Tag: Splinter

Varsity Peer Pressure

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I thought I had it timed where I’d roll up at 5:02 and miss the pre-run that Splinter had slacked out the night before.  However, I must have been driving a little to fast and got there at 5:01.  So what did I do…Yup a pre-run.  Wasn’t much of a headlock though he asked and I didn’t have a good excuse lined up so there ya go.  Enjoyed it though having a little convo with Splinter solving world problems.  We were so into it we had to kick it up a knotch speed wise as we rolled up right at 5:15.  Wouldn’t ya know Backdraft was there waiting so I had to kick it in with a brief disclaimer and full out mosey to keep it on time.

Out into the gloom we went for our first stop and the warm up.  SSH, Mtn. Climbers, Windmills, Moroccan night clubs, Imperial walkers and hill billy walkers.  Now on to the meat & potatoes portion of the workout.

We did 5 rounds of HIIT 3 minute exercises (10,15,20) with a Rebel favorite Burpee stack.  Ask him about it.  Followed by lap round the playground in between rounds.  Started out with shoulders, merkins, mtn. climbers and shoulder taps for 3 minutes.  Lap around the playground.  Second round was abs with Big Boys, American hammers and flutters.  I tried to forego the burpee stack but gave into peer pressure again.  Next round was legs, squats, monkey humpers, and calf raises.  Round 4 was SSH,  overhead claps,  and Moroccan night clubs.  Pax choice was round 5 and we ended up with abs.  Mosey back to COT and 10 burpees to finish up the workout.

Thanks Splinter for the opportunity.

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Bataan Memorial WOD

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BATAAN MEMEORIAL WOD

To honor the men who endured and lost their lives during that death March for 8 days.

The WOD 9 rounds

10 Burpees

11 Deadlifts

12 Thrusters w/ Ruck

13 American Hammers w/ Ruck

14 Arm Circles

15 Neck Circles

16 Big Boys w/ Ruck

We had four that endured the pain and honor those men.

We had time for a round of Mary and we ended with COT

 

 

 

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Forrest at the Badger

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Four pax posted at Honey Badger to honor a fallen soldier.

Began with a mosey run, and ended at the ROTC building.
Warm up, SWIMLAPPs:
SSH (12x cadence)
Windmills (12x)
Imperial Walkers (12x)
Moroccan Nightclubs (12x)
Low Slow Squats (10x)
Arm circles (12x)
Peter Parkers (12x)
Plank stretches, downward dog, up dog

Thang 1: Forrest:
Pax plank and read story of Special Agent Forrest Leamon (copied below).
Begin with running a 450m loop, start/finish is at the pullup bars. Then:
20 pullups
30 squats w/ cinder block
40 burpees
30 toes to bar
20 KB swings w/ block
Repeat/run loop

We did above for about 35 minutes.

Thang 2: Suffer in Place
Pax pair off
One minute of: P1: low plank; P2: Merkins
One minute of: P1: wall sit; P2: Bobby Hurleys
One minute of: P1: BTW; P2: leg lifts
Partners swap, and do above.

One more run, 450m loop (to get over the one mike mark) and finishing at COT right at 0600.
COT/Fini

Nice to have the shield lock fellas together for this one.

SPECIAL AGENT FORREST LEAMON
End of Watch: 10/26/2009
Forrest was born in Ukiah, California and graduated from Potter Valley high school in 1990. After a year of classes at Mendocino College, he enlisted in the Navy and trained as a cryptologic technician.
Forrest completed multiple deployments overseas in southeast Asia and Bosnia, ultimately earning the rank of petty officer first class during his nine years of service.
After earning his computer science degree, he began a career at the Drug Enforcement Administration. Forrest worked to combat drug trafficking out of the El Paso Texas office for several years before joining the Foreign-deployed Advisory and Support Team program.
On October 26th 2009, special agent Forrest Leamon, 37, was returning from a counter-narcotics mission in Afghanistan when the helicopter he was aboard crashed. The incident took the lives Forrest, two other DEA agents, and seven US military service members.
Forrest is survived by his widow Ana, his sisters Heather and Wai, and his son Luke was born after his death.
Forest was laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery.

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Made the cut at Varsity

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It was a good morning for a pyramid scheme at Varsity

Disclaimer was done
Warm up jog down around the loop at the elementary school and back to the pull-up bar area.
Warm up exercises: Wind Mills, Moroccan Night Clubs, Turkish Get Ups

Grab a pull-up bar station for the following:
10 Merkins, 5 Pull-Ups
20 Merkins, 10 Pull-Ups
30 Merkins, 15 Pull-Ups
30 Merkins, 15 Pull-Ups
20 Merkins, 10 Pull-Ups
10 Merkins, 5 Pull-Ups

Run 1/4mi on the track then pyramid #2:
10 American Hammers I/C
5 V-Ups
20 American Hammers I/C
10 V-Ups
20 American Hammers I/C
10 V-Ups
10 American Hammers I/C
5 V-Ups

Run 1/4mi on the track then report to the goal line
Bear crawl to the 50, run to the opposite goal line then back to the 50
Crawl bear to the end zone then run to the other end zone

Run 1/4mi on the track then back to the goal line
Sprint to the 25 then back to the goal line for 10 Jump Squats
Sprint to the 50 then back to the goal line for 10 Jump Squats
Sprint to the 75 then back to the goal line for 10 Jump Squats
Sprint to the opposite goal line then back to the goal line for 10 Jump Squats

Some additional ab work prior to COT.

Maximus

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Impromptu

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10 PAX @ 0515, but no Q

Kaiser tapped me to run point until B.O.B. arrived

Warmup circle near parking area to make sure BOB wasnt’ searching for us when (if?) he arrived.
Did some warmup stuff
-SSH
-MC
-Shoulder Tap
-Yoga
-a few burpees
-Merkins
-more yoga
Trying to buy time for B.O.B.

Went to the track took a lap to thing about what we were going to do.

Goal Line
– bear crawl as a group, stopping every 10 yards for 5 merkins
– stop at the 50

50 yardline, partner up
– one partner goes one way the other goes toward the other goalline
– Lunge walk out
– 10 American Hammers (called by ‘el Spaniard)
– go to the 40
– sprint back to the 50
– go to the 30
– etc.

After finishing line up on the far goal line
– bear crawl as a group, stopping every 10 yards for 5 merkins
– stop at the 50

B.O.B. finally shows and we head to the pull-up bars for 7s with
– Squat Thrusters using a cinderblock
– Pull-ups

COT for some mary

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Ballroom abs

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YHC had the honor of leading some #HIM’s through a WO that allowed the PAX the ability to dial up or down their intensity. It’s important to recognize PAX levels of intensity when Q’ing so that you can ensure each PAX pushes one self to their acceptable level.

COP: SSH’s, IW, Windmills, LSS, big arm circles, and CDD (all in different cadence)

Mossy to bottom of hill at the backside of the PKMS gym.

At the bench 2 rounds of 10 reps each: Step ups each leg, dips, derkins, erkins.

Mossy to fire hydrant to where PAX chooses their intensity. Either NUR, Run, or walk for 11’s. Top of hill 10 Left Leg Scorpion merkins, run back to bottom for 1 Right Leg Scorpion merkin..rinse repeat till 11’s. If PAX finished early they went and picked up the 6.

Mossy back to benches for another 2 rounds of the same.

On the 6 for some marry – a crowd pleaser.

13 Hello Dollies right into 13 Rosaletta’s, right into 10 Hello Dollies and 10 Rosaletta’s, right into 5 of each without dropping feet to ground. Then box cutters, then flutters, then LBCs and finish with flutters.

Sprint to top of hill and come back for the six, mossy to COT for 15 more merkins.

COT

Prayers and praises where plentiful from Cake Boss 2.0 doctor news, to my co-worker and daughter Morvan and Mila, to Spark Plug’s daughter, to my 2.0 Evan.

Thanks all!!

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Foosball @ Varsity – It’s more than a workout

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YHC was informed this was a HIIT AO, did some Googling night before, and drafted up a weinke that I believe would meet the requirement. Hard to avoid a football field or pull up bars, so decided to say yes to both.

Quick disclaimer and we’re off to the track.

Warmup
  • Run 200 meters & stop – following in so so cadence form:
    • Monkey Humpers – a Hardwood favorite BTW
    • Imperial Walkers –
    • Hill Billy Walkers
    • Cherry Pickers
    • Peter Parkers
    • Parker Peters – Shady was kind enough to call out I did Peter Parkers twice
    • Downward dog
    • Honey Mooner
    • Band Camp Stretches

Mosey 200 meters to end zone

The Thang(s)

Intent was to have sprints of varied distances followed by exercises as a “rest” period, followed by more sprints.

Quarter Pounder

Sprint to marker, do exercise, sprint back to end zone, then sprint to next marker. Increments of 25.

  • Sprint to 25 – 25 Vups & sprint back rinse and repeat…
  • 50 – Monkey Humpers
  • 75 – Mountain Climbers
  • 100 – Calf Raises

Red Barchetta

Very similar yet you start by sprinting 100 yards, conduct exercise, sprint back to end zone and plank for 6. Rinse and repeat down in 25s. Intent was to keep the group together.

  • 100 – SSHs
  • 75 – Should Taps
  • 50 – LBCs
  • 25 – Merkins
  • Bonus – sprint 10 yards, 10 burpees and sprint back

DMC

  • Duck walk to 10 yard line, 10 merkins, crawl bear back.
  • Duck walk to 20 yard line, 20 merkins, crawl bear back.
  • Duck walk to 30 yard line, 30 merkins, crawl bear back.

Human Hurdling

Read this in exicon and had to try. Break up into 2 teams, a race of sorts.

Starting in plank, 1 man sprints to 10 yard line and plank. Man #2 sprints to 20 yard line, hurdles man at 10 yard line and planks. Man #3 sprints to 30 yard line hurdling man #1 and man #2 along the way and planks. Rinse and repeat to the end zone followed by another rinse and repeat back to end zone.

About 15 minutes left and it was time for pull ups. Had a hill sprints w/ pullups at top and exercise on bottom for 5 rounds but decided to prioritize the burpee pull ups due to time constraints.

Burpee Pullups

Consulted w/ Johnny Utah night before and thought, this would be marvelous. After attempting to articulate and failing, turned it over to Johnny U to articulate much clearer.

  • 1 burpee followed by 1 pull-up or chin up
  • 1 burpee followed by 2 pull-ups or chin ups
  • Rinse and repeat staying w/ 1 burpee to 6 pull-ups or chin ups

Then reverse

  • 1 pullup/chin up 6 burpees
  • 1 pullup/chin up 5 burpees
  • etc…

4 minutes left, headed to COT for some Mary.

Announcements

Most announcements at a COT ever!

  • Rooster
  • Grow Ruck
  • Bacon Run
  • Waxhaw Trail run
  • Metro CSAUP

And probably others

Prayers for guidance on life decisions and selflessness, mental health, and enduring a season of lots of change.

NMM

It’s admittedly been a really tough week for my family and I, after some very long weeks, the last thing I want to do is draft up a weinke and Q the next morning. That’s me being honest.

Normally, I’m excited and enjoy creatively bringing the pain , but there’s not much gas in the tank, and my mind is elsewhere.

But you have an obligation and owe it to the PAX who decide to do the harder thing; there are expectations to be met.

As I rolled into the parking lot and saw the cars, my worries sort of vanished and the excitement crept in. For 45 minutes, we’re going to work hard, bust balls, and set aside our worries or share them knowing you have a brother there to support. We’ll all get better together and you’re not alone.

I took a look around at the very respectable HIM that posted this morning and was grateful because, whether or not they know it, they’ve taught me something and they push me to be better.

Embracing the suck in the gloom builds the character and durability to endure the challenges we face daily. It’s more than a workout.

 

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Movement

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14 Men, 45 Minutes, Goals Met.

The Thang:

COP Warmup:

  • SSH
  • IW
  • MNC

Mosey to Parking Round-a-bout, bear crawl the circle

Pearls on a String – 3 sets of each group after some distance.

Mosey

  • Merkins – 10
  • Monkey Humpers – 15
  • Dying Cockroach – 20

Mosey

  • MC – 10
  • Squats – 15
  • Flutter – 20

Mosey

  • CDD – 10
  • HB Squats – 15 (Crowd Pleaser)
  • Box Cutter – 20

Mosey to Pull-Up Bars,  Partner up

Partner 1 – 2 Pull-up Burpees
Partner 2 – Run the hill
Repeat 5 times

NMM:

Ring Of Fire Site Q request a verse that speaks to the Q.  Today mine was Ephesians 4:14-16, specifically focusing on how we are all fitted together for building up the body.  Seek to “know your role” and contribute where Sky Q has you.  You’ll make a bigger impact if you are working for his glory and not your own.

Finished with COT, Praise-o-rama.

Read your newsletter.

Honor to Serve.

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Hangin with Stang: Expectations

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So, to set the Expectations upfront, this won’t be as good as my last post 😉

Stang asked for someone to Q Hangin w/ Stang who had not yet done it.  So, seeing as I’ve never even been, I volunteered.  I don’t know if that’s a function of how much I miss you guys and want to get back out there or how much of a glutton for punishment I am to throw myself into the center of something I’ve never been a part of.  Those in attendance can decide which it was.

Fittingly, expectations were the topic that came to mind when Stang confirmed my appointment.  I’ve had a lot of those to work through recently.  I feel like expectations can be a blessing and a curse.  We have to first understand what we’re asking of others and what others are asking of us.  But more importantly, how was it communicated?  Was it fair?  Could it even be met?

I think expectations break into 3 real parts:

Expectations we have for ourselves.

Expectations we have thrust upon us.

Expectations we have of others.

Each one of these can have a dramatic effect on our relationships.  What happens to that relationship when expectations are not met?  This is true of the expectations we have of ourselves and how it affects our attitude.  How does the view of an employee or a direct report change when they don’t meet expectations?  What are you willing to do to make amends if you don’t meet someone’s expectations?

Many of us are driven men.  You’d have to be to get up before 5 am to do the things we do.  But how do we let our expectations affect those around us, especially our M’s and 2.0’s?

We had some great conversations about family, our own, and work expectations.  It’s so good to know that we are not alone.  We all have a story that we can learn from.  Make sure to share that story so others can benefit and learn.

I hope I met the PAX expectations today.  It was so good to be back out.  I miss the group so much not being able to come out and participate.  I look forward to getting back out in the gloom soon, even just to walk and say hi.

— Splinter

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Things Happen When They Are Supposed To Happen

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Today was my last Q before I donate a kidney to a friend on Monday (1/25).  The workout was designed to highlight some of the lessons I’ve learned throughout this process and I hope to impart on the 10 PAX that showed up because they could.

I started my journey to kidney donation back on September 5th when a friend of mine posted to FB “I’m dying. Some of you already know this. Both of my kidneys have failed due to my lifelong struggle with diabetes. There is no hope for them to ever resume function. I’m on dialysis now as of March. I’m normally a private person when it comes to my health, but things have changed in my life.  I’m in pain every day and have had numerous hospitalizations in the past few months.”

Read that and tell me you don’t want to find a way to help.  Now, let’s be honest, I had NEVER in my life considered donating a kidney until I knew someone who was in need.  That night, I registered with Duke University to see if I could be a match.

Now, nothing happens fast.  Nothing happens on the time table you have in your mind.  We have to trust in God and lets his process and plan play out.  It was several weeks before I heard back from Duke to talk about the process to see if it’ll work.  There are numerous blood tests, scans, evals.  Let’s just say, it’s not easy.  And in hindsight, it shouldn’t be easy.  This is not something to take lightly, but it could be easier.

So, how does all of this fold into the workout? We started with the mosey and warm-up and then I told everyone to run a lap around the parking lot and to remember the order that they finished in.  Of course, Slapshot was the fastest.  Trucker was the 6 today.

Now, the reason we did that was so that the person who was the 6 now became the leader/pacesetter for the rest of the workout.  There are 25 parking spaces per row in the lot.  We started with 1 burpee per spot AND THE CATCH is that you cannot pass the person in front of you.  Then run a lap where you cannot pass the person in front of you.  Next, 2 squats in that same can’t pass the person in front of you method.  Then 3 merkins, 4 knee taps, and finally 5 plank shoulder taps.

So what’s the lesson in doing it this way? For those of us to might lead the pack most of the time, we had to wait.  We had to be patient.  We couldn’t go as fast as we wanted to.

What was your plan for this morning? Did you get the workout you expected? Did you make the most of the time you spent with your brothers?  Were you encouraging?  Are you helping those in front of you?  Are you prepared both mentally and physically for when things don’t go as planned?

I know that I wanted the donation to happen sooner.  It was going to be more convenient for me to do this in December from a work and family perspective.  But God has a plan.  God wants this to happen when he wants it to happen.  Trust in his plan.  Even if his plan is for this to not be successful for Petra (my recipient) then I have to trust that God is using me and this time to try to educate and inspire others.

We’ll be carrying on the good fight as we start a charity/non-profit to help generate awareness, community and to raise funds for kidney research.  The Odd Kidneys Group will be a way for us to foster education and share the inspirational stories that are out there that go untold.  You’d be surprised by the number of HIM’s in the area that are going through this journey or are considering it since I’ve been talking about it at COT’s.

Today is a day for us to take stock of the fortunes that God has bestowed upon us and look for his guidance to share it with others.  I’m thankful that I was EH’d by @Polaroid 18 months ago and that I’m in the best shape of my adult life so that I can give the most precious gift anyone can to another person– more time.  Thank you to all of you for your support, encouraging words, and prayers over the last 5 months.  We are a group like no other and I am beyond grateful for each of you who do the hard things and understand that we GET TO DO THIS.  Keep posting PAX!

Splinter!

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