Monthly Archive June 2015

37 for 37

Sorry for the delay in this back blast.  37 men showed up at Bagpipe for my 37th Birthday. Couldn’t have planned it any better than that.  YHC had a group of friends post (2 of which were FNG’s) which was pretty cool.

THE THANG

COP

SSH x 37

IW x 25

Merkin x 37

Mountain Climber x 37

 

Split group into 2 teams.  Half went with Mic Check and the other half followed YHC.

 

Mic Check’s Group

3 sets of the following:

Pull ups / Merkins / Supine pull up or dips

Hill Ladders

5 – 6 count burpees (1 Hill)

10 – 6 count burpees (2 Hills)

5 – 6 count burpees (3 Hills)

10 – 6 count burpees (4Hills)

5 – 6 count burpees (5 Hlls)

Team sprints with merkins and mary while you wait.

10 more  6 count burpees on the mosey back.  AYG home.

 

Margo’s Group

Partner up and circuits around Loch Ness.  Partner 1 runs a lap and partner performs an exercise

Round 1 –  20 jump ups / 20 Dips / 20 Decline Merkins

Round 2 –  Squats until your partner finishes

Round 3 –  20 jump ups / 20 Dips / 20 Decline Merkins

Round 4 – 17 Burpees

Mosey to parking lot for some 30 yard sprints from the belly position.

5 Merkins – Sprint

10 Merkins – Sprint

5 Merkins – Sprint

5 Merkins – Sprint

Elbow Plank – Sprint

5 Merkins – Sprint

Mosey back to cars for Mary

LBC x 37

6 count burpees x 10

Flutter x 20

6 count burpees x 10

 

Moleskin

Strong showing today including 4 FNG’s.  Thanks for coming out (Canadian Bacon, Estrogen, Left Out & Piranah) and looking forward to see you guys again soon.  This was my first time on Q at Bagpipe and I was a little nervous about getting lost out there so I decided to keep it simple and stay close.  It’s fun to Q on your birthday and thanks for the opportunity to lead.

 

 

 

DMZ BB – 6/22/15

2 dozen (or so) PAX gathered for a hearty down payment. Here’s what ensued:

The Thang:

Mosey to the EFCA. Warmup (SSH, Merkins, Over/Unders, Mtn Climbers). Partner up (speed matters). Hustle out of the gate to Tottenham/Kingswood, stopping at every street (on the right @Kirk, #badlistener) for 15 diamonds and 15 over unders (4 count).

Squats to wait at Tottenham. Looked like human whackamole off Tottenham.

Bottom-ish of the halfpipe. Partner A runs one way and B the other for 7s (burpees aka #flyingsquirrels and diamond merkins), with plank-shakes and merkins (10) at the bottom of each hill.

Mary to wait.

Mosey back to a neighborhood (mosey for some, AYG for others). Mary to wait.

AYG back to COT. Mary to wait.

Moleskin:

@Kirk hates running though can run very fast. Weird.

Good to see @Skywalker back in the gloom. Looked like a @Mudgear advertisement out there with his #BackInBlack gear.

Strong work by all. @Bushwood was on YHC’s heels but youth prevailed, at least for another day.

TClaps @Orlando AKA @Froggie for running into the workout. YHC thought it was a 5 mile entry. Turns out it’s .21 miles, #sigh.

TClaps to all for taking the #TonyHawkHalfpipe head on. She’s mean and demands respect.

Announcements:

F3 Dads, Sat. 0900 Beattie Park

F3 Area 51 WIB – Old Providence Elementary, 0530, Every Tuesday until eternity. WIBSOB (WIB South of the Border) is unapologetically the hardest workout in A51. Or is it even in A51? Bordertown confusion…Don’t miss it.

Thanks @Skywalker and @Hops for letting a #hatehate Q.

Pinball Wizards at McKee Rd Elem

4 PAX made it out to McKee Rd Elementary to post at Area 51 AO.  YHC was first one on site and planted the SF in the soil as the others started to pull into the parking lot.  Large pile of limbs in the parking lot as school recently cleaned up the landscaping along the front entrance to the school.  Fortunately for the PAX, no logs and other coupons that we could utilize.  No worries as YHC had plans to introduce everyone to a friendly game of Pinball, as recently unveiled at the Commitment AO by Ice 9 and/or Stump Hugger.  BB always provide fertile ground for work-out ideas.

With everyone on site that was to post for a humid June morning, YHC inquired of the other PAX as to the time as my Timex is currently out of operation.  With confirmation that 0700 start time was upon us, YHC led the PAX on short jog over to the track and we made one loop with some high knees, backwards run, and butt kickers mixed in.

Circled up in the track infield for COP:

  • SSH x 30 IC
  • IW x 30 IC
  • Low, slow squats x 20 IC
  • MC x 30 IC
  • Peter Parker x 30 IC

Time for everyone to try their hand at the aforementioned Pinball.  Idea is that Q will indicate the next destination for a set of exercises.  PAX will head off for the called destination at pace each feels comfortable with.  Early arrivals will then circle back to the 6 and take off again for the destination.  Idea is to keep the group together while also providing stronger runners a little extra mileage if they so desire.

First destination was the NC Landmark play area at the back of the school.  PAX set out and we met up at the logs for the 1st round of exercises, as follows:

  • Jump-ups x 10
  • Decline Merkins x 15
  • LBCs x 20
  • Rinse & Repeat x 2 (w/ various planks/plankjacks mixed in btw rounds)

Next destination was the playground at the other end of the school around back.  PAX took off once again and we met up at the called destination for the following:

  • Dips x 20
  • Sumo Jump Squats x 20
  • Mason Twists x 20
  • Rinse & Repeat x 2 (again w/ various planks mixed in btw rounds)

Getting warmed up now, so we headed out once again for the front of the school and met up at the front wall near the bus parking lot.  Time for a round of People’s Chair and Balls to the Wall:

  • PC x 60 secs (w/ air presses x 30 mixed in)
  • Lunge walk across bus parking lot
  • PC x 75 secs (w/ rt leg up & then left leg up)
  • Lunge walk across
  • BTW x 45 secs

One more playground on the premises that we had not visited, so we headed over to the front of the school.  Once there, we completed the following:

  • Pull-ups x 10
  • Squats x 20
  • Freddie Mercuries x 20
  • Rinse & Repeat x 2

With everyone having so much fun, YHC decided we had time to visit one more destination.  PAX were instructed to head over to the rock pile by the soccer fields.  With all the PAX gathered around we each grabbed a lifting rock and circled up for a little heavy lifting:

  • Rock curls x 15 IC
  • Rock Presses x 15 IC
  • Goblet Squats x 15 IC
  • Tricep Extensions x 15 IC
  • Rinse & Repeat x 2 (w/ 12 reps rd 2, 10 reps rd 3)

Deposit your rocks back on the rock pile and mosey down to the end line of the soccer field.  Line up along the goal line.  Karaoke to midfield with left shoulder leading and then flapjack with right shoulder leading for 2nd half to the other goal line.

5-6 minutes left, so we headed back to launch point for 6 MOM, PAX choice and led:

  • Rosalita x 15 IC (YHC)
  • Mason Twist x 15 IC (Beaver)
  • Back Scratcher x 15 IC (O’Tannenbaum)
  • LBCs x 15 IC (Huggie Bear)
  • CCV x 15R, 15L IC (YHC)

COT

NMM:

  • Plan for work-out was to keep PAX together while also pushing stronger guys who might want a little extra mileage.  Heard about the “Pinball” work-out that Ice 9 and/or Stump Hugger had unveiled at Commitment and decided to give it a try.  Seemed to work out pretty well.
  • O’Tannenbaum mentioned having suffered bout of leg/calf cramps at Devil’s Turn earlier in the week.  Did not seem to affect him here as he was near the front of the pack all morning.
  • Huggie Bear continues to make great strides.  Mentioned he had been posting at the new moderate running work-out, Mountain Goat, on Fridays and you can see the results.
  • Beaver, despite being the War Daddy, always puts forth strong effort for the full 60 minutes.  Busy work schedule on the road keeps him from posting as much as he would like, but he always gives 100% effort.  And T-claps to his oldest 2.0 on recently finding a permanent position in the job market.

Announcements:

  • Be on the look-out for pre-blast with additional details on Area 51’s version of Metro’s “The Goat”, to be held on Saturday, August 1.  Work-out will cover 7-9 miles, with launch from Centurion AO at Charlotte Catholic and stops at 6-7 AOs along the Hwy 51 corridor.
  • Area 51’s F3 Dads is being held each Saturday in June at Colonel Francis Beatty Park on Weddington Road, 9-10 a.m.  Bring out your 2.0s, boys and girls, for a kid friendly work-out.  Mr Brady will be the Q for Saturday, 6/27.

#Preblast – Parts Unknown

Swift will launch from the Vine Restaurant (which is not closing this month – that’s the D’Vine Wine Cafe in the Ballantyne Village) at 0515 on Tuesday morning.

Come for an early treat at 0500 for a little more than a 1 mile mosey.

The Thang:

  • No need to know pace this week from the Running Calculator at http://runsmartproject.com/calculator .  It’s all about feel.
  • No need to know the route.  We’ll be staying together within the Harris Family hunting grounds and hit the requisite 5 miles.
  • No need to know a program for your fancy watch even though we haven’t done this one before.  Just listen for commands.
  • Required = your #smokeboots!
  • Hey Bagpipers – this week will be Swift FNG friendly… as are all weeks, but this one will definitely be.

Can we get some bro music?!?!

8 bros met at the VSF at Elon Park Elementary School in South North Carolina for their weekly dose of iron + pain at Foxhole.

The Thang:

Grab your bells and mosey to the plush astro-turf field. Circle up for a brief disclaimer.

COP:

25x SSH IC

15x IW IC

Turkish Get Ups (4x L, 4x R)

Partner up. P1 does merkins while P2 does farmer carry to the end line. Flapjack. Repeato with squats.

Tabata: :30 on/:30 off

  1. Swings (1H, 2H, mix it up)
  2. OH Press L
  3. OH Press R
  4. Row L
  5. Row R
  6. Snatch L
  7. Snatch R
  8. Russian Twist
  9. Goblet squat

Repeato

Mosey back to the launch lot for the Finisher:

  1. 10 swings, 1 OH press each side
  2. 15 swings, 2 OH press each side
  3. 25 swings, 3 OH press each side
  4. 50 swings, 4 OH press each side

YHC with the takeout

NMM:

  • When Chanel lit the Foxhole bat signal to alert YHC that our scheduled Q had a conflict and couldn’t make it to the workout, I sprung into action, scouring the interwebs for something a little different to challenge the PAX. I settled on a KB tabata workout. I got introduced to tabata early on in my F3 “career” while attending Run n’ Gun on Wednesdays and thought adding the KB to the mix would make it even less fun. I was right. After the first couple of exercises, YHC was worried that :30 of rest was too much. By the end of the first round, I didn’t think it was enough.
  • YHC decided to bring a little Meathead to the Foxhole by supplying tunes. Unfortunately, spreadsheeting music does not equal workout music. I selected one of the Spotify stations I listen to at work, which really didn’t set the appropriate mood. Cobains to the PAX. I’ll find some death metal for my next Q.
  • As always, the PAX were crushing the workout this morning. Hopefully they’re starting to feel the workout right about now. Nice work, Loogie, putting in the extra credit to finish the swings at the end.
  • Get better, Chanel. We miss you in the gloom. Oh and make sure to share some of that Father’s Day candy with your co-site Q. #goodmanners

Another Quiet Monday at the Matrix

Leo planted the flag, OT was quietly meditating on the curb – ready to destroy another Monday workout.  The silence was broken with a disclaimer and 15 PAX were off for a jog around MRE.

Run to back of school, plank to gather – 40 merkins.

Continue around school, plank to gather – 30 merkins.

Run to the parking lot to circle up for a warm-up and Burpee ladder IC:

SSH (30); 10 burpees

Imperial Walker (30); 9 Burpees

Da Fluttah’ (30); 8 Burpees

Low Slow Squat (30); 7 Burpees

Mountain Climber (30); 6 Burpees

LBC (30); 5 Burpees

Single Leg Flutter (R) (15); 4 Burpees

Single Leg Flutter (L) (15); 3 Burpees

Mosey on over to the wall, some planks to gather up, Right foot high, Left foot high; 20 Merkins.

Split into 2 groups.  Group 1 Peoples Chair with 60 air-presses; Group 2 run to the other side of the school for 20 Derkins. – Flapjack until 5 sets are complete.

Split into 3 groups for interval sprints: 7 rounds and time expires…

Mosey back to the parking lot and circle up with 30 seconds to spare for 30 Mason Twists.

Announcement: F3 Dads this Saturday 9:00am, Colonel Francis Beatty Park – bring the 2.0’s -it’s a blast.

We welcomed FNG ‘Drive-by’: a school teacher who drove past the Matrix every day, and had to stop in to see what it is all about.  Hope to see you again, Drive-by.

 

What do you get when you cross Spielberg & a Hair Band…

So what do you get? Probably a bunch of long hair rockers walking out of a spaceship for a music video but in this case just a lot of sweat…

7am rolled around and Spielberg was up with with his Virgin Q!

The Thang

COP
Imperial Walkers x 15
SSH x 15
Merkins X 12

Mosey to practice field
50 yd butt kickers, karaoke, high knees, back pedal

Partner up and grab a rock!
P1 150 yd run
P2 called rock exercise then flapjack

Exercises: overhead rock press, rock squats, LBCs w/ rock and Mountain climbers
Some stretches & countdowns due to heat and an audible somewhere in there to take the run down to about 75 yds?

Hand off to Hairband!
Mosey to the tires and instead of pulling plates out of thin air for hair burners like last week, I had water waiting for everyone. #whosyourfavoriteq

Minute and a half water break.

Count off into 2s so we have 2 teams. Not sure if Q fail somehow or O2 dep/heat that made a simple 1, 2, count off difficult for the PAX

Each team grab a big tractor tire and line up at the posts. Similar plan as the 1/2 mile hairburners last week, one member from each team flips the tire as far as they can toward the gate at the Road to Nowhere while the remaining PAX rotate 3 called exercises between each flipper.

Exercises:
30 Carolina Dry Docks, 20 Merkins, 20 jump squats rotate through until you get to the gate.
On the way back 30 LBCs, 20 Mountain Climbers and (as requested by Horse Head) 10 burpees rotated through until back to starting point.
First team back do some active recovery plank work until all together.

Pinball out to obstacle course, go through 1 time then mosey to bottom of the hill, because it’s not Outland without JAILBREAK AYG to virtual shovel flag since the real thing was sitting in CT’s garage.

MOM
Flutters x 20
Freddie Mercury x 10
Times up!

Moleskin

Great VQ by Spielberg!
It was odd when CT mentioned that I was 2nd longest vet, it doesn’t feel like it with so many strong PAX that have joined us. It is awesome to look at the growth over the past (almost) 2 years though and having new (and not so new) PAX step up to Q.

That is how this grows, by continually giving the reigns to more people, this isn’t some club where we protect the leadership, it’s a group and process to create leadership and expand. If you have not taken a Q yet step up! We have more AO’s we want to launch but we need you to help us do that!

Announcements
Expansion news:
7/13 New Monday Workout, Union Co.
New workout coming to Nesbit Park in SW Union County/Waxhaw on Mondays at 5:30 beginning July 13th. Dasher is site Q

New AO in discussion: Looking like a gear (kettle bell) workout for a Tuesday or Wednesday around Indian Trail. We need leaders to step up for this. Probably 2 Site Q’s 1 vet that has worked with KBs and a newer leader that has an interest.

July 3rd Overdrive will be at 7am – 7:45 due to holiday
July 4th holiday convergence at The Rock
July 4th also has a 5k/10k at Lake Park, talk to Glass Joe for details.

Anvilversary 2 – A Different Version of a Constant Theme

For the last two years, I’ve marked the middle of the week by posting at the same place with more or less the same men and it is amazing how much better I am for it. I’m not sure if I’m faster or stronger than I was (although I think so, on both counts). I’m not sure I’m a better leader or a better follower, a better father or a better worker (although I probably am, on all counts). What has resonated with me, though, is the necessity of consistency. I think I speak for most men in F3 when I say the following: I am in the middle 1/3 of my life and it is hard. I am needed and necessary everywhere I go, to each place I’m called, and I’m oftentimes worn out. I’m involved in a lot of good things, cutting back isn’t an option, how do I keep at it and how can I excel? Actually, forget cutting back or coasting, I want to accelerate…

Depending on who you talk to, you’re going to get a variety of similar answers, many of which are helpful: depend on God, invest in your wife and children, choose wisely who you associate with, do something you enjoy and/or are suited for, serve others instead of focusing on being served. F3 also helps, and we who founded Anvil wanted it to be part of (note: not “the only”) solution: run a hard workout, welcome the FNG, look out for the 6, encourage everyone. Oh yeah, and if we can have a little fun along that way, that might be kinda cool too…

Sentimentality aside, Anvil year 3 began just like we started year 1: we ran around the parking lot (yep, still really big and still uphill both ways). A 1/4 or 1/2 mile later we circled up for the standard COP: SSH (not 200), IW, squats, merkins, mtn climbers, then ran around and over to North Face for an extended triple-nickel (hand-release merkins and jump squats). Sucking wind, we than ran back up (uphill, again) the parking lot to the volleyball pit for our anniversary favorite: animal parade through the sand (partner up, P1: burpees, P2: bear crawl there and back, flapjack; repeato with gorilla jump and dragon walk. Finish with wheelbarrows). Finally, with 7 minutes left, we sprinted to the pavilion/sauna/covered area thing for 11s (dips/derkins). 1 minute left so AYG back to the cars. Circle up for COT. Nameorama. Pat everyone on the back. Find your towel, drink your water, adios.

———-

Moleskine:

– Seriously – I owe everyone a big cobains for posting this so late. Y’all killed it out there and I gave your war story no respect. That’s on me. Not being the kind of Q I want to be.

– Morning started ominously with the sighting of that shooting star as we ran toward COP. I’m glad to say that nothing happened (that I know of) that can be attributed to that celestial event. It was cool to see though.

– Your welcome for the tour of the AO, as well as the backside, flanking manuver attack of North Face. I had no desire to run up that thing either (although we did it 5 times). Thought it might be easier if we attacked from that angle. I was wrong – it still sucked.

– 80 degree starting temp so wanted everyone to have an opportunity to grab a swig of water with our run through the cars at halftime. Not sure that worked quite right, though. Might have lost some folks who were “looking in their car for their water” for a very long time.

– Great to see BOG out again. Well done, man!

– Mermaid: Tclaps, man. Well done on the Calvary food drive and equally well done on the co-SiteQ. It’s been an honor and privilege to lead beside you.

Announcements:

– Can’t remember. If it was important, it’s on the email. If it was urgent, it’s already passed.

Stairway to….

Pax of 5 showed up for what seemed to be an easy workout on paper.  It turned out to be a real beatdown.

Warm up

Circle the front lot with a light jog

25 SSH – IC

25 Plank Jacks – IC

25 MTC – IC

 

The Thang

Go to the rock wall for a pretty good-sized ROCK

William Wallace says throw rock walk to rock 5 squats do again for 20 yards. At the end jog to the other end and back for 10 curls. Throw Rock back for jog and 10 shoulder presses.

 

Repeat 2 more time replacing squats with Merkins then plank punches.

 

Next, mosey to the track. Sprint straightaway then 5 burpees, recovery jog the corners. Completed 2 laps.

 

Time for the main attraction:

Start with the visitor bleachers, run up each section. At the bottom of each section do 5 merkins.

Jog to the backside of the home bleachers for stations

Jump Rope

Step-ups

MTC

Wall Sits

Burpee pull-up (vertigo)

1 minute of fun with 10 sec of rest

Now to the home bleachers, run up each section, at the bottom of each section do 5 dips.

Stations again.

40 sec of fun with 15/20 seconds of rest. (needed some extra recovery time. Pax was pretty gassed by this point. Every one except McGee the beast)

Fast Mosey back to AO right on time.

 

What a beat down.   When I put this down on paper it didn’t look that tough, boy was I wrong. We had the pleasure of having a metro member (McGee) down. He had to get one last post in before vacation. I am not sure what the metro boys eat, he threw the rock 5 ft farther, the bleachers was like a walk in the park, and the burpees was just as easy. Q did take him in the burpee pull up.

Bratwurst killed the track and bleacher workout. Not sure he was a big fan of the Braveheart inspired rock toss.

Snowflake, what can I say about Mr. consistency. The guy just puts up a strong workout every week. Thank you for helping bring the six along by the way was the Q.

We had to circle back to pick up Camacho; he was a few minutes late. Oh yeah he only lives a mile away from AO. He crushed the bleachers today. Not that great at the jump rope.

Thank you Snowflake for taking us out.

New site coming July 16th Nesbit Park in Waxhaw

Rockin’ Partner Work

7 pax (incl one 2.0) partnered up in the balmy gloom, ready to rock it.  Fortunately, YHC had made plans to help them accomplish their mission.  Here’s what we did:

The Thang:

Mosey around to the other side of the school for

COP:

  • Side Straddle Hop (SSH) – 15 in cadence (IC)
  • Imperial Walker (IW) – 15 IC
  • Merkins – 10 IC
  • Low Slow Squat (LSS) – 15 IC
  • Mountain Climbers (MC) – 15 IC

Mosey to the Playground

Playground Circuit 1:

  • Partner up
  • Pullups – AMRAP + 2
    • Flapjack
  • Partner Derkins – 15
    • Flapjack
  • Rinse & Repeato 3x total

Mosey to the church across the street

Rockin’ Partners

  • Pick your poison in selecting a rock that partners will share
  • Partner 1 – run to dumpster & back
  • Partner 2 – called exercise until your partner returns
    • Flapjack
  • Called exercises:
    • Thrusters
    • Curls
    • Lunges
    • audible to reduce run distance by ~25% to adjust timing
    • Merkins on rock
    • Pullovers with Press
    • Russian Twists

Mosey to parking lot for Water Break, then mosey to the Playground

Playground Circuit 2

  • Supine Pullups – 12
  • Merkins – 12
  • Rinse & Repeato 3x total

Mosey to Concession area

Refreshing Concessions

  • Step ups – 12 total (6 per leg)
  • Incline Merkins – 12
  • Situps – 12
  • Rinse & Repeato 3x total

Mosey back to parking lot

Mary:

  • Slow Freddie Mercury – 5 IC
  • Cumberland County Viaduct (CCV) – 10 IC per side
  • Flutter – 10 IC
  • Dolly – 10 IC
  • LBC – 15 IC

Done

COT

Announcements

Naked Moleskine:

Great group today and lots of 2nd F.  If we could only do something about the heat…  Nonetheless, everyone was really getting after it.

Great to see Old Bay, from the Fort, again this week and his 2.0 (Hurler).  Enjoyed partnering up and our conversation throughout.

Sony is posting consistently, getting stronger all the time.  Anything to avoid the hardcore running, right, Sony?

Great meeting Bernanke, who really gets after it too.  Fireman Ed commented that he’d found someone who sweats as much as him.  Glad the weather and workout provided you with this opportunity to connect.

Good seeing Fireman Ed, as always, and his reliable mumblechatter.

Pele was looking stronger on the runs today.  All that hard work at Mountain Goat is paying off.

Lot of merkins today, even though none of us are participating in the 10k merkin challenge.  Just bonus work.  Also got in plenty of pullups.  Seems that we don’t get enough pulling work from day to day, so since we have great facilities here at Ascent, we just have to take advantage of it.  Not a ton of running, just short bursts, as YHC had plenty at Mountain Goat and discussed with Strange Brew there would be a lack of it today.  (Say, SB, where were you today?)

Always a pleasure and an honor to lead at Ascent.  Thanks for your site leadership, Pele.

Aye.