That’s Not My Problem!

That’s Not My Problem!

In the gloom War Eagle asked, “so whatcha’ got planned for today’s workout, Cooter?”  I went on to explain how I got talked into running in the Palmetto 200 relay race in March (I’m in way over my head…) and how today my training schedule says I’m supposed to run 6 miles of Hills.  War Eagle shot back, “That’s not my problem!”  I then displayed my new reflective running vest to all when Olaf quipped, “did they only have size small?”  Tough crowd.  It was time so we launched.

Side note> I’ve always heard veteran Pax tell stories of how they went from fat and lazy to running half marathons after joining F3 and many times they attribute their success to other Pax “talking them into” doing something that feels impossible to them at the time.  One of the other Pax believed in them enough to ask them to step way out of their comfort zone and try to do something that sounds crazy.  I’ve always enjoyed those stories.  Now I can say I’ve had that happen to me.  After the Makeshift 10k a few months ago, I was enjoying my runners high and began running off at the mouth to Blackbeard about how I’d like to do “one of those relays” one day.  Once I managed to get a couple of 10ks under my belt I felt 10 feet tall and bullet proof, I guess.  The next day, Blackbeard texted me asking if I’d like to do the Palmetto 200 relay with him and 7 other Pax in late March.  “You can totally do it”, he said.  I initially thought he was crazy because “I’m not a runner” but he was persistent and said he wasn’t going to leave me alone until I committed.  So, as I like to say, I was “talked into doing it”.  Thank you, Blackbeard – I think!?!  Happy Meal is one of the other 7 Pax who is stepping out for the challenge.  Iron Sharpens Iron, and once again I’m thankful for my F3 brothers.  Back to the workout now:

10 Pax headed off for COP on the other side of the theatre, soon to be joined by Floor Slappper to make 11.

-SSH x 10

-Hillbilly x 10

-Potato pickers x 10

-Plank Jack Merkins x 10

-MC x 10

Mosey to the Murderhorn and partner up for laps around neighborhood circle.  P1 goes left and P2 goes right.  Down the hill and meet your partner at the bottom for 5 socially distant hand slap merkins.  Back up the hill to the start for plank and wait on the 6.  2 more laps ensued.

Now that we’re warm and toasty, we moseyed over to the top of the Murderhorn for 7’s (burpees at the bottom of the hill at the first street light and monkey humpers at the top of the hill).

Lunge walk, high knees and butt kickers down the hill to the 2nd street light not without a healthy dose of grumbling and mumbling from the Pax.  Run back up the hill to the top for some mary.  All in, we got about 2 miles of hills in.  Nice work!  But we’re just getting started.

Mosey down the sidewalk towards Ballantyne Commons and grab some curb for incline merkins.  This is the point where Loogie tried to put a stop to me.  He was not successful.  So we moseyed some more this time over to the fountain for 10 incline merkins w/ the clap (say what?) lead by DranoII, followed by 10 derkins called by Rousey, and since that was so much fun, Floor Slapper lead us in 10 dips to wrap up this set.  No one fell into the fountain.

Mosey to Ballantyne Commons entrance to shopping center where Happy Meal lead us in some Mary that was short lived because of the car that wouldn’t stop following us.

We headed back behind the shopping center where YHC called exercises at every speed bump.  Thankfully the PAX shouted out the 3 minute warning so we chalked that and headed straight back to the launch.  Long run back, but sometimes you just gotta push yourself.

2 miles of hills + 1.3 non-hilly miles = 3.3 miles for the workout + 1.7 miles for the pre-runners = 5 miles in all.  Well done.

Moleskin:

I always enjoy the opportunity to push myself and each other at NoE.  What a great goup today.  Drano, good to see you again, my friend.  Thanks for the pre-run push and I hope your calf gets better.  Floor Slapper was casually late (per the usual) and then fell right in and started cranking out the work.  Mic Check is a beast.  Great having you with us on the pre-run and telling us all about how you waded through ice cold water at the Spartan Race.  That sounds like it sucked.  Olaf, great work today and thanks for taking us out.  And btw, I purposefully bought my reflective vest on the petite side as to not mess up all my aerodynamics.  Rousey crushed it as usual and he has been quite a force lately.  Keep posting and blaring music in your bad@ss car.  Circuit City makes it look effortless.  Thank you for the opportunity to lead today.  Happy Meal was also talked into running the P200.  Lord help us all!  Teddy, this was no Devil’s Turn but not too shabby, eh?  Nice work today.  War Eagle, thank you for the pre-run push and always leading by example.  And then there’s Loogie.  Oh Loogie.   You had me scared a few times during the workout.  You’re a pretty big ‘ole dude even with your 50 year old shoulder.  Respect.

Announcements:

*Blood Drive Feb 18th at Brace YMCA.  Sign up on Slack or Mighty Mite will come find you.

*Midriff and Thin Mint are doing a 50k run at some mountain.  Sounds terrible.  But if you’re into that sort of thing, you can sign up on Slack.

Thanks for humoring me today!  God bless you all.

Cooter2