Grippy

Grippy

When Stone Cold asks you to co-Q what he really means is, “I don’t want to write a backblast on a Saturday.”  And so he isn’t. And I am.  The nine of us paired up in threes for stations:

  • STATION 1:  Prowler (timer) / Body Bag / Farmer walk 48+32 (from the tips) or 32+28 (ladies tees)
  • STATION 2: Box jump / voo doo push ups / dumb bell press
  • STATION 3: Fire hose drag / Extinguisher squats or presses / med ball merkins

Three rotations through to get everyone a turn on the Prowler, then run a mile. Repeat x2 until Angry Mary by Runstopper.

COT

MOLESKINE

  • The lack of low bar Prowler movement had some blaming their treadless shoes, rather than where blame really lay (lie, lain, lye): their muscle-less arse.
  • Gummy Got Back, though. He didn’t carry the Prowler, but he pushed it like a hoss.  The only low bar for the out AND the back.  Lots of courtesy turns for the rest of the Pax.
  • Hopper came in looking like a castaway.  Was stuck on a raft for three weeks drifting from Cape Cod to Hilton Head.
  • Kotters to Backdraft and the thousand pounds of retired fire gear in the back of his truck.  If you need hoses or old fire extinguishers, he’s your man.
  • Good to see Deep Dish; then almost immediately forget he was ever there. Saw him later in the day and asked where he was this morning.  Sorry, dude.
  • Need to dial up the LBs for Abba the next time. Too easy.
  • Flutie Flakes most likely put in an exceptional effort, but it went entirely unnoticed and I’ll just go ahead and admit that right here.
  • He’s Runstopper on Saturdays and StopRunner on Sundays (#Galloway).
  • Stone Cold celebrated the first day of his 44th year by debuting some kind of seat condom that he was WAY too excited about.  “It’s grippy on the bottom and don’t slide or nuttin’.”  Kind of like the Prowler.

 

 

Foxhole Pre-blast: The KB Pentathlon

Tomorrow, YHC is planning on administering the KB Pentathlon introduced by TIger Rag on March 9th and repeated by Brown at Meathead on March 12th:

  • 1H Swings x 6 min.  3 min recovery
  • Snatch x 6 min.  3 min recovery
  • Press x 6 min. 3 min recovery
  • Clean x 6 min. 3 min recovery
  • Racked Squat x 6 min. 3 min recovery

Score = (#Reps) x (Adjusted KB Size)   where Adj. KB Size = Wt of Bell (in kg) / 8.

EX:  100 swings with a 24 kg bell = (100 reps) x (24 kg / 8) = 300 pts.

Spreadsheet is HERE if you want it.  We’ll need every minute to finish on time so come early to warm up as needed.

YHC has been looking forward to doing the KB pentathlon since missing it in March due to work travel. Unfortunately, my cold has turned into a fever and my M is starting to use hurtful words to describe my mental faculties if I post tomorrow morning. If anyone can step up and administer the KB pentathlon in my absence, I’d appreciate it. Otherwise, I will show up and clipboard the workout. #Cobains for the short notice, but I was hoping things would get better instead of worse.

Thanks,

Voodoo

Well, that was challenging

10 strapping young(ish) men met at Elizabeth Lane Elementary on Saturday to challenge themselves and get stronger.

Warm up:

Bring KBs to main lot.

  • Run to sidewalk and back.
  • 25 SSH IC
  • 20 IW IC
  • 25 2H swings OYO

The Thang:

The Challenge:

1) 50 Clean and Press (switch sides as needed)

5 burpees (10 if you’re Bulldog)

Run a lap

2) 50 goblet squats

10 merkins

Run a lap

3) 100 2-handed wings

15 Carolina Dry Docks

Run a lap

4) 50 snatches (switch sides as needed)

5 burpees (10 if you’re Bulldog)

Run a lap

5) 50 Russian twists (each side = 1)

10 merkins

Run a lap

6) 50 high pulls (switch sides as needed)

15 Carolina Dry Docks

Run a lap

7) 50 2-handed OH press

5 burpees (10 if you’re Bulldog)

Run a lap

Mosey to parking lot for X Marks the spot:

7-8 sidewalk chalk Xs were around the edge of the lot, ~20 feet apart.  Carry bells overhead, alternating from left side to right side between each X.

Rotate through exercises at each X: 10 swings, 10 merkins, 10 flutter kicks with KB press.

Stop at the school and overhead carry bells back to start.

Cool down:

Head back to cars for swings until time is up/until this song is over/until the Q calls time.

NMM:

I really “like” this workout, which Young Love first exposed me to at Skunkworks last May (I think). I’ve brought it out at Meathead (violating the 0.0 rule – my bad), but it’s tough to finish all of the exercises in 45 minutes. Olympus seemed like the perfect workout for it. A lot of KB work with some body weight and running mixed in.

Just about all of the Pax Larry Birded the Q throughout most of the workout, but the prime offender (as expected) was Bulldog. As a result, he was saddled with 2x the burpees, but even that didn’t stop him from lapping YHC more than once. I’ll just blame it on the cold or whatever I’m fighting…

Welcome to FNG Destiny (Mike K.), the IT director at Calvary Church and prostate cancer fighter. Mike was diagnosed around Thanksgiving, so keep him in your prayers.

T-claps to Witch Doctor, a recent FNG who posted at his sixth workout this week. Strong work.

Announcements:

1) Mud run sign ups are open. Please see the official pre-blast and start getting your team together. The race is 10/24 and is supposed to be a great time (this will be YHC’s first time, so I am basing this on what others have said).

2) Come on out to Foxhole tomorrow for the KB pentathlon. Pre-blast is coming tonight.

Please chime in with any additional announcements I forgot in my O2 deprivation.

 

What time do we start?

Posted on behalf of Goon. Thank you for stepping up and taking the Q!

A quartet of cheery PAX followed YHC for an appropriately moderate all-around sweat.

The Thang:
1 lap around the track, then 15 SSH. Another lap, then 15 IW. Another lap, then 10 Merkins. Another lap, then 10 Dolly/10 Flutter. Yet another lap ending with a brief plankorama.
To the wall for some People’s Chair with 2 x 25 arm raises

Mosey to the small field, square up, and enjoy: Jack Webb (5 -> 1), 15 LBCs, 2 x 10 Arm Circles, 10 Mason Twist, 10 Freddie Mercury, 10 Rosalita/10 Flutter

Then off to the concession area for 3 sets of: 10 step ups (5 each leg), 10 dips, 15 LBCs

Mosey to the gridiron for the mini-Beast: 5 reps every 10 yards (from Goal line to 50 yard line) walking recovery back to Goal line in between each rep: CCV-Left, CCV-Right, Low Squats, LBC-Left, LBC-Right. The PAX really enjoyed dropping and getting up 25 during this enjoyable part of the Thang.

Back against the wall for more People’s Chair another 2 x 25 arm raises. Mosey to the playground for 3 sets of: 5 pullups, 5 merkins

Back to the small field for some mega-grunting a.k.a. 10 partner Leg Throws (Left/Center/Right). Square up again and recover doing: 10 Clamshell-Left, 10 Clamshell-Right, 10 Dolly, 10 Flutter, 10 LBCs, and a final visit from Jack Webb (5 -> 1). One last transfer of back sweat to the brick wall with more Chair with arm raises.
Enough.

A very docile group we were, with minimal mumblechatter. Solid performances (as usual) by Daisy, Sony, and Heisenberg. Both highlight and lowlight was Upstate showing up at 7:55am all proud he was 5 minutes early for the workout. The only flaw in his daily plan was the wrong start time. As penance, he gladly took us out

8/22/15 Workout [I’ve Run Out of Ideas for Workout Titles]

10 men worked out and this is what they did:

Joker on Q
Warm up 1/4 mile

Standard warm up – SSH, IW, Squat, Merkin, LBC

Parking lot leg warm up – shuffle; karaoke right; karaoke left; back pedal

Joker’s 800 meter run [which we think is closer to 1,000 to 1,100 meters]

Circuit work on playground – pull ups, dips, squats and some plank mixed in

Lunge walk and people’s chair with air presses

Huggie on Q:
Mosey to center pole in the newly landscaped field
Three pole Starfish –
Phase 1
Center – 10 squats
1st pole – 10 lunges
2nd pole – 15 jump squats
3rd pole – 15 Carolina dry docks

Phase 2
Center – 10 merkins
1st pole – 10 wide arm merkins
2nd pole – 10 diamond merkins
3rd pole – 10 hand release merkins

Mosey to rock pile for a “lifting rock” – circle up with your rock on the field
Each PAX calls out a rock based exercise for the group to do while the caller runs two laps around the circle
Curls, Squats, Rock burpees, Greg Louganis, Shoulder presses, merkins on your rock, run to the pole (w/o your rock), hold your rock prone, tricep extensions.

Mosey to back playground with the stumps for some circuit work –
15 jump ups or step ups
15 tire jumps
20 donkey kicks on the wall

Mosey back to the parking lot, circle up, and on your six for some Mary –
15 x Flutters
20 x LBCs
20 x Back scratchers
Protractor
///

Moleskine

  • Floor Slapper is back to his old ways… rolling in right at 7AM… but we will cut him some slack because he’s been a beast the past three months
  • Cold Cuts got a bit ahead of himself on the starfish exercise, jumping the gun before doing the required exercise… gotta keep your eye on that guy
  • Pop Tart was sleeveless today, sporting a new tattoo.  It’s abstract art work, but has various family initials incorporated into the design.  Thumbs up from the PAX.
  • Lobster Roll had a to throw in a few rock burpees today, just because he could.  I bet he does burpees during conference call in the office, during New England Patriots games, while waiting in line at the DMV, etc.
  • Welcome to Honey Do… a brave FNG who just showed up based on a reference from a friend.

The Rabbit

It was a nice morning with lower humidity and temps compared to the last few days.  Eight men decided to come out and experience Beaker’s virgin Q.  The topic of conversation all morning was about a rabbit that was found when three of the #F3DayZero faithful found upon their secret, prerun.

There was no disclaimer given because you already know what you are getting into when you enter the jungle.

Beaker has the first half of the Q and he started out like a veteran.

COP

SSH x15 IC
IW x15 IC
Indian Run from school up Carswell to Bevington then right on Baybrook and into parking lot of Tuesday morning.
Suicides in parking lot with 10 merkins, 5 Burpees and 10 merkins then back to start.
Indian run opposite of the way we came into lot and head back to school.
Grab a lifting rock circle up in basketball courts for:
15 3-count curls
15 overhead press
10 burpess oyo
15 3-count curls
15 overhead press
20 merkins oyo
drop off rock.
run around track
grab some wall for peoples chair with arms out in front
then arms up
25 air press
hands out in front.

Second half Frasier

Directions were given to find a partner with the opposite end of the spectrum in speed and pick a running rock.  We headed back over to the Yellow Rose parking lot for some four corners.  Since the BRR is less than three weeks away and all but one in our midst are doing the BRR we kept with the theme of running.

You and your partner runs to the end of each intersection in counter clockwise fashion.  Once the first partner gets to the intersection they turn around and collect their partner until you reach the intersection again.  The faster partner runs with the rock.  At each intersection you do ten of the called exercises.  First corner was ten hand released merkins, second corner ten 180 jump squats, 10 toe tap crunches, finish up with ten hand release merkins.

Rinse and repeat but this time no partners and no rocks.  AYG to each corner and then turn around and collect the six.  Same exercises as before.

Go back to collect the rocks and return to the basketball court for some partner work.  You and your partner does fifty pull ups, 100 merkins and 200 LBCs with the rock.

Throw your rock back and end with three Mary exercises to ten.  Flutter, Freddie Mercury and American Hammer.

Done!  Although some ended sooner than when time was called.

Moleskin:

Thumper was the theme of the morning and there was much discussion about how it might be doing, what should have been done and  if we should go back.  Semi Gloss took the lead on the prerun and made the decision to save the critter.  Radar believes in survival of the fitness and had no interest in helping.  Hairball was too focused on his softball game to probably pay attention to either what Radar or Semi Gloss were saying on their prerun.

Radar was in his normal supportive mood.  #Uplifter, #BeaconofLight.  He brings the balance to the dynamics.

Semi Gloss continues to look more and more like a runner.  I appreciated the offer from SG to rub out a cramp in his glute on the second half of the run.

Dear Abby is always strong, it helps to be in your twenties, and rips through every exercise.

The Swede pushes every week and it is easy to see how going to #F3FastTwitch and #F3DayZero has helped with his stamina.  Keep it coming.  BRR ready next year.

Strawberry despite acting like he hates running was consistently out front trying to chase down Dear Abby in the partner exercises.  For a man that does not like to run you do it well.

Hairball like a true site Q noticed Radar’s sandbag attempt and did not fall into the trap.  You can tell that the new site Qs do not even remember or pay attention to their elders.  #AllGrownUp.

Beaker brought it on his first Q.  A nice mix of running and hard exercises.  He was able to keep his cadence despite a lot of mumble chatter about thumper during COT.  Nice work and now you are in the rotation.

A couple of shout outs from the over fifty/sixty crowd of women this morning.  Not sure how to take that but I know it makes my wife jealous when I tell her about some lionesses on the prowl.  We really needed Haze so he could be getting digits.

Announcements:

Sign up for the mudrun and let Mermaid know when you do.

Run in the morning at 6:30 at the Arbo for a few BRR teams.  Come on out.

Appreciate the opportunity to lead and fun banter.  Nothing more guys than making fun of each other and passing gas as an old woman walks by (Radar).

There will probably be a prerun next Saturday morning but you probably won’t be invited.

Out!

Bum deal

A lucky break in the weather didn’t bring any luck in the cards to the 19 Pax assembled in front of Sun Valley Middle this morning. Here’s how it went down:

Mosey to flag hill for COP
SSH-25
IW-25
Windmill-25
Slerkin-25 (slow low Merkin)

Mosey to practice FB field and circle up. Disclaimer given, then YHC pulled out a deck of standard playing cards, shuffled and ready to use.
Count = # on card, Faces=10, Aces=11, Joker=10-count
Hearts = Burpies
Diamonds = Merkins
Spades = Dead Bug (each side=1) (more on this later)
Clubs = Lunge walk (R+L=1)

Slow mosey to elementary school playground for some pullups/LBC ladders: split up so half starting on six, half on bars, then 2 pullups/2 LBCs, 4/4, 6/6, 8/8, 10/10 and back down to 2/2.

Indian Run back to parking lot for some Mary.
Flutter-25
Freddie Mercury-20
Dolly-25

Time up, but Q called bonus: 10 SmurfJacks, Civilian Count.

COT/Announcements:
BRR needs drivers – talk to guys going for details
Fall Mud Run (Oct 24) signup live – search F3Nation.com and follow links.
Young Life Mud Run 9/19 @ Whitewater Center – competitive and noncompetitive heats, great for kids and M’s

Moleskin:
Welcome to Good Luck from Asheville. Great to see brothers from other regions across the F3 Nation.
Also great to meet Big Trade’s 2.0, and newest F3 member, Spike. Hope we see you out here often.

YHC had another entire round of activities planned, but underestimated the time needed to get through 52 cards of pain. It won’t go to waste, I promise. Think of the Smurgjacks as a preview of coming detractions.

The randomness of YHC’s card deck shuffle was questioned by all, including YHC. Urkel (aka Glass Joe) calculated the odds at less than 3.14%. He also calculated the number of each exercise at 96 (YHC had to use a calculator last night, twice.) Number of cards also questioned – definitely felt like more than 52. Apparently some of the PAX heard that each Dead Bug was half count, so that “1” was R+L, but YHC stands by his assertion that instructions at beginning of cards was for Dead Bug single count and Clubs was the only R+L=1. Step forward (comments) to claim your bonus points/not listing penalties.

Good takeout by Horse Head.

Thank you for the privilege of leading.

Are we ever going to hit 5 miles????

The Thang….

With mud run and the BRR looming YHC decided that the only way to satisfy the loyal Brave constituents would be to put at least 5 miles in today. The only key is that we dont stop moving if you finish first you start an exercise.

We set off from the Vine and headed towards the corporate parking lot out and to the right. There we had the COP.

20 – SSH

15 – IW

15 – Merkins

We then set-off to Ballantyne Park Way and took a right. We headed down to Rushmore and headed toward the Bull Ring. On the way we took a quick stop at the first pond on the left for some bear crawl, lunges and more bear crawl. First one done starts the Mary and we finished once the 6 had joined.

Then keep moseying to the Bull Ring, but on the way stop at the pond on the right. Head to the top of the hill for 10 merkins then to the bottom for 10 squats. Then run a lap around the pond. All this times 2.

Then to the actual bull ring. there we will complete 10 6 count burpees in cadence at three of the four buildings. Then off to the bridge towards the Met Life Parking garage. Stop at the bridge for some peoples chair and shoulder work. Then we are off again.

Do the Tree Slalom on the way then up the parking deck with some Mary at the bottom. Run to the top. This is where we had our only 10 count then back down the deck and some more Mary. Then off to the AO the same way we came. cut through by Loch Ness. This is where YHC realized that we were not going to make my 5 mile goal. So how do we fix that? With a quick lap around the loch. Then head to the AO. Still not quite at 5 miles so we have to run around the roundabout and back to the AO. Ohhhhh man, we are still not at 5 miles. So we do a lap around the cars and hit the 5 mile mark.

Luckily we had 2 minutes left for Mary.

Everyone pushed hard on this one. I really appreciate the chance to lead these fine men. Thank you Mic Check, Haggis and Cable Guy. They were continuously in front of me and lead the exercises while we were waiting. I was pretty smoked for the rest of the day. I hope you were too.

Go to Hills. Run. or Run.stop.Run

At 0515 on Thursday morning, 22 PAX launched from the 4Mile Creek parking area at Bevington and Rea Rd.  2 more PAX rolled in after COT, but we’ll count them despite their aversion for inclusion – 24 PAX total at this weekly installment of DevilsTurn.

The THANG:

  • Quick overview that it’s Piper Glen Hill week.  There will be something special, so regroup at the neighborhood entrance.
  • Start the first mile through the Apartment loop
  • Regroup just past 1mile at the entrance to Piper Glen
  • Here are the options:
    1. Run at Threshold Pace (http://runsmartproject.com/calculator) for 1 mile on the course of your choosing.  There will be a tiny non-reflective orange cone in the darkest shadow in the left gutter or the road to mark 1 mile.  Rest for 1:00 (or up to 1:30 to allow regrouping with others), then repeato to next cone.  There are five 1 mile segments on the 6.5mile course.  There are three 1 mile segments on the 6mile course.  There are two 1 mile segments on the 4mile course.
    2. Run at Marathon pace on the course of your choosing.
  • After your last 1mile segment, cooldown to COT at 0615.

Moleskin:

  • HoneyBee has done an admirable job sacrificing his own run by putting out turn signals for this course via chalk arrows on the road each week.  However, this is a tiresome process that YHC didn’t want to engage in (or get mounted by Mr. Brady).  Instead, we took a leap forward with technology to compensate.  Jury is out if the maps are helpful or the format needs to be redone (smaller paper, laminated, better descriptions, etc.).
  • Here are all of the routes in a single document – Google Doc download.  Here are the Strava courses:
    • 4mile course in Strava – an update to the past 4mile course that makes this 4+ miles.  Includes an extra hill.
    • 6mile course – the traditional Piper Glen course that HB has chalked out dozens of times. It’s really only 5.9 miles, but who’s counting (other than Outback and MT who made sure to get some extra).
    • 6.5mile “double hill” course – hill climbers get the Piper Glen Dr hill
  • A strong group of Frasier, Mr. Brady, Bout Time, Honey Bee, and Clippy took on Option 1 – at least mostly.  Each 1 mile was ticking off in 6:00 to 6:30 per mile.  Apparently Mr. Brady doesn’t like to wait around for a minute and induced others to walk into the next mile.  Or, the Q didn’t explain it well.  Basically, we were setting out to run five 1 mile Threshold pace intervals and get no more than 1:30 rest (standing around if you want) in between.  The 1-1:30 rest gives some flexibility, otherwise you’re going to be running these on your own as each runner finishes 1mile at different times.  In then end, only Frasier and Clippy took on all five 1mile intervals.  Not to blame it on Mr. Brady (but he’s getting a lot of facetime in this BB), but when he said, “you guys go ahead” just after starting the 5th interval, the other part of the group hung back with him and took a little off the throttle on the last one.  #mindgames
  • Haggis tore into the first mile, but was having none of the format.  Still finished well ahead of the first Option 1 group, so he was moving out there.
  • Not sure how many others took on the Option 1 either due to lack of explanation, lack of finding the cones or having the distance on their watch, but this was a tough morning to run – hills never change but the 73 degrees F and 94% humidity wasn’t helping.  Comparing this to last week when it was 66 degrees F and 78% humidity.  Any improvements or close efforts to last week would have been HUGE!  Given the stop at the Entrance to the neighborhood, it gave all PAX a chance to CHARGE in on Old Course and set some PRs.
  • Notables were several PAX at least taking the 6 mile option including Huggy Bear, Semi Gloss, Strange Brew, Hairball (with some bonus hills on his own course), Champagne, Cheese Curd (at least he took a 6mile map) and OutbackTussaud (they run so close to each other, they are a couple now – sorry Mr. Bean).  Some others may have run it, but if you’re not on Strava, it’s hard to prove!
  • Suggestions for next time to put blinky lights on the Mile Markers are a really good option, and surely the early morning dog walkers won’t call the PiperGlen Rent-a-cops thinking that someone wants to blow up their mailbox or is marking the next house to “hit”.
  • YHC appreciates everyone pushing themselves and those that took on the Option to try something different even though it may have seemed like a Run/Walk.  Thank you to HoneyBee and LongHaul for the opportunity.
  • Thanks to Long Haul for the takeout.  It’s great seeing you back out there brother!

The Lost Boys

Here’s how this one went down:
Sunday – Thursday night – the PAX and YHC ignore all messages that Jevlar was going back to CCS
Friday AM:
05?? – Blazing Saddles rolls into ArboABC lot listening to who knows what
0522 – YHC rolls into the same lot and seeing only 1 car, thinks “I should have looked at twitter last night”
0522-0528 – Blazing Saddles and YHC talk about how we were clearly in the wrong place and that construction must be done at Joust or Kevlar
0529 – Lex Luther and Balky roll in and double our numbers. Lex mentions that we are the Lost Boys and the workout has a name
0531 – we roll out a minute late into the gloom

The Thang:
Mosey to the park for some COP:
All Exercises IC:
SSH
IW
Mtn Climber
Merkins

Mosey to the hill on the road for some Triple Nickel – from Stop Sign to 1st Speed Bump, Merkins at the bottom and Squats at the top

Mosey to the small parking lot for some 7’s – lunges and decline merkins at the top of the hill

Back to the field for some Mary: LBC’s Flutter, Russian Twist, Flutter, Heels to Heaven, Flutter, Sit Ups, Flutter (with rotating Q for the non-flutter exercises)

Mosey to the back parking barriers for a quick circuit – 10 steps ups, 10 dips, run to building and back x3

Mosey to the back wall for some Peoples Chair, Arm Raises with Calf raise recovery on the curb

Finish up with 3x AYG in the parking lot

Moleskine:
1) Balky and Lex had the wheels on the AYG at the end
2) Blazing Saddles was strong out there for just being out a short time. Was asking about Saturday workouts so look for more from him
3) I’ve been solo sad clown due to work travel and vacation since 8/10 and it was great to be back with the PAX
4) It’s back to school time and a good reminder to all the PAX that #ReadingIsFundamental
5) Always an privilege to lead