Hey PAX, we’re halfway through the 2020 Passport Challenge and I figured it was time for an update on the standings. But first, a reminder of what I’m talking about. The 1st F Q’s of A51, SOB, and Waxhaw put together a challenge designed to get PAX outside their normal routines/regions/comfort zones. Why? Because there’s a whole wide world of AOs and PAX you’ve likely never seen and you’re cheating yourself if you don’t at least try to get a taste. So here are the rules:
The 2020 Passport Challenge:
So what are things looking like at the moment? Check out the link for sure to see some fancy-pants bar charts that show which PAX, which AO, and which Region is currently in the lead, but if you want the quick and dirty:
Leading PAX: Das Boot with 24 unique sites!
Leading AO: 3 way tie with Firestarter, Flash, and Bushwood at 14
Leading Region: Not even close guys; Waxhaw at 184
So here’s the deal: We’re at the halfway point and maybe you’re just finding out about the Challenge. Not to worry, we accept back-dated additions to the spreadsheet, so if you know you attended a certain site or event back in November then go ahead and drop your name on the spreadsheet and put that date next to your name.
The year is nearly at an end. Let’s finish it out with a strong push! #SYITG
~Chastain, Cooter2, Madame Tussauds, Orange Whip, & Tuck
The Warmup:
Mosey to entrance and gather around mysterious parked car
SSH (bad count); Imperial Walkers, Moroccan night clubs, Downward dog transition to upward dog. Move to calf stretch then Jimmy Dugans
The Thang
Return to COT to get coupon
Partner up and rifle carry to Mt. Chiseled. Partner serves as timer and runs around Mt. Chiseled or Bear crawl up Mt. Chiseled (no one choose this adventure)
Mt of pain workouts
Return to COT with coupon and time for a Chastain favorite “Make it Stop”—Turnbuckle started with curls,
Moleskin:
This was my VQ and appreciate the push by Posse , Fuse Box and Chastain to lead. What I lacked in originality I made up for in excitement. It was fun experience not being in the back of the pack for the opening mosey, not sure if it was Q adrenalin or others struggling in the cold or me not giving clear instructions on where to go. I did not fully appreciate how challenging it can be to call the cadence while working out and recovering from the run.
Everyone worked their butt off and some said they were exhausted which is very full filling.
Appreciate the crew that braved the cold to support me today. It was so cold my speaker did not work properly. This has been an incredible journey and everyone needs a push to get out of their comfort zone. While running through my Q in my head yesterday I came to the discovery that most of the frequent Q’s have a signature move that they incorporate into every workout. Example Fuse box workouts almost always has a bear crawl involved and Chastain has the donkey kick / monkey humper double punch. I need some time on what will be my signature move for my next Q.
Announcements:
– Five stones wood clearing next weekend bring shovels, chainsaws and other implements
– Christ Closet is now moving to virtual- Please contact them to schedule a drop off or pick up clothes
– TB and Shopdog are working on helping a family pain the rented house they just moved into. If you are available to help please reach out to TB or Shop dog for additional details. Christmas list for this family was also posted on group me
As I was still preparing for my Q last night, Brexit hit me up and asked if anyone preruns SACS…well we start at 0515 and anything before then is crazy, so no. Upon my arrival today, 1 lonely car in the lot. At 5:14 another car pulled in and I greeted Geraldo…however that was Dora. Apparently his other family cruiser is the same as Geraldo. So at 0516 no disclaimer was provided, but we sacked up (2 sandbag and a ruck) and headed into the darkness.
The warmup
Usually this involves a trip or 2 around the track, however 3/4 around the track my phone rang. No it was not Fockers girl this time (another mid workout call to him during his Q), rather Geraldo was looking for us in the gloom. After a bit of coordination we were eventually 4 strong.
The Thang
I honestly struggled to create this workout (mental block), but here are the details:
Perform 1 full round of exercises that started with 5 reps, some sort of “creative mosey” to mid track, 10 reps / creative mosey and then 15 reps…followed by 10 burpess and then advance to the other side of the track with yet another “creative mosey” (single arm, overhead, back, chest)
1st round
Bicep curl, front squat, Russian twist
2nd round
Tricep extension, back squat, LBC
3rd round
Shouldering (from ground put bag on left shoulder, then down / repto on right side), upright row, lung
4th round
Pull through, dolly / thruster
50 Cadence count LBC and walk back to the parking lot
DONE
Take out: Geraldo- thanks
Announcements: Dora on Q next week
Ye Olde Mole Skinny
The temperature gauge read 24 degrees.
The clock read 5:23.
The parking lot at Dromedary was empty but for my own sorry self wondering if anyone else would post. Going back to bed DID sound nice as I looked at the frost covered mulch in the median next to my parking space. Then again, I already drove a million miles to the BFE that is Dromedary.
“Does anyone even live out here?”
“Who decided to put an AO out here anyways?”
“How did I agree to Q way out here on the coldest day of the year so far?”
“Why didn’t I make Premature agree to Q Diesel in exchange?”
These are the thoughts that made their way through my still half asleep brain.
The clock now read 5:24.
Headlights come into view. Aha! A reason to stay. A reason to justify my being here. A reason to…dammit it’s Ice9. There had better be some other PAX showing up…
A few more cars roll in but by the time everyone forced themselves out into the cold it was time for DiCCS. Too late to escape the cold and retreat to the warmth of the fartsack.
The clock read 5:30. Let’s mosey.
Warmup
A long mosey around the lot with a smattering of SSHs, Imperial Squalkers (a portmanteau of Walker and Squat; NOT Squawker as Ice9 griped wasn’t manly enough of a name), Moroccan Night Clubs, Calf Stretches, and Mountain Climbers.
Centerfold got there early (for him) and we picked him up along the way. Made a slight detour and grabbed Shake N Bake to round out the group to an even 8 idiots suckers PAX. Too bad I had no partner work planned. I always seem to get odd numbers when I do that…
The Thang
Jailbreak from the end of the lot towards the crest of the hill, crossing the median at the break, then alternate 5 Merkins, 5 Bomb Jacks, and 5 Big Bois at each tree for a total of 15 of each exercise on the way back down the hill. Repeato.
Mosey our way over to the lot next to the school for a little 4 Corners action where we deconstructed a Burpee. Or maybe it was 10 Burpees. 10 Squats, 10 In and Outs, 10 Merkins, and 10 Bobby Hurleys, but we do them all in cadence.
Another little mosey around the west side of the school to the first alcove. I’ve been on a bit of a Donkey Kick kick (c wut i did ther) recently, so we did some 7s. Donkey Kicks at the first alcove, a quick jaunt to the second alcove, and Speed Skaters (always 2=1) over thataway.
Back to the front lot for more 4 Corners of togetherness, only this time we did 10 Dry Docks, 10 Jump Squats, 10 Diamond Merkins, and 10 Walking Lunges (always, always 2=1). Again, in cadence because I said so.
Now we move over to the big lot and find your own little happy place along the curb.
This group is fast. Faster than I thought (hoped) so we have more time left than I thought (hoped) so we did a little repeato on the tree Merkins/Bomb Jacks/Big Bois from earlier.
A few minutes remaining so 5 Bobby Hurleys at every other tree back to COT. Audible at the top of the hill! 10 Dry Docks on the way down.
Grab some curb for some Dips IC and then some Mike Tysons IC.
The clock read 6:15.
Moleskin
I like to Q. According to Deflated’s fancy-pants website I’ve done so 36 (this’ll be 37) times this year. Some are easier. Some are tougher. Some are inventive. Some are boring. People (me included) have ribbed Zinfandel about advertising “for my xth Q” but honestly I think it’s great he’s talking about it. It’s great to have goals. It’s great to push yourself and get out of your comfort zone. It’s great to LEAD. After all, that’s a core principle of F3. It’s peer led. Recently we’ve had several vQs and that’s awesome. I missed one today at Chiseled where I’m sure Ex-LAX did a killer job. Sugar Daddy and Schnitzel were in attendance at Dromedary today and just had their vQs; both of which I attended and both of which were excellent. I guarantee it won’t be their last Qs either. If you’re reading this and you’ve never led a workout then it’s time you did. You’re ready. Talk to a Site Q. Talk to me. You won’t be on your own. We’ll help you build it, help you through it, and help you improve it for the next time.
Announcements
Rice and Beans – Helping serve meals on Wednesdays uptown – Today’s filled up, but there are openings for 12/9 and 12/16. Talk to Centerfold to sign up. M and 2.0 friendly
Painting project – You may recall the mother and kids who’s husband/father recently left and took all their things (furniture, food, everything). We’re showing them that people care and have a painting day this Saturday following morning workouts to get their house looking nice. Only a couple guys signed up right now and could use a few more. See Shop Dawg for details and to sign up.
YHC took us out
Buddy the Elf, I mean YHC showed up shortly before 0500 for prerun with Alpaca-onesie to boot. Cooter greeted me with a smirk, Black Beard emerged from the minivan, Kirby from the Camry and we were off into the gloom with the wind in our hair. Pretty sure we ran 3 miles but the watch only said 2. Those were some long miles.
Wardrobe change for the main event. Cooter kicked us off with the reminder to social distance. I modified the disclaimer with a pronouncement of wealth upon all gathered and off we went. As @Rousey would say “we got shit to do”
The Thang
Warmup: SSH’s, Peter Parker, Mtn Climbers, Hillbilly Squats, Merkins, Shoulder Taps
Mosey to parking lot in front of Sara’s Y for 12 DAYS OF F3 CHRISTMAS
Introduce new called exercise for each island in the parking lot
Each day introduce a new exercise and repeat prior called exercises
1: Sprint to Sara’s Y and back (12 total = 1 mile)
2: Diamond Merkins (22 total)
3: Sumo Squats (30 total)
4: Supermans (36 total)
5: Burpees (40 total) ALWAYS A CROWD FAVORITE!
6. Squats a-jumping (42 total)
7. Mike Tysons: (42 total)
8. Pax-a-Merkin’g (40 total)
9. ‘Merican hammers (36 total)
10. Planks-a-jacking (30 total) *Insert @Frehley’s dirty joke*
11. Low slow squats (22 total)
12. Carolina dry docks (12 total)
Mosey back to launch and meetup with runners
The Moleskine
So, a few days ago, Hollywood sent me a DM to Q sometime in January. Turns out they actually needed Q’s for the next 2 weeks (including today) so I happily obliged and in hind sight, “What the heck was I thinking?”
With a quick consult from Sugar Daddy on where he would be heading on his VQ and not to disturb and make it even more challenging for him, I developed a Weinke that avoided (mostly) the Flash PAX.
Stabling these (Freaks) Gazelles in F3 Waxhaw is difficult to do. I came up with a strategy to keep them in the coral but it only worked for a few minutes and then they were gone in a cloud of (rain) dust.
Warmorama:
Mosey to Crazy Pajama Dude Island and U turn back to the Yellow Brick Rd. for Paula Abduls using light posts on left of the path, up 2 and do 10 X Merkins, back 1 and do 10 X Plank Jacks.
Circle up at RPP and do some stretching for a few minutes until Flash PAX roll in and then…
Thang:
Find a lifting/running rock (insert evil laugh here) and mosey to sidewalk near Gym for a few rounds of partner work.
P1 does lifting AMRAP with proper form while P2 runs to top and performs exercise and returns to relieve P1, R/R.
Round 1: Curls/Donkey Kicks X 2 Rounds
Round 2: Rows/Mike Tysons X 2 Rounds
Round 3: Shoulder Press/Mike Tysons X 2 Rounds
Return Rocks and Mosey to HS Entrance the long way cutting between the schools and then around the front drive.
Round 1: Starting at Island, run to gate at Stadium and do Speed Skaters X 10 each leg and return to Island for “I’ll let you know” BBSU X 10
Round 2: Speed Skater/(Something awful I can’t remember)
Round 3: Speed Skaters/Reverse Plank Knee Up
7 minutes left so we start our mosey back to COT around the front drive and then taking a detour into MS entrance and around the lot before we end at COT.
Al Gore for 30 seconds and Time!
Didn’t get the typical 5-6 miles today (4.5 or so). This is ultimately a high-mileage-bootcamp, not runner training so we mixed it up a bit from the “norm”. I hope everyone got what they came for.
Great pull by the Gazelles and great push by the rest of us.
Hurry leading the way on pretty much everything. Dude is fast!
Chatterbox posted to his first Ignition and man did he come to work. Glad to see you break through the barrier that was keeping you away. Keep getting faster!
FNG – Prison Break joined us today, 23 Years old and just graduated from UNCC on ROTC scholarship. Now it’s time to pay the piper and he’s getting in shape for Army OCS. Good luck and thank you for serving this great country of ours. Keep bringing that youthful attitude and thanks for making Ice9 Dry-heave for us today! Thanks also to Transporter for bringing him out with us.
Announcements: See Flash BB
Sugar Daddy took us out
I always feel great when a workout is over! The same was especially true today for my “VQ.” It is nice having it ” in the books.” I wanted to do a good job for the PAX. I want to thank all the PAX for coming out to support me and all the kind words of encouragement. It was nice being a 50 year old virgin this morning– as a few of the PAX called me today!
Warmup: After the Disclaimers (of course)
The THANG:
Moleskin:
Announcements:
YHC tooks us out.
The rain was not much this morning, but was enough to make me throw away my cheat sheet for todays 1hr workout. All the roads to the high school parking lot was blocked /closed, so had to just use the middle school area, but it had enough routes for a 4 mile workout.
Arrived early and there was Posse who was quick to give me few tips for the changed plan. Few more Pax joined us.
DICCS given.
Warm ups:
Mose and stick to the oneway (Yes Fusebox we are going up the hill) to Deals road and back to the shelter near the entrance. SSH, Imperial walkers, Moroccan night club, calf stretch and few Merkins.
The Thang:
Partner up to do 100 Merkins, 200 Squats, 300 LBC’s. Partners take turn to run a lap around the student drop off loop. Then add some air presser’s. Mose to the next student drop off loop. Look at the numbers on the pillars and do as many bur-pies (Not my FAV too Blue screen). Start from 8 and go down till 1 (Total 36). Run a lap in between. What next … Run between the flag poles. 20 dips at one end and 10 incline merkins at the other … what next … 20 jump lunges and run a lap (Yes 2 is 1). Repeat 2 times. Next grab some rocks. Curls, overhead press, swings (I think). 1 more trip up the hill to deals road and back. Relax squat with back agains the wall. Chastian reminds me of the time. Mose (Sprint with Hurry) back to COT. Total 4.2 miles on my apple watch. Wow that was good.
Moleskin:
The encouragement and the push by each one of you took me thus far. Felt nervous and exited. Posse sent me this quote “If it excites you and scares the crap out of you at the same time, it probably means you should do it.
I love the “No man left behind policy”. Yes, that made me keep posting. There was always someone pushing and motivating me. Remember Wrigley making me run 2 driveways and walk 1 drive way at watchtower when I started posting and everyone who circled back to pick up the 6th.
Hurry was the 6th man. He started out in metro and has recently been posting with us after he moved here. He’s excited to be here.
No announcements.
Saturday is lifting day, so YHC came up with a weinke, loaded the bells in the car, and headed for the hot box at Calvary for another week’s edition of Olympus. It was cool and a little wet, so I expected numbers to be down. Unfortunately, the rest of the pax were apparently suffering from Black Friday hangovers and it was a beatdown for 1.. Not a problem when you’ve got a good playlist.
Appetizer: SSH, Sharon Towers, Arm Circles, Prying Squat
Main Course:
Repeat 4 times for 400 swings, 80 merkins, 32 goblet squats, 32 deadlifts, 40 clean and press.
Load the bells back in the car and join the RockZero crew for some Mary and COT.
Announcements:
Moleskine: