The Big 4 0

When I was a kid, I thought anyone 40 years old was just that, old. As a kid who loved sports, I watched Nolan Ryan, Jack Nicklaus,and Carlton Fisk who were all competing in their 40’s, and they were old. Now as I stand on the precipice of what I may have once perceived as the beginning of the end, I am once again reminded that life is about perspective. Age is just a number and not a defining characteristic. 5:30 is not really that early for a workout if you are up for a challenge and enjoy the fellowship of the guys that are pushing you. Burpees really are a fun and entertaining way to spend time at a worko… OK, I’m still working on that perspective.

So to prepare me for the life altering change that I am about to face, the workout had a 4-0 theme.

Warm-Up
Side-straddle Hops x 40
Moroccan Nightclubs x 40
LBCs x 40

The Pledge

The Thang
Mosey to the field beside the playground in the park.

Being 40 is something that doesn’t just happen overnight so you have to build up the years (or decades). So some 4-corner work should help with this. Run to each corner with exercises at each stop.
Corner 1 = Merkins x 10
Corner 2 = Squats x 20
Corner 3 = LBCs x 30
Corner 4 = Flutters x 40

Starting tomorrow, who knows if I’ll ever be able to take the stairs again so I need to learn to use the escalator? So Four Corners Escalator it is… Same exercises, but you take the earlier reps with you as you go.
Corner 1 = Merkins x 10
Corner 2 = Merkins x 10, Squats x 20
Corner 3 = Merkins x 10, Squats x 20, LBCs x 30
Corner 4 = Merkins x 10, Squats x 20, LBCs x 30, Flutters x 40

We took the escalator up, but we don’t want to be stuck on the top floor at Belk’s at the mall one day waiting for our M to find us and tell us to go get the car… So reverse escalator.

Corner 1 = Merkins x 10, Squats x 20, LBCs x 30, Flutters x 40
Corner 2 = Merkins x 10, Squats x 20, LBCs x 30
Corner 3 = Merkins x 10, Squats x 20
Corner 4 = Merkins x 10

Mosey to the large soccer field at the bottom of the hill.

In old age, you get dependent on others to help you through the simple tasks. So some partner work is in order.

Partner 1 runs to the other side of the field while Partner 2 does reps. Then flapjack, and Partner 2 does the running while Partner 1 does the reps. The plan was 4 x 100 giving us 400 reps, but time required us to Omaha to 50 reps on the last 3 exercises.

CDDs x 100
Lunges (single leg count) x 50
WW2 Situps x 50
Dying Cockroaches x 50

Mosey to the shelter

Right Leg Step Ups x 20
Left Leg Step Ups x 20
(That’s a total of 40)

Mosey back to Pelicans, but first a pit stop.  Gotta get use to making extra stops on long trips because I hear the ol’ bladder just can’t hold it like it could in the younger days.  Grab a spot on the curb.

Dips x 40 (I did say dips, not drips; don’t believe there were any bladder issues)

Complete the mosey back to Pelicans.

COT
Prayer Requests
Bandit’s aunt- cancer
Easy Rider’s uncle Keith
Mr. Jenkins’ friend w/ cancer
Family and friends of teenager involved in recent car crash
Our country

Praise for Dr. Feelgood’s dad. Glad to hear he is doing well. Look forward to you being off IR and back physically in the gloom with us.

Prayer to Close

4 took part in an impromptu Coffeerama at HT/Starbucks. Really enjoyed the conversation guys.

Thanks to the men who showed up this morning, and the Gastonia F3 PAX as a whole who have pushed and encouraged me for almost a year now. As I said earlier, it’s all about perspective. We talked last week in our study of the book, Freedom From Fear, that it’s all about attitude (Tuesday mornings, HT, 6am, not too late to join). You’re only as old as you feel, and that rock you’re pushing is only as big as you allow it to be. Our main verse yesterday in Sunday School was Philippians 4:6-7 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Look to God for that peace that only He can provide, live that peace in trying times, and share that peace with others who are in need.

Let’s do it again sometime.