39 and Counting

39 and Counting

10 PAX made their way to McKee Rd Elementary on Saturday for another weekly episode of Area 51.  SF was planted as we waited for the clock to strike 0700 hours.  Nice cool morning as we headed over to the lower parking lot by the soccer fields for a warm-up lap with high knees and butt kickers before we circled up for COP:

  • SSH x 25 IC
  • IW x 25 IC
  • Low Slow Squat x 20 IC
  • MC x 25 IC
  • Peter Parker x 25 IC

Lots of mumble chatter during COP as PAX paid their respects to Ocho Cinco as he was celebrating his last day before moving up from the “hate” weight class.  No birthday burpees handed out (mainly because YHC just didn’t feel like completing any burpees this week), but lots of discussion of Ocho reaching the BIG 40 and how it was all downhill from here.  Pretty mature group (as far as age is concerned) as Ocho was War Baby at “39”.

Led the PAX over to the cinder block pile and everyone took a coupon.  Headed out to the center light pole for a little starfish work.

  • At center light pole, complete 10 block curls, 10 block presses, 10 block squats
  • Drop block and run to 1st light pole for 20 merkins
  • Back to middle for 10 curls, 10 presses,10 squats
  • Run to 2nd light pole for 20 jump squats
  • Back to middle for 10, 10, 10
  • Run to 3rd light pole for 20 wide arm merkins
  • Back to middle for 10, 10, 10
  • Run to 4th light pole for 20 jump squats
  • Back to middle for 10, 10, 10
  • Run to 5th light pole for 20 staggered merkins (10R, 10L)
  • Back to middle for 10, 10, 10
  • Return coupons back to cinder block pile

Mosey to other end of soccer fields and circle up for 6 MOM:

  • Dolly x 20 IC, hold’em
  • Flutter x 20 IC, hold’em
  • Rosalita x 20 IC
  • LBC x 25 IC
  • Back Scratcher  x 20 IC

Time to head over to the Bus parking lot for Suicide Ladder

  • Run suicide to light pole, 1st basketball goal, 2nd basketball goal
  • Add the ladder, so run to light pole, 5 CDD, 1st basketball goal, 10 CDD, 2nd basketball goal, 15 CDD
  • Next round, 5/10/15 squats
  • Next round 5/10/15 LBCs

Mosey back to playground near the launch point for some circuit work

  • 10 Hanging Knee-ups, 20 Dips, 20 Lunges
  • Rinse & Repeat x 3

Head over to front of school for People’s Chair

  • PC x 75 sec (w/ arms out front, arms overhead with air presses x 25)
  • Broad jump out to curb
  • PC x 60 sec (w/ right foot up, then left foot up)
  • Broad jump out to curb

COT

NMM:

  • Lot of mumble chatter at the start as Lobster Roll, Slapshot, and Joker made sure to give Ocho a little grief on the eve of turning 40.  Didn’t seem to bother Ocho too much as he was up front for most of the work-out along with Joker, Cold Cuts, and Lobster Roll.
  • Wanted to incorporate the cinder blocks into the work during the Starfish, but didn’t want to have to have the PAX toting blocks from light pole to light pole.  Keeping them in the middle seemed to work pretty well.
  • Suicides seemed easy enough as we completed round 1.  Adding the ladder for rounds 2-4 seemed to ratchet up the effort a bit.
  • Been a while since YHC attended a work-out where everyone (well, just about everyone as technically Ocho was still in the “hate” decade) is 40 and above.  Everyone was working hard for the full 60

Announcements:

  • Mud Run sign-ups for few more days.  3/31 is deadline.  Couple Area 51 teams looking for a 4th to fill out the teams.
  • 1st Saturday of the month, Joker is leading a work-out in the afternoon with the kids from Alexander Youth Network.  Next scheduled work-out is Saturday, 4/4.  Let Joker, Shawn.Heath@duke-energy.com,  know if you have any interest in helping out.
  • F3 Golf at Olde Sycamore scheduled for 4/30/15.  http://f3nation.com/2015/02/04/the-2nd-annual-f3-golf-classic/
  • See weekly e-mail or F3nation.com website for additional information

Closing out the Quarter

Hard to believe we are already a quarter way through the yr . A dozen came out to
start to week off right.   In somewhat particular order from what I can recall:

SSH x 20
Imperial Walker x 20
Peter Parker Merkin x 15

On the Field:
Partner 1: 2-hand swings x 20
Partner 2: squats until Partner 1 finishes
Flapjack

P1: Sumo Squats x 15
P2: Merkins
Flapjack

P1: Overhead press x 15
P2: burpees
Flapjack

Lunge Walk  w/ KB to edge of penalty area box

Partner 1: plank row (left) x 15
Partner 2: mountain climbers
Flapjack

P1: Plank row (right) x 15
P2: squats
Flapjack

P1: horizontal rows x 15
P2: Wide-arm merkins
Flapjack

Lunge walk w/ KB to penalty spot

Partner 1: 1-hand swings (left) x 15
Partner 2 : burpees
Flapjack

P1: 1-hand swings (right) x 15
P2: merkins

P1: Goblet Squats x 15
P2: burpees

Lunge Walk w/ KB to edge of penalty area box

Partner 1: halos clockwise x 10
Partner 2: squats
Flapjack

P1: Halos counterclockwise x 10
P2: mountain climbers
Flapjack

Lunge Walk w/ KB to sideline

Partner 1: 1-hand press x 15
Partner 2: merkins
Flapjack

P1: 1-hand press x 15
P2: burpees

Mary
Flutter w/ KB press x 10
Dolly w/ KB press x 10
Dying Cockroach x 10
Rosalita w/ KB press x 10
Russian Twist w/ KB x 10

To hill:
2 hand swings x 15
Run up hill for 10 merkins, back down
2 hand swings x 15

Goblet squats x 10
Up hill for 5 burpees, back down
Goblet squats x 10

Good mornings x 10
Up hill for 10 merkins
Good mornings x 10

Mosey home
COT

Moleskin:
Strong showing by all today.  Frehley was hurting after he hit the bricks for a few miles yesterday and called out the other runners who decided to take the day off.  Way to push through, FC.

Good to have Gomer Pyle back to Foxhole again; keep coming out.

YHC was up last night with junior from 1:45am to 4am, so I apologize for the somewhat lack of organization.  My bad, but I was operating on very little sleep.  Hopefully everyone still got a good workout.

Announcements
See Madame Tussaud’s link to pay for bus & sundries for Mud Run in weekly e-mail
Look for pre-blast regarding Queens Cup Steeplechase open invite coming from YHC

 

 

 

Spring Training Benchmarks

Stand up and be timed.  We’ll be setting our benchmarks for the Spring running season at Fast Twitch tomorrow.   We’ll do plenty of warm-up with some rounds of the track and a brief COP.  You will be ready.  Bring your lungs and your short-track shoes.

For those who feel running the timed mile around a track is just too passe, you are welcome to set a new Area 51 record on any of the competitive variants, e.g.:

 

 

See you at 0515.

 

 

 

“Aloha, man. My name’s Koonu.” ** – Wiggler: 5:30 am Launch

Surfing Instructor: Aloha, man. My name’s Koonu.

Peter Bretter: I know, we met duing the [The Wiggler]!

Surfing Instructor: Oh right, you’re that guy who works for Kaiser Permanente!

Peter Bretter: No, I’m Peter! We had a really nice talk [while running The Wiggler]!

Surfing Instructor: Oh.

[pause]

Surfing Instructor: Coooool.

 

Meet new people! Run the Wiggler!  5:30 am Tuesday – corner of Foxcroft and Rothwood – Hawaiian pace…

 

** Forgetting Sarah Marshall

#Preblast – Add Threshold in the mix

#F3Swift will launch at 0515 at the Vine Restaurant from the Ballantyne AO on Tuesday morning.  This week, we’ll be adding some Threshold intervals back into the mix.

Here’s the Plan:

  • Do standing dynamic stretching before 0515 – High knees, butt kicks, Forward leg swing, Lateral leg swing, Ankle rolls.  If you don’t know what these are, be there by 0510 to socialize and get loose.
  • Warm-up heading to the “Landing strip” – North Community House Rd.  Drop cones every 0.25 mi for fun to come.
  • 4 x (5minute Threshold Pace w/ 2min jog) – find your Threshold Pace at http://runsmartproject.com/calculator
  • 6 x (200meter Repetition Pace w/ 200m jog)
  • Closing Acceleration Run back to AO – dropping 5sec per 400m (cones will be laid out).

Losers wear their underwear outside their pants

16 men … gloom .. red pill…you get the picture. Face it. Either you’re reading this and you already know what went down because you were there or you posted somewhere else (hope you at least broke a sweat). The rest of you, well, you should’ve posted this morning. Good luck doing this one OYO while dragging your #sadclown self through the muck (unless you’re “working out” next to a #fern, in which case you’re probably reading this while you’re “working out” which definitely means you aren’t really “working out” now, are you?). Enough of that. 16 men with attitude pushed off into the gloom:

  • Run to the blocks, pick up the blocks, run with the blocks to the middle of the field. Stack blocks around the pole and continue on to the rear lot.
  • Under the lights, COP:
    • SSH x25
    • IW x25
    • Merkin x20
    • Pavel’s Power Plank (aka. Chuck Norris move #1: Fists of Fury)
    • Squat x20
    • Wide-arm Merkin x15
    • Pavel’s Power Plank
    • Front Lunge x20
    • Diamond Merkin x15
    • Pavel’s Power Plank
    • Side Lunge x20
    • Burp-n-Merk 1-10
  • Run back to blocks for Partner Starfish:
    • Partner 1 runs Starfish leg 1 while Partner 2 does block exercises. When Partner 1 returns and completes burpees, Partner 2 runs Starfish Leg 1. After Partner 2 completes burpees, Partner 1 moves on to Starfish leg 2 and so on…
    • Starfish: 20Merkins/5burpees/20Squats/5burpees/20Flutter/5burpees/20Merkins/5burpees/20squats/5burpees
    • Block exercises: sets of squats and overhead press
    • Finish with rousing rendition of LBCs in cadence until all guppies have returned to Starfish base.
    • Backwards roll to run (aka. Chuck Norris move #2: Ninja Roll)
  • Run to playground for circuit work:
    • Circuit: 10 pullups/20jumpsquats/20single-legsquats/20derkins
    • Repeato x3
  • Run back to blocks. Hoist block and run with block to super secret block storage area.
  • Dodge thorn bush and replace block.
  • On your belly – ready, set, go – 150 yd. jailbreak (across treacherous, sub-par county “fields”) to bushes, hurdle bushes and circle up for COT.

Moleskine:

  • Disclaimer given in multiple ways despite the fact that we lacked a FNG. Figured it was a good reminder to look where you’re going and don’t be stupid, without saying, “open your eyes – don’t be stupid.” FNG or not, we all tend to be a little stupid from time to time.
  • My personal favorite was disclaimer #3 (aka the angry disclaimer). Someone asked me how many block exercises to do while their partner was running the legs. Fair question. I can’t remember exactly how I responded (or why it was considered “angry” by some), but basically I let the PAX know that the # of reps were up to you — it’s always up to you how many reps you want to do. I don’t really care if you get in shape or not, it’s up to you. I love you (in that F3 brotherhood, locked shields, team sort of way), but I’m also trying to catch that guy in front of me while not being passed by the dude behind me. Sure, I want us all to be healthier, stronger, faster, etc., but I can’t make you get in shape. It’s up to you.
  • Welcome to the “burp-n-merk.” Coming to us from A51’s west side (Pinelandia) this is a devious exercise of simplistic brutality. 1burpeewith1merkin, 1burpeewith2merkins, 1burpeewith3merkins … 1burpeewith10merkins. Brutal and effective.
  • Didn’t exactly mean for this to be a “Chuck Norris” workout, but that’s what happens when you’re working hard and trying to have a little fun with it. Things just come out – bubbling to the surface. Why did I end my LBCs with a backwards roll? Because it was fun. If it happened to remind us of Chuck Norris in the process, then all the more reason.
  • Speaking of fun, love O’Tannenbaum. Partnered up for the Starfish, dude comes running in and dives on the ground for burpee #1, huge grin on his face. Now, he probably didn’t know he was grinning. He was probably grimacing from hitting the ground so hard, but he made those burpees look fun. Well, as fun as burpees can look, anyway.
  • Chuck Norris is a stud. Dude is 75 years old and posts stuff like this: http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2014/4/14/5599190/chuck-norris-bruce-lee-mma-UFC-Martial-Arts-Part-2 . Of course he would have been good at MMA – he’s Chuck Norris. (Chuck Norris and Superman got in a fight – loser had to wear his underwear on the outside of his pants).
  • Also a stud: Pavel. And he’s Russian. I was listening to a podcast where he explained that we needed to tighten our core and brace for a kick, because if he were around we probably would be kicked. Sounded like good advice. Podcast here for the next time you want to hear an ex-soviet dis you for 2 straight hours: http://fourhourworkweek.com/2015/01/15/pavel-tsatsouline/
  • Last note on Chuck Norris – this’ll brighten your day, even if you didn’t have theballs opportunity to join us this morning: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WtZxZzFs58

Announcements:

  • Matrix probably converging somewhere else next week. Watch twitter and look for the weekly email for specification and confirmation.
  • There were probably other announcements, but I wasn’t listening. Read your weekly email or just show up tomorrow to hear what’s going on.

This is when it gets fun – 365 days in F3 Nation

365 days ago (yesterday) I finally posted at F3. Byron, Big League Chew and Schedule C had finally talked me into posting at Ascent.

As I sit here now, sure I’ve lost a lot of weight, but I’ve gained so much more! No, not weight. I haven’t gained it all back. Duh!

But what I’ve gained is thousands of brothers! Course I haven’t met you all (yet), but when I do run into a F3 brother, there’s an automatic bond that can’t be explained. We talk about silly exercise names, and silly F3 names, but we also share our heart and how F3 has changed our lives.

When Dredd and OBT founded F3 in 2011, I’m sure they had no idea how this little idea would explode in growth. A free workout group? For MEN?! Inconceivable! But yet, it did grow and grow and it is still growing!

Somewhere along the way the past few months I realized that the time had come to shift my own personal focus, to take #IAmThird to the heart. To stop focusing on my own pain and perceived weakness, and focus on helping my brothers: if they are new, or just slow like me. I am now proudly a sweeper for the #six, whether I’m asked to or not. Even if I get fast one day, I’m always gonna stay in the back. All you speed demons are missing out on the fellowship back in the back of the Pax. I love it!

Saturday I lead a one hour beatdown I’m rather proud of bringing together, and I sit amazed (and sore) at what has happened in just one year. ONE YEAR, 365 days, 52 weeks of getting up early, 52 weeks of pushing through pain, 52 weeks of overcoming fears, 52 weeks of pushing my brothers and helping them carry the burden of life and watching them do the same for me when I lost mom, when the diet got tough, when life in general happened.

I know it’s not really about thanking each man, every brother in F3 is just as important as the next. Even if I get aggravated with you speed demons. But I’m chasing you now, and you better watch your six.

I will forget many brothers, so I’m not going to attempt to remember you all, but I’ll mention the one I’ve had a few interactions with on Facebook and respect a whole bunch and that’s Dredd. Looking forward to meeting you in person brother, maybe at the mud run. Locking shields, mean mean stride, all that stuff, it’s real, and you and OBT have changed my life by changing your own and letting the change grow out from your own lives. Thanks. Aye!

Cadence all the way

Counting to ten is hard. Remembering what we are counting is harder.

14 men
resisted the fartsack to experience YHC virgin Q. Here’s what went down:

The
thang

Disclaimer
Off to lower parking lot for some COP in cadence:

25
ssh
20 IW
20 Merkins
20 low slow squats

Mosey to the hill. Each exercise
builds on one another:
1. 10 SSH, then run to to of hill and back
2. 10 ssh,
10 Merkins, then take the hill
.
.
7. 10 ssh, 10 Merkins, 10 squat, 10 LBC,
10 CDD, 10 lunge walks, 10 superman or greatest American hero, take the
hill

Mosey toward soccer field stopping at wall

1 min Peoples chair, with
right leg up and 10 arm pressed in cadence, then left leg and 10
presses

Balls to wall and 10 single Merkins

Mosey to soccer field and
partner up.

Partner Wheelbarrow across field then flapjack back

Bear crawl
across field, stopping every 10 for 5 Merkins

Crab walk back

Mosey to
parking lot and circle up for Mary

Flutter, mason twist, heels to heaven,
LBC, boat/canoe

Namerama, cot

Moleskin

I guess I was a little nervous
since I got to the AO at 4:30. At 5 Cotton Tail showed up for some KB, And was
all alone for a few until BLC showed up to keep him company. Eventually
everyone rolled in and after a brief disclaimer we we off. I had the core of the
workout in my mind but not sure how much we could get in in the time we had. The
hill work was a lot of counting and apparently with the lack of oxygen, I can
only keep track of about 3 exercises. Thanks to Alf for being the Q Whisperer
and keeping me on track. Thanks also to Bull Dog for the add of the Merkins
during the Bear Crawl. I think he said something about reverse Merkins during
the crab walk, but I heard nothing!

A real honor to lead and thanks to all
for the support.

Flutie Flakes

A little of this and a little of that

Despite the unseasonably cold temperature this morning, 12 men decided to show up and test their mettle (or is it “metal”) at another installment of Olympus.

The Thang:

Take the KBs to the big parking lot. Drop them and run to the school sidewalk and back.

Disclaimer: I’m not a professional, interrupt if you have questions, modify as needed.

  • ~25x SSH IC
  • 15x IW IC (#boring)
  • 25x KB swings OYO

Warm up over. Partner up by KB size for CMIYC. P1 takes both bells and runs for the light at 51. P2 does 10 merkins and chases. Flapjack until you make the light. Brief plank for the six.

Drop the KBs at the light and run to Carmel Baptist. Run down to the field and grab some wall for Peoples’ Chair while waiting for the six. Once we’re all there, do 10 climb ups on the wall. A few weeks ago we came down here with Alf and did some tire work. It seemed like fun, so we did it again. Partners take turns flipping tires and carrying tires until everyone’s had a chance for both. 10 more climb ups and then mosey back to the bells.

CMIYC to the second school entrance and back into the bus lot. P1 farmer carries two bells while P2 does 10 merkins and chases.

Circle up at the lot for a quick set of individual KB exercises:

  • 25 swings OYO
  • 20 snatches (10 per arm)
  • 20 OH press
  • 20 cleans (10 per arm)

Take KBs to the track near the playground for more partner work. P1 does 10 (or max) pullups while P2 does called KB exercise. P1 is the timer. Once complete, flapjack.

  • Round 1: TGUs without KB for those that haven’t done them before
  • Round 2: TGUs with KB
  • Round 3 – See saw press
  • Round 4 – Raised right leg split squat with KB (P1 switches to merkins)
  • Round 5 – Raised left leg split squat with KB (P1 switches to derkins)
  • Round 6 – Swings (P1 switches to incline merkins)

Haul KBs back over to the cars for Mary:

  • LSF with KB press x 25 IC
  • Russian twist with KB x 10 IC
  • Dying cockroach or something similar x ~21 IC
  • Plank with six inches while Gullah gives a 10 count
  • Still have a few minutes, so 5 more TGUs (or as many as your knees can take on that asphalt)

COT – thanks, Chanel, for the strong closing prayer, especially when he called us “sisters”

Moleskine:

YHC hadn’t been to Olympus in a few weeks and it was great to see some new faces (at least new to YHC). Gullah and Ickey Shuffle are doing a great job promoting the site. 12 PAX on a cold morning is impressive. YHC isn’t the most creative Q, so I borrowed heavily from some beatdowns YHC had attended recently. Everyone was pushing hard out there and YHC was honored to lead the PAX on a beautiful, chilly morning. I’m sure I missed some mumblechatter, so feel free to chime in below.

– If possible, please consider making a donation to Zip-a-Dee. See A51 weekly email for details.

– Mud run – 3/31 is the last day for signups and a few teams are still looking for free agents. Also, be sure to pay your bus and sundries ASAP to reserve a spot.

Valet Parking, my Lady?

18 strong men posted at Stonehenge on this fine cold spring morning. The varsity Qs – Madame Tussaud and Outback were called up late the night before to share the honor of leading the PAX.

Thang

Madame Tussaud started the proceedings with a mosey on over to the Premier parking deck where the disclaimer was given, which was followed by:

Warm up

  • Side straddle hop x 20
  • Imperial walker x 20
  • Squat x 20
  • Merkin x 20

Stairs, Merks and Burps

  • Merkin x 20, run up one flight
  • Burpee x 10, run down to the bottom
  • Merkin x 20, run up two flights
  • Burpee x 10 run down to the bottom
  • Merkin x 20, run up three flights
  • Burpee x 10, run down to the bottom
  • Merkin x 20, run to the top
  • Burpee x 10
  • Round of LBCs and plank for the 6

Shoulders

  • Run down the garage one floor
  • Bear crawl up to the first lamppost and run to the top
  • Run down the garage one floor and partner up
  • Partner one wheelbarrow to the first lamppost
  • Partner two wheelbarrow to the second lamppost
  • Run to the top

Hand over Q to Outback with a mosey down to the ground level of the parking deck, which was followed by:

Chest

  • Four count merkin with holds x 7, run to the next level
  • Merkin x 30, run to the next level
  • Wide arm merkin x 20, run to the next level
  • Diamond merkin x 15, run to the top level
  • Burpee x 5, hold peoples chair
  • Run to the bottom of the deck

Abs

  • Run up the stairs to the first level
  • LBC x 30, run up the stairs to the next level
  • Jay-Lo x 30, run up the stairs to the next level
  • Burpee x 5, run up the stairs to the top level
  • Hold people chair with overhead press, and extended arm holds

The way back

  • Indian run down the parking deck.
  • Mosey Back to CVS
  • Jail break back to the AO.

Moleskin

A lot of hard work was put in on the deck today with minimal resting periods, which may have accounted for the mumble chatter being light.  After being out for three weeks I noticed big gains in the PAX in terms of both level of fitness and weight loss.  Not sure what you all were doing while I was out but it certainly worked.

Announcements

  • Queens Cup Steeple Chase, April 25th – Market Timer has space reserved at this fine and fun event and will send out more info shortly.
  • Mud Run practice at Anne Springs Greenway Sunday @ 4pm.  3-7 mile trail run, all levels welcome and no one gets lift behind.  Address is 971 Tom Hall St, fort Mill, SC (see Twitter @F3Run51 for more details).