Preblast: Anvil fitness test (round 1)

Preblast: Anvil fitness test (round 1)

In the spirit of Iron Sharpens Iron we will be assessing our fitness levels tomorrow at Anvil.  Metro’s Jungle has had these recently and I thought we should bring this to A51.

YHC will be the Q leading you in several events to gauge where you currently stand.  This is you versus you, so come out with the aim to work hard to push yourself to the limit.  We will all be better for it.  The plan is to revisit this same workout periodically to determine our strides (or regressions).

In order to determine where you are physically you must have measurable achievements.  Then you take those metrics as your baseline and push each and every day to blow past them!

**Bring a watch and/or phone for timing and record-keeping.**

  • Test:
    • Max pull-ups
    • Timed mile
    • Max hand-clap merkins
    • Max military sit-ups (2 mins)
    • Timed sprint
    • Max burpees (2 mins)
    • Max box jumps (2 mins)
    • Plank hold (2 mins – proper form!)

Watch out for the sprinklers…

The Thang…

Warm up with 2 laps around Loch Ness and as an added bonus a little practice bobbing and weaving around the sprinklers.

3 exercise stations

Station 1 – One man punches the other man catches the punches

Station 2 – One man punches the other man catches the punches

Station 3 – One man runs Loch Ness, the other man does abs with or without the medicine ball

Every 2:30 rotate one spot around.

At 6 o’clock, I thought it would be prudent to practice getting up after we get knocked down. So we did 10 burpees OYO and ran around Loch Ness one more time heading back to the 6 to finish together.

Then we packed-up and headed to the parking lot for some Mary. From what I remember this is how it went: 30 LBCs, 25 Flutters, 25 WWIIs, 25 Rosalitas, and 25 Dollys.

Wild Turkey and Curbie have become mainstays and we welcomed in Gecko and Linus for their first round of fight club. Twister was back again and throwing a really hard right cross at YHC.

It was a pleasure to lead this fine group of men.

12 x 12s for the Lucky 5

5 PAX posted at McKee Rd Elementary for another Saturday edition of Area 51.  Shovel flag was planted firmly in the soil by the picnic tables and quick abbreviated version of disclaimer was provided to experienced group before we headed out for another 60 minutes of fun.  First 4 headed out at 0700 and then we circled the lot to allow O’Tannenbaum to join us.  Headed over to the track and ran a lap with some high knees and butt kickers worked in for good measure.  Circled up on the track infield for COP:

  • SSH x 25 IC
  • IW x 25 IC
  • Squats x 15 IC
  • Merkins x 15 IC
  • MC x 25 IC

With warm-up complete, YHC led PAX back to his car near launch point and opened up trunk to reveal 12 x 12 pavers for all.  Each PAX member was instructed to take 1 paver to be carried with them the rest of the work-out.  With that we headed over to the soccer fields and lined up along the sideline near the sidewalk.  Instruction was given to complete 3 exercises with the paver and then complete called movement (approx 25-30 yards) with jog back.

  • Rd 1 – Paver Curls x 5, Paver Presses x 5, Goblet Squats x 5, Bear crawl out, jog it back
  • Rd 2 – Paver Curls x 10, Paver Presses x 10, Goblet Squats x 10, Crab walk out, jog it back
  • Rd 3 – Paver Curls x 15, Paver Presses x 15, Goblet Squats x 15, Broad jump out, jog it back
  • Rd 4 – Paver Curls x 10, Paver Presses x 10, Goblet Squats x 10, Lunge walk out, jog it back
  • Rd 5 – Paver Curls x 5, Paver Presses x 5, Goblet Squats x 5, Bear Crawl out, Crab Walk back
  • Mixed in various Plank (RHH, LHH, RH back pocket, LH back pocket, elbows, etc) between each round.

Mosey over to playground at front of school with paver in tow.  Complete the following:

  • Pull-ups x 10, Weighted Dips (paver in lap) x 20, Goblet Squats x 20
  • Rinse & repeat x 2

With 1st half in the books, we headed over to front of the school for session of People’s Chair:

  • PC x 60 secs, with Paver extended out front & then overhead for Presses x 15
  • Lunge walk to sidewalk
  • PC x 75 secs, with Paver presses in and out & then held overhead
  • Lunge walk to sidewalk

Time to get moving again, so we took our pavers and headed back down to the track infield for a couple rounds of suicide ladder.

  • Rd 1 – Paver curl x 5, run suicide to 1st tree & back, Paver curl x 10, run suicide to 2nd tree & back, Paver curl x 15, run suicide to 3rd tree & back
  • Rd 2 – Tricep Extensions x 5, 10, 15 w/ suicides
  • Rd 3 – Mason twist w/ paver x 5, 10, 15 w/ suicides

Caught our breath and then we mosied around the back of the school and made our way to the stumps at the NC Historical Landmarks area for another round of circuit work:

  • Rd 1 – 10 Jump-ups/Step-ups, 20 Paver Presses, 10 Tire Hops
  • Rinse & repeat x 2

A little time left on the clock, so we circled up on the grass for 3 MOM:

  • Dolly x 20 IC, with Paver held high
  • Flutter x 20 IC, with Paver held high
  • LBC w/ paver x 20 IC
  • Mason Twist w/ paver x 15 IC

Grab your paver and return it to YHC’s trunk as that’s a wrap

COT

Moleskin:

  • Completing a little spring cleaning around the yard the last week or two and came across the 12 x 12 pavers that we were no longer in need of.  M has not sold them on Ballantyne Bargains yet, so thought they would make a nice addition to our work-out.
  • O’Tannenbaum wheeled in right at 0700, so we circled his car on our initial run in order to let him join us.  Thankfully, he did not get spooked and try to run us over.
  • Despite his late arrival, OT was pushing the pace throughout the morning.
  • Strong efforts by Squid and Huggie Bear on the bear crawl/crab walk/broad jump set as well as the suicide ladder.  Glad to see them out at Area 51 weekly.
  • Beaver made it back out despite spending quite a bit of time on the road lately with the job.  YHC was glad to have him join us as he kept me from claiming WD status once again.
  • Thanks to O’Tannenbaum for taking us out.

Announcements:

  • Check out the F3 website or weekly e-mail for additional information on “Death March”, to be held towards the end of May on the Booty Loop in Myers Park.
  • Area 51 will hold an event similar to the Metro’s “Goat”, which was held on 5/9.  Will be held the first part of August.  Event will hit many of the Area 51 AOs along the Hwy 51 corridor.  More news to follow in the weekly e-mails.
  • New moderate running work-out to be held at South Charlotte Middle School (site of Death Valley & Fast Twitch) on Fridays, beginning 6/5.  Caters to beginning, intermediate, advanced, and recovering runners.

 

Back in The Saddle

Aye!  15 tough brothers leapt into the humidity-filled gloom for a post at #Stonehenge.  YHC was Qing for the first time in a while and wanted it to be a good one.  I think YHC succeeded and all the pax got a great start to Saturday.

The Thang

Little baby jog to adjacent parking lot for COP.

COP
– Flutter kicks x 30
– Partner Burpees x 10
P1 does 10 Burpees while P2 watches to ensure proper form
– Partner Burpees x 10

Jog to Small Pond, keep partner from COP

Round 1:
P1: Run up hill, 10 Burpees, run down, 10 LBCs
Keep going until P2 complete
P2: Run two laps around lake
Plank until all pax complete

Round 2:
P1: Backward run up hill, 10 Merkins, run down, 10 Flutter Kicks
Continue until P2 complete
P2: Run two laps around lake

Jog to Field of Bulls, lunge walk interspersed along the way

Circle up for Mary

– LBC x 25
– Dolly x 20
– Flutter x 20

Form two lines for sprint relays
Sprint to last tree ( @ 30 yards), do 10 Merkins and sprint back
Pax do LBCs while you wait (switched to squats at half way point)
Continue until all pax in both lines are done

Mosey to stone marker for Rolling Merkin Relays – same teams as before
Rolling Merkin to Bulls, backward jog back #dizzy
Pax go LBCs, Merkins, Bicycles while you wait
Continue until both lines are done

Cross street to open field for Jack Webb
Jack Webb ladder up to 5

Run to Loch Ness
Ledge 1: LBCs on ledge x 25
Ledge 2: Flutter on ledge x 25

Run to Black Diamond Hill
Slide down to bottom, run up to top, 5 Merkins, slide back down
Run back up to top and jog to picnic tables
– Dips x 25

Jog back to Wells Fargo lot

Finish up with team sprint relays #crowdpleaser

COT

Moleskin:
– Great work by all the pax. It was honor to lead everyone again after an extended absence.
– YHC was smoked at the end as was most everyone else. #puddlesofsweat

Announcements:
– F3 Death March on May 29, details on website and weekly email
– New moderate running workout on Fridays at South Clt Middle School (Death Valley AO)

Tabata Torture

10 PAX got pumped this morning with a few tunes, a little tabata, and some doubles.

THE THANG

  • SSH x25
  • IW x20
  • enough…

Tabata — 2 minutes of work with 30 seconds rest (to the sounds of Pandora/Van Halen)

  • 1-Hand Swings, alternating
  • Snatch
  • Press
  • 2-Hand Swings
  • Clean
  • Squat

Rinse and repeat entire cycle.

Doubles — find a partner with like-sized bell; P1 lifts while P2 does x25 core work; flapjack

  • P1 = Double Swings,   P2 = sit-ups
  • P1 = Double Cleans,   P2 = Dolly
  • P1 = Double Press,   P2 = LBC
  • P1 = Double Squat,   P2 = Flutter
  • P1 = Double High Pull,   P2 = Freddy Mercury

Just enough time for:

  • Flutter Presses x15
  • Dying Cockroach w/Bell x10

NAKED MOLESKIN

YHC shamelessly stole this workout from a recent Fletch-Q’ed Meathead event. It turned out to be even harder than it looked on paper. The 2-minute work period seemed ten times as long as the 30-second rest period. The PAX pushed through, although there were a few groans when we began the tabata cycle for a second time.

The dynamic duo of Chanel and Brown again led the charge, swinging more weight for longer periods than most. Madame T always brings it, but I think he had special motivation today to buff up for his beach trip. Teddy really stepped up and showed YHC how to swing the double-45’s. Time for a new bell, Teddy.

Not much mumble-chatter throughout this workout, with the exception of Ol’ Man Frehley, who was on his usual game (you all know what I mean…).

It was an honor to lead.

Announcements:

  • SOB Happy Hour — Wednesday 5/20 6 – 8 p.m., Ducky’s Ballantyne
  • Foxhole will converge with BaseCamp and The Matrix for Memorial Day

I think we found the DMZ Lurker.

Shovel Flag, check.
Disclaimer, check.
Phone, check.
SSH, nope (due to the Plantar Fasciitis epidemic)

The Thang:
Partner Up and Circle Up
–Merkins x 20IC
–Flutter x 26IC

Run to Camilla, left on Thornridge, right on Broadhollow, left on Kimblewyck and stop at Kimblewyck/Hartmill Ct. intersection.
–Russian Twist x 15IC

7’s on Hartmill:
–Run to bottom of cul-de-sac for 6 diamonds, back up to intersection for 1 diamond (repeat until 1 and 6)
–LBC x 25IC
–Heels to Heaven x 25IC

Run back down Kimblewyck to Broadhollow.
–Stop at each street light (right and left side) and stop sign for 5 HR-merkins (4 total stops)

Partner work on Broadhollow:
–Partner 1 runs left to bottom of cul-de-sac and does 5 burpees, Partner 2 runs to top of hill at Broadhollow/Thornridge intersection for 5 burpees. Do 20 derkins each when you meet back at Kimblewyck/Broadhollow intersection.
–Flapjack and repeat x 5 but count down burpees by 1 (5, 4, 3, 2, and 1)
–Plank exercises (RH, LH, LL, and RL high)
–Knee-up x 20IC

Backwards run up Broadhollow to Thornridge
–Wide arm x 10IC

Backwards run up Thornridge to Camilla
–Freddy Mercury x 10IC (CAR!)

AYG back to park

10 Burpees OYO
Flutter x 30IC

Moleskine:
I hate running uphill and I’m not good at it. So, we just ran up and down hills the entire time #BRR. Hartmill is horrible. It gets my vote as the DMZ lurker. That bad boy is long (.11 one way) and it doesn’t stop climbing. Kirk complained it was too long for 7’s but then blew everyone away. One Eye, Brushback, and Hops pushing the pace on Hartmill as well.

Simba was in Combat Mode.

Gummy talked a lot. Also, he graciously kept tracked of all the flutters we did this morning.

Lots of high-fives out there today. I like it!

Busch was bored with all the planks after running, so he just did diamonds. #Overachiever

The Broadhollow circuit was fun. Nothing like knocking out 100 derkins whilst running.

Running backwards uphill is 1) not fun and 2) never good idea. Unless your Hops. He finds another gear. He should probably run the BRR backwards.

Our FNG is from Louisville and his original name was Derby, then Derby Dayz (with a “z” of course), but Mint Julep was thrown out after we settled on Derby Dayz. I like Mint Julep better, so that is your name for all eternity.

Covered about 3.2 miles this morning with lots of merkin variations. Twas a good one.

Thanks to Hops for taking us out!

Announcements:

F3 Dads start in June at Francis Beatty Park.

A51 convergence this saturday, 5/23, at Day Zero. Gummy said the location is horrible but hopefully the workout will make up for it.

A51 convergence on Memorial Day (location TBD).

Another Runaround

14 men shook off the weekend to pound the pavement for a good mix of speed and push at The Matrix today

The Thang

CCW loop around lot and field intoto back lot for COP

COP

  • SSHx20
  • 20 merkins OYO
  • IW x15
  • 19 merkins OYO
  • Squats x15
  • 18 merkins OYO
  • Dollies x15
  • 17 merkins OYO
  • MCs x 15
  • 16 merkins OYO
  • Seal jacks x15
  • 15 merkins OYO

Mosey over to track

Partner up for The Runaround™
Partner 1 runs a suicide across field; at first ball 5 merkins; second ball 10 merkins; at other end, 15 merkins; While partner 1 runs suicide, partner 2 runs track; two laps
When partner 1 finishes wait for partner 2, then swap; plank when finished

 

Repeat above rotations with: 1) CDDs, then 2) burpees

Mosey to wall; sit; recover; 15 decline merkins OYO; lunge walk to curb;

Repeat above Runaround with LBCs

Circle up in center
Flutters x15
Jack Webb to 10/40

Mosey back to launch point; punt soccer balls and and AYG back from cones

Moleskine

  • Is it a full moon?   You know it’s going to be a busy week when Floor Slapper shows up early
  • Yes, Turkeys can fly (briefly):  Despite being launched into the sky on the “Blob” over the weekend, YHC seemed to land on two feet with just enough energy (and memory) to roll out to take the reins this morning
  • Witnessed the return of The Runaround™ today.  When in doubt for a weinke just create something that involves nonstop movement
  • Overall, quiet group today, what little mumble chatter we did have seemed to dissapate after the first runaround
  • CMD apparently couldn’t get enough today – almost kicked the ball (and take up the offer for the 25 extra burpees).   I’ll up the ante next time.
  • Great effort by all – sweaty bunch of dudes out there today
  • Awesome take-out by Header
  • Alf and Uncle Leo – thanks for the opportunity to take the reins at The Matrix

Announcements:

The Matrix will likely be closed next Monday for Memorial Day; convergence TBD. Watch twitter

“[The Wiggler] and golf are the two things you can enjoy even if you’re not good at them.”**

“[The Wiggler] and golf are the two things you can enjoy even if you’re not good at them.”**

Come enjoy The Wiggler!  5:30 am Tuesday – corner of Foxcroft and Rothwood – links pace…

 ** Roy ‘Tin Cup’ McAvoy

 

#Preblast #IronSharpeningIron

Swift will launch at 0515 from the Vine Restaurant at the Ballantyne AO.  Since it’s the 3rd Tuesday of the month this week, we’ll be initiating a new once per month “measurement” workout.  With the BRR on the Horizon, we’re shooting for increasing the Aerobic Power.  It will certainly come into play on any race event, especially a Mud Run or a BRR.  Check the video link (also embedded above) for more info on increasing Aerobic Power.  This will use Interval Pace, so make sure you find a target here – http://runsmartproject.com/calculator

Plan calls for:

  • Warm-up from the Vine over to the Bull Ring.  Drills and stuff at the Bull Ring.
  • The Workout – 800m at Interval-pace, 200m jog recovery.  As many Intervals as you can, but try for a minimum of 6.  Keep starting intervals until about 0605.
  • Since this is a measurement workout, we’re doing this in a format to keep the PAX in a known area that can be repeated without cones.  There will be natural splits among the PAX, so suggestions will be to have at least 2 PAX starting together in a pace group. Groups will likely form along 800m target times – 3:00 or under, 3:30 or under, 4:00 or under, etc.  Finish your 800m, jog slowly until your group rejoins, finish the 200m recovery, and start the next 800 together in the opposite direction.  Provide encouragement to PAX you see coming and going.
  • We’ll regroup and head back to the Vine by 0610.

Tour of Outland

Posted on behalf of “The Late Show”

After a 2 minute delay to download Map my run off we go to the MS courtyard for the warmup and obligatory SSH. Do some windmills and then rail slides. Done.

Let the Tour begin.

Cruise to ES #1 for people’s chair and handstand holds/push-ups. Repeato.

Cruise around to Rogers Rd and back to ES#2, hop the fence and UDTs and pull-ups. Repeato.

Hop the fence and around to the back of ES#1, stopping to taste test the honeysuckle growing in the fence. Lunge walk about 20 steps. Up and down the stairs to nowhere 1/2 dozen times (inspired by CT to “keep the heart rate up”).

Electric Merkin slides across the driveway. Regular, slide to wide, slide to diamond, back to regular.

Down the back road up to the baseball fields. Stop and hit 10 squats oyo.

Continue to the gate and plank it up. Completed LBCs, Peter Parkers, Freddie’s, plank shoulder taps. 20 each then mosey to rock pile.

Find a manly rock and (10) deadlifts. Over to the dip bars for (5) negative supine rows. Back to the rocks for (10) squat to oh press.

Off we go around toward the front of the high school with a (2) minute pause to stretch out hips and hammies. At the front we start 30/30s. Fast run/Mosey. Around the front and back down along the road to the front of the MS.

Done.

COT
No new announcements, thanks Game Show for taking us out with prayer.

Ye Olde Moleskin
Audible by YHC to download map my run went well. Would have been better if I knew how to operate it. All that to register a 0.0, ah well. Awesome work by Game Show on the pull-ups. Dude is beast. Pounded out his reps unassisted and then basically picked me up 10 times on my 2nd set.

There was some kind of run/walk event at the football field so the campus was pretty crowded. We had to dodge some cars and pedestrians.

We encountered a possible re-name event when rounding the HS. Running past parked cars I got spooked when some lady walked out in front of us. I spooked her too judging by the “omigosh a big sweaty hairy possum” look she gave me. Game Show got the “hey there Mr Eye Candy” look.

Oh well. I used to have it. But then they changed what it was, now what’s it seems scary and strange.

Strong work all around!