da Vinci Launch

da Vinci Launch

After weeks of anticipation it had finally arrived.  F3 da Vinci launch day.  The AO scouted, shovel flag honed, workout weinkified; Mic Check and YHC were ready.  That new shovel flag smell hung in the air as it was planted at Niagara Falls (the main fountain area in Blakeney shopping center).  As 7AM approached it was exhilarating to see PAX slowly filter in from all directions.  10.  Then 20.  30. Then 35.  The total finally resting at 35 eager men and one 2.0 that wanted to be able to say “I was there when it all started”.  The growing chatter of brothers welcoming each other in the gloom mixed with splashing noises from the surrounding fountains made for the perfect soundtrack to start the day.  And there it was.  7:00.    A quick welcome and disclaimer was given and we were dispatched to the grassy area behind the fountains for COP.

COP: SSH x 25, IW x 20, CDD x 20, Merkins x 20 (all IC)

The Thang

Due to the large size of the group we divided into 2, with the first half staying with YHC and the 2nd following Mic Check.

Tuck’s group

Circuit at Niagara Falls

1. Pull ups x 10 at playground
2. Bear crawl up walkway
3. Jump-ups x 10 at next wall
4. Derkins x 10 at 1st fountain on left
5. Bulgarian split squats x 10 at next fountain on left
6. Run North to fountain at far end of courtyard (near Banana Republic) for Mountain Climbers x 20 IC
7. Run back to main fountain area for split squats x 10 (opposite leg) at 1st fountain on left
8. Incline Merkins x 10 at next fountain on left
9. Follow wall around to the left for Dips x 10
10. Run past umbrella tables and follow sidewalk all the way around back to the playground.  Sprint on straightaway.

Repeat circuit as many times as possible for approximately 25 minutes.  At 7:30 mosey North to building with 2nd level shopping area with stairs on either end (by Noah’s Art).  YHC has affectionately named this area Nakatomi Plaza (because YHC can).

Welcome to the Party, Pal (7’s at Nakatomi Plaza)

1. Diamond Merkins x 6 at base of right staircase
2. Run up stairs, across 2nd level and down left stairs
3. Burpees x 1 at bottom of left staircase
4. Run through tunnel and follow building all the way around to the right until back to the start
5. Remove 1 diamond merkin and add 1 burpee on each subsequent lap (total of 7 laps)

Mosey to West entrance of Blakeney (near 131 Main) for 10 minutes of suicides using straightaway with abundant light poles and trees. Perform 5 merkins at each light pole/tree before turning around.

Mic Check’s Group

Welcome to the Party, Pal (same as Tuck’s group).

People’s chair w/ shoulder presses, then run around the building.  Merkins then run around building.  Slow merkins with plank hold then run around 2 buildings.

Niagara Falls (same as Tuck’s group, but add 5 reps to all exercises on each subsequent lap)

At around 7:55 both groups met up at Niagara falls for some mary to close things out together.

• Dolly
• V-up roll-ups
• Mason twists
• Freddie Mercury

BOM: Hops

Moleskine

What an honor it was to co-lead such a large group of strong men and to help bring this truly great AO into fruition.  We’re already reaching more men in the South Charlotte area, with 4 FNG’s at launch (thanks to EH’ers Bratwurst, Loogie and Mighty Mite).  YHC received very positive feedback about the AO and the workout.  So, yeah.  Couldn’t be happier about how things went.

Howie (Bratwurst 2.0) is following in his father’s footsteps for sure.  The 11 year-old blew by me on a straightaway at the Niagara Falls circuit, just like his Dad does multiple times a week.

Mary seemed extra hard at this workout.  I was in extreme pain trying to get the count up to a respectable number.  The V-up roll-up was not the biggest hit of the morning.

A big thanks to Hops for the moving take-out.

There was a good turnout at the Starbucks coffeteria.  Although the venue was probably a little small for a group of our size.  Most of us wound up congregating on the back patio (which seemed A LOT colder than when we were running through it minutes earlier).

Thanks to the Stonehenge site Q’s (Mr. Bean, Frehley’s Comet and Wild Turkey) for ending their workout early to allow for a double-down.  T-claps to double-downers Fire Hazard, 777, Lex Luthor, Commish, Heartbreaker, Linus, Champagne, Strawberry, Big Tuna and Outback.  Some of these fellas also did a Stonehenge pre-run.  T-claps to Bunker for a 2.5 mi da Vinci pre-run.

YHC owes Mic Check a huge debt of gratitude.  He is a great leader as you all know and there is no one better to co-lead this site.  I look forward to learning more from him as we go through this journey.

We hope to see you at da Vinci regularly.   I cannot wait to see what other Q’s do with this site.  We have barely scratched the surface.  The all-star Q’s of the next several weeks (Haggis, Madame Tussauds, Outback, Champane, Mr. Bean) will surely break the AO in nicely until it is purring like a kitten.  Don’t miss it.

Group Pic: Link

PreBlast:

PreBlast: da Vinci Launch 1/16/16

Announcements:

Family Hike at Anne Springs Close Greenway on Sat 1/23 at 12PM.