Animal House

Animal House

The animals were out in force for an old-fashioned animalistic experience at Centurian on Friday. Twenty faithful followed the WD layout a Core beatdown including every animal inspired exercise in the book.

The Thang:

Jog over to the Little Avenue parking lot.
25 Side Straddle Hops
20 Merkins
60 LBC’s
15 Diamond Merkins
25 Dollies with protractor
15 Wide arm Merkins
Jog to main entrance to school.
Peoples chair
Balls-to-the-wall
10 Donkey kicks
Jog to picknick benches on Hwy 51.
20 step ups
10 dips
10 derkins
rinse and repeat
Jog to parking lot parallel to football field for some animal artistry.
Inch worm across parking lot
Crab walk across lot
Bear crawl across lot (I warned everyone to wear gloves)
Circle for more core work
35 Imperial walkers
10 straddle arm merkins (right)
25 Rosalitas followed by more protrator
10 straddle arm merkins (left)
25 Mountain Climbers
25 Peter Parkers
Missing a few, but that what you get when nothing is written down.

Moleskin:
I had a blast with my first Q at a ‘Boot Camp’ type workout. Obviously, not much running but solid core work to max. I will be sorely disappointed if the PAX don’t feel the burn in those AB’s over the weekend. Great to have one of my Mud Run team, Eminem make his first post to Centurion. Also great to see Haggus again. Hadn’t seen him since we nearly drowned while freezing our butts off at Core-Meltdown last December. Lastly, thanks to Escargot for graciously handing over his scheduled Q for me on short notice.

Joust- not just a video game

Brand new Shovel Flag was planted for the inauguration of Joust at Charlotte Christian School.  18 pax got out of the fartsack to see what this new site had to offer and well, YHC thinks it has much to offer including Grandmother mountain (legend in the making here).

Slow jog to upper grass area -great view of the football field

SSH x 25

IW x 25

Squat x 20

Merkins x 15

Mt climber x 20

Partner up (similar speed)

Pt 1 lap, Pt2 stairs flapjack x 4 (challenge: get faster each time around)

Jack Webb

Race partner:  Bear crawl to 25, sprint to 50, bear crawl to 25, sprint to end zone

Grandmother Mountain:

Jacobs ladder- 7 merkins at top, 1 jump squat at bottom;

Race partner:  Bear crawl to 25, sprint to 50, bear crawl to 25, sprint to end zone

MOM:

LBCs x 20

Flutter kick x 20

Fast Bicycle x 10, Slow bicycle x 5 rinse, repeat 4x

Dolly x 20

Circle Merkin

Moleskin:

Great launch fellas, thanks for coming out and supporting the new location.  Special THANK YOU to the Charlotte Christian School administration for allowing us to use their facilities.  Also thank you to Skywalker for all his involvement in getting it setup.

Great to have Crotch Rocket join us in the South Land as well as Spider.

Why Grandmother Mt you ask?  TR, in all his wit, dubbed the name, perhaps coming off the BRR.  YHC agreed as a tribute to the Grandfather Mt leg of the BRR.  She has the incline of a mountain goat leg but not as long.  She will suck the O2 right out of you and make your stems burn.  Count on her as a regular for Joust.

Circle Merkins (Circle Merk):  Tried something new here, pax seem to pick it up farily quick, could be a keeper.

Shortened Jack Webb to get everything on the weinke covered and yep, was called out.  You know who you are….will store that for another day.  #retaliation

Wolfpack lost to Clemson 26-14, there I said it.

Skywalker (resident Jedi) with the send off prayer, only he could work “fartsack” in a prayer like that. Hey, God understands!

Announements:

Charlotte Young Life Mud Run- Sept 28th at NCWWC, check it out at www.ylmudrun.com

F3Compass- Res4Men Chpt. 8  Teach your kids and generations to follow to Fear the Lord, Honor Authority, Discipline, and Responsibility.

You want me to run with that?

8 SPEARHEAD faithful attacked the Log Relay Race like they were trying to qualify for the Olympics this morning around the track at Carmel Middle.  Not sure if we were really moving all that fast, but when you’ve got a 40lb pack on and carrying a 40 lb log, running becomes complete insanity!

 The Thang

 Mosey to Fields- routine begins promptly at 05:29

 SSH x 25

IW x 25

Man Makers in Cadence x 25

 Log Relay Race

All competitors perform exercise for each round until passed the log when it is time to sprint to the next leg

T1 and T2 take off sprinting with Log on shoulder approx 100M each leg

When you reach next teammate, pass log off and start doing exercises.  Other partner sprints 100M to next teammate – all the way around track

 (2) teams of 4 PAX equally spread out around Track (T1 and T2 each had a PAX racing against each other for each Leg of the race)

(2) at each end zone and (2) at 50 yard line

Winning team assesses a penalty on losing team – to be performed afterwards

 Round 1  

Squats x 30-50

Team 2 Wins

 Round 2

Burpee x 20-40

Team 1 Wins

 Round 3

Merkins x 30-50

Team 1 Wins

 Round 4

Mountain Climbers x 50-75

Team 2 Wins

 Round 5

Flutter Kick with Ruck Press x 30-50

Team 1 Wins

 Round 6

LBC with Rucks in Air x 30-50

 TEAM 1 Killed Team 2 (4-2)

 Circle up

 Jack Webb to 11

12 Count Body Builder in Cadence x 10

Shimmy, Shim, Shim 15 yards

 COT

 Moleskin:

 As always, the PAX killed it out there today.  The 25 Man Makers were pretty tough as when we reached 10, complete silence took over and all you could hear was the gasping for air from our lungs and the wavering cadence of the Q.  Needless-to-Say, if you are doing the 1001 challenge, good luck!

 I wish I had a camera on me at the time so I could have taken a picture of Liquor-Sicle sprinting with that log, coming towards me yelling, “Team 2 isn’t going to lose this round!”..Like a man possessed…T-Claps for the extra effort he was running faster than most people without the 80lbs of additional weight

 After a few rounds of the relay race, the exercises became incrementally harder, and it was nice to see beasts like BLC, BTB, Sweetness, Dora, Culkin, Iron Horse, Liquor-Sicle continue powering through with so much determination.  SPEARHEAD is accomplishing a few great things, and one of those is mental strength.  When most would cheat or give up, SPEARHEAD Pax kick it up another notch…”Our Amps go to 11”…

 As always an honor to lead you through these routines! 

 Announcements 

  • § The SPEARHEAD Patch Challenge continues until 9/27.  Patch Challenge Standings
  • § SPEARHEAD T-Shirts are available at the F3 Gear Site
  • § PT Reflector belts for those that signed up should be available late next week (by 9/27/13). $11.50 to Culkin gets you a cool lime green elastic reflector belt!
  • 9/28 Mini-Ruck launches at 07:00 at Sardis Rd Greenway.  PT test 2 mile run, 55 merkins, 55 sit ups in 2 minutes followed by an 8-10 mile ruck with coupons.  Afterwards an F2 event at Buffalo Wild Wing Crown Point. Click to register: http://www.spearheadf3.com/challenges/9-28-mini-ruck
  •  Please register by 9/24/13.

Check out www.SPEARHEADF3.com for more information and to join our Google Group mailing list

Hydra trades Burpees for Merkins – crowd pleaser

18  Strong men denied the fartsack to enter the gloom of Hydra for 45 minutes of 10 counts, but YHC had other plans, thanks to Dora’s crazy merkin challenge for September / and the Pax were going along for the ride

The Thang:

Baby Job around the track – 25 merkins (Repeat – x2)

Plank o Rama: : Regular, Right Leg/Hand High, Left Leg/Hand High, Regular

Mosey to field for COP:

  •  SSH x20
  • Merkins x 20 – crowd pleaser
  • IW x 20
  • Merkin Superset: wide (5), diamond (5), wide (5) – in cadence
  • Slow Squats x 20
  • Merkin superset: staggered right hand (5), narrow (5), staggered left (5)

Divide up into teams of three for The Gopher:

Team member 1: Track, behind playground  – 10 burpee broadjumps, 15 divebomber merkins, 20 slow flutters (rinse and repeat until your teammate arrives)

Team member 2: Concession stand area – 10 jump or step ups, 15 decline merkins, 20 dips        (rinse and repeat until your teammate arrives)

Team member 3: Start at the track with teammate #1, run to playground and do either 5 dead hang pull-ups or 10 supine pull-ups – then continue on to concession stand area to swap with team member 2.

(Rinse and repeat for 25 minutes)

Mosey back to field:

Jack Webbs 1 – 5 – another crowd pleaser

4 minutes of Mary:

  • LBC x 25
  • Dollies x 25 – hold them at the end – wide, together recover
  • Plank on hands – down to elbows – Cottonmouth 10 count (Cobains), Bugeater – 10 Count, DK – 10 Count (extra credit – was done in German)

 

COT

Moleskin –

Great work by all the PAX today, really pushing themselves.  YHC loves these continuous movement workouts (as if you couldn’t already tell that); they really allow you to challenge yourself.  Thanks for the opportunity to lead such a great and strong group of men – it is truly an honor and privilege. Also want to give a shout out to Egypt for making it out to Hydra as not only a Hydra FNG, but a Area 51 one as well. Everyone was bringing it today.

Not a lot of chatter to be heard this morning aside from someone asking if DK was even counting to 10 to which YHC responded, yes, but it’s in German.  Only issue was, aside from DK, none of the Pax including YHC knew the German word for One. #notsurewearedone

Cobains to Cottonmouth for not letting him finish his 10 count – thought he just forgot to say 1.

SlimFast – Strong sendoff this AM.  Thanks Brother.

 

Announcements –

Young Life mudrun at WWC next weekend: Go here for more information: http://ylmudrun.com/

Thunder Road Half and Full Marathon – November 16th – want a strong F3 showing.  49er is Q for training in Area 51.

A new running workout, #F3Nomad launches from the ABC store at Arboretum at 6:15 am, and 7:00 am Sunday mornings –  It is for the LSR (Long Slow Run) needed to prep for the half and full marathon.

New 3rd F workout, The Stand meets at Panera at Hwy 51 and Carmel at 6:30 Fridays, right after Centurion.  Working thru the book Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire.

Mudrun fast approaching – October 12th.

Cool Runnings

9 PAX decided to put in some miles this morning at Devil’s Turn.  Like last week, the plan was for a 2 mile warm up / cool down to and from S. Charlotte Middle with 2 miles of speed training on the track.  The result was both good 1st F and 2nd F while enjoying the cool (almost) fall air. 

The Thang:

Run 2 miles out to S. Charlotte Middle School track

– 400m (1 lap) at applicable pace (individual PAX choose their own pace from Bratwurst’s calculator)

– 2 minute Recovery

– 800m (2 laps) at applicable pace

– 2 minute Recovery

– 1600m (4 laps) at applicable pace

– 2 minute Recovery

– 400m fellowship lap before heading back

– Alternate workouts (burpees) / distances were also observed on the track.  This demonstrated some flexibility in this workout (to be exploited next week). 

– Run 2 miles back to parking lot for COT.

Moleskin:

– All the PAX put in a great effort today.  Everyone seemed ready to take a seat in the COT and was slow to get up for Ball of Man.  Looked to me that the workout got the job done.

– The idea on the track was to not go all out, but to run at your prescribed training pace.  Regardless, Haggis, So-PA, and Bratwurst tended to lead the pack although the rest of the PAX were not far behind. 

– There was general consensus in the COT that this format was good for future Devil’s Turn workouts.  The flexibility of the track work is a definite draw and the format keeps the PAX together for more of the 2nd F effect. 

– While the PAX did great on the track work, YHC did a poor job of having the lap time for each runner.  Expect this to be improved in coming weeks (I have some ideas).

-There was also some confusion on the meeting location.  Here is the address that will be included in future Pre-blasts. The parking lot is across Bevington Place from Starbucks @ 6432 Rea Rd  Charlotte, NC 28277 

– Here is a rough format for next week.  Sound off in the comments to agree, disagree, or propose anything else. 

            1) 5:15am 4-mile Option: Run 2 mi to school, 15 min of boot camp, Run 2 mi to COT

            2) 5:15am 6-mile Option: Run 2 mi to school, 400m intervals, Run 2 mi to COT

            3) Depending on interest – 5:00am 8-mile Option: Run 4 mi ending at school, 400m intervals, Run 2 mi to COT

Leg-O-Rama

If you see a pax in gigolo strut, full of swagger and swank, then you’ve either happened upon Runstopper in his tweed hipster hat, or one of the 10 men who can barely walk after a leggy workout in the pungent gloom.

  • Little Baby Jog to back lot
  • SSH x 30
  • I-Walkers x 25
  • Mountain Climbers x 20
  • Groin stretch x 2

On the Blue Line, Round 1:

  • Low, Slow Squats x 20
  • Standing Lunge x 20
  • Calf Raises x 20
  • Sprint to last bball goal and back

Blue Line, Round 2

  • Sumo Squats x 20
  • Side Lunges x 20
  • Toe Raises x 20
  • Sprint to last goal and back

Blue Line, Round 3

  • Squat jumps x 20
  • Mary Katherines x 10
  • Ski jumps out and back white lines
  • Sprint to last goal and back

Blue Line, Round 4

  • Goblet squats (with weights) x 10
  • Weighted side lunges x 10 (brutal)
  • Good mornings x 20
  • Stop motion lunge walk (to first goal)
  • “Sprint” to last goal and back

Blue Line, Round 5

  • Goblet Squat with Little Baby Jumps x10
  • Good mornings with calf raises x 20
  • One-legged ski jumps (out and back, flapjack)
  • Backwards stop motion lunge walk to first goal
  • Backwards run to last goal and back

Blue Line, Round 6

  • Merkins x 2 (by request)
  • Four corner bounds x 5 CW, x 5 CCW
  • One legged ski-jumps (flapjack back)
  • Curb hoppers x 50
  • Sprint to last goal and back
  • Dirty dogs x 12L / x 12R

COT

MOLESKIN

  • Leg Day separates the sheep from the goats.  You’ll be surprised how long 45 minutes of leg work will hurt–the last version of this workout left me stiff for five days  [soft ball, have at it].
  • Smell is a strong memory trigger.  For Haze, the wafting aroma of PortaJons brought back fond memories of the BRR.  For Joker, it was a suggestive reminder to soil his britches. #walkingfarts #standingfarts #sittingfarts
  • It was a pleasure to lead a small group again where there are lots of options that aren’t available in larger groups.  We left some exercises on the table (and in the trunk) today.  Look for the sequel at a workout near you.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

  • New workout, Joust, at Charlotte Christian starts tomorrow at 5:30. When facing the school, park on the right, close to the road (look for shovel flag). Joust is a play on their mascot, the Knights, but all I can think of is that ostrich game from the 80’s.  On the same wall as Zaxxon, Q-bert and Tron, back when games cost a quarter.
  • Get some 3rd F tomorrow with Haze and ‘Pagne at The Stand (if you are able) at Panera Carmel Village, right after Centurion.  No matter if you don’t have the book or haven’t read it, they just need some people with hair to show up so they aren’t mistaken for Hare Krishnas.

My Kingdom for a Sandbag!

7 strong men and 5 logs (big one counts as two) this morning at Distance version of SPEARHEAD

The Thang:

Ruck up, grab logs, move out

STOP 1 (Mile 1): Carmel & Dovewood Dr –

-Overhead press x 15

-Squat x 30

-Overhead press x 15

(Mile 2): Hillingdon Rd & Lauren Glen Rd

STOP 3 (Mile 3.84): Carmel Middle School

-Overhead press x 15

-Squats x 30

-Overhead press x 15

Return logs to woods.

COT

Moleskin

Great show of strength this morning men. We welcomed a new FNG to SPEARHEAD, Crab Cakes – welcome brother! Nice transitions on the big log all morning. We may start a fire wood delivery service come winter – Iron Horse has the details.

Announcements 

  • The SPEARHEAD Patch Challenge continues until 9/27.  Patch Challenge Standings
  • SPEARHEAD T-Shirts are available at the F3 Gear Site
  • PT Reflector belts for those that signed up should be available late next week (by 9/27/13). $11.50 to Culkin gets you a cool lime green elastic reflector belt!

Check out www.SPEARHEADF3.com for more information and to join our Google Group mailing list

 

Here’s a story, of a lovely lady

The shovel flag was planted as 29 pax (including 3 FNG’s) posted on a cool, crisp morning at Death Valley.

 

Warmup lap around the parking lot and down to the baseball field.

COP:

  • 10 Burpees
  • SSH x 25
  • 9 Burpees
  • IW x 25
  • 8 Burpees
  • Slow Deep Squats x 25
  • 7 Burpees
  • Merkins x 15
  • 6 Burpees
  • Wide arm merkins x 15
  • 5 Burpees
  • Staggered arm merkins (R) x 15
  • 4 Burpees
  • Staggered arm merkins (L) x 15
  • 3 Burpees
  • Firkins (finger tip merkins) x 10
  • 2 Burpees
  • Carolina Dry Docks x 10
  • 1 Burpee

 

That’s enough of that.  Migrate over to the bleachers.

Circuit work:

  • 15 Supine pull-ups
  • 20 Dips
  • 25 LBC’s
  • Rinse and repeat

 

Jog over to the track and partner up

  • Partner 1 runs a lap
  • Partner 2 flutter kicks until partner returns
  • Flapjacks
  • Rinse and repeat, replacing flutter kicks with Dolly’s

 

Mosey over to the neatly lined football field and circle up

 

Ring of Fire:

  • 1 pax runs around the outside of circle when everyone else does AMRAP of called exercize.
  • Runner calls the exercise
  • Exercises ranged from merkins, LBC’s, burpees, CDD, HTH, lunges, man-makers, and many more
  • Great variety of exercises chosen by the group
  • Finish the ring of fire with 10 final burpees OYO

 

Moleskin:

  • There’s nothing like a burpee ladder in COP.  Throw in some merkins in between and YHC is truly smoked.  At a couple points, I thought my arms might give out during the merkins.
  • Before the workout, Salt Lick announces that he would not do any burpees due to a back problem.  Hearing this, I told him he might be kind of bored.  Then he said he would replace burpees with merkins.  That must have been an extra painful COP for Salt Lick.  Sorry man. 
  • The ring of fire brought out some creativity from the pax, although not at first.  Merkins were called by 3 out of the first 7 guys…you know we have other exercises we can do, right.  YHC heard tons of mumblechatter during the ring of fire.  It was fun to hear the pax call an exercise to inflict pain on his brothers.  You will see this again soon.
  • FNG One Night Stand announced at COT that he didn’t know any other exercises to call in the ring of fire, so he said burpees.  #unsavory
  • Probably the best moment of the morning happened in COT.  FNG ***** announced himself as Tom Brady then Brady Bunch.  I can’t remember who, but someone said no, he’s an FNG…trying to name himself (or at least throw out ideas).  In sticking with the Brady Bunch theme, he was very quickly named Marsha.
  • Welcome to the 3 FNG’s this morning.  Good work out there, hope to see you back out soon.
  • Thanks for coming out to Death Valley.  It’s always a pleasure to lead such a strong group.

 

Announcements:

  • HDHH tonight – 6 pm at Vintner Wine Market and The Lodge.
  • New Friday workout, Joust, starts this Friday (0530-0615) at Charlotte Christian School.  Stone Cold is the site Q.
  • Area 51 3rd F workouts Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.  Check website, twitter and/or weekly email for details.

Fashionably Early!

The F3 Anvil shovel flag (One of the best looking shovel flags in all of F3 I must say) was planted in the a crisp gloom where 17 men including 1 FNG gathered for some Fall festivities. YHC overheard some of the PAX say they should had brought a jacket when they stepped out of their cars – not to worry, it won’t be needed!

The Thang:

Warmup

  • Jog around the parking lot with a little backwards run & karaoke mixed in.                                                                                 

COP

  • SSH x 20
  • Merkin x 20
  • LBC x 20
  • IW x 20

Mosey to the “sweat box” (aka the field house for a little bench work)

Round 1:

  • Jump ups x 25
  • Dips x 25
  • Decline Merkins x 25
  • Move it to the grass for 10 Burpees OYO

Round 2:

  • Jump ups x 25
  • Dips x 25
  • Incline Merkins x 25
  • Move it to the grass for 5 Burpees OYO

Plank till everyone is fininshed – Left arm, Left leg high. Right arm, Right leg high.

Next up was a little Indian Run around the campus of Calvary. Over the parking lot, down 51 and around through the grass in front. We ended at the lower field of dreams for a little more pain:

Round 1:

  • Bear crawl to 1st base, 10 merkins
  • Crab walk to 2nd base, 10 wide arm merkins
  • Crab walk to 3rd base , 10 diamond merkins
  • Bear crawl to home plate, 10 CDD’s
  • Plank work

Round 2:

  • Lunge walk around bases, 10 merkins at each stop.
  • Plank work

Mosey over to hill at the Rea Rd entrance:

  • Bear Crawl down
  • Sprint up
  • Plank
  • Backwards lunge walk down
  • Bear Crawl up then sprint to second parking lot and circle up for some Mary

Mary was skillfully executed by Baracus:

  • Flutters x 20
  • Right leg flutters x 15
  • Left leg flutters x 15
  • Dollie x 20
  • Freddie Mercury x 20
  • CCV x 13 each side

Jog back to COT with a little backwards run and karaoke mixed in for good measure!

Moleskin:

  • Upon arrival, there was a CMPD cruiser stationed at the entrance – must have been there to escort us in style.
  • Indian Runs around Calvary are always  a crowd pleaser…
  • We learned a new use for gloves during Mary. CCV’s will make quick work of an elbow without them.
  • It was a pleasure to post with you this morning gentleman!

Announcements:

  • 3rd F 2nd meeting this morning at the Starbucks near Trader Joes, Rea Rd.
  • Young Life Mud Run on September 28th at USNWC.
  • HDHH – Vintners in the Arboretum and the Lodge at Rea/Colony – 6pm

-Boutique

Pre-blast: Devil’s Turn

Ok, the Bee is going to hijack Devil’s Turn again this week.  This time I cleared it with the Q’s though.  So it’s legit!

Same as last week, let’s start at 5:15 am (4-milers start at the same time) from the parking area at the Four Mile Creek Greenway (across the street from Starbucks and Trader Joe’s at Bevington Place and Rea Rd.).

Run 2 miles to South Charlotte Middle School (site of Death Valley) – see directions included below.

Use the running track for the following proposed workout.  For the 4-milers, the workout is optional since this will be distance in addition to the 4-mile route.  In fact, all the track work is optional as each PAX can choose their own speed for the goal of 8 times around the track (2-miles).

– 400m (1 lap) at applicable pace (individual PAX choose their own pace from Bratwurst’s calculator)

– 2 minute Recovery

– 800m (2 laps) at applicable pace

– 2 minute Recovery

– 1600m (4 laps) at applicable pace

– 2 minute Recovery

– 400m fellowship lap before heading back

Run the 2 miles back to COT

Before posting, get your target pace for each of the distances from Bratwurst’s online calculator. The goal of each of the distances is to run them at your prescribed pace and not faster.  http://www.runbayou.com/jackd.htm

Here is the proposed path to get to S. Charlotte Middle school from the Greenway parking lot:

  1. Go east on Bevington Place toward Rea Rd. and cross over into the neighborhood
  2. @ Dead End – Turn Rt on Coburn Ct.
  3. @ Dead End – Turn Lft on Brownes Pond Ln
  4. @ Dead End – Turn Rt on Rosecliff Dr
  5. @ Dead End – Turn Lft on Strawberry Ln
  6. S. Clt Middle School on the left in 0.4 mi