Are backblasts necessary for running workouts?

Are backblasts necessary for running workouts?

At least 8 PAX believe the answer to the title’s question is YES.

However, does a running workout deserve a great BackBlast?

At least 1 Q believes the answer is NO

Mosey to Kensington for warmup

MAIN EVENT:  Running (Duh!  It’s a running workout)

.5 Mile at 1 mile pace

.4 Mile at same pace

.3 Mile at same pace

Repeato

Mosey off campus to Kensington Place

.2 Mile at faster pace

Repeato x 4

Mosey to COT for light stretching

RECAP:  This is the part where Q talks about everybody working hard and it’s an honor to lead.  Blah blah blah.

But I’m not sure if everybody worked hard.  Only the mirror really knows.  I know the guy in my mirror hasn’t been handing out any high fives to me lately.  Taking time off during vacations and then trying to get back into the routine is tough.  So my encouragement is to commit the night before.  Either to a fellow PAX or better yet, HC (hard commit) in the NewsChannel . . . That will surely get Zin excited . . . Tell him that Dunkin told you it was allowed.

Prayers for Snowball as he takes on a new title and responsibility at work. May he continue to lead well and follow God’s calling for his life.

A Picture is Worth 1,000 Words

5 dedicated Pax showed up at Skunkworks to be led by YHC. Here’s what happened.

Warm up Morris Jenkins style — gently, gently

Mosey to front of Christ Covenant Church for the whiteboard wrinkle.
Complete the exercise (one arm at a time) then
waiter carry to construction fence after each exercise. Switch arms for the return trip.

Here’s how it went down:

  1. Single Arm Swing
  2. RDL
  3. Lawn Mower
  4. Snatch
  5. Reverse Lunge
  6. Goblet Squat
  7. Halo
  8. Tricep Ext
  9. Curl
  10. Seated 1-arm Press

Moleskin

Low reps but lots of chatter about Cage & Stone Cold’s upcoming trips across the Oregon Trail. Both will be out battling grizzlies and rattlesnakes next week, so it was up to me, BLC or Barracus to Q next Tues.  BLC was given the honor. Come & support the Q!

thanks for the opportunity to lead.

Announcements

HDHH on 7/21 at Stumptown Station

Crane Relay on 8/13

A little place called … Aspen

EE’s Plan:
Welcome / Disclaimer
COP – 20 x SSH, 10 x Windmills IC, 10 x Small/Large Arm Circles, 10 x 3 count Merkins IC, 10 x LSS IC
4 Corner Starfish: 2 Rounds
Center: 20 x LBC
Corner #1: 5 x Burpees
Corner #2: 10 x CDD
Corner #3: 10 x Bomb Jacks
Corner #4: 10 x LSS
Mosey to Track:
Partner up – 2 Laps total – 10 x Hand slap merkins w/ your partner when you meet up
Mosey to Wall – 2 Rounds
25 x Air Presses IC
20 x Speed Squats OYO
20 x Calf Raises OYO
Mosey to Playground – 3 Rounds
5 x True Pull-ups (or 10 x Supine Pull-ups)
15 x Swing Donkey Kickers
Mosey to Buss Parking Lot and on parking lot lines:
Bear Crawl 3 lines
Crab walk 3 lines
Lunge walk to the end
Mosey to main lot:
Burpee Broadjumps from center cone to curb
4 x AYG sprints approx 50 yards
Mary:
20 x Flutter IC
20 x Dolley IC
20 x Heels to Heaven IC
20 x Freddy Mercury IC
20 x Big Boy Sit ups
1 Burpee – Done
Lots of Planks and stuff in between waiting on the 6
Thank You and Have a Great Day,

Darrick Hornberger

COT:
Announcements:
 – Welcome FNG Eric Schultz now AKA “Lightfoot”
 – Dad camp tickets still available Aug 20-22 at Camp Thunderbird on Lake Wylie
Moleskin:
Solid showing for the launch of a new AO on the border of Union Co and Waxhaw regions. We founded this site with the hope of reaching men within the neighborhoods surrounding Antioch Elementary. Solid mumble chatter, a great beat down by Double E and an FNG who brought it – as evidenced when he nearly blacked out at the end! Job well done by all. Shovel flag is still in design and awaiting construction.
SYITG
Swimmers

Sweet sunshiny day

It was a quiet, peaceful morning at the Floater.

We started with an extended discussion about safety and feelings. Then we stretched until everyone was good and loose. Not just the Vinyasa, but also Hatha, Iyengar, and Kundalini forms.

Then we did repetitions to further warm up. It was an early hour, and we didn’t want anyone to feel too rushed or pushed early on. We did slow side straddle hops, then a ten count, then imperial walkers, one leg at a time. Then another ten count.

Then Popeye volunteered to lead us in calming poetry:

Remember the sky that you were born under,
know each of the star’s stories.
Remember the moon, know who she is.
Remember the sun’s birth at dawn, that is the
strongest point of time. Remember sundown
and the giving away to night.

With centered hearts, Mad Dog led us as we strolled north to the Waxhaw Escape Room, watching carefully for potholes, sidewalk cracks, and twigs that might trip us. Twinkle Toes wanted to go in, but some didn’t feel safe. So we stretched a little more, and Easy Button handed out pamphlets and took us on an informative tour of the landscaped grounds.

Accomplishing this, we strolled back home serenaded by Surge with a lovely ballad. But Judge Smails nudged us to stop to admire a picturesque lonely road. Some of us took on each other’s burdens there. Others embraced the Earth. Falcon let out a piercing shriek at the dawn, and we all joined in.

Resuming our stroll, Schneider got a little competitive and started racing up the hill to COT. Sugar Daddy, in a fatherly way, reassured Schneider that we all respected him, and there was no need to race. You could see his tension ease.

I loved the closing song in COT.  Thanks to Sugar Daddy for taking us out. xxoo xxoo

Strength Speed and Courage

And sweat, lots of sweat.  That would be the theme of today.  And maybe some queasy and light headed feelings.  We got after it.

Warm Up: Mosey to where there are usually bus fumes but its summertime so: 20 SSH, 10 IW, 10 merkins, 10 LSS all IC.

The Thang 1: 1 pull up/5 jump squats, 2 pull ups/10 jump squats, etc.  Go as high as you can until you can’t hit the next set of pull ups, then run a lap, start where you left off and go back down the ladder.

Thang 2: Use the covered sidewalk with posts that are about 5 yards apart.  Bear crawl with a stop at each post – 1 merkin, 2 merkins, etc. until your form breaks and you can’t get the number of reps for that set.  Brexit takes the crown on this one.  Not sure he made it to ten but maybe??  Recover with a jog to the end and Peoples Chair.

Next, bear crawl back with stops for – 2 plank jacks, 4 plank jacks, etc until you can take no more.  Midriff wins high honors as he was still fighting well into the time the rest of us were doing LBCs at the end of the walkway.

Finally, lunge walk and stop at each post for 1 burpee, 2 burpees, etc up to 7.  PAX were instructed to go at your own pace to get to 7.  This was not easy.  Respect to everyone for completing.

Thang 3: start at the bottom of Devil’s Backbone (legacy Arsenal term – look it up.)  Sprint to the top, 20 merkins or until your form breaks.  Jog down, sprint up, 15 merkins.  Same thing for 10 and 5 merkins.

Finish with three sets of dips x 10 IC alternating with Mary and 60 seconds of plank back at launch.

Announcements: Shovel flag party this Saturday at 2 p.m.  Few beers, few laughs, you should come.  Also, SIGN UP for Crane Relay or we won’t be able to do it.  Need more PAX.

“I am Loki of Asgard and I am burdened with glorious purpose.”

6 Pax arrived and completed at Meathead – voted south Charlotte’s “most sweaty and cranky workout in F3SCLT”.

I was under the burden and command of Lawd Nanatan Voodoo to follow his spreadsheet of various kettlebell devilry whilst also “mixing it up with some complexes”, according to Voodoo.

As you command my lawd.

So off to the YouTubes I go looking for a new and decent complex.  I found a KB complex called “Asgard Complex”.  Vid had lots solid double KB movements but in a different sequence then the PAX usually perform.  The only issue was this complex had a curl….that’s a KB no-no in my book.  Curls are for dumbbells and bars and Gabe Kotter, not bells.  So, I stole this complex, changed it a bit (deleted the curl), then claimed it for my own.  WWLD…. that is what Loki would do…steal something from Asgard, warp it, and the claim it… do so I named it the Loki Complex.  Plus all the nerds in F3UC go on and on about starwars, baby yoda, boba fett, MCU, and other types of nerdery.  I imagine they are all giddy about the new Loki show. So perhaps F3UC will see this complex at an UC AO soon!

Music:  

A curated list of hits from Avenger movies to keep and prep our Loki theme.  Just enough late 90’s and 2000’s songs to make Frehley’s cranky, but also enough Led Zepplin and AC/DC to keep him from having a tantrum.

COP 

  • 15 swings
  • pryer? prayer? pryor? squat (left, center, right).  Whatever, Hightide was not even there to correct me.
  • 20 swings
  • 10 merkins on bells
  • 15  swings
  • 10 goblet squats – slow and deep….ahem.

The Thang:

Strong First

  • 10 x 5 cleans (each arm) – Heavy.  Every minute on the minutes (EMOM)
  • Farmer’s carries – Heavy.  40ish meters followed by 10 swings.  4 Rounds.  This was a PAX favorite.  Especially Mighty Might….something about his weak grip, Hoover’s past foibles, and bells potentially flying everywhere.
  • 10 x 15 KB 1H swings (or 2H….PAX choice).  EMOM

Loki Complex

1 Double Clean, 1 Double Press, 1 Double Bentover Row, Drop to a plank, Renegade Rows, get up and 1 Double Deadlift.

We did 4-5 rounds.  Frehley suggested we add a merkin and I suggested we add a double front squat.  So we did.

I will tweak this complex more and use it as a ladder in my next Q.

Mary:

  • Super man 1 min
  • HBH 1 min
  • Plank 1 min

Done

MoleSkine:

Great work by all the PAX today.  It was a hot one this AM and the PAX pushed through.  Almost had a revolt of refuseniks when I called farmer carries BEFORE our swings, but it all worked out as Voodoo was able to put a spell on the wayward PAX.  I am liking this program as we get in our swings (240 today), pressing, grip work, and of course squats.  

Thanks for letting me lead.

Announcements: 

  • Something about HDHH 7/21 at Stumptown.  Ask Hoover Master of Sudsery.
  • Grow Ruck…..but if you have not signed up it’s probably too late.  If you have you probably receive daily DMs from Cheese Curd.

 

Unplugged out!

 

 

Slamballs, Sandbags, and Kettlebells

Mix today of kettlebells, Slam balls, and Sand-filled bags in a three-corner circuit.

PAX divide equally up in the three corners
2 rounds each trangle corner or 2×3= 6 exercises per set.

set 1
slam balls squat explode slam down w jump
sandbag side lunges / optional upward row
kettle bell swings
Sprint to next station and back, mosey to next station

set 2
squat (start) with ball thrust jumping explosions
kettle bell thrusters
sandbag curtsy squat (optional curl)
Sprint to next station and back, mosey to next station

set 3
combo Slam ball Burpee’s, Merkin on ball, ball jump explosions
Kettle bell laying chest press
Sandbag Bent over rows
Sprint to next station and back, mosey to next station

Last Round (5 mins left))
Kettle bell press sit ups
Kb boat flutter kicks
Kb Sit up then press

FNG Ryan named ButterMaker

Inspector Gadget – 3rd Q

Lots of Long Island banter upon arriving…
 
Diccs
 
Warm up
mozy around close driveway loop
Back to start
THE THANG
15 SSH
15 Imperial Walkers
10 Merkins
Calf Stretch
Runners pose – right foot, right hand, left foot left hand
 
3 Alcoves on east side:
15 donkey kicks
15 mike tysons
20 dips on benches
Repeat X 3
Lots of wet shoes and socks since no paved way to the alcove.
Lots of Small amount of complaining
Outer Road with Light Stops:
3 burpee, 3 American Hammers, alternating each light
Quick “Hot lap” around the oval
Partner Up at parking lot near flag:
TEAM:  100 curls, 100 shoulder presses, 100 squats, 75 LBCs
One runs to end of oval loop, other exercises
One more “hot lap” for good measure, back to COT…
COT:
6th man – O69
Announcements:  None
Close out by yours truly
MOLESKIN
Great work by a smaller group today.  Hard work put in by all.

The Great Bambino’s VQ

I’m approaching 4 years in F3 and my daughter had been wanting to join me at F3 workouts for awhile.  I gave her a shot at a Clyent Dinner led by Zinfandel about a year and a half ago.  She hung for the first 10 minutes then quickly fell off.  Luckily we had the M close by just in case and she swooped in for the rescue.  Fast forward to this late winter/early spring my daughter started seeing more and more kids in the family photo at the Appetizer and wanted to give it another try (See, FOMO works!).  So we started going…and she loved it.  Maybe it was because Rae View is a smaller campus….or maybe because at the time there were tons of 2.0’s….whatever it was…she was hooked.   After I lead at workout there, she told me on the way home she wanted to lead the warm up portion next time I led one.  I made a deal with her that she plan out an entire Q, and if she got stuck, scared, or was just done…she could throw it over to me.  Well…then Softball season hit and derailed our plans for about 5 months….but alas, with softball season over and C3P0 calling for a Q, we jumped at the opportunity.  My daughter quickly went into planning mode…I reviewed the winkie and only gave her two pieces of criticism ….its not long enough, and there’s too many burpees. She adjusted…and here we go.

 

DiCCS give by me (we forgot to review that part. D’oh!).

 

WARM UP

Mosey to the grass.

  • 10 Burpees (Really?!!!)
  • 10 Merkins
  • 15 Side Straddle Hops
  • 15 Rocking Night Clubs (Just for you Ghosted)
  • Jimmy Duggans

THE THANG

Mosey back to the front of the school for three rounds of:

  • 10 Merkins
  • 20 Donkey Kicks
  • 40 Wall Sit Air Presses.

Now that we are all completely exhausted (and drenched) we moseyed to the basketball courts where two balls were waiting for us.  Split up into teams: kids vs Dads.  Dads take a hot lap while kids try and score as many points as they can with a standard basketball.  Flip flop once dads return with dads trying to score except they are using a 20 pound medicine ball.  Loser does the point difference in burpees.  Results were:

Kids did 5 burpees

Kids did 1 Burpess

Dads did 4 burpees (I might have sandbagged us to allow the kids a win)

 

Short Mosey to swings.  Dads do swing supines while kids do 50 LBCS.  Switch until everyone has gone 3 rounds each.

Back to the basketball courts for suicides for the dads while kids try and score (with dads blocking shots and stealing balls as we pass).

Mosey to Rock Pile for Simon Says with Rocks.  Burpee penalty if you do something Simon doesn’t say.  There were Curls, Presses, Squats, and Tricep extensions mixed in.

Short mosey back to COT where the kids took turns leading us in excercises.  Big Boys, Heels to Heaven, Freddy Mercury’s, Calf Stretch (thank you Mona Lisa), SSH’s, LBC, Lunges, and Big Boys again.  6:15…We’re Done!

 

MOLE SKIN

  • A great VQ by any standards, but the fact that it was a VQ by an 8 year old makes it down right impressive.  She was loud with her counting, confident in the exercises she called, and called proper F3 counting techniques (Next exercise is Merkins, on my down, get into starting position, and begin).   I was actually quite impressed with her counting as we didn’t work on that too much.  Great job Great Bambino!
  • Welcome out Taco Tuesday!  Natalie is War Eagles youngest (I think) daughter.  She said her favorite foot was Taco’s…and it was Tuesday…so there it is: Taco Tuesday.  Great job on your first time out.
  • High Hat was there and yelling at kids as usual (that’s only half way a joke), but he expects the best out of the kids and pushes them to work harder.
  • Rock and Bambino apparently were the basketball stars today.  Great job Rock.
  • Mona Lisa came out to support her friend and drug her sister Little Biker Girl along.
  • Somehow Mulligan keeps dragging his dad out, even after giving him a name so bad that we allowed him a name change.  Poor Redacted.  Great job today guys.
  • Posse whipped in on two wheels for the last 7 minutes.  Hops out of his car in work clothes to help us finish out the circle of pain.  Anyone who jumps out in work clothes ready to workout gets credit in my book.  Thanks for coming out to support my daughter!

Guitar Hero

1 mile warm up run from COT to Crazy cabin boys house to High School light.

THE THANG

At the 200 and 400 markers at the front of the high school.

4 Rounds of the following:

2oo m sprint followed by 200 cool down

2oo m sprint followed by 200 cool down

400 m sprint followed by 400 cool down

 

finished with a cool down run from middle school entrance to crazy cabin boys house and back

MOLESKIN

A few things we learned today.

  1. Glidah is a guitar hero superstar
  2. Hollywood’s running form is not built for sprints
  3. Deflated’s and Smithers’ life choices are not built for sprints
  4. Ghosted in eager to EH cabin boy and loves the hour long workouts unlike some people in the group. (Chastain…cough cough)