“It is in your hands to create a better world for all who live in it.” ~ Nelson Mandela
Eight PAX made their way to City Park on Monday morning start the week off right. Good to see some transfer students from other AO’s. It was week #2 for Swole Fest which has been heavy on the upper body block exercises in an effort to give the guns some much needed loving. The plan included trying a few different things and giving a nod to many things recently brought to light regarding injustices and inequalities.
We strive to not infuse politics or certain hot button topics in F3, and YHC aimed to make sure he didn’t bend these guidelines on Monday. On the heels of some powerful backblasts, messages, and workouts shared by PAX regarding recent happenings in the community, YHC felt we should try to keep the ball rolling in the right direction. Seemed as though it would be fitting to have a theme for the workout…“Walk The Walk”….striving to be a H.I.M. (High Impact Man)….doing, not just saying…being proactive vs reactive…less talk, more walk….and pushing for what we believe is right. Here’s what we did:
“This is F3. I’m not a professional trainer, nor a professional motivation speaker…bear with me on this, I’ll try to give us some food for though to stew on this week. Grab your block and let’s get started.”
Warmup: The usual stuff including IP, SSH, AC, WM, and a few more. Then a demonstration with group collaboration on the form for some of the planned block exercises, to include block swings x5, thrusters x5, and bent over rows.
The Thang: A Northshore inspired circuit that included 5 timed rounds, adding in some “marching” to different locations between rounds. 10-20 reps first min, 10-20 reps second min, 1 min AYG AMRAP…aka High Impact Minute, quick breather, then a 2-3 min march holding the block overhead or out, similar to a protest sign, and keeping to yourself what you are marching for…someone or something that you feel should change and/or could use your help.
Quick quote before we start….“A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.” Jackie Robinson
Round 1: Block Swings, Block Swings, Burpees AMRAP, breather, “Walk The Walk” w/block overhead/out. T-claps to SOGO (and others?) for 20+ Burpees in a min. On the march, several of us noted that it was good to see the protest that was 2 days prior right there in City Park went off without a hitch and remained peaceful…no ruckus as some anticipated…T-claps to those whose kept it cool.
Round 2: Thrusters, Thrusters, Curls AMRAP, breather, “Walk The Walk” w/block overhead/out, with some good mumblechatter along the way….and some grunts and grumbling aimed towards the blocks.
Round 3: This stop was in front of NOMA where we discussed the museum’s namesake, who was a HIM of his time. YHC pulled out a cheat sheet with some notes on Isaac Delgado’s legacy: “Immigrating from Jamaica in the 1850s, Isaac Delgado would make a fortune in the sugar and molasses business. He would repay the city with a surgical center at Charity Hospital and an art museum in City Park that began as the Delgado Museum of Art, but which is now NOMA. His will established his most enduring legacy, a trade school for boys that opened in 1921 that later evolved in Delgado Comm college. The quote: “The problem of city life is not its streets, its tenements or its gain, but what is to become of its boys. Give them a chance and a fair chance, and if the boys turn out right, the city will be right and so will all connected with it.” — Isaac Delgado, on the importance of early education. We then knocked out Block Swings, Block Swings, Bent Over Rows AMRAP, breather, “Walk The Walk” w/block overhead/out
Round 4: Thrusters, Thrusters, Merkins AMRAP, breather, “Walk The Walk” w/block out and pump out some Curls as we headed back to base camp located in the LCM parking lot.
Round 5: Before our last set, we took in another thought nugget from a former Saints favorite…”I’m hopeful, because I know that while we still have race issues in America, we enjoy a much different normal than those of our parents and grandparents. I see it in my personal relationships with teammates, friends and mentors. And it’s a beautiful thing.” -Benjamin Watson. Then on to Block Swings, Block Swings, Flutter Kicks AMRAP while holding block over chest….time’s up!
COT included one last quote:
“Commit yourself to the noble struggle for equal rights. You will make a greater person of yourself, a greater nation of your country, and a finer world to live in.” ~ Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
T-claps to the PAX for pushing hard, and to those battling injuries that still posted. Thanks for the opportunity to lead and for allowing me to throw in some unorthodox stuff to the workout.
Let’s continue to listen to those impacted by inequalities and see what we can do (or continue to do) to make things better….and be high impact men.
Tool
