Still in Abyssness

I seem to keep having my last Q in the Carolinas at least once a week now. Gonna need to stop calling it that until I got a final date for when I leave. Bones gave me the Q for abyss at sea legs, came up with something on the spot that went more or less like this today-

Mosey to basketball court, COP

Mosey to the back road. At top of back road, tried having us do rugby sprints, learned its kinda hard to do it coming downhill, didn’t realize the angle was as steep as it was when trying to stop suddenly for six inches. Did this all the back to basketball courts

WIth a partner, each man does 30 pullups  altogether, switching off to run to give breaks between sets. I love my pullups, and 30 is ambitious I think for most people.

After this went on to main event. Tried explaining the whole routine before starting, but learned it was alot easier to just go round by round and have the PAX follow along till the habit picked up.

ISLAND HOPPING

4 islands nearest us in parking lot, do a set of an exercise and run to next. then,Far away islands, run to each and do 15 LBCs.  last island near middle by COT, 10 burpees before moving on to next round. rounds were as follows:

1.10 merkins

2.20 squats

3.20 monkey humpers

after going through one cycle of this, PAX had it down pat. 10 minutes, left, started over with intention that everyone do as much as they could before time. Pax in lead got to monkey humpers again before COT called.  As usual, Jedi was beast mode and in the lead and never looks like he’s dying haha.

Had lunch with Qbert today who was present, I asked him what the general impression was of ” a whopper Q”, if it had any general characteristics . He answered that it was that nobody ever knew what it was going to be or what to expect. Really, Really glad to hear that because honestly, my biggest thing that I want to avoid at all costs, is to be too predictable or cliche when I lead the beatdown. So its good to know.

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Octagon of Pain

It was an incredibly hot and muggy morning and the workout I had planned at the Crows Nest didn’t do it any favors.  We were all dripping with sweat and smoked by the time it was over.  I’m still tired as I write this a few hours later…

Mainly due to IR, DR, or Jedi’s postiversary, only 5 PAX showed up today at the Crows Nest, but they came ready.  We were glad to have NASA come out this way! He hasn’t had the opportunity to post at the Crows Nest so I even modified things a little to give him the “tour” so to speak, more on that later.

After practically no disclaimer, we took the long mosey towards the back of the school.  Along the way we did some karaoke’s, NUR’d, butt-kickers, and toy soldiers, before arriving in the back parking lot for warm-a-rama; which consisted of the following in cadence:

  • Windmill x10
  • Plank/Elbow Plank (30 count)
  • Elbow Plank Peter Parkers x15
  • Back to plank for Merkins x10

I was inspired by Sasquatch’s Q at the Swamp 3 or 4 weeks ago so I’ve been doing something a little different for warm-ups, it must be working because at least 1 PAX shouted that he is starting to hate my warm-ups.  Mission accomplished!

The 1st routine of the morning was supposed to get the blood flowing before the main event and I think that was accomplished.  We did “Eights”, which is basically just a modified “Elevens”, and also fit with my theme for the workout.  1 Pull-up at the playgroud and then a run to the top of the parking lot for 7 Diamond Merkins, back to the playground for 2 Pull-ups, and 6 Diamond Merkins at the top… you get the drill.

The 2nd routine was really supposed to the the last and final, but I called an Omaha before we even started because I had a surprise for Nasa.  I had 8 cones setup in the field in the shape of an Octagon with an additional cone in the center.  There was about 40ft. from center to each cone.  Each cone had an exercise taped to the top of it.  I had planned to partner up for this, purely for the push, but we ended up going solo mainly.  We all started at one of the points in the Octagon, performed the exercise and then broad jumped to the center cone and performed 4 burpees.  When finished with the burpees, we bunny-hopped back to a new point/cone and did that exercise.  We were to do this until we made it all the way around the Octagon, we always broad jumped to the center cone and bunny hopped back.  We always did 4 burpees in the middle.  As I mentioned earlier, I called an Omaha on this one to shave some time off so we only did half of the number taped to the cone and 4 burpees instead of 8.  It was still brutal because it was a leg/cardio burn for sure because of the exercises chosen:

  • 50 SSH
  • 50 Jump Rope
  • 25 Squat Jump
  • 20 Jump Lunges (each leg)
  • 10 Jumping Spiders
  • 50 Plank Jacks
  • 10 Donkey Kicks
  • 10 Bomb Jacks

And that was half!

So like I said, NASA was here, and probably the most amazing thing about the Crows Nest is the Green Monster so we were going to pay him a visit.

The last and final ad-hoc routine was a King-of-the-Mountain type exercise at the Green Monster.  1 PAX would stay at the top and perform Makhtar N’Diayes, while the remaining PAX run down and back up, twice (I quickly Omaha’d this to 1 time up and down to save time, it takes like a minute to go up/down this F@#%$!!! thing).  We then cycled through all the PAX, each one staying at the top for a rotation while the rest go down and up the hill.  Makhtar N’Diayes were to be OYO until the 6th made it back up the hill, then the next PAX would be “King”.  At one point I thought NASA might need an ambulance while he was laying on his back, practically motionless, at the top of the monster, but he recovered and finished! Well done brother!

We finished with about 5 minutes to spare and still had about a 4 minute mosey back to CoT so we ended up arriving just in time.

  • NASA on Q at Children’s Attention Home
  • Prayers for injured PAX, Homebrew, BTB
  • Prayers for safe travels (Austin Powers travelling to England Thursday, Whopper taking a job in Washington)

Until next time,

-Flux

 

 

 

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Taters beat down

23 Pax, 19 for Bootcamp and 4 Ruckers

Welcome FNG Mill-Billy

It’s been a while since Tater had the Q and he did not disappoint!

He gave the disclaimer and we were off to mosey, Toy Soldiers, Butt Kickers, Knee to chest, Karaoke

COP Did a few exercises here to get nice and warm before we mosied over to the fountain and partnered up

Dora 1-2-3-4 100 Derkins, 200 Step-ups, 300 Dips, 400 LBC one partner ran the loop while the other partner did the exercise

We got through one full round and started our way back down before we stopped and returned to the COT area to do a little Ab-Lab

Excellent work! It was not an easy workout and we were all challenged!!

Great work Tater and the PAX!!!!!!

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2 Year Anniversary of The Abyss

Today we celebrated 2 years of the Abyss.  When the shovel flag was planted 6/29/20016 by Dark Helmet the Abyss was merely an idea that “if we build it….they will post.”  And post the PAX did!  Over the past year and half it has been an honor to be the Site Q of this versatile AO and I appreciate all the PAX who have come out and led a workout.

Q got to the AO with seconds to spare due to an emergency bathroom visit at a 24 hr Harris Teeter in route.

Once disclaimers were given and the 5 F3 Principles given (due to FNG) we were off.

Quick mosey around the front half of the AO to allow all stragallers to exit their vehichles (ehem…Wildthing) and then to a warm-up circle.

Warm-up

  • Windmill
  • Weed Pickers
  • Moroccan Night Club
  • Slow Low Squat
  • Plank (a few Broga moves)
  • Merkins
  • Stretch with knees to chest

The Thang

I told the PAX that I wanted to highlight a few of the “features” of the AO during the workout so we started with the Flag pole.

  • Bear Crawl around circle in front of school

Mosey to very back hill of the AO for a series of hill exercises

  • Lunge walk–Sprint to top
  • Broad Jump–Sprint to top
  • Basketball shuffle Flip half way

Mosey to the Basketball court for some Suicides

First Suicide–

all four goals and back

Second–

  • Start with 10 Squats
  • 2nd Goal–10 Merkins
  • 4th Goal–5 Burpees

Mosey into “wet and muddy” field

  • Elbow Plank position with Peter Parker’s
  • Jack Webs (everyone’s favorites)

Mosey to “the hill”

  • Finished strong with 5 sprints up the hill

Mosey to COT.

Everyone pushed themselves and got better for it…includding FNG who was off to the side threatening to Merlot.

Once Namorama was finished we welcomed FNG Oompa Loompa!

Announcements and Prayers

Thanks again for all the PAX who came out today to celebrate this AO.  We had 24 there and we have set the goal for 30 next year!

-Bones

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Uptown Funk You Up

It was one of those crazy humid Carolina mornings where YHC actually had to turn on the AC on the way to the workout. You know it’s muggy when you’re already sweating with no sun, and no exercise. Bring 15 dudes into the mix and it got real sweaty real fast.

Disclaimer made, then circuitous mosey around the parking lot.
Circled up for: SSH, weed pickers, merkins, superman, low slow squats

The THANG
Uptown 50
I got this one straight out of the exicon. I read about it probably two months ago and had been looking forward to trying it since then. Two markers were set up (about) 50 yards apart on the basketball courts. PAX partnered up. The idea is to do 10 burpees then travel 50 yards via the prescribed means to the other marker, where you then do 10 more burpees and travel back to the start by the next mode of transport. There were 10 total lengths of 50 yards so 10 x 10 =100 burpees… plus whatever it took PAX to do 50 yards of burpee broad jumps. Lots of burpees.

Here were the modes of transport in order: Burpee Broad Jump, Crab Walk, Partner Carry (P1), Partner Carry (P2), Alligator Crawl, Wheelbarrow (P1), Wheelbarrow (P2), Nur, AYG (Sprint!), and Bear Crawl

Due to mumblechatter from PAX not wanting to scuff their fancy pants new running shoes up, Omaha was called on the Alligator Crawl, which was substituted for bear crawls. Great effort by everyone on pushing through this till the end.

Ab Doras

100 Boxcutters, 200 Big Boy Situps, 300 Freddies (double count)

P1 ran down and up the hill, while P2 did boxcutters. Flapjack and keep adding till you get to your number as a team. After boxcutters, runners went to end of the school and back for the big boy and Freddy rounds. Each pair made it pretty far into the 200 Big Boy Situps by the time 6:00 rolled around, and a couple of teams managed to break into the Freddies. Mosey back to COT.

COT
Announcements are all in the newsletter. Read it.
Prayers for Whopper’s job situation, Cha Ching with son #3 due to arrive any day, and safe travels for Tinsel’s sister who is flying to Ecuador. Very sweaty BOM.

Big thanks to Bones for the opportunity to lead.

Stay Classy,
Homebrew

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A Primal Beatdown

On a warm sticky morning at the Crow’s Nest 7 Pax rolled into the parking lot while I was preparing for my first ever Q and I was pumped!  After about 10 weeks of following all the great Q’s of my past workout’s I was eager to prove my mettle and present a challenging workout with a theme of how animals move in nature.

Warmup

I had an instant COP to warm up the morning stiffness

20 SSH

10 Cherry Pickers

Arm Circles

10 LSS

Then I had the Pax do an Indian Run to the main event area with the rear Pax doing 1 Burpee to continue the warming up period.

The Thang

I pulled out a deck of playing cards for the beatdown

Spades were Bear Crawls

Clubs were Crab Walks

Hearts were Donkey Kicks

Diamonds were Pull Ups (Monkey)

Jokers were 14 Grasshopper ‘Mericans

Rep ranges were 2-14 depending on the card with BC’s and CW’s  going a certain distance corresponding to the card.  Thanks to Flux for the helpful modification on the BC’s and CW’s.

During the beatdown I pulled out 2 scripture readings, the first being on how our bodies’ are our temple’s to SkyQ from 1 Corinthians and with the word of the month being Accountability I knew a great passage from Ezekiel on being watchers on the wall.

After getting through most of the deck we moseyed back right on time for COT.

Thoughts and prayers for this country on yet another school shooting.

 

 

 

 

 

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Of Relays and Dance Parties

Truth be told, YHC is losing his mind.

When I was asked to Q at the Deep for the return of the 0630 launch, my first thought was, “Hey! That AO is at a school. I don’t normally post at schools. I should do something to commemorate that.” Forget the fact that the majority of our AOs are at schools. That’s irrelevant. But, it does set us up for the dumb ideas that followed…

My memories of middle school in May involve basically two things: Field Day and the end-of-the-year dance. So, to harken back to the days of old, that became our theme for today. Twelve PAX (including one FNG) joined YHC for a baker’s dozen at Oakridge Middle. Here’s what we did (kinda):

Warm-up

Mosey around to the back of the school for our “field day” warm-up. Split into two teams for four relays:

  • Sprint (i.e., the basic relay)
  • Bear crawl
  • Broad jumps
  • Crab walks

That got our heart rates up and ready for the dance party. We moseyed back around to the front of the school for the fun to really begin.

The Thang

When I think of middle school dances, I think of songs you can’t really dance to, weird mixes, and lots of wallflower moments. So, we relived my childhood. Six songs. Wallflower between (people’s chair or balls to the wall each time). Today’s playlist:

  • Jukebox Hero – SSHs (slow and fast to match the music) during the verses, Rock Star jumps during the chorus/refrain/hook
  • I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) – Imperial Squat Walkers during the verses, bear crawl and crawl bear during the “well I would walk” segments, and donkey kicks during the “da da da da” parts. You know what I’m talking about, because you’re singing it in your head.
  • The Middle – LBCs during the verses, flutters during the refrain, and some Freddie Mercuries during the bridge/interlude/guitar solo
  • Smooth Criminal – Plank jacks during the verses and a merkin for every “okay” (“Annie just freaking answer him already!”)
  • Sorry – Hold boat throughout, dropping down and completing one V-up for every “sorry”
  • The Devil Went Down to Georgia – curb dips during the “singing,” crab cakes during the musical interludes/fiddle or guitar solos
  • I Will Survive – lateral plank walks with merkins during the refrain (longest version of this song ever, but the brief rain made it a little more manageable)

We actually left out the song with the burpees. That’ll be reserved for the next dance party.

Quick mosey back to COT.

No earth-shattering announcements that can’t be found in the newsletter, so read your newsletter. Prayers for teachers (and students and parents) as school wraps up, and for Whopper in his job search/potential promotion. Late request added for the shooting that happened down in Texas.

Cofeeteria at Dunkin because it’s cheaper (in many aspects of the word).

As for the (somehow now infamous) FNG naming, well, that story can be saved for a verbal diarrhea run with Q*bert. You’ll also want to ask Cha Ching about his comment regarding the arrival of “Mr. Wood.” Um…………

I appreciate everybody participating in the stupidness of this morning. I wanted it to be fun and different. I think that happened. Thanks to Shakespeare for the opportunity to lead, for changing the launch time to 0630, and for the speaker to blast the music.

-Jedi

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Russian Roulette

To start:

Simple stretching while I explained the idea of what I call Russian Roulette.  During the workout, rock songs from a 90s and 00s playlist were blasted on shuffle.  One song on the playlist would function as a punishment song and, if played, the entire group would have a punishment to complete during the length of the song.  Naturally, that song was by Nickelback because they might be the worst band of all time (as if having to listen to Nickelback wasn’t bad enough, the group would have something terrible to do during that time as well).

 

The Thang:

PAX split into pairs to work through 6 different stations of various exercises.  Each set of exercises were completed twice before moving on to another station.  Each station were as followed:

  1. 2x40lb Sandbag Farmers Carry, Medicine Ball Balance Merkin, LBC’s w/ 10lb weight
  2. Agility Ladder SSH’s, Dumbbell Tricep Extensions, Flutter Kicks
  3. Burpee Medicine Ball Slam, 40lb Sandbag Bicep Curl, Big Boy Situp w/ 10lb weight
  4. Jump Rope, 40lb Sandbag Squat w/ Overhead Press at the top, and Freddie Mercury’s
  5. Ski Jump Over Jump Rope, Carolina Dry Docks, Medicine Ball American Hammers
  6. Plyo Box Jumps or Step Ups, Band Chest Press, Dying Cockroach

Based on my observation, most PAX completed one full round plus a few extra stations in the time that we had.  Luckily for us, Nickelback never played.  Next time, when I shorten the playlist, we may not be so lucky.

 

P.S. – Just in case you weren’t aware… Nickelback sucks.

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Assault on Hill 5-11(Crows Nest)

This is the first Q I have had since at least january.  I knew I wanted to do something that would be a slog and make good use of the terrain at Crows Nest. After a brief mosey to do COP, We did a Bataan Death march(five burpees for the man in front) to the fence behind the elementary school and back to the big hill overlooking the baseball field.  The main event was to be a series of 5 elevens. hence the title:

1.Squats at top, merkins at bottom, (starting with 10 on bottom for all evolutions)

2. freddie mercury  top monkey humpers bottom

3. LBC top and Burpees bottom

4.Jump squats top and mountain climbers bottom

5.big boy sit ups up top and peter parkers at bottom

We only got to the third evolution about midway in, and I mixed up the order reading my winky in the dark, so the third evo we did jump squats up top instead of LBCs. Its probably good we hit time, because I could tell in myself and the PAX that we were running out of steam, practically walking up hill at the end.

I mentioned this to PAX in attendance that it dawned on me that the repetitive and difficult nature of the thang I devised was not unlike what I feel I am currently going through professionally. I have been working for nearly two weeks straight with no day off and no overtime compensation because I am salaried. I find myself in a job and career field in which I have no future I could see myself in. I live alone and with a schedule like mine its practically impossible for me to have a normal social or romantic life. But day after day I go in, because I am certain that this is not the end of the road. I know that six o clock will hit and I will not collapse. So too will I find a new opportunity. We didn’t take Hill 5-11 but we fought through it till the end.

 

 

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Log Jammin’

7 men posted at Crow’s Nest to rumble with some lumber on a very breezy Monday morning. Disclaimer was disclaimed, and we were off moseying around to the back of the school. I had strategically parked my truck around the back and the tailgate was down, revealing a slew of logs who would become our friends for the next 45 mins. The size and weights varied, but most were in the 30 lb range. PAX were encouraged to select a log that would challenge them, but not cause injury.

Penalties for the day: (1) you hit a PAX with your log – 10 burpee penalty (2) you hit the Q with a log – 25 burpee penalty. Thankfully, no penalties were needed.

Warmup

  • 20 SSH
  • 20 MNCs
  • 10 low slow squats with log
  • Finkle swings
  • Log pickers – weed picker position, roll the log out until you feel it in your calves then hold. Repeat x3

The Thang

 

Hill Runs with Log

Log jog to the hill. PAX ran up and down the hill with their log, carrying it whatever way they saw fit. Lots of front carries, with a few shoulder carries in the mix as well. Each time you arrive at the bottom of the hill, do 5 derkins on the log (logs were about 1.5 feet high). At the top of the hill, do the next exercise on the list until all 5 rounds are complete.

  • 20 derkins
  • 20 curls
  • 20 rows
  • 20 Al Gore squats
  • 20 American Hammers

Plenty of pain here. PAX did LBCs until the 6. Peg was asked to select between option A or B. He chose A, so we rinsed and repeated the whole sequence. Another option was given after round 2, and Nemo selected Colorado over Arizona. So we moved on to the next event. False democracy at its best.

 

Peoples Chair with Logs

I poached this idea from Double D’s Black Friday workout, only we used logs instead of Cindy. All the logs were handed off down the line then, passed back to the side they stated from. Then PAX got a break … by doing 10 burpees.

Repeat x 5, for a total of 50 burpees, and plenty of time on the wall.

 

I gave a quick NMM before heading to the final event of the morning. See Below.

 

Lumberjack Webbs

Similar to the original, but with more wood and more pain. Each PAX retrieved 2 split pieces of firewood from the truck and circled up on the grass with their logs. Ratio of 1:3 was used because we were short on time, and due to the added weight. 1 derkin on the log, then 3 overhead claps while holding a piece of firewood in each hand. Then 2 derkins + 6 firewood claps, 3 derkins +9 firewood claps… ect. This was a real crowd pleaser. Much mumble chatter abounded. We only got through 8 rounds before time ran out, but that was plenty to get the shoulders burning, especially after the burpees and derkins from earlier.

Mosey back to COT, for announcements, prayers, and praises.

 

NMM

Sticking with the theme of the day we discussed the following passage from scripture:

Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye. Matt 7:1-5

This is something I need to be reminded of frequently. In my marriage, at work, with my children- where am I keeping score? We can be very quick to extend ourselves grace while withholding it from others. We all have logs of selfishness and vice that we carry around every day, and maybe the reason we can’t see them is we have become used to them. So have a look in the mirror. What is your log? What can you remove from your life to make you a better man of God? The next part of Jesus’ challenge is to then extend grace to those that struggling with the specks in their eyes. Be ruthless with the sin in your own life, while overlooking the faults of others – do the harder thing.

 

Thank you Flux for the opportunity to lead!

 

Stay Classy,

Homebrew

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