Bring your bells inside on cold nights

Bring your bells inside on cold nights

Seven foolhardy F3 #wamrappers found themselves in a situation. That situation, was a kettlebell complex with a pyramid twist. #F3style Sage advice was given the night before and then Alf didn’t even show up. Disclaimer stated, albeit poorly, we mosey’d on over to the deck.

Camp Gladiator was in full effect on the ground floor, so we took it to level one so as to not intimidate the campers or embarrass ourselves. Sidenote: music is nice for AMRAP workouts.

Getting to that Thang

  • KB Deadlift
  • Merkin
  • KB High Pull
  • Merkin
  • KB Swing
  • Merkin
  • KB Goblet Thruster
  • Merkin
  • Run up ramp to level two and down stairs to bells

That’s a set. Start at 5 reps. GO, GO WAMRAP!!!!!! Add a rep each set to make it up the pyramid. 20 mins in, we reached the top of our respective pyramids and it’s time to head back down. But this time, run up the stairs and down the ramps back to bells.

Finish up your last set and climb stairs to level 2. Plank w/6″ hold to AYG down ramp and back to bells.

Grab the gear and hoof it back to the launch.

Moleskin: No matter who leads the WAMRAP it will suck. That’s the point. So just hunker down in your own little pain cave and push on. Great work by all today. After 3 rounds there was a pile of clothes in the hallway as the PAX were heating up. #missionaccomplished Merkins in-between KB exercises were unsavory but necessary. No surprise that McGee, Purell and Orange Whip had the lead and 12 reps. Flipper and Squid knocked out 11 and YHC and Stumpy put in 10. No Camp Gladiators were hurt in the making of this workout. But I did go give my brother, F3 Electric Slide, a big hug afterwards. He is their clipboarder. Till next time. SYITG

Announcements: Joe Davis, BRR, F3 Golf and don’t forget to register for the Xmas party.

Death Valley Circuit

10 of Charlotte’s finest ignored the potential for freezing rain and got after it at Death Valley. Here’s what we did.

Warm-Up

  • SSH
  • IW
  • Low slow squats
  • Good mornings
  • Merkins

Circuit x3

  • Lap around the track
  • 20 merkins at the outhouse laps 1 and 3 / 20 CDocks lap 2
  • 20 dips at the bleachers / 20 step ups
  • 20 supine pullups / 10 donkey kicks

Wall work, catch our breath, People’s chair with arm raises

Run some street with merkins and CDocks at street lights

Finish up with some Mary

Solid group out there, I was struggling to keep up. I was a bit surprised to see Dredd roll in on two wheels to meet up with Stinger. I felt like I had a bit of extra pressure with the expected smack talk and potential harassment from Dredd. Chatter was kept fairly minimal (relatively speaking) so I’ll take that as a sign that it was a fairly difficult workout. Prayers for the team headed to Peru. Thanks to Dollywood for the chance to lead.

Harley

We Got The (cold) Runs…

19 Pax braved the cold temps to take their (running) talents to the Country Club hills of Ballantyne. We modified today’s workout from sprints/form drills to longer time intervals, in hopes of keeping hypothermia at bay. And, someone grabbed a new Crown today…

The Workout:

  • Longer warm-up of 1.5 miles, followed by dynamic stretching & strides
  • 3x 5 minutes of interval pick ups – at roughly at 10k pace; 2ish minute recovery between sets
  • 1x Full on Assault of “We Got The Runs” hill on Ballantyne Country Club Dr (CROWN WINNER REVEALED BELOW!)
  • Cool down to The Vine

So being my first BackBlast – some initial thoughts on Swift. I’m blown away at the effort and drive that guys from the front of the pack to the 6 put into these workouts. Whether it’s 20 or 80 degrees, rain or sun, guys push it hard every week. Individually speaking, guys like Bratwurst, Frasier, Thin Mint, Fletch, Haggis, Purell, Bunker, Woodson and many others (including Polly & Gold Digger today) have pushed me much further in these workouts that I would on my own.

Back to today – Great turnout considering the weather & guys tapering for Arches 50k (Kudos to Gumbo, Enron, Bunker, Haggis, Thin Mint for showing up!)

  • Starting the 1st set of 5 minutes going up Ben Nevis hill probably didn’t win me popularity points, but it also kept the pace honest for the 1st set, and took our mind away from the cold
  • The next 2 sets of 5 minutes took us through both sides the neighborhoods — a solid serving of hills along the way
  • Lastly — YHC announced a new segment that took us from the bottom to the top of one of the toughest hills , made worse by my underestimated of the segment length. **After the long assault, and my stomach almost giving out (hence the segment name) — The Winner for today’s “We Got The Runs” Crown is FRASIER Click Here! https://www.strava.com/segments/19734570?filter=overall
  • For those whose GPS didn’t pick up the segment correctly, like me, I’m sure we’ll get out there again sometime! Just remember, the hill’s so tough that it may make you feel like you have the runs…

Lastly, props to Brat for letting us have in on the fun of Qing workouts. Today gave me a little extra motivation to wake up early. In general, waking up at 4:30 isn’t real easy for me… but I’ve never regretted doing so for coming out to Swift…

Freaking Cold Ignition Workout

5 PAX showed up for the first workout of the morning as there were 3 at this AO for the individuals not up for a run and the ones who felt they needed to sleep in after a Crazy night of football.

Stretch w/Disclaimer + DICCS

The Thang:

BISR to Track Circle around front of schools

Grab some curb – Scorpion Plank Jack in cadence x 20

Sling shot around circle w/ 25 Plank Jumps and Jacks x 6. With goal is 6 completing 6.

20 Merkins each light alternating who carries the ball to top of school.

25 Mountain Climbers then 25 Squats about half way each light alternating who carries the ball coming back.

Head to the lower parking lot for 3 corners w SlamBall in middle

12 slams in center each time – 25 Squats in corner – SSH middle waiting on ball

12 squat press in center each time – 10 Bomb Jacks in corner planking in middle waiting for ball.

BISR back to start with an audible at the top of the school since we were looking short of the 4 miles – long way back to parking lot arriving a minute late.  (there was some complaining) but 4.1 miles reached to avoid Q Fail.

Moleskine:

Everyone survived, worked hard, only took half the workout to get warm.  Really good to see the Newells out there pushing it and Fuse making his Ignition debut.   He must of thought the running would be limited due to my lead.   Of coarse Hollywood killed it and followed back up with the 6 constantly.  He did feel it necessary to stick around for the 3rd workout with Bottlecap and more SlamBalls.

Missed announcements due to being late.

Ole MacDonald took us out.

Running Around Latin

First time visiting the fine AO of Hawk’s Nest. Been many times for CCDS vs. Latin sporting events years ago before becoming an empty nester. Brought back fine memories.

Small crowd of 8 this am. Was it the cold? Maybe the heads up from Hops that lots of running may be involved? (We did get in 3 miles). Possibly the simple fact that Checkpoint does not have that many friends…..

Whatever it was we just got after it. Had a little COP. Taught everyone the True American (6 count with a hand release merkin and a plankjack). Love that exercise. Keeps everyone honest (required in Metro). Ya need to go all the way down to release the hands and ya need to lock out the elbows to do the plank jack. Does wonders for your Merkin strength.

Off to the pavilion by the big practice field up the hill. Dips, Derkins, and Jump ups. To the baseball field for a few laps with Merkins at right, center, left and home plate. To the parking lot by the lacrosse field for some True Americans. Went to the turf field to visit the zoo (bear crawl, bunny hop, crab walk, duck walk, monkey humpers, and the much loved centipede). 150 yards of running between each. Then to the track around the football field for 3 hot laps with stops every 220 for True Americans.

It was a great morning. Didn’t stay cold long. Hops was there to support the Q and even bring some donations for Peru. Sprockets and Witch Doctor were up front. Puddin Pop showed up early and was excited to know we were gonna get some running in. It was surprisingly quiet this am. Little mumblechatter. Except for the Centipede there was no complaining. I love A51. No bitchin. Just work.

Thanks Hops for the takeout.

Bagpipe Top 3 Contender for 2019

8 SOBs joined the QIC for the workout this morning. Disclaimer given, no sugar-coating this morning. Icy and dangerously cold, or something like that. Felt great once we got moving.

Thang

Mosey up Conlan Circle. Right onto the thoroughfare to Ortho Carolina Urgent Care. Cross Ballantyne Medical Pl. Circle up.

COP

SSH x 20

Merkin x 15

Mountain Climbers x 15

Low Slow Squat x 15

3 Building Repeats

3 medical buildings in this part of the AO. Start at 1. 20 Merkins. Run to 2. 15 Knee Slap Jump Squats. Run to 3. 10 Burpees. Run back to 1. 3 reps total

Mary to regroup the 6. Flutter x 20/Dolly x 20/Heels to Heaven x 10

Mosey up out of the Medical park. Left on Ballantyne Commons. Right onto Costigan and over to the parking deck. Stop before crossing BC. People’s Chair. Monkey Humper x 20 IC.

Mosey up ramps to top. Monkey Humper x 20 IC.

Down Stairs to subteranean level. AYG up ramps. At each right turn: 10 Monkey Humpers/10 Merkins.

Plank-o-rama at the top. Mosey back down the ramps and down Costigan across BC to Conlan Circle. Left on the Ortho thoroughfare. AYG to Ballantyne Medical. 10 Burpees OYO. Mosey back up to launch lot.

COT

Moleskin

Very little mumblechatter about the cold. Is what it is. We got moving quickly and kept the heart rate up. Didn’t feel the cold except when my windpipe and lungs were raising the temperature of the air I breathed about 75 degrees in a short period of time. Took a minute to get used to that.

Solid work by the Bagpipe crew today. Original call was for 5 repeats at the medical buildings. Should have went with that rather than audible to 3. Thanks for the invite to Q Bagpipe. Always nice to get down to B-tyne for a workout. Site-Q Tagalong has Centurion Q 2/1. Come on out and support him. He told YHC this was his hardest workout of the week (and 1st) and a top 3 Bagpipe for 2019. Good stuff.

T-Claps to Bratwurst for the takeout prayer.

Announcements

03/09/2019 Joe Davis Run for Recovery. REGISTER

Breakfast Special & Teamwork

14 men endured the Carolina ice age for some a breakfast board beatdown and some much needed teamwork. Checked the weather app to see a nice balmy 22 degree morning for Watchtower – with that I knew I needed to keep the PAX moving to fire up the heart rate.

DCCS

Circle up in front of Hickory Tavern for a quick hot lap and some DCCS

Warmup

  • 25 SSH
  • 10 LSS
  • 15 Mtn Climbers
  • 10 Merkins
  • 5 Burpees on your Own

Breakfast Specials

Flipped the Sandwich board to make a Breakfast Special’s board which was waiting of the PAX at the Hickory Taver Entrance. On the board were five exercises, each with a 20 rep count. Progressive with lap in between.. Ex (Do excercise 1 lap – then exercise 1 & exercise 2 – lap.. until all five exercise. Total would yeild 300

  • Step Ups
  • Speed Skaters
  • Derkins
  • Mountain Climbers
  • SSH

Pick up a coupon (slam balls) – in groups of 3 – pass ball back and forth until we made it to the Target parking lot. Some confusion on Indian run vs simply pass the ball back and forth down your line. Next time Q will be more clear.

Teamwork

Aside from his outstanding man to man defense – Hurley holds several assist records. The theme here was to work on our teamwork and passing skills while also getting some defensive work in. Partner up in teams of 3 each with a Slam Ball.

P1 and P2 – Pass Slam Ball chest pass down the top section of the lot. At each end P1 20 Ball Slams/P2 20 BH’s… Chest Pass Ball Slam back and flip flop. Timer is P3 who is doing a long lap around Target Parking Lot with 5 Bomb Jacks at each corner. P3 replaces P1….

Saw several groups working hard on this section…

Now – the teamwork – Bear Crawl Passes. In Bear Crawl position pass the slam ball back and forth until you reach the end of the aisle -rinse and repeat until P3 gets back. Extra Credit – Foundation added in the three man weave for those familiar with the layup passing drill..

Pick up the 6 and start to head back. Slam Ball Burpee for every tree (7) – pass ball between teammates.

COTS

Announcements – Q School Saturday 26th – See Principal Posse for details

Was a little nervous using the slam balls -especially when I was pulling in to see the PDS Clown Car rolling in with 4. Wasn’t sure if there would be enough slam balls for the crowd.

Extra Credit – Chickelittle on the pre-run- was solo and looked to be moving fast. Most likely will be fielding lots of calls today from the poultry community for the unsafe temps.

Gerber must live on a really really BIG LOT that requires sprinting to the mailbox as he was moving out fast on the Target laps

Is Zin leaving the Clydesdales behind for good? Has been moving out fast – now has a pacer in Gerber…

PDS Crew – OneStar, Boytano, AssCrack and LazyBoy were getting after it. Also must have shopped together at Dick’s for all the long underwear, coats, scarfs and gloves….

Kudo’s to ShowGirl – sporting the shorts… extra points from the Q.. great work – way to get after it

RubberMaid and Foundation discussing some really deep topics- maybe they thought this session was Tea Time? Lots chatter – but I am sure the were getting after it

MadDog and Posse with the Blue Balls today – working good together as a team. Glad to have you back MD – Posse – thanks for helping coral the players who wanted to leave practice

Dana – Dude did the Gremlin on Saturday, Double-Posted Yesterday and still made it out today. Word has it he’s trying to “bank” some posts so that he can “PostYesPost” while he is on an extended business trip.

As always my pleasure to serve this great group of guys. The winter gloom can play tricks on the mind and promote fartsacking. Reach out to those who you haven’t seen in a bit. Keep Derek in mind as what he is doing requires a lot of effort and patience….ShopDog going through tough period as well..let’s reach out to him.

Implements of Destruction

9 men chose DaVinci on Saturday, probably due to Mighty Mite’s brilliant meme’ing. Rain was in the forecast but we dodged it. Disclaimer given and off we go.

The thang: Mosey across Rea Rd to the Elevation parking lot. Warm Up: 15 IWs, 10 plank jacks/10 mountain climbers/10 merkins, 15 low slow squats (all IC). Mosey to the end of the lot and find my car strategically positioned.

Inside the trunk were 4 kettlebells (45, 35, 30, 25) and two sandbags (50 lbs and 40 lbs – thanks Fire Hazard). Partner up and circle up for a pair of circuits.

Circuit 1: Each sandbag = over the shoulder throws, 45 KB = 2 hand swings, 35 KB = one arm snatch, 30 KB = high pulls, 25 KB = straight leg (one leg) deadlifts. P1 does the exercise while P2 runs ~50 yards downs and back. Rotate through the 6 stations.

Circuit 2: Each sandbag = bent over rows, 45 KB = upright rows, 35 KB = KB merkins, 30 KB = tricep extensions, 25 KB = one arm curl and press. P1 does the exercise with the weight, P2 does called exercise IC to keep the heart-rates up: burpees, jump squats, peter parkers, burpees, etc.

Merkins and Mary: PAX choice while 3 PAX at a time to 20 step ups with either a sandbag or the 45 KB. These step ups were tough!!

Put the coupons away and take the long way home to get a little running in. Stops along the way for planks, merkins, squats, freddie mercury, heels to heaven and probably some other stuff.

Announcements: Nada

Moleskin: Was fun to see who all would show after the Mighty and Turkey show on Slack Friday. Glad to see Stonehenge with a good turnout as well and glad we had a good SOB Saturday. Thanks all.

The Dukes of Hazzard

13 men, one an FNG, stayed off the hills (as promised) but still found a whole lot of hurt at the weekly edition of Rebel Yell.

Thang

  • Mosey to the lot near the Target speed bumps
  • Thorough disclaimer for our new guy
  • COT (IC) – SSH x15, IW x15, LSS x15, Merkin x10
  • Mosey to the speed bumps for BLIMPS
    • Run to 1st speed bump, 5 burpees
    • 2nd speed bump, 10 lunges (each leg)
    • 3rd speed bump, 15 IW (each side)
    • 4th speed bump, 20 merkins
    • 5th speed bump, 25 Plank Jack
    • 6th speed bump, 30 squats
  • Plank-o-rama for the 6
  • Mosey down and across street to St Matt’s
  • Partner up, Round 1
    • P1 runs one direction
    • P2 other direction
    • When you meet, do a combined 50 merkins
    • Run BACK THE WAY YOU CAME
    • When you meet, do a combined 50 merkins
    • Mary for the six
  • Round 2 – Same as Round 1 but with 100 combined squats instead of 50 merkins, Mary for the six
  • Mosey back to Firebird’s with a few stops for plank/mary to keep the crew together
  • Different partner
    • P1 small lap of the lot
    • P2 do called exercises until P1 returns
    • Flapjack
    • Going to a combined 50 derkins, 100 step ups, 150 AH (I think, honestly can’t remember)
  • Called early for time, mosey back to launch, 10 burpees OYO while the six comes in

Moleskin

Welcome to our FNG, Brendan Grady, now known as Boss Hog. Almost went with Runner Up as his M is a Boston qualifier and he’s working on running a few miles, but after a few months of F3 that name shouldn’t fit any more and War Eagle led us to greener pastures. Brendan has a dog named Rosco and Boss Hog fit better than Daisy Duke (think Hoover height).

YHC knows Boss Hog from around the neighborhood where he is super-involved both in our community as well as with his family, including often organizing dad/daughter events for a group of us in Park Crossing. As soon as you meet him and talk to him a bit, you will know that if ever there was a guy made for F3, this is him. He committed to showing up the first time I talked to him about it and followed through by coming to not one, but two posts in a row. T-claps Boss Hog, and welcome.

Moral of the story? Keep EHing — F3 is too good not to share it.

The rest of the Thursday group was a motley crew of misfits if I ever saw one. From Happy Meal creeping around with his full face mask, to Escobar rolling in on two wheels then returning to his car two or three times before we even left, to our freakishly long-legged and low cadence friend Bucky, to some noisy guy we later recognized was Pop Tart (kotters, brother). We even had Jitterbug from F3 Louisville back out for his 2nd post in SOB Land before heading back home. As he did on Tuesday, he showed us how a respect should really throw down and shamed Frehleys into leaving immediately following the workout.

Market Timer overslept and Strava proves that he ran over and tried to find us. Missed us by about 100 yards. Not sure if he’s happy or sad about that. Next time Wingman just needs to swing by his place on his way out of the neighborhood and honk his horn for a bit.

Cobains on the tardiness of this backblast. I blinked and somehow it’s Monday.

Announcements

Tom Brady appears at Flash

What other number would show up in the “second half” of Flash . . . #12 obviously. With holiday hours throwing a wrench in timing, 3 workouts rolled out of Cuthbertson Middle this Monday morning. A few PAX even did a double-dip by attending 2 workouts.

DCCS Check: A minute before we “commenced” YHC went through the new/proper safety process (Patent Pending for WUC)

  • D: Disclaimer – I care about you but not responsible if you do something stupid to your body
  • C: Cell Phone – Does somebody have a device on them or at least close by to be able to make a call if needed?
  • C: CPR – Whose lips are trained and not chapped to lay one on one of the PAX? Had to make sure to say IF NEEDED (it is #MTM after all and Damascus in attendance)
  • S: Safety – Give a lay of the land to let the PAX know if we need vests/headlamps

WARMUP:

  • Mosey around parking lot while various PAX shut off their car lights
    • SSH x 12
    • IW x 12
    • Merkins x 12
    • MC x 12

THANG:

  • Grab 3 slam balls and make 3 lines
    • BISR (Burpee Indian Slamball Run): Last guy drops for a burpee, picks up the slamball, runs to front of line, drops the slamball, last guy drops for a burpee, etc.
    • BISR down path behind CMS to stairs at CHS
  • Partner up
    • P1 does Mike Tysons
    • P2 runs to bottom of stairs for 12 knee-up slaps and flapjack
    • 112 total
  • Mosey to tennis court hill for Jack Hill Webb
    • Bottom of hill – 1 merkin
    • Top of hill – Peoples chair on fence with 4 air presses
    • Continue until 10 merkins/40 air presses
  • BISR to front of CMS
    • P1 does Derkin shoulder taps
    • P2 runs 1/2 lap and flapjack
    • 4 times for each Partner
  • BISR back to start
    • Circle up close in plank position
    • 3 slamballs get rolled clockwise/counter-clockwise
    • Everytime ball passes you, do a merkin
    • Switch to crab position and roll slamballs underneath you
  • FINISHED!

MOLESKINE:

  • Well done Jingles, Hollywood, and Dana for making it through 2 workouts this morning
    • Hollywood was REALLY showing the effects of being tired . . . Oh wait, he lapped everybody in the second workout too
  • Kudos to Moneyball for doing the Jack Webb on a GRASSY hill and not complaining . . . Not sure what was more impressive
  • Great to see Kid Rock in Western Union. Looking forward to seeing you out more often
  • I am looking into a group discount for hip replacement surgery for all PAX who want to run as fast as Gerber . . . Good to have you back out at the front of the PAX
  • Nice work by Trojan. Just recently joined F3 and is already noticeably faster. Keep it up.
  • Always fun to have the godfather of #MTM back out. Good to know that even if Damascus doesn’t know which way counter-clockwise is, he still knows the way to Cuthbertson.
  • After a great Patriots win, nice to see some fellow Pats fans in the parking lot; Damascus, Deflated, and new bandwagon fan Easy Button. He claims to be rooting for the Pats (cuz his Dad is smaht) even though YHC seems to remember several smacktalk texts in weeks past.
  • Even better to show up and see Recalculating doing his best Chevy Chase impression from Vacation pool scene (“This is crazy! This is crazy!”) with no shirt on
  • But the best is seeing Mad Dog back to posting. The self-deprecating humor game is pretty strong. It’s great to see the PAX rally around one of our own when he reveals a problem in his life. Mad Dog came clean about not being able to drink alcohol anymore. Without hesitation, every PAX stepped up and told him that we would take that burden on ourselves and start drinking a bit more for him. In all seriousness, great to have Mad Dog out and always appreciate his humor and hard work.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

  • Q School happens THIS SATURDAY. 0630 at Cuthbertson Middle School. If you have never Q’d, Q’d 1-3 times, Q’d a bunch and still call a bunch of audibles, or just need to get rights to complete a backblast, please sign up at http://bit.do/qschool
  • PRAYER REQUEST: Moneyball shared that he is struggling with the recent addition of their new foster son. Please be in prayer to lift him and Kristen up; that they would have the wisdom, patience, and perseverance to be the great parents that God has called them to be for Marben along with their other kids. Let’s rally around MB and make sure he knows he is not alone in this struggle.

THANKS MAD DOG FOR TAKING US OUT IN PRAYER!