Red Pill

Red Pill

What can I say? It was just another day where a few dudes emerge from the Gloom to take the #redpill and make themselves a little better. Here’s more or less what transpired.

THE THANG
Mosey down to parking lot for warmup
10 x SSH
10 x Imperial Walker
10 x Merkins

Partner up and run to one end of the parking lot
Partner 1 runs, partner 2 does exercise

Round 1 – 100 cumulative Burpees + 2 laps partner carry + Mary
Round 2 – 100 cumulative Monkey Humpers + 20 Might Merkins at each switch + Mary
Round 3 – 200 cumulative Jump Squats + Mary
Round 3 – 200 cumulative Mountain Climbers + Mary

A bunch of sprints and leg exercises
15 Burpees to close it out

YE OLDE MOLESKINE
1. Poptart, ever the #oldworriedgrandmother that he is, leaned down to YHC at 5:30.01 to make sure that I was still planning on leading because my tardiness had him worried.

2. So many Larrybirds today. It was ridiculous. Form LB always goes to Lobstah. Sprint LB to Argonaut. Running LB to Turkey Leg. All around athlete LB goes to Rhapsody (D1 Decathlete). Guy who’s ridiculously athletic but not quite as athletic as Rhapsody LB goes to Orange Whip. Keeping up the Six LB goes to Prohibition. Best prayers LB goes to Da Squid.

3. Honeymoon did not find it humorous that YHC thought his name was Elf Honeymoon. YHC, on the other hand, found it to be quite humorous.

4. I wish I could have recorded the collective groan let out by the PAX when I called 100 burpees. Truth be told, I was going to call 200 but made a last second decision to chop it in half. Pretty sure there would have been a mutiny had I followed through with the original plan.

#horseneck OUT

We Lifted You Didn’t

  • 14 Bros brought their bells and their effort today. Easy. Simple. Brutal. Always pays off. Read on.

 

COP

Prying squat x 5
Good morning x 10
Overhead ext x 10

200 rep challenge

Swing – 50 reps
Snatch – 10 reps each
Clean & Press – 10 reps each
Reverse Lunge – 10 reps each
Squat & Press – 10 reps each
Lawn mowers – 10 reps each
Swing – 50 reps

Complex: Doubles 5 reps

Squat to Arnold Press

Clean to Squat to Arnold Press

High Pull to Clean to Squat to Arnold Press

High Pull to Swing to Clean to Squat to Arnold Press

10×10

Swings

Merkins

Snatch R

Merkins

Snatch L

Merkins

Lawnmower R

Merkins

Lawnmower L

Merkins

Lunge R

Merkins

Lunge L

Merkins

2 handed overhead press

Merkins

Good mornings

Merkins

Deadlift

Merkins

 

4×10

curls

overhead ext

standing lateral chest press

upright row

 

All pax circle up and plank. Hold plank until your turn to do 10 merkins. Hold plank until everyone is done.

 

NMM

No Mary at Meathead

 

Great work by all 14 bros who came out. Phone issues prevented the customary nickname roll call, but if you were sore all weekend, you were there. If you weren’t, you weren’t. I’ve been on vacation since that awesome morning, so this is it. Brown out.

 

 

 

DaVinci

Another great Saturday morning to do F3!!  Good site, good guys, here’s what we did:

Mosey across the way and circle up: 10 six count burpees IC, 10 squats IC, 10 MC 10 merkins 10 MC, IC, 10 jump squats OYO.  Onward.

Mosey to fountains.  Run from fountain to fountain, 20 decline merkins at one end, 20 incline merkins the other.  Repeat for 3 sets.  Then 2x dips IC and 10 jumps ups OYO.

Mosey to the hill behind the shopping center.  Stop a few times for Mary.  Then Main Event:

Rock pile ladder running up the hill.  Rock pile 1 = 10 squats.  Rock Pile 2 = 10 overhead presses.  Rock pile 3 = 10 curls.  Rock pile 4 = 10 tricep extensions.  5 sets total if time allows and finish t playground.

Alternate pull-ups and in and outs on the swingset until Six arrives.  The mosey home stopping for: lunges, broad jumps, wide arm merkins, diamond merkins, other stuff, flutter, dolly, can’t remember, and merkins.

Moleskine: I love Saturday mornings.  Really appreciate the effort of the whole group.  Thank you to Dry Rub for making the trip to SOB land.  Great Coffeteria after with the Kiawah running team of Bratwurst, Bunker and Thin Mint.  Special mention to these guys who are taking running to the next level.  Expect big things when they run that race.  Kid Rock is a big time F3 leader.  Not just because he brings iced down bottled water for all the PAX after workouts although that is definitely huge.  He also leads by example and challenges the PAX, then brings encouragement to all.  Triple 7 is bringing it all the time and Marlin crushes the workout as well and great to have Nemo even though he makes the rest of us look bad.  Pleasure to work out alongside you all.  SP

Talking Trash

7 men showed up in the gloom

We began with a run to warm up, and on the way saw Hoover and the Heavies, pumping some iron.

We ended up at the the front parking lot and began with some partner work.  It was here that i was matched with Dumpster Fire.  He immediately started talking trash about Clemson, so I liked him right away. 

Partner 1 – run suicide to the first island

Partner 2 – push …. merkins

Flapjack with ever increasing island suicides

Continue until 100 push….Merkins are completed by the pair.

Next same format as above, but instead of push…Merkns we are doing Mountain Climbers to 200

Last same format as above, but instead of Mountain Climbers Burpies to 50.

On to the next Pain Station. a focus on Legs,  at the Picnic Tables, and more partner work.

This time i got Boerewors (pronounced buda force) and Dingo.  Hard to break into their group the wanted to talk Rugby.  Sport that involves cauliflowered ears i like.  

Partner 1 Squats

Partner 2 run to the 2nd island and back

Flapjack and continue until 200 Squats have been enjoyed.

Same format as before, but with 50 one legged squats per leg.

Gumby (pronounced Gummy) and Dumpster Fire pretty much dominated.

On to the next Pain Station and the Rock Pile also known as Suns out Gun’s out.   Out of the Gloom Dear Abby Rolled up.  He heard that Gumby might be trying to start some riots at the church and wanted to be the first to get the scoop.  

Grab a lifting rock and new partner I got paired with the Dingo again

Partner 1 Curls

Partner 2 Run to B3 and back

Flapjack and repeato until you have both reached 100

Next cycle push presses

Next cycle tricep extensions

On the last cycle, Boerewors reminded me that he was faster and tougher than me and as i began to pass him, I heard a hell no and he took off. Leader of this group were Gumby and Dear Abby.  The smoked the rest of us.

Last Pain Station and some Dream Weaver.  BRR training 2017

Indian Run to across the field, tag the fence and 25 push ups

Indian Run to the next corner, 25 Sparten Burpies

Indian Run behind the dug out 25 jump squats

Finish up with some Dream Weaver hill sprints.

Somewhere along the line Dear Abby bailed out.  I don’t think we were moving fast enough, and Gumby would couldn’t start a riot, he did skip out on some burpies though.

Indian Run back to the cars where Gumby stepped up and ran us through some Mary.

Great group! everyone pushed themselves really hard.  Not a lot of mumble chatter, so i think we had the appropriate amount of pain.  We got close to 4 miles in on campus that pretty awesome.  Video is of Spurrier while head football coach for the Game Chickens, showing everyone how not to do push ups, I hope…..

 

Why, yes, I do have a #weinke

14 pax (including: a 2.0, a rucker, & a pre-runner) gathered for the weekly hybrid workout that is Ascent/Olympus.  On the #weinke this week, low rep KBs and a little playground time.

The Thang

COP:

  • 10 Alternating Swings (5 in cadence (IC))
    • Imperial Walker – 15 IC
  • 20 alternating swings (10 in cadence)
    • Prying Squats – 3 with holds at bottom
  • 30 alternating swings (15 in cadence)
    • Side Straddle Hop – 15 IC
  • 20 alternating swings (10 in cadence)
    • Halos – 4, each direction, OYO
  • 20 alternating swings (10 in cadence)
    • Hard-style Plank + 10 merkins OYO

Ladder Up (1 – 3 – 5):

  • Snatch – Left then Right
  • Clean & Press – L / R  (clean and press the KB with each rep)
  • Goblet Squat – 2x the reps, with full range of motion

Grab a heavier bell and mosey to the Playground

Playground set:

  • 5 pullups
  • 10 merkins
  • 15 teabag squats (deadlifts)
  • Rinse & repeat 3x
  • Two-handed swings while you wait

Grab your bell and mosey back to the parking lot

Ladder Down (5 – 3 – 1):

  • Snatch – L / Right
  • Clean & Press – L / R  (clean and press the KB with each rep)
  • Goblet Squat – 2x the reps, with full range of motion

Grab a heavier bell and mosey to the Playground

Playground set:

  • 5 pullups
  • 10 merkins
  • 15 teabag squats (deadlifts)
  • Rinse & repeat 3x
  • Two-handed swings while you wait

Grab your bell and mosey back to the parking lot

Metal Mary:

  • American Hammer – 10 IC
  • Pullovers – 7 OYO
  • Louganis – 7 OYO
  • Windshield Wiper – 7, each direction, OYO

Extra Credit

  • Waiter Carry, L, to wall
  • People’s Chair with KB in lap
  • Waiter Carry, R, back to parking lot
  • 20 Two-handed swings

 

Done

COT

Announcements:

  1. Gumby – flexibility “workout” – launches this Wednesday, 9/28, 0530-0615, Matthews United Methodist Church in the Scout Hut – bring a yoga mat or beach towel
  2. KB Clinic – 10/8, Calvary 0700 – a true professional, Byron, will provide instruction
  3. Southern Discomfort – 10/22, see pre-blast for signup – Ascent/Olympus will be closed that week
  4. 3rd F, Tuesday nights, every other Tuesday, beginning 10/4 (?)

Naked Moleskine:

Well, YHC (& 2.0, Low Tide) came in on two-wheels, due to YHC mistiming an unplanned pre-run, which itself was due to waking up too early and having nothing better to do (pre-KB was unadvisable).  A large assembling of pax and KB’s, which soon outnumbered the pax, provided a warm welcome, and the KB swinging began.

100 alternating, one-handed swings quickly warmed us up, interspersed with standard mobility fare, and we were good to go for the primary sets of KBs and playground work.  Low reps on the KB work allowed use of heavier bells, if desired, while the playground sets incorporated multiple rounds to build reasonable volumes.  Carrying bells between the two locations provided us with some loaded carry work, which is considered by some to be a game changer.

Yes, I do make a #weinke for every workout.  As Bugeater pointed out, I’ve Q’ed enough workouts that I could probably just wing it every time, but if you all are going to post and follow me around for an hour, the least I could do is put some thought into what we’re going to do.  So, each one is planned out, written down, and laminated on an index card, which I do reference throughout the workout to ensure I haven’t forgotten something.  The only issue is, everything looks easier when sitting at the kitchen table the night before…

Thanks for the opportunity to Q.  It’s always an honor.  (Speaking of, Pele is soliciting Qs for the next few months.  By signing up, you’ll benefit yourself and your fellow pax!  Tap Pele to sign up!)

Aye.

Who needs a curfew?

After a brief schedule change 4 pax defied Newton’s law of gravity.

Defiance included

Farmers carries with lunges (not as fun as it sounds), deadlift, military press, landmines, rows, crush curls, and bus driving.  Take it slow, keep your rates low.

Threw in some kettle bell swings have just to keep it interesting.

Our brothers from the Rock did a quick run-by to make sure we were maintaining proper form.

Thanks to Witch Doctor for taking us out.

Different Paths with same Goal

23 PAX took it upon themselves to get better at running by attending #F3Swift on Tuesday.  This is a little bit of how they did it.

PreBlast:

A little wrinkle this week as it started the 12 week countdown to the Kiawah Half-Marathon and Marathon that several PAX are training for.  We could combine for one workout, but in the interest of specialization and giving some options, we split into Swift HD (High Definition, not half distance) and Swift XL.  Same concepts of warm-up, intervals, and cooldown, but different workouts.

The THANG:

  • 0500 – Prerun and optional drills while waiting for the 0515 PAX to get out of their cars
  • 0514 – YHC explains that if you didn’t read the PreBlast (Haggis/Tootie), then you will have exactly 6 minutes to decide if you want to run at least 7 miles over the next 60 minutes or run 400s around the Bull Ring. Let’s mosey!
  • 0515 – Swift HD
    • Led by StrangeBrew, the PAX warm-up and head to the Bull Ring for some drills.
    • Intervals of 400m at Repetition Pace (1 mile race pace), 400m jog recovery
    • Reports indicate that Abacus and Cable Guy were pushing Wingman.  One Niner and Mario were again doing some sort of burpee madness as part of their recovery.  StumpHugger didn’t sit on the curb and call Uber despite his PreBlast warnings – he stayed strong and ran hard.  Tootie almost got tricked into the XL workout, but Abacus reeled him in at the last second.  JRR Tolkien had his Dead or Alive playing on his iPOD and could be seen running around and around and around.
    • Mosey back to the Vine
  • 0515 – Swift XL
    • Led by Bratwurst, we headed out on a route via Ballantyne Corp Pl over the 521 bridge, past Premier, Left on Ballantyne Commons, Left on Elm, Left on Endhaven, Left on North Community House, Right on Ballantyne Commons, Right on BCP, Left on Brixham, stop at the Vine.  About a 7 mile loop.
    • Along the way, it was decided (by the plan, not by YHC), to break up the 7 miles into 12 minute Threshold Pace intervals (just under 2mi for most) with a 2minute rest / recovery to regroup the six.  Total of 4x12minutes.
    • Most PAX did start their warm-up at the proper 0500 start time for this kind of effort.  Just Haggis who didn’t get the memo and instead of starting the first interval decided to prance on his toes and heels (should have gotten those out of the way on the pre-run!).
    • Fahvra and Thin Mint looked effortless in the streetlights of Ballantyne.  No one knows what happened on Endhaven because everyone disappeared for a while in the total darkness.  The mostly full moon was no help there. Fahvra and TM also decided that heading straight back to the AO on the final interval was not the best option and instead found a way to fit in a full closing 2mile interval.
    • Wild Turkey thought it would be a great idea to drag along a FNG to the hardest 1 hour workout (YHC’s personal opinion, may be shared by others) that Swift has accomplished in the 2 years running of Swift.  The weather was not cool, the course was amongst the flattest loop in Ballantyne but still not flat with several rollers, and 12 minutes is a pretty long time.  It was Brutal, but the efforts will pay off.
    • Was glad to see that Nard Dog, General, LongHaul, and TigerRag took the bait for XL this morning.  Not sure that they are training for a marathon, but they’re more than well on their way to being ready after making it through this workout.
    • Rock Thrill was solid, and he’s been putting in the work a lot around town.  Always keeping the stride forward and pushing through the pain.
    • There were of course the usual Kiawah-training suspects with HoneyBee, Bunker, Haggis (who did catch up eventually), and even Gumbo (who gets virtual credit for doing this workout thousands of miles away on his own).  Seeing the work these guys are putting in recently is going to lead to some huge PRs in December.
  • Next week on the Schedule for Swift XL is 1 mile repeats.  Swift HD has a Tempo Run, but 1 mile repeats are a great substitute, so we’ll likely be a combined Swift next week at the Brixham Green for 6minute Threshold Pace, 1 minute rest.  Repeat, repeat, repeat, ….
  • Come early at 0500 to get in extra warm-up.  The only difference next week is that XL will only do 5 minutes of warm-up at 0515 and then start right into the 6min repeats.  HD will do more of the warm-up and some drills before jumping in the fun!  Pay attention to the PreBlast!

SYITG,

Bratwurst

 

Playground of toys

The morning was foggy, gloomy and for the first time that I can remember in a while not HOT, great!   We did have an interesting start as an FNG walks up and introduces himself and informs us that he was invited by Camacho.  AHHH we said,  he’ll be here at 5:31,, welcome to the crew.  So we start out with a quick hot lap to ensure that we don’t lose Camacho and low and behold he, as expected,  pulls in at 5:31. Boom, ready to start with a quick mosey over to the other parking lot for a WU and divide into 2 teams of 3 and 1 team of 4.

WU: 40 SSH, 30 MC, 20 LBC’s, 15 Merkins DONE

The Thang:

Mosey to my car where there happen to be 3 Sand bags, 1 for each team.  Team grabs a bag and mosey to the other side of the bridge doing an Indian run along the way.  Hit the other side of the bridge for a quick plank jack then mosey up to the practice field for some work.

Work was simple  50 Burbee’s per person for a total of 150 for the 3 person teams and 200 for the 4. The additional work was the sandbag toss while doing a bear crawl made it a bit more fun.  The plan was simple, sets of 15 burgee’s run and catch the guy with the bag, guy doing LBC’s takes over for the burgee’s until reach your goal.

Warm up over, run to the track, happen to be 6 kettle bells there and 4 bands and a pull up bar.  Run a lap do 10 pull ups or 15 rows, run to other side of track to do 20 KB’s swings.  Do this three times and your done.  Planks while we wait, with some plank jacks in cadence.

With 9 minutes left, time was tight to get the last game plan in,  mosey over to the Middleschool side lot and again, just happen to be 3 plates, 3 smash balls and some dumbbells.  100 smash balls to finish the work out while one person runs the plate to the other side of the lot switches with the dumbbell and runs the plate back. Easy 100 smash balls and were done!   Quick sprint to the starting point to finish all of that while running 3.1 Miles.

 

Moleskin:  All in all I think everyone got there work in, felt bad for Hammy (FNG), who pulls his groin on his first time with the F3 Crew.  He took it and kept working through the pain like a champ,  I am certain he will be back. This pax has a whole is getting stronger and stronger,  I watched Damascus hammer out 10 pull ups like it was nothing, I thinking he struggled a bit more a few months ago when he started. Kevorkian sprinted past me not he first lap of the track, letting me know he had quicker legs than me!!  Popeye looks like he was throwing around a 10 lbs kb when it was a 40.  Gator Cub,  I don’t even recognize this cat any more,  clearly has put his work in and looking slimmer in his 50’s than he did when we first saw him in his 40’s.  Snowflake is the rock and cornerstone of our pax, always putting the hard work in.   Learned that Troylet was a big boy back in the day and refuses to go back showing up consistently at every known F3 work out since he moved he 3/4 weeks ago.   Camacho always has a smile on his face and is looking to kick some other F3 sites as&*&# s in soccer in a couple weeks, go get them, just show up on time:) Big tuna wanted to make sure that he made Damascus work for his money this morning and I watched them both with a strong hustle on the jail break home.  NICE WORK GENTS, thanks for allowing me to lead.

 

Announcements:

Family fun Kids race:  http://insaneinflatable5k.com/charlotte-nc/?gclid=Cj0KEQjwyJi_BRDLusby7_S7z-IBEiQAwCVvnyOejJvt95VG4m_TuwK-o9insltyXTStcCTXFO4ZrMcaAvQE8P8HAQ    Posse, Kevorkian and Transporter are bringing our family

Southern Discomfort-  10/22   CSUP event  http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0f4ca9ab22a4fa7-2016

Quick Elevator Summary of the Event

We will start at Charlotte Catholic and run as a group to Old Providence. It is exactly 8 miles. However there are 6 pain stations along the way which will add mileage to close 11.  We have reached out to site Q’s at each stop to provide hydration as well as a 10 minute workout.  The 2nd to last stop is the Arboretum so they could also choose to end there if they want a to cut 2 miles off the total.

 

Soft Grass doesn’t toughen you up enough

The THANG:

  • Mosey to the Middle School football field.  Plank for the six.
  • Opening COP in the middle of the soft dry grass of the field:
    • Don Quixote x 15
    • Imperial Squat Walker (7 count) x15
    • Merkin Shoulder Taps (7 count) x15
    • LBC x20
  • Sets of 4 corners around the soft dry grass of the field. Plank for the six in the middle of the field after each set.
    • 10 Hand release merkins at each corner; along the endlines run to goal post in the middle of the field and Lunge Walk to the far sideline.
    • 10 Turkish getups at each corner; bear crawl half endline
    • 10 jump squats; crab walk half endline
    • 10 heels to heaven; inch worm half endline
  • Mosey over to the Middle school patio to sharpen our elbows on the concrete.  Each exercise for 45sec, recover for 15 while Q demos next exercise, then begin next one.
    • Burp-Mountain Climbers – 5 each leg
    • Windshield Wipers – on back, arms spread wide, palms down, knees bent 90 degrees
    • Makhtar N’Diayes
    • Side Plank with Lateral Leg Lifts
    • Lateral Hops into runner position (apparently an Insanity movement with some cool name)
    • Marching Bridge – on back, knees bent, lift into bridge, pick up one foot at a time knee toward chest
  • Mosey back to the cars
    • Curtsy Lunge Hop – right foot diagonally behind left hip, drop to lunge, explode up – definitely not coordinated enough to explain or do this one properly
    • Plank rotation to side – elbows stacks horizontal, hand on hip
  • COT

The Moleskin:

  • Burning out of the parking area right at 0530 with a mosey, our attempts to lose any stragglers failed.  THE Grease Monkey still found us in the dark shadow of the football field.  Our sneaky attempt to get him to run more all over campus before finding us.
  • Not much hard running today unless you are Doc McStuffins or Hollywood and know only one speed.  Keeping it on the soft & plush grass for lower impact.  Blessed with low humidity that we actually stayed pretty dry and grass free.
  • Bananas is back!  And so are his post-Hawthornes pizza dinner morning timed releases.
  • Big AO, only two locations used.  Last week YHC went exploring to find new ground further away.  Perhaps if we bring out headlamps and snake boots for everyone one week, we’ll go exploring.
  • Sign up to Q an upcoming Dromedary!  The Q spot is open for the next several weeks – http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0d4baeaf29a46-dromedary

Announcements:

  • Several PAX participated in the Area 51 Convergence last week and reports were great!
  • All RAGNAR Fort Mill Trail relay spots are filled.
  • 3rd F – THE Sanctuary on Thursday evenings at 7:30pm at Brooklyn Pizza in Wesley Chapel.

 

Big is beautiful

After withstanding some fairly overt comments about my curves, YHC woke up this morning, put on my gym shorts that i bought in the husky section at JC Pennys, and rolled into the vine parking lot with a serious chip on my shoulder.

I was pleased to see such a strong turnout and even some new faces in the group. I thought the had come for the ghost flag, so i wanted to make sure they earned it.

Warmup

Mosey to starbucks roundabout

The Thang

10min 100 burpee challege

10 one minute rounds of the following reps

8

9

10

11

12

12

11

10

9

8

Most PAX completed the reps well before the minute was up, the remainder of the time was rest.

Following the 100 burpee challenge, we completed some slow count merkins for recovery. We completed 8 reps of the following with about 10 to 15 seconds rest in between.

Regular

Diamond

Wide arm

Marine corp (elbows tight)

Mosey to Ballantyne Parking Deck

40 SSH in cadence

Sprint two levels and complete 10 jump squats and 20 flutters (2 = 1)

20 to 30 seconds recovery

Sprint 1 level

Complete 15 drop squats on my count

Sprint 1 level

Three sets of reverse lunges. Lunges were completed in cadence  (2 =1) using the same leg (not alternating)

5 (10) R

5 (10) L

7 (14) R

7 (14) L

5 (10) R

5 (10) L

Mosey to bottom of the parking deck.

Pax competed 10 merkins (my count) for recovery

Split into two groups and bunny hop up the stairwell. The two groups met at the top.

Circle up for ab web

Heels to heaven and LBC 1×4 increasing to 5 x 20

20 (40) flutter kicks in cadence

Then back down the H to H and LBC pyramid.

Mosey back to starbucks roundabout and complete  the 10 min 100 burpee challenge

Moleskin

Good work from all the PAX. Very strong group showed up today. I was anticipating alot more resistance when i announced the second round of burpees, but i didn’t hear too much complaining. Just so you are aware i did seek favras input prior to announcing it and he thought it was a good idea…so blame him

6am run at the anne spring GW, contact me or haggis for details

Fun CSUP planned in Gastonia, check preblast for details.

Honor to lead as always.

Love you brothers

P