PAX: WuzntMe, 9 Volt, Abercrombie, Clothespin, Pipeline, Deep Dish
AO: The Battery
Conditions
58 Degrees, Some Clouds, Dry, a Full Moon peeking through and 10+Mph Winds that initially blew the flags down.
COP
Short Mosey to Circle Around Flags: Fwd Fold WMH x10 IC SSH x25 IC Fwd Fold (In Cadence This Time) LBAC x10 IC REV LBAC x10 IC Seal Clap x10 IC Michael Phelps oyo
The Thang
(My First) DORA (Q):
Mosey to Top of Hill – Batter Up / Nelly 5:30min
Partner Up for Dora
Mode of Transport: Bernie Out 40yd / Bear Crawl In 40yd While Partner Does AMRAP of….
Exercises : (song length = exercise time; go slow, go fast, go form, recover, etc. – UvsU) Block Curls – Stripper / T-Pain 4:00min Block Triceps – Low / FloRida T-Pain 4:00min LBC – Break ya Neck / Busta Rhymes 4:00min BBSU – Still DRE / DRE Snoop 4:30min Imperial Squats – Without Me / Eminem 4:50min ——————— Gathered up and sprinkled in a couple of 10-counts here. Block Squats – First of Tha Month / Bone 5:15min Dips – Business / Eminem 4:10 Derkins – Country Grammar / Nelly 4:30 ———— Decline Merkins; halfway thru song = rifle carry blocks to pile. YHC called 5 – FIVE! Burpees for time.
COT
Did a lookup the night before for 2/19 significance, and got 2: SpongeBob Squarepants Friends Day Iwo Jima Day – this is the one I discussed. Since “war” is back in the news, this caught my attention. Also, on Tuesday Choo Choo talked about a book in which a UK war-dodger received a white feather from a lady he was after – she ultimately thought he was a coward. So my message was pretty simple in that, regardless of what we think of the wars and reasons our governments send our people, these soldiers and their families make a sacrifice to protect our freedoms – that is noble and honorable. Some make the ultimate sacrifice, and many did in 1945while overtaking that important logistical island that was Iwo Jima. Remember these people, the Veterans that are still with us, and the Soldiers still protecting – regardless of the thoughts on a particular conflict.
Spoiler: it wasn’t 2/19
Took knee and prayed.
Moleskin
We started with 5 PAX, and uncharacteristically one arrived during CoP, then another arrived at the top of the hill – began Thang with 7 PAX. This tardiness was/is not normal, and subsequently given little attention as both latecomers got straight to work. They are staples in F3 Chattanooga, and welcomed/beat/pushed as such.
YHC failed at changing his musical style for the beatdown (my normal metal isn’t always loved, either). I had the playlist pretty well locked in the day before the Sup@rB0wl – and 3 of the artists that performed at halftime were on there. It was stuff I had from the 90s/00s and I felt good about it. BUT, it became abundantly clear throughout the workout that PAX agreed the music sucked; even YHC began to question why I listen(ed) to it… ever… oh, the judgement!! p.s. the M even questioned my selections while writing them on the board the night before.
Despite the bad hip hop, PAX really pushed today. Looking around it seemed like they were gassed – I was gassed. Maybe we felt like it was almost Spring, and ready to get after it hard. We did and this made me happy.
One tweak this beatdown might get – unknown – b/c the bearcrawls did wear on us… is the timer MoT. Stuck with Bernie out, but “back in” we mixed it up with skips, bunny hops, broad jumps and bearcrawls… whichever method, it was WORK!
Thought we might have to put the resident groundhog to work looking for his own keys in the shovel/flag hole – don’t ask – but they were still shallow in the hole. Really did have to look for Tinder’s keys at Hack on Monday. Enough with the keys already! Phew…
A few of us did coffeteria, and a few of us did lunch later.
Alas, it was 2/17 and not 2/19.
The End.
News
Tuff Muff Chubby’s FCA Event 4th F Weekend Habitat
Weather was clear and 26 degrees. Cold enough that I had to scrape water the ice off the window – twice – on the way out of the house. First Quarter Moon – who knew?
COP
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Said good mornings (at time, had to grab my gloves from truck!!), did the F3 intros, and PAX grabbed a couple of bricks and took off on our mosey out to the front of the concrete bleachers and circled up on the track.
CoP performed without bricks.
Fwd Fold oyo
WMH x10 IC
SSH x25 IC
Fwd Fold oyo
LBAC x10 IC
REV LBAC x10 IC
Seal Clap x10 IC
Michael Phelps / Self-Esteems (I’ve missed Woodrider)
**5 Burpees** WreckdEm fartsacked… again :p
The Thang (all with a brick in each hand)
Round 1 – oyo (Plank at 4th ‘corner’ of track) From CoP Position on Track – 25 Berkins (Merkins w Bricks) Sprint/Mosey 100m – 25 Berkins Sprint/Mosey 100m – 25 Berkins Sprint/Mosey 100m – 25 Berkins
Mosey back to start, with detour up the concrete bleacher stairs and back down (approximately 34 up and 34 down)!
Round 2 – oyo (Al Gore at 4th ‘corner’ of track) From CoP Position on Track – 25 Squat Jumps w Bricks Skip 100m – 25 Squat Jumps w Bricks Skip 100m – 25 Squat Jumps w Bricks Skip 100m – 25 Squat Jumps w Bricks
Mosey back to start, with detour up the concrete bleacher stairs and back down (approximately 34 up and 34 down)!
Round 3 – oyo (Plank at 4th ‘corner’ of track) From CoP Position on Track – 25 Forward Arm Raises w Bricks Bernie 100m – 25 Forward Arm Raises w Bricks Bernie 100m – 25 Forward Arm Raises w Bricks Bernie 100m – 25 Forward Arm Raises w Bricks
Mosey back to start, with detour up the concrete bleacher stairs and back down (approximately 34 up and 34 down)!
Round 4 – oyo (Al Gore at 4th ‘corner’ of track) From CoP Position on Track – 25 Lateral Arm Raises w Bricks Side Shuffle 100m – 25 Lateral Arm Raises w Bricks Side Shuffle 100m – 25 Lateral Arm Raises w Bricks Side Shuffle 100m – 25 Lateral Arm Raises w Bricks
Finale: Motivators down through 7 (halfway point) – WITH BRICKS!!
Ending up: 400 Reps 240 Stairs 1+ Mile of Goofy Transport 150+ HC “hops” of one variation or another… most with bricks 🙂
COT
Handle your stuff!!
Personal situation: At dinner the night prior, the M and I were chatting about a CoT from this week – one of the F3 brothers and his M lost a baby in the womb. We were chatting about their struggle, and that Wendy/we went through that same thing in 2002 (we, but miscarriage really impacts the Ms in ways we can’t understand IMO). A little time passed and we were blessed with twins in 2004!! The M said to me “you know today was the day that Luke was diagnosed” – this hit me hard, I had forgotten the exact day… but she hadn’t. It was 13 years ago that we were told that Luke had Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy – he’s now 17 with a twin sister that is healthy, as well as an older sister that is healthy. DMD families have a high divorce rate – I can’t turn my back. We’ve handled those situations – together – the best we could… we’re still handling them.
Handle your business – large or small – get it done and take care of what needs to be done. Reach out for help if you need, but do what needs to be done. Each man out here is doing the hard work and starting their day off doing just THAT. But also each brother in this cult organization is also going through things that we don’t often know about. This CoT started with one man opening up to us/me, and then my wife reminding me that those around us (her) are also carrying burdens. Handle your stuff – help someone handle theirs too if you are able.
Moleskin
Warning TL;DR (but if you do, there are nuggets in here)
Thingsstarted really COLD. As most Q-eves go for me, I didn’t sleep worth a damn so I was up and ready to go a few minutes early. I bundled up, got some water (for me AND the windshield) then cranked the ole Silver Bullet up. Thinking of my fellow gloomers, I decided I’d toss the bricks in the passenger floorboard for the drive down and get them heated. Since I forgot to turn the wipers on after the initial water-down of the windshield, it had frozen over again! Luckily I had time to repeat that task and get on my way.
Upon arrival, I noticed there was no Abercrombie in the mobile office of his – he was out on his pre-Half-Murph or pre-Pierce; one can never know unless you DM him prior to assure your destruction participation. I actually did DM him, but it wasn’t for doing a pre-workout, it was me asking that if we had the time could he lead the group at the end for a little “motivation” – to which he he obliged.
The rest of the PAX quickly trickled in, and during the intro YHC realized he forgot to put on his gloves – freekin’ rookie – you’d think it was my VQ. 26 degrees with bricks that Cooter’s old Nissan didn’t warm up much at all, and I don’t have on my gloves?!?! sheesh… It actually was a few firsts for me: first Q with my weight vest (probably not my best decision), no crib sheets at all for the workout, didn’t bring music, and was first post with Spooner (who killed it all morning, btw – that man came across the river to get his money’s worth!). Chiclet and Choo Choo car-pooled. Pretty sure Chiclet and I have posted at Parly together before, but I’m not 100 on that.
Before we took off, Abercrombie mused at all the weight vests in play – 5 of 9. Once in the circle of pain, there was good mumble chatter – something I personally love to have happen at my Qs or any beatdown. I couldn’t really make much of it out, trying to count and all. But it was all good mostly led John Doe and Blackout as I recall. Faceplant was quiet as usual, but he and I are posting up here at this AO pretty often lately… I’ll eventually get him to mumble chatter more, or piss him off trying 🙂
A few more quick notes… there was some chatter about how cold the bricks were, and I get it but I did try – I drive a 2000 Nissan truck that apparently doesn’t get all that warm. Whatever – next time they will be a nice 26 degrees MEN!! Then we got into something about what that bright light in the Eastern sky was: “Spaceship” led to government watching us, and someone said only the vaccinated could see it, which led a few unvaccinated to scratch their heads (or blink their eyes). Pretty sure it was just Mars (although SkyView showed Venus pretty close this morning too). Not sure everyone caught this, but that led to Pipeline commenting on John Doe’s swollen… antibodies? idk man – weird morning LOL.
By the last round of the workout YHC and Pipeline were the Six. I looked over at hm on the backstretch and said we may have enough time for Abercrombie to “motivate” us out, and that I had already arranged it. For a brief moment it was shock, but he lit a fire and pushed me through our last 2 sets of the round to get us there in time. Then Abercrombie says in his calm demeanor “with bricks – it’s hard to explain – just follow me.” With bricks was NOT part of the dang plan. And for those who don’t know, I’m not going to spoil the fun: let’s just say I can’t Q it yet – even without bricks. I’m sure you’ll get to experience it one day.
p.s. I’d be remiss not to mention I did a variation of this Q at Detention that I just couldn’t find the time to backblast. There we did similar, no stairs and no track, but 100m intervals with a bonus round for 500 total reps (Brickyard 500??) and over a mile to transport, more burpees and some Mary. Dundee, Snatch, 8 Seconds, Sherlock and Blindside humored me for that one. AND!! Got to see Blindside at Hackliament coffeteria/bible-study too he Q’d Hack – i Q’d Parly – small F3 world!! Thank you for having me Detention gents!
PAX: Clothespin, El Chapo, Abercrombie, Deep Dish, Pipeline
AO: the Battery
Conditions
The weather this morning was just cold. We had various readings from PAX ranging from 17-20 on the way in, and YHC was looking at 22 degrees Fahrenheit on the way out the door. Grass was nice and crunchy, with spots of ice to watch out for on the smooth surfaces. Other than this, the sky was clear and the wind nearly non-existent – a great morning to get some cold weather work in!
COP
Introduction, mosey to field to circle around flags.
Forward Fold – oyo + mumble; PAX were mum at this point
Willie Mays Hayes x10 IC
SSH x20 IC
Forward Fold again – oyo + mumble; PAX started to chatter bit more than just their teeth
LBAC x10 IC
Reverse LBAC x10 IC
Seal Claps x10 IC
Cherry Pickers x10 IC
Michael Phelps x10 oyo to loosen up
Mosey 70ft back to cars, pick up medicine ball. Mosey 2300ft/705m paced Indian Run with ball being passed from front to back… but then the fun started 🙂
The Thang
On paper the plan above was a mosey back to the cars to retrieve blocks, all the while tossing the ball backward and running it to the front. But that’s when butterfingers “dropped” the ball not even at the halfway mark – 5 penalty burpees. the Battery’s OG Deep Dish felt like we needed a little more “fun,” so we gladly obliged throughout the mosey.
Part 1A) PAX accumulated 45 total burpees on the nearly half mile mosey.
Part 1B) Pick up blocks at cars, mosey to pavilion 330ft/100m:
25 Shoulder Press
25 Curls
25 Block Bench Press
25 Skull Crushers
25 Block Pullovers
2 Rounds for PAX: First pass is “wait on six each exercise” Al Gore or plank until six. End of round 1 = 5 more burpees; 50 total. Second pass is all exercises oyo, and plank until six,
Part 2) Abandon blocks and pavilion for a mosey to the tennis courts 1100ft/330m. *See moleskin for what would have been* prior to arrival. At the courts:
25 Squats oyo – Al Gore – Sprint short corner together
25 Imperial Walkers HC oyo – Al Gore – Bernie long corner together
25 Squat Jumps oyo – Al Gore – Sprint short corner together
25 Hillbillies EC oyo – Al Gore – Bernie long corner together
2 Rounds for PAX.
Part 3) Mosey *referring to moleskin for important detail* past flags, behind skate and dog parks, back to the pavilion 1600ft/480m. Putting blocks aside, we focused on abs with a “modified Bruce Lee”:
20 American Hammers EC
20 Leg Raises EC
20 LBCs EC
20 Heel Touches EC
20 Freddie Mercuries EC
20 100s EC
3 Rounds for PAX. Plank for six. Between rounds 2 and 3, PAX accumulated 5 more burpees, for a total of 55.
Final Movement) Rifle Carry blocks back to cars 330ft/100m, meet at the Flags. 15 SSH in cadence, to round out the ~minute of time left on the clock. Great push by all. All said:
360 reps of abs
250 reps of upper body
200 reps of legs
55 burpees
1+ Mile of run/mosey
COT
COT Today was about Servant Leadership. YHC being on Q was by way of Tatonka falling ill, so I scrambled to pull together a decent Q for the guys. More largely, I agreed to Co-AOQ the Battery in what I feel is servant leadership – not to be one of the bosses of anything, but to be a contributor and facilitator for a period of time in order to help the group grow and get better, myself included. I spent most of yesterday in servant leadership to my family – cooking, unexpected trip to the in-laws to help move something, etc. With this, I felt like I could have used more planning time for F3, but it all worked out just fine IMO.
I shared a few points on servant leadership, as well as encouraged PAX to try and focus on trying to lead in this way, which I think we all do – that’s why we are doing what we do for each other.
It was a cold 20 degree day, grass was icy and crunchy. Prior to the 7a start, me and Abercrombie did a few hundred reps of work, while Clothespin got in some pre-ruck action.
The day before Tatonka got sick, so I threw some things together that would have us PAX roaming all over the Battery together (like buffalo, I suppose) for some work to keep us warm. Hopefully Tatonka is back with us soon! The name of this Q however just fell in my lap – read on.
During CoP, things started slow and no one was really chatting. But rest-assured, things did lighten up. We headed over to the cars to pick up the medicine ball for a nice “mosey.” Indian run mosey ensued. Things went textbook for the first 4 or 5 exchanges. Then butterfingers Deep Dish kept dropping the ball, which we all loved and hated at the same time. All told the ball was dropped 9 times before we got back which cost us 45 burpees 🙂 When we arrived, we were all loose and ready to work. We wasted no time and got busy. There was some mumble chatter about the nice 9 Volt designed block handles for the pullovers versus the web of the block; whichever method we all seemed to hate these; sure to be a staple from here on out. We added 5 more burpees here too, and I forget why – I think just because Deep Dish called for them.
The plan on paper (that i actually left behind at the pavilion a few steps into the mosey to the tennis courts – had to run back), was at this point for us to visit the hill. Jacob’s Ladder was originally going to ensue (sprint up hill, each time do 1 more burpee than last time, mosey down and increase to 7). This would have only been 28 total, compared to the 50 we already had done… so in the interest of time and having gotten some burpees in, I decided to skip Jacob’s Ladder.
Once the PAX moved over to the tennis courts, we had to be cautious of the ice patches while sprinting and bernie-ing. There was some mumble and groans once we got to the squat jumps – they were not pleasant. Deep Dish also gave us a “Zero” 10-count after round 1, which was on-point and proper Deep Dish form; we got right back into the second round!
Where are the Wimps?! On the way out of the tennis courts en route to mosey past the flags, we met another Battery regular – I don’t know her yet, but I know her presence early at the Battery. Picture a 70-year old grandmother in her tennis shoes, thick lined button-down pea-coat, knitted scarf and toboggan. She appears to be completing her walk and heading to her black early 2000’s model Cadillac Seville (in clean and proper working form, mind you). This good spirited woman stops us to ask “Where are the Wimps?” She was curious why there were so few of us this cold morning – says she’s used to seeing more of us working out!! All we could do was kindly agree with her that many of the other regulars are indeed wimps for not coming out in this misery with us. We had some laughs, as did she – very nice lady – I was impressed at her cold-hardiness to get out there in 20 degree weather to get her exercise in. So without any real name for this workout, it kinda found it’s way to us right here.
We ended the Thang on some good solid ab work, as well as 5 more burpees – by this time, we were working up sweats and were able to make it through 3 full rounds of the abs, which I considered a stroke of luck on timing with just a few minutes left to get back to the flags.
Cooter, Pipeline, Abercrombie and Clothespin were able to meet up at coffeteria with Tinkerbell who just had carpal tunnel surgery. Various discussions – some revolved around Battery T-shirts and/or F3 gear.
News
Chubby’s (El Chapo added about 501.3c and donations)
2/19 Tuff Muff; Lions Den to Landfill to Hill City beatdowns w run/ruck in between. (Clothespin will deliver a “wish-you-had-gone-to-tuff-muff” beatdown at the Battery)
5/19 4th F with Fathers and 2.0 all-inclusive weekend at Johnson Woods – See WuzntMe or the 4th F channel on slack for details.
Prayer Requests: Intl Friends Netw Cleveland traveling abroad, WuzntMe, Tatanka, AOL, Tin Snip, Ms Baker, Fire and Tornado first responders and victims.
