Fitness, Fellowship, Faith

Day: April 2, 2021

Fighting Folsom … A P70 Story

It was Early February and YHC decided that I wanted to run the P200 and was told by Montross  that it was a no-go and I could enquire about the Mortimer … which I knew would not work since it is allergy season and I am allergic to hills.

Montross did tell me that Sarlacc and Brillo were interested, so I reached out to those guys … and told Scribbles he was running. With a Team of 4 and the deadline approaching, we made the decision to run the P70 and enlist 2 more runners which Gavel jumped at the opportunity and an FNG to be named later, Liono overheard a conversation one Sunday at our church and immediately jumped on board … a few guys from Fighting Yank and a couple guys from Folsom … and we have a team, “Fighting Folsom”!

If you are keeping score … I ran the Tuna 200 in 2019 and Brillo ran the Blue Ridge Relay but no one else had ever run a relay and in some cases, hadn’t run a lot, period. We enlisted HeadCase as the driver figuring he could log  a few miles here and there if needed and we had a pre-race meeting at Wild Wing Cafe to assign legs and workout all the details. Let’s get ready to RUN!

3 days before the relay, Sarlacc pulled a calf muscle and tried to tough it out the next day only to make the decision that we needed a sub … and in walks the Veteran Relay Runner, Boudin!

We met Friday at 11pm in the Roses Parking Lot, where Sarlacc quickly volunteers to drive us on a familiar route and we hit the road toward Awendaw Park for a 4:30am start time … but not before a stop at Waffle House in Orangeburg, SC for food at 1am where we all ate probably too much except for Boudin who caught a nap in the van.

Off to Awendaw Park where we pull in close to 4am to pitch black skies, high winds and unseasonably cold temps … as the Race Director tells us this is the coldest Palmetto he’s ever been a part of! The Pre-Race meeting begins as we stand in the dark being tossed to and fro by high winds and close to the end of his instructions, Brillo asks … can we go now? The young man was cold, but ready to get this party started. The countdown begins and the race kicks off as Brillo embarks on 9.84 miles into the dark. Sarlacc has decided that he will drive us from leg to leg and does so, as if he’s driving through his own neighborhood never needing directions.

At EZ 1, we wait with the other 4:30 start teams and several 4:00 teams … as Brillo emerges from the darkness giving us a lead. Brillo IN … Boudin OUT! Boudin is gone … like a flash of lightning to run down Hwy 17 for 4.98 miles! Brillo makes a quick wardrobe change and assumes a very comfortable position riding shotgun … where he didn’t move from for the next couple hours!

EZ2, as Boudin picks up a few kills … he finishes his first leg with sub 8’s and passes off to a Rookie Relay Runner, Liono for 2.24 miles.  Liono makes short work of the 2.24 miles and runs faster than he thought he could and starts looking forward to his next leg which is 8.61 miles … more on that later! Liono IN … Scribbles OUT for 6.02 miles!

On the way to EZ3, we make a quick stop for a bathroom break and to purchase much needed chapstick, where Scribbles actually passes us! At EZ3, Scribbles rolls around the corner in an all out sprint to finish with sub 8’s for his first leg! Scribbles IN … Gavel OUT for 3.84 miles!

We load up the van and head to EZ4 and beep the horn at Gavel as he is running around one of several roundabouts in the Charleston area … and lo and behold, he pulls a mini-BOS and runs in the wrong direction for .3 miles before turning around and getting back on course to finish out what is now a 4.44 mile leg to Cooper River Bridge.

AT EZ5, it should be YHC’s turn to get into the race, but previously … Young Brillo had talked about how he wanted to run the Bridge, so being the gentleman I am and being allergic to hills as previously stated I gladly let Brillo take on the Bridge; Gavel IN … Brillo OUT for 5.37 miles over the bridge and back!

At EZ6, whic is the same spot as EZ5 … and the longest rest break for our Van , YHC asked HeadCase who went to drive but had only been able to ride if he wanted to run a couple miles, which he gladly obliged and took the handoff from Brillo … who explained that the bridge run in blistering cold winds was one of the worst runs he had ever experienced. Brillo IN … HeadCase OUT for 2 miles!

At the 2 mile mark … YHC and the Van waited for HeadCase and his long legs to show up, and he did so right on the heels of another runner and passes the bracelet to me as I follow that runner for the next couple miles of my 4.08 mile partial leg. Thanks to HeadCase, I was able to get a kill on the previous runner and finish my leg faster than I thought I would or could. Doodles IN at EZ7 … Boudin OUT for the 6.53 miles into IOP!

At this point, I’d like to make note that we have all run a leg and some have started their second leg and there is no other van to pass off to … which means NO extended break for a meal or for rest! We press on with snacks and determination to get ‘er done!

At EZ8, Boudin shows up a lot faster than we anticipated, running very low 8’s on a very challenging leg of the race! Boudin IN … Liono OUT for 8.61 miles out of IOP which has previously been stated by the P200 Team as a TOUGH LEG! As we cross the bridge out of IOP, we find a place to park and wait for Liono to arrive around the 4.2 mile mark and as he does … it’s obvious that he is ready for a break, so YHC tags in to finish the final 4.41 miles, which I will admit is the flattest portion of the leg and I’m able to maintain a decent pace and pick up a couple kills and get to EZ9 feeling pleased! Doodles IN … Scribbles OUT for 7.94 miles!

While waiting at EZ10, Scribbles reaches out in the middle of his sub 8 running to let us know that he is ready to let HeadCase get back into the game … and with almost 2 miles left in the leg, Sarlacc and HeadCase find Scribbles and make the exchange … which HeadCase then knocks out a couple low 8’s himself. HeadCase IN … Gavel OUT for 7.09 miles wearing a water pack!

Sitting at EZ11 and watching a couple other teams begin to celebrate before the final leg with shots of Fireball, we anxiously await Gavel’s arrival. Earlier in the race, we had already realized that only 2 of the 8 people in our van drank alcohol and that Boudin and Gavel would be able to drink as many beers as they wanted at the finish! Gavel emerges from his 7.09 miles wishing he had not taken the extra weight of the water with him but excited to see his wife and kids cheering him on. Gavel IN … Doodles OUT for the final 3.19 miles of the relay!

Heading down that country road to the finish, I can see a runner struggling in front of me and decide to reel them in … and just as I do, I take a glance over my shoulder realizing that I wasn’t the only fisherman on the course. I turned into Awendaw Park and looked back to see no one, hung a right and could see the finish line before me. I had collected 4 kills and had not been passed the entire race by man, woman or SilverBack Gorilla; when all of the sudden a gust of wind takes my hat to the ground. I stop to pick up my hat and see a runner quickly approaching, so I kick it in the best I can and try no to get passed … BUT, about 100 yards out a guy comes zooming past and I do what I can to finish strong as my brothers run across the line with me. I was pleased at what we had accomplished and excited to finally get some real food as we collected our medals!

It was late in the afternoon and a long time since our 1am stop at Waffle House, so we made short work of the Moe’s Tacos. We took a team picture as Gavel met his wife and kids to stay an extra night in Charleston. Sarlacc and Brillo also met his wife and daughter to stay the night in the Charleston area as the rest of the team loaded up for the ride home and it was time for HeadCase to earn his Driver Status!

A few miles down the road, the van is quiet and I tell HeadCase to take a detour to a place called “The Wreck” where I thought would be a nice place to see some sites from the now Netflix Famous Series, Outer Banks. We pull up around 4:45 to realize they open at 5 for first come first serve … so we jump in line to scarf down some local fare of shrimp! NOTE to the P200 Team … when in Charleston, Eat Local … not at a Chain Restaurant.

The service was quick, the food was great and the day was getting long, so we snapped a few pics of the place and took off.  HeadCase got us down the road in record time … but we did have enough time to stop for DQ and gas along the way. We found ourselves back at Roses Parking Lot before 10pm … WOW, that’s a lot to accomplish in less than 24 hours! As we waited for everyone to grab their gear and catch their ride, we are disecting the day and Boudin drops a nugget on us … “Guys! It’s not what you can do in your first leg when you are fresh and ready … But it’s what you can do in the last leg when you are exhausted and have nothing left in the tank! That’s what it’s all about!”

These relays have a way of getting to know one another and spend some great time together even if it’s compacted into 23 hours! We learned that Sarlacc is who we thought he was … a true HIM who would do anything for anyone at anytime! We learned that Brillo is a great young man full of adventure ready to conquer the world … and I do believe he will be able to do so! We learned that Boudin is a great man to have on your team, full of experience and willing to share that experience to better everyone around him … and he’s available if you ever need him! We learned that Liono was eager and ready to dive in to this adventure not really knowing half the team but becoming part of the F3 Family like a true brother should. We learned that Scribbles is capable of running a lot faster than he though he could and thank God of that, because his dad is in no way as fast he used to be … and oh yea, we also learned that he can sleep anytime he gets still, no matter what! We learned that HeadCase will do anything and everything that’s needed for those around him … and if I’m honest, I’ve known that for years! We learned that Gavel is a great teammate … willing to push beyond what he thought he was able to and that his family is head over heels in love with him and I believe he feels the same way about them!

As for YHC,  I went home … took a HOT Epsom Salt Bath, brushed my teeth and went to bed; exhausted! I woke up the next morning though … wide awake with the words of Boudin in my head … “it’s what you do when you are exhausted and have nothing left, that’s what it’s all about!” I heard those words and saw the guy passing me 100 yards short of the finish line … and began to wonder, what could I have done differently to change that outcome?  What could I have done 100 yards before, 1 block before, or even 1 mile before? It haunted me … and I even used it in my sermon at church that day.

Let’s be honest, 2020 and 2021 have been exhausting at best! It’s time for true HIM to be true HIM … it’s time to show those around us what we are made of, now that we and everyone we come into contact is exhausted and have nothing left in the tank! As for me, I plan to pour it all out from this day forward … like the Apostle Paul, my life will be poured out to the last drop. As for me, I plan to not wake up the next day after the next relay wondering what I could’ve done … I’m gonna leave it all out there somewhere on the road, because gentlemen … that’s what it’s all about!

Until next time…

I like to drink Tequila at Sunrise

Dudes showed for the 2nd Q of the month…it’s Good Friday! A very holy day  for a very unholy beatdown. 13 HIM were in the house. This is what happened…

Disclaimer, no FNGs. I’m a profession. Do what I say.

Warmup – Goofballs of course, Don Quixote to stretch the back, R over L (a Sargento original), the Press Press Fling (PPF, a Roscoe thing)

Mosey for a lap around the dark track.

End up at the covered drop off area. Bear Crawl from the end to the wall. Wall sit for 60 seconds, air presses & PPF.  Australian Mountain Climbers (AMC) x10 IC. Deep breaths. Wall sit for 60 seconds. AMC x15 IC, 2 deep breaths, Wall sit 60 seconds, air presses & PPF then AMC x 20 IC. 3 deep breaths. That was a lot.

Fellowship mosey to the broad side of the field. Line up on the line for a round of Suicide Ladder. Run to the middle of the field, back to the start, then across to the far side of the field for 10 Merkins. Run back to the start. Do this 2 more times increasing each rep count to 15 then 20 each round.

Do the whole routine over again for Big Boy sit ups and then Squats. good work men.

Take a fellowship lap around the perilously dark track.

Line up on the short side of the field for Red Bruschetta. SO delicious that the named a routine after it.

  • Run to the other end of the field and do 100 Side Straddle Hops then back to the start
  • Run to the 75 yard mark and do 75 Mountain Climbers (the American version) counting the right leg only then back to the start
  • Run to the 50 yard line to do 50 LBCs then back to the start
  • Go to the 25 for 25 Merkins then back to the start
  • Go to the 10 and do 10 Burpees then back.

Mosey to the warmup area for 10 Nolan Ryan’s each side in honor of the start of the boring baseball season and time is called.

Great workout men, lots of cardio and plenty of muscle action too. Thanks for putting up with me leading again. AYE!

Prayer requests: Watts Up’s M’s recovery, PAX travels this weekend, Job searches, Big Pappy’s family

Announcements: PT Test, Convergence, Freight’s collection, Mayor’s 2.0 cleanup, Young Life golf tournament, Ruck CSAUP May 22nd, Short Sale’s name it and claim it challenge

Old People Doing Stuff like some April Fools

Awe shucks, just another dadburn day in the gloom to push the rock. Golly pete, these phrases should remind you of the recently retired, plaid wearing coach that so many PAX revere, ‘ole Roy Williams. If you ask me he should’ve done this years ago.

Gosh darn, if 14 HIM didn’t show today. There was a strong showing of old farts out today too so YHC decided to keep the route super easy so as not to get them lost like some dementia ridden assisted living residents. Here’s what happened…

Leave The Pub heading west on Hoffman, take a right on Robinwood, go to the “stop ahead” sign just past the greenway entrance, turn around and go back to the start.

Batflippers Dr Seuss, Waterboy and Defib paced the group as expected, then the rest of us trickled in over the next bit.

Seuss had to leave early and as he was leaving I mentioned that he wasn’t going to get credit for today’s workout because he had been warned several times before about running in the middle of the street with traffic without proper reflective attire. I said the group couldn’t continue to sit by and watch such a flagrant disregard for safety and that he wouldn’t get credit. He didn’t take to kindly to me suggesting he wouldn’t be credited with the workout. I was lucky to dodge him running me over as he peeled out from the parking lot on two wheels in a blind rage. Very uncharacteristic.

April fools, Seuss, you will get credit after all. Haha! Please take it easy and don’t try running over anyone else.

Thanks for letting me lead today men! Aye!!!

Prayer Requests: Unspoken, Roscoe’s father-in-law, Turtleman, Breaker’s stepdad Don, Smudge’s mom, Roscoe’s cousin Kenny having back surgery

Announcements: Convergence, PT Test, 1st F challenge

Plain and Simple

We’re finishing up the last days of March and we’ve got a beautiful morning without rain for a change. I’ve got 11 rock pushers ready to get at it. So I guess it’s time for a plain and simple Folsom beat down. Nothing special just a few simple sets let’s get it.

Warm Up
SSH, Gravel Pickers, MNC                                             20 reps each all in cadence

Time to say the Pledge

Mosey to the lower lot for Some 4 corners with a twist.

Corner 1 – 10 mericans                                        Corner 2 – 10 big boys                                          Corner 3 – 10 squats                                              Corner 4 – 10  mountain climbers

3 Rounds add 10 reps each set per round and as for the twist mentioned above every time we crossed the center point of the of the parking lot we did 5 burpees.

Now time for a little Triple Nickel

merican jacks, burpees, squat jacks

5 rounds 5 reps each

sprint to each station nerr back to bottom of the lot

Mosey back to the Shovel Flag for COT prayer requests and announcements.

I’m going to finish up by giving my man Hacksaw some kudos. This guy was putting in some EC this morning and dang near broke his ankle but he stayed and tried to get his work in. In the end he just couldn’t push the he normally does. It was killing him I know that kind of stuff kills me too. Just remember failing to complete a challenge isn’t necessarily failing. Stay strong and keep pushing.

 

Lettering in Varsity – Final Cut Day!

5:30pm

Pledge

Thu Warmdown:

25 Mountain Climbers OYO  x2

25 Plank Jacks OYO  x2

25 Slow Air Presses

Mosey to Damp, Soggy, Muddy, WET soccer field

Thu Beatdown:

Start on End Line:  5 Burpees, 10 Merkins, 15 Low Squats (x) 5 Rounds

BURPEE + 2 Steps to MidField

Mid Field: 5 Burpees, 10 Merkins, 15 Low Squats (x) 5 Rounds

BURPEE + 2 Steps to other End Line:

End Line: 5 Burpees, 10 Merkins, 15 Low Squats (x) 5 Rounds

BatFlippers:  CCD it out until all is done!

Rest: 25 slow Air-press count

Step back up to the End Line:  Bear Crawl to Mid Field

Mid Field: 100 Flutter Kicks

Stand Up: Sprint to End Line

End Line:  1:00 minute Plank Hold

Stand Up and sprint to Mid Field

Mosey back to Varsity Circle….TIMEEEEEEEEEEE!

 

Announcements

Prayer Requests

Prayer – Thanks Slaw!

2021 Varsity Team Introduced

 

 

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