Uncharted territory (for YHC)

Uncharted territory (for YHC)

15 loyal pax patiently followed YHC around Stonehenge this morning. Here’s what went down:

Mosey from the Vine (avoiding getting run over by Gumbo) and circle up near the Ballantyne Village parking deck for COP (where Gumbo joined us):

  • SSH x 25 IC
  • IW x 20 IC
  • Mountain Climbers x 20 IC
  • Peter Parkers x 20 IC

Mosey to the stagnant air of the basement of the parking deck. Ignore the complaints of the pax about the fresh air outside and the fact that they spent an hour in the parking deck at the Brave yesterday. #notmyproblem

Plank it up for a description of the triple nickel.

  • 5x burpees OYO in the basement
  • Run the ramps
  • 5x CDDs OYO on the roof
  • Down the stairs
  • Repeato x 4 for 5 total laps

Mosey to the base of Ben Nevis for a run to the top. 5 burpees at the road at the top. Mosey back to the base for 20 dips and 20 derkins on the guardrail. Run up and catch the six, then return to the base.

Run to the big pond near the launch point. Unfortunately, YHC took Rushmore Drive instead of Ballantyne Corporate Place, so we never made it back to the pond for circuits. Instead, we cut through some parking lots, crossed the bridge at the little pond where Madame Tussaud once made us do 11s with burpees and merkins. #shudder and stopped at Harney Drive to do some Mary while we waited on the six:

  • LBC x 30 or 40 IC
  • Dolly x 15 IC

Continue mosey down Brixham Hill Avenue to the launch point. Still a few minutes left, so we’ll do some sprints:

  • Plank it up, sprint the parking lot
  • Elbow plank, sprint the parking lot
  • Stomach, sprint the parking lot

YHC with the takeout at COT.

Moleskine:

  • Thanks to JRR Tolkien and Wild Turkey for the opportunity to lead at Stonehenge this morning and for the social media marketing barrage they unleashed starting about 24 hours in advance. If YHC is ever invited to Q again, there will be less running and more exercises. #promise
  • Thanks to the pax for patiently following me on what turned out to be 4+ miles of running. The AO doesn’t seem that big on Google Maps! Speaking of Google Maps, next time, YHC will study the roads a bit more so we don’t get lost going from point A to point B. #cobains
  • Also sincerest #cobains to Fireman Ed, who YHC called Chipotle during the whole workout. #consistency In my defense, Ed is an Area 51 guy and Chipotle is an SOB, so it kind of made sense. I hope to see more of you so I don’t embarrass myself in the future. #correctmesoonerplease
  • Welcome to Bull, who lives in Ballantyne, but posted for the first time in Metro. Keep coming back!
  • It was good to see Philmont out there again. He gutted out a tough workout with a great attitude. Hope to see you more in the future!
  • Please sound off below with anything I missed.

Announcements:

  • Final F3 Dads (or is it?) today at Beatty Park for Area 51 and the Bull Ring for SOBs. 9am start for each. The word is that JRR Tolkien will be bringing out a balloon launcher for his Q. #wearacup
  • Fort Mill is doing a Custom GORUCK Tough event in May. Please sign up if interested. Custom events are not open to the public, so it should be all F3 guys participating. More info here.
  • F3 Golf is on July 29th. Sponsored by Area 51 and supporting F3 Expansion, The sign up period is short, so get signed up. The SOBs are also sponsoring and are raising money. Signups are at F3Golf.com.
  • Keep Destiny (Area 51 brother in the hospital with cancer) and McGee’s mother (also battling cancer) in your prayers.

Easy Friday Morning

20 strong PAX gathered at Charlotte Catholic for the weekly edition of Centurion.  Few guys showed up extra early (Van Pelt, Purple Haze, Snowflake, maybe one or two more) as YHC arrived at 0520 and they were in the parking lot ready to go.  Rest of the crew made their way in prior to our 0530 start.  With no FNGs in the group, quick disclaimer was given and we headed out.

Warm up jog towards the front entrance of the school and crossed over Hwy 51 to the parking lot near the McD’s.  Circled up for COP:

  • SSH x 20 IC
  • IW x 20 IC (Chelms booed, but we all know that is one of his favorites)
  • Squat x 15 IC
  • Merkins x 15 IC
  • MC x 20 IC

Made our way across the parking lot to the lot in front of Honey Baked Ham for a few rounds of suicides (plank at end of each round to wait for the 6):

  • Plain old vanilla suicides with 5 stops across the lot
  • Add increasing merkins (1,2,3,…) for round 2
  • Replace the merkins with prisoner squats for round 3

Got the legs warmed up, so we headed to front patio back at the school for some circuit work:

  • Jump-ups/Step-ups x 10, Dips x 10, Incline Merkins x 10
  • Round of Mary as we waited for group to finish
  • Rinse & Repeat x 2

Next we headed back around the school to the front entrance and paired up for the next bit of work:

  • Partner 1 completed BTW wall walk while Partner 2 completed bear crawl up the ramp, 10 merkins and then ran back down the stairs
  • Flapjack
  • Rinse & Repeat

Just enough time to head over to the parking deck to finish things off.  Entered the deck at Level 1 and lined up for the Stack:

  • Run up the ramp, 5 merkins
  • Run back down, 5 merkins, 10 jump squats
  • Run up the ramp, 5 merkins, 10 jump squats, 15 LBCs
  • Run back down, 5 merkins, 10 jump squats, 15 LBCs, 20 donkey kicks
  • Plank it up and wait for the 6
  • Rinse and repeat back down the ladder (start with 5/10/15/20 reps of each and work way down to just 5 reps of merkins)

Make our way back to launch point

COT

NMM:

  • YHC received text message from Champagne asking if I could sub-Q while we were up in DC for a little family sightseeing.  Happy to oblige as we were due back in town Thursday afternoon/evening & this week’s workouts had consisted of walking around DC all week (covered a lot of ground, but it’s definitely not the same).  Hopefully, Champagne will be returning from IR soon.
  • PAX may have noticed Chelms is a wee bit competitive.  Always looking to get an early jump even as instructions are being given.  With young guns Thin Mint and Maverick flying around all morning, Chelms made sure to get an insurmountable jump on the PAX on the run back to the launch point.
  • Week in and Week out, strong group of Respects at Centurion.  Consistently have 4-5 out with us in the Gloom on Friday mornings.  And don’t expect to  find them at the back at the pack.
  • Purple Haze sounded a little disappointed we did not make our way over to Palentine after we had crossed Hwy 51 at the start.  Did not have it as part of the virtual weinke this morning, but will keep it in mind for next time I Q at Centurion.

Announcements:

  • Sign up for F3 Golf.  Tournament will be held Friday, 7/29, at Olde Sycamore Golf Club in Mint Hill.  Proceeds to benefit F3’s Leap Expansion.  More info, registration and sponsorship opportunities can be found here:  http://f3golf.com/
  • Centurion will be sponsoring a hole for the F3 Golf Tournament.  Hole sponsorship is $100.  See Chelms to make $1/$2/$5/$10 donation.  Any and all contributions are appreciated.
  • Last official Saturday for F3 Dads this weekend.  Sites held at Colonel Francis Beatty Park on Weddington Road and at the Bull Ring in Ballantyne.  All 2.0s, boys and girls, are welcome.  Ages typically run from 2-10 with some older (my 13 year old 2.0 has enjoyed it).  9:00 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Mountain Goat – Longest Intervals Yet!

9 pax posted for a long interval workout that went something like:

 

  • Warm-up down Strawberry Lane for those late (e.g. The Mouth, Joker)
  • Dynamic stretching drills
  • 4x1200m @ Threshold Pace (will be slower than your race pace – find it from the calculator athttp://runsmartproject.com/calculator ) with 2 minute rest.  We’ll do it this way:
    • 1200m (3 track laps) @ Threshold Pace.  Minimum Rest for 2:00 minutes.  Feel free to extend rest up to 60 seconds to get a running buddy to start the next one.
    • Repeato x 3 (if time allows, Q will try to track the watch)
    • Recovery jog to cool down
  • Back to cars for COT

 

Some very strong efforts out there today, YHC had the privilege to run with Penalty Kick most of the time (until the last interval when I just couldn’t keep up).

Pele is looking more svelte than ever, Beaker was ripping through the intervals keeping Mr. Brady company, who of course complained at the beginning but still kept running strong.  Nomad was very consistent and consistently quick, he has really picked up the speed lately!

Sorry for the short write up but YHC has to, ahem, run.

Christmas Party, yada, yada, F3 Golf (TR is ok with just taking your money if you don’t want to play)

Thanks to Pele for the takeout

Boxing, it’s like running with your arms

It’s week three at the resurrected Fight Club and we’ve rebounded from the abysmal turnout last week.

Circuit 1
P1 & P2 -Pads/Gloves
P3 – Heavy bag
P4 – Your choice – KB, jump rope or pull-ups
2 rounds

Circuit 2
P1 & P2 spar
P3 – Heavy bag
P4 – Your choice – KB, jump rope or pull-ups
2 rounds

6MOM
Crunch x 15
LBC x 15
Knees R/L x 15 ea
Pistol R/L x 15 ea
Pretzel R/L x 15 ea

Ring Magazine
3 of the 4 attendees were wrapping wrists by 5:15 and Marlin joined the crew well before the official start. When the timer began, it was all business. Lots of fists flying and the sound of leather being pummeled echoed through the parking lot.

Be sure to check out Fight Club for a hard cardio workout that gives your legs a break. See you in the gloom!

Did I say 11’s…I meant 7’s

What a perfect day for a morning workout. 25 PAX including two FNG’s showed up for my VQ at Kevlar. Because of the nice weather and history of great workouts at Kevlar, I knew it would be a solid turnout and was not disappointed. After a disclaimer we took off…

THE THANG:

  • Mosey across street through campus parking lot back across street toward graveyard, circled up in parking lot.
  • SSH x 20
  • IW x 20
  • 10 merkins OYO
  • Mtn Climbers x 25 (I added 5 because they felt good, not because I lost count due to heavy breathing)
  • 10 merkins OYO
  • Mosey across 51 to bottom of Reid Hall
  • 11’s up and down Reid Hall, wide arm merkins at bottom, diamond merkins at top
  • Plank up…mosey down 51 to the pitch at Warner Park
  • Suicide #1 – 10 merkins halfway, 20 squats far side
  • Suicide #2 – 5 burpees halfway, 10 burpees far side
  • Mosey back across 51, plank up at corner, AYG back to launch for Mary
  • Flutter, Dolly, Heels to Heaven x 15 each
  • Eternal Flame Group Merkin – Up/hold around circle, down/hold around circle x 5 approx.

MOLESKIN:

I heard some grumbling, probably a little more running than some wanted, about 3.2 – 3.6 miles. I was told it resembled an earlier version of Fast Twitch. In hindsight, with only 45 minutes to work with, 7’s would have been a better choice, leaving more time for Warner park where I had some more exercises in my bag. Two FNG’s, Sidecar and Brexit jumped into the mix today and now hate the number 11. When they come back, hopefully they get some tire hairburners, weights, bear crawls and more of what Kevlar has to offer. Thank you Squid for the takeout prayer and thanks to Alf and Horsehead for the opportunity to lead these fine men.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

  • Sign up for the golf tourney ASAP, F3golf.com
  • F3 Dad’s tomorrow led by Horsehead
  • Talk to Body Bag if you want to play soccer, F3 v. Charlotte Eagles, July 9th.

Zombie apocalypse

COP – SSH X 20, IW X 20, Russian twist while explanation of workout was given. Explanation of zombie twist… Each time a number is given and you’re the zombie you double the excercise, afterwards, infect someone else, no immunity, you can contract again. While this explanation was given and Pax were completing Russian twists we had to go around and name presidents, first 1/3 to not have one or repeat are zombies to start.

Stairs – 1 at a time… 2 at a time… Bunny hop 1 step at a time… Bunny hop 2 steps at a time… 1 legged hop all the way up… Switch legs…

Each time at the top do 10 inclined Merkins, 10 dips, 10 declined Merkins. Then 5 pull ups, 5 wide grips, 5 chin ups.

Grandma – run up hill do 10 wide arm Merkins, 10 diamonds, 10 Merkins. Then 20 flutter, 20 heels to heaven, 20 Freddie Mercury.

Field – 10x of each (lunge the 10 yards at a time) jump squats, sister Mary Catherine, squat.
Again 10x of each bear crawl the 10yrds. Nipplers, dry docks, dive bombers.

The work out was not as complicated as what this back blast might appear. Yeti clearly stayed up late last night and was inspired by the Walking Dead. When asked who was familiar w this show, Freedom was so excited he could hardly contain himself. As guys found their rythem and began tapping other zombies, Bush and Semigloss seemed to be fine w carrying the zombie status and not worrying about the extra reps. Although I’m not sure if Semigloss was actually DOING the extra reps.

Everyone was sweating their tales off out there. Joker had the gun show as he was ripping through the pull-ups. 2.0 sledge has become a staple to Joust. Do we have an age limit on when one can Q? I’m serious…! Well done Hammer for raising a child in the way he should go.

FNGs last week Cookie Monster and Square root were back for more! Welcome back fellas – nice work. Ductwork was back from introducing Guatemala to what F3 is all about. Glad you got back safely!

Strong group – lots of studs out there…

Have a great day everyone! Thanks for coming out to Joust today – greatest AO in A51!

The beach is that way

9 bros showed up this morning to make sure they are beach body ready. Well, they are now…and you ain’t. Here’s what you missed:

 

COP
SSH x 20
Merkins x 15
Squat Jacks x 10
Good Morning x 10

 

The Thang:

 

Shoulders:
2 handed press x 20
1 handed press x 20 (10 each side)
Lawnmower x 20 each side
Upright row x 20
Front raise x 20

 

Chest:
Merkins x 20
2 Handed Press x 20
Stagger Merkins on Bell x 20
Standing Chest Press x 20
1 Arm Chest Press x 20

 

Biceps Circle:
Curl bar passed around x 10
Remaining pax does called exercises:
Swing
Snatch (alternate as needed)
Clean

 

Triceps: x 3
Tricep ext x 20
Overhead ext x 20

 

Finisher circuit x 10 each
Swings
Squat
Swings
Good Morning
Swings
Deadlifts
Swings

 

 

moleskin:

Well, once again, not a whole lotta mumble chatter. Two things here, one, we workout…hard, and two, the usual blabber mouths weren’t there. Basically, we used the KB on many more ways than just snatched, swings, and cleans. But, we did those as well. We even passed around an ez curl bar to get the extra pump in the biceps. All is good…we are huge.

 

announcements: F3 Golf 7/29 SIGN UP, F3 Dads this Saturday check twitterville, need all your prayers for Destiny, Meatheads oldest and toughest Bro.

Mountain Goat Goes Looong

We have been very focused on the shorter and faster stuff to prep for the mile and then some hills.  This week we are going to go looong.  Work on some slower but longer, much longer, intervals than what we are used to.

  • Warm-up down Strawberry Lane for those late (e.g. The Mouth, Joker)
  • Dynamic stretching drills
  • 4x1200m @ Threshold Pace (will be slower than your race pace – find it from the calculator at http://runsmartproject.com/calculator ) with 2 minute rest.  We’ll do it this way:
    • 1200m (3 track laps) @ Threshold Pace.  Minimum Rest for 2:00 minutes.  Feel free to extend rest up to 60 seconds to get a running buddy to start the next one.
    • Repeato x 3 (if time allows, Q will try to track the watch)
    • Recovery jog to cool down
  • Back to cars for COT.

The beach is that way

9 bros are beach body ready after this mornings workout. Don’t you wish you were? Here’s what we did:

COP

SSH x 20
Merkins x 15
Squat Jacks x 10
Good Morning x 10

The Thang

Shoulders:
2 handed press x 20
1 handed press x 20 (10 each side)
Lawnmower x 20 each side
Upright row x 20
Front raise x 20

 

Chest:
Merkins x 20
2 Handed Press x 20
Stagger Merkins on Bell x 20
Standing Chest Press x 20
1 Arm Chest Press x 20

 

Biceps Circle:
Curl bar passed around x 10
Remaining pax does called exercises:
Swing
Snatch (alternate as needed)
Clean

 

Triceps: x 3
Tricep ext x 20
Overhead ext x 20

 

Finisher circuit x 10 each
Swings
Squat
Swings
Good Morning
Swings
Deadlifts
Swings

NMM – No Mary at Meathead. We lift

 

moleskin:

 

well, not much mumble chatter again today. Lack of personnel, you know who you are. Well, other than a little bit of laughter after trying to do squat jacks to cadence. You had to be there. Stick to the basics. Anyway, we ventured away a little bit from snatches, swings, and squats, but kept those as good calorie burners between the beach muscle sets. Meathead continues to kick your ass no matter the Weinke. Today included an ez curl bar for the biceps. We do it all. If you weren’t there, you missed it all. ‘Til next time.

 

announcements: F3 Golf July 29th sign up, F3 Dads at Francis Beatty & SOB, please keep Destiny in your prayers

Chadwyck Hill Tour

Enough men for a regulation baseball team showed up for Hydra, and promptly ran the opposite direction of the Olde Providence Elementary baseball fields. I have spent the majority of the last several months at those baseball fields, so I opted for a change of scenery.

The Thang:

Moderately fast mosey down Rea and hang left into Chadwyck neighborhood. Immediately feel more sophisticated because the developer spelled Chadwyck with a “y” instead of an “i.” Much like the heightened sophistication that comes from randomly placing “e’s” at the ends of words. (see, e.g., OldE Providence). Do they speak Middle English at the HOA meeting?

Chadwyck Hill #1 (Pima Cotton):

Run up the hill on Pima Cotton Dr. and do 10 Hand Release Merkins in the cul de sac. Back to the bottom and do LBCs while waiting for the six.

Rinse and repeat x3: 15 HR Merkins, Dolly for the 6
10 HR Merkins, Flutter for the 6
5 HR Merkins, Freddy Mercury for the 6
Gummy 10 Count (IW x 10)

Crazy Ivan misdirection, before the mosey deeper into Chadwyck in search of another hill. When we got to Pima Cotton, Pudding Pop said, “At least we aren’t going to Ashridge.” I didn’t know the name of the street for hill number 2, but I now know it is called Ashridge. Sorry, Pudding Pop.

Plankorama til 6 arrives.

Chadwick Hill #2 (now known as Pudding Pop Hill):

Run up the hill to the stop sign, 20 merkins. Back to the bottom and do squats waiting for the 6.

Rinse and repeat x 3: 15 CDD, Rosalita for the 6
10 wide arms, Heels to heaven for the 6
5 diamonds, squats for the 6
A long way from home with a little time to get there, so mosey back through Chadwyck to OPE.

NMM:
Sorry for going a minute or two over. I had a Garmin fail early and got a timing assist from Queen. Not his fault though. I just wanted to cover some new ground. We rarely venture into Chadwyck. In any event, we covered around 4.2 miles, I think, which is a lot of miles for a boot camp. Most of it was on hills. I have run Pudding Pop Hill on many occasions, but never four times in a row. I hated it just as much as the rest of you.

Apparently Pudding Pop tweeted last night that I loved running and merkins. I didn’t see the tweet but, oh well, we ran and did merkins.

Solid work by the whole crew. We were able to keep pretty close together by fitting in our Mary at the bottom of the hill repeats. Consistent Larry Bird work by Queen.

Announcements:

Pudding Pop made a few. I’m foggy on the details so check the website. F3 Dads on Saturday mornings. F3 Golf approaching. Someone is putting together a soccer team to play the Charlotte Eagles, which is a strong crew on and off the field. I predict the F3 team will lose the game and then all immediately rededicate their lives to the Lord.

Thanks to Pudding Pop for the keys, and for the takeout.