Bull Ring of Fire

Bull Ring of Fire

At 0515 on Tuesday, 12 PAX took to the Bull Ring at the Ballantyne Corporate Park for the weekly Speed workout known as Swift.

The THANG:

  • 0500 saw Honeybee, Outback, Mr. Bean gather for some pre-running.  Bratwurst joined them mid-run after being duped into crossing a wide street and saying a very up close and personal Good Morning to a SadClown that he thought was Rock Thrill.  No EH for the SadClown this day, and Brat is fortunate the SadClown doesn’t like Pepper Spray on his Bratwurst.
  • 0515 Mr. Bean and Outback peel off to get in more miles before Bagpipe.
  • 0515 The PAX follow Bratwurst past the dark shadows of the 3 huge Bull statues and on to the Bull Ring for a 1mi warmup.  After 6 dynamic exercises (toes, heels, high knees, butt kicks, bounding, B-skip), the PAX assembled on to the Bull Ring to start the Speed Pyramid.
  • 4x200m with 200m recovery; Regroup PAX
  • 2×400 with 400m recovery; Regroup PAX
  • 800m (or 3minutes) with 800m recovery; Regroup PAX
  • 2×400 with 400m recovery; Regroup PAX
  • 2 more Sprints (about 0:30 each) on way back to COT.

Moleskin:

  • Cobains for the lack of a true Preblast posting.  At least YHC got something out there on Twitter.
  • All intervals run at 1-mile Race Pace – http://runsmartproject.com/calculator. YHC clarified this again after the first 200m when most PAX turned in a 5:00/mi pace.  Adrenaline, “downhill”, the Haggis-effect, whatever it was, the goal is to run all the intervals at the same pace.  This might seem easy on the 200m, but gets pretty darn hard when trying to hold that for 1/2 mile after running 1 mile cumulatively at that pace.  In general, PAX did a good job of moderating after that to dial in what should be a very hard pace to hold for 1-3 minutes.
  • YHC gave an option to the PAX to not run 800m, but to run 800m or 3minutes – whichever is shorter.  While some PAX finished the 800m under 3min, every PAX put in a Huge effort to not let the “whichever is shorter” be the decision point.  PAX were pushing right through the 3min barrier and it wasn’t even because the Bagpipe PAX were around!
  • Speaking of Bagpipe PAX, today we knew that we would be sharing the Bull Ring as they were using it for Mr. Bean’s Ring of Fire.  Normally, having a crowded venue on a trail or track is a pain, but it was actually pretty fun today.  Despite mocking comments about “going metro” due to JRR Tolkien, Haggis, Honeybee, Hops, and others going shirtless, running past and giving / receiving encouragement was worth having to occasionally avoid the Bagpipe PAX sprawled out on the Bull Ring taking a rest from 100s of Merkins.
  • Welcome to Swift newcomer JRR Tolkein, a Stonehenge regular, but definitely one of the Swifter PAX.
  • Special recognition to Bounty Hunter who was noted to be Indian Land’s only imports today.  And he’s not even doing the BRR! – just wanting to get more endurance. Note this PAX, Swift is speedwork, but it is designed to help you run better.  Not for just trying to run a marathon, ultra, or BRR – anything including your 1st 5K, best Mud Run / Spartan Race, or improving your Run Leg on the Triathlon.
  • HoneyBee has been patiently watching how Haggis closes in races, he’s starting to get the hang of it.  Blistered the 800m at a 5:18/mi pace.  Upon closer realization, it was the Strava Record that HoneyBee was going for.
  • Madame Tussauds also picking up Strava PRs today.  Even though it “hurt”, he’ll get the just rewards when the hills of the BRR preview seem smaller (note, didn’t say small).
  • Did Mighty Might truly intend to post at Swift but was tripped up by a quiet Alarm Clock?  We’ll never know how many PAX intend to post at Swift but need their 15 more minutes of sleep and just quietly slip in to Bagpipe.

Announcements:

  • BRR Preview Camping – though there is only a 2 drink maximum, join other PAX from Area51 on an overnight trip this Friday.  Leaves at Noon Friday, returns pre-dinner Saturday.  Check with Mr. Bean (@Bean1968David) on details.

 

Love me some lornmowas!

12 fine gents decided on KB’s for a Tuesday morning pain montage.

THE THANG

Disclaimer
20 two handed swings
15 SSH
15 IW
10 two handed swings/10 Overhead presses
8 two handed swings/8 Overhead presses
6 two handed swings/6 Overhead presses
4 two handed swings/4 Overhead presses
2 two handed swings/4 Overhead presses
Back up the ladder
10 right handed lawnmowers (???) in cadence
10 left handed lawnmowers in cadence
20 two handed swings

Over to the cones

Round 1 – 50 two handed swings and 10 burpees on each of the 5 cones in 5 minutes
Round 2 – 50 tea baggers and 10 air squats at each cone in 4 minutes
Round 3 – 50 high pulls and 10 diamond merkins at each cone in 4 mins
Round 4 – 50 alternating swings and 10 Carolina Dry Docks at each cone in 3 min 30
Round 5 – 20 Louganis and 10 heels to heaven at each cone in 3 mins
Round 6 – 5 two handed swings sprint to cone 1, 10 two handed swings sprint to cone 2, 15 two handed swings sprint to cone 3, 20 two handed swings sprint to cone 4, 25 two handed swings and sprint to cone 5

4 minutes of mary.

COT

YE OLDE NAKED MOLESKINE

A light yet strong crowd out at Skunkworks this morning. YHC was not sure if I could even Q due to a limp wrist obtained at last weeks smokefest from Busch. Having donned the Haggis style MMA gloves it was time to get to work with all merkins done on the fists. During the COP it was very obvious that there is a large difference between the Queens English and the American version:

Q: “Next exercise is…..the lornmowa”
Pax: “The what?”
Q: “The lornmowa.”
Pax:….crickets
Q: “This!” (showing the demo)
Pax: “Ohhh the larrrnmowerrrrr”
Q: “That’s it chaps. Let’s get to it.”

After the extended warm up (and seeing Harley grimace on the overhead presses) it was time for a lung buster combo. Opening round of 50 swings and 50 burpees looked great on paper and easy to complete in 5 minutes but was I wrong? After two or three cones it turned into a stagger between sets as the clocked ticked down. Hats off to most of the lads for getting it in and to Chanel for bouncing back from injury and crushing it along with Freedom and his gorilla bell. Fireman Ed was either counting by twos or he has just turned into a KB machine as he was leading from the front.

Good stuff from Witch Doctor and Blazing Saddles who are on a roll now after several weeks of consistent posting.

Thanks for allowing me to lead.

BD

Announcements: Gladiator training in Union Co this weekend

The Kickstand

25 of South Charlotte and South Carolina’s toughest showed up at SCMS this morning ready to grind. In the heir of transparency, YHC posted a preblast yesterday outlining what was on deck. The pax either missed the post or threw caution to the wind and came ready to grind.

The Thang:

Mosey to top of Windbluff (corner of Windbluff/Raintree Ln). This is the center of the tripod.

Leg 1- down Windbluff, up opposite side stopping at yellow 20mph curve sign.

Leg 2- right on Raintree Lane towards 51. Right on Smokerise to the dead end.

Leg 3- cross Raintree Ln back down Rounding Run to the base of Rising Meadow.

At the center of the tripod do 5 HR merkins. At the end of each leg do 10 sumo squats, touching the ground with both hands.

Complete all 3 tripod legs and return to the center. That’s 1. Repeat until 6:05.

Obligatory Indian run 0.7 mi back to campus.

NMM:

Speed was on display today. LOTS of guys out there getting faster. A51 is shaping up to have a strong showing at BRR next month. Not sure the team stats, good representation from Free Range and Flattnin’ the Hills. Radar was noticeably absent. Not sure if he’s in taper mode yet.

Most ended up hitting more than 6 miles this morning. A potential record high of 7.3 miles in 60 minutes by a ski bum may be tough to top. Van Pelt’s Fitbit said we climbed the equivalent of 80 flights of stairs. Not many buildings in town you can replicate that.

No surprise to see the ski bum holding his usual spot out front. Brady put up a strong fight and wasn’t far behind. Beaker, Fletch, TR and Bout Time were pushing the pace as well.

T-claps to our brothers Funhouse and Jekyll from The Fort making the trip north for a dose of the Tuesday’s fastest hour in South Charlotte. Both were crushing the pace today. BOLO for a clowncar to Tega Cay soon.

Lots of other guys out there grinding it out and getting stronger. Huge peloton group had their smokeboots on today.

Glad to see some tanktops out there this morning – Fletch, Runstopper, Soul Glo, I see you. Ironsides had an awesome tank top on but it didn’t make an appearance until the COT. Thanks for supporting the #TanktopTuesday cause.

Prohibition, Mouth, Glass Joe, Jekyll all posted Strava PRs on the wicked incline on Windbluff.

T-claps to TR for keeping the pax up to speed on the latest from the veterinary science of feline gastroenterology.

Thanks to the site Qs in absentia this morning for the opportunity to lead. FT is a great example of a love/hate relationship. Everyone out there today got stronger.

T-claps to Glass Joe for taking us out.
Announcements:
Sign up for F3 Golf.

Fight Club 080315

6 men threw a lot of punches on Monday morning.

YHC had been out sick all last week and so was itching for an F3 session.  As a result, Fight Club had a bit more bootcamp than usual this week.

We started with a quick 10, 20, 30 routine: 10 pull-ups, 20 merkins, 30 sit-ups, then a run around the parking lot.  Repeato 3 times.

Head to Loch Ness: gloves and pads on: one round punching, one round holding, one lap around the lake.  This was repeated many times with high intensity until approximately 6:05.

Line up on grassy area: 10 merkins, 20 toe tapper crunches, sprint to other end.  Repeato in reverse.  Then 10 heels to heavens, 10 burpees, sprint to other end.  More sit-ups, then plankorama, then 15 merkins, then sprint to other end.

Done.

– Solid showing this morning from the Fight Club faithful.  Come and try this workout.  It is not what you think, but it sure does hurt.

– In his first ever time doing a boxing workout with younger brother Doubtfire, Haggis was dismayed to find that not only is Doubtfire younger, taller, and faster; he can also punch harder too.  That sucks.

– Thank you all.  It is always a pleasure to lead and work out with this group.  Thanks especially Chipotle for making Fight Club a success.

Southern Discomfort – The Inaugural

28 or 29 pax posted at Stonehenge at 5am for the Roshambo option of Southern Discomfort.  The CSAUP started early as 6 or 7 pax jumped in the back of Ductwork’s truck and hurtled down 485 towards Ballantyne from Matthews Elementary (Peak 51).

At 5:45ish, the Roshamboers rolled into Centurion and were greeted by about 40 or so Swift Kickers and Sack Tappers.

Won’t rehash all the details, but will point out just a few observations and the pax can chime in with any other anecdotes.

* 2nd F was great and it was a cool sight to see 70ish pax heading down 51 with the shovel flags.

* Got a lot of horn-tapping love from cars as we made our way from AO to AO. #merica

* Sorry the distance was a little off for the 3 options…didn’t factor in the mileage at the AO’s themselves….but made it more noteworthy for all the pax doing 8+, 14+ and 17+ miles

* T-Claps to Urquell and Borat – FNG’s for a CSAUP event like Southern Discomfort – that’s strong!

* And special welcome to Walker from The Fort, Whoopee from The Gas House and Abacus-Metro.  Also had some pax from MECA (Mint Hill).

Please chime in on the Comments to add some much needed flavor to this backblast.

Thought it was a great event, and we’ll definitely have to do it again next year.

Let MallCop know if you want a t-shirt.  If we get at least 12 takers, we can do another order.

“Whoa, guys, where’s all this hostility coming from?”** WIGGLER: SUMMER HOURS – 6:00 AM Start

Billy McMahon: Whoa, guys, where’s all this hostility coming from?

Stuart: Where do you think it’s coming from, you big tree. Two fifths of our team is made up of two old guys who [run The Wiggler]” **

Don’t be so hostile, come run The Wiggler!  6:00 am Tuesday – corner of Foxcroft and Rothwood – old guy pace…

** The Internship

Party of 2

With Southern Discomfort right around the corner, YHC knew the attendance would be light – it just ended up being lighter than expected.

2 SOBs – who weren’t going to be doing Southern Discomfort decided to deny the fartsack and post at The Brave.

YHC had several different options of workouts in mind, all depending on who and how many pax showed up. With only one other than YHC, all were scrapped and an old faithful was used.

The Thang:

Loch Ness Loops:

1 Lap around Loch Ness
1 exercise lap – with exercises at the two patios and the picnic tables – 10 derkins, 10 jump ups, 10 dips, finish lap.

2 laps around Loch Ness
1 exercise lap – 20 derkins, 20 jump ups, 20 dips, finish lap.

3 laps around Loch Ness
1 exercise lap – 30 derkins, 30 jump ups, 30 dips

3 laps around Loch Ness
1 exercise lap – 40 derkins, 40 jump ups, 40 dips

2 laps around Loch Ness
1 exercise lap – 20 derkins, 20 jump ups, 20 dips, finish lap.

1 Lap around Loch Ness
1 exercise lap – with exercises at the two patios and the picnic tables – 10 derkins, 10 jump ups, 10 dips, finish lap.

Finished.

NMM

Thankful Crabcake decided he needed a 60 minute workout today, otherwise YHC would have been running around the lake by myself.
Lots of good 2nd F.

Solid work Crabcake – total approx 5.4 miles, 120 derkins, jump ups, dips.

Thats all YHC has.

Announcements – had to be there.

Champagne Out.

SOFA WIB Preblast – The Smokey

With BRR training in full swing, we’re doing something completely different this week at SOFA WIB – we’re going Nascar style and turning left out of OP to run the mile down to Providence Lane West.  For those unfamiliar, this half-mile long road has a slight hill with five side streets.

Route:  Strava map – love the elevation graph

Mosey down Providence Lane West and complete the following at each side street:  20 jump squats, 20 merkins, 20 knee ups (A little twenty twen twen).  100 of each per trip.

At Lancer, turn around and run up to Rea (no stops – this is a pure run / AYG up the hill).  Repeat.

Complete 3 sets #stretchgoal, or at 6:06, run back to OP.  First one back leads Mary until all are back.

Total of +/- 5.3 miles with some decent elevation change, 300 jump squats, 300 merkins, and 300 knee ups, if completed.

Man Made Rain Delay

Disclaimer given (and evidently a fine one at that based on all of the unsolicited comments from the peanut gallery), and 28 men started their week off right.

Warm-up

  • Jog through parking lot with a mix of high knees, butt kickers, and lunges
  • COP (SSH x25, IW x15, Slow Squat x15, MCs x20, Peter Parker x10)

Mosey to track and halfway around; Gather in middle of football field

Star (Merkins x5 in the middle)

  • Flutter (15/30)
  • Squats (15/30)
  • LBCs (15/30)
  • Burpees (5/10)

Plank work (active recovery)

Recovery Lap (sprint the back straight if so inclined)

  • Mary while we wait for 6 (LBCs, Flutter, Russian Twist)

7s across football field (Merkins/Squats)

70-yard Relay (3 man grinders) on track’s back stretch

Mosey to restroom facility

People’s Chair with arm presses x50 (Active recovery)

Mosey to parking lot. Form of a circle for Mary (LBCs, Flutter, Freddie Mercury, Plank)

Done

Moleskin

Does anyone remember the scene from Bull Durham where Crash Davis (Kevin Costner) creates a man-made rain delay by turning on all of the sprinklers on the baseball diamond and letting them run all night? Well, the football field at SCMS felt very similar to that this morning. For a place that hasn’t had any significant rain over the past month or so, that thing was a swamp (#headsupforQwouldhavebeenappreciated). Fortunately the men of Base Camp are just that – men, and didn’t let a little mud stop them from a getting in a solid workout.

It was a great morning to be out, and a better way to start the week. We did a lot (and I may have actually missed a few things in the write-up above). Planning a moderate workout that can challenge the varied fitness levels is a challenge, but the men of Base Camp again proved their metal and were strong throughout. I hope everyone got something out of this morning. No 10-counts were administered and all survived. YHC considers his job done. Thank you for the opportunity to lead – ALWAYS a privilege.

Kudos to Simba and Baracas for the 1.5 mile pre-run. Great 2nd F with you gentlemen this morning. Gummy, nice 25-yard sprint from your car. #overachiever

Announcements

HDHH Wednesdays at The Lodge

Who wants Ben and Jerry’s?

Last night I reached out to some F3 friends to try and outsource this workout. I used some recommendations (go to a playground, run, etc.). Also, none of those F3 Friends showed up. I have no F3 friends anymore.

Run to Carmel Pres.
–SSH x 20IC
–Merkins x 10IC

On Playground at church:
–10 derkins
–10 dips
–10 jump-ups
–10 pull-ups
–Repeat

Run to Mullens Ford Rd.
–5 Diamonds at every street light on right or left side and plank at stop sign at end of street (10 lights or so)

Run to Ben & Jerry’s shopping center
On wall in parking lot:
–Derkins x 10IC
–Dips x 10IC
–Derkins x 8IC
–Dips x 8IC
–Derkins x 6IC
–Dips x 6IC

Beast in parking lot (6 exercises at 3 lights and back to start)
–Squats
–Merkins
–Monkey Humpers
(cut short because of all the 189 empty parking spaces at 6am, a car chooses to park directly in the middle of where we are running)

Exit by Ben & Jerry’s and run up Valencia Terrace
–10 jump squats at each speed bump or stop sign (5 stops)
–LBC’s x 20IC at top

Left on Sharonview, left on Manor Mill, and stop at Atleigh Ct.
–7’s on Atleigh Ct. (Burpees at bottom and Diamonds at top)
–Flutters x 20IC
–Russian Twist x 10IC

Run back to Carmel Park

NM
Small crew today. Lots of guys on vacation or taking a day off from Southern Discomfort or they all went to Basecamp (28!). So, because it was a small/fast crew we went way off campus. 3.55 on the milage with lots of stuff mixed in on the way.

The Monkey Humpers were a huge hit. Especially under the lights in the parking lot. Dear Abby crushed them. Not sure if that is something you want to be stellar at though.

The derkin/dip combo was supposed to go all the way down to 2IC but my arms were shot after 6IC. Also, the jump squats up Valencia was not the best decision.

Bout Time and One Eye were out front the entire morning.

Penny Packer and Pothole getting faster and stronger each week.

Film Festival, Snoop, and Chappy talked the whole time. They had a good conversation going during the derkins/dips about how dog groomers make tons of money (or at least more than Snoop). Chappy said he was going to start investing the dog grooming business. The ROI is said to be around 32.45%, even higher if you can get the Golden Retrievers to frequent your place.

Great to have Skywalker and Snowflake out there this morning. They are machines and just get it done. Seriously though, Skywalker has a fake hand.

Runstopper showed up for the COT only. Actually, he rolled up late after his morning “rituals” took longer than expected and never found us. I’m sure he just knocked out a few hundred burpees while he waited for us. No big deal.

One Eye joined me on the 1.9 mile pre-run. We ran down Colony to Sharonview and back.

Annoucements:

Cuda Run is every Thursday at 7:30 from Foxcroft shopping center. 4, 6, and 8 mile options.
Ghost Runner is every Thursday at 7:30(??) from Aboretrum.
I am looking for new F3 friends. If you know of any, please send them my way.

Snoop has the Q next week at DMZ. He always brings the pain.