Tag: Longshanks

Choose Discipline and BRR

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It was a steamy morning at WEP, but that didn’t discourage Last Call during his VQ nor did it scare off any pax from supporting him.   A lively and energetic group of 23 pax posted to honor and encourage him.

Santini had EH’d FNG/Wazowski (aka Ernie Bhend) so a full fledged disclaimer was pronounced and the baton was handed to Last Call to launch.

The Thang

Last Call took the pax on a warm up lap of WEP, then circled the pax up in the grass near the parking lot (YES, the grass!  What a bold move for a VQ!)

COP

SSH x25

Moroccan night clubs x20

Mash up of Hillbilly Walker + Imperial Walker x20

Merkins x10

Peter Parkers x20

Slow squat x20

LBCs x20

Hand off to DD

Mosey to playground & partner up
Partner 1: Run lap
Partner 2: Continuous pull ups (keeping cumulative count with partner)
Flap jack
Rinse & repeat
Tip of the cap to Senator Tressel for his emphasis on need for more pull ups

Plank sequence including Makhtar N’Dyae ( requeted by Santini)

Mosey to the grassy area near the statues at the bottom of the hill & plank it up for commentary about Blue Ridge Relay.  (Yes, it is a shame that The Fort has no teams competing this year in BRR.  Thus, the next 30 mins of the workout became BRR-lite)

Run to top of hill almost to gazebo + 5 Burpees + run back down
Rinse + repeat for 5 total rounds

Mosey to pathway heading out the back of the parking lot & regroup with partner
Partner 1: Run down hill, up other side to trail intersection and back
Partner 2: Continuous merkins (continuing cumulative count with partner from earlier point)
Flap jack
Rinse + repeat

Plank sequence, squats, bombjacks

Mosey to bottom of hill at COT & regroup with partner
Partner 1: Run up hill to 4th light post and run back down
Partner 2: Continuous donkey kicks (keeping cumulative count with partner from earlier point)
Flap jack
Rinse & repeat

Mosey back to grass where Last Call started and circle up

Flutter x10

Hello dolly x10

Freddy Mercury x10

Rosalita x10

Penguin x10

Superman x3

Run to tent in middle of park

Run home AYG

COT

Naked man moleskin

Solid VQ effort by Last Call today — well done, brother!  Welcome to the club and find a way back into the center of the circle somewhere ASAP so you can hone the skills and expand the experience.

Welcome to FNG/Wazowski (yes, he’s an eye doc)!  You had the privilege (and pain) of enduring a tough workout on a particularly swampy morning — great job making it through to the finish today!  A little merlot splash proves just how far you can push when challenged by other like-minded men.  You’ve found a home here in The Fort for sure.  Look forward to seeing you back in the gloom soon!

T-claps to all the pax for the support of Last Call and Wazowski today.  Special recognition to Santini for EH of Wazowski and Sir Topham Hat for EH of Last Call two months ago.  Also kudos to Peabody, Longshanks and others sweeping the six.

Welcome back home to Ginsu!  Great to have you back in the gloom with your brothers.  Look forward to hearing more about the China experience and your expanded family.

Did I mention the weather was warm and humid today?

That was a tough outing today – great work by everyone pushing through!

In the absence of any BRR activities in The Fort this year, I felt compelled to bring that experience home.  It is an incredible event, and I am disappointed we won’t have any teams to represent The Fort this year.  I know Rooney is running with Dredd & OBT on a 6-man team — way to represent us, brother!  The hills and the pain and the sweat today were all reflective of the reality of what it is to run the BRR – but only the smallest taste of the joy of that event was gained today.  Please consider BRR in 2018 – you won’t regret it.

The message throughout today’s workout revolved around the monthly theme of Discipline.  When I saw Chicken Hawk’s message at the start of the month, I was immediately disturbed.  The word brings about uncomfortable feelings for me related to punishment, reprimands and admonishment from parents, teachers and bosses.  Discipline is something I experience as being imposed on me by someone else, which I never receive well.  I quietly thought maybe I would check out on the theme for August.

Then, on a business trip this week I made some poor choices around web surfing in the lonely isolation of a hotel room.  My re-entry back home included a volatile interaction with the M around my indulgence in a personal vice.  BOOM!  Discipline (or my lack of it) suddenly hit me between the eyes.  It became very real very quickly…clearly this is the right theme for me this month.

I have much to learn still around Discipline.  Santini mentioned during the workout and in a long conversation afterward that the root of the word Discipline relates to “learning.”  The learning I’ve gained in the past few days has come through dwelling on my word for 2017 — CHOOSE —  in the context of Discipline.  In this frame of mind, I am beginning to see Discipline as part of my pathway from where I am currently to the future I CHOOSE to pursue.  In this way, Discipline becomes part of the learning process of how I move toward the fuller, holier life I long for…because I CHOOSE to seek that future point, NOT because someone else is imposing anything on me.

Thanks to Bonsai for putting me on the calendar and for looping in Last Call for the VQ.  We missed you today.

Thanks to all who posted and endured today’s workout.  Your presence, effort, resilience, encouragement and support inspire me!

 

 

 

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12

Post Birthday Beatdown at The Deep – 7/15/2017

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Was very excited when I found out that Longshanks and I were Qing the Deep.  A fellow burpee fan myself I figured this would be a heck of beatdown. When discussing the plans with Longshanks, we thought that 60 minutes of AMRAP burpees would get us removed from the Q schedule for good so we decided against it. Instead YHC would take the first half and Longshanks would take the 2nd half.

When 5:15 hit we had 9 Pax receive the disclaimer and we were ready to go.  We took a long mosey to the front of the elemterary school across the street for the warmup which included:

  • Weed Pullers x10
  • SSH x10
  • Wind Mills x10
  • SSH x10
  • Morracaan Nightclubs x20
  • SSH x10
  • Merkins x10
  • Down Dog/Honeymooner
  • SSH x10

Now that the Pax were good and warm we moseyed to the side of the school for The Thang.  But first we hear someone coming running up and it is none other that OLAF, your huggable friendly snowman. Unbeknownst to the Pax, this snowman was carrying poppers in this pocket that he would torture the Qs with for the duration of the workout.

The Thang

We would perform one exercise for 45 seconds then run down the hill to a bucket filled with pieces of paper. We would return to the top of the hill with one piece of paper and perform the excercise (*WINK* it was all burpees). Then we would repeat with different excercies until time was called.

The 45 second exercises were:

  • Squat back lunges
  • Crunchy Frogs (Longshanks maybe did one)
  • CCDs
  • Shuffle, Shuffle Lunge
  • Flutter Kicks
  • Jumping Lunges

The Burpees selected were:

  • Kraken Burpees x5
  • Switch Jump Burpees x10
  • Squat Hold Burpees x10
  • Burpees with Peter Parker x10
  • Burpees with SSH (x4) x10
  • Hand Release Burpees x10

Time was up so I handed it over to Longshanks.

We moseyed back to the middle school and paired up for some good ole Dora Blimps.

While your partner runs you perform the following:

  • Burpees x50
  • Lunges x100
  • Imperial Walkers x100
  • Merkins x100
  • Plank Jacks x100
  • Squats x100

With a little time remaining, Longshanks introduced us to 2 rounds of People’s Donkey Balls. This was People Chair followed by 10 Donkey Kicks followed by Balls to the Wall. I will be using this in my next Q.  Then we completed LBC (x15) and Rosalitas (x15).

With only minutes left, we slow moseyed to the end of the school and turned around and gave it all we had back to COT.

This was a great workout and a pleasure to Q with Longshanks. Cant wait to do it again, however the Pax may disagree.

Announcements
Mastadon
3rd F Convergence

Prayers
Tater’s Eye surgery
Royale’s daughter turning 7
Travel mercies for families

Until next time, back to the hunt…

 

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Only you can define Moderate and reflection from my 30’s

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After a 2 1/2 year Slowburn Q ban, YHC was honored to lead 24 #HIMS on a “Create you own Adventure” workout in the 80 degree 150% humidity gloom. After a brief discussion on the moderate and an even shorter disclaimer, we left the CFA parking lot destined for glory.

The Thang

Mosey down to the Parking lot in front of empire pizza. Circle up for:
SSH x 10
Windmills x 10
IW x 10
Peter Parkers x 10

Mosey to the lot in front of Charandas and circle up again
Slow Squats x 10
Slow Merkins x 10
Slow Sumo Squats x 10
Slow WideArm Merkins x 10

Mosey to the Parking lot next to what used to have the bouncy stuff and grab a piece of chalk. Talk the chalk and write an exercise in a parking spot and then write x 40 after it. Partner up and go to a parking spot to start. Do the exercise in the parking spot then run a lap around the bushes (about .08 per lap) and then go to a different spot. You and your partner decide which spots to go to and whether you want to do 40 each or 40 total (20 each).

Spots (exercises included)
LBC’s
Merkins
Burpees
Flutter
Dips
Plank Roes
Scorpion Dry Docks
WideArm Merkins
Freddy Mercury
Box Cutters
and more ab exercise

with about 8 minutes left to go YHC called time

Mosey over to strip in front of the stores as I gave a short testimony about reflecting on my 30’s (don’t worry the longer version is in my moleskin at the bottom). As promised, since its my Birthday everyone got a cupcake (its what we called a suicide growing up, but with youth taking their lives at a younger age due to the pressures put on them, we decided at Basketball to call them cupcakes no instead of suicides).

After the cupcake we moseyed back to CFA for COT and BOM

Announcements – CAH workout next Friday still looking for a Q (contact NASA if interested), F3 Dads this Saturday

Prayers – Smithers in-law close to passing from Cancer, Dark Helmets friend also close to passing from Cancer, Marriages, Qbert’sDar 64 year old father who lost his job yesterday

Moleskin
1. Would like to thank Barry Manilow for allowing be back to Q at this wonderful AO and to all the PAX who came out (or posted elsewhere) that have wished me a happy birthday.

2. Moderate – what does it mean. Well it all means something different to all of us, what it doesn’t mean is easy. Think about moderate this way. If i’m someone who doesn’t drink alcohol very often, 1-2 drinks may be a moderate amount. If I drink a little more frequently 3-4 or a six pack might be moderate. Whereas an alcoholic may think moderate is 7-8 drinks. The point is this applies to your fitness level as well. What I think is moderate may be different than what someone else thinks is moderate. The key is to keep posting and keep getting better.

3. Life in my 30’s – Short Version -turned 30 in 2007, seperated from wife and started going to church again in 2011, divorced finalized in 2012, started going to F3 in October 2013, lost my father to cancer in June 2014, got remarried in August 2015, turn 40 today. Now you see, its more complicated than that. Long Version – In 2007 i thought I had it all was married had a couple of dogs, had a job teaching and coaching, everything was good (just not great). But something in me wanted more. I wanted a family. At this point in my life I was working a lot and my wife at the time worked a lot too. We weren’t going to church, had no relationship with God/Jesus, and really had no time for each other. Was even told my wife at the time that she didn’t want me and that we didn’t have time to be intimate. I turned to Porn. When that wasn’t enough I cheated on my wife. That lead down the path to separation and divorce. It also lead me back to going to church and listening to God’s word. My divorce went final in October 2012. In December 2012 I started dating Elizabeth. In September 2013 we broke up. While broken up I decided to give this F3 thing a try. Santini Q’ed and I already knew half the guys as I was teaching/or had taught many of their kids. On that first Saturday in October in 2013 I struggled through the workout and was given the name Longshanks (evil king in Braveheart). I would post sometimes, just not often. In March 2014 I asked Elizabeth to marry me before heading off to a Spartan Race in Charlotte. She said yes. 3 days later my dad called to tell me he had Pancreatic Cancer, 3 months later he was gone. Married my M in August 2015, and turned 40 today.

4. Back when I was in my early 30’s I thought I had a good amount of guy friends, which may be kind of hard when you teach elementary school PE and there’s only 3-5 guys in the entire school. When I went through my separation and divorce I realized that the almost all the guys I considered my friends were actually just husbands of my ex-wifes friends. I had almost nobody to turn to. Luckily a few guys pointed me back to the church. I got involved in volunteering and being part of a mens a group. Shortly after that I started coming to F3, although at first I didn’t make it a workout priority, I would go on Saturdays if I woke up on time (not always easy when coaching and getting home late Friday nights). If I didn’t wake up to go to F3, I would just go to the gym and do a fern workout. I realized something was still missing so I made it a point to start going to F3 more often. About the same time I started going more often I engaged and that was celebrated by the PAX and my dad learned he had cancer and eventually passed and the PAX where there for me during that too. The thing I’ve realized over the last almost 4 years of coming to F3 is that as long as you are willing to be part of the PAX by posting regularly, the PAX will be there for you when you need it. I know that from being a part of F3, my faith is stronger, my relationship with my M is better, and I feel like a better leader in my house and my community.

5. Keep Posting. Keep mentioning your prayers and praises. Keep getting better!! We are all in this together.

Shanks out (mic drop)

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34

Last Day in my 30’s

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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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Jekyll’s Ladder

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20 Men descended upon the Colosseum for some pain yesterday. YHC was proud to have such a large group considering all of the great AOs and great Qs we had in the Fort. The Colosseum has become one of the toughest workouts in our region and the  Weinke did not disappoint.

Last year, Jekyll introduced the Pax to the light posts located behind GHES. Interestingly enough there is a great hill attached to those light posts. With a little bit of work by YHC, Jekyll graciously shared his Weinke from last year and it was up to me to execute.

The Thang

Mosey to parking lot avoiding a HUGE spider web along the way

COP

SSH x 30 (that should be the minimum for a COP)

IW x 15

Windmills x 10

CDD x 15

Plank

Mtn Climbers x 20

Plank

Moroccan Night Clubs

Mosey to the light posts

10 light posts to the top. Stop at each one and do the following:

10 Merkins – Round 1

10 Squats – Round 2

10 Bombjacks – Round 3

10 LBCs – Round 4

Time cut us short so we moseyed back doing LBCs along the way and finished at 6:03

Covered 3.9 miles and 100 of each exercises….Whew we were tired!

 

Moleskin

  • Read the newsletter
  • Upcoming 3rd F Convergence on 8/4 with our local school leaders
  • Continued prayer for marriages and our kids as we hit the halfway point of summer
  • Read a great article on Active Listening that has application at work and home. Check it out here https://www.farnamstreetblog.com/2017/07/active-listening/
  • Always a pleasure to lead this group. No question I am better because of the quality of Pax that we have in the Fort.
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