Celebrities, Cinder Blocks, Disney…a perfect morning at BAOPS

The threat of snow did not intimidate as a total of 14 PAX converged on the Rock, er BAOPS, er Alcatraz. In addition to the Nation representation, we were graced with the dulcet(er) tones of Funny Bonz, er…Hello Kitty. Man, if only we had CSPAN, Repeato, Tommy Boy and Bones in attendance, we would’ve had all the Podcasting staff present. Next time.
Right from the jump, the chatter was strong, exactly how it should be. We had snow jokes, road jokes, hugs, rookie jokes, Q-Source jokes, age jokes and a whole bunch of things not made for print. A morning that will live in infamy, or, maybe not.

With the first half of this morning’s installment brought to you by Maximus (3rd person), I (1st person) did give the disclaimer. You could imagine how that went. Something to note, I did advise the PAX who got there early, they should stretch and warm up as necessary ‘cuz ain’t no side straddle hops, imperial walkers or windmills were to be had.

So, we made our way to the top of the park to the pull up bars. Every member of the PAX had to complete 10 pull ups and while you weren’t pulling yourself up, you were completing your best rendition of the American Hammer. Go until completion.
Next, run to the bottom of “the hill”; don’t worry, I scouted for slick roads ahead of time.
At the bottom of the hill, 10 Burpees and 10 Carolina Dry Docks
Run up for 5 more pull ups
Run back to the bottom for 10 Burpees and 20 Merkins.
NUR back to the top for flutter kicks until the 6 rolled in.

To the parking lot and grab a cindy out of my truck bed (or a KB)
10 Overhead Press
20 Staggered Merkins (10ea side)
30 Curls
40sec count while holding legs out at 6″ and cindy overhead

40 Overhead Press
30 Merkins (15ea side)
20 Curls
10sec count as done above

50 Bent over rows
10 Thrusters

My job is done…time for Italian Job

Short mosey to the field for:
11’s from foul pole to foul pole with the exercises consisting of
Mickey Mouse Merkins (Walt Disney World Merkins) at one end and squats at the other.
No doubt at this point, the PAX had a severely confused puppy dog look on their face because IJ was all like, “Ya know, Disney…WDW, Wide-Arm, Diamond, Wide Arm.”
And all of us were like, “Oh yeah…of course”…eye roll.
This my friends, is a sure-fire way to make a statement. It became very clear that unless your name is Italian Job, Senator Tressel, Trucker, Olaf and perhaps Mainframe, your form was garbage come about Disney Merkin #6.

Carry on

Now, run around the entire field then 25 Calf Raises.
Next up, run another lap then 25 Freddy Mercury’s.
Finally, another lap.

NMM (In the words of Italian Job):
“Always a pleasure to share the gloom with you men. A question for you, What’s holding you back? Is it time, energy, money, expertise – all of these? Excuses only sound good to the person making them. Whatever you desire is on the other side of effort. If it was easy, everyone would do it. If you want it, go get it. Dominate the day!”

And like that, we’re out. Until next time…
Italian Job & Maximus

TClap |
6

Bushwood Leg Hangover

So….  The science says Badlands Q doesn’t bring the best weather.  Dry but cold morning – didn’t catch exact temp but mid 20s at best.  The cold appears to have kept the turnout fairly low across The Fort this morning, but we had 6 strong HIM come to get better at Bushwood.

 

Joint disclaimer with Snake Pit and we moseyed (@7:30 pace – Oops, I was amped I guess) down the backside of the school to a field across from the tennis courts.

 

CoP:

20x SSH (IC)

20x MNC (IC)

20x IW (IC)

10x Merkin (IC)

20x Goofballs (IC)

 

Main Workout:

4 Round OYO circuit utilizing the parking lot and the 4 tiers of stadium seating at the Tennis Courts

Round 1: Run lap around parking lot (0.3mi), 5x Box Jumps at 1st Tier, 5x Bulgarian Split Squats (each leg) at 2nd Tier, 5x Derkins at 3rd Tier, and 5x Step Ups (each leg) at 4th Tier

Round 2: Run lap – 10x reps

Round 3: Run lap – 15x reps

Round 4: Run lap – 20x reps

 

Solid mumblechatter along the way – Work, Covid, Life, etc

 

Calves were feeling neglected so we finished off the Main Workout with about 20x calf raises

 

The Encore:

During the mosey back toward CoT, 10x Diamond Merkins were completed at every light pole we passed to the right of the road and 10x Wide Arm Merkins for each light pole we passed to the left of the road, around 5 light poles each side.  Arrived back to CoT with about 3 minutes left for Mary which included Flutters, Speed Flutters, LBCs, and American Hammers.

Totals for the day include: 2.5 miles, 50 Box Jumps, 50 Bulgarian Split Squats, 50 Derkins, 50 Step Ups, 20 Calf Raises, 20 Merkins, 50 Diamond Merkins, 50 Wide Arm Merkins, 4 Minutes of Ab work @ Mary

Joint Name-o-rama, Announcement, Praises, Prayers with SnakePit…

 

Thanks to L-Train for giving me the opportunity to Q!  Never skip Leg Day fellas!

TClap |
2

B.L.O.C.K P.A.R.T.Y

7 men shunned the fartsack and tackled Block Party this glorious December morning. Disclaimer was disclaimed, a brief warmup was performed (SSHs, Low Slow Squats, and Imperial Walkers) then we were off. Here’s what we did:

  • Bat Wings – 20 forward arm circles, 20 backwards arm circles, 20 seal claps, 20 overhead claps – all in cadence)
  • LBCs – 20 (IC)
  • Outlaws – 15 (IC) left, 15 (IC) right
  • Carolina Dry Docks – 20 (IC)
  • Kraken Burpees – 20
  • Plank Destroyer – Begin in Plank position, perform a Makhtar N’Diaye ending back in Plank position, perform a Merkin, perform alternating Shoulder Taps, perform a Plank Jack. Back to your feet. 11 rounds
  • American Hammers – 15 (IC)
  • Rosalitas – 20 (IC)
  • Tempo Merkins – 10 (IC)
  • Y-rises – 20 (IC)

We ran from the park to Fort Mill Animal Hospital, to Fort Mill Town Hall, to First Baptist, to Fort Mill PD and repeated the loop twice  we added the Clebourne loop and one last trip up and down Main to finish with 2.36 miles.

NMM

Thanks for the opportunity to Q, Kermit. It is always an honor to lead the #HIM of the region and meet a couple new guys. Welcome back, Sawdust and pleasure to have our Charleston brother, Big Diff in the house. Great push this morning Badlands and Seamstress.
I teased this workout with low mileage and new exercises. I’m now feeling all the chest and shoulder work.
As we approach the new year, what are you planning to work on? Weight loss? A new job? What is the one thing you have put off year after year? What have you shelved because of fear of the unknown, lack of money, or perceived lack of experience? Why not try it in 2022? Worst case scenario- you learn something. Stop asking what if it doesn’t work out and start asking what if it did. You don’t want to look back on it and say I wish I would have. Don’t live with regret. Try and see.

-Italian Job

TClap |
12

Mark “Pitbull” McDowell WOD

We had 9 PAX at Honey Badger for a hero WOD in honor of my friend and classmate Capt. Mark “Pitbull” McDowell. Conditions were stellar (29 degrees and clear skies). Many of us saw multiple shooting stars this cold December morning. Here’s what we did:

The Thang

  • Run 1 Mile
  • 5 Minute Plank to honor the 5 service branches of the US Armed Forces
  • 200 Calf Raises
  • 300 LBCs
  • Run 1 Mile
  • 100 Muscle-ups on the wall behind the bleachers
  • 200 Merkins
  • 300 Squats
  • Return to COT

NMM

Monday we honored my friend Mark. Mark was a 4.25 GPA student, captain of the soccer team, and an all-around great young man. He was the guy you wanted to hate because he was good at everything. But once you got to know him, you learned that he was the type of guy you strived to be. When he graduated high school, he attended the Air Force Academy. Upon graduation in 2005, he completed Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, and Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi. Captain McDowell completed the Basic Qualification Course – F-15E in May of 2008 and was assigned to the 336th Fighter Squadron at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina.

Mark’s plane went down in Afghanistan. He left behind a wife, loving family, and many friends. As his grandfather said at his service, “He was born to fly and he died doing what he loved.”

If Mark were here today, he would have been the guy crushing the workout from the front with a smile on his face. He would have been the guy to encourage the whole time. Remember, we GET TO do this. Some others aren’t as blessed.

Aye!

Italian Job

TClap |
4

Thanksgiving Convergence 2021

68 PAX in attendance for a pre-thanksgiving beatdown and some fellowship on a brisk morning Thursday 11/25/2021.

 

With the anticipation of fried turkey, oreos and coffee brought by @Change Order, @Smuggler and @RubySlippers, mumble-chatter abounded,  until @Hardwood took the center and called attention at 0600 hours. Disclaimer was disclaimed and the call for new FNG’s was made, no new FNG’s was the lone blemish on the otherwise fantastic morning in my humble opinion.

Run options led by @Gekko and a Moderate group led by @TripleLindy set off as the rest of the PAX moseyed towards back of Springfield Elementary. First Destination was in parking lot way back by the Middle School.

Circled up and @Hardwood called out the following exercises:

SSH- 40

Windmills

Downward Dogs and Honeymooners

Low & Slow Squats

Cyclops: Stay in Squat Position and complete Moroccan Nightclubs

 

The Thing

Series of Webs

Starting with Merkins and Overhead Claps

1×4 for 10 rounds of excruciating shoulder pain, mumble-chatter becoming more focused on the task at hand

more SSH 🤮

Next we completed ANOTHER WEB, worse than the last,

Shoulder Taps and Moroccan Nightclubs

1×4 for 10 more rounds that was never ever going to end

Lots of requests for Burpees strangely or anything other then arm workouts!

 

YHC began the 2nd half of the workout with more SSH

Mosey around to front of Middle School with 3 stops for 5 Burpees OYO, at the request of the PAX

Line up at bottom of small hill in front of school and explain the workout, AMRAP LEG CIRCUIT

Teams of 4 ish men cycle through three exercises at bottom of hill individually:

2 Squats

2 Split Lunges

2 Bomb Jacks

Next Broad Jump up Hill to top and complete the following:

2 V-ups

Bear Crawl to bench

2 Step Ups

Run around and down to bottom of hill stopping at cones for 2 burpees (two stops per lap)

Meet back at bottom of hill and repeat, only this time DOUBLE ALL REPS TO 4X

Goal is to complete 5 rounds or AMRAP, almost completed but just short of time before we had to get back to COT

YHC shared a article on Gratitude, and then @Shady shared the heart of the Fort, the success of @Seamstress initiative with the help of the PAX, @Seamstress shared his excitement and appreciation for the success of the event! Great job by all T-claps!

Finally we had a shovel hand-off YHC taking the Ranch from a long line of great site Q’s which I hope to make proud.

Then we were finally able to enjoy the fried delicacies and coffee! Cheers!

 

 

TClap |
3

Colosseum Backblast

Warmup: Shady

QIC: Zima

25 Pax showed to see if the rumors were true. Or Shady has a degree in short-term hype trains. Maybe a little of both. Humbled to see y’all out there for an out of shape Q workout.

Shady did a 5 min warmup

Station 1: Burpee Suicides 5-10-15 reps (no foreplay @Jekyll)

Merkin Suicides 5-10-15 repsMosey to another Station at entrance to school

Station 2: Quadzilla for 4 minutes (run downhill and nur back uphill). #lovelanguageOG Quadzilla (thanks @Pusher). Same as above but with 10 squats at top and 10 jumping lunges at bottom.

Mosey to Elementary School Car Loop

Station 3: Run 5 laps doing 10 hand release merkins at starting line and 10 hand release merkins at half point (5 laps=100 hand release merkins)

I had 3.0+ miles by COT. It felt good to Q again and be in the gloom with y’all. I felt the love.

Announcements: Read the Newsletter

Prayers/Praises:
-Zima praise for Let Me Run Coaching
-Prayers for those suffering from depression (when in doubt, reach out)
-Prayers for Blount daughter who has cancer
-Prayers for Cyclops M whose uncle passed away

Apologies for any errors or omissions. Thanks for the opportunity. I need a nap.

Zima Out!

TClap |
1

How Much Time Will We Waste?

Last week a dear brother of ours passed unexpectedly. He was one of the good ones – and he taught me a most valuable lesson about time spent and time wasted. He fought his demons and let them reign supreme for far too long – but he eventually said “enough is enough” and overcame those demons. From then on he was the husband, father, and brother to those around him that lead from the front. It was in that moment that he became the man God designed him to be.

So, today, we won’t waste time in doing what we need to do.

COP

56 x SSHs, Low Slow Squats, Overhead Claps

Mosey to Endzone on Field

Proverbs 6:9-11

How long will you lie there, you sluggard?

    When will you get up from your sleep?

10 

A little sleep, a little slumber,

    a little folding of the hands to rest—

11 

and poverty will come on you like a thief

    and scarcity like an armed man.


Field Work

Partner up, swap wheel barrow every 10 yards.

Endzone – Burpee Broad Jumps x 7

10 – Donkey Kicks

20 – Hand Release Merkins

30 – Jump Lunges (each leg)

40 – Air Squats

50 – LBCs

40 – Air Squats

30 – Jump Lunges (each leg)

20 – Hand Release Merkins

10 – Donkey Kicks

Endzone – Burpee Broad Jumps x 7

 

James 4:13-15

13 Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.”

14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

15 Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”


Bear Crawl, Exercise

25 Yards

15 Bomb Jacks

25 Yards

15 Jump Squats

25 Yards

15 Bomb Jacks

25 Yards

15 Jump Squats

 

NMM

I’ll tell you this – I am a hypocrite. I have not been doing as I say here, but that is going to change. I am not going to be a man of inaction regarding what matters any more.

Dawson Trotman once said: “The biggest waste of time is the waste of time in getting started.”

 

Jack Webbs

1:4 to 10:40 on the field.

Mosey to Shovel Flag for COT.

Jack Webbs Cont’d

11:44-14:56 for Shop Vac

10 flutters to end it.

Final Thought

What do I need to do to stop procrastinating? What do you need to do?

Prayers/Praises

Prayers for Shop Vac and Nugent’s families – both died unexpectedly last week under terrible circumstances.

TClap |
6

Roll The Dice

 

I had the opportunity to be joined by 13 other men this morning at Minnow Pond. It was hot and humid, but we covered 3 miles with dicey pain along the way. Here’s what we did:

Warm Up

  • 10 Ranger Merkins (IC)
  • 10 Plank Jacks (IC)
  • 10 Gorilla Humpers (IC)
  • 10 Burpees
  • 5 Y-Rises (IC) – an almost Overhead Clap

The Thang

The workout was pretty simple in concept, but not easy. Run to Fort Mill Animal Hospital, Town Hall, First Baptist, and the Improper Pig, roll the dice (color indicated exercise and number x10 represented count) and repeat. We used a 10-sided die (2 of each color on the die) and a standard 6-sided number die. There was one caveat, when it was your turn to roll, you had the option to take a chance or call 20 Burpees. The choice was up to the roller. There was a 17% chance we would do Burpees, but that could have been anywhere from 10-60 Burpees. So the chances were just as good that we would have done 10 Y-Rises as there was to do 60 Burpees. Two men chose the 20 Burpees, and to be honest, I would probably done the same. After all, better the devil you know than the devil you don’t. To my best recollection, we did:

  • 10 Ranger Merkins
  • 100ish Plank Jacks
  • 150ish Gorilla Humpers
  • 50 Burpees
  • 175ish Y-Rises

NMM

In life, sometimes you have to roll the dice. If you stay stagnant, you’ll never know what might have been. Rarely do opportunities fall in the lap of the sedentary person. You have to take the risk to find the rewards. You must be willing to try, fail, and learn. Today’s workout was designed to let each man take a chance and see what was in store for the PAX. Everyone got better today because they were willing to do something…anything. Take that lesson with you throughout the week. Take a chance and roll the dice.

Aye!

Italian Job

 

 

TClap |
5

Shouldering the Weight Together

This morning at Sole to Soul, we spent 1 hour under ruck while rotating a 60lb sandbag amongst us. The plan was simple: when you have the weight on your shoulders, you share your burdens with the PAX. No one was obligated to share, but everyone did. We aren’t meant to carry our burdens alone. We should not only shoulder the weight together, but we should also give those worries and anxieties to our Creator. 1 Peter 5:7 reminds us to “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.”

Don’t believe the lie that you are the only one going through your circumstances and that you should “man up” and go alone. When you are alone, you are vulnerable to attack. There is strength in numbers. Lean on your brothers.

TClap |
27

B is for Bushwood

Big crowd over at CRHS this morning, but most stayed behind for UHaul and the Avett Brothers.  This is what the bootcampers did for Bushwood.  Simple but effective.

The Thang

Bone the Fish across the parking lot.  Some Karaoke and Side Shuffles.

Butt Kickers up to the other parking lot past the round about

Bearpees to 10.  That’s a 1:4 ratio of Burpees and Bear Crawls.  So we ended with 10 Burpees and 40 Bear Crawls, which is 55 Burpees and 220 Bear Crawl steps.

Blackjack across the lot with a 20:1 ratio of Merkins to LBCs till we got to 1:20 (210 of each).  Mosey around to the bottom of the hill that leads back to COT.

Bernie Sanders up the hill to the Shovel Flag.

NMM

Highlights today:

  1. When planning the workout, I started scrolling through the Exicon and realized there are a ton of B exercises.  Thus the outcome.
  2. Italian Job complained about being winded on Bone the Fish.  Then crushed the rest of the Workout.
  3. 10 Bearpees is alot.  Especially when that is your “warm up”.
  4. I thought Blackjack would take less time…. It didn’t and it sucked.  IJ commented that I knew it would take that long and suck in my heart of hearts.  There may be a #TruthNugget there.
  5. I planned for a Burpee mile before Bernie Sanders, but we ran out of time.  You are welcome.

Read your Newsletter.

Honor to Serve.

TClap |
3