Tag: On The Rocks

Pantheon-A good decision or not . . . ?

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Been sick for four days now and decided to suck it up and lead this morning no matter how I felt. Tough, tough decision. Stupid decision to go out, too, but I couldn’t leave my brothers hangin’ in the (almost) cold. Just didn’t do any fist bumping today or breathing in somebody’s face. Worked on my verbal compliments today and, boy, were there plenty to give with this group of men!  It was a blast as usual when you don’t know what you’re going to get with Straight Up!

Standard Disclosures No FNGs today

Quality over Quantity today

Topic of the Month: Victory

Shared what came to mind for me was:

1 Corinthians 15:57: But thanks be to God! He gives us the VICTORY through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Warm-up:

Ran a small lap: doing

High knees

Butt kickers

Bunny hops

Figure 8s

Toy Soliders

Continued with:

12 each person’s name SSHs

12 Ab Vigodas

15 Low slow squats

15 Peter Parkers

12 Merkins

15 Moroccan nightclubs

Rolling Crucifix – 4X each side

Table Twists – 4X each side

The Thang:

Attempted to run individually .65 miles but we cut it short at .35 miles

Moved to the field:

3 Exercises in a row:

1. Twisting Pistons until failure

2. 4 “Mancave move” (name made up by me) while others choose between X-jumps or no arms up burpees or scissor squats. 2 people did the move at a time and then 2 more rotated in. “Mancave move” is a merkin on weights, right row, merkin, left row, left row, merkin, squat press of weights up and control down, then repeat

3. 12 Alternating plank jacks or just plank jacks if you are not coordinated

20 second rest

2 Exercises in a row:

1. The Lazy Dora: Partner up;

One partner planks (Regular plank or back plank if you choose)

Other partner:

60 total Heals to the Heavens (12 each, then rotate with partner)

60 total each side Austin Ass-Kickers (12 each, then rotate with partner)

60 total cross jacks + 60 total plank jacks (12 each, then rotate with partner)

2. Tree hugger (for all of us) for 3 go-rounds: squat position hugging imaginary tree and PAX not hugging sprints around the group and taps shoulder of next person who then sprints, . . . 3X around for each person.

30 second rest

Burst Training:

2 50 yard sprints

Final Exercises:

15 Straight Calf Raises

10 Merkins

10 Squats

15 Outward Calf Raises

10 Merkins

10 Squats

Mosey to parking lot

COT

Announcements/Read your newsletter

Highlighted Praise:

Fish Sticks going to see extended family over the weekend

On the Rocks has read 94% of the Bible. Have you?

Highlighted Prayer Requests: For children in our area suffering from things such as bullying, identity issues, and self-esteem challenges. Our challenge: to encourage these preteens/teens with words of Victory listed above.

Diesel’s father’s next steps in life

Safety for Fish Sticks half marathon

Fish Sticks: thanks for the opportunity to lead some outstanding, hustle-oriented men this morning! It was fun!

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Creeping Death at Pantheaon

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Warmup:  Slow mosey with high knees, bear crawls, lunges and merkins.

The Thang:  Moseyed to TCES baseball field for a ‘low to the ground’ beatdown.  Tour of bases 3x for 20 reps each with burnout after each rotation.

Creep                1st Base                  2nd Base                 3rd Base 

  • Tour 1 – Bear Crawl         Box Cutters               Merkins                  Donkey Kicks,

Home Base Beatdown – Metallica’s ‘Creeping’ Death Song,

( Sphynx Plank up and down for intrumentals to ground roll merkin for lyrics ),

Creep                1st Base                  2nd Base                 3rd Base 

  • Tour 2 –    Crabwalk          Flutter Kicks      Diamond Merks        Thrusts,

Home Base Beatdown – Metallica’s ‘For Whom the Bell Tolls’ song,

( Kneeling Standup Squats for instrumental to Carolina Dry Docks for Lyrics )

Creep                1st Base                  2nd Base                 3rd Base 

  • Tour 3 – Sphynx low crawl, Hello Dolly’s       Wide Merks             Side Thrusts

Home Base Beatdwon – Metallica’s ‘One’

( Honeymooners to Crab dips with Jack Webbs in between ).

Discussed the topic of the month “Control” and to release things we cannot control and drive hard for the things we can and are called to do.

Prayers for all those with ailments especially local cancer survivors, patience and guidance to honor equality for women, and for Routers family as he travels.

Announcements:  FishStix 5k fundraiser, the Green Beret foundation charity.

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Pantheon – Boot Camp (Do the harder thing)

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Fish Sticks asked me to Q this one and I was pumped as this was one of my first AO’s I ever visited.  I didn’t have a long time to ponder on this one, so I knew like my RUCK workouts I wanted to make it a little “heavy”.  So I pulled up early and hid my sandbags, ammo cans, and Ruck for a fun filled workout.

I keep deciding that I must “do the harder thing” in my life.  It’s easy to slack at work, its easy to let the TV raise my children, its easy to fartsack, but I must do the harder thing.  That was the theme of this workout, and the 8 PAX fully embraced it.

The W/O

A normal mosey at Pantheon is a lap around the lot, well we chose the harder thing and lapped around the entire lot and building, stoping with some merkins to throw in there.

Circle UP

Side straddle hops

 Cherry Pickers (even though Cable Guy informed me cherries do not grow on the ground so we should use the strawberry picker term)

Moroccan Night Clubs

Windmills

Merkins – Hold Plank – Merkins – Hold Plank – Mountain Climber (That was for sure the “harder thing”)

Here we go:

So I lined up 8 different stations that we would rotate through.  One of the stations involved running, when the runner returned is when we would rotate.

Station 1 – 60lb Sandbag Toss (Lil E threw it like he was tossing someone an apple, killed it!!!)

Station 2 – Overhead Press – 30 Pound Ammo Can

Station 3 – Burpees

Station 4 – RUCK Swings – 45# plate

Station 5 – Box Cutters

Station 6 – Low Slow Squats

 Station 7 – Bomb Jacks

Station 8 – 40lb Sandbag run (trust me running is way harder with a bag)

I was super impressed with the PAX.  I had a “shorter” distance picked out for the first go around with the run, and after the first rotation through I asked lets make this longer and everyone jumped out and chose the harder thing and we looped the parking lot sprinting with a 40lb bag.

We went through this rotation twice, then I brought the PAX back to the main parking lot.  Typically in suicides we do it at the basketball court and have the prescribed lines, well the harder thing would be to do it across the long a$$ parking lot with dropping and doing 15 merkins at each stop.  Props again to cable guy for the most proper merkin I’ve seen in a while.  All PAX pushed themselves hard.

10 count then a chose the harder thing mosey back to our stations (we took the long indirect route).  Then ever PAX chose the harder thing and sprinted out the end of the mosey, even though our lungs were burning.

Back through for one last rotation on our stations, where everyone gave it all they had.

We then chose the harder thing again and made a long loop back to COT and held a on your six plank until we saw 6 hit a watch.

It was awesome and a pleasure to Q with these guys.  Everyone out there gave it there all and made me look slow on these sandbag carries!

Announcements

Ragnar

Read  your News Letter

P&P 

Expecting Mothers – PAX with sick family

Throughout the workout we talked a little bit about control.  I mentioned that we have to understand what we have control over and what we don’t.  We all have control over our mindset during this workout, and the ability to push as hard as needed.  We have the ability to show control and patience, as I mentioned my 3yo yelling at my 1yo and all I wanted to do was raise my voice in frustration and anger but a true leader shows control and mimics the desired results.  We also acknowledged how we have to relinquish control and follow the path for our life.

Half shell said something I’m going to leave you with that I will be pondering over for a long time to come, he said he was once told “calm is contagious” and that really stuck with me.

So with that I bid you farewell, and #calmiscontagious

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All Eyes on You

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Pantheon (Tega Cay Elementary)

Disclaimer: No FNGs this morning

Warm-a-rama I: Mosey around the big loop, including high knees, butt kickers, side shuffles, toy soldiers

Warm-a-rama II: To ball field for some SSH, Merkins, Mountain Climbers, Imperial Walkers, Hillbilly Walkers

Thang I: Indian Run: Last man carries a 32-ct case of water to the front. That’s 37.8 lbs in case you were wondering. Once the delivery is made, the deliverer drops to the back and the deliveree does 5 merkins then becomes the next deliverer. Did this around the school, for two carries per PAX.

Thang II: Line up on baseline, each pax in sequence goes down and back the court in the manner prescribed below while the rest do isometric workout, also as prescribed below.

  • Bear Crawl half court + people chairs
  • Sprints full court + forearm planks
  • Long jumps half court + superman
  • Wheel barrows half court + body destroyers
  • Power skips full court + balls to the wall
  • Side shuffles full court + 6 inches
  • Back sprints full court + low planks
  • ran out of time here (would have finished with piggy back carries)

COT: 9 paxposted this morning, that includes Fish Sticks who went for a run in preparation for a November half.  Prayers for marriages and relationships and for those going through hardships as from hurricane damage or otherwise.

Skin: Nice work by all this morning. I think everyone was forced modify at some point this morning on account of muscle fatigue, with the possible exception of Bear Gryllz.

Fish Stix thanks for the opportunity to Q. Sputnik thanks for your help planning the workout, and then not showing up for the workout!

God calls us to listen to Him: listen to hear and listen to do. Can you hear Him and are you following His voice?

Rocks Out

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Buncho’ sprints, foul shots and a Burpee Mile

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Thanks for the reminder from Fishsticks on my Q.  Don’t Q as often as I could but I definitely need a reminder system in place.

Weinke ready to go, no sandbags, no cones, but arrived early and placed a basketball on the court behind the school and a flag in the front.  7 arrived really wanting to do a lot of Burpee Miles, or so l thought.

No FNGs but many PAX that I need to get to know better. Very quick disclaimer and we…

Jogged warmup lap around parking lot with buttkickers, high knees, side shuffles and crossovers (find a line and cross that line as you jog…left, right, left, etc.)

Circled up for: SSH, squats, merkins, ‘active’ supermans, flutter, merkins, windmills and the always funny to watch goof balls.

HIt the wall for 3 rotations of people chair/an exercise/sprint to stop sign in front of school and back. Second rotation of p.c. was one leg holds. The exercises were calf raises 3 x 10, squat jumps 10, 1 leg squats.

Back to playground with 5 stations, partnered up and rotated….  Station 1: Bench Dips, 2: Bench Derkins, 3: ground pullups using playground apparatus, 4: “L” hang for approx. 30 seconds then ran to 5: each PAX had to hit a foul shot, max 3 shots.

*** The plan unbeknownst, and not told, to PAX was to count the missed free throws and end the workout with that number of burpees. Unfortunately, we later ran out of time. ***

Approx. 10 minutes of a Burpee Mile on front ‘track’. Burpees Miles are intervals of:  timed sprint/timed jog/burpees over a designated time.  IE. sprint 30-60 secs, jog 2-4 mins, burpees (whatever  time and # burpees is desired). Today’s improvisations were: approx. :15 sprint,  :45 sec jog but with alternating exercises: burpees, in place run lunges (Iron Mikes), bomb jacks, ranger merkins.

A little core at the end. Flutters, V Ups, partner crunches at 90, 45, 0 degrees.

Circled up and discussed monthly theme of leadership. There are always opportunities within F3 to lead or assist lead. Whether it be Q’ing, helping another PAX with an initiative or taking on your own project. Just do it and PAX will follow and help.  As a leader, look for those who are demonstrating their willingness to help and ask them to become a leader in whatever it is you are doing.

Prayers for F3 Pale Rider from Augusta (per C-Span) and for hurricane victims. Donate to Colombia mission-turned Florida assistance PAX with water, diapers, etc. Senator Tressel is collecting underwear for Harvey victims: https://f3thefort.com/2017/09/04/393968/

Thanks all for posting and the opportunity to lead! And post those BB’s…apology shout out to Lake Wylie for a missed Quagmire BB!

Bolt

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Training Camp at the Deep!

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Considering how excited I am about the upcoming NFL season and the fact that Saturday was opening day for College Football, it was only fitting we had a Football themed hour long boot camp.

Moseyed right over to the football field and got started:

Warm-up (using the width of the football field)

  • Butt kickers across field
  • High knees coming back
  • Karoeke across and back
  • Power skips across and back
  • Low back pedal 1/2 way, turn and sprint to end (do the same coming back)
  • Mirror me on the side shuffle – Pax watch me and do as I do.  Included many changes in directions on the shuffle, random merkins, back to shuffle, a few falls on the wet field, you get the point
  • Lastly some stretching prior to the real fun

Extra credit fun throughout – the Pax split between two teams (1 & 2).  In between each major section of the workout, we did 1 on 1 receiver routes.  Each team would get a shot on O and a shot on D.  I was all-time Q – if the offense caught the ball, their team only had to do 5 burpees.  If the defense defended the pass or picked it, they did 5 burpees.  The “losing” team in each battle had to do 5 KRACKEN burpees (gross).  This was done throughout the hour long workout.  By far the best play all day was the first of the day, hooking up w/ Royale on a hard sell fade route, turned into a post.  From there it got pretty ugly, the majority of the time being my fault as the QB w/ a wet ball and terrible touch.

1st bit of fun

  • Sprint Ladders – 20 sprints.  10 yard sprint, 10 sec rest, 10 yard sprint back, 10 sec rest, 20 yard sprint, 20 sec rest, 20 yard sprint back, 20 sec rest, 30 yard sprint, 30 sec rest, 30 yard sprint back, 30 sec rest, 40 yard sprint, 30 sec rest, 40 yards back, 30 sec rest, 50 yard sprint, 30 sec rest….AND back down again finishing on 2 10 yard sprints.  The Pax owned it, I was dying.

More 1 on 1 battles and burpees

2nd section

  • Partner up  – partner pushes 50 yards, switch w/ the partner who pushed jumping on the back of the other who then carries them back to the goal-line (50 yard back).  Switch up w/ the opposite partner pushing and then the original “pusher” carrying their partner back.
  • Merkin Rolls – again, Pax all in a plank, and have to mirror me looking at them.  Nothing but merkin, followed by quick rolls into more merkins, sometimes multiple rolls one after the other.  This is where I noticed the impact of those rolls and the dizziness in the eyes of the Pax who refused to do some merkins in fear they might vomit.  Good stuff.
  • All Pax get into a plank on the goal-line side by side, and starting on the end, the first Pax sprints 40 yards and then back.  Then the next, then the next.  We all hold the plank until all Pax have sprinted their 40 yards and back.  (in my defense, I gave them the option to do 5 burpees instead of the 2 40 yard dashes, they selected sprints).

1 on 1 battles and burpees

3rd station

  • All Pax get in a line, follow one after the other – 10 yard bear crawl, side shuffle between hash marks, bear crawl the next 10 yards, shuffle opposite direction between hash marks, bear crawl 10 more yards, etc.  You do this until you bear crawl 50 yards.  We did one 10 count rest, then rinse and repeat back another 50 yards (100 yards of bear crawl in total).

1 on 1 battles and burpees

4th station

  • Ab station – all Pax on the goal-line.  Gave them the option to call out ab exercise, and then we do OYO as many as you can while the first two pax sprint 50 yards and back (they are our timer).  Go all the way down the line of planking pax 2 times through (so all Pax had 4 more 50 yard sprints and tons of non stop ab work w/ the only rest being your sprinting time).  Did LBC’s, heels to heaven, freddie mercuries, boat/canoe, big boy sit-ups, and others.

Ran back to COT w/ 1 minute to spare for some hamstring stretches which were much needed after all the sprinting today.  Prayers included – jobs (Whopper interview w/ Husqavarna, Kenyan search), cancer (Java’s co-worker who was just diagnosed, Lutafisk’s mom, Cobra Kai’s wife), those impacted by Harvey and a great message on perspective from Java.  Followed it all up w/ coffeeteria at Dunkin w/ a guest appearance by Witch Hunt after he left his Co-Q w/ Jedi at Alcatraz.  Appreciate the chance to lead fellas.  Had a ball.

ChaChing

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Pantheon Sweat fest

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Always a pleasure to be invited to Q at Pantheon, especially since it’s basically in my backyard.  The Pax gathered and it was great to see some guys I haven’t seen in a while, and always great to have Jekyll show up because I know that there will be great mumble chatter.  No FNGs the disclaimer was given and we were off for a little warm up lap and then circled up for COP.

The Thang – SSH, Imperial Walkers, Abe Vagoda, Mountain Climbers, Plankorama, Moroccan Night Club, Freddie.  Mosey to the front of school where cones were neatly set up along the walk. Very simple, do the exercise on the cone and then a lap around the parking lot, come back do the exercise again and add the next one in line, and on and on until all 8 cones are done alternating large and small laps. Start with 10 Merkins, 15 Squats, 10 Hello Dolly, 10 CDD, 20 LBC, 10 Burpees, 10 Monkey Humpers.  I called at 6:00, everyone did awesome and a few even finished them all! Head to COT

Announcements- Invergence 9/29, read your newsletter

Prayers – Bob the Builders M going in for test, Sputnik job interview. A quick discussion on the Discipline of the Lord and how we are not supposed to hate it, we are called to rejoice in our suffering because our suffering leads to perseverance, which leads to character which leads to Hope, and Hope will never let us down.

A great morning and always a joy to lead the Pax

 

 

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#Quagmire

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19 PAX showed discipline by putting in work and getting after it on this humid morning.

Disclaimer was disclaimed.

The Thang.

WARM-UP:

  • Slow Windmill – 10
  • Low Squat – 10
  • Mosey – Knees to chest / Ankles to Hips
  • Mosey – Walking Lunges / Toy Soldiers
  • COP in Old Navy Parking Lot
  • I.W. – 10
  • SSH – 25
  • Merkins 20 / Peter Parkers 8  / Parker Peters 10 / honeymooner, downward dog, honeymooner
  • Morrocan Night Club 20

Mosey To WALL behind Target:

  • Peoples Chair – Run to Cone; 3 Burpees – two Pax at a time
  • BTTW
  • 25 Donkey Kicks

Mosey to Pier 1 Imports Parking Lot where cones were spaced out ~25 yards apart for a total of ~100 yards. We side shuffled L/R (alternated at each cone), until we reached the far end of the parking lot. There, a BOP awaited. At each cone we were disciplined and decided to Get After It:

  • 20 Close Grip Merkins
  • 20 Flying Squirrels
  • 20 Wide Grip Merkins
  • 20 Jump Squats
  • 20 Merkins

Bear Crawl 25 yards, Walk 25 yards back to the BOP. I flipped the BOP and we knocked out the following at each cone:

  • 20 Bomb Jacks
  • 20 High Knees
  • 20 Jumping Lunges
  • 40 SSH
  • 20 Merkins

Mosey to Water Fountain:

  • 30 Dips
  • 16 leg step ups

Mosey to Best Buy:

  • Two 50 yard sprints.

I estimate we ran a total of 2.5 – 3 miles during the workout.

COT / Name O Rama / Announcements / Prayers / Praises

Moleskin –

There were 4 PAX who got the respect, of the other PAX saying “RESPECT!” during the COT. As I push myself, and get pushed by my fellow PAX through these beat-downs, I’m very appreciative to see these HIMs (the RESPECT PAX), push themselves and those around them.

The 50+ years young PAX are inspirational to me. It proves to me, that age is a number, the right attitude is a mindset, and through a disciplined approach to how I live my life, I too, can endure a beat-down for years (and hopefully, decades) to come. Thanks men, for leading by example.

DaVinci – Thank you for the opportunity to Q.

#CoopStrong

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Well Rounded

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11 Men, one of them a 2.0, descended on Pantheon with a Boot Camp gleam in their bleary eyes. YHC wanted to take them out of their comfort zone.

The Thang
Structured Running workout for first half:
6 Min Warm Up around the “track” with various warm up routines

  • Karaoke (both sides)
  • Butt Kickers
  • High Knees
  • Side Shuffle

5 Min build at ~ 9 min pace to prep for the main event
4x Repeats:

  • 1 minute slow run/walk
  • 30 seconds AYG

5 Min cooldown at ~ 9 min pace

After the run, which completed with a mosey to the back side of the AO, we hit COP for some dynamic stretching to loosen the muscles from the run:

  • Windmills
  • Potato Pickers
  • Mountain Climbers
  • Honeymooner/Downward Dog Combo

Line up on the sideline of the basketball court

  • Burpee Broad Jump Across the Court and Crabwalk Back
  • Inchworm across the Court and Bear Crawl Back

Mosey to swings, split into 2 groups for 3 rounds of:

  • 20 Swing Crunches
  • 10 Pull Ups

Mosey around AO, including some toy soldiers to 6MOM with:

  • Flutter
  • Freddy Mercuries
  • American Hammer

Close out with BOM

NMM
As I thought about the Weinke last night, I decided that I wanted to expose the PAX to some structured run workout training, as most likely haven’t done much of that. There is a funny story that Dredd will tell about an opportunity he had to train with the French Foreign Legion while he was in Special Forces. Basically he was extremely strong and, he assumed, fit when he went over. The French told him he’d never survive their training because he was too big. They commenced to show him that constant movement will show you real fitness, not just how much you can pick up. He barely made it through and many of his team didn’t actually make it through this training, despite being “big and strong”. This, among other things, created perspective for a well rounded fitness routine, e.g. the prototypical “Pearls on a String” workout you will hear about.

I’ve been running a ton lately and have really seen improvement since I’ve started to introduce this into my routine. Many PAX will sign up for an event and log a bunch of miles (unless you are Cornhole) in prep for a race, but it is just repeating the mileage. I believe that to get better, you need to have a well rounded routine, not just repeating the same old workout over an over. That’s the motivation behind today’s workout. In all things, getting out of your comfort zone is a way to grow… to get better.

Honor to Serve.

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Theatre of Pain with Motley Crue

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Met him in Vegas in 2008.

THEATRE OF PAIN WITH MOTLEY CRUE 

Warmup – jog around soccer field alternating high knees, butt kickers, side shuffle to l/r then gorrilla walks to left then right.  Circled up for chicken wing side straddle hops and seal cross straddle hops in cadence.

The Thang – 4 songs with a tour of 6 stations on  soccer field in between each song.

Song 1 – Dr. Feelgood – 4 mins of body quats during music/lyrics to squat jumps during chorus.  Knee tuck slaps during guitar solo.

Round 1 – in corners and middle of soccer field, 10 reps each at 6 stations for plank jacks, wide grip merkins, squat jumps, ab box cutters, L/R reverse lunges, and ab superman pumps.  Bear Crawl and Lunges alternating to each station.  Mosey to parking lot for song.

Song 2 – Wild Side – 4 mins of side straddle hops during music/lyrics to bombjacks during chorus and slow burpees during guitar solo.

Round 2 –  in corners and middle of soccer field, 10 reps each at 6 stations for plank thrusts, diamond merkins, double squat jump, ab flutters, plyo lunges, superman jacks.  Bear crawl and lunges alternating to each station.  Mosey to parking lot for song.

Song 3 – Girls, Girls, Girls – in tribute to all M’s.  American hammer during music/lyrics to hello Dolly’s ( Free Bird was thinking about my wife during this ) during chorus, to windshield washers during guitar solo.

Round 3 – in corners and middle of soccer field, 10 reps each of 123 plank hops and regular hold merkins.  Mosey to parking lot for song.

Song 4 – Home Sweet  Home – the closer, plank to sphynx pose during music/lyrics to honeymooners during chorus and downward dog during guitar solo.  Springled in a few childs pose and arm huggers at end.

Announcements – 8/4 convergence.

Prayers for all parents/children travelling during this time, freedom from daily restraints/expectations, freedom from addition for my brother Michael,  peace for the souls of my friends Ken, John and Micheal in their passing.

 

 

 

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