Accuweather had us right about 30 degrees, and 18 hearty souls decided to join me in slaying the Hydra.
Arrived fairly early (Q school rules), but not earlier than Cheese Curd who ran in (props) and Clover and his FNG James Dallas. Everyone else started meandering and starting the chatter which was the call of the day.
You can’t come to Hydra and not have a good time; that is, unless you are Gummy, Harley, Runstopper, and all other unnamed Qs that have decided to have the heart of their weinke to be running up and down Summerlin. That is just plain dumb, stupid, idiotic. For all future Qs, don’t do that, your PAX will hate you.
Seriously though, Hydra is truly awesome. I’ll just leave it at that.
Gave a disclaimer and we were off.
We ran down Rea, took a right on Summerlin, then a quick left that adjoins OP to Stonecroft. Moseyed halfway down to the T intersection of that road into the other road, and stopped for COP.
IW
Hillbilly
HRM
MC
LSS
Recover and continue running on that road until it dead ended. Call was for 30 CDDs. Some did them, some didn’t. Spackler didn’t and said as much. #trifusesnik4life
Run up the little hill to the next T intersection for 30 more CDDs.
Keep running down that street (entrance of Stonecroft), take a left on Colony, then quick left into parking lot of business building at Colony Place. I think the businesses in there are made up of financial advisers, optometrists, physical therapists, and the oracle.
Partner up, Partner 1 does called exercise, Partner 2 runs around the building.
R1 merkins
R2 LBC
R3 Sister Mary Katherine (stupid)
Get everyone back in and mosey to the wall behind the restaurant that never survives. Sleepy said he heard rumors that we are looking at a Char Bar coming in there. Very interesting indeed, in that 1) there is a Char Bar no more than five miles away, and more importantly 2) direct comp to the impervious Lodge. We will see.
Wall sits with two rounds of arm raises.
Get up, mosey over to the fountain that is under construction. Partner 1 does step ups, while Partner 2 runs and touches the bank building and back. Two rounds
Mosey to the entrance of Colony Place on Rea Road, and instruct PAX to run back to launch, while stopping at each light pole on the right, drop and give 10 merkins, which then changed to LBC. I think there were something like 12 poles.
Got back to launch a tad early, 6:09 by Gummy’s trusty watch, so do some Mary.
Dolly
Freddy Murchison (after, Gummy told me it was only 6:11 at this point)
Rosalita
LBC (Snowflake was the only one counting, until we got to 31 and he even stopped, wheels off)
Flutter (Sprox took this one over as the natives were getting resteless)
CDD
done
Moleskin notebook
Even in much cooler temps, Hydra can still draw a crowd. It has become a really fun place. It is that place that brings together veteran and new, young and old, fast and slow, and just a good ole’ slice of Americana.
During the fountain set, I started singing the song “Brandy”, which is an ode to one of our newer Pax (Brandy), and quickly asked our resident Alex Trebek of 70’s & 80’s music, Geraldo, who might have sang that song. He didn’t know. What??? Fear not though, Deep Dish came to the rescue with Looking Glass. Whew, good to know we have another person with much useful knowledge like myself and G-man. I can handle 80’s, but 70’s is past my pay grade.
Gloss asked me before the workout if we’d be running quite a bit as he has an ankle knock that happened on NYE. Says it was done while digging a hole or something, but Gummy and I think it was done after saying one of two statements 1) watch this, or 2) hold my beer.
Gloss’ Mountainbrook cohorts were rocking some serious gear this morning. Buc-ees was rocking a blue Buc-ees t-shirt from Texas this morning, and wore the red counterpart at HawksNest on Tuesday. Motorboat was donning a collared LSU shirt, and looked damned good in it too. Probably the first collared shirt I’ve seen at F3. Mountainbrook has some serious swagger going on right now. I wish it had this much swag from 2000-2003 when three buddies and I rented a house in there and tore it down every weekend.
I’m shocked that Spack and Bounce haven’t hibernated back into the 70 degree temps of OTF Arbo.
Learned that Marge is doing a 26 hour stint to NOLA and back for the natty on Monday night. From past experience, you better do an all nighter if you plan on making that 6am flight Tuesday morning. #pat0brianstill4
Good to see Curd back in the fold. He has his Doc on speed dial these days, stay healthy brother.
Gummy played not only co-site Q and lead heckler this morning, but was also the resident Timekeeper.
Now to our FNG, James Dallas. From what I recall, James is from The Bronx, went to USC (Cocks) for undergrad and Wake for grad school. Has a wife and three lovely children, works for one of the banks, and his high school mascot was the Maroons (what the hell is that???). Soooo, we seemed to be stuck on the “Dallas” theme. Someone immediately threw out JR, but that is way too strong. I asked what the chick’s name was (Bobby’s wife), and Sleepy immediately said Sue Ellen. Thought that was the stone winner until Sleepy let us know there is already one of those in the Nation. Motorboat then quickly mentioned South Fork, which is the name of the ranch in this classic, and alas, there’s your name sir. Come on back anytime.
Thanks to Gum and Sprox for the opportunity to lead at the old stompin grounds.
This will be my first to the last Q in the Waxhaw area. I’ve grown a lot over the past few years and thankful for all you guys. I’m going to keep this short before I get something in my eye but the battles we have faced in the gloom will forever stick with me! Come out to CO anytime and visit, we would love to have you.
The Thang:
MT/Ab Web – 1/4 2/8 etc
Suicides using light poles in the front with merkins and squats down and back…We hit around 3 miles and I made it all up as I went. If you were there you know it sucked! Thanks for letting me lead.
Announcements: NONE
And for my 38th Q, I will pull a rabbit out of my…nah. We are going to destroy some Strava segments together after being personally annoyed as to how the timer starts and stops. Most will read that last sentence and have zero clue what I’m talking about. That’s ok too, you will earn the morning!
What would I do? So many hills but how many can we hit in 45 minutes? How many can we jail break? First weinke was destroyed after mapping out my run and it was 4.2mi. That ain’t happening in 45 minutes so I removed a 1.25mi section which would have upset a lot of pax this AM.
More guys than I was expecting this morning. A lot of the usual suspects, some familiar faces and two guys running from their recent FNG tags.
DiCCS given. Goooooo…..
THE THANG
Mosey towards the safe place to cross on the other side of the gas station, over towards Dreamchasers, across the bridge and to that random dimly lit parking lot we go. Circle up:
• 20 x SSH
• 10 x Imperial Squaker
• Jimmy Dugan
• Calf Stretch
Let’s mosey passed the snow cones and make a right to head towards the library and over to the basketball court. Find yourself some room and it’s time for some Compass! Well that was awful.
Mosey back towards library. Prep everyone for the full jail break up Bad Idea which is about 320 meters-ish. Kid Rock owns the record at 47 seconds and today more than one person will conquer this damn thing. So help me…and everyone hates me. I ripped off my headlamp because it would help my breathing probably and also because I didn’t want to look like a dufus while the paramedics revived my limp, lifeless body. Holy sheet that was terrible but everyone gave it what they had.
Mosey over to graveyard for 4 corners. 20 x monkey humpers, 10 x Merkins, 20 x Gas Pumps and 10 x Carolina Dry Docks. 2 rounds.
Mosey to the other side of the graveyard. Teams of 2. Partner 1 Burpees. Partner 2 Hot Lap. 2 laps each. Rinse and repeat but switch to Speedskaters. Did some of us not count right? No idea. I was mentally prepping for what was to come next.
Now it’s time to run back down Bad Idea in an attempt to beat the record which Kid Rock also owns at 45 seconds. LET’S GO!!! And we are all dead again….
Mosey to cupcake parking lot. Time check. Ab work in the shopping center to relax the legs a bit? We need all our strength to get up the hill to beat Deadwood’s 57 second record. We will never know because we didn’t make it.
Is it closing time yet? Yes, thank you lord.
MOLESKIN
19 total posted this morning for a shot at the title at my home base, The Floater. Thank you to everyone that joined me because I love coming up with ideas to inflict a wine drunk version of pain on myself and everyone with me. I think we did it you guys!
As for the Strava titles, son of a B! Some how I started my watch on “treadmill” which means it doesn’t track GPS. Total and inexcusable BS. I was mad for like 45 seconds, I moved on to annoyed and now I’m just upset. Lots of steps during such a rough loss and the grieving process. I left it all out there with nothing to show. Such bummer.
So where did we go and where did we hit? Here are the facts:
• Bad Idea uphill towards the Cemetery (about 320 meters, just short of a 1/4mi)
• Record: Kid Rock @ 47 seconds
• NEW RECORD: Chastain @ 45 seconds!!
• Bad Idea downhill towards the School (about 320 meters, just short of a 1/4mi)
• Record: Kid Rock @ 45 seconds
• It was not broken today but Hollywood crossed @ 52 seconds!!
Semi congrats and no I don’t care if you came in 2nd, including myself. If you ain’t first, you’re last. That’s the motto. I think Carb Load would have broken the downhill but that’s only because I watched it first hand while drafting him. Great push by everyone, that wasn’t easy. Even funnier when DW told us at the end of COT he thought he won all the titles on the segments. He said, “I passed so many guys!” but if you start from the back that’s what happens big boy. Enjoy 3rd and 4th place today you loser (but only because Carb Load and I have dumb watches).
We might need to edit a name I gave to one of our newest PAX, Floppy Disk, at the New Years Eve workout. Dude is killing it and keeps showing up and he reminds me of a young Carb Load, someone who keeps showing up. Just keep posting man and you will be called Hard Disk in no time….that doesn’t sound right.
Also Sambuca! Day #2 for this FNG who started yesterday and he brought out all dry heaving this morning. I didn’t hear it but DW mentioned he might barf from hearing him barf. I wish that would have happened….
Great to see Swimmers! That dude Site Qs like 6-7 sites in-between managing male urethras and its always good to see you.
Lastly, Trojan and Blades of Glory. We miss you guys. Great seeing you both today and keep on, keeping on. See you both tomorrow and Saturday. Pressure is on!
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Saturday, 8am – Christ Closet’s Organizing and Folding party!
Nails has his VQ tonight at Clyent Dinner at 5:30pm!
Transporter has Swarm at 5:15am tomorrow!
Wedding Singer has Impromptu at 5:30am tomorrow (and he better freaking finish these damn BBs)!
Damascus has Diesel at 5:30am tomorrow
Operation toothbrush and toothpaste for the kids in Waxhaw closes this week! The 3rd F team has gathered a bunch and more is still coming in!
Start of WAMRAP 2020 today. Come join us if you want to get better. Here’s what we did today.
Run to back of Whole Foods.
Lunge Walk 25 yards
Run to railings
5 Supine Pull ups and 5 Derkins with feet on the rail
Back behind Whole Foods to Lunge Walk 25 yards
Run up the deck stairs. 5 burpees on Level 4, 5 Heels to Heaven on Level 3, 5 Donkey Kicks on Level 2. Back to the bottom and head out behind Whole Foods. Start over with 25-yard Lunge Walk
Add 5 reps each round. All men were on or complete with the 6th round when time was called.
Back of Whole Foods had a lot of traffic for the arriving 6am shift. Clearly quick decision making isn’t part of the training program at WF as most of the cars struggled to decide on where to park in an empty parking lot. Hot Yoga making himself a permanent fixture at WAMRAP, showing up and grinding nearly every week. Fingerless glove Job did not get full gloves for Christmas. Must have missed being on the good list. Surely he enjoyed grabbing that iron railing for pull ups. Astro posting back regularly to build back some upper body after a long fall of run-only workouts. For some reason Horsehead couldn’t find a more appealing option and posted at WAMRAP. I don’t think he enjoyed all the burpees, but good to have him out.
Thanks to Astro for the takeout.
-Alf
13 PAX, including two FNGs, braved the icy cold this morning to climb the slopes of Mt. Chiseled. A quick check of the weather app last night led this guy to believe we’d have temps around 34 degrees. Cold, but nothing out of the ordinary. On the ride to the AO at 0500 the truck temp read 27. Frosted Coupons. A frozen tire. Ice in the buckets? This is no time for an audible!
The Warmup:
Quick jog around Mt. Chiseled to get our bearings and get those creaky joints moving. Back to the start and each PAX grabs 2 bricks.
AMRAP – 1 minute each with a 10 second transition period between
Not much mumble chatter. One PAX mentioned it might’ve been cause everyone was secretly thinking how much they hated me.
The Thang:
Hearken now and hear my tale of a band of adventurers. Brothers. PAX! Who braved the chill and wintry morn’ to challenge themselves, test their mettle, weave this tale of gallant daring, and impose their will upon the mountain!
To the far side of Mt. Chiseled they strode and gathered up the great bricks of stone.
At last they were off with ten goblet squats that had broken down many lesser men. Then down with the stone and up the icy cliffs, across the far side of the frozen tundra where they warmed themselves by doing a single, solitary burpee. Alas, no rest for these weary souls, so back across the icy plains to the slippery peak of the mountain and descend, descend, carefully… gracefully, down the treacherous mountainside.
Again, again! Nine squats, two burpees. Eight squats, three burpees! These brave adventurers pushed and forged ahead on a quest that seemingly had no end. When their bodies felt they could surely handle no more, at last reprieve was upon them. In total, no less than five and fifty burpees and five and fifty goblet squats were vanquished by these brave PAX.
With the dreaded peak now behind them, the determined warriors strode forth to steel themselves against one last test.
In teams of three the PAX found themselves strewn across a vast battlefield. On one end they toiled to lift great coupons to row, curl and press. On the other the men speedily skated, pushed down the earth, and scaled the ground like a web crawler. And in between, the hearty PAX sprinted with great haste to relieve the brothers of their onerous burdens.
It was on this set of tasks the determined brotherhood labored until the final trek to where their journey both began and would now end.
Moleskin:
If you actually read that then I’m sorry. Sitting at the courthouse while awaiting a hearing means a lot of bored free time.
Big thanks to Fuse for showing up early to assist with the coupons and then making another run to storage when the PAX count exceeded expectations.
Another thanks to Xerox and Mayhem for helping with the clean up.
Welcome to Sambuca and Uncle Si (double respect. Not sure if those guys were warned what they were getting into but they looked like regulars to me. When you meet them, be sure to ask how they got their names.
Welcome back to Offline. After some injuries and an extended time off he was back and sweating with the rest of us
Announcements:
Thanks Recalculating for taking us out.
The air was chilly but still warmer than average for early January as YHC stepped into the Scout Hut and cranked up the heat to “sweltering” in preparation for this morning’s workout.
Disclosure was given and Devo started as Pax continued to filter in (not calling you out here, you know who you are).
Devo: Three New Year’s Resolutions to Keep by Ann Marie Chilton
Warm-up
Imperial Walker – 10IC
Low-but-not-so-slow Squats – 10IC
Slow Giant Arm Circles – 5F/5B R/L
One-legged side-straddle-swing (AKA “agility test”) – 10/leg
Vinyasa – 1X slow together with 10 calf raises in DD position
Vinyasa – 1X together at regular speed
Vinyasa – 1X OYO
Main Thang:
All movements are 4 times at 5 secs hold, then 1 more time at 45 secs hold. (4-5-45) Vinyasa between each stretch.
Low lunge
Seated forward fold w/strap
Quad stretch
Gate pose
Prone shoulder roll
On your 6: Dead pigeon then straight leg cross-body stretch
Toes pose
TIME
Announcements:
After a long and distinguished tour of duty as Site Co-Q, Tweetsie passed the mantle (and importantly, the keys) to our new Site Co-Q Julip.
Moleskin:
Good crowd for today’s edition of Gumby. YHC wanted to mix it up a bit with “different” music, a few minutes of actual warm-up (never stretch a cold muscle), and an approach to stretching modeled more on what you’d get at Physical Therapy then a yoga studio. I’d love feedback in comments here or DM on Twitter @SwissMissF3 or Slack. (Already noted: standing quad stretch seemed to go better with wall support. “Agility test” in warm-ups was a bust.)
Check out the full devo in the link above. Good stuff that we should all take to heart and make part of our life this year.
Thank you to Tweetsie for being a great site co-Q for a long time (over two years, I think). His millennial technical prowess saved this near-Respect’s bacon from getting tossed into Q jail too many times to count. Fortunately for me (and all of us, really) he’s not going to disappear even though he’s moved. He’ll still be in the Q rotation at Gumby and probably other A51 AOs.
Thanks for the opportunity to lead and try new things,
Swiss Miss
13 pax experienced the dawn of a new day in South Charlotte yesterday with the launch of the newest gear workout and the first workout of the new strength program. As you’ve undoubtedly heard if you’re reading this backblast, there will be 3 strength workouts a week going forward: Mondays at McAlpine Elementary (Swole), Wednesdays at Cavalry (Meathead), and Saturdays at Elizabeth Lane Elementary (Olympus).
The Thang (along with recommended weights):
| Single presses: 6 x (5 press ea side@ 20kg) | |
| 1H swings: 16 x (10 swings OTM @ 28kg) | |
| Farmer’s walks: 4 x (90 sec @ “heavy”) |
Thanks to Udder for the takeout in COT.
Announcements:
Ye Olde Moleskine:
Had the opportunity to Q at Bushwood and was a little nervous I must say. Where is the valet and how much do you tip at the bag drop? Golf attire, collard shirt, socks or no socks – lots to think about. I took out a cart for a quick run of the course to get my bearings (how much do you tip the Cart Guy?). 17 men showed up on a near perfect day to play 18. While I didn’t think this would be Junior Tour event -I was surprised that this was a Champions Tour Event – 17 Pax – Average Age of 46
(FYI – need to get Dobber? added into the system)
Disclaimer, Cell, CPR, Safety
Warm up: Typical: SSH, LSS, Merkin and Mountain Climber
Thang
Mosey to one of the the lower income neighborhoods in marvin:
Mosey through path to parking lot for some basketball conditioning:
Line touches. Sideline to Sideline. Partner up. Go sideline to sideline in 1 minute for x number of line touches. Combine # you didn’t get to for Burpee penalty.
This is an old pre-season basketball conditioning drill that might have been performed in the 80’s. Garbage cans would be placed at each end of the court. We could have used the cans today – Hats off to Dobber with the first Merlot spill of 2020.
Asked the park ranger to help speed play and get us in front of the foursome that was goofing off— headed to wall.
Finish
COT/Announcements: Toothbrushes/Paste/Soap – needed for Ray of Hope bring to Dana and others. Christ Closet Folding for this Saturday 8AM AkBars Church on Newton/Cuthby. 2.0 friendly
Lots of Respect’s and those in the forty something bracket – average Age of 46… Very Impressive. I don’t know of a place – gym, ymca, or neighborhood club (not to be named) that would give this type of effort in the gloom on a consistent basis. We are truly blessed to be surrounded by outstanding men, who are supportive and in it together and who also don’t forget to laugh and bust BALLS. Besides the workouts we have some lifestyle habits some are trying to improve on: Dryuary still going strong and Weight Loss Challenge along with some goal setting to give a path for improvement in 2020.
Keep it up – Playhouse is open for business. *Disclaimer on the Playhouse*** Must be Unoffendable to join – must be willing to get your feelings hurt once in a while – can’t suffer from BUTTHURT
FYI – need to get Dobber? added into the system
9 PAX gathered in the gloom to start their week the right way. After an abbreviated disclaimer we were off.
Moleskin
Strong group of PAX out today. YHC managed to lead from the middle. Chalet and Bout Time were way out in front. Not sure which actually claimed the VT. Good to have Gangsta Mouse back out at DMZ. Aquafresh marketed my Q on the tweeter but was a no show. Always a pleasure to lead the DMZ pax. Thanks for the opportunity. Aye.
No announcements.