I think we get the message

I think we get the message

Today was billed as mud run training with your team.  It started out innocent enough.  Everyone got there early so we could pair up. Madame’s team of Bean and Outback were disappointed when their fourth, Mic Check did not show but Vuvuzela filled in nicely.  The disclaimer was given.  There must have been some excitement in the Pax because it took a moment to get everyone to be quiet.

The idea was to set a course a mile and a half long start to finish with obstacles along the way.  We ran the course backwards so everyone would under the route and obstacle.  The route started at the bottom of the Met Life parking deck and wound its way down Ballantyne Corporate Pl ending above the fitness trail.

Once the instructions were given and everyone, or at least one person in your team, knew where to go off we went.  All the obstacles are done as a team so even if you finish first you must wait on your team to complete the obstacle.  First obstacle was the bear crawl to the top of the first level  of the parking deck.  Next obstacle a two minute penalty area with two minutes of burpees.  Up to the next level where you simulate the team going one at a time through the tire.  At this point 5.0 rolls up on us.  After a lot of “yes sirs”, “sorry” and an apology by Haggis that was not accepted the first official foray into mud run training as a team was cancelled.  It was discovered that you are not allowed to do mud run obstacle training on Bissell property.  Who would have known.  Glad we cleared that up.

With the Pax’s tail between their legs especially YHC we rallied at the soccer field next to the Met Life parking deck.  Mic Check realized that #F3TheBrave starts at 5:15 and not 5:30 but found us right after our scolding.  After Mr. Bean successfully negotiated the release of YHC’s cones we got back to work.

Next obstacle was partner carry down and back with partners switching at the end of the soccer field. Follow Ballantyne Corporate towards the bridge.  Along the way you do a series of up and overs around the trees; over under with the first team mate jumping over the first team mate, crawling under the next team mate followed by jumping over the last team mate until you reach the finish point; simulation of walking over the water on the log only using the street line as the log; tunnel of love with three team mates planking shoulder to shoulder while the fourth crawls under; down the hill and across the creek; over to the fitness trail for simulated rope crawl and parallel bars shimmy; finish with partner carry there and back.

The idea was to repeat the course if there was more time but due to our run in with Paul Blart we were unable to continue.  We did two fast laps around the pond with twenty step ups at the end. Mosey back to the AO.

Moleskin:

Well there is plenty to talk about.  From YHC not realizing that the fitness trail dead ends so crossing the creek was an audible.  Certainly mud run worthy but I apologize to anyone that got their feet wet. The briers, Haggis had a better name for it, were a nice touch.  My legs still feel a little burn from them or was it crawling on the grass so much.

The obstacles that we did not get to do in the parking deck was another penalty area, ten foot team wall climb and running around the parking deck twice at the top doing a total of four wall jumps.  We will figure out how to make it all work.  Feedback is helpful.

I appreciated everyone’s sense of humor and flexibility with the course.  The dead end was not expected but there were only minor complaints.  They may have been louder but luckily I did not hear them.  Thank you to Rock Thrill for his head lamp.  It helped with the creek crossing.

I enjoyed the second F doing the over and unders and tunnel of love.

F3 is great because it allows us to go out in the dark to exercise, laugh, push ourselves and each other.  I bet there is no other place in the city where a group got together, jumped through a creek, did some silly (but hard exercises), got kicked out of a parking deck, laughed and encouraged one another.  You cannot find what we do any where else and I appreciate each one of you coming out this morning for the fun.

Have a great day and leave comments about how we can improve the course or ideas about other obstacles.

Announcements:

Obstacle run #F3TheReservation 6:30am tomorrow.

Talk of a 3rd F Tuesday at Einstein Bagels following #F3Swift and #F3Bagpipe.

Fight club could use some more stiffs so Chiptole and Haggis can knock you around.  Seriously boxing for 45 minutes is hard and may be one of the hardest workouts in the region.