins/15 squats each time

16 PAX. It was hard. Had to average 10min/mile with the exercises to finish at COT by 0600. We did.

Strava Stats: https://twitter.com/jisenhour/status/1339542289048285184

NMM:
Today was a workout where I tried harder because I was on Q. Being a leader isn’t just about exhorting acceleration in others or the group; it also forces you to accelerate individually. That was pretty evident to me this morning from my heart rate monitor. All the guys that came out today pushed me to be better. When you’re a follower, are you following in a way that is helping your leaders be better?


Band Camp dismissed

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12/11/2020 Mettle Forger Mixed Obstacle Course

6 Posted for a mixed obstacle course/sandbag/kettlebell and other various accessories to support.  Fence hops in between each station.  Sunny day with temps in the 60’s.  500 calories torched!

Warmup:

  • 10 each at various speeds of  Side Straddle Hops, Honey Mooners, and Front Straddle Hop Seal Jacks.

The Thang: 

  • The pax received the assignment8 alternating stations on the field and parking lot with 3 exercises each with various equipment including fence hops in a rotating fashion.
Field Reps Lot Reps
Bucket Carry to fence
20lb SB American Hammer 20
Low Platform – calf raises 20
Fence Hop
Lunge Slam Throw – Mid Field
10 Burpees 10
20 Flutters 20
Fence Hop
Pullups/20 sec hang 10
35lb SB Curls 10
Mid Platform – step ups 20
Fence Hop
Sled Pull – Mid Field
10 Bombjacks 10
20 Crunches 20
Fence Hop
25lb DB Pullovers 20
50lb SB Press 10
Tall Platform – Squat Jumps 10
Fence Hop
Bear Crawl
20 Parker Peters 20
20 Box Cutters 20
Fence Hop
30lb KB Swing 10
65lb SB Row 10
Highest Platform – Decline Merks 10
Fence Hop
10 Squat Jumps 10
20 Diamond Merkins 20
20 Peter Parkers 20

Announcements:

  • Read your newsletter, Baxter Gnome Event, Pantheon New Years Eve extravaganza,

Prayers/Praises:

  • Slapshots Mother In Law hip repair, Orange Crushes Son return to wellness, COVID-19 relief.

Aye!

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Dead Hang at The Ranch

0510 – no PAX present
0515 – 5 PAX ready to go

Disclaimer
Short Mosey

Warm Up
– Merkins
– Peter Parkers

Short Mosey
– 25 burpees in cadence
– some yoga

Move to playground
– called up & down on pull-ups

Move to Square of Pavement
The Thang:
– 25 Bomb Jacks & Bear Crawl to other side
– 25 Jump Squats & Crawl Bear to other side
– 25 more Jump Squats & Bear Crawl
– 75ish calf raises (in cadence to 38) & crawl bear
– 100 SSH (50 in cadence) & bear crawl
– 100 Flutters & crawl bear
– 75 CDD & bear crawl
– 25 Merkins & crawl bear
– 25 more Merkins & bear crawl

Back to the pull-up bars
– called up and down with Toes-to-Bar
– 10 pull-ups
– dead hang to 15
– dead hang to 15 and then a dead hang pull up

Short Mosey
– 15 burpees in cadence

Mosey back with an additional burpee at each light pole
– 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 = 21 burpees

Total burpee count = 61

Dying cockroaches
Split Squats
Pistol Squat (called down and up)

NMM:
Tried to integrate some exercises where PAX knew the rep number we were going to, and some where we were going to keep going until I called stop. Do we work differently towards a goal we can see and know before hand? How does our effort level change if there’s an unknown amount of time or we don’t know how long things are going to last? (Think COVID….)

–Band Camp dismissed

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