Olympus – The 100 Merkin Bet
Date: 2026-02-21 AO: Olympus Q: Krzyzewski , PAX: ickey_shuffle, Unplugged, voodoo, Blanks, Mountain Momma, flipper, Krzyzewski, Pepsi, MARTA FNGs: None COUNT: 9 In this age of instant gratification, cheap dopamine hits, and mindless scrolling, why are people still drawn to something like the Olympics? The pageantry? The colorful rings? The ability to watch something on a time delay? These are all fair guesses, but, casual reader of the Olympus backblast, you would be horribly incorrect. No, the reason we watch is to see peak performance. Someone at the top of his game pushing the limits of what it means to be human. And so, in this spirit, we find the pax huddled around a circle in the hotbox this morning. The group gathered in a measured manner, deftly avoiding raindrops. Once we were settled, one man towered above the rest. Looking like a Vuori catalog advertisement (t-claps, Voodoo), Ickey Shuffle was in rare form today. Within 10 seconds he nailed the playlist theme and then proceeded to do some sort of oddly satisfying jig proceeded by a near domination pop trivia throughout the pump. Maybe it’s Miami of Ohio’s unprecedented run of late or just a natural oozing of excellence fueling this, but, either way, truly inspiring to see a man at the top of his game. As for the beatdown itself, it was glorious – as Pepsi commented we did many moves carving our cores in ways we typically don’t (and impressively he appeared to exit the workout with minimal wear and tear). Hat tip to Flipper for re-writing the Olympus weinke by hand and reassuring us the computers haven’t taken over yet. MARTA and Mountain Momma provided ample mumblechatter (including commentary on chickens and crows, respectively), but things got heated when Flipper’s challenge to Blanks’ trove of useless Varsity Blues knowledge ended up with Flipper on the wrong side of a 100 merkin bet. Looking forward to hearing about the collection on that one in a forthcoming backblast. Voodoo persevered through a tricep issue caused by a non-F3 workout earlier this week that likely did not encourage modification, as needed. Unplugged graced us on a second Saturday in a row, but stunned YHC as never having experienced the joy that is Varsity Blues…you have weekend homework, sir. Overall, not a bad beatdown for a rainy Saturday. All right, enough chit chat, let’s get into the recap… WARMUP: Swings (10x), prying squats, hi-pulls (5x e/s), synovial circles, one-handed swings (5x e/s), slingshots (7x e/w) THE THANG: 1) The E-Z Complex (2 sets) – Single bell swings (3x) – Hi-pulls (2x) – Clean / squat / press (1x) – Switch hands and repeato 2) Hoodoo Complex (1 set) – Single-handed row – Swing – Clean – Snatch – OH reverse lunge – Repeato other side 3) :dolphin: Block A – Flow (20 min.) – Cleans (8x) – Press (8x) – Front squat (8x) – Snatch (5x e/s) 4) :dolphin: Block B – EMOM (15 min) – Minute A: Sling-stops (7x e/w) – Minute B: OH windmills (3x e/s) – Minute C: Swings (15x) OR rotational swings (5x e/s) 5) :dolphin: Block C – LUNGES! (3 sets) – Modified slightly due to the hotbox and time, but essentially standing forward lunges (10x e/s) MARY: Courtesy of Unplugged’s recommendation we squeezed in a 45 sec. plank ANNOUNCEMENTS: – THE PR:o:D – First Friday of the month – see Slack for details for March’s edition. – :beers: SOB Brew Ruck (3/7) – see details on Slack. – :pancakes: Second F Friday (3/13) – second Friday of the month at Stacks. See Slack for details. – :muscle: Q School (3/28) – following Olympus (or The Rock, if you’re into that) at Calvary with a plan for an 0810 start and 0900 completion. MARTA will bring coffee, probably. – :runner: Some sort of race coming up that the :cheese_wedge: man is hyping on the SACS channel. Check the SACS channel, if you dare. – :calendar: Other F3 odds and ends: docs.google.com/document/d/1rfXr_W_lxq61DGddefdopUF81v3z13rkIIrnyQ_ROFc/edit?tab=t.0 – :face_with_head_bandage: “A setback is just a setup for a comeback.” – Willie Jolley COT: YHC took out the group in COT
#Super Bowl
Date: 2026-02-21 AO: The Super Bowl Q: Hawkeye , PAX: teddyf3, Hawkeye, snowflake, war_eagle, Snuka FNGs: None COUNT: 5 WARMUP: Parking deck warm up with cardio, core and stretch stretching. – THE THANG: Tubthumpingbupees. Hill climb turned into parking deck climb. Eight rounds of eights. With a break in the rain, we moseyed to the old golf course for a bit of team work with Merkens, core and squats. #teddyf3 was looking for his golf ball from a couple years ago. Caught up to our PAX brothers in the run group and brought it home en-mass. MARY: built-in. ANNOUNCEMENTS: Ballantyne beer Ruck/run – OMB – March 7 at noon COT: Namearama, and then cut it short due to the second wave of rain. Fellowship at Copain.
Are we really doing this?
Date: 2026-02-21 AO: The Rock Q: madison , PAX: O’Tannenbaum, Circuit City, madison, beaver, Runstopper FNGs: None COUNT: 5 WARMUP: Mosey to the overhang on the back side of the church THE THANG: Stayed dry and got in lots of merkins, Mary & stretching. MARY: ANNOUNCEMENTS: COT: OT took us out.
The Runs
Date: 2026-02-20 AO: Ultimate Q: Spyglass , MARTA PAX: Smothered, Wu Tang is for the children, Crawdad, Chandelier, MARTA, Fruity Pebbles, Spyglass, David Baker, Victoria, Shank, Zipper, Yeti, Paris FNGs: None COUNT: 13 RED (15-11) 1. Spyglass 2. Yeti 3. Shank 4. Biden 5. Peaches 6. Wu-Tang 7. Chandelier 8. Duff 9. Crawdad 10. Zipper
YELLOW 1. Betty 2. Paris 3. Marta 4. Smothered 5. Vicky 6. Fruity 7. Wario 8. Aioli 9. Fly With Me
Pregame – Morale was high due to a heavenly temp, healthy numbers, and Chandelier’s smiling face. Not even no-shows from Puddles, Smokey, & Pinkeye could bring us down.
The Game: Wind was a factor early and often. Hucks were launching out of the end zone, & calls for the league to start issuing random drug tests were uttered. Smothered will be among those tested first. Please pee in a cup today and leave it on Marta’s doorstep for testing.
Yellow jumped out to a lead of 2, but wind-blown/ careless tosses lead Paris to pull out a few lines from the infamous Kobe “Job’s not finished, what’s there to be happy about” speech. Down 3-5, red mounted a 6-1 stretch to take a 3 up lead of its own. The game was full of runs, something Paris and Paul Pierce know a little too much about.
Overall, Red out hustled and out played yellow. Yellow never really felt in it. Shoutout Wu-Tang for getting the dub on the stat sheet with an early team switch. But one man today stood out above the rest. Duff was an animal in all 3 phases He hustled & had glue on his hands. Way to be, Duff. Final score: 15-11 Red.
Postgame: Stat Update: Wario picks up first 1st loss of the league year, ending a 7 game winning streak. Shanks cooking up a 4 game win streak after an 0-2 start, leading Bulley to classify him as “washed up”. Scrappy graced us with a friendly hello from LA fitness (while being in LA). That’s some inception type stuff. Vicky spoke about his mom’s service, Spy took us out.
YELLOW 1. Betty 2. Paris 3. Marta 4. Smothered 5. Vicky 6. Fruity 7. Wario 8. Aioli 9. Fly With Me
Pregame – Morale was high due to a heavenly temp, healthy numbers, and Chandelier’s smiling face. Not even no-shows from Puddles, Smokey, & Pinkeye could bring us down.
The Game: Wind was a factor early and often. Hucks were launching out of the end zone, & calls for the league to start issuing random drug tests were uttered. Smothered will be among those tested first. Please pee in a cup today and leave it on Marta’s doorstep for testing.
Yellow jumped out to a lead of 2, but wind-blown/ careless tosses lead Paris to pull out a few lines from the infamous Kobe “Job’s not finished, what’s there to be happy about” speech. Down 3-5, red mounted a 6-1 stretch to take a 3 up lead of its own. The game was full of runs, something Paris and Paul Pierce know a little too much about.
Overall, Red out hustled and out played yellow. Yellow never really felt in it. Shoutout Wu-Tang for getting the dub on the stat sheet with an early team switch. But one man today stood out above the rest. Duff was an animal in all 3 phases He hustled & had glue on his hands. Way to be, Duff. Final score: 15-11 Red.
Postgame: Stat Update: Wario picks up first 1st loss of the league year, ending a 7 game winning streak. Shanks cooking up a 4 game win streak after an 0-2 start, leading Bulley to classify him as “washed up”. Scrappy graced us with a friendly hello from LA fitness (while being in LA). That’s some inception type stuff. Vicky spoke about his mom’s service, Spy took us out.
Dropping like flies
Date: 2026-02-20 AO: The Brave Q: Cheese Curd , PAX: Gump, Dover, bunker, Roulette, Cheese Curd, Hippie FNGs: None COUNT: 6 WARMUP: run to the pool house by the murderhorn. Get yelled at by the local
Then we did SSH, runner stretch merkins and IW
THE THANG: Run to the rock pile 2 rounds of Curls, tris, presses and squats 10 rock thrusters in-between
Sprint to the top of Murrderhorn
Enter the sub on the left
2 rounds w/ partner
R1- 20 hand release merkins and 50 squats R2- 10 hand release merkins and 25 squats
Head to the bottom
Sprint to the top
Go into the hood on the right 3 roundabouts. Start at the entrance, to the roundabout and do the next
1: box cutters x 20 and 15 merkins 2: flutters x20 and 15 standard merkins 3: box cutters x10 and 10 wide arm
Cutting it close on time, ran down the hill
One more sprint to the top, leader recovers and everyone stops the run to follow the back to the rock pile
ReTurn rock…. Tight on time and run home
MARY: she came out to play
ANNOUNCEMENTS: ruck and run pub crawl Mar 13 (don’t quote me)
Several new and existing 3rd f’s. See soft_pretzel
COT: I lead the prayer, so thankful for these mean to my left and right
Thanks for the opportunity to lead fire_hazard you nor teddyf3 where there
We were greeted by a grumpy local. Lesson: if you are getting bark at by a dog. It’s your problem… shame on you. Seriously, F’k that guy. He was pissed that he needs to cut his own walk short… I mean he had a ride waiting for him
I haven’t seen the murderhorn in awhile and I always want to PR and I was able to do it again today
We lost Bunker and Roulette due to some nagging injuries after the first subdivision…. Sorry boys.
Gump with the prerun finally got to experience the murderhorn. He may have regretted the prerun, but he got his miles.
Dover (someone correct me if that’s not his name, I will amend the SB) nice to see you out again. He admitted that F3 is harder than the gym, but the gym is warmer…totally agree! Welcome back
Hippie kept me honest all morning. Helps to have someone on your heels. Good luck on your 1/2, you got this!
Roulette is about 6 months from becoming a solid runner… he is in the slow building phase, look out y’all
Bunker and I were partners and I never had some one actually get further away on the handslap merkins… was it something I said?? Heal up brother
Ok, I didn’t Q to help out Fire Hazard. I Q’d because it kept me committed and out of the bed. If you struggle, just put yourself on as a Q. Site leaders won’t care how much you Q at a site or spread the love, grab some Q’s and keep pushing!
Then we did SSH, runner stretch merkins and IW
THE THANG: Run to the rock pile 2 rounds of Curls, tris, presses and squats 10 rock thrusters in-between
Sprint to the top of Murrderhorn
Enter the sub on the left
2 rounds w/ partner
R1- 20 hand release merkins and 50 squats R2- 10 hand release merkins and 25 squats
Head to the bottom
Sprint to the top
Go into the hood on the right 3 roundabouts. Start at the entrance, to the roundabout and do the next
1: box cutters x 20 and 15 merkins 2: flutters x20 and 15 standard merkins 3: box cutters x10 and 10 wide arm
Cutting it close on time, ran down the hill
One more sprint to the top, leader recovers and everyone stops the run to follow the back to the rock pile
ReTurn rock…. Tight on time and run home
MARY: she came out to play
ANNOUNCEMENTS: ruck and run pub crawl Mar 13 (don’t quote me)
Several new and existing 3rd f’s. See soft_pretzel
COT: I lead the prayer, so thankful for these mean to my left and right
Thanks for the opportunity to lead fire_hazard you nor teddyf3 where there
We were greeted by a grumpy local. Lesson: if you are getting bark at by a dog. It’s your problem… shame on you. Seriously, F’k that guy. He was pissed that he needs to cut his own walk short… I mean he had a ride waiting for him
I haven’t seen the murderhorn in awhile and I always want to PR and I was able to do it again today
We lost Bunker and Roulette due to some nagging injuries after the first subdivision…. Sorry boys.
Gump with the prerun finally got to experience the murderhorn. He may have regretted the prerun, but he got his miles.
Dover (someone correct me if that’s not his name, I will amend the SB) nice to see you out again. He admitted that F3 is harder than the gym, but the gym is warmer…totally agree! Welcome back
Hippie kept me honest all morning. Helps to have someone on your heels. Good luck on your 1/2, you got this!
Roulette is about 6 months from becoming a solid runner… he is in the slow building phase, look out y’all
Bunker and I were partners and I never had some one actually get further away on the handslap merkins… was it something I said?? Heal up brother
Ok, I didn’t Q to help out Fire Hazard. I Q’d because it kept me committed and out of the bed. If you struggle, just put yourself on as a Q. Site leaders won’t care how much you Q at a site or spread the love, grab some Q’s and keep pushing!
SCARS – Drill Baby Drill
Date: 2026-02-20 AO: SCARS Q: F3 Elsa , midriff PAX: wildturkey, midriff, F3 Elsa FNGs: COUNT: 3 WARMUP: Elsa Loop THE THANG: Obsessive compulsive hunt for the Bowl Frisbee Golf Course with opportunistic stops for the 12 Sided DICE of DRILL DOOM. MARY: LBCs, Lunges. Planks, including some epic photo opportunities. ANNOUNCEMENTS: Ballantyne Marathon Relay March 28. Brew Ruck March 7. COT: Pray for Acceleration in all 3 Fs
One for the Road
Date: 2026-02-19 AO: The Phoenix Q: Hawkeye , PAX: SweetWater, midriff, Roulette, F3 Elsa, wildturkey, Starch, Hawkeye, Blanks FNGs: None COUNT: 8 WARMUP: SSH then mosque to Pavillion. Warm up exercise and stretch THE THANG: 4 station tour of Y grounds. Then various coupon lifts. Finished with work at the Sweet Water wall. MARY: included ANNOUNCEMENTS: my final Phoenix Q as we move to Myers Park/Metro area COT: positive energy and prayers to Midrift’s mother-in-law.
[The Devil’s Turn] T-Shirt Frogger
Date: 2026-02-19 AO: The Devil’s Turn Q: retread , PAX: Gump, Green Label, Astro (Kyle Kirchhoff), bunker, Polly, Dosey Doe, citgo, gumbo, margo, retread, hairball FNGs: None COUNT: 11 WARMUP: A few Pax started early. THE THANG: Hairball called the T-Shirt route. Standard stuff until the dicey 485 crossing. Everyone made it across unscathed but felt the wrath of an angry driver eagerly blaring his/her horn. All told,’ a good run and a great crew. MARY: Not a chance. ANNOUNCEMENTS: March 7 carnival of vices for a good cause. COT: Astro I think.
Trails N’ Stuff
Date: 2026-02-19 AO: Sparta Q: Orange Whip , PAX: Orange Whip, hoover, Gazette, Treadmill, turkey_leg FNGs: None COUNT: 5 This adventurous group left no trail untouched this morning as we hit the pavement, trails, holes, ditches and occasional trip wire.
Grateful for the guys willing to follow me into the gloom and the conversations along the way.
Hoover went solo rucking and the 4 of us kept challenging each other to unknown trails, some of which were just “the woods” #QFail
Always grateful for another day on two feet enjoying the world before the sun rises :raised_hands:
COT with Peak 51, Hoover with the takeout and many for post-coffeteria at Brakeman’s
Grateful for the guys willing to follow me into the gloom and the conversations along the way.
Hoover went solo rucking and the 4 of us kept challenging each other to unknown trails, some of which were just “the woods” #QFail
Always grateful for another day on two feet enjoying the world before the sun rises :raised_hands:
COT with Peak 51, Hoover with the takeout and many for post-coffeteria at Brakeman’s
WAMRAP Yeah
Date: 2026-02-18 AO: WAMRAP Q: rachel , PAX: Ironsides, Alf, rachel FNGs: None COUNT: 3 WARMUP: round 1 THE THANG: many more rounds of burpees, merkins, pull-ups, and Freddy Mercury plus some stairs ANNOUNCEMENTS: none COT: thanks Ironsides for the take out