Category: Event (Page 3 of 5)

If you think the upcoming Extinction Run (still opportunity to register and participate this Saturday – see BOS’ pre-blast) is Completely Stupid And Utterly Pointless, well do I have yet another opportunity for YOU! This may be “stupider” (insert Forest Gump gif “Mama always said stupid is as stupid does”). Yeah the next opportunity for you to dip your big toe into the pond of dumb is Saturday, March 6th at 0630. So allow me to share with you the concept behind this inaugural event.

Some of you have participated in the 50 mile Relay where 4-man teams traveled in a 50 mile loop through all of our AO’s. That was pretty stupid, but well worth it. Well the Czar of Covid, at least the NC Chapter, has continued his decree of limited gatherings and other non-sense so I may have figured out a way to hold a similar relay fashioned event in smaller gatherings and avoid riding in each other’s vehicles. I give you the Double Relay: aka The Strides of March. I’m sure you’re quite intrigued, this double relay – how can it work? I’d say simple but I Q’ed the Convergence and herding you cats from the warm-up to the flag pole was tough. But here it goes:

A team of 8 will have 2 runners spread at 4 exchange zones (EZ): Runner A and Runner B. At 0630, All 4 “A” Runners will leave their EZ for an 3 mile run to the next destination. At the point in time the “A” Runner arrives, they tag in the “B” Runner to begin their 3 mile run. The “A’s” rest for the time until their “B” teammate arrives and tags them back in. Are you with me? Instead of driving and leapfrogging EZ’s as we do in most relays, you run all 4 legs and if you’re thinking this through – yes, you’re correct, you’ll run 12 miles in total, 4 5k’s – that is more than most will do in a lifetime. But think, you get a 20-30-ish minutes of recovery before your next run.

Some of you I know are sprinting to the front of the registration line. Others are doing math and beginning to doubt your ability. Recall – you’ve done Stupid things before – this would be the next on your bucket list. But ask yourself this: do you think Hacksaw wasn’t a bit scared to run 50 miles in 24 hours? Round Up, if he was the slightest bit scared, it never showed. But those two accomplished something they had never done. You can too. So I’ll offer this option – you can ruck or walk half of it (or all of it) if you’re not “a runner.” The sign up contains both options. You put your name on the list and we’ll get the logistics sorted out.

Key things to remember: Saturday, March 6th at 0630 – The Strides of March Double Relay – 8 man teams; Run 12 miles or Ruck/Walk 6 miles. Exchange Zone 1 is Lineberger Park; EZ 2 Snoballs; EZ 3 The Pub; EZ 4 Parkwood Baptist; Contact Short Sale if you have any questions (704-516-2193).

Who: F3 PAX, Ms & 2.0s
What: F3 Extinction Run – You vs. You Running Challenge / Charity Fundraiser
When: 2/13/21 at 0900
Where: Primal Brewery – 52 Ervin St. Belmont
Why: All three Fs. Challenge ourselves. Cheer for each other. Raise money for the community.
Charity: $10.00 suggested donation for Holy Angels
Format: One mile run against the clock; one mile at a time. Each loop begins and ends at Primal Brewery. From the start the first mile must be completed within the 13 minute time limit. The second mile cannot be started until the horn sounds at the 13 minute mark. Second mile pace and each mile following will be reduced by 15 seconds. Mile two must be completed within 12:45 time limit, mile three within 12:30 and so on. Runner must meet the time limit to proceed to the next mile. How many miles can you run before you run out of time? Run a 10 minute mile? You can complete a ½ marathon before pulling into the pits to watch your brothers battle it out mile after mile. Come challenge yourself to a run and stay for lunch and a drink. How long can you prevent your extinction?
Primal Brewery will open at 10:00 for beverages and bathrooms. Kitchen opens at 12:00.
Bring the M. Bring the 2.0s.
See you in the gloom!
BOS

I text my friend Sargento last night to update him on the Wolfpack’s dominance over Florida State (Hey Huck – how did the Heel’s do against FSU? Mack Brown still O for life at last check). You see Sargento was doing HIM work as a volunteer for his church’s youth group weekend at Bonclarken in the mountains. So I kept him updated at all the good things the Pack was doing enroute to a 38-22 victory. Since the Big Cheese was unable to participate in Saturday morning’s PT test, he asked if I would proctor for him, you know to make it legit, because NC State grads don’t take fake classes – you earn the grade and the diploma. Man – that’s a few pot shots at the boys in blue – yeah I know, you won a few weeks ago after our QB broke his leg. Let’s move on to the main event.

“It’s a test of ultimate will, the heartbreak climb uphill. Got to pick up the pace, if you want to stay in the race. More than just blind ambition, more than just simple greed, more than just a finish line, must feed this burning need.” Now some of you are thinking, wow, I knew Short Sale could write a backblast, but that intro is shear poetry. It sure is – ‘hey Whoopee, you like that? Guess who wrote it? Not George Strait – that’s for damn sure. So I riffed a few lines from Neil Peart’s Marathon lyrics. But something like that was driving Sargento to better his initial PT from this summer. So I roll up to the Cramerton MS track and find our boy stretching. He has his bluetooth speaker which scares me a little because the Venn diagram our our two musical tastes has little overlap. So I remind Sargento of the rules and particularly the order, which Broke emphasized several times Saturday morning. Without much fanfare, Sargento takes off for lap one. Upon his return, I join him in the merkin portion as he reminded me of his soccer arm syndrome. I shared that segment was tough for all to accomplish, even the bat flippers took a break or two along the way. He progressed nicely through the next sets and into lap 2. Now mind you I didn’t have my measuring wheel to ensure the Cramerton track was 400m or at minimum, the same distance as Grier’s track – let’s assume they are. Sargento’s quarter splits were strong at 1:48 on average for the eight laps he ran.

I mentioned the bluetooth speaker – I only had to fastforward through one song in the playlist. The most odd song was Lionel Ritchie’s Running With the Night, which is my selected title of this event. Fun fact – did you know the full 6 minute version of the song ends with a more than two minute guitar solo which was performed by Steve Lukather of Toto, so this song has a little bit of rock credibility, kind of like Eddie Van Halen playing on Michael Jackson’s “Beat It.” I’m not aware of any straight men or rock stars accompanying Tears for Fears, so Sargento has yet to win me over on that batch of ‘music.’

So after all the reps and laps were done, Sargento clocked in at 32:08.20, more than six minutes of improvement from his earlier time. Just think if he were to start doing merkins daily – he’d be in Broke territory, well maybe. Anyway, I’m glad I got to witness the feat of accomplishment. If for anything else, it was a chance to write a BB. But as many of us feel, when an F3 brother asks for help, we’re happy to oblige. Maybe I’ll get an invite to that Fake Ruck Club now?

Wondering what to do on Thanksgiving Day since all the local Turkey Trot’s have been cancelled? Here’s the answer, show up at The Pub on Thanksgiving Day at 8:30am for the Gashouse Turkey Trot 5k. This unofficial 5k will take the place of the normal Pub run and the PAX are encouraged to bring their M’s and 2.0’s to participate. As with all F3 events, this is a non-sanctioned, you vs. you, voluntary participation, recommendation of a way for you to drag yourself out of the fartsack and get some work done before you consume 5000 calories and watch football.

The route is simple, we will leave the parking lot at Publix, run out Hoffman Road to Heatherloch Drive and return back to the start. There may even be some medals for 1st Place PAX, 1st Place M, 1st Place 2.0, 1st Place Clydesdale and 1st Place Respect. There will be no official timer, and depending on participation we may start in smaller groups to allow for social distancing and to maintain safety.

Also, a $5 donation to participate is encouraged, but not required. All money collected will be used to help with the costs of the Christmas Party on December 12th at Lewis Farms.

An extremely rare opportunity will also be possible on Thanksgiving Day…..the chance for a Triple Post. Head over to Folsom for a 5:30am bootcamp, followed up by a 7am bootcamp at The Goat and then run the 5k. No better way to start the Holidays!

Spread the word at the workouts and plan to be at one or all of the workouts on Thanksgiving!

I’m Broke