YHC: Machismo
The PAX: Machismo, Tin Man, Dookie
The Vibe: High-grade conversation, contractor iron sharpening iron, and a firework-inspired beatdown to celebrate America’s 250th.
Warm-O-Rama
We kicked off with a mosey around the school. The conversation started immediately and didn’t stop. With three contractors in the mix, the focus naturally locked into construction, communication, and leadership. We knocked out an “in-conversation” warmup:
- Side Straddle Hops (SSH)
- Ukrainian Soldiers
- Imperial Walkers
- Dead Man Hangs
The Thang
1. The Firework Four Corners
We hit the first rectangular pavement area for a hurricane-style routine. The center was the “fuse” (called in Cadence), building tension before exploding to the four corners.
- Corner 1: 15 Diamond Merkins
- Corner 2: 20 Wide-Grip Merkins
- Corner 3: 25 Carolina Dry Docks
- Corner 4: 30 Shoulder Taps
What worked: The cadence in the center genuinely felt like a shell getting ready to explode. It completely redefined the usual four-corners monotony.
2. Hub & Spoke Bus Loop
Next, we rolled to the bicycle course/bus loop. We held the Ab Center in Cadence, bursting outward down the spokes for:
- Imperial Squat Walkers
- Squats
- Ukrainian Soldiers
- Curb Hops: A new crowd favorite. 25 reps jumping from the gutter onto the yellow curb. Total burner that required unexpected balance and coordination.
3. The Triple Check
We moved to the chain-link fence by the baseball diamond for a grueling 6-to-8-minute rotation:
- Station 1: Chain Smokers
- Station 2: Squats
- Pacer: Run to the far end of the fence and back.
4. Skate Ramp 11s
Dookie dubbed this one perfectly. At the Stony Point berms by the church, we launched into 11s:
- Start at Berm 1: 1 WWII Sit-up
- Run down into the parking lot and up the other side to Berm 2: 10 Merkins
- Descend/Ascend and scale it (2 WWIIs / 9 Merkins… down to 10 WWIIs / 1 Merkin).
The Real Burn: It was the constant running back down and up between the berms that redlined our heart rates. Pushing through together three brothers holding the line made for an incredible finish. Hit the clock perfectly right at the cutoff.
The Naked Moleskin & Coffeeteria
YHC had the privilege of sharing about my dad for a second time, handing out two more paisley white handkerchiefs. Tin Man reflected on how his own grandfather always carried one, sparking a great conversation on what it means to simply be useful men.
At Coffeeteria, the contractor talk continued on a deeper level. Dookie and Tin Man opened up about their job sites and the genuine pride they take in their craftsmanship. While they talked about the daily frustrations of managing crews who leave trash or sloppy work behind, the ultimate resolution of the group was clear: having pride in the work you do is incredibly important and defines who you are.
We also got personal: Dookie shared about Eliza heading to Roanoke for “grandma camp.” We reflected on loving our kids well—especially the difficult ones, who actually need that extra grace and love the most.
The EH of the Day: Machismo spotted a marathon runner cruising past the AO. He successfully ran him down and engaged him. Turns out his name is Jeb (F3 Name: Sandy), and he used to attend F3 a couple of years ago. We grabbed his contact info and are shifting him to plug into The Forge or NoToll since he lives near Bon Air. Welcome back, Sandy!
Q’s Review: What Went Well & How to Level Up
- The Wins: The thematic “Firework/Fuse” concept kept the energy high, and integrating the heavy conversation seamlessly into the movements made the workout fly by. Catching “Sandy” was a masterclass in Always Be Recruiting.
- For Next Time: The Curb Hops and Skate Ramp 11s were massive hits; we can easily expand on curb/obstacle balance work and high-intensity hill transitions in future Qs to keep pushing our coordination and endurance.
- Dookie called the Q for next week. Get ready for it.