Not Your Daddy’s “Ring of Fire”

Not Your Daddy’s “Ring of Fire”

8 Strong PAX Posted Saturday morning for a thorough beatdown.  Glass Joe lead the PAX like a seasoned  veteran.

The “Pre- Thang” 06:00

Kicked off the pain with a few #F3Outlanders gathering for a 5 mile run around the Campus.  (Double E, Horse Head, Glass Joe,  Boonedock 2.0 *on the BMX)

The “Main” Thang 07:00

Mosey to shovel flag for Warmup COP (CT Leading 1st half)
– SSH x20
– Burpees x10 OYO (this was welcome gift to all, from Snowman, as he arrives on the scene)
– IW x20
– Merkins x15
-4 count squats x20
– LBCs x20

Mosey to the the hill in front of the Middle school and partner up
Round 1
– partner 1 run up hill Burpees x10 and return
– partner 2 LBCs
– repeato until team reaches combined x100
– Plank
Round 2
– partner 1 run up hill Burpees x10 and return
– partner 2 merkins
– repeato until team reaches combined x100
– plank
Round 3
– partner 1 run up hill Burpees x10 and return
– partner 2 squats
– repeato until team reaches combined x200
– plank

Mosey over ot the Wall
– Partner 1 Peoples Chair
– Partner 2 supine pull-ups x10/20/20
– switch
– repeato x3

wrap up the first half with flutter kicks x1minute

Glass Joe starts a long 12 round beatdown.

Mosey over to the rock pile and get ‘the rock’.   Mosey on to the football field.
The Devin Hester: Partner 1 chasing partner 2 carrying ‘the rock’.  The goal was to go from end zone to end zone without being caught or essentially a 100 yard dash.  Then we switched and Partner 2 chased Partner 1 back to the other end zone.

To the stadium stairs we go!

Originally named Stairway to Heaven/Highway to Hell as I was trying to stay consistent with the use of classic metal but Snowman came up with the name Ring of Fire (Down, Down, Down…the stairs we go) which probably made Jesus happier with me so I’m sticking with that.  In honor of Snowman:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ain4dLhQtD8

Partner 1 runs a lap around the football field.  Partner 2 goes up the stairs/down the stairs/10 burpees and continues that pattern until Partner 1 is back and then Partner 2 takes off for his lap while Partner 1 does the stairs and burpees.

Here was the rotation we did for Ring of Fire: 10 burpees/20 dips/30 merkins/40 LBCs.  And by the end of it, everyone had run a mile and climbed the stairs at least 4 times.

Mosey ‘the rock’ back to the rock pile.

Indian Run back to the flag ending in a sprint to the flag.

Moleskin:   Great job by everyone today!  Lots of running which will make a man out of ya.  Or at least half the man you used to be in pounds if you keep running.  Great job by Double E, HH, Glass Joe and Boonedock on bike for the 5 miler at 6AM.  And we all appreciate Snowman for interupting CT which enabled us to end the workout like we began it…….10 burpees due to Snowman.

Announcements:   Glass Joe is leading a guys study through Philippians at Sweet Frog in Monroe on Tuesday night at 7pm.  It begins this Tuesday night and will continue for the following 3 weeks as Philippians has 4 chapters so it’s a chapter a night.  Jesus used loaves and fishes, I’m using frozen yogurt.  Something for us all to puke up next Saturday.

Prayers:   Praying for our brother Drop Thrill’s Mom.  We pray for healing for her and peace for Drop Thrill and his family.   Praying for HH and his job.  Praying that he can manage the current workload and see some relief from it as well.

I might be the first to get knocked out in the video game but I kept getting back up dadgummit!   Glass Joe!!!

#F3Swift Preblast – How to Learn to Love Hills

Swift will launch on Tuesday at 0515 from the Vine Restaurant at the Ballantyne AO.

The article “How to Learn to Love Hills” has some great ideas on technique.  Read it to get some pointers, and the QIC will be borrowing one of the workouts to use on Ben Nevis tomorrow.

Running From Jack Webb

15 strong brothers came out to Stonehenge early on Saturday. We ran, we worked hard, we ran some more.  We tried to outrun Jack Webb, but he kept catching us.

The Thang

Jog to adjacent lot for COP

COP
– IW x 20
– Squats x 20
– Merkins x 20

Run to Premier Deck with pain stops along the way
– Jack Webbs up to 6
– Jack Webbs 7 and 8

People’s Chair – with arms up x 1:30

Gather on first level of deck, split in to two teams
Round 1:
Team 1 – Jacob’s Ladder – Run up to next level, 1 burpee, back down
Repeat up to 3 burpees
Team 2 – LBCs while you wait
Flap jack

Round 2:
Team 1 – Run up two levels, 10 burpees, run back down
Run up two levels, 10 LBC, run back down
Team 2 – 15 Dolly, 10 Rosalita, 5 Heels to Heaven, Repeat until Team 1 back
Flapjack

Plankorama

People’s Chair x 1:00

Run back towards launch point

Stop at Big Intersection
Jack Webbs 9 and 10

Stop in front of CVS
Jack Webbs 1 up to 5, back down to 1

COT

Moleskin:
– Less humidity, cooler temps made pain for palatable for the pax. Very solid effort by all the pax including 3 FNGs that came out
– Ears were on – pax listened pretty well to cadences in Jack Webbs. Only one start over called.

Announcements:
– BRR training in full effect. Stonehenge run added launching at 0530 to give some extra running ahead of workout.
– F3 Dads is going strong – Saturdays 0900 at Beatty Park – Softball Fields parking lot

The Funky Fox

It was about time a little hip hop made its way to the Hole.  I borrowed Loogie’s speaker, turned the phone to Eminem on Pandora and away we went.   7 iron swinging homeboys got down today.

warm up with a mosey to the field, circle up

30 SSH – always seem to hurt a little first thing Monday morning.

25 IWS

Grab your bells, music on, let’s get the party started.

Eminem Set

30 2 hand swings

20 bent over rows, each arm

30 tricep extensions

20 clean and press, each arm

20 figure 8

30 standing overhead press

30 curls

Recovery Mosey to the end line and back

Jay Z Set

Repeato, increasing a few of the reps

Recovery Mosey the full length of the field and back

Kanye Set

Repeato increasing a few reps

Recovery Mosey to the end line and back

MARY with U2.  No it doesn’t fit the theme but I had to play something That Old Man Frehley would recognize.

20 flutter presses

20 dolly while holding KB up

1 minute elbow plank…..and done!

Ye Ole Moleskiney

Cozy strong group today.  Thanks guys for putting up with the music selection, I like a good angry Eminem song when I’m throwing weight around.  Great job by all.

Frehley will be subbing in for an injured Soft Pretzel tomorrow at Bagpipe, Wednesday Chipotle has the reigns at The Maul.

 

 

 

Torso Torture

12 pax braved the 110% humidity and stagnant air to endure a torso beatdown which included many beloved favorites.

The Thang:

Mosey to Parking area for warm up

Imperial Walker x 20
Merkins x 15
SSH x 20
Arm and back stretch
Plank – 6 inches

Upper body beat down Pt. 1
Partner up
Do as many pull ups as you can do in 1 minute, flapjack
1 minute of dips
1 minute of incline merkins

10 pull ups, switch, for one minute
30 dips
1 minute of decline merkins

5 pull ups, switch, for one minute
25 dips
30 diamond merkins

Mosey to coupon storage area
Upper body beat down Pt deux

1 minute of curls
1 minute of shoulder presses
1 minute of tricep extensions

Repeat

10 curls, 10 presses, 10 extensions
drop it
10 curls, 10 presses, 10 extensions

Mosey to wall
Wall squats with air presses
Lunge walk to curb and back

Wall squats with air presses
Lunge walk to curb

Circle up for cool down and stretch
Deep glute stretch
Toe touch stretch

Moleskine: After nearly two months on the bench, it was fantastic for YHC to hit the gloom and punish the pax. Prayers are welcomed for healing since YHC finds going to the YMCA a bit mundane after doing F3 for 2 years. Yes, there is a fern in the corner of the room and it does appear to be real. No it does not come close to absorbing all of the CO generated by a bunch of sweaty 40 somethings on the elliptical machines (YHC included).

There was much grunting and groaning and the occasional Joker crop dusting (what would the Matrix be without that?). Overall a good time was had by all.

Singing or F3ing in the Rain

With a little rain falling on an unusually mild July morning in the Carolinas, 8 PAX gathered around the SF prior to putting in a good morning’s work at Area 51.  As the clock struck 0700 hours, Alf led us out into the misty Gloom to get us started.  Here’s how the morning played out:

Alf on Q

Mosey out from the school lot over towards basketball goals.  Line up facing playground.

  • Karaoke 30 yards down and back
  • High knees down, but kickers back
  • Shuffle down and back
  • Backwards run down and circle up

Now that the muscles are loosened up a bit circle up for COP:

  • IW x 20 (IC)
  • Squat x 20 (IC)
  • Merkin x 15 (IC)
  • Peter Parker x 10 (IC)
  • Parker Peter x 10 (IC)
  • LBC x 20 (IC)

Mosey around back of school to stumps:

  • Right leg step up and down into right lunge x 20 OYO
  • Left leg step up and down into left lunge x 20 OYO
  • Decline Merkins x 20 OYO (feet on stump)
  • Full sit ups x 20 OYO (feet inside tires)
  • Repeato w/ 15 reps each exercise
  • Repeato w/ 10 reps each exercise

Plank-o-rama

Mosey back to trail for a short jog

  • Run trail with 30 dips at the end on benches at entrance to trail
  • Run trail again and back out to pavement

Plank it up and wait for PAX

Abacus on Q

Let’s head to playground at front of school for some 11’s

  • 10 Pull-ups, 1 Jump Squats
  • 9 Pull -ups, 2 Jump Squats
  • Continue until you wrap it up with 1 Pull-up, 10 Jump Squats
  • Plank it up and wait for PAX to complete the 11’s

Jog over to the soccer fields for 6 MOM:

  • Dolly x 20 (IC), hold’em for 10 count from Beaver
  • Flutter x 20 (IC), hold’em for 10 count from Cold Cuts
  • Back Scratcher x 20 (IC)
  • CCV x 10R (IC)
  • CCV x 10L (IC)

Enough Mary, line up on the field next to back parking lot for the Stack

  • Run to 2nd tree (50+ yards), 5 burpees
  • Run back to start, 5 burpees, 10 prisoner squats
  • Run to 2nd tree, 5 burpees, 10 prisoner squats, 15 CDD
  • Run back to start, 5 burpees, 10 prisoner squats, 15 CDD, 20 Sister Mary Catherine
  • Rinse & repeat in reverse order (5/10/15/20 reps down to 5 reps)

We have about 3-4 minutes left so head back to launch point for PC

  • PC x 60 secs (w/ arms out front, arms over head, and 15 air presses)
  • Lunge walk to sidewalk & then mosey back to wall
  • PC x 60 secs (w/ right leg up and then left leg up)

Circle up for COT

Moleskine

  • Good to see solid 8 men ignoring the rain on a Saturday morning with Twister even riding his bike into the workout.  Q (Alf) had planned a bunch of jump ups on stumps, mostly because he hates them, but it seemed like a bad idea in the wet weather.  The combo of the step up and lunge is pretty much just as terrible, a long slow burn.
  • We had a good pace on the trail where everyone was more than happy to follow the Q (Alf) around the first time to catch the mornings spider webs.  Mostly a safe trip until Q caught a big one on the top of the trail at the turn.  Alf was still pulling that one off in the car after the workout.  Second time around DK didn’t hesitate to cut a corner to take the lead and pace the group out of the woods.  He ran like a man who has been chased through the woods before.
  • YHC led the PAX to front playground but decided to do a little something different from the typical circuit work.  Went with 11’s with pull-ups and jump squats to hit both upper and lower body.  Pull-ups are not strong point for YHC and wanted to get in some work here.  Cold Cuts and Floor Slapper seemed to make pretty quick work of the combo.
  • After a quick 6 MOM, YHC laid out the Stack for the PAX.  Nice mix of exercises and some running.  Alf and Turkey Leg led the PAX as we powered through this one.
  • TCLAPs to Twister for riding road bike into workout and then planning for some additional miles after we were done.  Though it was his first time riding in wet weather he seemed to handle it well.
  • Continued nice work by Beaver.  His 1st post was just about 1 month ago and he is quickly becoming a regular at Area 51.

Announcements:

  • F3 Dads continues at Colonel Francis Beatty Park off of Weddington Road each Saturday at 9 a.m., rain or shine.
  • Signs up continue for 10/4 Mud Run.  Sign up as an individual and teams will be assembled later.  Gummy is South Regional Q for Fall Mud Run.

Hope all enjoyed a great weekend.

It’s official!! Mt. Olympus It Is.

(Posted On Behalf Of Yankee By Mall Cop)

 

Gathered in the gloom, three men came to tackle some serious iron and get their fix of weekend warrior. Oh wait…..who is that sprinting to catch-up to the Pax?? Night Court!! And then there were four: 

Thang: 

 

Mosey over to upper lot for come COP

SSH x 30

IW x 20

10 Burpees on your own

Swings x 20

10 Burpees on your own

Swings x 20

 

Grab a partner for “catch me if you can”

Partner one – Farmer KB’s

Partner two – Merkins x 10

Proceed to Mt. Olympus ~3/4 mile from home base

At Mt. Olympus:

Run to bottom of hill, sprint back to top

Rows x 20

Run to bottom of hill, sprint back to top

Swings x 20

Run to bottom of hill, sprint back to top

Tri-ext x 20

Run to bottom of hill, sprint back to top

Renegade Row x 12 each arm

Plank each time

Have to head back to home base – return to “catch me if you can”

Audible called at ½ Mile to owning your own bell

Back at home base:

One arm swings x 10

Bear crawl 20 yard

Repeato to 100 reps

Mosey to wall:

Step-ups x 20

Dips x 20

Repeato

Curls x 20

One arm press x 20

 

 

Moleskin

Lots of positive encouragement from of a great group of men. Night Court ran late and caught up to the pax just in time for the all-important farmer carry. Some initial complaining over the ¾ mile “catch-me if you can”, but we perservered. Mt. Olympus was officially named and it’s a beast. Just a few of us had been that far off campus since Hoff usually likes to stick to the woods with huge logs. Bear crawls rounds were not well received and there were grumblings of mutiny. Luckily, nothing came of it and we finished strong. Solid work by all pax today, I truly enjoyed working out with such a positive team, thank you for letting me lead.

Announcements

Check the weekly email and website. Check out Red, Light, and Blue on the Spearhead site.

They Call Him Flipper, Flipper, Faster Than Lightning

(Posted On Behalf Of Flipper By Mall Cop)

Flipper’s Backblast Title: A Burpee By Any Other Name

We had 16 Pax including 1 FNG under the VSF at the Rock for a wet and grassy Virgin Q.  As promised there was running a-plenty as the uninitiated were thrown into the deep end of the hoplite pool!
The Thang:
Mosey to the 51 parking lot and circle up for warm up
Merkens X25
Side Straddle Hops X25
Imperial Walker X 25

 

Mosey to the bottom of the hill by the ball fields, divided into 4 quads then jumped into the first of 2 Hoplite Miles which went something like this:
.25 mile run – Squat Plank Thrust X 5
.25 mile run – Gladiator Sprawl X 5
.25 mile run –  Exploding Star Merken X 10
.25 mile run  –  Balance Burpee X 5
100 LBC rest

 

Now that we knew what to expect, the mumble chatter died a bit going into the second mile which played out as below:
.25 mile run – Square ups X 5
.25 mile run – Chair Jacks X 10
.25 mile run –  Phalanx Squat Lunge X 10
.25 mile run –  Super Burpee X 5
Thanks to The Mouth at this point we ran to the top of the hill, plank walked back and then rolled down the hill then back to plank after we stopped feeling drunk.
For our 3rd mile we switched it a bit:
.25 mile run  – Roller Boat X 5
.5 mile run with the 2 quads each direction ending at the bottom of the hill, bear crawl to the top then hold plank for about 90 seconds while Tadpole went to get some water.

 

Run to the playground  –  Pull up and hold 3 seconds X 10
Run to the hill – Crab walk down and reverse crab walk back up

 

Mosey to Jail break back to the cars – plank it up with 30 seconds of 6 inches to finish the sweat fest
DONE
A lot of running with very little break but solid effort by all present with no puppets to be found, I may even be asked to Q again some day.
Announcements: 
Spandex advised Mtn Khaki’s will be holding a clearance sale today at Carowinds check the Facebook page and there will be a pre-party for the 24 hours of booty race.  Volunteers are also needed to help with the race, see Spandex. 
Tadpole is looking to make some money this summer so please think up whatever degrading work you don’t wanna do and hit him up on twitter, but be sure to have some water available for the poor lad as he dehydrates easily! 

 

Finally on 7/26 for those PAX who want in, Join me after The Rock for a 2 hour bootcamp workout Spartan Race style at the Harris YMCA.  Sign information is available here: http://www.spartan.com/events/spartan-workout-registration/?event_id=314/charlotte/nc-workout#.U8p4el5Jkds.  You’ll get a free T-shirt, a spartan bracelet and get to meet about 200-300 Spartan Enthusiasts from across the city.  Gonna be a heckuva time.

 

Playing the hand you were dealt

A cool misting rain greeted our merry band of men this surprisingly-cool July morning.  Sissorhands came jogging in just as we got going.  Here’s the thang:

Warm-up: lap around track; second lap w/Frankenstein (aka Toy Soldier), back-kicks, high-knees, internal skip, external skip.  Mosey to parking lot.

COP: 15 SSH, 15 4-count chest-to-ground Merkins, 15 IW, 10 4-count side lunges, 10 mountain climber

Mosey to playground, cards dealt to each (52 + jokers).  Each man in turn: Call each card, join in called exercise, repeat until you finish your hand.  10-count between hands. Aces=1, Faces=10 except Q of Spades = 11.  Joker is wild – holder’s choice (SM got one and called single dead bug – crowd pleaser.  Pele got other – 4 LBC)

  • Hearts = Spartan burpie (bonus = regular burpie)
  • Diamond = Merkin (bonus = diamond)
  • Club = supine pull-up (bonus = regular pull-up)
  • Spade = dead bug (no need for bonus, it’s plenty fun as is)

With one round done and time running short, mosey to bleachers for speed round: Q calls suit, 5 of called exercise until get to Joker, then audible for more, for Mary, or time out.

  • Hearts = squats (bonus = jump squats)
  • Diamond = CDD (bonus = feet on bleachers)
  • Club = lunge (bonus = Sister Mary Catherine – no takers)
  • Spade = dips

Joker finally shows it’s face with just enough time to mosey to school, grab some wall and 60sec people’s chair with 20 air presses in cadence.

Mosey to parking lot for name-a-rama and announcements.  Solid send-off by Pele.

 

Moleskin

Hard to believe it’s mid-July and in the 60s.  Welcome relief from the heat.

Travel claimed a few men, taper claimed another (though how missing a no-run, moderate intensity workout can be excused by “taper” is a mystery to YHC), and I’m guessing the patter of rain plus the siren song of the fartsack claimed the rest.  Those who did come were not disappointed by the mix of exercises and few seconds of breath-catching between card calls. Intensity may have drifted a bit north of “moderate” with the second round of cards, as there was no pause between calls and no 10-counts.  People’s chair w/presses that YHC failed to synchronize (presses ended with 10 more seconds of chair time) was a real #crowdpleaser.  As always, I consider it a privilege to lead. Thank you for the opportunity.

 

Announcements:

F3 Camp @ Camp Thunderbird August 16-17.  Much fun was had by all last year.  Real deal for all activities and food.  Don’t miss it.

Young Life Mud Run is Sept 20.  Info @ ylmudrun.com

 

Mermaid took a water break in the middle of his Q

Shovel flag planted firmly by Radar and waving in the rainy wind. Semi-Gloss, Radar, and Stagecoach hit the pavement for a 3.2 mile pre-run. Cane gave a quick disclaimer and we did a few laps around McGruber’s car as he pulled right at the launch time. He got out and joined us. Off we went.

 

Thang:

 

Cane Q

 

Lap around track, stop halfway and 10 burpees OYO

COP (IC)

SSH x 30

Merkins x 15

IW x 20

Low Slow Squats x 20

Wide Merkins x 10

10 burpees OYO

 

Rock Pile – grab lifting rock and circle up

Civilian Count

Squats x 15

Row x 15

Curl x 15

Overhead Press x 15

Skull Crusher x 15

Repeato

Deposit rocks

 

Sprints with Planks

Partner up (size doesn’t matter)

Partner 1 sprints down and back (75% effort)

Partner 2 elbow plank (tight form)

Switch and repeat until everyone has run 5 times

 

Repeat the lap around the track with a halfway burpee stop.

 

Mermaid Q

 

Mosey to front of school to benches

 

Bench Set

Jump up x15

Dip x15

Derkin x15

Repeato

 

Plank o rama

 

Mosey to back of the school

 

Group lap around track. Alternate between bear crawl, lunge walk, broad jump, mosey all the way around.

 

Mary: (IC) Heels to Heaven x20/Flutter x20/Bicycle x20/Protractor

 

Mosey to side of school for People’s Chair. 2×90 seconds with arms out/arms raises

 

Merkin set: 10x each civilian cadence. Regular/Offset left/Offset right

 

Jack Webb

1 merkin: 4 shoulder presses. Go from 2-10 and 8 to 40 (2-4-6-8-10)

 

Lap around track at 6:30 mile pace (set by Radar for about 2/3 of lap until he tired of setting the pace)

 

Mary (IC): Heels to Heaven/Flutter/Bicycle/LBC/Protractor/Heels to Heaven

Plank-o-rama

 

Moleskin

Good crew out there for what YHC considers the perfect conditions for an F3 workout. Light rain and mild temperature with a break in the humidity. Radar provided pre-workout refreshments out of the back of his truck. He even had cups for everyone. Strong Q from Cane. Nice work and a pleasure to split the workout. Mumblechatter was constant from Radar who repeatedly told YHC that he had done an independent Murph yesterday at the Y and that our workout was hitting all the wrong spots for him. Solid work by all pax today. Semi-Gloss continued his shirtless streak. He also took us out in BOM. Thanks for both. Day Zero always a good way to start the weekend.

 

Announcements

Check the weekly email and website. Mud Run F3 registration extended. Sign up men