Monthly Archive June 2017

An Elvis Sighting!

7 brave souls vanquished the power of the fart-sack and attacked SVMS with a vengeance! (some later than others!)

A little HB mile to get us warmed up.

THE THANG

COP:

No FNGs, but disclaimer provided.

SSH x 25 IC

5 Burpees on your own

IW x 15 IC

LSS x 18 IC (slip up by Q – wasn’t the intended ending point)

Circle of Pain – 5 or 6 rounds (holding plank or 6-inches position – as the wave goes around the group)

Mosey to the track by the tennis courts.

Main Event:

We partnered up for a little Dora 1, 2, 3

Round 1:  Partner 1 begins with merkins while partner 2 runs a lap on the track.

Flap-jack until 100 total between the partners

Round 2: 200 squats between the 2 with interchanging laps

Round 3: 300 LBCs between the 2 with interchanging laps

About midway through Dora, HB strolls up looking quite refreshed and wondering what all the commotion was about. He quickly jumped in and finished the set with his group.

After the Pax had completed the set, a 5-burpee penalty for HB’s tardiness (although at that point, 10 would have been more appropriate!).

Mosey to the football stadium for a little stair work.

Not 7’s, not 11’s, but 12’s!

 

Initial call was for Merkins at the bottom and dips at the top – with each set = 12 (starting with 1 merkin at the bottom/11 dips at the top). After the 1st attempt, it was determined dips at the top were not a good option – (thanks for call-out HB) – flip the order.

I know this was a group-pleaser, as HB loudly proclaimed during this round of fun, ‘I like 11’s better and 7’s even more’. The combination of the humidity with the called reps were a true-test of everyone’s internal fortitude (which brings us to the Elvis sighting).

About halfway in & at the top of the stadium, I hear a very distinct sound from my partner for the day (Squiddo) – followed by a, ‘do you think those bathrooms are open, dad?’. After several failed attempts of reaching school facilities, I had to bail on the group to get my 2.0 to facilities at the closest gas-station. Since HB was so well-rested, it only seemed fitting that he step in to continue to lead the Pax.

I perused just about every inch of the Shell station while Squiddo took care of business.

MOM:

We made it back just in time for MOM to be wrapping up.

We were able to finish up flutters with the group.

Back-scratchers

Rosalita’s

And dollies

And that’s a wrap!

Thanks HB for stepping in! I believe there was some wall-time as well, after the merriment of 12’s were finished.

Few announcements: I gave an update on our pending move and asked for prayer’s for Judy’s brother Jeff. He was diagnosed with lymphoma about 5 weeks ago and is not doing well.  Also mention of Cheech’s family and the driver of the car.

At Coffeeteria – there was also a Woodie sighting – good to see him out and about, but not recovered enough to participate in the first F.

Great job guys!

It Was All A Dream…

Ahh, Horsey Mc F*ck Face, the AO only a mother could love.  After selecting the perfect outfit for the occasion, at 5:15, on a downright chilly summer morning, I led the Pax out of the lot to see what the arse had in store this week.

Activities

  • To the bottom of Blue Ridge.  5 x Up with 10 merkins at the top each time.  Lee staking his territory up front right away.
  • Mary at the flagpole to collect the Pax.
  • Loop around Mountainview to Wilby back to where it meets Mountainview.  Plank to collect the Pax. Merkins IC x 7, Hold it, Diamonds IC x 7, Hold it, Wide-arms IC x 7
  • Out to Sardis via Wilby, on to Sardis Rd North, and then to the Alt Lurker (sponsored by Breitbart News Co.)
  • AYG or at least most of what ya got (MOWYG) up the alt lurker, recover pace onto Sardis N, quick right on Beverly, continue the recover pace around the bend, HIT IT on the downhill runway, back around to the bottom of the alt lurker.
  • Mary
  • Repeat
  • Mary
  • Repeat
  • Back to the top of Blue Ridge via Sardis and Wilby.
  • Mountainview loop one more time, back to flagpole.
  • Pledge
  • To the bottom of Blue Ridge.
  • AYG to top for 15 merkins and back to the house (so much grumble chatter on that call)

Nekkid Chatter

One day this past January at Sunday Se7en, just after I took a wrong turn and inadvertently joined F3 Running Club, Fish tells me he is reviving some weird shit down south that they call Horseface or something, but he will rename it Monday McF*uckity, and we will run many hills and be better people.  “Sure, sounds great” I say, “but I have a Q commitment on the first Monday so won’t be able to attend.  But it is a hill workout you say? Cool, I will find a hill by my AO and we will do some repeaters.” Fish says,”no, you don’t understand, you won’t be able to replicate this where you are”. “Okay”, I say. Inner dialogue, “what the f*ck is this guy talking about? A hill is a hill and you run up and down it a few times and call it a day.  To quote Floyd in between honey bear bong hits “Don’t condescend me man, I’ll fuckin kill ya, man”.

So off I go on my merry way until the following Monday when I finally arrive at that godforsaken place at the corner of Sardis and Old Bell (why so far off the grid?!).  It’s so cold and so dark and then Blue Ridge and Mountainview and Wilby and Alt Sardis appear out of the gloom and it is terrible.  A truly awful place,  Where did it even come from?  What glacial event do we owe this pleasure?  Did I go through a wormhole somewhere around Providence Day and end up in the Swannanoa Valley?  Days turned to weeks turned to months of showing up at this shitshow every Monday morning and ruining a perfectly good week.  It all culminated in Fish’s Famous 5k which we ran twice for good measure. I think Favrah finished both legs before I competed one.  But at least it’s over.  I run my race, I finish respectably, and I bury the awful memories.

Fast forward to earlier this month.  Chelms aka Tatertots (who is in the running, and the leader in the clubhouse if you ask me, for most bizarre F3 name.  Nothing even comes up when you Google Chelms.  And tatertots, while delicious, seem rather random as an alias.  I also want to call him T-tots but I don’t know if he would find it offensive.  While we’re on it, I think Chelms aka Tatertots was #refusenik on the last hill climb today.  That’s fair, I think the point was made that this is not a bootcamp so don’t treat it that way. I treated it that way.  I am a voracious reader of the comments sections and I saw where Horsehead himself said NO RULEZ EXCEPT FOR THE PLEDGE) sends out the bat signal that Horsey shall return for a 12 week run leading up to BRR.  So the whole thing wasn’t a fever dream.  This place exists, in real life, and this time I will see it in the light of day… in July… in Charlotte… in 85% humidity…for 12 weeks.  IN.  Like the Muthaship before it, the only way to conquer one’s fear is to wear that f*cker out.  That’s why, yesterday, when Fish gave the Sunday Se7en option to run to Horsey, do a 4 mile loop, and then run back, I said hell yeah I’m in.  That was after I realized he wasn’t kidding and that was really the plan.  I really thought he was kidding.  The only way to flatten out those hills is to take every available opportunity to get after it.

It’s as shitty as I remember.

The mumble chatter when you arrive at Horsey is so subdued.  Not sure if it’s because of the melding of different regions in one place, or 5:15 is 15 minutes earlier than 5:30 (fact check please), or if it’s so f*ckin dark in that parking lot that I can’t tell anyone apart from anyone else. I think the real reason is the anticipated shitiness of what the next hour will be. Strong efforts out there this morning.  As mentioned up top, the Russian took the lead early and never relinquished it. He will now report back to Putin that the Americans are the weaklings that they assumed us to be.  I meant to keep my eye on him during the pledge.  I bet he just mouths the words and doesn’t even say them.  My man Powell repped for the Sparta crew. I had the pleasure of meeting Powell’s wife and daughter at the farmer’s market on Saturday morning. Bet you didn’t know that YHC has hippie tendencies and buys illegal unpasteurized milk for his children on the blackmarket at said market. Anyhow, Powell told me that, along with some family, he is opening a brewery near the New Bern light rail station in the coming months.  Seems like a good idea.  The other 427 breweries in CLT are packed to the gills with those damn millennials on their cell phones.  I’m sure they can support one more.  Also, someone notify the party planner, I am sure Powell would love to offer up the venue for the Christmas party and provide a bunch of free drinks and food.  Turkey Leg was out at McFuckity in the winter.  Those were all facts right?!  It was snowing and uphill both ways every week right?  Vouch for me here bother! Tweetsie.  Goddamn, what a f*ckin inspiration this guy is.  Homey is deep six every week, but continues to put in the work like a stud.  I heard he may have had an intestinal episode this morning and that’s why he couldn’t join us at the Alt Lurker. But there he was, running the loop with Snowflake (RESPECTS, I’ll be damned if I am out here with you bozos in another 15 years.  Same goes for Chelms aka Tatertots who is ringleading like a champion. I should only be so lucky) when we returned.  Ready to rejoin the Pax and pledge it up.  Triple claps to you Tweetsie.  I am glad Federalist is on my team at BRR or else I would get beat by an old dude. Everybody keeps commenting on Blackjack being Slimjack, but I have only recently met him as thin, fast Blackjack, so pics or it didn’t happen. Chin Music was the first chaser all morning long keeping the pressure on Drago.  What a name!  From Wikipedia (so you know it’s true):

American street slang[edit]

In American slang, chin music is a term for idle talk. It dates back at least a century: “There’s too much chin music an’ too little fightin’ in this war, anyhow” is a quote from Stephen Crane’s 1895 novel The Red Badge of Courage. It can alternatively be used as a euphemism for punching someone in the jaw.

Baseball[edit]

In baseball slang, it means a pitch that is thrown near the batter’s face. The pitcher‘s intent may be to cause the batter to move “back” such that it is more difficult to hit a future outside pitch, to frighten the batter into a poorer batting approach, to intimidate opposing batters, or to actually hit the batter with the pitch. If the umpire suspects the pitcher of either of the latter two intentions, he may eject the pitcher immediately or warn both teams that any similar pitch will result in automatic ejection. The pitcher’s manager may also be ejected or warned if the umpire believes the manager ordered the beanball.

In the late 1800s, at baseball’s inception, the phrase “chin music” was used to describe razzing or heckling from the fans. It began being used as a synonym for a brushback pitch around World War II.

I assumed it was an inside pitch reference but it seems our Chin Music could be a guy that rambles on about nothing, knocked somebody the f *ck out, or delivered or received some inside heat?  Either way, I’m jealous, beats the hell out of Thin Slice.  Anne & Hope seems to have an uncanny ability to know where all Pax are at all times.  “Is the six in?” “No we have two more out there.”  He is also nominated for the bizarro name prize, even after the internet tells me that he may be named after a Rhode Island gift and garden store or a ship lost at sea off the coast of Rhode Island.  Did he go to Brown? I heard they have the naked parties there and don’t give out grades.  Tell me more.  Spooky Jon had to split before COT but it was great to see him.  Every time I see Spook I am reminded of one of my favorite F3 moments ever.  I was probably about 3 or 4 months into posting.  Saturday morning at the Worm (the Metro’s finest 6 am workout), and Spook had the Q.  We were working Tranquil off of Selwyn.  I believe the instruction was, “we are gonna run up and down this hill until time is up”.  Well after about 25 minutes of that suckiness, me and Spooky make the turn at the bottom and he announces this as the last trip up.  And so I look at him and he looks at me and there’s really not much to say, there’s two of us here, one hill, and one of us is gonna get to the top of it first.  We busted ass up that hill as hard as we could.  I think Spook edged me out, but when we got to the top, as Spook tried to call the next exercise, all he could get out, in the most dignified tone he could muster, as if he were addressing the bench, “THE Q NEEDS A MOMENT”…. f*ck yeah, I made that guy have to take a moment.  Maybe this awfulness is paying off and someday I won’t be the six.  I couldn’t tell if Hollins was pulling my leg at the Caffeine run announcements when he said he would be at Horsey after my shameless plug.  But to be fair, Fish plugged Diamondhead first and pre-blasted so I had to do something.  Thanks for the support Hollins #paaxsupportingpaxtheyhardlyevenknow. Or you just like Horsey regardless of the Q.  Either way works. When filling out the list of Pax I remembered everyone without even having to go to the recording device.  So proud of my memory, which used to be razor sharp before these kids, and when I still smoked cigs, but now is like mush.  Maybe I should check the device just in case.  ALF! Fudge, the one guy who introduced himself before the workout and I forget him.  Is there a more 80’s thing than ALF.  They made 102 episodes of that show.  Again, we go to Wikipedia for all truth in the world to find out that little people labor starts to add up:

While a puppet was usually used for ALF, there were some shots of the tiny alien running or walking around. This was accomplished by the 2′ 9″ (84 cm) actor Michu Meszaroswearing an ALF costume. This can be seen in one of the series’ intros, which concludes with the Tanner family getting their picture taken; ALF (played by Meszaros) walks over to be part of the photo. However, Meszaros’ services became too costly as well as time-consuming, and the full ALF costume was abandoned after the first season.

Let that be a lesson to you if you planned on midget wrestling at your next holiday party.  Looked to Stinger for the takeout, because Stinger is one of the guys who I will always look to for the takeout.  It’s Double Nickels at Sparta, it’s Little Baby Jesus when he is available, just because I like saying Little Baby Jesus whenever I can, reminds me of the Talladega Nights scene.  Stinger had some wise words last week in his Sharktank bbast.  From the Tclaps, looks like most of you have seen it already.  Reminds me of a Calligraphy print piece we have hanging in our home by the Vietnamese Buddhist monk Thích Nhất Hạnh, Love is being fully present. Try that on for size after a long day’s work when your kids are trying to tell you about their day.

Announcements

Metro July 4th Convergence at 6 am at Freedom Park gravel lot followed by the American 4 Miler where Speed for Need makes its first official debut.

Church on the street, Sunday mornings, early, feeding folks that need it. Chelms has the details.

Prohibition makes his 2017 Horsey debut as Q next week.

Enough of this.  Thanks for hosting fellas, this workout is the worst.  See you in a couple of weeks when I get back from vacay..

Thin Slice

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Baker’s Dozen 5k

13 PAX took advantage of an uncharacteristically cool June morning to undertake another journey to The Matrix.

The Thang

Quick mosey to the parking lot in front of school for an abbreviated COP: SSH X 15, LSS X 11. Too much running on the weinke, no time for standing around in a circle.

Exit the parking lot and head west on McKee, turn left on Knox, right on Helena Park, stop at the bottom of Karras Commons. 7s on Karras Commons Way starting with 1 burpee at the bottom, 6 jump squats at the top, working our way to 6 burpees at the bottom and 1 jump squat up top. Regroup and run back to the AO, stopping at the rock pile near the McKee Rd. sidewalk and futbol fields. Instructions were to partner up and choose one lifting rock per set of partners. Run to the track with your lifting rock in tow. YHC heard a few moans and groans about running with lifting rocks. Just wanted to give the PAX an opportunity to push themselves a bit harder than they were expecting.

Once at the track, P1 performs called exercise while P2 runs one lap. Flapjack until partners reach cumulative total reps for each exercise.

Round 1 – overhead press x 150

Round 2 – curl x 150

Round 3 – flutter press x 100

Return rocks to the rock pile, then mosey to the playground for 10 pull-ups, 20 derkins, 30 dips followed by one lap around the school. There were about 40 seconds on the clock after finishing this sequence, and the PAX were awarded that time as free play. During free play, YHC observed a few PAX in some sort of surfing/squatting maneuver on the bouncy bench (probably not the real name for that piece of equipment). Orange Whip did a few hundred one-fingered pull ups. Smokey with the strong take out in COT.

Nekkid Moleskine

  • We were blessed with an awesome morning today. A most welcome break from the heat and humidity.
  • The goal of this workout was to break the three-mile mark. It’s BRR training season and all that, plus running conditions were excellent this morning. We totaled between 3.1 – 3.4 miles. Well done men!
  • Strong efforts by all today, with the Larry Birds of the bunch being Orange Whip, LaRonda, and Square Root.

Announcements

So you think you can dance?

Background (my muse)…

All week I’ve been advertising my Ballet and Burpees workout, with the threat of rocks. This idea stemmed from my 9 year old daughter, who has been dancing since she was 3. About 2 years ago, we switched studios to Charlotte School of Ballet (shameless plug) and my view of ballet was forever changed! I’ll never forget her first class when her teacher, Miss Laura, started the class with doing 2 minutes of high knees around the room. Needless to say, they left class drenched in sweat. All of a sudden ballet wasn’t about cute tutus! Ballet was a hard, disciplined and beautiful sport.

Go ahead and google* Misty Copeland (Principal Ballerina with the ABT – American Ballet Theater) … do you see her calf muscles? OMG!

(*) – Maybe not at work or when the M is around.

COP:

Very thorough disclaimer was done and we are off.

1 lap around parking lot.

½ lap of high knees – this was only about 30 seconds, not 2 minutes.

½ lap of butt kickers

Mosey to track

15 SSH

5 burpees, own your own

15 Imperial Walkers

5 had release burpees, own your own

10 Petite Jettes – yes, a new ballet move (there had to be one)! Essentially, lift your right foot and point it down behind your left calf, then switch.

15 Windmills

5 Burpees OYO

Main Thang:

Track work – Partner up

Round 1:

Partner 1 – Low Slow Squats

Partner 2 – High knees to end of straight away, and sprint back

10 Handslap Merkins together

Flap Jack

Round 2:

Partner 1 – Deep Knee Bends aka Grande Plies

Partner 2 – Butt Kickers to end of straight of away, and sprint back

10 Handslap Merkins together

Flap Jack

 

Mosey to the rocks…

Rock Work

Keep your partners…

Round 1:

Partner 1 – Low Slow Squats with the Rock.

Partner 2 – leave with rock, down the steps, drop the rock. Then there were 3 lines to practice your Leaps; line 1 was 24 inches, line 2 was 30 inches, line 3 was 36 inches. Run to the bleachers and do 10 Jump Squats. Unfortunately, there was some confusion and some of PAX did step-ups. On the way back, grab your rock. When going up the steps, do a forward lunge with your rock

Round 2:

Partner 1 – 50 curls with Rock, at 50 switch to Presses with Rock

Partner 2 – same as before

 

Some speed and control…

Everyone to a Step. For 30 seconds, calf raises with just toes on a step as fast as possible. Then 30 seconds of single leg squats with rock, foot should be solidly on a step.

Repeat, but this time single leg squat with other leg.

Unfortunately, we were running a little short on time, so had to skip the Air Presses in People Chair with a Rock.

Rocks down

Indian Run

Tolkein brought out the Chariot for Speed for Need, so needed a little more running.

We headed right out of the school down to the loop turn-around doing Indian runs and headed on back.

Mary

A few minutes left on the Clock…

15 Heals to Heaven

15 Freddy Mercuries

15 American Hammers

And last but not least, 5 burpees on your own!

That’s it!

Moleskin:

I’m thankful that we didn’t have blatant mutiny this morning with the ballet. This Q was easier than my 1st Q and I wasn’t as nervous. I’m getting better, but definitely have a ways to go.

A lot of great work from the PAX…

  • Constanza started F3 about the same time I did and has made great progress. He was really moving it down on the track.
  • Heartbreaker is just a machine.
  • Goonie was doing his burpees for money donated for Speed for Need. Most were even good form!
  • Fireman Ed was really disappointed about no Jack Webbs!

There was some mumble chatter about switching my name to “Dance Mom”. Last August, I showed up to F3 for the first time at BaseCamp and was named. Did you think of anything creative? NO! I’ve been called Jello my whole life. It wiggles and works!

Nice Takeout by JRR Tolkein. #Cheechstrong

My goal for this workout was to get a good leg burn, without tons of miles. Drano told me that we had close to 1.5 miles, but still my legs hurt!

So many other guys that I was glad to see this morning

Basecamp was where it all began for me and I’m thankful that I could now lead. 

Announcements:

  1. SPEED-FOR-NEED will do its first race the American 4miler Race on 07/04 in Dilworth. If in town, all F3ers and families are encouraged to show up and cheer.

#PreBlast – Escalator: what goes down, must come up

Intervals that decline don’t really fit into the “pyramid”, for pyramids are mostly upright the last time I checked.  So what should you call intervals that go down in duration, but then have to come back up?  Perhaps an escalator?  You decide on the PreBlast video above.

Here the THANG for Tuesday, 6/27:

  • 0500 – Early option for those that want some extra miles and conversation, or those that NEED the time to warm-up adequately and make sure they show to the normal 0515 workout on time.
  • 0515 – Leave from the Vine parking lot and head for the Warm-up area at the lot in front of the Synchrony building at Rushmore and Ballantyne Commons.  Option 1 on route – Q will lead a 1mi + route around the Bull Ring to get there with distance about 1.3mile. Option 2 on route – upon hitting the Bull Ring, take the short way around to Rushmore with distance right at 1mile.
  • 0525ish – Warm-up exercises in the parking lot in front of Synchrony.
  • 0530ish – Start Interval Escalator down at VO2Max / “Interval” Pace / 2mile Race pace:
    • 5 minutes I-pace / 4 minutes jog to recover group
      • *Note some Intervals will be out and back halfway through.
    • 4 minutes I-pace / 3 minutes jog to recover group
    • 3 / 2
    • 2 / 1
    • 1 / 1
    • Then back up until time calls us to stop.
    • 1 / 1
    • 2 / 1
    • 3 / 2
    • 4 / 3
  • 0610 – The plan is to be within a 5 minute jog of COT after finishing the final I-pace interval.
  • Total of about 22 minutes at I-pace.
  • 0615 – COT

Worlds Collide – July 4th Runvergence

Rachel takes the Q as the pax of Fast Twitch, Swift and Bagpipe come together to workout this July 4th. We’re keeping with an early start (but 15 extra minutes of sleeping for the FT, Swift pax) so men can post and still make it down to participate in or watch the @SpeedForNeed American 4miler.

DATE: Tuesday, July 4, 2017

TIME: 0530 – 0630

LAUNCH POINT: Four-Mile Creek Greenway – 5803 Bevington Place

And then it was my (devil’s) turn

23 PAX posted in the gloom for a Devil’s Turn featuring an out-and-back course through Raintree in YHC’s first Q at the site (and 4th overall post).  It was 8 miles round-trip from the Greenway parking lot to the turn-around point at Providence Road and back, which requires a serious 7:30 average pace over the Raintree hills to achieve in an hour.   Great course and, as usual, the PAX set off with determination.  Within the first quarter-mile it was clear there was a group including Swiper, Turkey Leg, Fletch, Depth Charge and others pushing to run the full route. The rest of the PAX settled into a solid pace and starting knocking off the miles.  The gradual downhill down 51 to Raintree lane creates a false sense of comfort, which is soon erased when you turn onto Raintree lane and hit the rolling hills.  Solid efforts were put in all around and everyone did a good job turning around at the appropriate time to head back.  Once back at the Greenway, Fletch came screaming in to be the first to complete the full 8 mile loop.  From my count, Turkey Leg and Swiper also made the full loop (we’ll leave it to the judges to decide whether they made it in less than an hour).  If I missed anyone who completed the whole thing, please do correct me in the comments, as that effort is worthy of recognition.  Great push by the rest of the PAX and a special kudos to Haggis for posting on the heels of running a 50K the weekend before on the west coast.

We closed out with a prayer for Cheech, the F3 runner tragically killed during a workout that week outside of Columbia, as well as for his family.  They were on my mind and in my prayers during much of the run that morning, and I’m sure many of the other PAX can say the same.

Thanks very much to Bunker and Gumbo for handing me the DT keys for the week, and the PAX for graciously letting me try and fill their shoes.   It was an honor to lead.

Fun Times on Camilla

11 men gathered at Carmel Park on this shockingly cool summer morning to put in some work and get the week started right.

The Thang

Circle up in the parking lot. COP consisted of SSH x 15, Merkins x 10, MC x 10, and Low Slow Squats x 15 all IC. Mosey across Carmel and then down Camilla. At the stop sign at the bottom of the hill on Camilla near the school, stop and give instructions. Time for a nine stop suicide going up and down Camilla. Run to the first drive way. Do 5 Merkins. Run back to the start. Do 5 Squats. Run to the second drive way etc. etc. Do this for all the drive ways going all the way to the 9th one. Finish up at the bottom. Mary while waiting for the six. Next, mosey over to the rock pile behind the school. Find a rock. 10 Curls/10 Shoulder Presses/10 Tri Extensions. Drop the rock. Run to the furthest basketball goal. Do 10 jump squats. Run back to your rock. Complete this 5 times. Time was almost up so return the rocks to the pile and head back to the launch. Done.

Naked Moleskin

Nice work today by all. There were some good efforts being put in. The description of the workout may not sound like much, but we covered some ground. That suicide turned out to be really long. Most everyone got over 4 miles total. We came awfully close to the pay for play folks. Hopefully we didn’t scare them and One Eye won’t get a nastygram. Thanks for lending YHC the keys this morning One Eye. It was fun.

The Big House – Today’s Episode: We Have a Hill…or…Variety is the Spice of Life

6 disciplined PAX arrived with YHC coming in hot with 45 seconds to spare. YHC has observed many-a-Big House workout being confined to the safe harbor of Jack Hughes Park. But as John A. Shedd rightly pointed out, “A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.”

Disclaimer was given as the shovel flag was planted, and we set sail for Pineville Lake Park.

COP
Run to Town Hall
Slow merkins x15
Sshx20

THE THANG
Run to Gracelife Church Youth parking lot

Plankwalks w/Merkins x5

Run to Pineville Lake Park, picnic table pavilion
20 Step ups each leg
15 Derks
15 Dips

Grab a lifting rock
Bicep curls x15

NOW THE EXCITING PART. After half a year in existence, our AO finally has a respectable hill for some hillwork.
Time for 7s, 1 burp at the base, 6 jump ups at the top, 2 and 5, etc etc.
There were actually two hills to climb..making this edition of 7s a little more run intensive than others experienced.

Return to the picnic table pavilion
15 Step ups each leg
10 Derks
10 Dips

Bicep curls x30
10 Step ups each leg
5 Derks
5 Dips
Bicep curls x30

Indian Run back to the harbor

Grab some curb
Flutters x30
Dolleys x25
LBCs x30
Boxcutters OYO x20

FIN

2.4 miles logged. Good work men.

MOLESKIN
OUTSTANDING EFFORT by all. #LarryBird goes to Arsenal, who pushed as hard as YHC had seen since first meeting him at the FNG Convergence over a month ago. Strong work brother.

Tagalong had observed that YHC appeared to be moving quicker on runs these days. Tis true…been taking some sad clown runs through the neighborhood in a slow-build-up to the Blue Ridge Relay. I won’t be the fastest SOB out there, but I will be out there. One thing that I like about a 2-mile minimum requirement out at The Big House is that it puts a 5k comfortably in-reach of everyone who posts. After getting your ass kicked for a month or two, the difference between 2 and 3 miles is not that big a deal.

Private Benjamin showing off with the arm curls. His rock was twice the size of mine. #CurlsfortheGirls

Great to see Carmen San Diego on a consistent basis out here. Tclaps brother. Keep it up.

No-Show probably needs to be renamed. He’s more consistent at posting out here than the site Qs. A’hem, Cheddar. And no it doesn’t matter that you were out of town today. (YHC is a big fan of throwing stones from glass houses.)

ANNOUNCEMENTS
– American 4-miler – July 4 – the 1st of 12 F3-sponsored Speed for Need runs. There will be an F3 workout beforehand near the starting area. See link to sign-up. Bring a shovel flag if you have one: http://runforyourlife.com/american4miler/

– Private Benjamin’s VQ – July 10 at The Big House. Get ready for it!

Blackhawk Takes Flight

A rugged 32, many sleeveless, descended upon the newly minted Blackhawk AO at Walnut Creek Park. Everything from guys showing up on foot to rolling up in golf carts and scooters was the scene leading up to 630. All we were missing was someone on a unicycle and roller skates joining in. Maybe next week… Shovel flag was planted, park nazi dealt with and 630 on clock meant GREENLIGHT for the launch of Blackhawk. Thanks to Ringer for leading the PAX in a moment of silence to pay respects to our fallen PAX “Cheech”.

Warm-Up (Ringer)

  • Mosey around the pond and back to the small athletic field and circle up:
    • 15 SSH
    • 10 Moroccan Night Club (always a favorite and a head scratcher to those north of the border)
    • 10 Low Slow Squats
    • 5 Merkins
    • 6 inch plank (9 for YHC)
    • 10 Mountain Climbers

The Thang (General)

  • HATEFUL 8 (Perform corresponding number of reps for each of the exercises below, take a lap around the athletic field. Rinse and repeat removing one of the exercises each round until left with just 1 burpee) 8 total laps around the field
    • 8) Burpees
    • 7) Bombjacks
    • 6) Carolina Dry Docks
    • 5) Merkins
    • 4) Jump Squats
    • 3) Broad Jumps
    • 2) Diamond Merkins
    • 1) Burpee
  • Partner Aggregates
    • P1 sprint down to end of field and backpedal back to P2, flapjack w/ P2
      • Round 1 – 50 Merkins, 50 LBCs, 50 SSH
      • Round 2 – 50 Merkins, 50 Squats, 25 Burpees
  • Circle up for the “Ring of Fire” (Atlas)
    • Atlas doles out the core exercise that all the PAX do while each PAX takes a turn running around the circle and back to their spot…back to their spot, back to their spot RIGHT PAPERJAM! Flapjack the exercise after 5 PAX have made it around the circle
      • LBC
      • Flutter
      • Rosalita
      • Box Cutters
  • FINISH IT OFF with 2 full field length sprints to burn off any excess energy left
  • COT (Atlas on the takeout)

Moleskine

Impressive showing today for the launch of Blackhawk and T-claps to the SOB and Union County PAX for the support getting this off the ground. Tuck and MT, we appreciate the push and the recon getting us out this site. Lots of opportunity in this area and a Q’s dream of an AO with plenty to work with. Spread the word to surrounding neighbors, friends, co-workers etc to keep this site going strong. As always let us be thankful to see another sun rise and have the opportunity to come out and enjoy our time together. Continued thoughts and prayers for the family of Cheech and may he rest in peace. Appreciate all of the guys that paid their respects today by going sleeveless even if you had to dig into the bottom of your shirt drawer (Soft Pretzel) to do so.

Annoucements

While we did not utilize the trail system this week, stay tuned for updates on a future trail pre-run that we will be implementing in the coming weeks.

Also, cafe’terria ummmmm coffeeteria will be held at Free Birds diner after all Blackhawk workouts. We got the ok from the owner as long as we keep our stinky asses on the outdoor patio.

Q Schedule is wide open at this point. Please reach out to Atlas or myself if you are interested in pitching in.

Over and Out

-General