Author: ATTILA

The temperatures were moderate, the humidity was unseasonably absent, and the Gridiron AO was filled with lush, green grass.  Today was made for a classic Gridiron boot camp workout (void of White Deer’s mumblechatter).  Here is how it went down.

• Warm-up
  • 20 SSH
  • 15 Helicopters
  • 20 IW
  • 10 merkins
  • 20 deep squats
• Mosey to the football field for a lindsey with dips and WWII sit-ups
• 15 Freddy Mercuries/25 APD
• Mosey to the practice field for 11s with burpees and LBCs
• 25 APB/25 PLTs
• Mosey to the back of the school for 5 pull-ups and 10 jerkins
• Mosey to the softball field for an arch loader
  • Bear crawl
  • Karaoke
  • Crawl bear with backwards run
  • Karaoke
  • Lunges
  • Combat crawls
• Ring of fire (10 merkins)
• Mosey to the parking lot for COT
• COT – Earthworm takes us out with a great prayer for Cheech’s family and all involved/touched by the fatal accident of a week ago; we continue to remember them.  Earthworm, thanks for leading us in that time.

Today was great day at Gridiron.  It was a blessing to have Pew visit us from Lexington, SC.  Our F3 brethren in SC are still mourning the loss of our brother Cheech.  I was floored to hear that Cheech’s wife was teaching VBS this week.  She is an amazing woman.  In addition, the F3 PAX in SC have shown great grace and mercy to the young woman who was driving to work that morning.  These men have loved her, and give us a great example to follow.

Welcome to Gridiron Byproduct!  Thanks for making the drive from DaVille and joining us today.  Your effort was strong, and we enjoyed your fellowship.  You are always welcome back to be a part of our brotherhood.

I have one thing to say about Krü, the man is slow, steady and determined.  It is something to behold.  I have immense respect for our brother’s effort.

Finally,  the PAX got a great shot of energy when Nightcrawler rolled into the parking lot just as we began to embark on our workout.  It has been a long time, but we are glad to see your familiar face.    Do not be a stranger brother!  Spare us from any future interventions.

Many of the PAX enjoyed some fellowship at Einstein’s after the workout.  It was a great turnout on a holiday weekend.  Hopefully we burned enough calories to partake in some extra BBQ, bourbon and brews this holiday weekend.  Remember that there is a convergence on our nation’s birthday at Dogwood Dell.  Stay safe!

Attila

YHC was fired up for Gridiron.  School is out; sports are done.  That means my 2.0 was ready to join, and he had a huge smile on his face.  I cannot think of a better way to start Fathers’ Day weekend.  Here is how it went down.

• Warm-up
  • 25 SSH
  • 20 Russian soldiers
  • 10 merkins
  • 20 DQ
• Burpee march
  • 15 burpees down the parking lot followed by:
    • 10 double count LBC
    • 25 double count APD
    • 20 single count WWII sit-ups
  • Repeat for a total of 5 cycles
• Mosey over to the Pavilion…25 dips, 25 one leg step-ups (right leg), 25 dips, 25 one leg step-ups (left leg), 25 dips and for mountain climbers for those that waited for the rest of the PAX to finish
• Mosey to the track for 10 minutes of intervals – 20 sec sprint (which proved challenging for some, including YHC) followed by 40 second mosey
• Mosey to the front of the school for triple check – bear crawl, leg lifts and wall sit
• Close out with ring of fire (10 merkins)
• Mosey back to the parking lot for COT
• COT – YHC took us, giving thanks for our able bodies and some great fellowship

Today was an Attila special, a sampling of muscle groups, with the hope that men were pushed and strengthened.

It was odd to have 3 2.0’s at Gridiron, and none of them were sired by Johnsonville.  White Deer brought Hoops and his buddy FNG Cletus.  Hoops remarked that he is more of Circus Maximus fella about 1/2 way through his first bootcamp-style workout, but he was also quick to throw some one-liners at his father.  With that, you are always welcome to join us.

I was grateful to have my eldest 2.0, Mariner, present.  With Earthworm MIA (something about a wedding and needing his beauty sleep), ground & pound got trashed.  Mariner is fleet of foot, and it was fun to provide him an opportunity to excel amongst the Gridiron PAX.

As always, Chum Bucket was a quiet, but strong warrior.  Johnsonville was not far behind, but perhaps not as quiet.  Both elevate the rest of us, and I am grateful for their consistency at Gridiron.

APB continues for Nightcrawler.  YHC might smuggle a duck from the Wellsley pond over to Gridiron to lure our resident Elmer Fudd back.

Enjoy a sports-free weekend, and Happy Fathers’ Day to all those in the PAX being celebrated.  Here is hoping your 2.0’s are not as scarred as White Deer’s.

Attila

The rain has stopped, and the weather was perfect.  Seven strong redwoods posted for a Memorial Day weekend Gridiron.  Here is how it went down:

• Warm-up
  • 25 SSH
  • 10 merkins
  • 20 Freddy Mercuries
  • 20 Russian soldiers
  • 20 helicopters
• Burpee march
  • 15 burpees down the parking lot followed by:
    • 20 WWII sit-ups
    • 25 APD
    • 20 LBC
  • Repeat for a total of 5 cycles
• Mosey over to the Pavilion…25 dips, 25 one leg step-ups (right leg), 25 dips, 25 one leg step-ups (left leg), 25 dips
• 25 PLTs – rinse and repeat
• Mosey to the track/field and line up in the end zone for an Indian crawl on the field:
  • PAX forms a line and the group performs an exercise while the man in the back bear crawls to the front of the group.  The exercise is switched once each man has bear crawled to the front, similar to an Indian run)
  • Exercises were deep squats, Carolina dry docks, hillbillies, planks, flutter kicks
• Mosey to the track
  • Run 200m
  • Karaoke 200m
  • Run 200m
  • Mosey 200m
  • Backwards run to end zone (100m)
  • Burn-out 100 yard dash
• Mosey to the parking lot with COT
  • Announcements:
    • Convergence on Monday at Belle Isle (6:30)
    • West End lunch now on Friday’s at Jason’s Deli
  • YHC took us out with a prayer of Thanksgiving

Moleskin – YHC called an audible on the workout today when he realized Earthworm and White Deer were MIA.  Neither likes a good run (WD has a legitimate excuse with a replaced knee), so YHC took advantage of their absence by adding a little field work at the end.  EW/WD, you were missed, but today was not your day.  Things we did not do – one-handed snatches, boat/canoe, KB EMON’s…thing we did do – run.

Welcome back Nightcrawler!  Johnsonville and White Deer’s Facetime intervention was  successful.  Although, Gridiron is not a day on the links, and Nightcrawler did not appear to come dressed for a beat down.  Did the golf shirt give that away?

My second welcome back goes to Loose Goose.   The man who introduced me to F3 missed his alarm for Dogpile, so he got back to his roots with Gridiron.  Do not be a stranger Loose Goose.  It was great to have you.

Mumble chatter was non-existent today.  The usual suspect (White Deer) was absent, and his replacements were Johnsonville, Cheetah, Chum Bucket and Flip Phone.  Those men are just quiet assassins.  They went about their business of just making my red pill look like a sugar pill.  Well done men!

Enjoy your long weekend!  Hopefully we burned a few calories in order to make space for some stellar BBQ this weekend.  You’re welcome!

Attila

If there was ever a morning to say see you in the gloom, this was it.  A faithful and loyal PAX assembled, and here is how it went down:

• Warm-up
  • 25 SSH
  • 10 merkins
  • 20 Russian soldiers
  • 20 helicopters
  • 20 DQ
• Mosey to the cover of the Pavilion…25 dips, 25 one leg step-ups (right leg), 25 dips, 25 one leg step-ups (left leg), 25 dips…PAX does Al Gores waiting for everyone to complete
• Partner-up for the journey to the Pillars of Pain – 1 man does a double KB farmers carry while his partner does 15 monkey humpers and then karaokes to catch-up, trade-off, and rinse and repeat until we reach the Pillars
• Deck of Death with burpee marches mixed in
  • Exercises for the deck of death – merkins, crab cakes, WWII sit-ups and deep squats (all in cadence)
  • Stopped the deck 3x to do a burpee march to another station in the Pillars – performed a burpee at each concrete block until progressed 13-15 blocks down, finally reaching the other end of the pillars
• Mosey back to the KBs at the front of the Pillars
  • 10 lawnmower pulls with each arm
  • 15 standing rows
  • 25 Alabama honeymoons
  • 10 halos each direction
• Finished up with 25 pole smokers

COT at the Pillars with YHC taking us out, giving thanks for the PAX and the comradery and fellowship we are blessed with.

Moleskin – There was one thing that was obvious today…White Deer found the conditions quite “nipply,” and we all knew it.  I guess you could say he was excited to be there today, and Farrah Fawcett would be proud (reference for the over 40 portion of the PAX).  While uncomfortable for some, White Deer was unabashed (no surprises there).  Thankfully for him, no one recommended a manzere for future workouts.  Thankfully for us, no small children were present for which we had to explain this visual.

I say it often, but Chum Bucket is a beast.  He sets a pace, and keeps it upbeat for the entire PAX.  It is a privilege to have him with us.  He is always encouraging the PAX, which does not go unnoticed.  Cecil, Johnsonville and Earthworm each were dealing with some form of injury.  YHC was grateful for them being there and battling through.  Major t-claps earned.  It is not the same without these men.

Rumor has it that Flip Phone was “warm and cozy” in his fartsack…so weak.  Nightcrawler’s whereabouts remain a mystery.  We will be waiting for you when the PAX reassembles.

The PAX went to Einstein’s for additional fellowship afterwards.  With all games being rained out and fewer obligations to attend to, everyone felt the freedom to stick around for a while.  No truth to the rumor that Cecil was hoping to stay there all day and avoid the estrogen onslaught that would be invading his house for a shower later that day.  It was a true blessing to have this time of fellowship with these men.

Attila

White Deer and YHC tag-teamed Q’ed this edition of Gridiron, with YHC kicking it off.  Here it how it went down:

• Warm-up
  • 25 SSH
  • 20 Russian soldiers
  • 8 8 count bodybuilders (pan PAX count)
  • 10 merkins
  • 20 APD
  • 20 Freddy Mercuries
  • 20 DQ
• Mosey to the Pavillion – 25 dips, 25 one leg step-ups (right leg), 25 dips, 25 one leg step-ups (left leg), 25 dips…PAX does WWII sit-ups waiting for everyone to complete
• Mosey to the football field for four corners (using 1/2 the field)
  • Partner-up and wheel barrow to each corner with 10 deep squats at each stop
  • Karaoke run to each corner with 10 merkins at each stop
  • Bear crawl and Crawl bears to each corner with 10 WWII sit-ups at each stop
  • Backwards run to each corner with 10 monkey humpers at each stop
• Mosey to the parking lot for KB flurry led by White Deer
  • Bear crawl to KB in middle of parking lot
  • 15 two handed swings
  • 10 merkin rows
  • 20 presses
  • 10 lawnmower pulls with each arm
  • 10 halos clockwise and 10 counterclockwise
  • 10 around the worlds clockwise and 10 counterclockwise
  • 10 figure eights each direction
  • 10 one-handed swings with each arm
  • 20 sit-up presses
  • Boat/canoe/paddleboat
  • 15 standing rows
  • 25 Alabama honeymoons
  • 10 tricep curls while laying on your 6
• Parking lot sprints to end

COT with YHC taking us out with a prayer of  thanksgiving, grateful for the able bodies to work-out and the fellowship of the PAX

Moleskin – Note to self, do not include an exercise unless you are sure you remember all of its components.  YHC completely butchered the 8 count body builders.  It had been a while, and it was brutal to see.  Earthworm would be shaking his head in bewilderment.

Chum Bucket was a beast on the four corners.  The man is a human wheel barrow with epic strength.  I have nothing but admiration for his efforts.  If only I had that type of strength.  I was impressed to say the least.

Good to see Cheetah out again.  He is becoming a regular, which is welcomed.  Johnsonville continues to work hard despite a healing knee.  Great teamwork from the father and son on the wheelbarrows.  Big t-claps!

Welcome back Cecil!  We knew you were coming back after a few weeks away, so we amped up the  workout just for you.

Finally, YHC confirmed how to silence the mumble chatter from White Deer…all it takes is a few red pills.  White Deer was ready to take the Q over after 4 iterations of four corners.  YHC had more, but he had had enough.

A few of the PAX did go get bagels at Einstein’s for some fellowship afterwards.  It was a blessing to be with the GridIron PAX as iron sharpens iron.  Thanks for letting YHC lead.

Attila

Seven strong and faithful redwoods comprised the PAX on another glorious Saturday morning.  After weeks of having a mixture of boot camp and KB workouts, we got back to basics with a good ole fashioned boot camp beatdown.  Here is how it went down:

• Warm-up
  • 25 SSH
  • 20 invisible jump rope
  • 20 Russian soldiers
  • 10 merkins
  • 20 crab cakes
  • 20 LBC
  • 25 APD
  • 20 American hammers
• Mosey to the practice fields for 10 minutes of burpees
• 20 PLTs x2
• Mosey to football field for a Lindsay consisting of dips and Freddy Mercuries
  • 30 dips, cross the field, 10 FM
  • 25 dips, cross the field, 15 FM
  • 20 dips, cross the field, 20 FM
  • 15 dips, cross the field, 25 FM
  • 10 dips, cross the field, 30 FM
  • J-ville led planks while the PAX finished
• Combo crawl bear/bear crawl across the field
• Mosey over to the school for a triple check
  • Run the circle
  • Copperhead squats
  • Wall sits
• Mosey to the picnic tables
  • 25 dips
  • 25 one-leg step-ups (right)
  • 25 dips
  • 25 one-leg step-ups (left)
  • 25 dips

COT with YHC sending us out with a word of Thanksgiving for our wives (MAttila is celebrating her birthday today) and thankfulness for the able bodies to be together.  Hopefully J-ville’s knee will continue to heal.

Moleskin – A reminder to the West End faithful that the new AO, Heartbreak Ridge, is open for business on Tuesday mornings at 0530.  Please join…looking at you Earthworm.  It is a great AO.

The day started with a lot of mumble chatter from the entire PAX.  The warm-up circle was feeding off of White Deer’s propensity to start a workout with lots of banter.  The level of mumble chatter diminished as the number of burpees rose.

As always, it was great be amongst this loyal PAX.  J-ville was strong despite a healing knee.  He humbles me with his ability to lead the PAX even when he is hobbled.  Cheetah, J-ville’s 2.0, was strong today.  The fartsack could not hold him captive this morning, which had to make J-ville proud.

Chum Bucket was his usual picture of quiet strength as evidenced by the fact that he is never a target of White Deer’s banter.  I always love the way he pushes us.  Nightcrawler continues to push himself.  J-ville quickly reminded us that he is going to rounding into prime shape soon with flying foul season in the rearview mirror.

As always, it was great to have the fellowship of these men.  We pushed ourselves today, and as I reminded the group, if they hated YHC during Gridiron today, well that makes two of us.  Iron sharpening iron is something to give thanks for.  Expect to have White Deer bring some KB action back to Gridiron for some portion of next week’s workout.

Enjoy your weekend men.

Attila

Originally this Saturday tradition unlike any other was to be tag team led by Attila and White Dear.  White Dear had to tap out before it ever started due to an undisclosed ailment.  The PAX had many hypotheses as to what sidelined WD, but none of such are appropriate for publishing.  Relying on a slow watch, a humbled Attila (YHC) came in hot with the group already doing invisible jump ropes.  YHC grabbed the hot potato, and here is how it went down:

• Warm-up
  • 30 SSH
  • 25 DQ
  • 10 merkins
  • 25 Freddy Mercuries
  • 20 crab cakes
  • 25 imperial walkers
• Mosey to the picnic tables to 4 quarters (OYO)
  • 25 dips
  • 25 one leg step-ups with right leg
  • 25 dips
  • 25 one leg step-ups with left leg
• Mosey to the football ball practice field for 11’s with burpees and LBCs – the studs of the group planked while the full PAX completed
• Mosey to the pillars for an Indian crawl through the pillars of pain (NOTE: not the most politically correct title for some, but I did have this name cleared with Daniel Snyder prior to publishing so I should be good)
  • Each member grabs a pillar and the group performs an exercise while the man in the back bear crawls to the front of the group.  The exercise is switched once each man has bear crawled to the front, similar to an Indian run
  • Exercises were dealers choice:
    • Attila – pole smokers
    • Johnsonville – APD
    • Chum Bucket – Carolina Dry Docks (nice and slow with good form, Mrs. Chum would approve)
    • Cheetah – flutter kicks
    • Flip Phone – poll sits
  • Each exercise was performed 2x as we almost made it through the full pillars before retreating back to the parking lot
• Mosey back to the parking lot for a kettlebell flurry to the finish
  • 20 Alabama honeymoons
  • 20 lawn mower pulls – each arm
  • 10 halos – each direction
  • 15 standing rows
  • 10 sit and presses
• COT following by YHC taking us out

Strong performance by the PAX.  Johnsonville was a beast on 11s.  He finished early and got in some work for the plank challenge.  He knew White Deer would be pushing him to keep his butt down on the planks if he had shown, but YHC reminded him that White Deer most certainly had his butt down that morning…in the fart sack (never more aptly named for anyone).

Johnsonville did have a little trash talk for his own 1S (Cheetah is too tall to be considered a 2.0).  However, YHC was late to arrive to the workout than Cheetah today, so he had no room to join in.  Keep bringing it Cheetah and just shame your pops by outperforming him on the Gridiron.  That is always welcomed.  Any successful shaming of Johnsonville will be applauded with an enthusiasm unknown to mankind.

Strong showings from Chum Bucket and Flip Phone.  Flip Phone drove himself, which probably indicates that he was well rested and ready for a strong showing on Saturday.

White Deer was missed.  The air was free of toxins without him, and hopefully the doctor has an ointment, anti-biotic or some other powerful concoction to clear up whatever ails him.  God speed to the bionic War Daddy!

Just a reminder that next Saturday will be a Gridiron F3 that incorporates all of three F’s.  2.0’s and better halves are welcome.  It will be a scavenger hunt workout that will be very family friendly as we celebrate the Easter holiday.  If you have a child attending, please let Earthworm and/or Johnsonville know so we have the right number of post workout treats for the smaller 2.0’s.  If you braved the rain on Christmas Eve, you know that these workouts are awesome!  See you Saturday.

In Him, Attila