Tag: Pusher

Breaking the Tie

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YHC was invited by the Site Q, Sugar Daddy, to Q the Bubble today and was honored for the opportunity. For those who don’t know or have forgotten, the Bubble is a result of the COVID lockdown coupled with the need for acceleration and fellowship. Started in April 2020, the Bubble sought to fill a gap caused by the lockdown and was one of the many blessings from the Fort during a tumultuous time in our world. It starts at 6 AM so you get the extra sleep time and Baxter offers lots of options for pain.  YHC was excited to Q for both of those reasons!

Weather – 43 and dare I say warmer than the last few weeks. No rain. Perfect F3 climate!

The Thang

Proper Disclaimer was reviewed

Mosey to YMCA pool parking lot

COP

Windmills x 10

SSH x 20

IW x 10

Man Climbers x 20

Merkins x 10

Mosey to top of the hill at Springmaid Street

4 Corners using Springmaid, Promenade, Shady Grove and Market Street

At each corner do the following

5 Burpees

10 Merkins

15 Squats

20 LBCs

Rinse and repeat 3 times

Mosey back to YMCA

6 minutes of Mary

YHC shared a concept on my heart which is “Breaking Ties” in your life. Whether its your spouse, significant others, co-workers, etc. there will be times where you don’t agree with someone. While I don’t have the answers, I do know a few things about failure in these circumstances. I have learned the following:

  • Know who you are and who you arent
  • Dont assume you are right…what if you are wrong?
  • Listen and learn about the other person
  • Pray about it
  • Show love to them

Moleskin

  • Prayers for Twisters daughter
  • Prayers for the Kerns
  • 3/6 is the Yeti…you should sign up
  • 3/13 is the beginning of Acceleration, a leadership journey.
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3

Running in Circles

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8 HIMs gathered at Ring of Fire today with many thoughts on their mind. Would Pusher bring it? Would it rain? Would we do pull ups? These questions among others brought the Pax into the gloom seeking all 3 F3s and YHC was happy to oblige.

After creating the Weinke, Kaiser reached out to ask that I bring a Bible verse with me the next day. This request led to some soul searching. YHC first thought was to go with Galatians 5:13 which describes our need to serve others in love. Around 4 AM, I woke to the idea of Ephesians 5:8 which calls us to live as the light in this world. Both of which aligned with being examples in every relationship.

The idea behind the Weinke was circles. In 2020, it felt like I was running in circles, each time having to overcome hurdles, only to have those same hurdles pop back up again the next time around. 3 circles were chosen and away we went.

Weather

49 degrees with a threat of rain; Rain started at 6:08 AM

The Thang

Proper Disclaimer was uttered

Mosey to Elementary School lot

  • Toy solders/High Knees
  • Karaoke left
  • Lunge walk/Mosey
  • Karaoke Right

COP

  • SSH x 30
  • IW x 15
  • Merkins x 15
  • MNC x 20

Lets get it!

Circle #1 – stop at each 1/4 of the circle

  • 1st stop – 10 Burpees
  • 2nd stop – 20 Squats
  • 3rd Stop – 30 Mountain Climbers
  • 4th Stop – 40 Flutters
  • Rinse and repeat 3 times

Circle #2 – included the hill

  • 1st Stop – 10 Irkins
  • 2nd Stop – 10 Bombjacks
  • 3rd Stop – 10 Monkey Humpers
  • 4th Stop – 10 Big Boys
  • Rinse and repeat 3 times

Circle #3 – School driveway

  • Partner up due to time
  • Partner 1 runs circle
  • Partner 2 does exercises
  • Rinse and repeat
  • 20 Step Ups
  • 10 Dips
  • 30 Merkins
  • 40 Freddy Mercuries

 

Moleskin

  • Thanks to Kaiser for his leadership and the request for the Bible verse
  • Prayers for Splinter and quick recovery
  • Prayers for continued growth as spouses
  • Accountability to be a “light” in this dark world
  • T-claps to Harry Caray and team for putting together the Dam to Dam Bar 10k

The gloom is always the best way to start your day!

Pusher

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9

Block Party Beatdown

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YHC took the opportunity to celebrate MLK Day by spending some quality time with the M yesterday. During that time, we made our way down to WEP to get an update on the progress of construction of our new amphitheater. While strolling around downtown, I began to formulate my plan for pain at Block Party today. Who knew we had so many telephone poles in Fort Mill?

The plan was to challenge the Pax with both an upper and lower body portion in separate doses. YHC made the weinke, reviewed prior to the start and away we went.

19 Pax joined me today. There is definite acceleration at Block Party and this is largely due to the leadership of Bobber. Over the last 8 years, AO success has largely been due to two factors: Site Q and difficulty of the workout. Bobber has been a leader in both areas. T-claps to you!

Weather

30 Degrees but no wind; My “Steve” said pants; Tesh’s “Steve” said no shirt

The Thang

Disclaimer was read

Mosey to top of Massey hill – COP

IW – 15

SSH – 30 (always 30+)

5 Bombjacks

Mosey to church parking lot – COP

Merkins -12

Mountain Climbers – 15

5 Bombjacks

Mosey to John Boys – COP

MNC – 25

CDD – 15

5 Bombjacks

Mosey to Sweet Baby Jesus Church – partner up for a Leg Dora

Partner 1 runs around SBJ

Partner 2 does exercise

150 Squats

150 Forward Lunges

150 Side Lunges

Mosey to Ardrey Street – 9 Telephone Poles on right side

At each pole, do the following:

5 Inchworm Merkins

10 CDDs

16 Shoulder taps

Mosey back to AO for Mary – Feet up for the entire Mary

10 LBCs

10 Flutters

10 Hello Dolly

10 LBCs

10 Flutters

Moleskin

  • Prayers to Utah and his family as they support Colin
  • Jekyll taking over as site Q for Minnow Pond this week
  • Improper Pig has been added to Dam to Dam Bar 10k – Great leadership by Hardwood, L Train, Long Duck, Harry Carry and Floppy Disk
  • Continue to ask for prayer and donations for Harlans Heroes fundraising. Goal is $20k
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3

Broke loose at Footloose

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Footloose = Hill options. You don’t think so? I disagree.
28 degrees on this crisp Thursday morning in our once Mill town for 9 of us to converge at Footiest of all Looses…yeah, it doesn’t work well for this one. Anyways

Disclaimer and look we even have Crop Duster with us…yeah, he’s definitely lost.

Run to Minnow Pond AO
SSH / Butt Kickers

5 Burpees & 10 Merkins

Run up the hill to the parking lot on the right.
15 Squats & 20 Peter Parkers

Run down the hill and back up
25 Merkins & 30 LBCs

Run down the hill and over to the FM COG lot (the really nice lot)
25 Bobby Hurley’s / 20 Flutters I/C

Run up the adjacent hill and back down
15 Mountain Climbers I/C & 10 CDD I/C

Run up the adjacent hill and back down
5 Burpees

To the lot across the street, the other really nice one, for a ladder of sorts
1 Squat Jump on one end and 5 Burpees on the other with running in between
2 Squat Jumps & 4 Burpees
3 Squat Jumps & 3 Burpees
4 Squat Jumps & 2 Burpees
5 Squat Jumps & 1 Burpee

Back to COT

Thank You for entertaining me.
SYITG
Maximus

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5

Upside Down

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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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5

Make it happen

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21 men tackled day five of the new year at Block Party. Here’s what we did.

Warm up

  • 10 Low Slow Squats (IC)
  • 10 Hillbilly Walkers (IC)
  • 10 Moroccan Night Clubs (IC)

The Thang

The route today was .5 miles (left on Main St., left of Clebourne St., left at Founders, left on White St.).

Round 1 – Take a Lap

  • 10 Burpees
  • 20 Merkins
  • 30 LBCs
  • 40 Squats
  • 50 Calf Raises
  • 1 Lap

Round 2

  • 10 Wide Arm Merkins
  • 20 Lunges
  • 30 Flutters
  • 40 Overhead Claps
  • 50 SSHs
  • 2 Laps

Round 3

  • 10 Diamond Merkins
  • 20 Jump Squats
  • 30 Crunchy Frogs
  • 40 Alternating Shoulder Taps
  • 50 MNCs
  • 3 Laps

Total distance: 3.5 miles.

NMM

I was encouraged this morning to see so many men shunning the fartsack for a chance to better themselves physically. We covered some ground, but kept close enough that no one ran alone. I enjoyed the heck out of this morning. Today’s mumblechatter reminded me of how important the 2nd F is. Fitness without fellowship is a workout group. Fellowship and friendship takes us to the next level and makes us better men. And men need other men to keep accelerating.

I recently read, “You can’t get wet reading about the ocean.” I found it appropriate for the first week of the year as people begin making resolutions. This is the time of year people make resolutions for a “new year and a new you.” They make promises to get in shape, to make more money, to read more, or basically become a better version of themselves. However, come mid-February, the gyms are empty, the books haven’t been cracked, and work status quo and malaise has settled in.

Resolutions fail because change requires effort. Change takes a dream, willpower, consistency, and guard rails. It’s gradual. It’s difficult. But it’s worth it!

You must take action if you want improvement. Take the first step even if it feels strange or others say its stupid. Growth can only happen if you move forward. So dream it, want it, do it, do it again, and have someone to keep you accountable. Positive habits require consistent effort. Make it happen and have friends to keep you in line. Then bask in the glory in accomplishing your goals.

Aye!

Italian Job

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5

Minnow Pond 12.17.2020

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The promo:
https://twitter.com/jisenhour/status/1339217811231674368

The route:
https://www.strava.com/routes/2773907426356036818

10 stops along the way
5 burpees/10 merkins/15 squats each time

16 PAX. It was hard. Had to average 10min/mile with the exercises to finish at COT by 0600. We did.

Strava Stats: https://twitter.com/jisenhour/status/1339542289048285184

NMM:
Today was a workout where I tried harder because I was on Q. Being a leader isn’t just about exhorting acceleration in others or the group; it also forces you to accelerate individually. That was pretty evident to me this morning from my heart rate monitor. All the guys that came out today pushed me to be better. When you’re a follower, are you following in a way that is helping your leaders be better?

—
Band Camp dismissed

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2

Laces IN 12.03.20

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It was a cold morning, a bit warmer than yesterday but not much.  Ten men braved the cold weather most bundled up in their winter gear.  After the disclaimer, we made our way over to the band parking lot.

We began warm-ups with a different twist.  Cadence exercises (SSHs, Imperial Walkers, Windmills, Plank Stretches) in the end zone, jog to the other end zone for the next exercise.  Next, we did a series of exercises at each 10 yard mark between the end zones.

Movement                                            Exercise

Lunge walk                                         Squat (10)

Bear Crawl                                          Merkin (5)

             Crab Walk                                           LBCs (10)

NUR (Run Backwards)                   Flutters (10)

Backwards Bear Crawl                  Carolina Dry Docks (5)

 

After we completed the main event, I had a little fun with the Pax asking a few of them to guess a number between 1 – 10.  A wrong guess, required burpees.  Similar to the Casino that Clark and Cousin Eddie went to in Vegas Vacation, there was no right answer.  We ended up with 20 burpees.

We headed back to COT, sprinting between the light poles in the main parking lot.

Great job..I appreciate the crowd on a cold morning.

 

 

 

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4

QSchool @ Colosseum

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Esso >>
Open normal, mosey, circle up and then reiterate what you did
Opening

  • T minus warning
  • Look for guys you haven’t seen, introduce yourself
  • Ask if there are any FNG’s
  • Disclaimer 1) not a professional, 2) modify the exercise if need be but do something
  • Take control, be a leader, after this is about building leadership characteristics and guiding other men. THEY WILL FOLLOW YOU UNTIL YOU GIVE THEM A REASON NOT TO

Who has never Q’d?
Cadence counting – we do this for consistency

  • Next exercise is…
  • Starting position… move…
  • In cadence… exercise

SSH
Windmills
Begin calling on pax, they choose exercise, mix in moseys

Gears >>

⁃ Weinke prep:
– at least the night before
– write it down, even if you don’t use it
– KISS
– try to plan for about 20% more than you think you’ll need (mental math)
– go with your strengths, but honor the site theme. If you can’t Q it, don’t do it
– simple routine – Wall Worms
– focus areas on repeat
– lbc
– Flutter
– dying cockroach
– box cutter
– repeat x 2

⁃ Form exemplification
– you are responsible for allowing and even encouraging Good form.
– fast merkins vs slow Merkins
– fast Freddy vs slow Freddy

⁃ Scaleability – size of pax, ability of pax
– know your Pax
– pearls on a string
– Squats
– flying squirrels
– Mountain Climbers
– Burpees

⁃ COT routine
– phone /video Evidence
– count
– name-o-rama
– FNG naming

– announcements (newsletter)
– prayer /praise

⁃ follow up
– BB, counts

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1

Laced Up Tight

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31 degrees at Laces In? Sure, I’ll take it. I gave the PAX a heads-up, shown below…

At the risk of potential “over-hyping,” here are a number of things to consider for Laces In:

  1. Minow Pond will be converging with us.
  2. AKA will be converging with us.
  3. Looks to be the coldest morning of the week.
  4. Gloves highly recommended.
  5. If you want to stretch or warm up, show up early.
  6. Wheels up 0515 and it’ll be GO-TIME.
  7. You’ll be warm by 0525.
  8. If you’re prone to FOMO, then you should post.

The 12 of us arrived, commented about the cool temps and all the men in tights, were disclaimed and we took off for a lap around part of the gym lot.

Circle Up:
20 x Fast-Paced SSH
10 Burpees
Another lap but this time, just a bit shorter
Line up at one end of the parking lot and bear crawl to the other end of the lot.
Sprint 1/2 way back, 10 Burpees, Sprint the rest of the way

Mosey over to the circle by the stadium:
20 Bomb Jacks
30 Flutter Kicks I/C
Run up the hill to the stop sign and back down
40 Jump Squats
40 Merkins I/C
Run up the hill and back down
10 Burpees

Mosey back to the gym parking lot.

Line up on the line for 2-Tier Grounded Suicides:
Bear crawl out 20 yards, crawl bear back. Bear crawl out 40yds, crawl bear back
10 Wide-Arm Merkins
Crab walk out 20yds, walk crab back. Crab walk out 40yds, walk crab back.
10 Wide-Arm Merkins
10 Burpees

30 American Hammers I/C
20 Flutter Kicks I/C

COT: There are very heavy prayers on the hearts & minds of our PAX. Remember, do not walk alone.

Thank You, Slapshot

Maximus

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