#F3Swift – Carolina Cobra

#F3Swift – Carolina Cobra

8 PAX launched from the Vine Restaurant at the Ballantyne AO at 0515 on Tuesday, just as the Ballantyne Corporate Park was being turned into a winter wonderland.

The Thang:

  • Warm-up 1mile, then about 5 100m drills with toe-walking, heel-walking, bounding, high knees, hot coals (butt kicks)
  • At 2-mile race pace / I-pace / VO2max / Lactate Threshold (http://runsmartproject.com/calculator):
    • 5min Interval; 4min jog recovery
    • 4min Interval; 3min jog
    • 3min Interval; 2min jog
    • 2min Interval; 1min jog
  • Mosey over to the bottom of a good sized hill for:
    • 5x30sec hill effort.  Try to make the same distance or further for each interval.  Jog back down the hill.
  • Mosey on back to COT
  • Total miles 5.5 to 6+
  • Strava reports here: https://www.strava.com/activities/259206269 and https://www.strava.com/activities/259196699

The Moleskin:

  • #CarolinaCobra is the Carowinds coaster that heads out over some loops and whirls and then does a 180 and repeats the same thing.  All of the 5/4/3/2 Intervals were done as out & back half-way through each, and each interval also invoked the hilliness of the area.  Definitely a challenge to finish the interval up a hill.  This gave each PAX the chance to employ pacing – you shouldn’t get caught from behind on the “back” portion if you are running even, there is a challenge to try and catch the PAX in front of you on the way back, and there is the challenge to be even by arriving back at the start point at the end of the interval.
  • The PAX definitely got better at pacing as we progressed.  Frasier and YHC hard changed past all of the lot on the way back the first interval, but by the end of the next few, most were staying ahead and properly closing on the PAX they were chasing back to the start.  Frasier and YHC did have the advantage of turning around first (getting a jump on everyone at the turn) since we had the Garmin supercomputer chiming at half-way through each interval and the other PAX had to rely on feel or looking up into the blowing snow.
  • Speaking of blowing snow – the “out” part was straight into the wind and goggles could have been appropriate as the snow picked up and ice crystals were like tiny daggers.  The “back” part was a quiet storm with just the breathing of PAX being heard.
  • Goal for this pace is not lactic acid build-up like a 1mile race pace will accumulate.  The rest should allow less labored effort over the first half of the interval, but that will grow into being “breathless” over the second half.
  • The 30sec hill sprints seemed to be the ticket to close out.  The hill and the distance weren’t too steep, so that allowed for each PAX to concentrate on form the whole way.  Don’t need to break form (i.e. knees dropping, arms tiring) on something so short.  Definitely seemed to be in the wheelhouse of Longhaul and Cheddar, and M. Tussauds was pushing for that “BRR (or was it Brrrr) shape” towards the end.
  • If Wingman keeps coming out, maybe he can beat his M by more than 1 second next Half marathon (or perhaps that was just a lean at the line).
  • Nice to have some decent recovery, there was no “Six” today, so good to mix and chat on the recoveries to not make it feel like it was TOO much work…
  • Thank you for joining YHC on this adventure today.  It’s one of those memorable workouts that will stay in the memory banks for a long time, and it’s a pleasure to have done it with you all.

The Old Man And The Pax

Since Fast Twitch was shut down last week due to ice and inclement weather, the pressure was already on to lead a worthy workout this morning.  That pressure grew when YHC woke up this morning to read Twitter posts by certain pax buddies who shall remain nameless (fine….it was Haze and Pro) who questioned my ability to deliver a quality weinke given my age.  Oh, the humanity!!! So, I put in my dentures, changed my adult diaper and drove my ’85 Cadillac with the left blinker on the whole way to the FT AO……just hoping I could pull it all together.  Here’s what happened from there:

Warm-Up:

Quick jog around the SCMS parking lot with karoke left and right.  Circle up for:

  • 25 SSH
  • 25  low slow squats  (at some point Baracus flashed his headlamp on me while squating….#awkward).

And we’re off:

Run from SCMS to the intersection of Windbluff and Raintree via 51.  Two stops along the way for 10 plank jacks OYO.

Plank Up then Partner Up:

Partner #1 runs Windbluff to Providence Rd (1.7 miles, but with nasty hills) and back while Partner #2 runs the Rounding Run loop (about 1.9 miles).  But wait…no so fast (pun intended)…..partners complete 50 merkins before take-off and at landing/meet-up.

We gathered up the six at the end and headed to Smokerise Hill (correctly pronounced Smoker-ise Hill as told by Purple Haze). Mr. Brady amplty pointed out we had not been to that hill since pre-BRR…..I now remember why.

Run the distance of Smoker-ise, but stop at the valley of the street, the cul-de-sac, the valley (again) and the end of the street for 25 LBCs OYO per stop. Rinse and repeat, but with 25 Heels to Heaven per stop. Planking was had between lap #1 and lap #2 and at the end.

Indian Run formation to Rising Meadow, where we stopped.  I understand I broke a coveted precedent whereby no Indian Run is interupted before getting back to the school….mea cupla!  Again, chalk it up to old age.

Lunge walk then jog up Rising Meadow to flat ground.  OYO sprint from street lamp to cul-de-sac (maybe 100 yards), then rinse and repeat. YHC is still not naming names (fine….it was Hairball), but someone never learned how to count to three before running….#scratch.

Indian Run formation again to get us back to the school.  That’s a wrap!

Moleskin:

I have been a FastTwitcher now for about 9 months and this group continues to floor me….so many great flippin’ runners!  Slim Fast dominated the Windbluff leg and after a certain point I could not even see him ahead of me until we got back to Raintree. Mr. Brady cleaned up on both rounds of Smoker-ise.  PH was not far behind him!  Too many strong efforts to mention everyone, but t-clap worthy work today, boys….everybody!

I have to also admit this was the first time I have been anxious to Q a site…..again, due to the talent who shows up there every week.  Thanks so much for the privilege, PH and Turkey!

Kudos to Simba and Van Pelt for their first FT experience…..they both came ready and never let up!  Van Pelt is a Winston Salem F3er down here during the week to work, so please keep coming man!!  Impressive first showing for both of you!

I am not positive, but I think we covered about 5.5 miles today.  Sound off if you know!

I hear Bout Time has the show next week.  I am just psyched I Q’d before him rather than after as he would be a tough act to follow.

Old Man out…..and thanks again!

Hopper

Mr. Brady, thanks for the great take-out in BOM!!

Announcements:

  • Sign ups for USMC Mud Run close on 3/1
  • F3 Area 51 Golf Outing is on 4/30.  See Prohibition for more details.
  • This Sat is the Day Zero Challenge (funny, but every Sat at The Rock is a challenge….#justsaying).  One Hour of Pain is the theme and pax should plan to stick around to help clean-up the campus post workout.
  • Slim Fast was the bomb at the Charlotte 10 miler this past Sat and came in 2nd in his age group.  The man ran a sub 7:00 minute mile pace!!

 

Skunkworks – Snowbells

21 men tossed around some snowbells. Here’s how it went down:

Warm Up
25 Swings OYO
SSH x 20 IC
25 Swings OYO
IW x 20 IC
25 Swings OYO
Merkins on bell x 10 IC
25 Swings OYO
Partner up, same size bell
Farmer Carry down to front of church with 10 merkin chaser

The Thang
P1 – Runs to top of hill and back
P2 – Called double kettlebell exercise
Flapjack
Rinse and Repeat – both partners will have run twice

Exercises:
Renegade Rows
Double Bell Front Squat
Double High Pulls – audible to P1 doing 25 Heels to Heaven
Seesaw Press
Wide arm merkins on bells
Deadlift – audible to P1 doing 25 LBCs
50 Swings OYO
Farmer Carry back to parking lot with 10 merkin chaser

COT

BOM

Moleskin
The snowfall made for a nice background today. YHC welcomes any distraction that takes my mind off the pain of a seesaw press.

Renegade Rows proved once again to be dangerous. #flattenedfingers

Welcome Squid to Skunkworks and his first gear workout. Double kettlebell work isn’t always on the menu, but it was today, so make sure you come back next week to see what’s cooking.

ALL the PAX put in strong effort today. Minimal planking/recovery means everyone stayed together and finished each set around the same time. Great work by all.

Thanks to Sussudio for taking us out.

As always, a privilege to lead.

Announcements

F3 Golf

BRR Signups

Continue to pray for Zip-a-dee’s recovery

Posted on behalf of Sanka

With the 1st pick of the 2015 F3 Draft, Basecamp selects…

In honor of NFL Combine week, the strong athletes of Basecamp proceeded to don their virtual singlets, apply their virtual bib numbers, and prepare to protect [this] house (or school yard… but you get the idea).

THE THANG

COP
A mosey off to the track to circle up for a little warm-up (or COP, or whetever you call it..play along here).

55x SSH
15x Hand Release Merkins
45x SSH to complete the century mark
25x Imperial Walker

WARMUP RUN
A mosey round the track for warming the legs before the stop watch starts… after 150m, AYG for the final 50m (target a flat 2.0 sec time on the AYG; Vic Beasley set the low mark. The Basecampers were coming after the mark). Each member counting off at the finish line, then partnering with the PAX nearest to their finish time.

UPPER BODY
A mosey up the track, rail walking all the way down the track. Confident with the number of presses completed, all combine athletes proceeded forward for circuit work.

THE CIRCUIT
20x dips -> 20x suppine pullups -> 20x stepups -> 1 on 1 race to the steps -> mosey back for plankorama
REPEATO 3x

THE VERTICAL
Target jump squats -> Aiming for a spot higher than your reach, complete a squat down, leaping up to the spot targets
Target Jump Squats 20x
REST WHILE YOU SIT – 60secs on the wall
Target Jump Squats 15x
REST WHILE YOU SIT – 45secs on the wall (with presses)
Target Jump Squats 10x
REST WHILE YOU SIT – 45secs on the wall (with presses)

MARY (not the combine groupie, but the core work)
Mary Roulette, with each PAX in line calling the exercise
Flutters -> Freddie Mercury -> LBC -> Merkins (what?) -> Russian Twist -> Protractor

COT
Announcements including : F3 A51 Golf, Spring MudRun, BRR starting up, etc…
Basecamp seeking Q’s (calling you out Morningstar!) http://bit.ly/F3BasecampQ
Continuous prayers for Zip-a-dee

PRAYERS LIFTED!

It was about time for the VQ…

18 of south Charlotte’s finest kicked off another Monday with this week’s edition of DMZ. YHC was so excited about the mid-40s temps that I forgot the gloves in the car. And that wasn’t the only thing forgotten – as pointed out by one of the PAX, the actual disclaimer part of the disclaimer was missing. #details With that (halfway) out of the way, we were off.

The Thang –

Mosey to the church lot and circle up for brief warm up: 20 SSH, 20 IW IC

Head around church to main entry and find a low section of wall for some bench work: sets of 15 dips, 20 step-ups, 15 derkins OYO. Rinse and repeat.

Mosey across Carmel and head towards the school stopping at the last street on the left. Triple nickel using the hill with burpees up top and jumping lunges at the bottom.

Jog on to the school and take a lap around with a backwards run mixed in through the bus lot. Stop in the front lot and partner up. Round 1 – both partners bear crawl to first median, then wheelbarrow to far median. Round 2 – both partners lunge walk to 1st median, then flapjack on the wheelbarrow. Round 3 – crab walk to 1st, then lunge walk. Find a spot on the wall for a little People’s Chair w/ arms out, then 25 air presses IC.

Back to the launch stopping at speed humps for 20 Carolina Dry Docks, then 15 burpees. COP for 20 low slow squats, 15 wide arm merkins, 20 dolly, 19 (yes, 19) rosalita all IC. Then 25 monkey humpers and 10 burpees OYO. Done.

Naked Moleskin –

Certainly an honor to lead the PAX for the first time at DMZ. Lot of solid work out there and the only heckling was deserved; though it didn’t take Run Stopper long to Q-jack and lead some Plank-o-rama after the first exercise. Probably teaching me a lesson for skipping out on his Q-school. The forgotten gloves proved costly as Blades of Glory pushed the wheelbarrow thru the minefield of glass that is the CMS parking lot. #itsonlyafleshwound

Announcements – last week for MudRun signups. 2nd Annual F3 Golf Classic Thursday, April 30th – details on the website. Prohibition said it was so good last year that he had a blast and wasn’t even there.

Thanks for the opportunity to lead, men.

Isometrics Never Felt So Cold

Posted by Hopper on Behalf of Flipper:

6 Men braved the slightly less dark and slightly less cold gloom at The Rock.  I knew we were in for a lightly attended day when my car was telling me 29 degrees on the drive over, so I was more than slightly happy to see Ripcurl already onsite and warming up when I arrived at 10 til.  Shortly thereafter our ranks grew to 5 and a slightly tardy M made us 6, the perfect count for a Flipper brand beatdown.

The Thang:

Mosey for a few then Circle Up

-Side Straddle Hops X25 in cadence

-Merkins X25 in cadence

-Mountain Climbers X20 in cadence

-Cross Climbers X20 in cadence.

Mosey to the front lawn while explaining the two rules of the day, when you go down complete a hand release merkin, when standing perform a jump knee tuck.

Once at the front lawn we split into pairs to flapjack exercises.

1st partner completes 3 point plank holds X8 (each limb up X2) while 2nd performs ¾ drill.

Flapjack

Mosey to the parking lot for suicide sphinx

1st partner runs 2,4,6,8 lines dropping for a merkin at each line (home and away)

2nd partner performs 3 point forearm plank X8 (each limb X2)

Flapjack

Mosey down around the soccer fields and back to the pavilion to grab some wall

1st partner completes 1 legged chair while 2nd performs plyo-gumps* X8

Flapjack

1st partner holds longer 1 legged chair while 2nd performs plyo-gump with longer holds X4

Flapjack

Indian run to the corner of Rea and 51 for some elevator clap-ups X15ish

Mosey to the park for some playground fun

1st partner 3 stage elevator pull ups while 2nd completes 3 stage decline elevator merkins

Flapjack

Mosey back to campus to complete a “runstopper roll” on NorthFace (plankwalk then roll side ways down the face) before jailbreaking to the cars.

COT and heading out, great fun and a good sweat had by all.

*Plyo-Gumps consist of merkin to side plank to plyo merkin with a 45 degree rotation = 1 rep

Thanks for Qing Flipper!  Next up is Hops!

Foxhole

11 strong came out to get stronger at Foxhole.  Cold, rainy, Monday morning… yuck.  But nothing good comes without sacrifice… so here we go.

The Thang:

Circle up for warm-up with: 20 SSH, 20 slow squats, 15 Peter Parker merkins (all IC).

Divide into 4 groups for a “4 Corners” style rotation.  About a minute at each station then haul your bell to the next station. Did two rotations.  Called exercises were: two-hand swings, shoulder presses, squats, rows, one leg deadlifts, upright rows, KB merkins, high pulls.

Mosey over to jungle gym and divide into 3 groups.  Rotate through stations for pull-ups, man-ups, and overhead KB presses.

Back to the parking lot.  Lunge walk to the first speed bump, run to the second.  Then 10 KB burpees IC (8 count).

Mosey to “the faculty lounge” (covered area at the front of the school) for Mary. Partner up for weighted sit-ups, then P1 runs lap while P2 does dolly press, flapjack and repeat with flutter and LBCs.

Finish with a lot of plank rows and KB merkins.

Moleskine: Great to see the PAX this morning.  YHC definitely needed the extra motivation that only F3 can provide!  Introduced the man-ups after getting introduced at Indian Land workout (#Arsenal).  This is a great exercise… seems simple but really puts you to the test.

Thanks to Mic Check for taking us out.

Announcements: Mud Run sign ups almost over!  Get signed up this week.

Fight Club on Ice

4 regulars and one site FNG showed up to throw punches.

The Thang:

3 stations of heavy bag (over a sheet of ice), shadow boxing partner, and mitt work.  Finished out with 2 sets of 2 rounds sparring 25% (no face shots)

Thanks for coming out, it was fun sparring and seeing how the PAX ranges 25% during sparring.  Note to self when stepping on Haggis foot during sparring, do not politely stop throwing punches while stepping off his foot or he will light you up.  Mic Check Ali, welcome to Fight Club, cannot wait until future pre fight and post fight interviews…..your trash talking is A+

Looking for some new faces at Fight Club.

Chippy

The Nor’ Easter comes to the Matrix

Posted on behalf of Lobster Roll:

 

Brisk jog around the campus ending at the lower parking lot.

 

15 Burpees OYO

25 IC Plank Jacks

14 Burpees OYO

30 IC Imperial Walker

13 Burpees OYO

35 IC LBCs

12 Burpees OYO

40 IC Squats

11 Burpees OYO

Merkins – 10 regular, 10 diamond, 10 wide-arm & 10 regular

10 Burpees OYO

Mosey to far end of soccer fields for a man-sized suicide

Plank-o-rama

Mosey to the playground and partner up

Team total of 50 – Toes to Bar

Partner 1 does as many as he can while partner 2 completes a loop around the upper parking lot

Team total of 100 – Pull-ups

Partner 1 does as many as he can while partner 2 completes a loop around the upper parking lot

Head to the wall for some peoples chair (2 rounds)…air presses and lunges included

25x decline merkins on the curb

Mosey to wall at front of school for 25 donkey kicks and 5 Ball-to Wall merkins

Mosey back to launch and complete 100 LBCs

 

Great work by all and always fun leading such a great group of men.

“Do [you run the Wiggler]?”** Wiggler: 5:30 am Launch

“Here’s a question. Was it morally wrong for me to exploit my knowledge of the future for personal financial gain? Perhaps. Here’s another question. Do [you run the Wiggler]?”

Run the Wiggler!  5:30 am Tuesday – corner of Foxcroft and Rothwood – hot tub pace…

 **Lou: Hot Tub Time Machine