Stray Pit Bull = Audible

Stray Pit Bull = Audible

YHC’s 2-year anniversary Q began in a much more anxiety-filled way than was hoped. To celebrate, the goal was to get in a good 2-3 mile pre-run (something YHC couldn’t fathom doing during the first year of F3, let alone before F3) and then kick some serious @$$ during the workout. YHC made a quick loop down Woodfox, left on Rounding Run, left on Raintree, left on 51, and back to Strawberry at about 1.8 miles. The goal was 2-3, so YHC decided to yog down Strawberry and back to launch. On the way back up, YHC spotted a dog ahead in the street. As I got closer, I realized it wasn’t just a stray dog. It was a stray pit bull. Now, some of you may say “they’re actually very calm, nice animals if they don’t feel threatened.” You may be right. However, they’ve also been known to kill people, and I’m not a dog person. Therefore, this whole experience scared the $h!t out of me. Thankfully, YHC went to the far side of the road, and Fido never made a move toward me. However, the Weinke called for some work on Rosecliff and possibly Fairway Downs Ct. That wasn’t happening, not going to put Pax in danger. So, as 12 collected to start their week at Base Camp, on to plan B, or C, or D….. Whatever one it was, it was made up on the fly, not-so-moderate, and painful. It went like this:

The Thang:

Semi-adequate disclaimer given. Pax enjoyed that everything was going to be merely a suggestion. Mosey over to a lot on the other side of SCMS for COP: SSH x 15 IC, IW x 15 IC, 5 burpees OYO (just for MAD), LSS x 15 IC, merkins x 10 IC. Enough of that – to the hills!

Mosey down Woodfox. Left on RR to Rising Meadow. Run up Rising Meadow, 10 merkins at the top. Run back down, 10 LBCs at the bottom. Repeato twice for 3 times total. No triple nickel because more pain is coming. Mary while we wait for the 6 and catch out breath.

Continue down Rounding Run to the half-pipe as you approach Raintree. Nightmares of Udder having us run 3-man grinders on this half-pipe for 30 minutes still haunts the Pax. As you’re running, 10 LBCs at the bottom of the pipe, 10 merkins at the tops (YHC wasn’t very creative on the different exercises this morning). Run to the other side and back twice. Many cars were dodged in the process. None of them were nearly as frightening as a stray pit bull.

Collect the six and head back to the intersection of Rounding Run and Woodfox. Some Mary while we rest the legs a bit for the next challenge: an AYG run up Woodfox to Strawberry. This was pretty terrible. A quarter-mile of uphill suck. Collect on the sidewalk on Strawberry for some Mary while the 6 comes in.

Mosey to the rockpile by the stairs next to Semi-Gloss’ office. 2 sets of 15 bicep curls, 15 overhead press, and 15 tricep extensions. Return rocks and end with 3.5 minutes of Mary and planking. Done.

Moleskine:

This is what the Pax gets for putting someone on Q that’s training for the BRR (oh wait, YHC put himself on Q). The Rising Meadow and Rounding Run hills are not fun. Top that all off with an AYG up Woodfox and it makes for a pretty painful workout. The humidity didn’t help – it was soupy out there. Pax got about 2.4 tough miles in.

Base Camp is supposed to be a moderate workout, but this might have fallen outside the “moderate guidelines.” The Pax were killing it, though. Not too much mumblechatter, just hard work. MAD exclaimed at the beginning that he was done with rucking for a bit but wanted to do some burpees. YHC obliged, much to Wolfman’s chagrin. Speaking of Wolfman, he was sporting a brand new aerodynamic look this morning. It worked, too. He was looking faster out there on those hills. Fireman Ed, Simba, Jet Fuel, and YHC led the pax up Rising Meadow. Simba and YHC repeated that effort on Rounding Run. Snoopy was looking STRONG on Rounding Run. For his efforts, he earned a spot in the Base Camp Q rotation. Scrum is only 3 weeks in, yet tackled this workout without complaint. Strong work, brother. Keep it up.

Huge T-Claps to all who donated to Speed for Need this morning. YHC collected $70, which means I owe the Pax 70 burpees during Jello’s Q next week. I told Thunder Road that if he got a donation to me BEFORE the workout started next week, I would count it. That goes for the rest of you, as well.

Finally, a sincere and humble thank you to all of you men of F3. These last two years have been life-changing for me, and every single one of you are a part of it. Please know what a profound influence and positive effect it has had on me, and go find the next guy. Pay it forward.