A Heavy Mettle Field Day

Been a while since I’ve done one of these. Bear Grylls asked me to Q Mettle Forger earlier in the week. I’ve been in my comfy cocoon for quite some time, so I figured it is about time to get out of my rut. I greatly appreciate the offer.

I have not Q’d in a while so it was a challenge to come up with something. As 12:15 drew near the lot was empty with the exception of my vehicle. Right when I was about to start on my own, Photobomb showed up right at 1215. I am SO glad he did!! I doubt I would’ve done half of what I ended up doing if he wasn’t there pushing me. Thanks ‘Bomb!

No FNGs, just me and Photobomb. So no disclaimer, no jibber-jabber, no mosey, no warmup. Just get right into it.

FIELD DAY
5 Stations of partner work set up on the soccer field, each station has a set of cones with one cone on one sideline, another cone on the opposite sideline (across the field width approx 50yds). Team field work. One person does the ‘home’ work, while the other does the ‘away’ work moving across the width of the field and back, then swap and do the work before moving on to the next station.

  1. Home – KB swings AMRAP (45lbs); Away – sandbag thrust throw (40lbs)
  2. Home – Ruck plate upright row to OH press to OH tri-extension and back down AMRAP (30lbs); Away – “sled” pull (2-3 cindys in a snow disc)
  3. Home – Sandbag LSS AMRAP (50lbs); Away – Sandcake slams (40lbs)
  4. Home – The crane hold (see below); Away – 2 cindy farmer carry
  5. Home – Cindy curls AMRAP; Away – ruck run/shuffle/yog around field perimeter (45lbs in ruck)
  6. Rinse and repeat.

Crane hold – something I learned while going thru PT for my broken wrist. Using a contraption of a PVC pipe (~30in long x 2in dia), 20lbs (or more) of weight, a ~3ft length of rope securing the two together, you basically hold the pipe with both hands shoulder width apart, palms down, extend both arms directly outwards from your chest, elbows fully extended, and hold the weight off of the ground as long as you can while keeping your arms out 90deg from your body, with your back straight and upright, knees slightly bent, feet shoulder width apart. Adding difficulty is twisting the pipe in your hands so the weight raises all the way up and lowers all the way down – while you are holding as noted above. It really works your grip, wrist, forearms, shoulders, and core.

Had some wonderful 80s metal going in the background, and me and Walter had some great convo as usual. Totally dig that dude. Both of us got 2 entire rounds in with very minimal modification!! THANK YOU PHOTOBOMB FOR THE PUSH!! I would NOT have done that much on my own.

Pollen and dust were horrible!! My old man lungs were not liking it at all. Gonna be a rough night later.

Looking forward to getting out in the gloom more. I’m tired of being tired and unmotivated. Not to mention badly out of shape. Thanks Bear for the opportunity to lead!

SYITG
-NASA

 

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Embrace the low point…now get up.

It’s Minnow Pond. It’s a 3mi minimum with a few push-ups as we now like to say.
Jekyll asked the question. I answered in the affirmative.
The day before, marketing for competing regional AO’s began and man, it was hot.
The weather was great and I’m hoping these other 15 PAX would’ve still posted in the 35deg rain. But…time will tell. Remember, durability and stories are best formed in adverse conditions.

There you have it, the setup is complete.
0500…A few pre-runners. Remember when guys did that at Minnow Pond? Isn’t the intent to push yourself?
0514 Pledge of Allegiance
0515 Disclaimer for the 16 of us

As a group, run to the FMCOG parking lot at the corner of Withers &  Academy.
Warmup consisting of windmills, SSH & Burpees

The plan…Run each leg then 10 Merkins, 10ea leg Jumping Lunges, 20 American Hammers in the parking lot upon the return.
Leg 1: Run up to Tom Hall & back.
Leg 2: Run up to Banks & back.
Leg 3: Run up to Meacham & back.
Leg 4: Run to Main St & back.

All were able to complete this at least 1 time and some completed it twice for a total distance of 3-4mi.
Run it back to COT for some final closing exercises.

Announcements:
Great Harlan’s Heroes fundraising update from Jekyll. Stay tuned for the next opportunity.
Yeti is coming next weekend. Partner up or do the full thing.

Hey Jekyll. Thanks for the nod.

Maximus

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Cupid’s Cup 5k at Minnow Pond

The date on Thursday marked 6 years since YHC found himself in a non-siren, precautionary ambulance ride to Atrium Pineville with some annoying chest pain. Turns out my LAD needed 3 stents and I needed some cardiac rehab. Ever since then, about this time every year, I support that program by running in The Cupid’s Cup 5K put on by Atrium Health. The donations and support from F3 have always been overwhelming.

Well, 2020-2021 being what it is, the event was virtual this year. Not only that, but the cardiac rehab program added another Pax to its list of graduates. Bonsai, as you know, had a hiccup in his LAD this past summer. While both of us know that program is awesome, the F3 brotherhood plays an even more important role.

And it was on full display Thursday 2/11/2021. 25 of you came out to support us. You ran hard with us. You prayed with us and you supported the cause with you donations. It was truly humbling to be surrounded by so many Pax giving so much of themselves.

Congrats to Scalp for 1st overall and Long Duck for 1st of the respectables.

And please remember, if you’re experiencing any sort of chest discomfort, arm pain or unexplained nausea/vomiting, don’t brush it off. Get to the doctor/ER/Urgent Care. Time is precious when it comes to treatment and care. The time afterwards when you’re surrounded by the love and support of F3 is priceless.

Aye!

Boeheim

P.S. – Still time to donate/run virtually through Sunday 2/14

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Take that, treats!

IIRC, the last and only time YHC has Qed at Golden Corral was partnering with Slapshot over a year ago, so when Lutefisk said there was an opening, it was time to step up. I had quite a few devious plans built up for Q-vengence over the years of getting my arse handed to me by HIM left and right and had a hard time settling on just one, but then, it came to me in a vision… The PAX were forewarned to bring lights.

the gloom

I pulled into the Corral just in time and saw Skipper, Half Shell, Lutefisk, Geronimo, Fire Marshall Bill, and Nasa waiting to see what awful nastiness would ensue. The disclaimer was disclaimed after I verified Skipper’s identity, because I’m bad with names.

Warm up

LOL, wut?

The thang

Run to the light (okay, no traffic, let’s cross at Burn) and head to Dunkin. Circle up for 15 SSH and 15 Monkey Humpers (faces facing away from Dunkin). This is where Olaf caught up with us.

The next leg was supposed to stop at Brewsters, but a couple of female runners were stretching in front of the building, and I don’t like looking like a creeper, so we just kept going until we got to Abbot’s (YHC was reminded a few times that we were doing a Bootcamp during this leg). 10x merkins and 10x monkey humpers.

Last leg, run to the Model A parking lot and look for any PAX from Colosseum (I talked to Slapshot and he said they’d make their way there if possible).

Quick DORA to wait and see if Colo shows up, only got past the first round but this is what was called:
100 BBSU, 100 Leg Lift, 200 LBC
Partners would run around the parking lot islands or bear crawl to the middle island and back (an option that was picked only twice!)

YHC kept a close watch on the time to ensure we’d get back in time, and with 20 min left, we retraced our steps. The first leg ended in the Gamestonks parking lot (at the top of the hill) for 10x Peter Parker and 10x Parker Peter.

The next leg, YHC began slowing down, but the PAX waited for me at Brewsters and were doing some very nice looking flutters. When YHC arrived we added 10x Low Slow Squat and 10x Imperial Walkers.

Next leg back to Dunkin, where I was smoked by the rest of the PAX, who were doing overhead clap when I arrived, and we busted out more monkey humpers before using the crosswalk.

Finally we converged on the S wall of HT for people’s chair with bear crawl chain. Then BTTW chain with a run (PAX really ran fast here). About 90 seconds left, we took our one and only ten count before a 45s BTTW (countdown by YHC) and back to COT.

COT

Hyped the Yeti and prayed for a Geronimo’s new job and some PAX who were hoping to find something new to do.  Wives were also mentioned (context omitted).

nmm

I generally try to find some kind of message for my Qs, but today was all about stupid fun. My original plan was a bit more ambitious than my body is prepared to pull off, and far more running than a BC should be (this idea will be a thing in the future, though).

Seriously, though. Fun is what I needed.  Fun has been in short supply over the last 11 months.  The kind of fun where you’re laughing, gasping and wheezing because you choose to do something a bit too ambitious and everyone smoked you, but it doesn’t matter because you’re all part of one big stupid group of fun.  And my Garmin says I burned 731 calories during this fun.

Monkey Humpers facing away from Dunkin and the ice cream shops were part of that fun. I hope security personnel get a hearty laugh or a “WTH” look on their faces if we were on camera, too.

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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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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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Ballroom Fun

Beginning today, I wake up 5 minutes earlier than usual so I’m not rushing to get to an AO. I typically pull up around 5:14. No more of that bs. I keep telling myself to go all-in so I need to be more disciplined all the way around. It worked well; I got to #TheBallroom early just so I could freeze my balls off with a couple other guys as we waited for 5:15.

My game plan this morning was to do a little bit of this and a little bit of that. We stuck to that plan.

Warmup: Mosey around the lot and sung some karaoke while we waited for the last car to park. The pax taught me that if you flip and reverse a karaoke then you’re not really flipping and reversing anything. You can only reverse, no flip. After some High Knees and Buttkickers, we circled up and did some SSH, Low Slow Merkins, Weed Pullers, and Goofballs.

The Thang: We moseyed to the athletic field parking lot for some more SSHs and back and forth running. I wanted to keep our heart rates up a bit but made it a you vs you run. We did some Mountain Climbers and even more SSHs and then some more back and forth running. The we moseyed down the path for the next stop. There we did some more SSHs, Mountain Climbers, Merkins, SSHs, Karaoke (Uhaul was in a singing mood), LBCs, CBLs, and then a mosey back to the school for some wall sits. A couple rounds of 3 counts per pax, a round of 3 merkins per pax, a round of 1 burpee per pax. Somewhere in there we Toy Soldier’d over to the hill for a Bear Crawl up and a Crawl Bear down. A slow walk up the hill to the school’s awning got us to our endpoint. We did some Dips. We did some Incline Merkins. We did some Calf Raises. We did some Step Ups. 6 o’clock bell rang.

I always hope to push a moderate workout to the higher threshold of moderate. I never want it to be too easy. Nobody yelled at me so I hope it wasn’t too easy. I appreciate the opportunity to lead; thank you Smithers.

Announcements: 8th Anniversary Party.
PSA: Get yourself some term life insurance.
Prayers & Praises: Praise for Drop Thrill’s brother being home. Continued prayers for his recovery. M’s & 2.0’s.

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New Fellowship Ruck AO Official Starts 9/10 at 5 am

The fellowship ruck Sole to Soul that we have been doing unofficially for about 3 months has been gaining momentum so we have official start  date of 9/10 at 5 am. We shoot for  4 plus miles every Thursday starting at Panera Bread in Kingsley followed by Hanging with Stang afterwards. What better way could you start your day with a awesome mumblechatter while rucking and a great conversation afterwards with a great sunrise. Join YHC as we launch this AO. I look forward to seeing you in the Gloom.

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Covid Vaccine for the Soul Coming in September… Join In

Has Covid frozen your faith Journey as Churches have closed their doors?  Or maybe Covid has you asking bigger question of God and you would like to be in a community of Men to discover the answers.  Are you interested in growing in your faith walk? Discovering a path toward an Intimate, Abiding relationship with Christ through a small group study.

Maybe you have been in the church for your entire life, the last 10 years or you are just now opening your mind to this idea of a higher power… a “Sky Q”.  Regardless of where you are in your faith walk we all have room to grow and mature in our relationship with Christ.

We are all on a faith journey and some of us are more or less equipped to take our faith deeper.  If you have a gap in any of these areas then I have a challenge for you.

  1. Do you feel that you have created a solid foundation of knowing who God is and his desire to be a part of your life?
  2. Are you in a group that is consistently seeking to grow in a relationship with God?
  3. Do you feel that you have an adequate tool kit to help you grow deeper in your faith?

In September, we will be launching into a Journey to build from the ground up a knowledge of who God is and to start to learn how to have an intimate, abiding relationship with him.  Please reach out to any of the Journey alumni to learn more and to get connected.

Aye!

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Valentine’s Day Hangover Milkshakes for Everyone

Well, after very active Valentine’s Day celebrations there were 6 HIMs in need of recovery Saturday morning.  Almost 3 miles of ground covered, all while actively obeying traffic laws to ensure we did not have another run in with local law enforcement.

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