A toasty 40 degree morning. Great day for a workout
Amnesty was right – it had the makings of a day to separate the men (JV wearing his usual short sleeve t-shirt) from the boys (Amnesty in hat, gloves, sweatshirt, sweatpants, thermal undies, foot warmers and scarf). And don’t get me started on the regulars who stayed home curled up under their covers (looking at you, Hawg). Uptowners? Nowhere to be seen. Typical.
Shivering disclaimer issued, then off to the lawn.
COP 1: Try to stay warm with SSH x25, IW x25, then Plank up for Peter Parker, Mountain Climber, Parker Peter and Shoulder Taps each x25. PAX was first stunned as Bubba mysteriously and silently turned and fled the circle, leaving YHC to wonder how he had offended. But lo-and-behold, 1 Bubba left the circle, 1 Bubba + 1 Awesome returned to the circle. Bogey attempted the same trick to create a PAX out of thin air, but failed as he returned to the circle alone.
COP 2: Mosey to the track. Partner-up for a double count round of BLIMPS. Parter 1 runs one direction, Partner 2 the other. Whereever you meet your partner on the track, do the next exercise. Then run again. Burpees x10, Lunges x20, IW x30, Murican x40, Plank Jack x50, Squats x60. Nothing like the inspiring sight of Mr. Awesome’s usual giant grin as he laps the PAX.
COP 3: Looks, Bears! Partner up at the end of the infield. Partner 1 start bear crawling. Partner 2 does 5 burpees then chases down the bear. Switch roles and continue to the end of the field (120 yards or so). That was so much fun, lets do it again to get back to the starting line. Are we having fun yet? No? Ok, lets repeat – this time with 10x Muricans and Crab Walks. That was fun, right gang?
COP 4: Mosey to the Baby Foundry. PAX partnered up at 5 stations: Pull Ups, Box Jumps, Dips, Hanging Knee Raises and Burpees (x10 – the timer). Go. Complete 2 full rotations, despite Amnesty’s best attempts to convince YHC that it was now 730 and time to go home.
COP 5: Mosey to the Tool Wall. Grab a spot on the ledge – Calf Raise x20 (YHC struggled with the unusual “1 2 3” cadence…..) Hop off for Monkey Humper x20. Repeat. Repeat again. Much grumbling was heard. Mostly from JV who apparently was disappointed that we stopped at 20 on the Monkey Humpers.
Mosey back to the flag. “Mosey” feels like a strong word for that, more like a “Struggle to move the limbs attached to my lower body that no longer respond to messaging from my brain”. Monkey Humpers prior to a mosey – interest concept, YHC may continue to explore that in future Qs.
COT: Countoff and Name-o-rama. Gather for our circle. YHC asked for blessings on this group of men that continue to inspire him, for blessings on those homeless and hungry in our community, especially in the face of the cold weather, and for blessings on those facing isolation and loneliness through the holidays.
Moleskin: This week, YHC was in Oklahoma City for a work trip. Several different thoughts that I’d like to share:
- I try to do workouts on my own. I fail. I may force myself out of bed in the hotel, or I may sleep. When I hit the gym, I may push myself for one more set of reps, but most likely I will not. This group of men that I work out with constantly challenges me to push further than I thought I could. I feel like I am a better man as a result of knowing you, and I know I am in better shape. Thank you.
- Our company spent Thursday working volunteer shifts at a food bank in Oklahoma City, making lunches for school kids. This food bank distributes 18,000 backpacks of healthy food and snacks each and every Friday for kids who otherwise do not have enough to eat on the weekend. Stop and think about that – 18,000 of our precious children in this one city do not have enough food to eat – each and every weekend. YHC knows these numbers, has heard them countless times before, has volunteered at food banks on occasion before. But something about this visit felt different. Please remember the needy, the hungry. They are all around us, whether we recognize it or not.
- We take the cold weather as an inspiring challenge – completing a workout is a small feather in my cap, and YHC enjoys the chance to mock those of us wearing multiple layers of protective gear. But today as you drive through the city and see the homeless person with his cardboard sign sitting at the intersection – remember that he or she is living in this weather. This is not a challenge to conquer, but an unavoidable fact of life. I take for granted so much in life – the knowledge that as I left City Park this am, I’d get to warm up when I walked in the door at home to type this. Please find whatever ways you can (donations, volunteering, prayers) to help those with so much less.
Thank you all again for the chance to lead. I hope in some small way I’m able to inspire any one of you in ways as you have all inspired me.
