Armory – Super Sets

11 PAX for 0.0 miles and what I felt was a hard workout…Tesh may argue differently.

Did a little warmup
SSH
Round the World
Good Mornings
Some Yoga

Super Sets done for a set time with some rest between.
Set 1:
KB Cleans (30 seconds)
Single Leg Dead Lift (30 seconds)
rest
Repeat 6 times (3 right, 3 left)

SSH

Set 2:
KB Swings (60 seconds)
Merkins (30 seconds)
rest (30 seconds)
Repeat 5 times

SSH

Set 3:
Snatch (30 seconds)
Goblet Squat (30 seconds)
rest (30 seconds)
Repeat 6 times

SSH

Set 4:
Manmakers (30 seconds)
Renegade Rows w/ pass through (30 seconds)
rest (30 seconds)
go till 6…I think we did 4ish?

NMM:

What is paired up as difficult in your life and what are you putting in between to mitigate?


Band Camp dismissed

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Leg Day at Laces In

We had nine at Laces In on Thursday morning.  After a quick disclaimer, we circled up for the typical warm-up exercises (SSHs, Imperial Walkers, Windmills, Plank Stretches).  Next, we ran to the hill near the stadium.

I explained to the Pax it was “Leg day” so we partnered up for a round of Dora. The exercises:  100 Monkey Humpers, 200 Lunges, and 300 Calf Raises.  Partner 1 began the exercises while partner 2 ran backwards up the hill to the third light post.  As we started the exercises, are newest FNG pulled into the parking lot, jumped out of his car, and quickly joined into the fun.

Once we completed the Dora exercises, we shuffled up the hill using our hands to the third light post.  Next, we crawl beared down the the new parking lot, took a break by doing some Ab exercises, and bear crawled back up the hill.  We took a couple minutes to review the five core principles of F3 with King Pin before we ran to the main parking lot near the gym.

For the final ten minutes, we ran down each aisle and performed the following exercises (10 hand released merkins, 10 squats, and 10 LBCs).

Back to COT.

Great job by all!

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Escalation at The Hive

It was Kettle Bell time at the HIve but that doesn’t hold a candle to the 2 FNGs we had this morning. That’s right. 2 FNGs!!! However, at the start, we only had 1. How’s that, you ask?

One of them, now known in the gloom as Father Time showed up 12mins late. When you see him in the gloom, you should ask him how he got his name. Regardless, here’s what we did:

Warm Up lap that would become our lap after each set of exercises. Followed that up with some basic warmup exercises before heading into the following:

10 Lunges (ea leg) – lap
20 Man Makers – lap
30 Merkins – lap
2min Plank done together

40 “Real” Squats and the quotes are a reminder that we’re not doing half squats – lap
50 Mountain Climbers  – lap
60 Curls – lap
2min Plank done together

70 LBC’s – lap
80 Bent Over Rows – Lap
2min Plank done together

Flutters the way I now like to do them
Boats & Canoes

Maximus

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Marriage isn’t Chuck E. Cheese

YHC had the privilege to lead 24 other men through a stations workout with a discussion on the transformational relationship with our Ms. Conditions were perfect – 62 degrees and a slight breeze. The Disclaimer was disclaimed and we were off. Here’s what we did:

The Thang

  • 20 SSHs (IC)
  • 15 Imperial Walkers (IC)
  • 10 Low Slow Squats (IC)

Mosey to Top of Main

  • 20 Alternating Shoulder Taps (IC)
  • 15 Mountain Climbers (IC)
  • 10 Merkins (IC)

Mosey to First Baptist Parking Lot

  • 2 Burpees at 10 stations

Mosey to behind the Police Station

  • 20 Squats
  • 15 Calf Raises
  • 10 Turkish Getups

Mosey to Top of Main

  • 20 LBCs
  • 15 Bomb Jacks
  • 10 Tempo Merkins

Mosey to the corner of Tom Hall and Monroe White

  • 20 Alternating Shoulder Taps (IC)
  • 15 Mountain Climbers (IC)
  • 10 Merkins (IC)

Mosey to Academy and Monroe

  • 20 Squats
  • 15 Calf Raises
  • 10 Turkish Getups

Mosey to Mosey to behind the Police Station

  • 20 LBCs
  • 15 Bomb Jacks
  • 10 Tempo Merkins

Mosey back to COT

  • 20 SSHs (IC)
  • 15 Imperial Walkers (IC)
  • 10 Low Slow Squats (IC)

Total Mileage – 2.20

NMM

We call our wives “M” because she is the Most important relationship we have. That relationship is transformational. Before marriage it was “me” and “her.” Once married, “we” became an “us.” It is no longer solely about you. You are to serve your M. You are to pursue joy with her – even when things are tough. Its not a game. There is no scoreboard. There are no winners and losers and no one gets a participation trophy. We are to love her as Christ loves the Church.

Society tells us that marriage is 50/50. Let me assure you that is a farce. There are times it is 80/20. There are times it is 20/80. As John Michael Montgomery once said, “Life’s a dance you learn as you go. Sometimes you lead, sometimes you follow.” Marriage isn’t about keeping tally of who has done what. This isn’t Chuck E. Cheese – you can’t trade in your emptied dishwasher tickets for a guy’s weekend. That’s not how it works. You empty the dishwasher so she doesn’t have to. You set the example for your children so they know how to be a good husband one day or what to look for in a future husband. They are watching, so make your actions count.

It was my pleasure this morning to have the opportunity to lead today. I was encouraged by the push from the guys and the mumblechatter at the stops. Today personified why F3 matters so much to me. But remember, if your focus becomes more about the fitness and fellowship with your friends and less about loving your wife, your concentrica is out of alignment. Keep each other accountable and pursue your wife. Let her know she matters. Don’t seek relationship maintenance. Instead, keep accelerating. Don’t meet in the middle, go the distance and serve her.

Aye!

Italian Job

 

 

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Month of the M

YHC was fortunate to be called out of the bullpen by Bobber.  Prior to the workout, YHC was asked to offer a few thoughts on marriage during the beatdown.  Being a novice at that topic (but constantly trying to improve through learning and practice), it seemed appropriate to consult the Q source.

Last evening, fittingly, the M and 2.0’s came with me on a tour of downtown Fort Mill where YHC furiously scribbled out 5 stations worth of exercises designed to align with each of the 5 points of M preparedness as cited in the Q source.  YHC’s M fittingly remarked that I was getting a workout before the workout.  She was right.

Upon arrival this morning, YHC pulled in the lot at 5:08 to be greeted by numerous PAX – some of whom (Stang, cough, cough, Stang), arrived sans gloves.  All were quickly reminded to get them if they did not have them already.   After a few PAX scurried in at 5:14,. all were disclaimed and we moseyed off to Kimbrell’s after the 5 core principles of F3 workouts were voiced.

The COP – because Slapshot was present (and because YHC felt like it), 5 burpees were done in between each of the following exercises done in cadence:

Windmills – 10 D/C, Imperial Walkers – 10 D/C, Low Slow Squats – 15 then holding people’s chair while doing 10 D/C  Moroccan night clubs I/C and 10 D/C air presses I/C.  Then we moseyed off to M preparedness station #1 – Maintenance = deceleration

Station 1 – Unity Presbyterian – because status quo enables no movement, we decelerate, therefore PAX were asked to do 7’s in a jacob’s ladder format – kracken burpees at the top and squats at the bottom of the driveway.  Planking was done until the 6 arrived back at the top of the hill.  The lesson was reinforced and on we moved to station 2.

Station 2 – Fort Mill 1st Baptist Church – Culture is a Jester.  When it comes to our relationship with the M, culture denatures and softens marital relationships (we meet each other halfway, etc.).  PAX did the following circuit – an exercise for each of the light poles with some free exfoliation for those who went gloveless as there may or may not have been some bear crawling between stations.  40 squats, 30 SSH’s, 20 wide arm merkins, 10 hand release merkins, 20 regular markins, 30 SSH’s and 40 squats before returning to the parking lot entrance to re-emphasize culture’s hindrance of acceleration and moving on to station 3 – the crowd pleaser.

Station 3 – Fort Mill Church of God – There is NO 50 yard line.  The relationships with our M require more than 50% effort.  It requires our best to be aligned because we know if we aren’t aligned at home in our most important earthly relationship, it becomes next to impossible to have alignment in the other relationships within our concentrica.   Since we must operate in the red zone, PAX were instructed to bear crawl more (maybe much more) than 50 yards downhill to the red zone where 5 burpees awaited   Then PAX returned to the start via crawl bear (crowd pleaser) uphill.  The return was somewhat slower than the start…….somewhat.

Upon completion – movement to Academy street left YHC to cover the last two points – because one of  the PAX incorrectly answered that the M is our best friend (spoiler alert – point 4 – the M is NOT our best friend), YHC had to graciously call out the gaffe and assign 5 burpees for the miss.  We then proceeded to articulate the 5th and final point – Joy trumps happiness and then moseyed back Academy Street – safely crossed the railroad tracks and sauntered into COT – roughly 2 1/4 miles later.

Announcements were made, prayers were offered for Stang’s mother in law, Pusher’s Mom/Esso’s MIL, and fittingly for marriages. Stang graciously took us out in prayer.

NMM – to look around the group this morning, YHC could not help but be filled with a feeling of gratitude.  Mumble chatter, fellowship, hard work doing things together we would very likely not to do on our own and the feeling that YHC has so many other brothers beside him to do life.  It eases the feeling of burden we often face.  YHC has said before that Q-ing is an honor.  And when Bobber made the call asking YHC to stamp the passport and trek east of the Peach Stand, there was only one answer.  I am better prepared to face each day because of those who choose the hard thing and encourage YHC to the same.  For that, my thanks and gratitude go out to each of you.

Meantime, study and practice the 5 points reviewed.  Alignment at home means greater alignment and impact downstream – the call being asked of each of us.   Until next time, thank you, gentlemen.

Cyclops

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Laces 4.8.21

Charge out of the gate to get in a warm-up mile

Warm-up
SSH
IW
HW
Yoga
Burpees

Bearpees and a mosey tour around my old elementary school:
Bulgarian split squats and stretches on the rail
Split into two groups for called slow merkins and dead hang pull-ups
– did 5, switched and did 10 (hardwood enjoyed the numbers), did 5
– YHC called up and down

Mosey down to the marching band practice field for one round of
Red Barchetta
– 100yd dash, 100 SSH
– 75yd dash, 75 MC
– 50yd dash, 50 lbc
– 25yd dash, 25 merkins
– 10yd bear crawl, 10 burpees

Mosey back to COT, flutters till 0600

Total of 2.5 miles.

NMM:
Thinking about Moses speech to the Israelite at in Deuteronomy where knowing he’s going to die, he basically lists how many times they’ve failed. It’s a plea to get them to stay on the right path.

How often do we repeat the same mistakes over and over and over and over again?
Maybe Moses is talking to me as much as he is to Israel.


Band Camp dismissed

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April Fools Convergence

11 PAX chose to get better with YHC has YHC was trying to deflect rumors of not only pull-ups but a visit from Minnow Pond. We went on a mossy around FMHS stopping twice for some COP consisting of a high number of windmills, ball buster squats (thanks to Johnny Utah’s introduction at JOC), LSS, moracin nightclubs, and other things to kill time as we awaiting Minnow Pond PAX to meet at the pull0up bars.

PAX bear crawled the length of the covered awning at the pull up bars then counted off into teams of 3. Each team had to complete 50 pull-ups, 75 right leg scorpion merkins, 75 left leg scorpion merkins, 300 LBCs and 100 V-ups. PAX rotated between running and the exercises.

Once minnow pond took off to head back, mossy back towards COT and stopped at a retaining wall for 10 derkins/10 erkins for 2 rounds, stopped at Hive for some more COP, mossy back to COT for 3 minutes of elbow planks.

Thanks Oscar for opportunity to lead and prayers to Truckers co-worker and daughter (Morven and Mila) who are struggling with teenage suicidal issues, Grassy Knoll’s M job interview, and others that I now have forgotten (Sorry)

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Miles under cover

8 said no to the fartsack and chose the DRP at Colosseum. YHC was conflicted over whether or not to keep the PAX under cover or not, so naturally we chose both.  Here’s what happened:

PAX were disclaimed, a mosey to the West end of the school and in the small parking lot, we circled up for COP.  WIndmills, burpees, imperial walkers, burpees, hillbilly walkers, burpees, low slow squats, Moroccan night clubs in the people’s chair, burpees and side straddle hops were done in varying quantities.   YHC decided it was time to go under cover, so we moseyed toward the center junction of the middle and elementary schools after stopping at the flag for a Pledge of Allegiance.

Main Event – Part 1:  4 corners under cover.  8 PAX made for appropriate (and even) partnering.  PAX paired off in 2’s and ran to each station, coming back to the middle after every stop.  Every time PAX came back to the middle they did 5 burpees.  2 rounds were completed of the following:

Station 1 – 3 burpees, 16 rosalitas, 21 diamond merkins

Station 2 – 3 burpees, 16 hello dollys, 21 wide arm merkins

Station 3 – 3 burpees, 16 flutters, 21 merkins

Station 4 – 3 burpees, 16 mountain climbers, 21 shoulder taps

After completion we moseyed toward station to and took some wall while assuming the people’s chair – where PAX sounded off for the things for which they were grateful.

In honor of the nantan’s appearance, it seemed only fitting the part two was jack webs – PAX did all of them up to 10 & 40.

A mosey after that to COT brought us to 0558 so a 2 minute geometry class was held where PAX worked with the protractor in varying degrees with 0 and 90 being the crowd favorites.

0600 came upon us, JWOW split for a double down, announcements were given and prayers and praises were offered up.

Thanks to Long Duck for the call.  YHC was honored to be sharpened this morning by a strong group of HIM.

Grateful and until next time,

Cyclops

 

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Sloppy Joe, Slop, Sloppy Joe

A soggy beatdown at Laces In for 8 men.

The Thang:

Light COP

  • Windmills
  • Tappy Taps
  • Moroccan Night Clubs

Mosey to Parking Lot to “Bone the Fish”

5 Burpees OYO

Quarter Pounder in the Lot:

  • Run to first light, 25 Merkins, Run back
  • Run to second light, 50 Squats, Run back
  • Run to third light, 75 Mountain Climbers, Run back
  • Run to end, 100 SSH, Run back

5 Burpees OYO

Apple Turnover across the lot with increasing (+3) Merkins per parking row

5 Burpees OYO

4 Corners

  • 5x Around The World Squats OYO
  • 10x HB Squats IC
  • 10x Squat Jacks OYO
  • 10x Monkey Humpers IC

Repeat Doubling Rep Count

Mosey back to shovel flag for 3 min of Mary focusing on Abs

Announcements: Read your Newsletter

Honor to Serve.

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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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