Month: May 2019 (Page 4 of 10)

Mt. Mitchell for a party of 6.

The Thang:

We gathered at GSM World Headquarters at 5:30am and began our journey to Black Mountian Campground. We arrived shortly before 8am after a crazy windy drive through HWY 80 to this location. (Stroganoff, found car sickness that he recovered from after a loud thunderous belch)

We had to park an extra mile away from the start of the trail due to the construction of a much needed parking lot for this area. We had a choice to go through a trail that we were not sure of or take a long way on the road. We choose the trail with some risk and all was worked out fine. We walked through the campground and started our climb. We would climb for a while and then give Oompa some time to catch up several times and the climb did not seem to bad. We guessed we had about a mile to go so the last time we grouped together we told Def and Oompa we would meet them at the top. Turned out we had several mile to still go and it was a treacherous and hard part of the trail. We all felt that part on the way up.

Note: On the climb up it was a beautiful hike with many roots, rocks, and rough trail. The landscape changed 5 times in my count. We went from hardwood tree’s to Rhododendron’s, Pine and hardwoods, to thick forest with mossy trees, and then ended up in all pine trees.  Several spots to look out around power lines but other than those we were deep in forest most of the trail.

We made it to the top but not the very top before I suggested we walk this nice path down to the Gift shop and concession stand, this was about 100 yards down this stone path that was wide and nice. Everything was closed except the very stinky bathrooms. The walk back from the area to the very top was painful and regretted fully as we made the short climb to the top, very top. Once at the top our phones somewhat worked but not that good. Told the wife we were at the top and took pictures. She texted and I could not respond  “Is it storming there?”. I tried looking up weather maps but it did not work. It was not supposed to rain and we were only at our halfway point and my watch had showed that we had already gone 7 plus miles. At this point I said to Strogoff “Well, at least it is not raining”. So then it rained and the tempature dropped to 58 degrees and nobody was prepared for that. We took cover and the rain passed in about 5 minutes but we got a little more on the way down.

Oompa and Def arrived at the top before the rain. Oompa recovered nicely.  We began the march down the hill to get to some warmer temperatures. The sun came out and at one point for several miles Oompa was leading the bunch. I believe the path down the mountain was much longer and seemed to have more rocks and more roots than what we came up. A couple coming down the mountain behind us was approaching and coming in for the Kill which was mentioned. The pace increased and long story short Oompa was left a behind somewhat. I will make note again that this path which was the same path we came up seemed much longer coming down and much more rugged. Every time we got to just path with no roots, etc we celebrated for 30 seconds before it attacked us again. We made much better time down. We arrived at the camp below. Stroganoff went up the trail looking for Oompa, Freight and Hipaa also journeyed out. I went for the car to bring back expecting that most were done. Panic started, 35 minutes in and no sign of him. Someone made comment that he could have fallen off the mountain and be hurt. I drove up the gravel road and found Oompa walking. Freight and Hippa were 10 minutes up the trail looking for him. Oompa was told wrong information from the Camp person and he basically went an extra 1 mile out of the way off the trail on a road and then back. It took a moment but we all got back together and everyone jumped in the truck and headed back to the cars.

We were all starving, thirsty and tired. We made it to a eating place. We waited to long on food but my pizza came out first and the rest of the food seemed like it took 20 more minutes as I had to fight off 5 other guys that tried to attack my meal. Everyone else ordered burgers, but I must say they messed up because that Pizza brought joy to my life. I don’t know if it was as good as I remember but it might be the best pizza I have ever eaten. Worth the fighting.

The Moleskin:

Good times, lots of laughter and really what CSAUP is all about. These kind of outings can be 2 guys or 100 and they build  and strengthen men. The challenge was great and felt like a true accomplishment once we finished. We met another PAC from Concord on the trail as well. I look forward to the next one and the 10 after that. Great group of guys and glad I spent this time with them. Many more stories that could be told on this event. Sorry Rudolph, we kept on hearing helicopters.

Gastone

YHC pulled in a few minutes before the Ruckers took off. Stayed around for the runners and then started out on my now walk.

Back to the start, Pledge, Nameorama, COT, Qsource.

There were a couple things that have happened lately that I’d like to push. Montross brought up “Praise Requests” after prayers and very kindly, stated it was nice to see YHC out there. Also, Watts up wanted to send some praise for a happy and healthy granddaughter Who went home. Let’s start asking for praise and inspiriational items in the COT and see what’s going well for the PAX.

The second is coming up with an award for those who show leadership and have the most Qs in a month to go along with the Iron Skillet for those who post the most.

Just my humble thoughts.

Announcements: SFM 5/25/19. Sign up; Murph Monday 5/27. All other AOs closed.
Prayers: All pax, students and teachers with the end of the year coming up.

Oh yeah, at the end, Sparky pointed out some hang or paragliders or something. Seemed pretty cool.

So back in March when YHC was at his nominal Friday morning Metro workout at Atilla Do Re Mi threw down the idea of a convergence with the Gaston Gang at The Yank. All In! So we set it up for 5/18. One thing you have to understand about the Core crowd is that it is cross regional and is very tight as a group. It also features the most remarkable guys in all of F3 with Horse (age 80), Money (77 and undergoing radiation treatment for Lymphoma), South Beach (75) and a host of others that don’t mind getting up and getting with it on a regular basis. So exporting that ethos is pretty important to YHC.

With that said YHC also saw an opportunity to add a new twist to an AO that keeps on giving in the Yank and that was to be unveiled at the event, which was the Half Pipe or as was hoped, the Horrific Half Pipe! And it did not disappoint as we shall revel herein.

As the time came and the gloom melted away it was apparent this was going to be our first really humid and hot workout of the season as clown cars rolled in from east of the Catawba. It was also apparent that there was going ot be mumble chatter  par excellence as Rev Flo Rida and Tool Time (he of the most perfect hair in the nation) showed up completely unfettered and undeterred to speak out. so as the clock hit 7 the pax moseyed up the street to the first parking lot for a COP:

COP:

SSH X 20

2 burpees OYO

IW X 20

4 burpees OYO

Copperhead squats X 20

6 burpees OYO

Mountain climbers X 20

8 burpees OYO

Merkins X 10

Stretching for 1 minute

10 burpees OYO

By now the first salvos had been fired in the mumble chatter battle of all battles as Rev and TT were acting totally within character and up to expectations! This was fun to watch!

Mosey up to the 1st corner and the following three rounds:

Wall Squats: 10X. 15X, 20X

Mike Tysons: 10X, 15X, 20X

Plank Jacks: 10X, 15X, 20X

5 train burpees

Mosey over to the second corner in the tour. This is protocol I follow when we have visitors in just to show off Belmont. I have not billed the town yet for this service but I probably should!

Wait for the six and just do some squats, them mosey on over across the railroad to the Corner of knowledge for the following three rounds:

Stepups: 10X, 15X, 20X

Dips: 10X, 15X, 20X

Dirkins: 10X, 15X, 20X

Now comes the time we have all waited for – The First flight of the Half Pipe! inspired by the original half pipe in Louisville back when YHC went on that expansion. And specific to The Fighting Yank AO as follows:

Top of Heart Break Hill : 5 jump squats.

Bottom of Heart Break Hill: On the pad, 5 diamond merkins

Run to the stairs and up to the street: % monkey humpers, butt to the street

Back down to the pad: 5 diamond merkins.

Back to the top of HB Hill

That would be one round. Original call was for 5 rounds. But being a humid, warm day YHC pulled the plug at 3 rounds.

Gather up and proceed to the Field of Dreams for  – Bear Crawl Slalom! In this rendition as we had 22 pax we counyed off by twos and split up. Everyone got two rounds in.

End of the field: 10 SSH, 5 burpees.

Back to the start, run halfway, 5 hand release merkins, at the end, 10 HR merkins.

Time for one more half pipe round! This time, stay on the pad and then mosey over to the fountain for some pax called Mary to end with

Pledge

Name o Rama

NMM:

Great to have the guys from Metro Core over today. We had about a 50-50 split. Rev and Tool Time put on a mumble chatter show. Rev commented that he finally met someone in TT who can talk as much as he can! Have to say it is a clsoe call and YHC would have to say that this would be a pick ’em on any given day. Tool Time actually conceded that Scribbles hair may be better than his. If true then we are all just refugees from a Warren Zevon reality show featuring werewolves. So we had a pretty unique situation that unfolded throughout the morning on the streets and public areas of Belmont, NC.  And the Half Pipe did turn out to be as advertised – horrible! We’re gonna book that one as a Yank staple from here on out. If you missed this one, it was the wrong one to miss!

Tool Time reminded all of the guys about the loss a lot of our guys have dealt with of late and to send prayers out for that. Our brothers in Metro get that for sure.

Setting a return date for a Gaston trip over to Core probably in June, looking like 14th. I will finalize and get that info out this week.  Great to be a part of this one and looking forward to the return engagement on their turf! Pleasure, honor, and privilege to have led so many high quality men get better here.

Also working on another July 4 special edition of The Yank where we will read aloud the Declaration of Independence and see if we can get Sam Warner from 1st Pres in Belmont to say a few words as well by the Fighting Yank.

Tesla

Stroganoff showed this am for some EC and we ran-good start to the day but…..it left me wanting more. Running is…..I don’t know……meh. It’s kind of like vanilla ice cream. It’s ok, but really, there is a whole lot more out there and if you think vanilla is as good as it can get, well, you are probably the kind of person who eats very little bacon and drives a beige car.

We got back to start and got our rucks for the real thing. Several others had gathered with rucks and we started.

Pledge

Head to picnic shelter. I wanted to get things started with some variety so we got through the gate and did 5 Merkins (ruck on) then went to the next light. At the next light I said “Watts Up, call out an exercise”-before he could say anything I said “great, 5 more Merkins.” We continues the “5 Merkins” at each light. This was a crowd pleaser for sure. Along the way an un-named pax stated this was hurting his “supple” hands…..plenty of mumble chatter ensued. We got to the picnic tables for some step ups for “awhile” because I would rather not count. Next we moved to the lot for some American Hammers while holding the rucks-hated these because I don’t like ab stuff but that is why I wanted to do them. The rest of the morning was kind of blur. We did a bunch of squats and Merkins with 11’s through the parking lot using the lights as our stopping points. This was tough with the rucks on-probably too tough for our fellow F3ers who have soccer arms and like to drink instead of eating…..we may see one day….

I don’t really remember everything we did. I do remember the shoulder burns with upright rows with the rucks as our weights in cadence. Yikes, we will definitely need to do this again. We got back in time with other exercises on the way including squats in sets of 10 at each of the lights. I am feeling that today (or was it the running EC before????).

COT then we got outta there quick. It was a great morning. thanks for posting this am.

12 men made it out to enjoy this beautiful weather at Midoriyama.  Personally, this is one of my favorite AOs, and I encourage all to try it out.  It can get challenging with the heat of the summer, but the park is spread out and provides us with many beatdown options.

Warm-Up: 

None needed. A quick explanation of how today’s workout would go, then let’s mosey

The Thang:

I enjoy a good workout that keeps everyone moving, with little downtime.  Our time is limited, so to get in a good variety of exercises I feel you must keep things moving.  With that in mind, today’s workout was geared towards that.  Basically I explained to the pax that we would mosey 1/4 mile , complete a set of 5 exercises, mosey 1/4 mile, 5  exercises,  and continue this cycle until I say stop.  I wanted to complete this with very little downtown, and push the pace.  My weinke consisted of these exercises.

1/4 Mile Run

5 Burpees, 5 One Leg Burpees, 5 One Leg Burpees, 5 Walmart Burpee, 5 Wolverine Burpees

1/4 Mile Run

10 Merkins, 10 Diamond Merkins, 10 Hand Release Merkins, 10 Werkins, 10 Mike Tyson

1/4 Mile Run

20 Squats, 20 Jump Lunges, 20 Bobby Hurley’s, 20 Monkey Humpers, 20 Smurf Jacks

1/4 Mile Run

30 CDD, 30 Mountain Climbers, 30 Shoulder Taps, 30 Plank Jacks, 30 Peter Parkers

1/4 Mile Run

40 LBCs, 40 Flutter Kicks, 40 American Hammers, 40 Dying Cockroaches, 40 Freddie Mercury

I had planned to continue this, and go back down the exercise list but decided to Omaha this.  It was taking longer than expected, and I wanted to get in some other things.  Here we took a short mosey to the playground area.  Triple Nickel is called with the exercises being 5 Pull-Ups, 5 Derkins, 5 Jump Squats.   Complete this 5 times.

Once that was complete, another short mosey to the bleachers at the horseshoe pits.  We would do the following exercises here:

15 Dips (IC), 15 Step-Ups (IC), 15 Incline Merkins (IC)

10 Dips (IC), 10 Step-Ups (IC), 10 Incline Merkins (IC)

5 Dips (IC), 5 Step-Ups (IC),  5 Incline Merkins (IC)

Still with a couple minutes to spare, short fellowship mosey to the flag area.  Circle up and do a little Burp & Merk. Start with a traditional Burpee with 1 Merkin at the bottom, then complete.  Drop back down for a second Burpee with 2 Merkins at the bottom, then complete.  We would have time to pyramid this up to 10.  Time up!!

Annoucements: Mt. Mitchell hike 5/19, Belmont Classic 5k 5/25, Memorial Day Murph 5/27

Prayer Request:  All pax, expecially those who have lost loved ones

Nameorama

Honor to lead today!  Always look forward to getting out here with my F3 brothers.  Stay disciplined men, and encourage someone to keep pushing that rock.

Sister Act