Eleven of the bravest braves braved the Brave for a 4.8 mile beat down. Fire Hazard had set a high bar the week before in covering 5 miles so today we attempted to match but came up just short at 4.8 miles. I think we would have made it except Mr Ben Nevis got in the way. Here’s how it all went down:
Mosey to parking lot across from CVS
No FNG’s so light form waiver provided
20 Imperial Walkers
Mosey to Premier Parking Deck with some stops on the way for squats and merkins
Was planning to use the fields but they were close so to the parking deck.
Crab walk half way up parking deck – had to say there were some sad looking crabs this am lads
Run back down and bear crawl half way up and run back down
Toe tap crunches
Next up, the Mic Check slalom course followed by a sprint across the Johnstone Rd bridge.
Sharp right after the bridge and then wheelbarrows down the field (hats of to Mario and Fire Hazard on this one for leading the pack). Headed to the next pond for some good old fashion merkins.
Then down the dark path and over to the wall. Yep 10 times up and down the bull ring wall sure got the heart a pumping. Called on Chippy for a ten count, which seemed to last a minute – good work Chippy!
Off again heading for Ben Nevis and stopped on the way for some LBC’s, Russian Twists and some more Toe Tap crunches just to mix it up. Arrived at bottom of Ben Nevis (time is running out). 25 dips at the bottom, 25 merkins at end of the railing, 25 toe tap crunches at first entrance and for the elite (Fraser, Mario, Fire Hazard, and Cable Guy) 5 burpees at the next entrance. Time is really running out so time to head back to the cars with minimal stops.
Appreciate all of the hard work this morning and good to have the temps in the mid 60’s.
Thanks for the lead gents
Outback
Pre-run 5am
Only two fool hardy souls for the 30 min 5am pre-run, which happened to be the two Q’s.
Main event 5:30 am
Gathered the troops and disclaimer provided. PAX counts off into two groups. First group went with Mr Bean and headed for the “Ring of Fire”. Second group went with Outback and headed for the “Decks of Death”.
“Ring of Fire” (Mr Bean)
SSH X15
MC X15
IW X15
Mosey to start of the bullring for a “ring of fire. There are 20 entrances to the ring, the ring itself is 800m +/- at each entrance 10 merkins, complete circuit =200 merkins.
Round 2: Partner up for another “ring of fire” 10 handslap merkins at each entrance, complete circuit=200 merkins. PAX instructed to modify as needed.
While waiting for the 6 a little Mary, Flutter in Cadence x20, Dolly in Cadence x20
Partner up for sprints: Partner 1 sprints a loop while partner 2 performs LBC’s until partner 1 returns. Rinse and repeat 3 times.
PAX together to head home pick up pace at each drive entrance, hold plank for the 6. Quick stop at Rocky River Grill for a merkin ladder. 6 sets of 5 merkins in cadence with short sprints, cadence count by Linus, Tuna, Crabcake, FNG (Ponzi) and YHC.
Jail break by most back to the AO. Great work men, Mermaid crushed the ring along with Fire Hazard and Mighty. Strong work by both FNG’S, I partnered up with Ponzi he pushed himself hard for the first time out. Thanks to Big Tuna, Loogie and Fire Hazard for keeping the 6 in check and bringing them home. Nice to see my Swift brothers strolling around the Bullring, good to see so many of us in the gloom. Thank you for the opportunity if you haven’t lead step up and take the challenge there is no better feeling.
Bean.
“Decks of Death” (Outback)
The Decks of Death featured a 440 rep beat down with no 10 count rests and went down something like this:
Run to the parking deck basement in Ballantyne Village.
First Up – Warm up (100 reps)
Second – Merkins (100 reps)
Third – Legs & Shoulders (100 reps)
Forth – Abs (100 reps)
Finished up with 20 dips and 20 more flutters.
Headed home in time for COT.
Moleskin:
Solid effort this morning with the PAX staying very close to each other. Mic Check and Escargot were pushing for the lead along with a few others. Also appreciate the clarification/demonstration by Market Timer and Frehleys on a true form Monkey Humpers, although there is still some confusion on inside or outside hold on the ankles.
Thanks for the lead gentleman.
Outback
22 of the finest lost all sanity and decided to follow a Kiwi up a hill, twice! The hill is known as Ben Nevis – its big, its there and it just had to be done.
Training to Base Camp
In order to prepare for the ascent the following training was provided in somewhat equal intervals on the leisurely journey to the Ben Nevis basecamp:
The initial ascent
After arriving at base camp it was time to start the ascent, which included:
Second attempt
The order came through for a second attempt a.k.a. repeato. This time oyo and with the top climbers starting back down to relieve the minions below of any further pain of the ascent.
At the bottom 2 minutes of people chair followed by 20 squats.
The Journey Home
Began the mosey home and realized we had another up hill to get back to the AO. At somewhat equal intervals on the way home the following pain was administered:
Time up
Moleskin
A lot was asked and a lot was given without too much dissention. YHC was threatened with physical bodily harm (Dolphin) for the pain being administered on the first ascent and I told him he may want to wait until we completed the second ascent. Despite putting in only 3.5 miles this fine morning it felt like a lot more. The Ballantyne AO’s are starting to build some real athletes and YHC was very thankful to Tolkin, Mic Check, Bean, and Brisket for relieving the rest of us on the second ascent. Also special mention to three new FNG’s Stiff Arm, Pele 2.0, Big Dog.
Again thanks to all and a pleasure to lead.
Outback.
The P&O Show
33 men tuned in to the Pebbles and Outback show. First order of business was to divide the PAX. First group went with Pebbles, to quote Sergeant BA Baracus – I pity the fools. The second group went for a leisurely stroll across the Bagpipe AO taking in some fine scenery.
Bagpipe: Hangar 1 – Pebbles
YHC was feeling ambitious this morning after his ritual 8oz of espresso.
Warmup
Mosey to the hotel parking for disclaimer and SSH
Everyone seemed anxious to get going, so we began the trek to the parking deck. Along the way we stopped and completed few COPs while waiting on everyone
Imperial walkers
Low slow squat
Drop Squat
I don’t remember the count on these, lets just call it “enough”
We arrived at the parking deck still a little spread spread out, so pax in front jumped into mountain climbers while waiting on the rest.
The Thang
The parking deck consists of 8 flights. PAX were encouraged to run all eight flights and complete one exercise after running 2 flights (4 stations). The exercise for each station were as follows
Bomb jacks 10
Drop squat 10
Squat Jump 10
LBC 20 Reverse LBC 20
At the top, PAX completed 8 count body builders until the rest of the group caught up
Mosey down the steps to the soccer field.
Complete
10 turkish getups
Sprint the steps
Complete 20 tuck jumps
Run the ramps down
Finisher:
Leap frog broad jump
You complete leap frog over partner and land in deep squat position. From the deep squat, explode into a broad jump. Following broad jump crouch into a low position allowing your partner to complete the movement.
Repeat 50 yds out and 50 yds back.
Mosey back to COT stopping for Mary a few times along the way.
Moleskin:
I was intent in bringing some new movements and serious misery to the PAX of area 51. I hope I made some good memories. Strong performances from the usual: hops, bounty hunter, dear abby, and strong leadership from soft pretzle keeping an eye on Leigha.
Honor to lead, as always
Pebbles
Bagpipe: Hangar 2 – Outback
The goal today was to keep moving and limit the breaks – can only recall one 10 count. All went down as such:
The running warm up:
There were a number of stops on the way to Pond Hill (not sure if the hill by the second pond has an official name so though I would get original and name it) to ensure the lads were appropriately warmed up, which included:
20 merkins in cadence
20 Imperial walkers in cadence
20 Dips (at Lock Ness) in cadence
20 SSH in cadence
Main Event – Pond Hill
Start at the bottom of Pond Hill with 15 toe tip crunches
Run to the top of the hill for five burps
Bear crawl half way down the hill and 15 Derkins
Bear crawl the rest of the way down and 15 squats
One lap around the bond
Rinse and Repeat until time.
Warm Down
The run back from Pond Hill to the AO was interrupted by a series of exercises that included:
20 Flutters in cadence
25 Merkins OYO
20 Rosalita’s in cadence
20 Russian twists in cadence
10 Burpees OYO
20 Dolly’s in cadence
All you got back to the AO
20 Puppe Love specials in cadence
Moleskin:
Solid effort today and YHC was happy to be able to include a good dose of Mary as well as a cool down run through the sprinklers at the end. Mic Check lead from the front on the main event with CoPay and Mario close on his heels. Did not recall to much mumble chatter with the exception of Haggis questioning if YHC actual had a plan for todays workout. I was sorely offended and yeld at him, “I have a winkee”. Probably not something one grown man should yell at another.
Thanks for the lead gentleman.
Outback
Out of the trenches (bed) 12 brave men climbed, fixed bayonets (ok tied shoe laces) and charged. Despite the odds Ben Nevis was taken twice. It all went down something like this…
Basic Training (warm-up) – 5 exercises over one mile
Arrive at Ben Nevis base camp
With basic training complete the debrief began on the first ascent that included four targets (pain stations) of 10 diamond merkins and 15 hand release merkins (100 in all) that extended from the bottom of Ben Nevis to Lancaster Hwy. After a successful ascent the troops moseyed back down to base camp and sustained only one casualty. Brushback, a true broth of Outback, was taken down by a land mine (ok uneven side walk). No serious damage and we continued back to base camp.
At base camp hold peoples chair and wait for the six. Note of mention during the entire exercise there was that much of a six – good job lads!
Then the order came to take the hill again (repeato). This time replace the merkins with 5 burpess and 20 toe tap crunches at each target (again 100 in all). At the top assumed the plank position on Lancaster Hwy. Job done we headed back to base camp with an Indian run – no casualties reported this time.
At base camp performed 20 dips, hell there was a railing and why not.
Started to head back to AO.
Moseyed across the street and up a bit, then performed the infamous flutter maneuver – 20 count in cadence.
Next moseyed a few more yards closer to the AO, and then stoped to spend some R&R time with Dolly – actually 20 times in cadence.
Next moseyed to the traffic circle by CVS and all hell broke loose at the mention of a jail brake.
Arrived back at AO a few mins. a head of schedule so 20 Carolina dry docks, 20 Rosealetas and hold plank for approx one minute until time is up.
Moleskin
A lot was asked from the lads this morning and all delivered with interest. Not much mumble chatter although Champaign did mention something about me being an angry Q and pay back is coming, which I take that as a badge of honor given where the comment came from (you know what I mean). Also wanted to mention Fraiser, with one arm in a cast he had to chose a different path on a lot of the exercises, although would not put it past him to be doing one handed diamond merkins on the side.
Again thanks to all and a pleasure to lead.
You borhter in arms – Outback.
This was the Q’s one year anniversary and I wanted to try something a little different and appreciated everyone sticking with me on the 45 mins of ab torture.
In most workouts our abs have rather an easy life and seldom get called upon except maybe in the closing ceremony or in the odd plank here or there. Well today it was time to make up for the sins of the past and pay the piper. Today’s initial down payment included 560 ab reps over 10 ab exercise using a pyramid style workout that was all called out in cadence. Yes all exercises in cadence except one (Burpees), special thanks to Tiger Rag and MT pushing me on this one however; Q is now losing his voice and appreciated Crab Cake stepping in to lead the Side Straddle Hop at the end.
With the disclaimer given it all went down something like this:
Warm Up
Next the Ab pyramid, which consisted of 10 rounds and each new round started by completing the exercises in all previous rounds and adding one new exercise. The result of all this stupidity again was 560 reps over 10 distinct exercises that included:
Warm down
Again this was not your typical workout (no significant running, merkins, squats etc) and I was weary of mutiny or a Q jack and appreciated the support in sticking with it and me. I did note some mumble chatter and perhaps some of that was due to translation of Kiwi into US – of note was when I called out 10 burpees and Freehleys translated it to 20.
Announcements
18 strong men posted at Stonehenge on this fine cold spring morning. The varsity Qs – Madame Tussaud and Outback were called up late the night before to share the honor of leading the PAX.
Madame Tussaud started the proceedings with a mosey on over to the Premier parking deck where the disclaimer was given, which was followed by:
Hand over Q to Outback with a mosey down to the ground level of the parking deck, which was followed by:
A lot of hard work was put in on the deck today with minimal resting periods, which may have accounted for the mumble chatter being light. After being out for three weeks I noticed big gains in the PAX in terms of both level of fitness and weight loss. Not sure what you all were doing while I was out but it certainly worked.