Category: Backblast (Page 5 of 888)

The classic Coconut Horse loop was vacant again, as we had 4 ruckers and a modified route runner at the Horse this morning.  With race season over after yesterday’s Tobacco Road Relay, I guess the runners are all licking their wounds (YHC included).

QSource today was on “The Law of the Process” from John Maxwell’s 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, and there were a lot of good takes.  Whoopee and Defib joined choosing to give the legs a break after a long day running the day before.  Key points from the chapter:

• Investing in growth is a daily process, and we don’t get 50 year results in 50 minutes
• Events are great, but processes are transformational
• Teddy Roosevelt may have had the biggest stones.  Once, he was shot prior to a speech, but insisted on delivering the one-hour speech with a broken rib and a bullet in his chest.
• To grow leaders in your organization, find opportunities to lead in small ways.  As they show their capable, give them greater opportunities.
• Consistency is the key

One lesson that showed up again that always seems to hit home is about being prepared.  As quoted in the book from Benjamin Disraeli, “The secret of success in life is for a man to be ready for his time when it comes.”  But another quote from Joe Frazier with a different spin is the one that got to me today:

“You can map out a fight plan or a life plan, but when the action starts, you’re down to your reflexes.  That’s where your road work shows.  If you cheated on that in the dark of the morning, you’re getting found out now under the bright lights.”

See those “Bright Light” moments are coming, and who we are in The Gloom, and on a Tuesday afternoon at work, or a Sunday evening with our families, all of that stuff matters.  It’s not a pressure, so much as an urgency.  Because if we’re men of action and we don’t cheat or take the easy way out, we’ll be as ready as we can be for our time when it comes.

We have to give our reflexes a fighting shot of getting us through in bright light situations, and it comes with preparation.  Sometimes, like a relay or a job interview or our kids leaving to go off to college, we get some warning about when our time is coming.  We’d be foolish or short-sighted to be unprepared in these situations, and yet it happens because our lives are so full.  A lot of times though, we don’t get to know when the action is going to start and the bright lights shine on us.  With preparation through hard work, building and supporting others, and a little bit of faith, we can get through.

The connections and clarity from being a part of a group that cares about how we’re all living are so valuable to me.  I appreciate all of your support.

Yabba Dabba Doo

The movie Goonies is a 1985 kids movie that became a cult classic and remains one of the most watched movies of all time.  Without spoiling it (for our Nantan) its about a group of kids with big imaginations, its about wonder, its about taking on seemingly impossible tasks and pushing yourself out of your comfort zone.  In short its about making the impossible seem possible.  Over the years the pax of F3 Gastonia have taken on seemingly impossible tasks such as the blue ridge relay, marathons, a “Moron”, and multiple runnings of the Mortimer.  But as Whoopee said however, this was at least in the top 15 of stupid things he has done in his 54 years (that’s no small feat).

With a name like the Goonie and with pax of all levels of fitness I was tasked with coming up with a challenging Completely Stupid And Utterly Pointless event.   To entice (read coerce) participation, YHC put out on slack a somewhat cryptic / brief description of this event 2 months ago that described a 10+ mile ruck with the catch of starting at the ungodly hour of 3am.  The idea was that just about anyone who posts regularly can ruck 10 miles but only someone who “gets” F3 would wake up at 2 am to be ready to ruck for nearly 4 hours.

Sure enough 23 pax answered the call this morning not really knowing much more about what was in store except a ruck and a 3am start – talk about blind faith.  When I discussed this earlier in the week with some pax who were on the fence (Timeframe) it became clear that the “sacrifice” of posting was in the pax best interest.  It was about making tough choices – like sacrificing beers on Friday night for exercise on Saturday morning.  It was about being there for new guys who have never done a CSAUP.  And just as most difficult/challenging tasks in life are,  you may not like the work you put in at the time, but in the end you are glad you did.

As I pulled in the parking lot at 2:40am there were already 3 pax there waiting including Bed Pan, Roscoe and BOS.  Some pax just can’t get enough.  Over the next 20 mins 19 more pax came in (some hot) and one a little late who was “misled” by some chatter on Slack into thinking it was 3:30 start – Without mentioning names the Comz Q seems to have some trouble with comz and had to play catch up.  At 3am sharp YHC handed out t-shirts to those who arrived early and began to explain what to expect.  But first the price of admission was 5 “ruckees” OYO.

The thang:

The pax would be split up into groups of 5 with each group receiving a coupon that they would be responsible for bringing along the route.  There would be 4 pain stations along the way with exercises to be performed.  The route would take the pax from the Schiele to Advanced Autoparts on New Hope for the first pain station.  There the pax would take off the ruck and use them to do 50 overhead presses, 100 curls and 150 squats. Next ruck to Publix for 4 corners but first repeat the exercises from last station.  Yes the exercises would stack as we moved from one station to the next, a real crowd pleaser as the morning wore on.  Next ruck to Pelicans for the same exercises plus de-escalating four corners.  The four corners consisted of escalating 10 merkins, 20 American hammers, 30 Big Boys, and 40 Flutters followed by de-escalating the exercises at each corner.  That set off some mumble chatter about ab work and number of reps, how great the Q was etc.   Finally we moseyed to greenway where an Easter egg was waiting.  Near the Garrison tunnel we got into the creek ankle deep (that’s balls deep to Tiger and me) to cool off and do 10 Merkins, 10 LBCs and 10 SSH.  Although the water wasn’t particularly cold it tasted pretty nasty.  Again lots of mumble chatter – something about Chlamydia or urine – I couldn’t tell with the sound of the rushing water but I’m sure they were complimenting me on finding such a picturesque spot to cool off.   Adding wet clothes to blistering feet and bums was a real crowd pleaser.  Most were thankful we were almost back to the Schiele at this point.  Finally we arrived at the last pain station – Lineberger park, where YHC had to Omaha and called 11s with shoulder taps and LBCs without stacking the previous exercises so we could make it back on time for Whoopee’s pain lab Q.

When all as said and done we covered just over 11 miles, no one died, no one quit, no one smashed their block along the way in frustration and most seemed to enjoy at least parts of the event. But most importantly everyone grew.

The 23 pax who completed the CSAUP got to know their fellow pax a little better by collectively suffering through a 4 hour ruck/bootcamp and in the end will take this experience and memory with them to make future life obstacles just a little easier.  And like Whoopee said we do these things for not only for ourselves but also for our fellow man. (Iron sharpens Iron! Prov 27:17.)  My sincere thanks to all who made this one of  the most memorable events in my 9 years in F3.

Until next time

Defib out

Posted at Lightship Ruck n Run in Southport NC today…  Tophat gave me a Rucking excellent tour of the area.

First Q since being back from a stress fracture, had to knock the rust off.

Normal warm-up… a few SSHs, Gravel Pickers, and Merkins.

Moseyed to Park maintenance parking lot.

• Circled up and did 20 flutters, 20 dyeing cockroaches.

Moseyed onto the park Playground:

• Mini MFR in honor of the 4 fallen police officers in CLT.
• Rinse and repeat 4x:
  • 20 Merkins
  • 10 Pull-ups
  • 1 lap around the playground

Mosey to the picnic shelter:

• Rinse and repeat 3x:
  • 20 step ups
  • 20 dips
  • 10 Durkins
• 1 Minute Wall sits 3x

Mosey to the top of the park: Lunges across the parking lot.

Moseyed back to the Pelicans and finished off with round robin.

5 HIM showed in the very early gloom. This is what happened.

As Dr. Seuss, Sargento, Keesh, Golddigger, and Buckeye trotted along the winding path of their training route, their conversation meandered through topics as diverse as the colors of a rainbow. Today, their dialogue took a turn towards career paths, entrepreneurial spirits, and the dynamics of power within organizations.

“I’ve always had a soft spot for retiring as a school teacher,” Dr. Seuss remarked, his voice carrying the whimsy of his namesake. “Think of the joy in shaping young minds, like molding clay into vibrant sculptures! Oh, the places they’ll go!”

Sargento, the pragmatic one of the group, shook his head. “But what about the money, Doc? Teachers don’t exactly swim in gold coins like Scrooge McDuck. I’d rather roll the dice and chase the entrepreneurial dream, where the sky’s the limit!”

“Ah, but there’s more to life than just dollars and cents,” countered Keesh, his eyes sparkling with wisdom. “As an entrepreneur, you’re like a lone wolf, navigating through the wilderness of uncertainty. But as a teacher, you’re part of a community, nurturing not just minds but hearts.”

Golddigger, the dreamer among them, nodded enthusiastically. “And what’s life without a bit of adventure? Entrepreneurs are like pirates, sailing the seas of opportunity in search of hidden treasures. It’s not just about making money, it’s about carving out your own destiny!”

Buckeye, the steady anchor of the group, spoke up next. “But let’s not forget the power dynamics at play within organizations. CEOs may hold the reins, but with great power comes great responsibility. It’s a delicate dance between authority and empathy, between strength and compassion.”

As they rounded the final bend of their run, their hearts pounding with exhilaration, the five friends reflected on the rich tapestry of their conversation. From the allure of retiring as a school teacher to the adventurous spirit of entrepreneurs to the nuanced dynamics of power within organizations, they had traversed a landscape as colorful and vibrant as a Seussian illustration. And as they headed off to refuel with a hearty brunch, they knew that their next journey together would bring with it another opportunity for spirited discussion and boundless exploration.

Their footsteps echoed along the path as they continued their run, each lost in thought, pondering the complexities of their respective career paths and the choices that lay ahead.

Dr. Seuss, with his whimsical nature, couldn’t help but mull over the idea of retirement as a school teacher. To him, there was a certain magic in the classroom, a joy that transcended the mundane. The thought of igniting young minds with the spark of imagination filled him with a sense of purpose unlike any other.

Sargento, on the other hand, remained resolute in his pursuit of the entrepreneurial dream. To him, the allure of building something from nothing, of charting his own course through uncharted waters, was irresistible. Sure, the risks were high, but so were the potential rewards.

Keesh, ever the philosopher, saw merit in both paths. He understood the appeal of the entrepreneurial journey, with its trials and triumphs, its highs and lows. But he also recognized the value of community, of belonging to something greater than oneself. In his eyes, being a teacher was not just a job, but a calling—a chance to make a difference in the lives of others.

Golddigger, with his head in the clouds and dreams of grandeur, saw entrepreneurship as the ultimate adventure. To him, the world was a vast treasure trove waiting to be plundered, and he was determined to claim his share of the spoils. Failure was not an option; success was the only option.

And Buckeye, ever the voice of reason, reminded them of the realities of power within organizations. As CEO, one held immense sway over the fate of others, with the ability to lift them up or bring them crashing down. It was a weighty responsibility, one that required careful consideration and unwavering integrity.

As they reached the end of their run, their bodies weary but their spirits buoyed by their conversation, the five friends paused to catch their breath. In the quiet stillness of the morning, they shared a knowing smile, grateful for the bonds of friendship that united them and the endless possibilities that lay ahead. And as they turned to head home, their minds abuzz with thoughts of the future, they knew that whatever path they chose, they would face it together, each step of the way.

Pledge of Allegiance

YHC and Golddigger got some extra miles in afterward.

Sister Act pissed off Sparky so bad, that instead of commencing a total ass whipping on the ole douche canoe himself, Sparky decided to run his anger out away from the rest of the pax.
Jeez, thanks canoe.
It only went down hill from there.
Suster Act bitched about warmup exercises.
Bitched about exercises at the light poles on the way to frisbee. Tried to kill the leppard after leppard scored more times than he did at the prom.
Caused us to be summarily dismissed off the soccer field.
After the imminent defeat of his team, he ran off his teamate Gare bear.
To top it off he called 6 count kraken burpees during mary to the mutinious disgust of all.

Prayers
CMPD, US Marshall, and all dealing with aftermath of the tragic shooting this week.
Our usual recurring pax and families needing God’s grace and mercy.

Announcements
Goonie
Extinction Run
Lunch