Long Haul’s Debut

Long Haul’s Debut

Twenty three brave men came out to brave the frigid, well not really, temps for Long Haul’s inaugural debut.  Time was called and off we went into the gloom of Stonecrest.  Circle up in front of the theater for the warm up.

The Thang:

SSH x 25

Squats x 25
IW x 25

Merkins x 25

Mosey to the Fountains and partner up.

partner 1 does step-ups while partner 2 runs around both buildings then flip flop

partner 1 does squats while partner 2 runs around both buildings then flip flop

partner 1 does derkins while partner 2 runs around both buildings then flip flop

plank up until all are back

Repeato all three exercises

Hand off to Frasier for the last fifteen minutes.

Line up on the main road for Stonecrest starting at Firebirds and running back towards the AO stopping at every light post on the right side for the called exercise.

First round: Hand release merkins x 5.  Plank at the end.

Second round: Russian twist x 10.  Six inches protractor called.

Third Round: CDD x 5.  Plank elbows/regular.

Fourth round: Hand release burpees x 2.  Six inches

Fifth round: AYG back to the AO.

That is it.

Moleskin: This was the first boot camp lead for Long Haul.  As we all know doing our first Q it can be intimidating but Long Haul made it look easy.  It was well organized and the Pax had no problems following.

We did however interupt some construction crew.  Next time we will incorporate the concrete blocks they were hauling out of there into the work out.

Solid effort out there by McGruber making a post from Raleigh.  Strong effort.  It was great seeing Mighty Mite back from out west and he is just as strong as ever.  Run Stopper and Strange Brew continue to great leaders and moral support for all of the Pax.  Big Tuna was always right behind the leaders and you can certainly see the changes since starting F3.  It will not be long till he is leading at #F3TheMaul.  Tutti continues to make strides coming back from his injury.  It is great seeing him out there each week.  All of our Respect Pax Puppy Love, Frehley’s Comet and Rip Curl show how to get it done each week.

Heartbreaker did not seem like he missed a beat despite taking over a week off.  Outback, Chiptole, Lugie, Crabcake and Madam Tussauds are the regulars at the #F3TheMaul and are constantly encouraging other Pax.

I was nice seeing a fairly new face The Commish and congrats to my neighbor Fire Hazard on making it out to his second post in a week.  I think we have a convert.

Finally Haggis was laying back until the end when AYG was called.  In typical Haggis fashion he went from taking it easy to full out competition mode.  It is nice to be able to turn it on and off when ever you want.

Sorry for the tardy back blast.

Preblast: Devil’s Turn Track Week

Yep, it’s track week at Devil’s Turn and yes, YHC is unabashedly utilizing the words of Bratwurst in this preblast.  Let’s face it, he writes better preblasts (and backblasts).  So here’s the deal:

DevilsTurn will be launching at 0515 on Thursday from the traditional 4 Mile Creek Greenway parking area on Bevington & Rea Rd.  We are headed to the South Charlotte Middle School track and back.

Per the weekly email this week, let’s have a pause for a safety message.  It will be dark and we will be running on public roads and on a dark track.  Wear headlamps, blinky lights, and sparkly night glow paraphernalia to avoid tripping, falling, or becoming road kill.  That concludes this safety message.

We will have a free-form workout this week where it is PAX choice.  In general, we will warm up a mile on the way out to the track, then accelerate into whatever pace you wish.  One suggestion is a 20-40min Threshold pace run as defined in the Pace Calculator at http://runsmartproject.com/calculator (instructions for the calculator at http://runsmartproject.com/calculator/instructions/).

Plan to leave the track in enough time to return to the parking lot by 6:10 for COT.  You do the math.

See you in the gloom men!

 

Donation Day

22 beasts, including 4 KB tossers, dealt with it and dominated life on this lovely Wednesday morning at DV

The Thang

Mosey across the lot for COP

20 rapid squats

20 SSH

30 sec clockwise plank walk – 30 second elbow plank – 30 sec counterclockwise plank walk – 30 second elbow plank

Mosey to pick up the new DV Donations – cinder blocks – Partner up and mosey down to the bleachers

Partner 1 – runs up path toward school, up ramp and back down stairs returning to his partner

Partner 2 – perform exercise with cinder block

Flap jack

Exercises performed:  100 overhead press, 200 merkins on cinder block, 200 t-baggers, 200 dips (partner ran with cinder block), 200 supine pull-ups (partner ran with cinder block)

We also did some plank work in between sets.

That’s it.  Boring.

Moleskine

YHC had only seen cinder blocks used at The Matrix or Area 51 and remembered how much fun they were so I made a pit stop at Lowe’s yesterday and introduced them to the DV pax this morning.  They will remain on the property so use them at your own risk *disclaimer.  I’m not a professional but maybe we can get Tiger Rag to come in and give us a safety class on cinder block technique.

Chatter was at a minimum today.  Probably because Bananas, Hops, Bulldog, Brown etc all decided to take a day off or head up to the rainbow parade at Calvary.  Oh not necessarily for #Anvil, they could have simply been showing up 3 days early for #TheRock.  Keep your panties on fellas.

Great work by many today.  Sussudio killed it on the runs.  Not so much on the plank walks.  “Which way is clockwise”?  Fireman Ed was very disappointed the Q didn’t call for curls with the cinder blocks.  So was the Q as they were planned but forgotten #NextTime.  2nd time in a week YHC has partnered with DK.  Still not positive he knows #tSpackler after 2 years.  Upon each return from his run all I got was “PARTNER” to flapjack #Priceless.  Thankful with such a mild morning in that both DK and @F3Bighairy kept their clothes on.  Date for the @F3Bighairy waxing event is still TBD. Keep an eye out for that pre-blast.  Thanks SG for the prayer send off.

Announcements

Threshold is in 30 minutes – southpark – good luck getting there

Email Turkey Leg if you planning or thinking about doing the BRR.  Sign ups are under way soon.

Happy Hour today – Lodge at 4:30

 

Grinders and Groiners

Mermaid planted the #F3Anvil shovel flag as 15 men gathered under the lights of the Calvary parking lot. Here’s the effort we put forth this morning:

The Thang

Run to short left field of the small softball field for COP:

  • SSHs x 10 IC
  • Mountain climbers x 20 IC
  • Merkins x 20 IC
  • SSHs x 10 IC
  • IWs x 20 IC

Run to the middle of the driveway of Entrance #3 via #Northface. Partner up in groups of 3 for grinders. Rotate through so that everyone gets two sets of the exercises.

  • Partner 1 – Merkins at the bottom
  • Partner 2 – Running the driveway
  • Partner 3 – Jump squats at the top

Mosey to curb of the lower parking lot:

  • Suicides
  • Bear crawl to first line, sprint to curb. Repeato going back.
  • Backwards run suicides

Some plank work then mosey to stone pile along the driveway. Each group of 3 grab one exercise stone then mosey to the top of the hill at Entrance #4 for more grinders. Rotate through for two sets of the exercises.r

  • Partner 1 – CDDs at the bottom (Round 1); Merkins (Round 2)
  • Partner 2 – Running the driveway
  • Partner 3 – Overhead presses with stone at the top (Round 1); Curls (Round 2)

Return the stones and mosey to the nearest parking lot for Mary:

  • LBCs x 20 IC
  • Groiners x 10
  • Elbow to opposite knee (flapjack) x 10 IC
  • Groiners x 10
  • Flutter kicks x 20 IC
  • Groiners x 10
  • Freddy mercury x 20 IC (5 fast, 5 slow, 5 fast, 5 slow)

Mosey to the far curb for one last suicide. Return to base for COT. Solid take out by Mermaid.

Moleskine

The men of #F3Anvil are tough. And tireless. Week after week they show up, punch the clock and put the work in. And they push one another, which was quite evident today in the grinder groups of 3.

YHC didn’t hear much #mumblechatter today…too busy trying to keep up with Margo and Bushwood…thanks for dragging an old guy along this morning.

If backward runs ever become an Olympic sport, Hops will medal.

For the stone work, Lobster Roll & his partners went heavy. Anything bigger and they would’ve had to use one of the big stones right by Entrance #4.

#Kotters to Baracus who came back to check in on the workout he launched with Young Love. Mermaid was visibly nervous.

Announcments

  • MudRun and BRR signups coming up. Don’t think. Just do.
  • Team Chepul Hill brain cancer run on 3/21.
  • Volunteer opp this Saturday. See IH’s comment below.

Rockin in the USA

9 eager Pax showed for another #F3Dromedary beatdown.

The Thang:

SSH x 20 in cadence
Merkins x 15 in cadence

Head down to the rock pile and get a worthy rock for some heavy lifting.

Back to the lot
20 curls
20 presses
20 tricep extensions
20 squats
15 rock merkins
10 rock lunges each leg

Partner Up
P1 run up the hill around the median and back.
P2 curls
Flapjack/Repeato

P1 run up the hill around the median and back.
P2 2 Tricep extensions
Flapjack/Repeato

P1 run up the hill around the median and back.
P2 Two hand overhead press
Flapjack/Repeato

P1 run up the hill around the median and back.
P2 Luganis w/ rock press
Flapjack/Repeato

P1 run up the hill around the median and back.
P2 Russian Twists w/ Rock
Flapjack/Repeato

P1 run up the hill around the median and back.
P2 Thrusters (Squat w/ rock, finish with overhead press=1)
Flapjack/Repeato

Take the rocks to their home

6 MOM
Pass the torch, each PAX call exercise and call cadence, made it halfway through
1 leg flutter R
1 leg flutter L
Russian Twists
LBC’s
Recover

Moleskin: Tough sledding today, time flies when you’re having fun. I was impressed with the general rock size decisions. Apparently Bratwurst and Dasher didn’t get the message that Partner size and speed don’t matter going for Team Burner. Abacus kept up his usual impressive pace and composure, and the brothers HOT, (Hot Pants/Hot Tub), keep getting stronger and faster each week. Way to keep up the hard work boys, you see it pays! Good to see that Brown remembered how to wake up and do SSH’s, as well as crush some rock lifting, welcome back to the gloom son, Chanel must have broken in and kidnapped him. Wednesday is always a good day to lay down a good F3 workout. Thank you to Bratwurst for taking us out with some great reminders of who we are called to be in the world, at work and at home!

Announcements: Abacus and Team Chepul Hill calling all Pax in support of Brain Tumor Research for the 5K, 10K, Fun Run. Signup at events.braintumor.org. Race at Marshall Park on March 21, 2015. (A:correct any mistakes on this announcement)

Brown planning to win a 5K on behalf of F3 in a regional school fundraiser for Union Co. 5K on March 14, signup at http://www.marvinrunfortheridge.com

Annual F3 Golf Tourney on April 30th at Olde Sycamore Golf Plantation. Signups forthcoming…

Detox double

14 men made the best use of an hour on Tuesday to cropdust Davie Park

The Thang:

Brief warmup in lot, high knees, buttkickers, moderate run to Davie Park

COP (brief)

  • SSHx25
  • MCx25
  • IWx25

Run to back end by building. Stop at each lightpost along way for 5 merkins.

Two groups:  Group A does suicide back up the road; Group B does two laps in lot with exercise in between; flapjack, repeat

  • Round 1: Squatsx10
  • Round 2: Jump squatsx10
  • Round 3: burpeesx10

Run back to center of Davie Park, circle for Mary:

  • LBCx25
  • FKx25
  • Dolliesx25
  • Bicyclex20

Partner up.  Partner A runs to playground 10x pull-ups, 20x step-ups, 30x merkins, return. Partner B runs down to back of Davie near building, run back.  Flapjack.

Line up for indian run back to launch

50yd AYG sprints in parking lot x4

COT

total mileage: 5.0

Moleskine:

  • Lots of detox going round today at FT.  Q took it upon himself to cropdust the pax on the initial run down to Davie.  Apparently it didn’t matter to Spackler who was probably running in a cloud of his own rancid detox emissions.
  • Solid group out there today for what was an admittedly lighter routine (for FT at least), given that YHC is recovering from some nasty bug that tore through his house last week
  • Probably won’t be so easy with Fraiser on deck for Q next week
  • Enjoyed seeing the regulars out there Soul Glow, Hopper, Alf, Frasier, Prohibition, Mr. Brady, Slim Fast, Spackler and Alf.  Even better to see some not-so-regulars to FT including Bugeater, Buttermaker, Hannibal and Semi-gloss – glad to see you guys out there this week.  Semi-Gloss starting to become semi-regular out at FT!  Has he given up the skunk?
  • Always a pleasure leading the men of FT.

Announcements:

  • Blue Ridge Relay team formation underway. If you are interested in joining the Area 51 BRR group but not yet on a team, send an email to Turkey Leg (smastbrook@metlife.com)

On the hunt for Nessie. The Legend continues….

20 SOBs met at 0530 at the Vine Restaurant at the Ballantyne AO in search of ole Nessie herself in Loch ness. Recent reports suggest that Nessie has been stalking the innocent in our very own Loch ness right in the heart of Ballantyne. When there’s a need in our community, the SOBs of F3 are here to help. Here’s what we did:

The Thang:

COP on the way to Loch Ness – SSH X 20, IW X 20, Merkins X 15, Slow Squats X 10

1st Low wall – Incline Merkins X 15, Dips X 15

2nd Low wall – Jump Ups X 30, Durkins X 15

1 lap around loch ness

1st Low wall – Low wall CDD X 15, Dips X 15

2nd Low wall – Jump Ups X 30, Durkins X 15

Field work –

Sprint across and back

Bear Crawls, Burpees X 5; crabwalks back Burpees X 5

Sprint across and back

Inchworms across the field; bear crawls back

Sprint across and back

1 lap around loch ness

1st Low wall – Peter Parker incline merkins X 15, Dips X 15

2nd Low wall – LBCs X 30, Perter Parker Durkins X 10

1 lap around loch ness

1st Low wall – Flutters X 20, Dollies X 20, Bicycles X 20

2nd Low wall – Rosalitas X 20, Heels to Heaven X 20

COT – Planks, merkins lead by Mermaid

Moleskin:

Unfortunately, the SOBs didn’t have any luck with finding Nessie, but we got a pretty good workout on our search. The goal today was to crush the upper body (chest, biceps, and shoulders). We pushed each of those areas to their limits and then pushed them some more.

Always a pleasure leading the men in the gloom.

Announcements:

Congrats to Morning After for a new baby boy.

Spring Mud Run sign-ups available soon.

Let YHC know if you’re interested in running on a Ballantyne BRR team.

Sign up for the Team Chepel Run for Brain Cancer Research.

Great work this morning men!

 

 

#F3Swift – Get that breath up

10 PAX unceremoniously launched into the gloom at 0515 from the Vine Restaurant and the Ballantyne AO.

The THANG:

  • Mosey to Ballantyne Commons by the way of Pei Wei / Starbucks strip to pop out at Stonehenge.  Wait for traffic to clear, but jogging in place avoided. Proceed Frogger style across 521.
  • At 1.0mi, arrive at backside of Metlife for some warm-ups of high knees, butt kicks, A-skip, B-skip, toe walking, heel walking, stride it out down to N. Community House.
  • 3minutes at I-pace (defined by Jack Daniels as 2mi Race pace / VO2max / Interval pace at http://runsmartproject.com/calculator) followed by 2 minute recovery jog to regroup.
  • Repeato
  • Repeato
  • Repeato
  • Repeato
  • Mosey back to COT… wait, Q-jacked by Strange Brew – one more 3min interval for a total of six.
  • Now, mosey back to COT.
  • Finish right at 0615 as Bagpipe pretending to go for extra credit.
  • Minimum ~5.0 according to Strava for Spinner (https://www.strava.com/activities/243581114) and Wing(space)man (https://www.strava.com/activities/243566370)

Moleskin:

  • The last time we did this pace, we only took on a dose of 2min.  Upping to 3min doesn’t seem like a big jump on the first interval, but it really accumulates during 2nd and 3rd interval.  The goal of running at your VO2max is to get your body the maximum work at the highest level that it can efficiently turn breath into energy (there are more scientific ways to say it – go here).  Extending these out eventually to 4 or 5min is key to getting the hard work in, but avoiding the full-on hurt and muscle soreness (lactic acid buildup) that an all out sprint could bring.  With an almost equal recovery at I-pace, the heartrate should come back down from 97-100% of your Max heartrate before starting the next one.
  • If the purpose is to hurt, then go out real fast.” – The purpose of these workouts is NOT to hurt.  It’s to run at a target pace based on your current fitness level and get the maximum benefit without working too hard.  It Hurts = working too hard.  It’s Hard = right where you want to be.
  • North Community House has a great wide line and only an occasional car going to cut the grass at the Ballantyne Resort golf course.  It also has mild elevation changes.  Not insignificant for sure based on the effort it takes to come back up from 485 towards Ballantyne Commons, but not severe hills that allow a great groove.  Even with mild changes, you’ll naturally notice it’s easier sometimes to run downhill.  Make sure you keep the effort the same.  Downhill will be faster than target, uphill will take it back.  Strava uses Grade Adjusted Pace to compare the actual speed to the effort, for it gives you credit for a faster pace run uphill, but it does take it away for backing off on a downhill.  Again, focus on effort.
  • On the way back in, the intersection at 521 wasn’t as much of a problem as during the Army Fitness Test and getting hung up on a timed 5 mile run, but it would be nice to avoid it.  Running the “back” way (Lochness, Lance building, Ballantyne Corporate Pl) would only add about 0.5mile, so we will have to keep it in mind.
  • Welcome to Site FNG Cheddar, and he is a strong addition to the Swift crew.  Think he’s already being poached for a BRR team…
  • Kotters to Spinner.  Speed is still there, but the endurance will come back more slowly.
  • Stump Hugger pronounced at COT that he was light headed.  Could be dehydration (yes, even in cold weather) or just working hard.  Not good to feel foggy, so keep an eye on that.
  • Strange Brew fashion report – short sleeves with Jazz hand gloves ala Diego Costa. Nice getting everyone’s goat on the last interval. #Cobains to everyone else.
  • Haggis fashion report – funky hat sans kilt.
  • Abacus was out laying down the miles for the upcoming team Chepul Hill’s 5K and/or 10K dominance.  Join the good cause that would be a great test before the Spring Mud Run.  http://f3nation.com/2015/01/16/race-to-raise-funds-for-brain-tumor-research-march-21/
  • Honeybee motivated YHC to finish the last 3min interval strong by just quietly blowing by a slumped over form on the side.  Thanks for not spitting.
  • Wing_man vs. Wing(space)man vs. Wingman.  It’s almost like merkins vs. merkens.  One of the great debates of our time.
  • A healthy Outback is not Down Under anymore.  Never was exactly, but that’s a story for another time.
  • Thank you men.  Always grateful when someone follows YHC out of the lot to put in the speedwork alongside me.

 

Foxhole

Great morning for a kettel bell work out. Thanks Ice 9 for showing up (FNG at Foxhole) and supporting the cause!

Warmup:  Jog around parking lot and circle up.  SSH X 25; Slow Squat X 20, Peter Parker Merkins X 12, LBC’s X 25.

Workout: Sets of 6 different exercises at 20-25 reps each.  Completed 4 sets (24 exercises total).  Pull ups – 3 sets of 8-10 reps, Planks with kettel bell row (1 set-10 each arm).  2-handed swings (2 sets), 1-handed swings (2 sets), clean and press (1 set), overhead press (1 set), upright row (1 set), bicept curls (3 sets), triceps (3 sets), merkins (4 sets of different variety), squats (2 sets), Monkey Humpers (1 set).  Also did 1 set of lunnges with KB twist – 6 each leg – and 1 set of Romanian Dead Lifts X 20.

Mary (all with Kettel Bell press or hold over head):  LBC X 20, Dolly X 20, Flutter X 20, Dying Cock Roach X 20, Heels to Heaven X 20, Mason Twist X 12, Bicycle (no KB) X 20.

The PAQ lined up in parking lot with kettel bells and did various exercises between the speed bumps and sets of Merkins (5 sets X 10 reps) on the speed bumps. Exercises included lunge walk with KB rotating between legs, backward run, overhead press while walking, curls while walking (2 sets).

January 20th – an important date in American history…not necessarily for Skunkworks

Jan. 20, 1892 – 1st basketball game played in Massachusetts

Jan. 20, 1920 – The American Civil Liberties Union is founded…..ouch

Jan. 20, 1944 – FDR sworn-in for an unprecedented (and never to be repeated – thank God) 4th term as US President

Jan. 20, 1961 – JFK inaugurated as President of the United States, the youngest ever sworn in

Jan. 20, 1981 – 52 Americans held hostage in Iran for 444 days freed

Jan. 20, 1981 – Ronald Reagan inaugurated as 40th US President

Jan. 20, 2009 – Barack Obama inaugurated as 44th US President

Just felt like sharing some historical facts (with a couple editorial comments, of course).  Why?  Because I’m a history dork and figured can’t hurt to learn something, right?  Anyway….

The VSF was planted at 5:27am or thereabouts.  A few minutes later,  25 pax grab a heavier KB than what you normally grab (meaning borrow from someone stronger and/or more daring), and off we went.  With the tweeted preblast – the pax read more into it than what it really was…love keepin’ ’em guessin’.

The Thang:

Rack ’em mosey over to church parking lot.

Plank for the six…how is there a six when we’re just walking from one lot to another?

Run a lap that would be the 4th station of circuit work.

SSH x 30 IC

H-R Merkin x 20 IC

Goblet Squat x 10 IC

5 Burpees OYO

Divided the pax into 6 teams of 4 and YHC joined as the proverbial 5th wheel on one team.

4 Stations with team members rotating for 2 rounds of the following:

1) Hairburners – down/back – 40 yards or so

2) Bearcrawl uphill, Lunge walk downhill

3) KB Swings (1st rd), Goblet Squats (2nd rd)

4) Run lap – AYG.  The runner would then relieve team member at station 1 and team would rotate accordingly.

Circle up for the following, or something like the following as I can’t really remember:

Plankorama including Chilcutt, Laettner & some other stuff

High pulls x 10R & 10L OYO

Upright Row x 10 IC

Snatch x 5R & 5L OYO

Louganis w/KB x 10IC

Protractor w/out KB except the overdressed British dudes and someone else who also employed the KB

Leg lifts x 13 IC

One-handed KB Swing x 10R & 10L OYO

Mosey back to launch lot

Ye Olde Moleskine:

Good crowd as usual at SkunkWorks.  With the tweeted call for heavier KBs, there must have been 40 KBs for the 25 pax.  TR brought 8-10 KBs, Stone Cold had some extras as well.  Unfortunately, I grabbed TR’s 45 lb’er…actually, it was a good thing (aside from the tiger paw on it)…though still should have asked Splinter on my team to do extra swings while I pinch ran for him (get well – you’re too good a runner!).

The 2 pax (Bananas & High Tide) who commented on the preblast did not show.  #unnecessaryfearofrunning

We didn’t run as much as I normally like to, so hope Harley wasn’t disappointed that I didn’t “change the pace” to the fullest extent.  Hairburners are always a crowdpleaser.  They’re truly one of my favorite exercises.  Snatches are one of my least favorite.  Joker could sense I was struggling with the 45 lb’er and said “aren’t you glad you grabbed the heaver bell?!”

Some mumblechatter but not as much as normal at Skunk…don’t know if that’s attributable to O2 deprivation or something else.  Bulldog & TR were still rather talkative as per their custom.

Should mention strong work by Funky Cold who’s only been posting for a month or so and T-claps to Freedom for rucking in.

Hope the plan wasn’t too disjointed men.  Cobain.  Chalk that up to sleep deprivation and stress of moving in with the mother-in-law for a few weeks.  If anyone’s ever seen “My Cousin Vinny” – picture the scene of Pesci trying to sleep with the owl screeching outside the window.  That was me last night, minus the loaded handgun.  Anybody got one I can borrow?  #mercy

Thanks to our WD Sussudio for taking us out in prayer.

Announcements:

Spring Mud Run (April) – talk to Madame if you want to do it, and you should do it

BRR (September) – talk to Turkey Leg if you want to do it, and you should do it

Goruck Heavy or Hefty or Husky? (Soon?) – talk to one of the pax who likes rucksacks, coupons, etc.