No. No, it isn’t. Nothing disparaging to say about my formerly favorite Thursday workout, prior to Meathead that is, but this ain’t Hydra. Our unplanned posting pax was joined by 13 planned pax plus a very late LIFO to make 15 who made the optimal choice this Thursday. Let me tell you a little som’thin’ about what they did.
A Moleskinish Thang:
So, Tackling Dummy was posting to Hydra today. Trouble is, he was riding with his neighbor, Sidecar, who was posting to Meathead. No worries, brother. Here are a couple KBs to keep you company. Enjoy!
No newbies today, but a thorough disclaimer was provided anyway, plus something about modifying as needed, make it easier or harder as you deem fit, it’s your workout, blah-blah-blah. Something like that; I wasn’t really listening.
COP:
With our warm-up complete, YHC audibled to flip the script (#weinke). A preflight on Tuesday had convinced him that the grinding portion of today’s festivities should come before the met-con portion. This was a smart move. Another smart move was dropping a bell size due to the exhaustion & soreness from Tuesday.
So, partner up with like-sized bells for some doubles. Presses are involved, so choose wisely.
Double Your Fun:
Audible – after 7.5 minutes, everyone had completed 5 sets, so we moved on to other things. And, by “moving on”, I mean we did long waiter carries (locked out overhead). Simba asked whether this violated the #0.0 clause of the Meathead constitution. I argued, no, because (1) we were walking, not running, despite my having called it a “mosey”, and (2) Brown wasn’t here to enforce #0.0.
So, a long waiter carry across the parking lot to the school, over to the track, and to the playground (about a 2.5 minute walk – yes, I timed it), switching sides halfway or as needed.
Playground set – 7’s:
YHC offered his plan to do a set every 3 minutes (giving ~1:1 work:rest ratio), which would be 7 sets, totaling 49 pullups, 98 snatches, & 147 merkins. Or, whatever suits you.
Shout out to Bulldog for…encouraging the pax with his call-outs of the remaining time, each met with groans from the pax. After about midway through, we were all ready for the end.
Speaking of midway, somewhere along here was the sudden appearance of LIFO Hard Hat. Welcome! You’ve got some catching up to do. (Thx, Witch Doctor, for first helping with snatch form and then recommending a modification to swings.)
Completely spent, YHC calls for racked carries (bell on your chest/arm, fist under your chin), back the way we came, around the track and across the parking lot, back to where this little party began. It was remarked that, hey, it’s shorter to cut across here (about 2:00 shorter – yes, I timed it), to which I replied, sure, but if you go that way, we’ll have more stuff to do when we get there. So, we each opted for the long way home.
We arrived Done.
COT
Announcements:
Thanks, Chin Music, for the take-out.
No High T this week. We are joining with the kettlebell clinic and having fun in the rain.
17 PAX departed the Vine Restaurant in Ballantyne with running on the mind on Tuesday. Pretty much everyone got their fill… and then some.
The THANG:
The Moleskin:
Without a recording from COT, had to go off memory and Strava to put together the PAX list. Keep me honest.
SYITG,
Bratwurst
Not sure if the preblast on twitter attracted or detracted from the numbers, but 12 strong came out. A few were expecting me to keep to my promise of low miles, you be the judge.
Warm Up
Grab 10lb plates and head to the church. Before we got to it, a little warm up in the streets.
SSHx20
IPx15
Plank/ merkens: Plank then 1 merken, Plank then 2 merkens, etc to 8 ttl merkins
Mosey to Parking lot 10 ft away and begin the hair burner with the plate to the rock pile….that was short! Too many Pax refusing to push metal, so just grab your plate and head to rock pile
At the rock pile, partner up: P1 performs exercise with lifting rock/ P2 runs: Bi’s, Tri’s, Press, Squat, Russian Twists x2 and lat raises x1 with plates
Understanding the revolt was about to happen if YHC called for hair burners, just grab your plate and head to the school. In the driveway, perform some Mary
Did a new exercise that I stole, someone said it was, “around the world”.
Using the curb, 10 incline merkens, 10 off-set merkens, 10 decline merkens and 10 off-set merkens other arm.
Head past YHC car, drop plates and off to the playground: 10 pull-ups, 15 incline merkins, 15 decline merkens
Mosey to concession stand: 30 dips, 20 jump ups and 20 declines
Head back to the parking lot for 5 MoM
Moleskin
Announcements
“Twas a beautiful morning to cover 1.8 miles in Historic Downtown Matthews so that’s what we did.
Thang:
Depart Matthews Elementary and head Southwest on Trade St. to Matthews United Methodist Front Yard
SSH IC x20
IW IC x15
Merkins IC x10
Depart Matthews UMC and head north to Matthews Presbyterian parking lot.
Plank O’ Rama
AYG to the other end of the parking lot, Lunge Walk back
AYG to the other end of the parking lot, Bear Crawl back.
AYG to the other end of the parking lot, count to five, AYG back.
Depart Matthews Presbyterian and roll Southeast to First Baptist of Matthews for core work
LBCs civilian count with several leg position modifications x40
Freddie Mercury IC x8, many of which were quite slow and quite painful
Plank for 60 seconds
Mosey around Matthews Elementary for the wall. We typically use the outside restrooms for the wall but I noticed a staffer walking into the facility as we ran towards it so rather than scare her with arm presses whilst on the toilet we continued around the Matthews Community Center and ended up back at FBC’s to utilize their brick structure.
People’s Chair w/arm pressis Civilian Count x60
People’s Chair passing Geraldo’s ruck down down 25 pax x4
Circle up and knock out a couple of stretches including extended Runner’s Lunge.
Moleskine:
To be honest, I got about three and a half hours of sleep last night and wasn’t paying a ton of attention to the PAX. That’s a Q fail and I apologize. I do remember noticing Benny whipping the Lunge Walk and Hootie(sensational name) Bear Crawling better than most.
This was a repeat of my VQ titled Denomination Stations from about a year ago. Thanks for letting me a similar routine once more. It’s awfully nice to get off site now and again.
Props to Geraldo and Zombie who rucked the entire distance and to Slim-Fast, Sensei and Nomad who pre-ran.
Peak51 has had some HUGE crowds this spring and summer thanks to new FNGs returning week after week along with the site veterans. Thank you fellas for making it great. Let’s keep up the momentum through the fall.
Announcements:
Ragnar teams are looking for pacers(couldn’t find a link but it’s on the twitter/slack somewhere.)
Joe Davis Run is the 7th of January and registration is open. Be there.
Kettlebell Clinic is ON for Saturday at Calvary. Park near the soccer fields. First thrust at 0700.
F3 Monroe launches Saturday AM.
Up until about 5:16, YHC was excited and confident about the Weinke. Then, the doubts crept in…. What if….?
Let’s go back: there were 2 primary goals for this morning’s suckfest: get in some miles, and do some pull-ups. YHC has been trying to do more pull-ups to work out the soccer arms (not Cheddar-level soccer arms, but I digress…..). Have also wanted to work on the endurance, so the goal was 3+ miles. The original Weinke called for a good bit of running off the bat, and I ran the risk of losing some of the slower pax right immediately. Being the HIM I aspire to be, the first 2/3 of the original plan was scrapped and an audible called as my whip pulled into the Stonecrest parking lot around 5:24. At 5:29 a proper and thorough disclaimer was recited. At 5:30 on the dot, we were off to do the following:
The Thang
Mosey toward the outskirts of the strip mall. Wait, in the distance, YHC spots that ugly cursive “A” on the back of a dark grey car. Could that be a tardy site-Q? Stop for 12 SSH IC. Yup, it was Cheddar, sprinting to catch up. Once he’s close enough, mosey out to Elm, turn left, then turn right on Ballantyne Trace. At the bottom of the hill, circle up for 15 IW IC, 10 Windmill IC, and 10 merkins OYO. If. You’re not warmed up by now, it’s your own fault.
Mosey to Ballantyne Commons, take a right toward the Village. Left on Stonebriar and up the hill for the suck to really start. Triple nickel on this hill back down to B’tyne Commons. HR merkins at the bottom, 5 lunges each leg at the top.
Once done, head back down to BC and hang a left toward the entrance to Thornhill. Stop at the entrance and do LBCs while we wait on the 6. As we mosey into the neighborhood, Mighty Mite, in a very proud-of-himself tone, claims “this is the back way to the Murderhorn – you can’t fool us!!” No fooling was intended – the Murderhorn sucks even more when you know it’s coming.
Hang a left on Elmstone and grab a lifting rock. Head up to the parking lot between the covered area and the playground for some 3-man grinders:
P1 – (timer) does 10 pull-ups. Mario insisted on doing more because, well, he’s Mario.
P2 – step-ups in the covered area with the rock pressed above your head
P3 – flutters in the parking lot. Pax were instructed to keep their hands out from under their @$$e$.
Once he does 10 pull-ups, P1 relieves P2, who relieves P3, who goes to do pull-ups. AMRAP for about 9 minutes. 6:08 – time to head back up the ‘horn.
Collect at bottom of the MH. Pax instructed to do 10 merkins at every cross-street or streetlight and at the top (40 total). Mario had the segment-hunting look in his eye, so he was given a special pass. 51 seconds and 2nd place in Strava – boom. Major T-Claps. Mosey back to launch. Hit it just at 6:15.
Ye Old Naked Moleskine
Mario had us clocked at 3.4 miles, so that goal was accomplished. Pull-ups done – YHC is 2-for-2.
I was smoked after this one. Stonebriar is no joke – nasty place for a triple nickel. Grinders lived up to their name. In hindsight, kind of glad we didn’t have more time for them. It might’ve put YHC into the ground.
Mario hit 51 seconds on the ‘horn AT THE END OF THE WORKOUT. Beast, or did he dog the rest of the workout?
Marlin and Marconi (welcome to SOB-land – you’re welcome anytime) kicked major butt on the triple nickel and throughout the entire workout. These Respects deserve every bit of that term.
Commish and Chippy – way to push through. A lot of running today, but you guys stayed strong.
Snooki is getting stronger every workout. Like the rest of us, he is completely addicted now. Personally, it’s awesome to see a guy you EHed get into it and benefit as much as you do. Pay it forward, Snooki. Go find an FNG.
Heartbreaker, Cheddar, Mighty Mite – you guys killed it as usual. Hopefully I gave MM some new ideas for the next BD which is tomorrow.
Thanks to Commish and Cheddar for the opportunity to lead. Always an honor.
Announcements:
Southern Discomfort – 10/22 – check email
Ragnar is Friday and Saturday. Even if you’re not running, come out to support.
SOB Search and Rescue – check the BB from Paper Jam
Commish is collecting donations for Relative. Ask him about it – great cause.
Marlin with the takeout. Make sure we all go out and make the world a better place today.
10 pax, 1 site Q, no SF & some random person parked near the pax in a parking lot with more than 2,000 spaces. A disclaimer Mermaid could not have been pleased with from YHC, and then we launched our assault on another humpday edition of Anvil.
The Thang:
Jog a roundabout loop back past the random person parked near the launch point. Another car break-in or two at Anvil? Perhaps, but we ran on anyway. Maybe O’Tannebaum’s late arrival due to some extended early morning paperwork ultimately persuaded the random to take off?
Anyway, the pax circled up for COP near the gym building and the artificial turf semi-circle hill.
IW x 20 IC
Slow squat x 20 IC
Freddy Mercury x 20 IC
6-count burpee x 10 (or 13?) IC
Backwards bear crawl up the turf hill (replica of the Houston Astro’s centerfield), plank walk left around perimeter of circle. Repeato but with plank walk right around perimeter.
Jog to one of the nearby lots for the following:
P1 AYG run down to far median, lungewalk to middle median and high knee to start; P2 does H-R merkins. Flapjack.
P1 AYG backwards run to far median, inchworm to middle, broad jump to start. P2 does flutters.
Jog to pavilion.
People’s Chair – 25 overhead press IC
People’s Chair – right leg up then left leg up
BTW’s – walkout and back x 3
Jog to playground.
Plank with feet on swing – 20 knees to chest then 10 derkins. 3 cycles of this.
Run to rocks near the ballfield. Grab a rock.
Thruster x 15 OYO
Good-morning x 10 OYO
Thruster x 15 OYO
Good-morning x 10 OYO.
AYG run around a couple of parking lots back to rocks.
Curls x 15 OYO
Tricep extension x 15 OYO (actually not sure if we did these, but I think we did)
Standing lunge x10 R and x10 L
Jog back to launch lot for 9 1/2 minutes of Mary.
Dolly x 13 IC
Plankorama – SG & YA
Elbow plank w/alternating leg lifts x 13 IC
Side crunches x13 R and x13 L IC
6-count burpee x 13 IC
Done.
Ye Olde Moleskine:
Glad O’Tannenbaum found us as we were hiding behind the wall of the gym building. #resourceful
Not the most creative Q, but hopefully the pax got what they paid for….
Not a lot of mumblechatter though Champagne called “angry Q” on YHC during a brief form tutorial on People’s Chair #potkettle
Also, Mermaid did some form-policing on Van Pelt during the rock work. The form was indeed atrocious as was Ickey’s during Dolly.
Appreciate Lobstah not Larry Birding YHC on the runs…must have been injured a bit…
Thanks to Hannibal for taking us out…and by the way, your beard will have a zip code of its own by Thanksgiving.
That’s it for YHC’s commentary.
Announcements:
Quite a few: Ragnar (Friday), Southern Discomfort (Sat., 10/22) , Joe Davis 5K (Sat., Jan. 7)
Read the weekly, website, Twitter, etc. for all the latest and greatest.
I overestimated the time it took to get to DV, so Squid and I pulled in with only 10 minutes to spare. As Pax started arriving I and looked down at the track, and all I saw was pitch black. Perfect for the workout I had planned. Mosey around the parking lot and grab a lifting rock before forming a tight circle at the end close to the fields.
COP:
20 x SSH
20 x SSH (aka IW)
20 x SSH (aka Merkins)
The Thang:
Everyone form groups of 3 with rocks (and men) of similar size. (You know what they say about a guy with a big rock) Mosey down to the track. Each team grab a lane to make sure we keep our teams and rocks together in the darkness. Partner 1 stay at the starting line, while Partner 2 run across the field with their rock to wait on the other side of the track. Partner 3 then runs 200 yards around track as the timer, while Partner 1 and 2 performing exercises. Two full laps for each Pax.
Round 1: Partner 1 Overhead Press, Partner 2 V-Ups with Rock.
Round 2: Partner 1 Curls, Partner 2 Crunches with Rock.
Round 3: Partner 1 Squats, Partner 2 Russian Twist with Rock.
Mosey back up the hill to replace rock, then circle back up.
12 x Can Opener on each leg.
COM
Moleskin:
Thanks for letting me lead. Semi-Gloss and Dollywood had me on the schedule last week and were kind to let me switch. And Dollywood was MIA. Must have been scared. Semi-gloss is either injured, lazy, or protesting HB2 as I caught him exiting the ladies’ restroom. I feel bad for anyone that has to go in their over the next 24 hours. I asked him why he came out of that restroom and he said it was closer than the men’s. I guess he was saving his strength for the workout? And Spackler and his team either cheated, or beer is Spackler’s cryptonite. He completed the first lap while the rest of us where still trying to find what lane we were in, and he proclaimed he didn’t have a single beer last night. And someone was complaining about the chill in the air, and then Puddin Pop announced he wears short sleeves unless it is -40 F. Manly. And Gummy was annoyed that the second part of the lap was shorter than the first, so he had us all move to the middle of the first straight away, therefore making the first leg shorter than the second. Every Pax was totally confused.
Announcements:
Sign up for the Southern Discomfort.
A 6 man roster for Fa(s)t Camp today. Here’s what happened:
Rest 60 seconds
Rest 90 seconds
Rest 120 seconds
Rest 120 seconds
Rest 120 seconds
Rest 90 seconds
Rest 90 seconds
Rest 90 seconds
Rest 60 seconds
Rest 60 seconds
Rest 60 seconds
Circle up for some Mary:
– 50 LBC in cadence.
– 10 low slow merkin civilian count.
– 50 Flutter (25 low, 25 high) in cadence.
– 10 low slow merkin civilian count.
– 50 crunch (25 left, 25 right) in cadence.
– 400 meter shake out run.
– Final Suicide (60 m out 100%, jog back, 120m out 100%)
– Long mosey alternating back vs forward running to launch
– Done.
TL;DR -> Sprints are good for you. We did a lot of them. Everyone (that showed up) did awesome!
Fun crowd today. Ok, maybe crowd is an overstatement, there were 6. The six that were there reportedly got their money’s worth. Truth be told, this Q was overly researched by YHC. After an evening binge reading session of academic papers on sprint kinetics and benefits, YHC was eager to add some quality sprinting to workouts. Here are some highlights from a blend of recent readings, personal experience, and conversations with other athletes (some of this was shared in the form of mumblechatter between sprints, after YHC caught breath):
– Sprinting can often achieve more fat-loss than endurance training due to the increased amount of metabolic taxation (and it takes a lot less time #efficiency)
– Sprinting can improve your longer distance times just as much as endurance training.
– Intervals should be done in descending order to maximize training benefit (i.e 200m,100m,40m or 30secs, 20secs, 10secs)
– Sprinting without adequate rest between reps decreases the positive benefits.
A couple observations from the field today:
– Triple 7 (Respect) is the man. He committed, he posted, and he put out a tremendous effort. He stuck with / beat the young crowd today.
– Peppermint (Hate Hate) is fast out of the gates. His ideal distance is 40-70 yards/meters and he means serious business. Showed up (late) with his cleats for extra turf traction.
– Uncle Phil (Hate Hate) seemed to get faster every interval. Perhaps he has found his stride.
– BubbleBoy (Hate) won his fair share of the intervals (i.e most of them). He is quick and also was unphased by the much Mary that followed.
– Bounty Hunter (Hate Hate) found it in himself to complain about age, weight, the Q, the astroturf pellets that covered his face. Despite the barrage of mumble, he put out some solid intervals; pretty sure he was first in a handful.
– YHC (Hate) is now tired, but honored to lead this smaller group of sprinters.
Fun time guys, it shall happen again soon.
Posting on Behalf of Bounce –
26 Pax showed up this morning with crisp air and great weather to sweat. Here’s what happened.
Began with quick disclaimer, thanks to Fletch for filling in most of the details. Had the PAX circle up for some warm up exercises. Exercises included: Side Straddle Hop x 20, Mountain Climbers x 14, and (OYO) Merkins x 20.
Partner up with x1 KB and mosey to start of Pleasant Hill (church loop). Partner 1 runs to first curb cut (see link below) with KB, Partner 2 follows and takes KB to second curb cut and then does Merkins waiting on Partner 1. The plan was to run the Pax with the KB around Pleasant Hill but it was very apparent that Google Earth was wrong and the QIC needed a quick audible at the line. Ran x2 curb cuts and proceeded to make a fast right into the church parking lot to finish the exercise, stopping at each break in the parking islands to swap KBs and perform Merkins.
Mosey to church with same partners to start x5 rounds of partner work:
• Round 1: Partner 1 runs church lap, Partner 2 Overhead Press
• Round 2: Partner 1 runs church lap, Partner 2 High Rows
• Round 3: Partner 1 runs church lap, Partner 2 KB Merkins
• Round 4: Partner 1 runs church lap, Partner 2 Goblin Squats
• Round 5: Partner 1 runs church lap, Partner 2 Partners Choice
Had Pax plank for several exercises while waiting on six to finish. Capped off the church laps with 20 Merkins (OYO).
Proceeded back to school with same Partner for a Farmer’s Carry. The Pax took the long way home, over the hills, through the parking lot to Covenant Church Lane we go. Stopped at Pleasant Hill and Covenant Church Lane to Plank and wait on the 6. Performed multiple Plank exercises capped off with 20 Merkins (OYO).
Mosey up to field at school and line up on sideline. Six rounds of additional partner work:
• Round 1: Partner 1 run width of field and back, Partner 2 curls with KB
• Round 2: Partner 1 run width of field and back, Partner 2 right handed lawnmowers with KB
• Round 3: Partner 1 run width of field and back, Partner 2 left handed lawnmowers with KB
• Round 4: Partner 1 run width of field and back, Partner 2 two-handed swings
• Round 5: Partner 1 bear crawls to mid field, Partner 2 lunge walk with KB to mid field, swap to sideline
• Bonus Round: both Partners run lap around track and finish at parking lot
Moleskin:
I was a little concerned last night trying to plan for Skunkworks, there are endless exercises one can perform with a KB. I decided to reach out to some intelligent, physically fit F3 veterans but unfortunately not one answered texts or my phone calls. Without a plan in place I decided to call Spackler (Mr. F ½), My backup plan panned out and Mr. Octoberfest answered his phone and told me to oversimplify the beat down and keep moving while performing KB exercises. It worked and the Pax was smoked! We were able to get in 2.7 miles and a solid body beat down. Thanks to Simba for taking us out and thanks to Harley and Fletch for this opportunity to lead!
Bounce
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curb_cut
Announcements:
Signup for Southern Discomfort is on the F3 website
Please reach out to F3 leadership if you have friends / family in other cities that would be interested in launching F3 into additional markets