Joie de Vivre!!!

Date: 2026-01-15 AO: the-phoenix Q: Roulette PAX: wildturkey, midriff, Franky, war_eagle FNGs: None COUNT: 5 The damp, pre-dawn air at The Phoenix AO was thick with more than just humidity; it was heavy with the “Gloom.” At 05:30, five men stood in a circle, their breath hitching in the frigid air like rhythmic exhaust.
They weren’t just there for the Burpees. They were searching for something the French call Joie de vivre—that elusive joy of living that often gets buried under spreadsheets, mortgage payments, and the monotony of the daily grind.
The Fellowship of the Gloom – Roulette (The Q): A man who lives up to his name; you never know if the next exercise will be a stroll or a smoker, but today, he had a gleam in his eye that suggested a long-distance gamble. – Franky: A high-mileage machine who treats a 5:00 AM sub-freezing start like a tropical vacation. – midriff: The apex predator of the pavement, today trading his road flats for trail lugs, ready to hunt miles. – war_eagle: The veteran presence, steady as a rock and always ready to push the PAX through the “Suck.” – wildturkey (The Nantan): The regional leader, here to ensure the culture remains strong, even when the thermometer is dropping.
Into the Woods
“Adventure is our middle name,” Roulette declared, signaling the turn off the pavement. “Follow me.” The PAX plunged into the mountain bike trails bordering the YMCA. It was a chaotic symphony of headlamps cutting through the mist. The trail was a labyrinth of switchbacks, jagged roots, and high banked turns. Franky and Midriff did their best to keep pace forcing the others to redline just to keep their lights in sight. They weren’t just running; they were navigating a landscape that demanded total presence. The gloom was no longer a weight—it was an obstacle course.
The Dock Incident
Deep in the woods, the trail spat them out at the edge of a black, glassy pond. A weathered wooden dock reached out into the water, shivering in the wind. “Decline ‘mericans! Feet on the bench, hands on the planks!” Roulette commanded. The five men scrambled onto the narrow structure. As they hit the “down” cadence in unison, a low, ominous creak echoed across the water. The wood groaned, and the far end of the dock dipped dangerously toward the freezing surface. “Uh, Roulette,” War Eagle grunted, his chest inches from the vibrating wood, “the dock is losing the battle against gravity.” “Ten more!” Roulette barked. The dock swayed and shuddered, nearly collapsing under the rhythmic force of five grown men pushing against the earth. They finished the last rep just as a support beam gave a final, splintering protest. They scrambled back to the shoreline, hearts hammering—not just from the exercise, but from the sheer adrenaline of nearly taking an early morning swim.
The Joie de Vivre
They climbed the final ridge, the mountain bike trails finally giving way to a clearing. Wild Turkey stopped first. The sun was beginning to burn through the grey, turning the frost on the pines into diamonds.
“”This is it,” “”Midriff”” panted, steam rising from his shirt like he was on fire. “The dock almost ate us, my lungs are screaming, and I can’t feel my toes.” “And you’ve never felt more alive, have you?” “”Wild Turkey”” replied with a grin.” The Joie de vivre wasn’t found in the comfort of a warm bed; it was found in the shared risk, the near-collapse of a wooden pier, and the muddy shoes of five men who chose the trail less traveled.