First in Freedom on a Prancing Pony

First in Freedom on a Prancing Pony

At 0515 on Tuesday AM, post Sleet, 17 PAX showed up for some Hills and History to the weekly speed workout in SoB-land known as #F3Swift.

The THANG:

• 0500 – Early crew – probably about 9 PAX (including 2 Bagpipers) got in 1.3miles.
• 0515 – Grab the rest of the PAX and head off 1mile to the wilds of the Ballantyne Country Club West – via Ballantyne Commons PKWY, up Ben Nevis, and into the CC.
• Commence warm-up with dynamic exercise with heels, toes, high knees, and butt kicks.
• Start rounds of :30, :30, 1:00.  Generally, run at 1-mile race pace effort up a significant hill, regroup down to the bottom after each :30 interval, start next together, and then regroup to move on to new location after the 1:00 interval.  Actual event went something like this:
  • Set #1 – Question #1 – What is the 2nd new plate option in NC behind “First in Flight”.  Wrong answers included lighthouse, and something else…  JRR Tolkien visited the NCDMV recently, so he knew that “First in Freedom” was correct.  Because someone got it right, we’re running 1st set normal – 1mi race pace.
  • Set #2 – We’re on James Jack Ln, so Question #2 is – Who is that?  Since HoneyBee and a few others have heard this spiel before, they knew that of course James Jack is the same Captain Jack as in the “statue” meet point for the Muthaship Monday.  Because someone got it right, we’re running 2nd set normal – 1 mi race pace.
  • Set #3 – We’re now at the bottom of Resolves Ln, so Question #3 is – How does “Resolves” relate to James Jack and First in Freedom?  No right answers (see bottom for right answer).  Satisfied that the PAX we’re stumped, let’s run backwards for 30 seconds up Resolves Ln.  Next, we’ll do high knees up Resolves Ln.  And for the 1:00, per HoneyBee’s suggestion, let’s do Bounding (a.k.a. Prancing Pony) up Resolves Ln.
  • Set #4 – Out of Questions, we’ll just run normal up Resolves Ln.  Up hill.  Forwards. 1 mile race pace.
  • Set #5 – Back to a low point in James Jack Ln, we’ll do this set Up hill. Forwards. 1 mile race pace.  Instead of the last interval at 1:00, finish at the original start point of Set #1.
  • Back to COT about 1.0mi away.
  • The SIX comes in at COT around 0620.

The Moleskin:

• Didn’t make Swift?  Find something interesting at bottom about the First in Freedom plate.
• Despite talk of American Revolution and Independence, 3 British subjects (Bodybag, Mr. Bean, Haggis) and 1 loyalist (Canadian Strange Brew), were only mildly offended.  Probably spurred Haggis on to showboating his rage a few times, but Bodybag (Swift FNG) was probably more offended by the Bounding because he was eager to get it done – somehow having strong Football legs must propel a man to bound up a hill like a gazelle.
• Also welcome to Swift FNG Grapejuice.
• BountyHunter was surprised to show up and see another IndianLander with OneNiner there.  He was beginning to think it was “his” workout.
• Got a note from one of the PAX, and wanted to share for all of you in SoB / Area51 land that are intimidated by Swift.  Yes, we’re an hour workout and you’ll get in about 5 miles of running.  You may not remember the last time you ran that far intentionally.  Yes, there are some fast dudes like Frasier and HoneyBee that will be out front.  Then there are guys like Haggis who redlines against the Q’s suggestions and JRR Tolkien pushing himself to keep up with him, Abacus who trains to beat his brother, Champagne who comes so he can give his KB-shredded palms a rest, CableGuy who surprises us all with what a young 48 he is, Bunker who’s one of the newest out but is strong and quick, and Gumbo who will drop a huge PR at the RaceFest Half in April.  All speeds and all types of PAX.  One thing in common is that on Tuesday all we do is run.  No frozen hands from bear crawling across ice for one day.  No soiled clothes from laying in goose poop.  Just running.  Straightforward and simple.  We’d love to have you out for all of these reasons and more:
  • There are certainties about posting at Swift (from StumpHugger):
    • It’s the toughest running workout I will do all week.
    • Everyone is way faster than I am.
    • The fast guys treat you as an equal (work is work)
    • Every time we launch I say to myself “I cannot believe I am doing this”
    • I am faster today than I was yesterday.
    • Do I have enough in the tank to get back to the start?
    • It’s mind over matter.
    • Wow, I just did that!
    • After the workout I am freezing to death for the next 4 hours (regardless of outside temps)
    • I am starving!
    • I am thirsty! (end up drinking 64 oz of water by noon)
    • Dang! Look at my pace on Strava.
    • These recovery compression sleeves feel great!
    • I’m sleepy
    • #MakeStumpHuggerRunAgain

See You in the Gloom!

– Bratwurst

About the “First in Freedom” Plate

North Carolina native Charles Robinson, a license plate collector and historian, designed the “First in Freedom” plate, which recognizes two important events: the signing of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence on May 20, 1775, and the Halifax Resolves on April 12, 1776. These two events are also commemorated on the North Carolina state flag and are regarded as the first steps toward independence from Great Britain during the early stages of the American Revolution.