Centurion-style
A couple guys ran in, a couple guys arrived early to swing some metal, and a few chose to “only” come for the regularly scheduled workout. All were treated to a simple, full-body beatdown as follows:
– “Good Morning – you have 5 seconds” (YHC was just in time himself).
– “Follow me.” (Mandatory for all F3 workouts to begin this way, otherwise, the Q might as well be wearing pink spandex and carrying a clipboard).
– Mosey around church parking lot, down hill #4, up hill #4, find a nice spot to circle up.
– 100x SSH (now everyone thinks I’m nuts and hopes to God I don’t follow with 100 burpees).
– 10x merkins, 10x flutters, 10x squats
– repeato 4 more times (that’s 100 total of each for you guys counting at home)
– mosey to pavillion and find a bench: 100 jump-ups, 100 decline merkins (all OYO)
– plankorama
– mosey to strategically placed orange cones, which happen to be 100 yds. apart:
– sprint 100 yds, 10 Carolina Dry Docks, sprint 100 yds, 10 LBCs
– repeato 4 more times
– 50 LBCs and 50 CDDs OYO (for those still counting at home, that’s 100 total for each of the LBCs and the CDDs. Only 10 100 yd. sprints. Because either (a) I’m not that nuts (really, 100 100 yd sprints?!?!) or (b) time stops for no man and the morning can only last so long.)
– Mosey back to home base. Stop, circle up and count off.
Moleskine:
When you create a workout that challenges everyone to perform one hundred reps of each called exercise, of course the first title that comes to mind is “The Century Set.” That title also makes me think of a yet-to-be-created F3 workout potentially to be held at either Avante or White Oak Manor. Admirable, but we’ll leave it to our great-grandfathers to create that one. Seeking perhaps a more appropriate and aspirational title I decided to refer to the Centurion — that ancient Roman warrior who we all know led cahorts of 100 men into battle against the Germanic barbarian hordes. (I choose to conveniently ignore the fact that, according to Wikipedia, he only led about 60-80 guys.)
Also, according to Wikipedia:
Centurions had to be literate, have connections (letters of recommendation), be at least 30 years of age, and had already served a few years in the military. The centurion in the infantry is chosen for his size, strength and dexterity in throwing his missile weapons and for his skill in the use of his sword and shield; in short for his expertness in all the exercises. He is to be vigilant, temperate, active and readier to execute the orders he receives than to talk; Strict in exercising and keeping up proper discipline among his soldiers, in obliging them to appear clean and well-dressed and to have their arms constantly rubbed and bright.
I think it’s fair to say that most of us in F3 more or less either resemble this description or at the very least aspire to it. Congrats, I just paid you a compliment.
More importantly, though, thinking about Centurions also led me to reflect on the following from Matthew’s gospel in the Bible. I invite you to consider this with me:
Matt. 8:5-13 (ESV): When he had entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, appealing to him, “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering terribly.” And he said to him, “I will come and heal him.” But the centurion replied, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my servant,‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, “Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith. I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heavenwhile the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” And to the centurion Jesus said, “Go; let it be done for you as you have believed.” And the servant was healed at that very moment.
As I considered this, I wondered to myself: do I share the Centurion’s faith in the power of the Word, His word?
Announcements:
– From Abacus: Below are the links for the team page and my personal page for Team Chepul Hill for the 1st Annual Charlotte Brain Tumor Race on Saturday, 3/22, at Freedom Park:
Young Love author
About the author