- When:09/05/2014
- QIC: Mermaid
- The PAX: Madame Tussaud, Scabby, Escargot, Wingman, Cane, Daniel San, Rock Thrill, Josh Jones (FNG-Handy Manny), Udder, Checkpoint (WD), Red Rocks, Swanson, Sunrise, Voodoo, Brushback
Centurian Birthday Festivities…Interrupted
Blinking lights and several police cruisers were in the launch lot at Centurian today. Two of our pax were robbed at gunpoint by a male assailant. Checkpoint and Voodoo were not injured. YHC intentionally out for pre-KB due to BRR driving duties and most other KB regulars doing BRR. That left these two men in the dark. May have been a crime of opportunity or the assailant may have cased the lot as we are there like clockwork every Friday. Be mindful of your surroundings and always try to travel in a herd. Shovel flag planted by Escargot. Mood certainly somber among the pax, but we moved forward as the police did their work to try and find the assailant. Cane turns 39 and come to find out, Udder is 34 today. Happy birthday gentlemen.
Thang:
COP in launch lot
SSH x39 IC
Merkin x39 (Civilian cadence)
10 Burpee OYO
YHC and Cane grab party favors and mosey to lot above to wait for the six providing information to police. Party favors are 39 pound cinder blocks (2) that will travel with pax during workout. Team effort for carry. Pass along when necessary
Line up. Sprint 80 yards. Sprint back.
Merkin Ladder
Start with 5 merkin: 1 regular/1wide/1 diamond/1 hand-release/1 regular
Run approx. 80 yards and complete 30 LBC. Run back to start.
Increase merkin rep by 1 to 2 of each above. Repeat to 5 reps of each. 30 LBC stays same at other end. Shamelessly borrowed this from Lobsta Roll’s beatdown and Anvil on Wednesday.
Early finishers did 20 SSH IC then plank to wait for six. Checkpoint joined the pax right about here. Voodoo had to stay with car and officers who were finger-printing.
Pick up favors and mosey to Jack in Box parking lot across 51. Double back to assist with favors. Drop favors and mosey to Palatine Hill.
Triple Nickel
Run up hill. 5 hand-release merkin. Run down. 5 jump squats. 5 repetitions.
Plank to wait for six. Mosey to pick up favors and pause for MARY: Heels to Heaven x20 IC/Bicycle x20 IC/Dolly x20 IC.
Mosey to picnic tables at CCHS.
Bench Set
15 jump up/15 tricep dip/15 derkin x2
Mosey to rock pile to grab an exercise rock.
Rock Set
Sets of 20 IC: Curls/Press/CDD/Press/Curls
AYG to launch lot for BOM.
Moleskin
YHC shook by this incident. Pax appeared to be as well as the mumblechatter was essentially nonexistent. All pax worked hard today. Welcome to Handy Manny, a friend of YHC and a Charlotte native. Great to have you and certainly hope to see you in the gloom soon. YHC took us out in BOM. Prayers for Voodoo, Checkpoint, and the troubled assailant. Really hate that these two men had to endure this today. Prayers for our brothers who are doing the BRR, other participants, and all involved for a safe event. Happy birthday to Cane and Udder.
PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THE HERD MENTALITY. Unfortunately, we all know that bad things happen every day and we need to stand together. Aye.
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Mermaid administrator
Sorry to hear this happened. Thanks for the reminder to be vigilent. As we all know, the illusion that we are in control can be shattered in an instant. I like the fact that everyone went ahead with the workout and really never missed a beat except for the somber mood, which is to be expected!
Thanks to the PAX for the concern and kind words this morning. Thankfully, the perpetrator didn’t seem interested in hurting anyone and was probably just opportunistic. It was scary while it happened, but it could have been much worse. Needless to say, I’ll be more vigilant about my surroundings in the future. If you see me sitting in my car at a workout waiting to reach critical mass, it’s not because I’m anti-social!
Now that I’ve had a chance for my heart rate to come down, to hug my kids and my M, to talk to my Mom, and to change my underwear, I’m pretty bummed that I got up at 0430 and didn’t even get a chance to work out.
Happy birthday to Cane and Udder. I’m sorry I missed out on what sounds like a good beatdown.
Very thankful that no one was hurt. I pray the assailant is 1 captured and 2 finds Christ and changes his life.
Although unlikely to happen again, I do think we should consider steps to make the workout safer, including possibly moving launch point to better lit area. Would like input from any PAX that has experience with these matters. Also.wonder if the police had any recommendations.
Thanks as well for the concerns guys. It was a surreal experience and I am thankful Voodoo set the tone of remaining calm and cooperating. Unfortunate event but not sure it warrants changing locations. I think this was a random, opportunistic act. The biggest lesson learned is to be aware of our surroundings and to remain calm and not put a perp on the defensive. We met in that parking lot this am at 5:45 and I did not feel unsafe. Thanks again. Glad to have this one checked off my bucket list.
I agree with Checkpoint that we should leave Centurion at CCHS, but I think it would be a good idea to move the meeting location to the large upper lot. That would move you away from the hedges that obscure the view of Walsh Blvd. Part of the issue Friday morning was that we couldn’t see the road from where we were standing in the parking lot. By the time we saw the gunman, he was only about 6-10 feet away and flight was not an option.
I also agree with Checkpoint that this was most likely a random act. Moving the meeting location farther from Walsh Blvd. would address this issue as well by making us less visible to passersby.
Thanks again for the support from the PAX.
I do not know who they were but a couple of Catholic facilities guys came down that day to see what was going on so my guess is that the administration is aware of the incident.
By the way, a reporter called me and wants to do an interview with Voodoo or I this afternoon for a report on the news tonight. Trying to decide if I should do it. Think any good comes from helping create some awareness of the need for caution and the advice to stay calm?
Thoughts?
Great minds think alike. I have a call into Dredd and Tiger Rag. We do not have a day however as the story runs tonight.
This is what reporter texted when I asked about what he wanted to cover: “Explanation of what happened, who did this, anything you are doing differently because of this, and anything you want others to know so that they are safe.”
It looks like WSOC ran the story last night anyway. Here’s a link: http://www.wsoctv.com/news/news/local/police-joggers-robbed-charlotte-catholic-high-scho/nhJJN/
F3 is not mentioned by name, just referred to as an “organized fitness group.” They also called us joggers, which makes it sound like we don’t stay at the site very long.
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