Fitness, Fellowship, Faith

Category: Backblast (Page 746 of 904)

Monk, you or me?

Last week, Monk asked me to Q at the Pub this morning so I agreed and pulled in early eagerly to see an empty parking lot.  Hmmm, I thought to myself table for 1?  After a few minutes here come the HIM’s.   Whoopee barrel rolled out of his truck into the merkin position to knock out his 10,000 for the month.

No FNG’s so we started down Hoffman and I was at the point.  About an 1/8 of a mile I was at the six with Roscoe who was kind enough to hang with me since I am not a runner (but will be someday).  What I failed to tell Roscoe was that I challenged myself to run 4 miles under a 10/min pace.  Well at the halfway point I turned around and Roscoe kicked it into gear to catch up with the others.  We all made it back

During the run, Monk forgot that I was Q and took over, or else he didn’t like where things were going.  )      We said the pledge and he closed out the COT.

 

Here is what you need to know.  Yesterday at Snoballs, Whoopee mentioned that everyone should challenge themselves, whether it is to train for a marathon or work on pull-ups or lose weight.  The only time I listed to him was then and so this morning was my challenge.   Last week I had to walk several times during the 5 mile run so this week I fought it and won.   Best last was 8:52, for me that’s Usain Bolt like.  Thanks for the push everyone.

 

No Weight Vest Required

What a beautiful morning to lead a workout at Snoballs.  There were no FNG’s so we started with the Pledge.

Warm-Up:
SSH 20 IC
Merkins 10 IC

Moseyed to the small hill next to the shelter and playground for a SSH ladder with burpees.  At the top of the hill we started with 20 SSH then ran to the bottom for 5 burpees.  Back to the top for 19 SSH and at the bottom for 5 burpees.  After 10 rounds we went to Soccer Field #1 and performed lunges, then bear crawls, followed by more lunges.  Then we headed to the pull-up bar.  One at a time we were challenged to do as many pull-ups as you can while everyone else was getting a break with some LBC’s.

Moseyed back to the bathroom house when I heard mumble chatter about the walls.  I thought we needed to take a closer look so we stopped for some Hip Slappers.  After walking to perimeter to make sure the building was structurally sound, Whoopee led us.   Then we moseyed to the front gates for 20 derkins and 20 dips.  With time remaining, we headed to the back wall for 20 Dips IC, 10 step-ups (each leg), 15 Dips IC, 10 step-ups(each leg) and finished with 15 Dips IC.

I normally wear a vest during the workout but since I knew the punishment I left it in my truck.  During the COT, Whoopee talked about challenging yourself and here is my challenge to you.   Get a vest and wear it during your workouts.  You will definitely get stronger by wearing one and you have a place to put your keys and phone )

Thank you for allowing me lead.

Slam Ball

15 strong men at Midoriyama for a Canteen beatdown. Swimmer and Floppy Disk went mountain bike riding. I’ll try to remember what we did.

Warmup SSH x 10

Mosey to the first soccer field. Awaiting were 2 tractor tires and some cinder blocks and we carried (2) 30 lb. Slam balls. We split into 2 teams. First guy on each team lifts the ball over his head and slams it on the ground 5 times, then flips the tire 5 times, runs to the end of the field while the next guy slams the ball until each team is finished. Rinse and repeat except this time adding 5 push ups and carrying 2 cinder blocks to the tire flips and slam balls. Ouch!

Next up was 4 corners with 15 merkins, 15 squats, 15 Xmen crunches, 15 American hammers with karaoke on the longer field lengths and nur (run backwards) the shorter lengths. Rinse and repeat. Some decided to also sing karaoke as they ran it. The guy singing Randy Travis was pretty good! Reba McIntyre and Meatloaf needed some work. Throughout the workout Slaw kept trying to distract the Q requesting burpees but the Q stated firmly, NO Burpees!

Mosey to a hill with the slam balls and split back into 2 teams. Bear Crawl up the hill pushing the Slam Ball and when you got to the top, let the Slam Ball roll back down to the next guy. Rinse and repeat. Several of the Pax had their bear crawl form questioned.

Mosey back to the flag stopping at each light pole for 15 merkins. Back at the flag for 6 MOM. Freddie Mercuries, Flutter Kicks, Crunchy Frogs and some kind of cross over merkins.

Announcements
Convergence at Midoriyama this Saturday June 9th at 7 a.m.
Forge Bible Study Wednesday nights at Grits N Greens at 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, June 16th at Folsom is the 2.0 workout at 7:00 a.m. followed by breakfast.

COT
Sidecar requested prayer for the Self family. Tiger requested prayer for a family who lost a child to a sudden illness. Def Leppard’s son and there may have been others missed. Lift up each other.
Great to have some newer guys to Midoriyama, Mario and Step Down. They are pushing hard.

Q…Bueller, Bueller

Well, this has happened to me twice. A Pax had the Q and while talking with another Pax on Saturday, it was confirmed. However, when time was close, they were a no-show. A few people started asking and all I had up my sleeve for a backup was the blockbuster. Sargento manned up and said how about the ABC where you do an exercise based on the letter as long as I would do the backblast. It was set and away we went. Apparently when put on chopping block, you cant think of an exercise beginning with that letter. Of course, B was for burpees, but thinking three ahead, when L popped up, YHC said lunges. That was to some shagrin because LBCs were right there. X came around and an extra lap was noted. It was a fun disaster.

Lessons to learn:
1. Always have a spare Q should this happen.
2. If you are on the list and know, SHOW UP. People depend on you. If not, let someone know ahead of time.
3. Follow up with your Qs, regardless if you have heard they are good. I didn’t learn the first time, but I have the second. It wont happen again men and I apologize for the lack of leadership on the part of the Site Q.
4. Its getting hot…..Wear deodorant you smelly rascals!!!! This is not amusing.

Announcements: Convergences this Saturday at Midoriyama at 0700, hike up Grandfather on June 23 (get with hot for teacher), 2nd F next weekend.

Prayers: Coworker losing his mother, Abbas shoulder, Flush’s knee, Lynn Hamm, BBs uncle aneurism and stroke, Graduates

This will not be fun

As the pax began to gather for another Monday morning beatdown the air became thick with anticipation.  With the dawn of 5:30 and no FNGs the disclaimer was made  “This will not be fun”.  Lots of disgruntled mumblechatter was sensed in the background but YHC was on a mission – wake this pack of men up and get them a good workout in to start the week – so without further delay…

Warm up:

SSH x20IC

Merkins x 20IC

LBC x 20 IC

Don Q x 20IC

 

Warm-up continued:  Mosey to the KFC rock quarry for some coupons.  Mumble chatter was overhead about size mattering and I reminded them that size always matters unfortunately I’m not sure all pax took this to heart as rocks were selected.

Then across the street for 11s – Overhead press and Merkins – a real crowd pleaser

With the pax starting to sweat it was time to mosey to old Harris Teeter parking lot for some wall sits with coupon – overhead press and straight out presses x2

The quads were really burning so it was time to shake them out with some Dora but with a twist – “Descending Dora” – 300 squats (with rock) 200 Merkins and 100 “Rockies” (Burpee with Rock).  This was quite ambitious and YHC was humbled by the rock – so time to Omaha after 50-70.  I felt it was quite the accomplishment so why not take a victory lap around the parking lot before heading back to return rock to its home and mosey back to pelicans. But wait whats this – a lonely little wall – how about some attention for this wall with 2 sets of dips x20 IC.  Astonishingly we still made it back for some Mary with Freddy Mercury, flutters and WWII sit ups.  At this point time was called and everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

Announcements: – convergence at Midoriyama 7am this Saturday

 

Prayer requests: T-square’s friend who recently lost her battle with pancreatic cancer

As always it was my pleasure to serve – Until next time

Defib

The Folsom Triangle of leg pain

12 Men came out as Gastone to the reins of Folsom for the morning.

The Thang:

Pledge

(On my count)

40 SSH, 20 Carolina Dry Dock, 30 Imperial Walkers, 20 Wide Arm Merkins, 20 Mountain Climbers, 10 Diamonds.

Mosey up the road to the split in the road or what I will call is a road Triangle.

Position A, Everyone plank and once all were down we began. 20, 3 count to elbows and back up. (This is the exact location that we first might have hear a whimper of arm pain) 50 Monkey Humper’s, Backwards down the hill to location B of the triangle. 50 Squats. Lunge up the hill to Location C for 30 Mountain Climbers on count. Karaoke back to Location A.

A, 50 Monkey Humper’s. Backwards down the hill. B. 50 Squats. Lunge to C for 30 Sumo Squats. Karaoke to A.

A, 50 Gorilla Humper’s, Backwards down the hill. B 50 Squats. Lunge Backwards up the hill. 30 Sumo Squats I think. (Someone mentioned that this was a leg day, but we are just getting started)

Mosey towards the Tennis courts but stop at sidewalk on the way.

Jack Webb’s up to 7 and then back down.

Mosey on to the Tennis Courts.

Balls to the wall with a tiny speech before hand. We held it for 45 seconds.

Back up on the wall but this time we did shoulder taps to 20, on my count.

20 CCD’s on my count

20 Wide Arm’s on my count.

10 Diamonds on my count.

6 Minutes of Mary.

40 Flutters on my count

50 LBC’s

30 Flutters

30 American Hammer’s.

Mosey back tot he start.

40 SSH

The Moleskin:

Folsom, keep on creating a special atmosphere and doing what all of you do at this location. We had a little chatter today but generally quiet. I gave a little words of encouragement at the end on a friend of mine named Snoop and the first time I ran with him. Basically, he checked me on a few things and they were all correct of him to check me on. So it is an example and is mentioned throughout F3 in examples of Iron Sharpens Iron and other people saying leave no man the way your found them. We all in my opinion need each other, in good and bad times. and we need people to check us.

Volt, Pointed out I had 2 different shoes on. Get ready in the dark and this is what happens. Ha.

Everyone worked hard, and I really enjoy travelling to take on the Q at your location. Even if Roadie was scared to come to my Q.

Gastone, Out!

 

 

 

 

 

Math Lesson in the Gloom

I was excited to Q on this beautiful Friday morning and had what I thought was going to be a fun set of exercises…definitely going to be an arm day! I was running a little behind and got there later than normal but still had a few minutes to spare. The Pax didn’t disappoint and we had a nice crowd with 2 FNG’s for the fun I had planned.

I did a quick disclaimer and the pledge along with the usual SSH’s, some mercans and some LBC’s…let’s mosey.

The Thang

We arrived at the roundabout and did 3 sets of dips and mercans…15 of each, 10 of each and 5 of each. Let’s mosey to the parking deck.

Here is where the math lesson began. We did 2 exercises and then we squared the level we were on for the amount of burpees we had to do.

Level 1 – 25 LBC’s and WW II sit ups….only level 1 so 1 burpee

Level 2 – 20 regular mercans and diamond mercans…4 burpees

Level 3 – Bear crawl the length of the parking deck…9 burpees

Level 4 – 30 SSH and Imperial Walkers…now it starts to get real fun, 16 burpees

Level 5 – 20 calf raises and squats…25 burpees

Level 6 – only forgot what we did here as we did not do what was on my list…but the main thing is we did 36 burpees!

As we were coming down the parking deck Whoopee came up with a name for squaring the exercises we do as you go up the deck…Squaravator.  So, feel free to use this on any workouts going forward using the deck. The Pax loved the burpees…might have to become a regular; thanks Whoopee!

We ran down to the bottom level and in honor of the beatdown Sister Act  put on me Sat we did 2 sets of hipslappers. Mosey back to the roundabout for 2 more sets of dips. Our arms were shot and we were about out of time; so back to the Pavilion we went for a few minutes of Mary.

Not sure what all was done other then Whoopee calling out for 5 Wolverine burpees which brought our count to 96 burpees overall.  After we finished our round of Mary we did 4 more burpees to get us to an even 100.

We had our time of closing and named our FNG’s. Welcome to the group Round-up and Serena (found out we already have one of these, so it was mentioned to possibly rename Serena. I’ll leave that to the Pax.)

 

It was an honor and a privilege to lead and workout beside you men…keep pushing that rock!

Gashouse is under new management

Just another Saturday and another workout at the original F3Gastonia location……Gashouse.  I had announced on Friday that this was my last Q before turning over the Site Q reigns to Linus so I wondered who would have the guts to show for a little Forrest Gump action……well, a great group showed knowing good and well we might run a little.  Great crowd showed for Mayor’s Pain Lab also.  Another humid morning.  Time to get after it.

No FNG’s.  What would we do?

Let’s start with 5 burpees OYO…..that’s right…..I called some burpees.

10 Imperial Walkers IC

Pledge

Split the group between the bootcamp and pain lab.  I was very happy to head off for the bootcamp after glimpsing Mayor’s torture chamber set up.

The Thang – The Forrest Gump (one of my early workouts that had to be brought out again)

Mosey to East Garrison Baptist Church for some IC work:

Merkins X 11

Prayer Squats X 15 (facing church)

LBC’s X 20

Mosey to Hillbilly’s for more IC work:

Merkins X 11

Prayer Squats X 15

LBC’s X 20

Hillbilly’s X 10

Mosey to the flag circle at Lineberger Park for some Dora 1-2-3:

Partner 1 does exercise, Partner 2 runs up to top of steps toward the pool and back until the cumulative reps are completed as noted:

100 Merkins

200 Squats

300 Flutter Kicks

Mosey to the upper picnic shelter inside the train tracks (exactly 1 mile from the Schiele for those wondering) for some IC work:

Dips X 15

Step Ups X 20

Derkins X 10

That was so much fun we Rinsed/Repeated for a second set.

Mosey back to the Flag Circle at Lineberger Park for some Ring of Fire:

10 Merkins Ring of Fire

20 Mountain Climber Ring of Fire

Time to start the mosey back toward the Schiele with the next stop back at the Baptist Church for more IC work:

Merkins X 11

Squats X 15

LBC’s X 20

Forrest Gump tradition of Monkey Humpers X 10 for all the drivers on Garrison….you’re welcome.

Wait…what???   5 more burpees OYO……had to do it.

Final mosey back to the Schiele to catch up with the Pain Lab for some Mary:

Dying Cockroaches X 20 (where’s Bandit?)

Flutter Kicks X 25

Bells ringing – we’re done.

Time for a terrific impromptu ‘Passing the Torch’ ceremony as Linus takes over as Site Q.  I know that Roscoe spent many, many hours of prep into it.  It was quite moving.

Announcements:  Convergence at Poston next Saturday; June 23 Grandfather Mountain hike/ruck; many great things happening in F3 Gastonia Region.

Several prayer requests; COT prayer

The Moleskin

I appreciate once again the opportunity to lead a workout at Gashouse.  I’m also grateful for the opportunity to be the Site Q at Gashouse for the last couple of years.  At the same time, we need to remember the purpose of F3 is to invigorate male leadership in our community so it’s imperative that we allow others to take on leadership roles such as Site Q’s.  I am looking forward to following Linus’s leadership in the coming year.  I hope I have set a decent example.

Until the next one.  Aye!

Stroganoff

Crossroads

9 HIMS showed for a beautiful Sunday morning run at our newest run/ruck AO, Crossroads.  The last couple of months or so our region has really seen an increase in the interest and participation in running or rucking.  We have all witnessed PAX push themselves to do things that they thought they couldn’t or  wouldn’t ever accomplish.   From PAX  doing EC during the week, to the explosion in numbers of those posting at the Coconut Horse.  With this sustained growth, the plan to start another run/ruck AO on Sunday, is one that our 1st F Q Pizza Man had talked about and started to plan for.  The mission of F3 is to, “Plant, Grow, and Serve small workout groups for men for the invigoration of male community leadership”.  Men, the need to plan for new sites is truly a good problem to have.   Another location equals another opportunity to reach out to a Sad Clown, which we all were at some point.   F3 has been a blessing to me, and I am honored to be a part of this group of men.

 

Now, to the workout.  Pretty basic.  2 men rucked and 7 men ran.  3,4, or 5 miles were completed, but we all pushed the rock.  Appreciate all that were able to make it out to todays launch of this AO.  The Lord blessed us with a beautiful morning.

COT:

Prayer request:  Self family, Roadie safe travels, each PAX

YHC took us out in prayer.

Name-o-rama

 

It was an honor to lead today.  Looking forward to the continued growth of F3 in our region.

 

Sister Act

Roy’s Day at The Yank

16 warriors ventured out into the humid Saturday morning rain forest that south Gaston County has become of late. There was a beatdown awaiting and it went like this as Quiche and Sargento rolled in late from a run to join us.

Mosey up the street to a secluded parking lot to see if Sargento and Quiche could find us for a COP and other activities;

SSH X 20

IW X20

Cherry Pickers X 20

Merkins X15

Peter Parker X 20

Mountain Climbers X 20

Burpee suicides in parking lot to end (run two spaces, back one, do a burpee)

Squat suicides in parking lot to end (run two spaces, back one, 5 squats)

Mosey on up to the first corner where Sargento and Quiche found us. YHC had an over/under on how long it would take them.

At corner:

Wall squats, jump squats, Mike Tysons, 3 sets 10X, 15X, 20X

Mosey on to the Middle School.

Partner up

P1 – Run one way to the end of the school walk, 10 hand release merkins

P2 – Run the opposite way to the Corner of knowledge, 20 American hammers.

10 handslap merkins each partner when they meet back at the start. Flapjack and repeat

Steups, inclined merkins, dips X 10 each

Burpee broad jumps to the first set of steps. Frog hop to the next. This was hard.

Return to where this started, the Corner of Knowledge

Line up for our signature event – Bear Crawl slalom. YHC decided with large number of pax to do this in the front of the middle school. Gave everybody one crawl which was a long crawl, then we did an agility run. then we did a simple hop over the rest of the planked pax.

10 SSH

10 regular squats

Mosey back to the Corner. Then mosey down to Heart Break Hill to finish off!

Set 1:

10 SSH

Run the hill

10 hand release merkins

Set 2:

10 SSH

Run the Hill

10 merkins

Set 3:

10 SSH

Run the hill

20 LBTC (LBCs with a twist)

Done, mosey to the Yank.

NMM:

This was a pretty sold beat down. Everybody got their money’s worth for sure! YHC wanted it like that today. Dedicated the workout to my uncle Roy Fortner over in Huntersville who at 94 appears headed for a nursing home and I expect the end of his life on Earth, Just his WW II exploits alone are incredible. As a P-38 pilot he flew @ 20 escort missions with the 15th Air Force including the high level Ploesti missions in late summer 1944. Was promoted into an elite squadron doing Recon/BDA/OSS missions under direct command of the Operational Officer of the 15th (General Born). Flew a lot up the Danube and got shot at by the Russians as much as the Germans. Shot down three times, was MIA for about a week hiding out in Italian barns before a US I&R platoon rescued him. Led the 15th Air Force mission over Berlin March 24, 1945. Went on to an even bigger life from there. We’ll talk about that next week and we’ll do it because it is all about impact. He had it. We need to see what that really looks like to know what the words mean.

I hope he doesn’t linger in that damn home. If he can thrive OK. But his life is complete. We still have a lot to do. He is the standard for that in my world.

Tesla

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