As I headed to DaVinci the cooler air and the clear sky that day gave me an eerie feeling thinking about how it was on a similar morning 16 years ago that the biggest tragedy in our generation took place. As I pulled up to AO, I saw about 5 of the DaVinci regulars and about the same of the Stonehenge faithful. But in the last 2 minutes before COP cars kept pulling up totaling 24. YHC gets stage fright easily and nervousness on how to keep this crowd moving smoothly quickly set in. Add to this that I couldn’t pull up the planned workout I had saved somewhere in my phone… only option, IMPROV..
Start- legal disclaimer – don’t get hurt, don’t sue anyone
THE THANG
Mosey across REA Rd to “the fountain” parking lot and circle up:
-SSH x 25
-IW x 25
-Mtn climbers x 25
-… 10 count x 2 of some type of leg stretching thing that wasn’t appreciated (there’s no sure evidence but my belief is that every participant would’ve been even more sore without it).. Mutiny chatter begins…
Run across Ardrey Kehl Rd to Blakeny shopping center 2 story building:
After paying tribute to the 9/11 victims and brave heroes who gave their lives trying to save others that day we moved to the workout. I explained to the pax how Poptart was the mastermind behind this workout since he started it in 9/2016 with Tuck, Bucky, Bevo and Triple 7, and that we would try to make this a DaVinci tradition going forward.
The plan was to run UP 110 flights of stairs to represent the floors of the twin towers which meant going down 110 times for a total of 220. I looked at the time and decided to audible due to potentially not having enough time to finish the exercise. I told the pax to split in 2 groups. One would take the left stairs and another the right side but that we would count going down the stairs towards the 110 (Half of what the guys last year did).
What I thought would take about 45 mins ended up taking 30 mins… these pax were fast. More IMPROV:
-partner carries around the parking lot 2x – jelly legs for sure. More mutiny chatter and jokes thrown at YHC
-I was hoping to get the feeling back in my legs again when someone yelled “now what” then someone suggested “how about some Mary”.. yeah yeah Mary that sounds good you call it 3x. Phew that gave me time to think of the next move before I was made to walk the plank.
Mosey to fountains by brixx:
-15 declined merkins and 15 dips 2x
mosey to Blakeney playground and split in groups of 3:
-first pax would do jumping pull up ladder going up to 7 pullups. First jump one pullup, second jump 2 pullups, third jump 3 pullups and so on to 7. 2nd pax do inclined merkin and 3rd do dying cockroach till 1st pax finishes. Displeasure chatter and jokes increased..
Run back to base the longer way – Finito!
Moleskin
It was great to see so many guys come and honor the 9/11 fallen heroes. I used to talk to some of the Morgan Stanley and Dean Witter folks that worked on the floors right around where the 2nd plane hit and it’s amazing how most of us are just 2 degrees of separation from knowing someone that lost a loved one that day. Just think, Mario was only 10 when this happened! I enjoyed the mutiny mumble chatter it was good fun and NO my M didn’t write it up for me… Next time I’ll add to the disclosure: me no good in F3 englis so I’ll need a translator.
Mario brought one of his 49er alumni FNG who was quickly nicknamed Luigi. As always a touching prayer for the 9/11 heroes and a solid takeout by our in-house preacher PaperJam. Thanks for the opportunity to lead.
YHC woke up at 3:58am not from nervousness about my VQ but from a nightmare where I was being chased by INS (immigration for you non-foreigners). I think the trigger for the nightmare was a “tip off” earlier in the day from AKA: JRR Tolkien who said “his source” heard of a security leak that told him INS would be in the area. My plan of blending into the American dream in suburbia could be blown. I was thankful that the gloom could provide some cover, I came up with a plan to blend in among the PAX by promoting a build the wall workout. I figured this would throw off any INS agents in the area.
The Thang:
One was to let the PAX experience what crossing the Rio Grande with a baby in 5ft water would be like by carrying a 20lb paver overhead to Best Buy lot. Since I was only expecting 2 or 3 to show up I was surprised and unprepared when 16 showed and I was 5 pavers short.. Fail #1.. Out of the gate I had to audible to partner up and this threw off my whole Q since I had not planned for curveballs.. VQ fail.
Once at BB then 15 count in cadence of:
Side straddle hop, Imperial walkers, windmill, and mountain climbers.
Then 2 rounds 10 count of:
Supermans and hollow rocks.
Don’t forget baby and mosey over to Blakeney playground for 3 rounds of:
10 pull-ups, 15 merkins (switching each round between wide arm, military and heart to heart), 10 box jumps, 10 overhead brick lunges and then run around Bath & Body Works building (about 200m). Plank or LBCs after each round and wait for others before going again.
Next circuit, 3 rounds of:
15 paver thruster squats, 15 over your toes LBCs, 15 paver push presses, 10 side to side push-ups and run around building again. Plank when finished and wait for the others.
Mosey over to water fountain for 3 rounds of:
10 derkins, 10 dips and 20 touch your toes LBCs, switching to Star Fish LBCs (thanks Tuck) for the last 2 rounds.
Partner up, pick up 20lbs “baby” and share custody while moseying over to the wall behind Old Navy.
Audible due to time mismanagement and switch man maker with overhead brick push press to just 1 regular burpee and 1 wall climb. Repeat 10x
Run back to base and audible again for 4 sets of call ’em LBCs since Tolkien’s watch had 5 minutes left vs mine with only 1 minute ( per Verizon and GPS system…)
Moleskin: I definitely created a lot of confusion. I think some thought I was Qing in Spanish but I think eventually most caught on or implemented their own workout. The goal was to get everyone huffing and puffing with minimal running. But only as an attorney can object, Patent Pending called me out and yelled “you lied” we ran 2.9 miles. Cockey decided to pile on. I was definitely disappointed since the goal was to stay below 1.5mi. Nard Dog tried to keep me company in one of the runs but decided I was too slow and dusted me. Mighty Mite, Tuck, Nard Dog and Bucky are beasts as they finished the rounds as most of us were starting the run. JRR Tolkien tried to break me down by telling me how short the workout was and showing me that he wasn’t even out of breath. Thanks for the constructive criticism. Loogie kept me from sobbing by telling me how I was good enough, nice enough and that people liked me. Thanks brother! Tuck sent me to the drawing board a few times and gave me a C for effort at the end but somehow I still qualified to get my DaVinci sox which I will proudly wear next time. Definitely enjoyed the privilege to lead all 16 of you and the kwoffee talk. Thanks for putting up wit the gear grinding and good thing the INS thing was a hoax and I won’t get deported to mexico where I’m NOT from.
Announcements:
April 22 Brolympics 6am-8am at Community House school
F3 featured report on the TODAY show on Saturday 25.