In an effort to “one up” all previous F3 workouts, Quike decided to take a road trip to Sahiwal, PAKISTAN, 10 time zones away (yes, it is a real place)! For the southerners in the group, both of the “A”s in Pakistan are soft, like the “a” in America, not like the “A” in America. Pakistan is about the size of the most of the Southeast (VA, NC, SC, GA, AL, FL)) with 200,000, 000 people (thats a lot, by the way)!
I had been EH’ing a FNG for a while to attend workouts in Greenville (where he lives), but he had resisted to this point. Given that were were stuck at Bahr Manzah (the AO) together for a couple of days, a true compound (with 10 ft high walls and armed guards carrying automatic weapons ) for the week, I felt like I could get him to a workout.
I was a little nervous about the workout because FNG is an extremely good athlete who has completed half-triathlons and run several marathons in the past. I wasn’t sure if my weinke would be up to par. Additionally, it is illegal to show a Weinke in public in Pakistan, with castration as the punishment). I make every attempt possible to not stress my upper body, but you can do only so much lower body work (and the AO was pretty small). FinalIy, also haven’t done a ‘merican in about a month (due to the Tuna), so I knew that any upper body exercise with more than 5 reps was likely to cause rhabdomyolysis (for the people who live north of I-85, it’s a fancy work for severe muscle damage). As a runner, it is my firm belief that exercising and working out upper body muscles only serves to add weight and slow you down.
Because I was 100% confident there were going to be no other Pax or FNG there, our start time was flexible. I woke at 600. He was up walking on the treadmill for about 15 minutes prior to my waking, as he couldn’t sleep. Multiple time zone changes are tough on the body. We started the work-out at 620. There was a general gloomy fog over the area, which is pretty common in Pakistan due to pollution. Prior to the work-out, a Great Dane (compound dog) the armed guard did come over to check us out and make sure neither of us was UBL (were were about 5 hours from Abbatabad, and he’s dead already).
DISCLAIMER
WARM-UP (IC)
15 Kastans (in a different country, these are referred to as “mericans”)
20 SSH
15 Don Quixotes-n I always think of Tool Time and smile
20 LBC
Mosey (there was a loop in the driveway of the compound, about 40 meters, we ran 4 laps)
Dora-Dora-Dora
100 Kstans (if you do “mericans” here, you get shot)
200 monkey jumpers (had to face the building/housing compound; it we would have done this towards any person, we would have been either beheaded or immediately from the country)
300 LBC
Mosey another 2 laps
4 corners- Dips, Inkstans, Prayer Squats (we did these to God, no Allah), and Moroccan night clubs (not really a real thing in Morocco, I have been as well). Did 3 sets, with 5, 10, and 15 reps of each
Next was ab work, 45 seconds of workout with 15 seconds of rest (I hate ab work)
Plank, flutter kicks, Freddie Mercury, low plank, and WWI sit ups (did I state that I had ab work!)
Recover (I hate ab work)
Mosey for about 3 minutes (got dizzy because the laps were so small), which took us until about 705.
We did not have a flag present, so we did not pledge the flag (plus the guards were watching, didn’t want to do anything to jeopardize our chances of going back next year)
Announcements (none)
Namorama- Urdugan is a true HIM. He is a the director of a multi-continent missions agency who lives in Greer, SC and he has a faith that is evident in every aspect of his life. There are truly few people that I am in awe of, and he is one of them.
Prayer requests- I was spending a week at Christian Hospital System in Sahiwal, it is part of the Nancy Fullwood Hospital System. This is a 100% Christian hospital in the middle of a 95% Muslim Pakistan. God has allowed it to find favor in the eyes of the Pakistan authorities (see Joseph in the Bible and his relationship with pharaoh) and is blessing the ministry of this endeavor. Pray that God will continue to bless this ministry and provide for more Christian doctors (there aren’t too many in Pakistan) to work there.
Although you guys weren’t with me in body this week, I am thankful that many of you were there in spirit, praying for me and my time there. Your prayers were heard (thanks, Fighting Yank) and I did feel them during the week, The fellowship and fitness are great, but for me, it is the FAITH that makes it all worth it. It would be empty actions without that. AYE!!!