Brisket Block Party

WARMUP: mosey to parking lot across from police station. In cadence of brisket, ribs, chicken did windmills, hillbilly walkers, imperial walkers and burpees(OYO)
THE THANG: Made our way to downtown for the light poles. There are 16 light poles are you travel up Main St on the left hand side. First trip up was lunge walk with 2 squats with calf raise at first light pole. Then 4,6,8 etc until we hit 32 squats with calf raises.

Short mosey around to get back to the bottom of the hill and this time duck walk to the light poles with 1 hand release merkin at each light, increasing the number by 1 until the 16th light.
MARY: flutter kicks, big boy sit-ups, leg lifts, American hammers (in no particular order)
ANNOUNCEMENTS: blood drive coming up and convergence/invergence on 4/30 at WEP
COT: stays in COT.

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X marks the spot

10 PAX

First round: start In the center with SLD, loaded carry to corner 1, 10ish reps of each exercise, loaded carry to center for SLD, loaded carry to corner 2, etc. we hit 6 corners before finishing with the flow at the end

Center
5 Single Leg Deadlift (SLD) each side

Corner 1
Goblet Squat
2 hand Thruster
1 hand Thruster

Corner 2
Clean
Clean and Press
Clean, Squat, and Press

Corner 3
Swing
One hand Swing
High Pull

Corner 4
Reverse Lunge
Forward Lunge
Reverse Lunge and Press

Finishing Flow
Single Leg deadlift
Single Leg Clean
Reverse Lunge and Press
Alternating Swing (3)
Snatch
Repeat on other side

NMM:

Sometimes there’s still work to be done, but you’ve got to go home. Focus on what’s important when the clock ain’t running.

Also Airborne got really animated at COT: video evidence:

Grateful for the opportunity to lead:


Band Camp dismissed

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Sun’s Out Guns Out at The Armory

Kept the guns locked away in the armory all winter? Time to bust them out with some upper body work. We are skipping leg day today and getting all the gainz upstairs. Today’s workout kicks off a Spring of Sun’s out guns out, where we will encourage Qs to focus on the upper body and do a buy in/buy out of hammer curls and tricep extensions just to drive the point home.

The Thang:

2 minutes each exercise followed by 1 minute of each exercise in round 2.

 

Biceps:

21s

Hammer Curls

 

Triceps:

Tricep extensions

scull crushers

 

lats:

Lawnmower pulls

Pullovers

 

Delts:

Overhead presses

Bat wings (with the provided light dumbbells)

 

Traps:

Shruggs

High Pulls

 

Chest:

Chest press (with the optional 60lb monster KB)

Derkins

 

Everyone got stronger today. Band Camp got the most out of his lower jaw exercising. Can you really own anything? Yes: you can own your GAINZ

 

Thanks to Shatner for handing off the shovel flag

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Heavy dice

After a warmup of low slow squats, merkins, SSH, and swings, we took a quick mosey around the parking lot.

Uhaul eventually showed up and joined us, along with his playlist of “things that kinda sound like Metallica”.

Today, we let the dice decide our reps as we worked through a pre-determined list of pain. PAX took turns rolling 2 dice and we just did that number of reps. I had promised in Slack that today would be for heavy bells and low reps, which mostly held true. If any PAX rolled doubles, we added 5 burpees to the lineup.

The movement list is as follows:

Swings

Goblet squats

Deadlifts

Hammer Curls

Overhead press

Scull crushers/tricep extensions

Lawn mower pulls

Single leg deadlifts

Cleans

high pulls

Chest Presses

Snatches

Mozey

 

After 2 rounds through the rotation, a very suspicious truck pulled into the parking lot. “That can’t possibly be Tesh!” the group cried. We readied our kettlebells as our only defense against the intruder. Heartbeats quickened, palms sweated, pupils dialated, and we fixed our gaze upon the magnificence that was… Tesh.

Not nearly enough light ribbing later, Tesh joined us.

We accomplished 2 more rounds with his highness, and the burpees kept flowing – finally giving way to some Mary at the end of the workout followed by COT.

Solid crew this morning.

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Push It Real Good

Arrived early to walk the parking lot, still trying to figure out the plan for the morning. One thing was certain, we needed to start fast, because it was cold!

9 PAX showed at the Snake Pit (and another 5 at Bushwood) on a cold and crisp morning. With the traditional tunes blaring, and the chatter already strong, YHC stepped into he ring and gave the disclaimer. Being my first kettlebell Q, a strong disclaimer was given. We ran off the boot campers and got started.

Warm Up
20 SSH IC
10 LSS IC – hold
10 MNC’s IC while in Low Squat Position
10 Windmills

Buy In
11’s (or 22’s – depending on your interpretation) with KB Merkins and Snatch’s. All reps were completed.

This warmed the PAX up real quick. Or perhaps it was the playlist that took some PAX back to their middle school dance days. Evidently, 12-13 year old’s did not realize what Salt-N-Peppa were talking about.

The Thang
Farmer’s carry over to the adjacent parking lot, where 4 stations were set up. Each station had 3 exercises with a goal of 20 reps per exercise. Between each station, PAX were to run quick lap around the parking lot.

Station 1
Curls – 10/each side
Goblet Squats
American Hammers

Station 2
Single Arm Thrusters – 10/each side
Tricep Extensions – 20 or 10/each side
Standing Oblique Crunch – 10/ each side

Station 3
Kettle Bell Swings
Single Leg Deadlift -10/each side
Halos – 10/each direction

Station 4
Lawnmower Pulls – 10/each side
Front Raises
V-ups

Most made it through 6 stations. Then we farmer carried back to CoT. We had time for one set of LBCs, and the boot campers arrived back, though one was sitting in his truck? It was cold out.

Announcements. Prayers for recent loss within PAX family and workplace. Praise for Bitcoin’s new addition.

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Footloose: Band Camp Edition

Leading moderate workouts create a lot of planning challenges for me. I try to be mindful of the PAX present and push without overdoing. After all, guys are posting to a “moderate” AO. When the Q-drenaline starts flowing it’s harder to hold back the speed/intensity. This issue is something I try to be mindful of every Q. DT felt we ran too much and Slash felt the yoga wasn’t moderate, but nevertheless: we persisted.

Among the activities today:
– bear crawling with called steps
– lunge walking with called steps
– snaking through the stairs at the Church of God
– knees over toes squats on the stairs
– 7s at the Baptist church steps with bomb jacks and burpees
– deconstructed burpee motivators (thanks Airwolf for the idea here….this will return)
– run around downtown with stops of (15 merkins, 15 squats, 15 flutters)
– lifting up the spent grain tubs at Amor
– a little yoga at almost every stop along the way

NMM

One thing I think about every time I Q or post at a moderate AO is: what am I moderating? If I’m moderating the intensity of a workout, am I moderating my alcohol intake? What about my eating habits? How about my media consumption? What about my word choices?

Thanks Small World for the opportunity to lead:


Band Camp dismissed

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Power of Ranch

Another split Q for two IR guys: Ruby Slippers (restricted arm movement) and Harry Carry (restricted jumping-related exercises).  Total of eight pax in attendance.

Ruby started and did:
Took the PAX to the front of the school for some leg work. Planned 4 laps around the car rider loop with an exercise to be completed in each turn of the loop. At the completion of a lap the PAX were instructed to head to the benches from some Bulgarian Split Squats and Step Ups.  Here was the flow:  Lap 1 – 10 Jump Squats in every turn and then complete 15 BSSs per leg and 15 Step Ups per leg,  Lap 2 – 10 Jumping Lunges in every turn and the complete 15 BSSs per leg and 15 Step Ups per leg,  Lap 3 – 10 Squats in every turn and then complete 15 BSSs per leg and 15 Step Ups per leg,  Lap 4 –  10 Alt. Lunges in every turn and then complete 15 BSSs per leg and 15 Step Ups per leg.  Legs were definitely pumped after those 4 laps.  The PAX were passed on to HarryCarry for more torture.

Harry Carry (focus on arms) :
Thang 2.1: grab a bench and derkins (20X IC)

Thang 2.2: Suffer in place:
Pax split into two groups (P1 & P2): half ‘suffer in place’ while the other half do the exercise noted for 1 minute straight.
Suffragettes do Low plank, Exercisers do Merkins
Suffragettes do wall sit, Exercisers do bobby hurleys
Suffragettes do Balls to the wall, Exercisers do leg lifts
pax swap places and we go through the above again.

Thang 2.3: Fish tracks
move forward per the below, then stop and do exercise noted
bear crawl – merkins
crab walk – LBCs

Run to COT and do Big Boy Sit ups and mak tar jais. Fini.
Prayers for Senator who has since contracted COVID.

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ISI DORA 2.0

5 showed for Snake Pit, 5 for Bushwood. Cohiba and YHC disclaimed and we went over the Five Core Principles of F3. The PAX got them right.

Grab your bell, mosey up the street to the band practice field lot.

Weinke

YHC asked the PAX to partner up with someone of similar athleticism/fitness.

Pax vs Pax BOP

DORA style except each PAX keeps his number of reps a secret. Both PAX do the exercise for one set while the other does the out + back. After both go through one set, the PAX reveal to each other how many reps were completed.

Loser between the two partners makes up the difference with an additional exercise while the winner does a less intense exercise. It causes you to push yourself because you know your partner is also gunning to win each round. #ISI.

After explaining, Peabody asked what the curve was since he had a 50lb bell (as Dirty Harry would say: “big ____ swinging!”

So YHC upped the ante and told Peabody I’d share his bell – that way he wouldn’t complain when I beat him.

Round 1 – Quadzilla Up Hill to Bypass while partner does movement with KB.

Movement/Penalty

Goblet Squat/American Hammers

Skull Crushers/American Hammers

Alternating Lunges/American Hammers

Round 2 – Straightaway Sprints Three Islands Out + Back

Movement/Penalty

KB Swings/Flutter with Press

Curls/Flutter with Press

Halos/Flutter with Press

Round 3 – Bear Crawl to First Island Out + Back

Movement/Penalty

KB Curl/Hello Dolly w/Press

OH Press (Spicy as 3D put it)/Hello Dolly w/Press

Tricep Extension/Hello Dolly w/Press

 

We finished the third round and Peabody/YHC were pretty gassed from trying to beat each other. Peabody threw it down this morning.

 

Back to COT, time for some Mary

Partner 1 does ab workout, partner two farmer carries both bells out and back.

American Hammers, Flutter Kicks.

Cohiba and the boys from Bushwood moseyed in and we finished off with some more flutters followed by box cutters.

 

NMM

All in all, a good workout today. No real message beside “how much harder are we willing to work when we know someone is trying to beat you?” We put the work in together and made the other pay for not doing as well. Iron sharpens iron. One man sharpens another.

 

Thanks for letting YHC jump in today, 3D.

Punch List out.

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51st Hive of 2021 – Cultural Credit

15 PAX gathered in the gloom. We started with one or two less, but by 0505 we were at 15 and nobody fell out….so I’m calling it a win.

Warm-up/Tuning

Mosey further than PAX were expecting
Some Yoga
SSH
IW
1 Burpee
HW
Mosey

1st movement

Head to the courtyard
15 Swings
5 Single Leg Deadlift
Bear Crawl w/ Bell (stop when Q calls for the next set)
15 Swings
4 SLD
Bear Crawl w/ Bell
15 Swings
3 SLD
Bear Crawl w/ Bell
etc.

2nd movement

Head to the outside of the gym
Try to keep the bell in your hands the whole time
8 goblet squats, suitcase carry w/ the left hand for about 40 feet
7 goblet squats, carry back w/ the kettlebell in the right hand
6 goblet squats, left hand suitcase walk
5 goblet squats, right hand walk
4 goblet squats, left hand walk
3 goblet squats, right hand walk
2 goblet squats, left hand walk
1 goblet squat, finished
Time under tension about 3 minutes

3rd movement

Back to the main parking lot. Line up facing the length of the lot and the practice field
5 Lawnmower Pulls each side
5 Racked Lunges each side
5 Snatches each side
Sprint to the other side and back (about 100yds)
10 Lawnmower Pulls each side
5 Racked Lunges each side
5 More Racked Lunges each side
3 Snatches each side
7 Snatches each side
Spring to the other side and back

Brief music history lesson. See NMM

4th movement

10 minutes of work
timer set for every minute
15 swings, 10 push-ups, rest the remainder of the minute
15 swings, 9 push-ups, rest
We made our way down to 15 swings, 1 push-up

0600

NMM

(Naked Man Moleskine)
YHC likes to incorporate some kind of message to encourage 2nd or 3rd F acceleration (in myself as much as the PAX). There wasn’t a whole lot on my heart beside focusing on work (teaching music) lately; so, I went with a short music history lesson.

A Concerto is a piece for soloist and orchestra. It comes from a Latin word meaning to contend or to strive. These showcase pieces are written for a soloist to contend with their instrument or strive to demonstrate greatness. Concertos are presented in 3 movements…fast-slow-fast (Think of “movements” like sections or large chapters in a book)

A Symphony on the other hand is a piece for an orchestra. It comes from a Latin word meaning “to sound together” or “in harmony.” Symphonies are typically presented in 4 movements (although some symphonic composers famously break that mold with 5 or 6 movement works). The movements were initially grouped fast-slow-dance (European courtly dance)-fast. Later (early 1800s) that structure became fast-slow-joke (called a Scherzo)-fast. PAX can decide for themselves if the 3rd movement of the workout was a joke or not! 🙂 Composers eventually began changing the tempo within each movement and even linking different movements together with no pause (like binge watching something on Netflix).

Here’s a Concerto to check out: Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto no. 1 https://vimeo.com/371584269
(the opening piano block chords in the first movement are a GREAT moment. Turn the speakers up!!)

Here’s a Symphony to check out: Brahms Symphony no. 4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QLuYj2jxoc
(The height of sublimely invigorating music, German seriousness, attention to detail, and connection with tradition.* Try to follow the melodies as the move and evolve. Again…listen LOUD!)

BTW: audiences traditionally no longer clap between movements as a sign of unbroken contemplation, attention and general respect for the integrity of the larger work. However, most performances pre-1900 would have had a fairly raucous amount of applause between movements. Some audiences even demanded a movement be performed again before the orchestra could go on. So if you clap between movements, just know you’re following an older tradition than the one now common in our concert halls. And feel free to bring that up during intermission when someone looks at your side-eyed for clapping between movements. #Candor

Here endeth your cultural credit for the day

*As I wrote these notes about Brahms 4, I noticed they’re also things Uhaul gripes about working for a German company. No commentary; just thought that was an interesting connection worth thinking about.

An honor to lead as always. Thanks Airborne for the opportunity

Announcements:
12/24 Santa Boss 5k/10k – 0600 launch from Pantheon (Tega Cay Elementary)
12/24 Convergence – 0700 at Pantheon (still Tega Cay Elementary)

Video evidence in tweet form

Prayers for:
Praise from Straight-Up for a wonderful day yesterday
Praise from Drop Thrill on Xmas performances happening again with his vocal ensemble
Peabody’s co-worker that had a seizure
Pausing to actually enjoy this season with your kids, despite all the business of things that need to happen. (Thanks for this one Slash!)

Band Camp dismissed

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