Author: Rudy

  • Morning Constitutional – from Popeye

    Constitution Day 2024: A little known day of recognition for the signing of the U.S. Constitution on September 17, 1787.

    YHC felt it was only appropriate to take the PAX back to school for a little quiz on this heralded document in order to verify the citizenship of the group and find out if the trivia nerd thing is doing any good.

    WU:
    SSH
    Slow Hi-Knee
    Windmills
    Side bends
    Arm Circles

    WU2:
    All above with tickets

    Preamble:
    A trip back in time to the schoolhouse that rocks. Schoolhouse Rocks was (is?) the leader in public school indoctrination of the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution back in YHC’s day. This catchy jingle is buried deep in my mind but at the strum of the banjo it instantly is unearthed from 40+ years of other learnings and it’s right there at the tip of my tongue. I know every word. Goose knew every word. Uncanny.
    10 step ups per leg and 10 crunchy frogs for the duration of the Preamble song.

    Quiz:
    #1: How many amendments to the Constitution have been proposed?
    Correct: 10 merks and 1 lap.
    Incorrect: 33 ticket overhead arm claps and 1 lap.
    Score: 0. PAX paid their dues and took the lap.

    #2: How many amendments to the Constitution have been ratified? (Homerians: this means voted on and approved)
    Correct: 5 burpees and 1 lap.
    Incorrect: 27 ticket seal/overhead claps and 1 lap.
    Score: 0. While the close guess of 28 was borderline impressive, it did not meet the standard and there’s no partial credit here.

    #3: Softball starter – Amendments 1-10 are known as what? PAX easily got this correct (thank God, they’re not Taliban).
    Actual question – The 1st Amendment grants what freedoms? The PAX quickly got speech, religion, press, and assembly… but the lesser known freedom is the right to petition the government. I’m here, petition me all you want – the answer was still technically not correct.
    The PAX celebrated their freedom from correct answers by executing mountain climbers with a merk on “free” to the dreadful sounds of “I’m Free” by the Soup Dragons. Worst band name ever? Maybe. Such a bad song that I didn’t even realize that it’s a cover of a Rolling Stones song. Moving on.

    #4: The 26th Amendment was ratified in 1971, what was it? Nobody knew. YHC informed them that it changed the voting age to 18. From what? PAX got this one correct with 21.
    Penalty: 18 ticket curls, 21 ticket overhead press and 1 lap.

    #5: Softball starter – How many Amendments have been repealed? CORRECT – 1.
    Actual question – What Amendment did the 21st Amendment repeal? Surprisingly, the PAX did not correctly answer that the 21st Amendment repealed the 18th Amendment, which was the prohibition of alcohol.
    The PAX enjoyed a BNL tune titled “Alcohol” while performing nonstop Imperial Walkers and knocking out a merkin on each mention of “alcohol.” I wonder if the Canadians who sang this song would have known the answer. Tolerate the song, take a lap.

    #6: What does the 8th Amendment prohibit?
    The PAX was incorrect in their guesses of slavery, Goose was close with some mumble that sounded kinda like due process, but sadly again we were without basic knowledge of the Bill of Rights. The correct answer was that the 8th Amendment prohibits “excessive fines and bail, and cruel and unusual punishment.”
    In honor of this, we took part in some cruel and unusual punishment with 2 rounds of Monkey Humper ring of fire. (note to self, next time start the ring with me, not the guy next to me).

    We were nearing time, but as the PAX knows I enjoy closing out with some planks. I selected 2 songs both titled “Freedom” to which we would hold plank, but due to the lack of Constitutional knowledge, we were forced to listen to the George Michael “Freedom” as opposed to the Rage Against the Machine “Freedom”. 60 second low plank, followed by 30 seconds on each side. Catchy jingle though, probably YJ’s ringtone.

    Time was called and the PAX circled up. Despite YHC’s desire to rid the PAX of the Blue Tube and blame it on FRANCINE, it survived the storm and this unique form of cruel and unusual punishment was awarded to Paradox.
    Intentions: Sign up for the dang BK5000 already. I know we’re last-minute but let’s be a bit less last-minute.
    COT – Prayers for storm recovery and the return of lost sheep to the flock. YHC’s little brother has been a lost soul for 20+ years and is finding a renewed faith – it’s never too late.
    Goose prayed us out.

    Honored to be a part of this crew and further your knowledge as ‘mericans. Hit the books.

  • May, I have your attention please! – from Shooter

    With beautiful conditions on this gloom, 6 HIMS decided to take the red pill 💊. YHC arrived with dice, rope and block in hand. We circled up for some warmups of Good mornings, Toe touches, cherry pickers (don’t follow the Q), Abe vogoda’s, and arm circles. Made a warmup lap and returned to center court for instructions. I thought I was explaining well but you know if don’t come out quick enough Jose10k will surely let you know… Funny thing was this educator would still need more instruction along the way..
    Alternated 2 PAX at a time for rope and coupon work of overhead press and curls for the girls. Block work was the timer. Other PAX took turns rolling the dice for stated exercises. After all 6 completed we took a lap R/R until we all got in the work.
    Finished with plank and 20 2/1 mountain climbers and 10 2/1 peter Parker’s.

    Appreciate the post and until the next Gloom 👊🏼👍🏼✌🏼!!

  • The Metry H8! – PRACTICE – from Mayhem

    YHC was caught by the train, but still able to plant the flag by 5:28
    74 F & 93% RH

    Party of 10 excited to see what was in store
    8 to the field and 2 KnOT’ing on the track, we’d see them later

    Warmup consisted of the norm: Slow AV, Soggy GG, MC, PPP, TF, FT, SSH

    The H8! is returning to #okwata October 24th, so YHC thought it would be good to get some practice in @pontiff

    5 rounds of The Metry H8! (we’ll shoot for 8 before game time)

    We started on the south side of the bleachers. At the start, you do a descending burp and merk pyramid starting at 5 (burpee and 5 hand release merkins, burpee and 4 hand release merkins… burpee and 1 hand release merkin).

    Each lap consists of running north snaking the bleachers to the far side, bear crawling to the steps of the gym, make a lap around the gym, bear crawling back to the north side of the bleachers, snaking the bleachers back to the starting point on the south side. Rinse and repeat.

    • Run nearly 2 miles of bleachers/stairs
    • 350 yards of bear crawls
    • 15 burpees
    • 35 merkins

    Picked up the SIX. Did some Mary. Head to the flag.

    COT, Count, Name, Announcements, Intentions

    Upcoming events…
    9.21 – Power Mile
    9.28 – Brothers Keeper 500
    10.19 – reenactment @mothership
    10.24 – the H8! returns
    10.26 – anniversary convergence @mistymountain

  • Classic Loop – from Tinkles

    Thanks to Manchovy for getting me on the Q schedule. Great way to start the week. Park was expectedly soggy but didn’t deter!

    Warm up:

    SSH x 30, Grass grabbers x 20, Windmills x 20, Imperial Walkers x 20

    Workout:

    Lap around the park. Indian run to bridge with break for ring of fire with Al Gore hold and burpees x 3 in rotation. Finished with shoulder taps.

    Indian run to the fountain for decline Merkins x 20, R leg power up x 20, Dips x 20, L leg power up, Bulgarian split lunge each leg x 20, incline merkin x 20.

    Jog/sprint to the grassy knoll for ab work (Russian twists, tin snips, penguins, LBTs x 20)

    Indian run to pull up bars with circuits of pull ups, plank, jump squats, big boy sit ups.

    Strong finish work burpees x 5 on each of the next 5 ‘running man’ graphics.

    COT. Blessed to be out making ourselves better! And prayers for no more tropical weather!

  • One is the Loneliest Number – from Fracsac

    Is the experiment with Lasalle on Mondays dead? At least there’s Tuesday Early Bird. RIP Scrum??

  • Toys Make it Better – from Fracsac

    Showed up a few minutes early to get set up with all the toys.

    Flag planted, disclaimer given, 9 pax faced the bacon to warmup.

    Pax choice:

    Stations: Jump rope, 60 lb sandbag squats, 50 lb sandbag rows, kettle bell swings, burpees, and 4 pax on the big rope at all times. Timer was 4 pax run with rope 25 yards do 5 squats and run back. If rope touches the deck it’s a penalty. Complete one rotation.

    Deck of F3 cards: everyone gets a draw

    Wildcard: 3 minutes of Embrace the Suck.

    Frisbee throw to the back of the museum, burpees for drops.

    3 x Sunday Mornings

    CoT

    Great way to kick off the week!

    SYITG

  • I Like the Older Boys😳 – from Bushwacker

    Imagine the reaction when those words came out of Tank’s mouth as we were gathered for rehydrating and caffeinating at Abita Roasting! Of course, he was reminiscing about his childhood, inspired by the chemistry of Duke and Will I am (having a 2 year age difference). That’s right, the 2.0s are taking over the Au Lait! In training for the Turkey Trot, and inspired/excited by tales of Will I am’s consistent participation, Duke chose to attend his 1st Au Lait and persevere through his 1st 4 miler. With support from the whole PAX, he started in earnest, the energized 8 year old leading the way. At the 2 mile mark, QIC and qicJr turned back, while the rest surged onwards to push through the rest of the current route. Meanwhile, Jose, who has always run the the beat of his own drummer, had fallen back to take his own abbreviated track. From out of nowhere, he swooshed up from behind a struggling short-round, to encourage him with his stoic presence, ubiquitous soundtracks and teacherly words of wisdom. The three intrepid adventurers carried on to the end with every ounce of vigor a breakfast bribe could muster. Within scant minutes, the rest of the men appeared from around the corner, having traded Steve for Will I am! Of course, OCD Steve was just rounding out his Garmin-tracked mileage to 5.0. Beau and William played cornhole and breakfasted while the titular phrase passed from Tank’s lips like an uncurated comment caught on a hot mic….
    All this to say, a great group of men enjoyed more great mumble chatter on another great run marking another great Au Lait!

  • Triskaidekaphobia or Fear of the Number 13 Fear or avoidance of the number 13. It is also a reason for the fear of Friday the 13th, called paraskevidekatriaphobia. – from Jose10k

    3 HIMS showed up, not afraid of the number 13, not afraid of the humidity, not afraid of the aftermath of Hurricane Francine. We took the red pill, and we were ready for a beatdown.
    Due to the lack of electricity, YHC didn’t really come up with a Friday the 13th themed beatdown, so I used an oldie.
    Warm-up: the usual
    The Thang: Mosey to the courthouse for 11s. Burpees at one side, 2 calf raises up each step, copperhead squats at the top, down the ramp and around the courthouse.
    Mumble chatter included the difficult math problem of calculating the optimal workout heart rate for a 75 year old man. Which Einstein quickly pointed out to Moby that he is 74, which produced even more grumble, grumble.
    COT-Einstein prayed us out with intentions of hurricane survivors and prayers for our country.
    Thanks for letting me lead/reading this.

  • Patriot Day (9/11) – from Bolt

    YHC put out the call for HC in exchange for a Q; three pax joined while a Slack HC was a no-show (ahem…Boo-Boo). Frac will be disappointed to know he missed my one Q sans his favorite warmup song because it’s Patriot’s Day which called for something patriotic: Lee Greenwood’s God Bless the USA. Plus it fit the shorter warmup needed to complete todays 9/11 memorial BD.

    The Thang:
    Mosey to JPAX Mountain (the ramp)
    Read flight details at each corner
    Sprint to corner 1 plank til 6
    Plankorama
    AA Flight 11
    Boston – Los Angeles
    Hit the North Tower at 0846
    92 perished
    SSH x 92 OYO
    Lunge to corner 2 plank til 6
    Plankorama
    UA Flight 175
    Boston – Los Angeles
    Hit South Tower at 0903
    65 perished
    Mt. Climbers x 65 OYO
    Sprint to corner 3 plank til 6
    Plankorama
    AA Flight 77
    Dulles – Los Angeles
    Hit the Pentagon at 0937
    64 perished
    Squats x 64 OYO
    Lunge to corner 4 plank til 6
    Plankorama
    UA Flight 93
    Newark – San Francisco
    Crashed in Shanksville, PA at 1003 after passengers stopped attack
    44 perished
    Merkins x 44 OYO
    Use the four corners of the walled part of the ramp:
    9 Rounds of sprinting 1 lap followed by 11 reps of the called exercise
    Sprint Lap 1
    Diamond Merkins x 11 OYO
    Sprint Lap 2
    Jump Squats x 11 OYO
    Sprint Lap 3
    Big Boy Situps x 11 OYO
    Sprint Lap 4
    Carolina Dry Docks x 11 OYO
    Sprint Lap 5
    Lunges x 11 OYO
    Sprint Lap 6
    Flutter Kicks x 11 OYO
    Sprint Lap 7
    Wide Merkins x 11 OYO
    Sprint Lap 8
    Sumo Squats x 11 OYO
    Sprint Lap 9
    Burpees x 11 OYO
    Mosey to JPAX benches/and two of the running path benches
    Steps Ups x 110 OYO (55/28/27
    In honor of the 110 flights of stairs that had to be climbed in WTC
    COT

  • Hopping Puddles, Avoiding Cars and Dodging Debris in Post-Francine Frogger – from Bushwacker

    Possibly the latest alternate beat down start time in F3 Northshore history, 7:30 brought a convergence of 2 stoic idiots who passed up what could reasonably be called the one weekday in several years that could legitimately be considered fully allowable to fartsack life. And so we two took off in an attempt to stick to the traditional route, but thwarted by standing water, small fallen branches, and cars venturing here and there, we ambled a seemingly aimless route that returned us safely to the starting point after 3.5 miles. Coffeteria and breakfast followed at Waffle House. A not-quite-Kafkaesque Scramble, in the books!