Monthly Archive August 2018

New Strava Segment … Banzai Burnout

Actual Slack conversation, secretly recorded by Omarosa, and documented in her new book “Unhinged”. Buy it now, before it goes on sale. Be one of the first and only to pay regular price.

Poptart: “You’re good to Q the Matrix Monday? You are on the schedule.”

Tolkien: “Litto Engrish. Me no werkout toomach now big boi.”

Poptart: “Be there, and make sure you signup for paintball…. we have 30 guys signed up so far, spots are limited.”

Tolkien: “Banzai!!!”

The rest is history. Hey, when you havent Q’d a workout for exactly 4 months #TRUTH, the backblasts are as terrible as the lead. Will improve next time. 12 men showed up to the Matrix and got something a little different, in the form of covering new ground South of the AO.  With BRR approaching quickly, and the fact that YHC “muscles” haven’t been used for months, the goal was to focus a little more on the running… but of course, anyone doing the BRR would have just gone to Horsey McHorse, but whatever.   Overall 3 miles were covered, intercostal muscles were stretched (thanks to the therapeutic stretchy green bands YHC brought) and everyone got a little bit of hillwork in on a new segment, which shall be called “Banzai Burnout on Strava” forevermore, a .18mile 7% grade hill in the lush darkness of Chestnut Hill Estates. Lots of records set, well, because it’s a new segment mostly (Rachel wasn’t there).  King Of The Hill went to the determined Ocho Cinco, YHC took 1st place in the Mongol Category, and age-adjusted McGee got last… dead last #WAMRAP . We went up the hill a couple of times, and then ended with a brutal backwards run up, before heading back to the AO.  Luckily noone got schmacked and shalacked by a Mack Truck on the death stretch of running to the hill. But, hey a disclaimer was given so #clearconscienceifdeathoccurred .

Everyone put in a solid effort this morning, and thanks Smoky for the takeout in COT. For some fun Monday inspiration for the naming of the hill segment, watch this from F3-Dads Camp.  Honored to be given the reigns to lead this morning fellas. Have a great week.

Banzai Toast to New Segment ‘Banzai Burnout’

Tolkien’s Corner

Thanks again to everyone for your thoughts, prayers, checkups, smack talk, and support for much of this year while I’ve been dealing with auto-immune issues. Please let me know if I can pay it back, and will certainly be looking to pay it forward.  As mentioned in COT, challenging you all to reach out to someone injured or just needs some encouragement.  Little things like a few words, or a text message, go a long way.

Also challenging you all to commit the mission of F3 to memory, particularly if you are a regular… we workout so our bodies are prepared in situations where we are called upon to act and lead.  Looking like Kid Rock is nice, but that’s not the ultimate purpose.  He’d even tell you that.

The mission of F3 is to plant, grow, and serve, small workout groups for the invigoration of male community leadership.

Announcements

  • Several SPEED FOR NEED races coming up to round out 2018.  Encouraging all of you to participate in just 1 to see what it’s all about.  Gypsy is your A51/SOB/UC SFN Q so reach out to him if you want to get involved somehow. We would love your leadership.
    • 9/29 Isabella Santos 5k/10k in Ballanyne (marquee SOB race… 60+ F3 Pax in 2017)
    • 10/6 Susan G Komen Race For the Cure 5K Walk in Uptown (very powerful service opportunity to push breast cancer fighters to the finish among 15,000 people)
    • 11/10 Let Them Soar 5K in Matthews (Tackling Dummy heavily involved in foundation)

WHO PUSHES WHO!

JRR Tolkien

Covered In Glitter at 6am

27 Men woke up early on a Monday morning for some running, merkins, squats, and…glitter.

Warmup:

F2 Pace warm up lap towards front of school with abrupt return to start to pick up Jingles (back on regular schedule) and Frack.

SSH x 20

IW x 15

Jimmy Dugan (Frack said he needed a good stretch)

Merkins x 15

Low Slow Squats x 15

Mosey to long path

The Thang:

5 Merkins at each light all the way to Transporter’s office

Speedsters Circle back for the 6

Mosey towards football field 5 Merkins at each light pole (approximately 7 additional light poles)

At base of hill, gather up for an extended Triple Nickel. 3 Exercises 5 Times.

10 Squats at bottom of hill/run up/5 burpees at top and return to bottom. Do this 5 times

Mary while waiting for groups to finish

Mosey to alcove/portico on the side of the high school. Partner up.

Partner 1 runs down sidewalk and across street and back / Partner 2 does Mike Tysons – Did this 2x. It was also here most of us got to roll around in a little glitter. If the M asks how you were covered in glitter at 6am, just blame me (Deflated’s suggestion)

Mosey back towards front of school. 7 light poles x 10 squats at each light pole

Partner up again and form 2 lines for a relay race (time kill)

Sprint to first light and back. I think it wound up a tie

The End

Moleskin:

Great work today guys. To nobody’s surprise, Hollywood set the pace with Halfback close behind. There was a little banter but nothing over the top. Really impressive showing by Akbar…especially on that Triple Nickel. Good work, man! YHC also received Rubbermaid’s “Fogged Windows Q Seal of Approval” as I couldn’t even see his eyes during Name-O-Rama! To fog the windows like that requires some digging. You really pushed it today, great job!

Announcements:

Crane Relay – see Posse

Sanctuary tonight at Brooklyn Pizza

Shepherd on Q Watchtower tomorrow

YHC took us out

 

 

I Love Lamp

15 PAX showed up to Impromptu since most of us had no desire to either drive to Waverly or we thought there would be 50 people there for Dredd’s celebrity Q.  For a change of pace, I thought I would try a version of Hollywoods non-stop workouts, only at a Clydesdale pace because, lets face it, I am not ever going to be as fast as Hollywood.

LET’s MOSEY:

Short Lap around the parking lot directly into the workout.

  • A different Exercise at every lamp
  • The exercise began when you got to the lamp
  • The count didn’t begin until the six began to count

The Thang- Really Just the List of All Exercises- to 20X

  • Side Straddle Hop
  • Low Slow Squats
  • Plank Jack
  • Mountain Climbers
  • Merkins
  • Dry Docks
  • Imperial Walker
  • Imperial Squaker
  • LBC’s
  • Toe Tap LBC’s
  • Scorpion Dry Docks
  • Squats
  • Deep Squats
  • Merkins
  • Merkins with your feet on the curb
  • Peter Parkers
  • Parker Peters
  • Plank Rotations

Let’s Face it, there were a lot of light posts between the start and the bleachers near the baseball field.

The Final Thangs

  • 60 dips on the baseball field bleachers
  • Run to the rock pile at the high school, avoid the snakes
    • Find a lifting rock
    • Cycle doing 40, 30, 20, and 10 curls
  • Mosey to the upper parking lot
    • Line up across the parking area.
    • Bear Crawl to the light, stopping at each line for a Merkin
  • Mosey to the Benches
    • Partner Up
    • One partner does Derkins while the other runs to the school
    • Repeat two times
  • Mosey to the stairs
    • 10 in, 10 out, 10 normal calf raises
    • Repeat Twice
  • Run back to the beginning

COT

The workout was a little crazy.  I stole the title from Zinfandel because it was just awesome and made me laugh.  To be honest, I almost made myself sick pushing the front of the Pax through such a chaotic, fast pace.  I had a lot of fun trying something different.  Thanks to everyone for bearing with it and the humor that always ensues.  I hope you enjoyed your weekend.

Announcements

  • Thank you to everyone for your help in moving Lynn Marie.  Their new home is setup and it is awesome to see to so many helping her out on Saturday.

Epsilon 2nd Que

It was a Great morning out at Commitment. Great weather and an amazing breeze. Big Ten decided to show not knowing it was an hour workout.

My Thing:

  • Run to parking lot with speed bumps – did a quick warm-up and the pain started right away
  • Ran through the whole parking lot and did 5 jump squats at each speed bump. After this we did the cheddar shredder which most of the people didn’t like. We ran through the parking lot twice more doing 10 squats and 10 lunges at each speed bump, also doing the cheddar shredder at each one.
  • We ended up staying in the same spot and everybody grab a rock. We got in a circle and everybody did 10 bicep curls at each rock. What was good was that each rock was a different size so it either got easier or harder. ‘
  • Next we ran over to Transporters House/The bathrooms near the track and did Jack Webs with 1 Donkey Kick and 4 wall sit shoulder presses.
  • After that we ran to the big brick pile and everybody grabbed to bricks except the 2.0’s. We did 4 different weight lifting exercises and I decided that “I” needed a break.
  • We ran to the small bleachers ran those and came straight back to the Brick pile.
  • After we did the same thing we did earlier we ran back to the start while Damascus waited on bread bowl to finish with the bathroom.
  • We did LBC’s until Damascus came back and that was it.

Moleskin:

Frack was surprised that he was in the front most of the time. I guess that’s what happens when you work out with a bunch of Clydesdale’s. My dad, Delta, ended up just being a Chauffeur this morning. Drove me to the workout slept in the truck and drove me back. He was sick so I let him do that. Big Ten actually stayed for the whole workout even though he didn’t know it was an hour. Of course he had to leave right after.

Almost 2 years

YHC pulled into the lot and had a feeling would be light crew given vacation time. Slowly a few cars arrived to participate in a moderate workout. After a quick disclaimer, we were off…..

Warm up
2 Lap around the track
15 Imperial Walker
10 Merkins
10 Low Slow Squats

The Thang

1. Run across street to church
Pick a rock
3 rounds-
15 Bicep Curls
15 Shoulder Presses
10 Tricep Extensions

2. Run down Olde Providence toward Harris Teeter
Stop at every light pole or electrical pole, 5 Merkins
Continue toward the Walgreens parking lot for some Mary
Rosalita
Freddy Mercury
Flutter
Run back toward Olde Providence Elementary
Stop at again at light pole or electrical pole, 5 Squats

3. Circle Up for some Mary at launch
Rosalita
Freddy Mercury
Plank
Baby LBCs

4. Shoulder Work (benches under the oak tree near bus lot)
Round 1
Dips x 15
Durkins x 15
Round 2
Step Ups x 10
Incline Merkins x 10

5. Mosey back to the school parking lot with for the Starfish
Middle: 5 Jump Squats
Corner 1: 15 Carolina Dry Docks
Corner 2: 15 LBCs
Corner 3: 10 Lunges
Corner 4: 15 Wide-arm Merkins

6. Mosey over to the Playground for 2 rounds of the following
Pullups – 10
Merkins- 10
Step Ups – 10

7. Go to the field for 2 rounds of:

1. Bear Crawl -1/2 way
2. Lunge Walk ½ way

Time to finish off by grabbing some wall for the People Chair with 50 back stretches

Moleskin

It was my 2 year anniversary today from where it all started F3 here at Ascent (exact date 8/20/2016). My fitness has definitely improved, have developed relationships F3 brothers and most recently became site Q at Ascent. Thank you to the Area 51 brothers for your support and fellowship. Lorenzo pulled into the parking lot with his neon orange shorts today and certainty brought it today, strong showing. Lorenzo lunge walk form was also impressive almost to the point he was measuring the field. Great to see my friend Drano today, he’s been a warrior as posted every day this week. Preacher from Knoxville joined us today while in town to visit his brother this week in Charlotte and wanted to get his F3 money’s worth. Thank you Preacher for nice send off.

Costanza

Bit Off More Than I Could Chew

YHC arrived a little early to the Outland AO after working on the menu of pain for the morning.

A disclaimer was given and we circled up for some COP. SSH and Imperial Walkers seemed creative.

Afterwards, we partnered up. Size and speed did not matter (according to YHC). However, the size of the bell did. We began with a catch me if you can and began a journey to the Elementary School track. After a brief consult with the extremely caring Hairband there was a break halfway through filled with some Mary to allow the PAX to catch up. Upon arrival to the track, the PAX were presented with a board of pain. The following were the exercises listed:
Louganis
Clean
Deadlift
Snatch
Lunge
Goblet Squat
Row
Swings
Squat
Swings
Shoulder Press
Burpees

The mission for the morning was to do 10 of each exercise. So, 10 Louganis and run a lap. Then 10 Louganis, 10 Cleans and run a lap. Followed by 10 Louganis, 10 Cleans, 10 Deadlifts and run a lap. I think you get the drift. We got through the lunges and partnered back up for our journey back to the cars.

Mole, mole…
Having never Qed at Outland before, I was overly ambitious and drove the PAX pretty hard. I must admit they responded well. I haven’t seen Burnacky all summer. It was good to see him back in action. Edison was a hard working beast. Hairband was the conscience of YHC and helped me adjust appropriately and even challenged my modification of the Clean. Who knew he was part of the form police too?! It was good to see Bullwinkle after he ditched us a few Saturdays ago when he was a “no show Q.” Wonderful to hear the good report about DT’s mom!

Give me AMRAP…and a Floater

Heavy sweating, heavy breathing, poor clock management, and Frack made this morning a wonderful experience. The Floater requires a backblast. It’s just what we do. Here’s the backblast:

Warm up:

Long lap around the backside of the church and circle up

SSH x 20

IW x 20

Potato Pickers x 10

Merkins x 20

Stretch calves IYO / Enough. Mosey to bottom of #keithjonghill

The Thang:

Floater prides itself as being the most complete AO in WUC. We work hard, we laugh, we honor the burpee train, and we DO BACKBLASTS AT ALL COSTS (substitute BB poster took license on all caps portion). Since the AMRAP at Impromptu has apparently gone the way of Cool Runnings, YHC thought it wise to bring it back…and incorporate the Floater’s benevolent mascot, #keithjonghill into the equation. Run to bottom and find lifting rock.

At bottom do 20 curl to presses run up hill and do:

10 merkins

10 plank jacks

20 lbcs

10 plank rotations

10 dry docks

20 squats

1 burpee at the top (do a burpee more for each time you make it to the top of #keithjonghill).

We did this for “25” minutes. Admittedly, YHC can’t tell time and has no concept of how long an activity may take. It is possible we went over the “25” minute mark, but YHC (subti-BB’er) digresses.

All finished, discarded lifting rocks, and met at the stop sign at the top of #keithjonghill

50% to the speed bump at the bottom and then AYG back to the top

Quick mosey to next stop sign. And then again to last. Circle up for some Mary. Done.

Circle Time:

Great work out and great guys. No announcement substi-BB’er can remember other than a chance to serve Longos and help them move this Saturday. Hopefully a 5 Stoner will have more info on that front. Substi-BB’er is really sorry if he omitted any announcements or key items…I tried to remember it.

Also Open Door Bible Study at 5 Stones office this Sunday at 7am.

Substi-BB’er took us out.

 

 

 

No, you hang up

7 guys showed up this morning for Sparta – head lamps up, A51 royalty – Joker made a rare appearance,  Horse Head made a crack at me and Chin Music telling each other how great of a job we did on the Raintree hills on Tuesday (No, you hang up), disclaimer mumbled, and we were off…

 

My Thing

 

  • Run to parking lot – quick warmup and over to the Greenway

 

  • Run down Greenway to long wooden bridge and go into the neighborhood (Country Place Dr.) – run hill with 3 rest-merkins at each lampost on the left

 

  • Run through Downtown Matthews to Brakemans and do 4 corners (10 burpees at each corner)

 

  • Run to Freemont St – 2 laps up and back with 10 merkins at the top and bottom

 

  • Down to my house on Freemont where I had paver coupons waiting – 20 shoulder presses, 20 curls, 20 squats then run up the hill 3x

 

  • 50 chest presses and 50 shoulder presses, run up the hill with the paver.

 

  • Grab a drink from the cooler on my front porch (or as many as you can carry) then before you open it, sprint to McDowell St.  COT with Peak 51.

Total: 5.34 miles at a 9:19 pace with lots of stops in between.

 

Moleskine

 

Chin Music and Joker were at the top of the leader board and everyone else hung on close behind – lots of stops and starts which can put a lot on a man.

 

Horsehead has been recruiting hard for this site, and for good reason, it’s the balls. Seriously you can make it to Sportsplex, the Greenway, Crestdale Middle, Kevlar/Skunk site, downtown Matthews, etc. and it’s really well lit.

Lots of talking between sets, which Gypsy got pretty angry about. He doesn’t like idle time, but sometimes the girls just need to dish.

 

I brushed the pavers off last night before making them available to the PAX. I have a bad history with ants and termites in and on my coupons and I want to work on being more considerate.

 

We’ve been missing Madison who is the site Q, allegedly.

 

Announcements

 

Pease pray for Tulip’s daughter who is in the hospital with an infection and pneumonia. She’s been in for a while and hopes are that she won’t need surgery.

 

SFN in downtown Matthews the weekend of Nov 10th (need volunteers)

Meathead Multiplication Tables

10 pax, a mix of familiar and unfamiliar (to YHC) faces, posted for the promised TGU-free beatdown. 1/2 the pax (5, for the division challenged) felt the workout would be insufficient and chose to prerun (Hoover, Voodoo, YHC) or preruck (Dora, Geraldo).

Disclosure – mediocre but hopefully sufficient

The Thang

COP

  • 200 two-hand swings + 55 merkins, grouped in 10 sets of:
    • 20 swings (performed as 10 IC)
    • 10 merkins, declining by 1 each round (10, 9, 8,…)

Leave your bells and recovery walk (#0.0) to the playground, dodging the fencing

Playground Math

  • Reps of 10-8-6-4-2
  • Pullups – 1x
  • Merkins – 2x
  • Squats – 3x
  • Repeato until time called (10 minutes)
  • (YHC got 40 pullups, 80 merkins, 120 squats – most others appeared similar)

Recovery walk back to bells in parking lot.  Call for water break.

Snatch-fest

  • 5 snatches (L) at the top of every minute
  • 5 snatches (R) at the bottom of every minute
  • Continue for 10 minutes ((5+5)x10=100)

Finisher

  • 5 rows, 5 cleans, 5 presses, 5 squats – L
  • 5 rows, 5 cleans, 5 presses, 5 squats – R
  • 7 bulldogs (pullover + Louganis)

Done

COT

Announcements:

  1. Team Up ‘n Over needs a BRR runner
  2. RockZero needs Q’s
  3. Meathead has Q openings, twice the pay and time off as RockZero
  4. City Ruck, 8/24, 12 miles, minimal PT – see Dora or Geraldo for details
  5. Greekfest 5k on 8/25 – per Voodoo, it’s Charlotte’s flattest and a good PR opportunity

Takeout by Hoover

Muscular Moleskinne:

Well, that wasn’t too bad for a light-moderate workout.  At least, that’s what YHC had planned to deliver.  Something to keep the pax moving and the HR up.  #missionaccomplished on the movement & HR; not so sure about the light-moderate.  As always, bell selection plays a role in the level of difficulty.  (YHC used a 20kg and that seemed about right – moderately hard but doable – nice puddle of sweat)

200 swings, mixed with merkins, was a solid opener.  Challenging but a good warmup, with the merkin breathers.  Full disclosure, YHC had planned on longer breaks as the exhaustion built and the merkins decreased but forgot when the time came.  #cobains  Pax did a good job of modifying as needed, dropping reps here and there or switching bells.  Nice work.

The playground complex was quickly recognized by Geraldo as a variation of Cindy.  Righto.  Pax were encouraged to modify as needed, esp with pullups.  Again, well done.

Snatches were an aggressive call, but YHC felt the pax up to it.  Quick demo by Voodoo for the newer meatheads, and then we were off.  Again, good modifications by the pax, mixing in bells or swings as needed, and trying different bell sizes.  100 snatches.  Boom.

Thanks, as always for the opportunity to lead.  It’s an honor.

10 Gentlemen and 8 Clowns

QIC: Queen

Pax: Clover, Gummy, HIPPA, Hopper, Tacking Dummy, Harley, Spackler, Puddin Pop, Schmedium, Polo (FNG), Hannibal, Jet Fuel, Marge, Queen, Fry Daddy, Floor Slapper, Semi Gloss, One-Eye

The Pax was 18 strong (actually about 10 strong esteemed gentlemen and about 8 clowns). The weather was great as it never rains at Hydra. Here’s how the work out went:

SSH: 25

IW: 20

Slow Squat: 10

Slow Merkin: 10

Mosey to the short field. Karaokee to one end and back then walking lung half way, run the other half and repeat back.

Mosey to the football field. Start at the goal line and go 60 yards and do 15 hand release merkins. Run back to the goal line and do 14 hand release merkins. Run back 60 yards and do 13. You get the rest, all the way down to 1. Then 25 Freddie Mercury’s.

Over to the playground. Partner up. Partner One runs around the school, partner two does pull-ups and air squats. Combine to do 200 air squats and 50 pull ups. Those that finished their second run and their partner had completed that number did 20 more of each. Then 20 LBC’s.

Mosey to the tree with the eight benches around it. 20 step ups each leg, 15 dips, 10 incline pushups.

Mosey back to the launch area. Russian twist X25, then Protractor.

Moleskin:

It was a lively group. The merkin ladder early on was a beast. That was meant to quiet some of the chatter (mission accomplished). There was a actually some very respectable effort. One-eye crushed the merkin ladder. Semi Gloss and Spackler appeared to complete it with proper form. Spackler has extra energy saved from never doing burpees.

I question how many partner teams truly made it to 50 pull ups. After having us do 120 hand release merkins, I’ll allow for a little slacking, there.

Welcome Polo, a new FNG. We were all disappointed at the end when we couldn’t come up with a better name. That used to be one of the strengths of this group. We’ve gone soft in that area. Seriously, welcome Polo, you did well for first or second time out.

I had the distance down at 2.5.

Announcements: BeerRun this Saturday. See Gummy or check slack for details.