Hydra Halfpipe

Hydra Halfpipe

Posted on behalf of Marge

3 of South Charlotte’s Finest plus Hairball showed up for this week’s version of Hydra despite heavy overnight rain.  My weather channel app read 80+% chance of rain for this morning all week but alas, the sky cleared up just in time for 5:30 am.

 

All veteran crew (and no site Q’s) so very short disclaimer was given.

 

Mosey to Harris Teeter and circle up (actually square up) in the far parking lot on the other side of the Teet right off of Colony Rd.

 

Warm Up

  • SSH x 20
  • IW x 20
  • LSS x 20

 

Enough of that.  Mosey down Colony Rd. to Abbotswood Dr.  Stop for 10 pushups (yes, I accidentally called them pushups… Q Fail) halfway down Colony.

 

Right on Abbotswood to the top of the halfpipe

 

11’s on the halfpipe – Freddy Mercuries on one side, Carolina Dry Docks on the other.  5 jump squats at the Abbotswood/Summerlin intersection each time you go through the bottom of the halfpipe.

 

Slow mosey up Summerlin back towards the AO.

 

Just enough time to mosey to the church to find a lifting rock.  3-4 sets of 20 curls, 20 presses and 20 tricep extensions.

 

Back to AO for Mary

  • Dolly x 20
  • Russian Twists x 20
  • Rosalita x 20

 

Done

 

Moleskin

 

Great group this morning.  After seeing the forecast, my goal was to keep us on solid ground (pavement) and to try to get in at least 3 miles.  Mission Accomplished.  The 11’s on the Halfpipe sucked bad.  The pax did great staying together (thanks to Hairball for slowing down) and I felt like we got some good work in on arms, legs and core.

 

Thanks for the opportunity to lead.

 

A return to The Hills (Lauren Conrad)

8 men were awakened at 3:30 am with a monsoon hitting their window and still chose to post at Devils Turn fully knowing there are no parking decks for shelter at this AO.  Luckily, the rain had stopped by 5:15 and all was ideal for a trip back to The Hills called Lauren Conrad (LC for short).

We are lucky that our own Hairball introduced us to this gem a few weeks ago.  We are even luckier because the alternate hill route through Piper Glen is currently closed due to road work on Old Course.  YHC personally likes the LC route better since it offers more opportunity for seeing the other PAX which offers additional encouragement/ribbing possibilities.  The loss of PAX in the hills is also reduced at LC (less complicated route).

So the workout was simple.  Run at warmup pace north on Rea Rd for 1.1 miles, turn left into Five Knolls subdivision, run to the cul-de-sac at the end of Five Knolls Rd., and run back to the entrance.  Repeat the ~1.0 mile Five Knolls Rd. out-and-back as many times as possible until time to run the 1.1 miles back to start.

Once reaching the entrance of Five Knolls, there was an optional dynamic stretching session waiting on the 6.  Bunker and Outback opted for more running and skipped the session.  Those guys are machines which need no dynamic stretching.

Haggis was practically giddy that dynamic stretching was being performed when he arrived at the entrance.  He didn’t even have to complain to get the session started.  It is our gift to you brother.  Get well and breathe.

Utah made his debut at DT and made an impact.  Huggy Bear and Strange Brew battled it out with him the whole time for who would dominate the hills in the most dominant manner.  From the looks of it, they all did.  You are welcome any time at DT Utah!

Stumphugger returned to the PAX after a hiatus for work.  Although this probably was not the optimal return workout after an absence, SH did not let that show and powered through today.  He even broke out the guns to show he meant business.  Glad to have you back brother!

As always, the running is hard while we are there but it is always a good memory looking back.  Thanks for making DT what it is!

Announcements:

  • Time was short so it was an abbreviated COT

The Meathead Gods Smiled on Us

YHC showed up in the parking lot with about 30 seconds to spare to find that 8 pax ignored Cantore’s prediction for 80% chance of rain and showed up at Meathead this morning. The beatdown was adaptable, but YHC didn’t want the pax tearing up their moist mitts on the swings and snatches. For those of you not paying attention, this beatdown strongly resembled the one YHC delivered at Foxhole on Monday. #nopointsfororiginality

COP:

  • 20 x SSH IC

The Thang:

Circuit 1:

  • 10 x 1H swings on the weaker side
  • 10 x 1H swings on the stronger side
  • 5 x C&P on the weaker side
  • 5 x C&P on the stronger side
  • 5 x deadlifts

Overhead carry to the far median and back, switching arms at the turn.

Repeato 4 more times for a total of 100 swings, 50 C&Ps and 25 deadlifts. Mix up the carries, some of which were to the middle median.

Circuit 2:

  • 10 x high pulls on the weaker side
  • 10 x high pulls on the stronger side
  • 5 x snatches on the weaker side
  • 5 x snatches on the stronger side
  • 5 x goblet squats

More carries to the middle or far median, with pax choice on some carries

Repeato 4 more times for a total of 100 high pulls, 50 snatches and 25 goblet squats.

Still some time left, so the Q called for Byron’s KB flow, where the pax start swinging and the Q calls out new exercises and the pax move into them “in the flow.” This was meant to last a few minutes, but was actually less than a minute due to Q smokage.

High Tide called for lawnmowers, so we did 10 per side.

One minute left, so 2H swings until Q calls time.

COT: Thanks to Destiny for the take out.

Moleskine:

When YHC saw that High Tide had the Q for this week after leading about 2 weeks ago, I DMed him and offered to take it. If you enjoy a site, please sign up to Q it. F3 only works if everyone contributes. Sign up link for Meathead can be found here.

This workout seemed “popular” at Foxhole and there’s little to no overlap in the pax, so it was brought out again (with some slight modifications for weather, 0.0 and AO features). All of the pax were pushing hard today and I hope they got their money’s worth. If not, Brown and High Tide will offer a refund after next week’s workout.

As mentioned in my Foxhole backblast, the point of this beatdown is low reps with good form and pushing yourself on weight. If you were flying through the circuits and are swinging a bell weighing less than 24 kg/50 lb., it might be time for a gut check. Stepping down on the presses makes sense, but the ballistic exercises (swings, high pulls, snatches) require more weight. If you want to try out a bigger bell before buying, please ask around for extras.

Brown gave YHC the inspiration for the backblast title and was swinging and carrying some big bells. I think he did the deadlift with two 24kgs. #oldschoolstrong

Witch Doctor was swinging a sweet new 24 from Muscle Driver (#RIP) and was looking good out there. Pressing a 24 is no joke unless you’re Busch or Brown.

High Tide pulled out the 32 for a few rounds of something (it was dark out there), which is always impressive. YHC has one at home that I don’t think I’ve picked up yet. #settinggoals

Blazing Saddles has been a regular at Meathead at least since YHC stopped fartsacking on Thursdays and made a triumphant return a 4-6 weeks ago. He’s getting stronger and form is improving. I smell a Q in his future…

Fletch was Fletch. He flew through the exercises with ease despite using a bell that’s probably half his body weight. I think we should take up a collection to buy him a weight vest and a bigger bell to bring him down to human levels.

Destiny continues to post regularly and get stronger and stronger. He’s showing good form and might be ready for a bigger bell. #hinthint

Mad was working hard on there while still getting the movements down. Keep posting, brother. It doesn’t get easier, but you’ll get stronger (and eventually get a bigger bell).

Announcements:

  • Witch Doctor will be Q at OlympAscent on Saturday at Old Providence Elementary. He’s promised some gear and he’s been crushing six packs of F3 workouts for months, so I’m sure he’s going to bring it.
  • YHC and High Tide are trying to organize an F3 “custom” StrongFirst kettlebell clinic. We need at least 5 pax to get it scheduled, so please reach out to one of us if you’re interested. The cost is $299 for an 8 hour course and the details are here. We plan to add the clean and snatch to the curriculum to cover the most common F3 exercises.
  • If any of the Meathead pax are looking for another gear workout earlier in the week, please consider Foxhole. It meets at Elon Park Elementary in SOB land on Mondays at 5:30. It’s a bit of a drive from Elizabeth Lane, but it’s a great AO with a strong group of pax. Even if you can’t make it there regularly, the site Qs (Loogie and YHC) would welcome any offers to Q. Sign up genius link is here. #shamelessmarketing
  • F3 Dads Night with the Knights: The Boys of Summer are taking the field and F3 Dads will be there in force on Saturday May 14th. Load up the 2.0s and leave mom with a good book and a bottle of wine as we kick off the Summer of Sixteen at BB&T ballpark. We have a large block of tickets reserved for the game against our cross-state rivals the Durham Bulls.Tickets are on sale now through April 28th! Pre-blast link here.

The Three Brave Men

The Thang:
-30 SSH
-20 Imperial walkers
-20 hillbillies

– 15 Merkins

Mosey to greenway and to bball courts.

Plank compass with Merkins

Mosey to tennis courts

Run 4 corners with raccoon crawl on back wall while partner does dips in front wall. Rotate. Alternate with derkens

Mosey to parking lot

Run laps while partner does lunges. Rotate.

Catch me if you can with laps around parking lot with 10 Merkins and then sprint to catch partner.

Mosey to valley. 75% up hill.

Ayg back to parking lot.

The Mary
Rosalita wip
LBC
Bicycle
Flutter

Moleskin
3 brave souls made it out despite the menacing Thunder an hour prior. They were rewarded with a beautiful clear sky of stars and no rain. Just a lot of puddles to jump through. Props to ghost for making the cross Charlotte trip to FNG at the valley. You’re welcome back anytime! And funny farm is mr consistent workout after workout.

Announcements
School cleanup at HFES on 5/13 after 5k run

White Girly Watch!

10 pax did some promised hills on a little cold morning with 37F  . .

The Thang

Side straddle hop 15

Merkin 20

Windmill 10

Cotton pickers 10

Mountain Climbers 15

 

MurderHorn (used just half the way up)

4 x Run up and down. Do 10 Jump squats at the bottom

 

Mosey – in front of the cinema

Partner up

6 x (6 merkins / 6 star jumps)

 

Mosey – behind the cinema with the biggest slope

Jacobs Ladder – ran up a slippery slope do 1 burpee, run down and then up 2 burpees.. Do until 7 burpees

Elbow Plank till all recover – 30 counts

 

Mosey – Fountain

20 merkins till all reach

1 partner runs around two building while other does plankjacks (total between both partners 200)

Same repeat with 100 dips

 

Mosey – Parking lot

Bicycle crunch – 20 (Thanks Chipotle, picked this one from your q)

 

Moleskin

I wish I saw Tolkein challenge of 53 seconds we could have tried beating it. So my watch is getting delivered today wish it came a day earlier, so I had to use my wifes girly white watch. But the Pax were supportive and said it looked good on me. Also they knew I was not a professional by the time I announced it.

The Murder horn seem to push the guys. Firehazard was top of it but Frasier led the way in fact I think he nearly did a 5th lap. The star jumps I always thought it looked crazy but we did it just fine. I was partnered up with Argonaut and only reason I kept up with him cause I had the adrenaline Q running in my veins. Then came the Jacobs ladder which pushed it for all. I sure slipped 2-3 times coming down. We heard a scream from Outback as he slid too. Probably being dramatic just behind the cinema. Even Frasier had to walk down a bit. Strong up the hill from Checkpoint Poptart and Gooney. Commish was strong as usual.

Thanks to Outback for getting me to the fountain faster.  Also squeezed the bicycle crunches though I was 1 minute over.

It was a pleasure guys with the BRR in less than 6 months. Total elevation change was 321 feet and we ran a modest 3 miles. Big thanks to Squid for leading us in prayer.

 

Announcements:

May 21st 2016 – Fast 5 – Fort Mill –  5k – 5 guys doing 2 and half laps each(1k) (missed the date)

Mud run still open – looking for 2 guys contact Firehazard

Today – 7:30 Brazwell – happy hour today

April 18 – Argonaut Q Foxhole  – Dont want to miss it, I have heard many will be dreading the    

beatdown

April 16 – Convergence at Reservation in Fort Mill –  6am OCR training 6:30am normal start

Need more Qs for The Maul contact Commish

Enter witty title here.

18 pax answered the call of Anvil this am and braved the cold April weather – what is up with Charlotte weather anyway – its supposed to be back up in the 70s in a few days.

Anyway – verteran crew so quick disclaimer was given and off we want.

Slow mosey over to the parking lot in front of the HotBox for a quick COP – and where the mubblechatter started and pretty much remained.

COP

IW x 15 in cadence

5 burpees oyo

Low Slow squat x 15 in cadence

5 burpees oyo

Slow merkins x 10

5 burpees oyo

(Now to be named The Tony Horton)
Arm circles:
20 small forward, 20 small backward, then 10 big forward, and finally 10 big backwards.
more than enough grumbling here so off we go.

The Thang.

To be honest YHC has been recycling workouts a bit too much lately and wanted to try something different, but got too busy to plan, so the majority of the workout was made up during the drive over this am.

Thanks to Gummy – we head to the Hot Box first.

Split squats with rear leg raised x 15 for Right and Left – just for fun.

10 jump ups, 10 dips, 10 derkins – rince and repeat for time (10 minutes)- think most got at least 7 rounds. (this is when calls for more arm circles started to be heard and would continue)

Mosey to other side of building for recovery:

people’s chair
BTW
More People’s chair – more calls for arm circles

Head to playground –

5 pull ups, 5 toes to bar, 5 hand relese burpees – rinse and repeat until time is called (approx 8 minutes)
(another crowd pleaser)

Head to rock pile – at this point McGee called out YHC for being too predicatble. Again, what happens when you are coming up with the workout as you go.

grab a big lifting rock.

Clean rock from ground to shoulders, then deep squat, then press the rock overhead (a thruster), then take the rock back down to the ground – that is one.
Rinse and repeat again for time. – approx 8 minutes.

Head back to launch for some mary.

Flutters in cadence x 25
Plank challenge – YHC’s 2.0s swim year round and are in better shape than YHC – so thought it would be fun to see if we could beat my 2.0’s time in their plank challenge – she posted a 3 minute time.
YHC started us late but we did get 2:45 – which was enough.

Finished.

NMM

YHC asked Lobsta for this date because it was right after YHC’s 47th bday – why YHC asked is still not clear to YHC – but anyway – as stated earlier, this workout was pretty much made up on the fly. We did not cover much ground – per Utah – YHC believes we were just a shade over 1 mile. We did get some work done though – YHC is still pretty smoked from this one. Summer of SWOL.

Great work by all and YHC loves the mubblechatter. Makes the workout more fun and the pain more managable.

Thanks Lobsta and McGee for the chance to lead – always a great AO and great group.

Shout out below anything missed.

Annoucements:

Spartan Sprint – This Saturday and Sunday

Mermaid has surgery at 8am on Friday – lift him up in your prayers.

Thats all.

Champagne Out.

Fat Camp Vision Quest

Warm-up lap around the Elon Park Elementary
Side Straddle Hop x 15
Imperial Walker x 15

Playground Set
10 Merkins
5 Pull-ups
Repeat for 5 rounds

To the field
Wrestler side shuffles (deep-knee bend and elbows in)
Lunge walks with follow-through

For the remaining duration of the workout, we drilled alternating an offensive wrestler. At the end of each segment, both PAX would go on the offense an attempt to overpower the opponent. Most duos started at about 50% strength and gradually escalated the intensity.

Take-Downs
Double-leg take down
Snap-downs
Single-leg take downs
Sprawls

Bottom position
Stand-ups

Top Position
Elbow-sweep
Half-Nelson

For the last 5 minutes, we held a mini-meet and PAX practiced everything they learned and worked from the neutral position to a fall.

YHC on the take-out

Moleskine
Through the grapevine, thanks to my preblast, I heard there was some trepidation about a wrestling themed workout. I think everyone who posted would agree that while strenuous, it was not particularly dangerous. One of my favorite things about F3 is the each Q has the possibility of something new  and different. It’s the one small adventure I get during a pretty ho-hum office and family life. That said, to all the PAX and Qs try NEW stuff.

Marlin – This big guy is now posting regularly. You’ve earned your SOB Varsity Jacket.
Tuck – Today, he was the quickest guy I faced. His first shot was a perfect double leg. Boom!
When Mighty Might and Loogie squared off, the Earth shook. Both had little experience, but took to the movements quickly.
Mario – We all joke that he’s strong because he’s young. That’s only half-true. He’s strong because he posts constantly and never dogs it. He’s at 100%, 100% of the time.
Fat Camp is Pebble’s house and he let me know when he hoisted me several feet off the ground for a strong take-down.
Haggis came out, but he’s sick. Not wanting to spread his germs, he planked for about an hour. His core is steel.

 

 

All-Stars out for the #VQ

Great #VQ led today by Peacock, 21 PAX rolled up, a real star studded cast today and we rolled out right on schedule. After a slight detour down the stairs Peacock found his way to the track and the workout began.

THE THANG:

Lap 1: ascending merkins at each corner 5-10-15-20 – Plank for the 6.

Lap 2: Repeat ascending Merkins, add Monkey humpers

Lap 3: Repeat Merkins, Monkey humpers, add LBC’s

Lap 4: Repeat Merkins, Monkey humpers, LBC’s add burpees

Lap 5: 10 Merkins each corner to finish.

Mosey out of the valley, wall sits for a 20 count, 5 minutes of Mary and that was time.

MOLESKINE:

S/O to Skywalker for braving the cold, good to see some love for Peacock on his VQ, insider knowledge says Q was a little nervous if he was going to be able to complete his own workout but he did just fine. When in doubt skip the burpees.

Joker skipped the 5 minutes of Mary, he said “Spring break is over who am I trying to impress”

Suspect end time for the workout, rumor has it a late bowel movement may have caused an early COT!

All in all, it was great to see a hard working group enjoying the pain and supporting their brother. That’s what it’s all about. Great lead Peacock you’re a stud.

Choose your adventure – Headwind or Hills

9 PAX made the decision to post at #F3Swift despite staying up to watch only the last 6 seconds of the NCAA D1 Men’s basketball championship.  Still not sure who was playing, but heard they are a local favorite – must be Queens College.

THE THANG:

  • 0500 – Strava shows there were some PAX posting at 0500 for the early warm-up, but YHC was not one of them. Fortunately, the 0455 backup bootcamp alarm woke YHC out of bed to post on time at…
  • 0515 – Grab some cones, turn on the watch, acquire satellites, set measurement to Meters, and “follow me”.
  • A rather brisk Warmup over to the bridge on Bally Corp over 521.  Blaming speed on Frasier since he noted that he had Daddy duties and would be FIFO and wanted to maximize his time, YHC didn’t get longer warm-up, and Haggis was coming out of hibernation mode and holding Strange Brew back.
  • 5 dynamic warm-ups across the bridge and then prep for the real thing.
  • 2 x 200m at 1 Mile Race pace with 200m jog recoveries.  At this point, Frasier decides he has had enough and puts the pedal down to disappear into the distance.
  • 800m at 1 Mile Race pace into a stiff Headwind with 5 minute jog recovery (and Honeybee goes off to find a tree, but finds a Marathon instead)
  • 300m at F-pace, 5 minute jog recovery
  • 2 x 200m at 1 Mile Race pace with 200m jog recoveries (Honeybee doesn’t finish the Marathon, just destroys it, and rejoins at some point to hop in on a 200)
  • Let PAX decide, more Hill or more Headwind on next 800?  Decision is more hill.
  • 800m at 1 Mile Race pace downwind with 5min jog recovery
  • 300m at F-pace, 4 minute jog recovery
  • Time check, Running short for full 3rd set, so
  • 200m at 1 Mile Race pace, head back to COT

The Moleskin:

  • Small and subdued bunch at the Swift today.  With OneNiner and Ringer off OCRing with their mates, with Haggis pushing something out of his lungs after a week in Loch Land, and with a Bunker having gone underground, there were no PAX to trick JRR Tolkien anyone into an excessive pace.  That, or we all feared the 800m.  It was nothing to be trifled with.  The 800m at any pace is a good test of speed, but at the 1mile Race Pace, it hurts.  Forget comfort for the 2nd half of it if you are doing it right.  Just remember to breathe through the tiny passages that aren’t inflamed by allergies and you’ll possibly find your breath at some point after stopping.  Can’t wait for 2 more weeks!
  • But, we did have Bounty Hunter running by feel and getting in the groove.
  • Was it just YHC, or did Cheddar finally figure out a car key strategy instead of carrying the whole key house, car, in-laws, office, and locker key chain in his pocket?  Not much jingle this morning.
  • Strange Brew sporting the summer cut, which also must make him more aero.  That, and the skin tight running top to show off the slimmer Brew these days.
  • Fire Hazard, who can always be counted on to keep the conversation going at any function, is making a habit of this Swift thing.  Also, by his Strava posting https://www.strava.com/activities/536315448/laps is showing that Garmin finally figured out how to do Strava friendly laps with the Fenix3 – upgrade time!

Announcements:

  • 1 mile Time Trial in 2 weeks.  0515 start time at Community House Middle School.  Open invite to any workout that day, not just ones that have “Running” as ^part^ of their description.
  • Fast 5 relay – The Fort in late May on a Saturday afternoon – 5K distance run in relay fashion with up to 5 PAX.  Must include a Clydesdale (200 lbs plus) or Respect (50 and older) as one of the PAX on your team.  Going to be a big 2nd F event afterwards, and would love to have some burgers with the First Losers from SOBLand. #DefendingChamps

Tour De Park

As I said on Twitter, keep Drop Thrill in your prayers as he is recovering from a re-injured back. With that he had to back out of Qing Thrive so here is your friendly neighborhood Hair Band to take over.

#HairbandMile

COP
SSH X 25
Merkins X 10
Mountain Climbers X 10
Imperial Walker X 15

The Thang

Tour De Park… (Sounds more confusing on paper than it really was)
Partner up, this will all be done together.
– 100 dips combined on benches under the cover
– Run out and to the right, up the stairs to the road – 100 Merkins combined
– Run to the corner and 100 Flutter
– Run to tree after 2nd large light (just over halfway) bear crawl down hill, bear crawl back up, then     100 LBCs combined
– Run to corner and Lunge Walk to 2nd peninsula
– Run to last corner back at parking lot and 100 combined squats using kettlebell or sandbag
– Plank at gate until all are done.

Run to bathroom building and grab some wall for peoples chair, knees 90 degrees, hands out in front of you, hold it… drop an inch and hold it…. Recover!
5 Burpees OYO! I heard mumble chatter about this not being recovery… You had about 5 seconds before we started the burpees so that was your recovery, you’re welcome.
Back on the wall with 50 air presses this time, recover!
5 Burpees OYO
Back to the wall with BTWs (Wait, it’s really BTTW)! Recover and by popular demand, we Nomad asked for it…
5 Burpees OYO!

To the picnic tables 20 incline merkins, 20 stepups,  Repeato! Honestly things are getting fuzzy now. Speilburg departed around this time.

back out to the parking lot and 20 incline Merkins on the curb, 20 decline Merkins and 10 Carolina Dry Docs, repeato!

Over to the gear and grab a sandbag or kettlebell for a multipart motion.
Grab your gear and the motion goes like this, goodmorning (deadlift) to curl to overhead press to tricep extension and back to the ground. Do 20 of those, run to the gate and back and repeato!

Makhtar N’Diayes 10 right, 10 left

6MOM

Flutter x 20
Dolly x 20
Rosalita x 20ish pitiful counting, we had American, Spanish, German but it all sounded like gibberish
Protractor 90, 45, 90, 45, 10, 45, 10, 45

DONE!

Moleskin

Good group out there considering we were missing some regulars this morning. When DT said he needed to bail on the Q for his back I knew I wanted to do the Tour De Park but honestly I thought we would have time for 2 rounds, and we probably would have if I didn’t have us on the wall so long and after that it was pretty much just a big fat audible. Everyone seemed to think it was a solid beatdown anyway considering it was a little last minute with DT needing to bail, so I am glad.

Announcements

Mudrun in China Grove, Shepherd to send out more info
Patriot Run on Memorial Day

Keep Speilburg’s M. in your prayers as she gets a procedure done on her shoulder.