Wet t-shirt day

Wet t-shirt day

13 beastly PAX decided to thumb their nose at #Cantore and show up to Matthews Elementary School to see whether or not the legend is true — that it doesn’t rain at Peak 51.

Time and time again, YHC has shown up to the parking lot, and at 5:29:59, the rain stops, and at 6:15:01, it starts back up. Of course, there is the problem of the rain going during a pre-run, or just in general stretching time before getting started, but, you can’t have it all.

There is a theory that Slim Fast has a special tribal dance that makes this happen … but anyway …

Disclaimer — it is a little drizzly, and we will be on wet surfaces, so be careful, but, in the end, you’re responsible for your own safety.

Mosey around the front of FBC Matthews to the parking lot behind.

COP

• Side-Straddle Hop x20 IC
• Imperial Walker x20 IC
• Windmill x20 IC
• Low, Slow Squat x20 IC

Midway through COP, it was 5:33, and, the rain had just about stopped. I think the delay was because Slim did his rain dance shirtless.

Mosey to the bus lot behind MES.

THANG

Okay, we’re doing one of YHC’s favorite routines — The Beast. 6 reps of 6 exercises at 6 stations.

The stations:

• Back right corner
• In between the portable buildings
• Basketball goal near Geraldo Tree
• Other basketball goal
• In between the big trees / track entry
• The big ol’ oak tree in the back left corner

Once you’re finished, mosey back to the starting spot and regroup to get the next exercise.

• Round 1: Carolina Dry Dock
• Round 2: Mountain Climbers (1 rep = left, right)
• Round 3: Squats
• Round 4: Merkins
• Round 5: Lunges (1 rep = left, right)
• Round 6: Bomb Jacks

Well, after the bomb jacks, we needed a little rest, so let’s go over to the wall — and — weird, the rain kind of picked up again. Thankfully, we are under cover.

Anyway, PEOPLE’S CHAIR! Have a seat!

Air presses x50 civilian count

Recover. Shake it out. Back in the chair.

Air presses x100 civilian count

Rain … mostly stopped. Still a little misty.

Out to the curb, find a spot.

• Dips x25
• Derkins x25

Nomad said that 20 reps would have been better. So, round 2 …

• Dips x20
• Derkins x20

Round 3: Same thing, 15 reps. Round 4: Same thing, 10 reps.

Alright, line up on the curb and admire the freshly painted lines in the bus lot. Glad that CMS found the money to paint the lot but not repave it. Sigh. Anyway.

Short suicides. Mid-line and back, other side of the lot and back.

On the second one, well, let’s have a quick aside for a Bible lesson, shall we?

“… all the springs of the great deep burst forth, and the floodgates of the heavens were opened.”
-Genesis 6:11(B), NIV

Lesson over. Rain or no rain, we still have 5 minutes left. Well, let’s mosey back to launch.

As we round the corner, there were our friends from Sparta, hanging out at the art center. Under the cover. And only wet from running. Ahem.

Well, since we still have time, and we’re now all waterlogged, so, what does it matter if we’re on wet pavement.

MARY

• LBCs x25 IC
• Flutter x20 IC

It’s about 6:13. Mr. “It never rains at Peak” tried to pull a Q-jack and call time. Nope.

• Rosalita x?? IC En Espanol. YHC only speaks American and a little bit of the Frenchie.

Okay, 6:14:30? Close enough.

COT

• Fast countin’
• Fast namin’
• Fast prayin’

–30–

ANNOUNCEMENTS

It was raining. Hard. You can find stuff on Twitter and Slack.

SKINE OF THE MOLE

The life of a Site Q … sometimes you have a potential Q vanish and you have to fill in. No matter, the wisest of us have favorites at the ready. The Beast is one of my go-tos.

I was reflecting on this on the ride home, especially as it relates to Slim Fast’s no rain hex.

I was first introduced to it during a downpour at a workout in Murrell’s Inlet last summer … led by our very own Mermaid, oddly enough.

I led The Beast at Base Camp once, but, it rained the night before, and I had to move it out to Strawberry because the track was flooded.

Now, today, I led it … and it was another morning of rain.

I think I see a pattern.

Now, Slim Fast claims the rain came because of lack of belief on the part of the PAX. But, my counterargument is — Slim is the only one who went the whole workout shirtless, so, was he preparing to get rained on?

Sardine I think was actually pumped up about a rainy workout. I think it gave him some extra energy to push through. For him and some of the crew, this was the first time that weather played into a workout, outside of “miserably hot and humid.”

Major #kotters to Booyah for his triumphant return. The best part was that he was able to pick up right where he left off with #mumblechatter. And speaking of #mumblechatter, among the high-level topics discussed:

• The different meanings of “squat,” depending on the time of morning.
• Does Sensei really read the newspaper, or does he just look at the pictures?
• Sensitivity training.
• Doing exercises to “own the libs.”
• Does Texas have any rules?
• A couple of lines from “Stripes” from Nomad and me, which is pretty normal at this point.
• Do we think Benny wound up posting at Meathead?

Coming up next week: Bernie (who was powering through the dips/derkins this morning like a boss) is stepping up next week for his VQ. Compliance will follow suit next week, and Sardine a couple of weeks after that. I’m very excited for the newer guys to be taking the next step here in the wild world of F3.

Even though I was a substiQ this morning, it’s somewhat providential, as this past Sunday marked 2 years since I hobbled into Mountain Goat for my first-ever workout. Also filed under “providential” is that Booyah returned today, as he kept me company during that first-ever workout, and, well, whether he knows it or not, assuaged my biggest fear about showing up (well, aside from being radically out of shape), and that fear was that the “no man left behind” mantra was just clever marketing. Turns out, it is real, and, turns out, I stuck with this F3 business. I also discovered that there is a second part to that mantra — yes, there is “no man left behind,” but also, “we don’t leave you where we found you.” And a lot of the guys around today have been a part of it. I can’t thank y’all enough, and know that it’s an honor to lead the best dang workout in Area 51.

Alright, enough sentiment. Time to go dry off.