Tag: 45 Minutes of Mary

The 31st of October brought 8 warriors and 2 taperers to 45MOM to help YHC celebrate Family Week. This year is 17 years of marriage, 28 years of friendship, and my M’s 48th b-day. Temps were sunny, 70, and muddy.

COP: Mosey to the blacktop for…

SSHs, IW’s, arm circles, scorpion kicks (soak it up, boys!), HRMs, LBCs, and reverse crunches, all in cadence and capping out at a random number of YHCs choosing.

Mosey to the tennis courts for 4.8 Corners:

Progressive four corners with the addition of an extra 0.8 to get the PAX to 48. Exercises were HRMs, squats, LBCs, flutter kicks, and SSHs.

Mosey back to the blacktop for 11’s, except that, in honor of the Nats, the PAX did 6, for the 6 runs the Cats scored last night. (YHC notes that the prior explanation is a bunch of self-justifying poppy-cock…YHC has done this exercise previously (thank you, F3 Patriot), and 6 is about the right number of reps, so YHC thanks the Nats, about whom he could care less, for providing a nice justification. Go Cubs.)

Exercises were burpees and 4x4s.

Mosey to the front of the school (the dark side which does not feel like the front) for a special Dora, Halloween-style. The treat was 50 derkins (per man), 200 monkey jumpers (per team), and 300 flutter kicks (per team). The trick was a special coupon (not the normal F3 type of coupon, but a real coupon): any man who has carved a pumpkin or helped a young person carve a pumpkin can take 10% off any of the exercises. Not sure if there were any redemptions.

Mosey BTTF for some Mary:

Dolly, American Hammers, Rosalitas, Frederick Mercurys, and WWIIs closed us out, mostly in normal cadence, but YHC rolled out last, special Halloween treat with the often requested, rarely heard Lawrence Welk cadence. Take it away, fellas.

Announcements:

Saab and TYA are tapering. Some 50k, non-ultra race on Sunday. Crush it, gentlemen.

Stache for Cash…last day. If you find a month of Vinny and Gumbo looking like 70’s porn stars to be horrifying, remember, it’s for a good, F3-related charity (Raise!). Close your eyes to the Hawaiian shirts, chest hair, and lip-fuzz and help us get over the line. Today. Do it today.

NMS:

A little wet, a little muddy, and a little balmy…YHC found today to be a fantastic morning to be outside with you all. YHC thanks each you for joining.

Great work all around. Roxanne continues to push and make steady progress. Way to stick with it. Keep it up.

YHC’s M thanks each of you for celebrating her birthday, F3-style with a beatdown. From her heart, though, she thanks you for 3.5 years of helping YHC be a better father, husband, friend, and man. And, for that, we both thank each of you thoroughly.

13 gloom warriors (including 2 FNGs) braved the seasonally appropriate chilly morning for YHCs Birthday beatdown and it went a little something like this:

long way around the block, no field today since the striper was striping, COP started with 46 SSH and then moved on to reasonable numbers of stretchy warm up exercises. Short mosey to the bus loop curb for merkin 11s (decline, bear crawl, incline, crawl bear) mosey to courts for 7of♦️s that ended with burpees… COT – see Gumbo or Vinny about Stache for Cash, see Greenbow about casino night.

Greenbow brought 2 FNGs – Gaston the commercial realtor who we named Furley but we already had one so he’s now Belle and Tom from Yorktown who is now known as Cornwallis. Welcome boys. Come back.

Thanks for letting me lead and for working out with me on my birthday – Shakedown

14 Redwoods came to Mary looking for something more to the day. YHC provided that extra boost when an iron anvil emerged from the shadows.

Mosey to the front of the school for COP in “Sara’s corner”. SSH, Don Quixote, Russian Soldiers, Scorpion Kicks. You know, the usual stuff.

Mosey back to the soccer field and line up facing Cary for 21s. The exercises are Merkins and 4-count American Hammers. Each iteration the anvil made its way down the line allowing the Pax member to sit out a round in order to perform curls. Yes, Merkin fest is next month so why not get a couple hundred in today?

Over to the adjacent end of the soccer field for the Beast. With this Beast, the anvil comes with us and is passed down the line at each stop. The pax member with the anvil at that time does tricep extensions behind the head. The exercises were APDs, Lt Dans, HRMs, and something else. We got 2/3s of the way done before time was called and off to the VSF.

Labrat took us out partially due to his choice of footwear.

Announcements: Faceplant extended an open invitation to a beer mile event tomorrow night. See him for details.

Time to Taper,

Lockjaw

At one of RPS’s brightly shining beacons, 21 masonry apprentices gathered in the gloom.

70 & sunny (ok maybe a little warmer than 70), off we go:

COP: Mosey to the blacktop

• Welcome to Greenbow’s 1-year-versary & mumblechatter
• 5-count SSH x20 IC
• s-l-o-w merkins x10 IC
• 4-count WW2s x20 on your own

BRICKS: Mosey back to the parking lot & Greenbow’s truck

• collect 2 coupons per PAX, plank on bricks in the bus circle

Brick run on Grove (I-95 for runners/walkers)

• At intersection with W. Lock Ln, 10 brick merkins OYO
• al gore for the 6
• Continue run along Grove – at intersection with Albemarle/Lexington, scare a walker half to death, then, 20 1-brick American Hammers OYO.
• continue hammers until the 6 has arrived and completed 20.
• Continue run along Grove – at intersection with Roslyn, 30 brick plank-jacks OYO
• al gore for the 6
• Mosey to church lot, plank for the 6
• Partner up, bear crawl holding bricks while partner runs the parking lot circle, switch, repeat until full circle done
• Ambitious PAX members volunteered for flutter kicks for extra credit
• Partner up, lunges holding bricks while partner runs the parking lot circle, switch, repeat until full circle done
• Brick merkins for the 6
• Brick merkins x10 IC

Brick Run back to the flag on Grove: 

• first few who arrive, run back to the 6 for extra credit
• Next few who arrive, brick curls while we wait for the 6

Mary:

• While waiting for the 6, started with Freddie M x40 IC
• Bricks deposited back to Greenbow’s truck
• Death march the additional 15 feet to the flag
• Heels to Heaven x30 IC
• 4-count WW2s x31 IC

COT:

• Counterama 
• Namerama
• Announcerama
  • see pre-blast for Vinny/Gumbo Inaugural Stache Challenge
  • YHC kids’ school is having a swanky Poker Night 11/9, for more info, reach out to me
• YHC took us out in Prayer (prayers for a surgery, an interview, other brothers’ needs)

NMS: 

YHC did my best to pay homage to my first workout, Black Hawk Down 10/4/18 at 45MOM. Until yesterday, I falsely believed Upchuck had Q’d it – alas, it was his younger brother, Lockjaw.

Saab’s dreams literally came true (YHC appeared to him in a vision earlier this week) when the rear door of my truck opened and friendly old-world-style (i.e. ‘no holes’) bricks greeted him. Unfortunately, the coupons increased his dry weight by 30%, leading to a brick lunge -induced tweak of existing injury in his knee. Get better soon brother.

I remember this workout often, and have been anxiously waiting to repeat it. The mark of my first year of gloom with F3RVA seemed an appropriate commemoration. The moment I finished the first workout (thanks Don Draper for inviting me), I knew you all were my people, and this was my workout (outside, boot camp, etc).

Mumblechatter was reduced, perhaps eliminated, as the brick-jog began down Grove to our final destination (thankfully, as someone commented to Bodos, the pastor of that institution was NOT in our PAX).

Additionally, this is YHC’s 101st workout with F3. Will be shooting for more next year, which should be achievable – unless the M decides we need yet another Greenbow 2.0 (slowed me down March-May, but totally worth it.) More recently, having strengthened my legs in bootcamps, I’m excited to be enjoying running for the first time in my life.

Thankful for you all beyond words. This group has been a brick by brick transformation in my life. 

How do you accomplish something big? For me, having not worked out regularly in many years, it was one workout at a time, one day at a time, one foot in front of the other, one brick at a time. 

If you are struggling with a brick too heavy (or even a pile of bricks), I’m here to tell you – many brothers in our PAX have probably struggled with the same at some point, and have ears open to you. Lean on your brothers, be open and honest with them. 

Tell me how I can pray for you or ask me to get together sometime. 

Most of all, talk to another guy about your triumphs and your challenges. We are all carrying bricks and need a little encouragement sometimes!

It was my VQ and 27 gathered for the workout on a lovely Thursday morning. Here’s how it went down:
COP- Don Quixote10, Helicopters10, Arm Circle15/15, LBC20, American hammers20, SSH20. Mosey to the tennis court.
1st Exercise – 4 corners. 20partner jump squat, 20partner booya merkins, 20partner sit-ups, and 20partner toe-touches. 1st round of exercise was run to each corner and do the assignment exercise. 2nd round was to finish an exercise on the corner#1 and run around the tennis court, pass the corner, and move to the corner #2. Mosey to the field on Cary Street Rd.
2nd Exercise – Ninja Cowboy Bear (a a variation of rock, paper, scissor). Partner# 1 runs to the tennis fence and run back. The other partner completed 100merkins, 200LBC, and 300SSH. Here is how to decide who runs and completes exercise. First stand back to back with the partner, and on the count 4, jump to face the partner, doing a pose of either a Ninja (Arms crossed in ready stance), a Cowboy (draw your guns), or a bear (Claws up and growling). Here are the rules: Ninja beats Cowboy using lighting speed ninja kicks, Cowboy beats Bear with his quick draw and perfect accuracy, and Bear beats Ninja with a strong swipe of his clawed paw. Vinny counted 10 in Korean!!!!! 3rd Exercise – Ring of fire. Each person did 5regular merkins, 5hitchhiker, 25LBC, and 20*American hammers

Announcements:
Slippin Jimmy’s VQ for Puppy pile this Saturday.

Thank you everyone! It has been such a blessing to be a part of F3RVA for me. You guys rocks!

P.S. I know I forgot four guys names, If you know their name, please let me know. Thanks!

On a beautiful mid 50s morning, 10 able bodied fitness champions showed up to Mary for a beatdown. It went like this:

COP – 10 Don Quixotes (Saab style), 10 arm circles, 20 side straddle hops and 20 LBCs

Exercise 1: Merkin run, run as a group – do 10 merkins when ordered. Did 60 merkins total. Two female joggers were able to witness the magnificence of some of our merkins but somehow kept their composure and went past us. Mosey to the field.

Exercise 2A: Fireman’s carry across the field run back

Exercise 2B: Wheelbarrow halfway down the field, bear crawl back

Exercise 2C: Lunge halfway down the field, crawl bear back. Mosey to tennis courts

Exercise 3: Modified Doras: 75 Burpees, 150 Carolina Dry Docks, 225 2 count flutter kicks. Mosey to chin up/monkey bars

Exercise 4: While planked up, each PAX does 2 sets of 5 chin ups. While waiting the PAX planked, did merkins and tricep dips. The arms were feeling good by the end of this.

Finished by doing more arm circles and Fireman closed in prayer.

Announcements/Other:

Prayers are with Helix and his family, Wojo and his family and for Viral to get better.

This Saturday is the big campout in Amelia. See Vinny for details if you are interested. TYA is leading Dogpile this Saturday. Tater has his first Q at Gridiron this Saturday and Hitchhiker is doing his first Q at Mary on 9/26.

The weather was fantastic making me think of the Stuart Scott saying, hence the above title.

Seventeen steely eyed quants gathered at the hardpan known as 45 Minutes of Mary for a brief discussion on biscuits and the ‘ville where they are made. No time for questions, off the Q went with nary a sound. Regardless, the hoi palloi followed to home plate for a welcome, disclaimer, and reminder that the only barrier to entry is counting to 20. The following recap is close enough to reality:

COP
Don Quixote x10
Burpee x1
Copperhead Squats x15
Burpee x2
American Hammers x20
Burpee x3
Swimmers x10
Burpee x4
High Knees x15
Burpee x5
Imperial Walkers x20
Burpee x6
Freddie Mercuries x20
Burpee x7
Jump Squats x10
Burpee x8
Something else xSome number
Burpee x9
Something else xSome number
Burpee x10

The Thang
Quick mosey over to the tennis court (since the field was occupied) and line up on the sideline for repeating line drills. Lines were the spaces between the courts + the end line on the far side. Every time you get to a “line” you stop and do an exercise. After each line drill perform various plankorama formations. Exercises were:

Merkins x10
Mountain Climbers – 2 count x10
Jump Squats x10
WWIIs x10
Burpees x5

Gallop over to the school for today’s variation of triple check. People’s Chair, LBCs, and the pace car bear crawled to the end of the world and back.

Four minutes of mary including V-ups, speed round of APDs, American Hammers, and Flutter Kicks.

Dart back to the flag where we all rung out our shirts and gloves, gathered for a counting exercise to 17 and then declared our F3 given names. YHC took us out with thoughts and prayers to all in our PAX that are recovering but specifically Viral. Keep him in your prayers.

Moleskin
YHC was performing his pre-workout ritual before leaving the house for WDog yesterday when he noticed that somehow the Mary Q was open for the following day. So YHC jumped on it, not having Q’d mary in quite some time. It was a pleasure to lead.

Speaking of pleasures, YHC gathered there were many pleasures out there today. Grunts, groans, and many thanks for the burpee count today. Evenly spaced out, YHC believes they weren’t too bad today.

Great to see TYA and Marv this morning. YHC thinks we were close to naming Marv’s dog from his FNG appearance 9 days ago but alas, still no declared name. Suggestions following some of the greatest calls in sports history will continue… to Vinny’s delight.

Way to push through everyone, not a great day for a high intensity workout.

YHC declares a moratorium on biscuit talk pre-workout.

Announcements
Puppy Pile at 7:05 on 9/28.
Retreat next weekend. Meet Vinny at the Lowes on 360 at 11am or text him for address.

Peace out fellas. Big Data is still watching…

17 gathered in the gloom at 45MOM this morning. In honor of all our kids returning to school, YHC decided to organize our routines around modifications of classic playground recess games. Here’s how it went down:

COP: SSHx25 // DQx20 // Helicoptersx10 // LBCsx15 // American Hammersx15 // Crabcakesx15

1st Playground Game: HOT LAVA: Triple Check. Partner 1: Hot Lava (Abyss) Merkins // Partner 2: WW2s on the tables // Parter 3: 2-count High Kneesx50

2nd Playground Game: FOUR SQUARE: Teams of 4 in each 4-square court, 1 guy in each square. 10 merkins, then shuffle counter clockwise to the next square. 10 wide grip merkins, then shuffle. 10 diamond merkins, then shuffle. 10 hitchhikers.

3rd Playground Game: STEAL THE BACON: Mosey to the field. YHC calls out a number 1 through 10, Pax then sprints to the tree of said number, performs said number of burpees, then sprints back to the start line. YHC then calls another number, and so forth.

4th Playground Game: DODGEBALL: Mosey to tennis courts, divide into 2 teams. Classic Dodgeball. If hit, run to the end of the courts, perform 5 burgess, run back and re-join the game. Team wins with most number of players on the court at the end of the time. Pax played 2 games, both games tied. Trophies for everyone!

Mosey back to the Flag for COP: LBCs // Heels to Heaven // Rosalitas // 6 inches

COT: Numberama, Namerama. YHC took us out.

NMS: It was pretty dark for dodgeball, but just light enough to see the ball whizzing toward your face. Good fun all around. Welcome Shaka from Charleston, evacuated here for the hurricane. Prayers for you and Charleston. Great work men!

20 determined alpha males posted for a mild workout on a lovely Thursday morning.

The Thang

Mosey to bus circle. Ascending/descending curb crawls to five. Mosey to corner, 20 SSH, 10 Don Quixotes, 20 LBC, 10 windmills, and 16 imperial walkers, Mosey down grove towards 3 chopt. Take a left into the alley behind the apartments, stopping to do some more merkins. Mosey the parking lot at First Pres Church (I can’t possibly spell presbyterian correctly). Teams of three for a triple check, run the parking lot, SSH and WWII setups. Mosey to parking spaces for a prisoner round or 4, merkins, copper head squats, jump squats and WWII situps. Mosey to other side of parking lot. Teams of two, one guy runs across the parking lot backwards both ways, other guys does monkey jumpers (thanks Splinter) . Mosey to back parking lot for a triple check. Run around the lot, WWII, and you guessed it SSH’s. Mosey to corner of Grove. 10 SSH and 10 WWII on your own. Back to the shovel flag and finish the beatdown.

NMM

Great work today guys. Yesterday at the BRR meeting someone mentioned I was Q’ing today and someone asked which church we were going to, Reveille or Dover Baptist. I woke up at 3am today and couldn’t fall back to stleep, so I had to find another church to go off site to. So on the way to the AO, I scouted out First Pres. Good news is there is plenty of parking lot there, bad news, there is almost no grass at all.

Lots of mumble chatter once I got stuck on the SSH and WWII setups. Therefore, I decided that I would keep with the exercises since everyone seemed to like them. By the end some of the PAX were convinced I was trying to make some kind of point about the merkin workout last week – not true. Others, folks that I thought were veteran leader type guys (SAAB and ROSIE in particular) just wanted to complain. The complaining did nothing but make more steadfast in my commitment to these two exercises (Swirly I am sure liked the consistency and commitment).

Great to meet Butterfly this morning. Dude had “Doctor Brooks” as a professor at VCU. He wholly endorsed “Doctor Brooks” professing skills. As such, a bunch of the PAX spent ten minutes trying to discredit “Doctor Brooks” (lots of talk about his Seinfeld shoes, upright alabama prom dates, and other of his unique approaches to exercise). Roxanne also posted for his second workout at Mary. Good to have him back out there.

Little bit of a crisis at the end the workout as Rosie could not get his car started. We were at a little bit of a disadvantage because neither Bleeder or Lug were there to rescue the situation. Being good learners though, we did hydrate the battery and reset the ground. To no avail, Rosies vehicle would not start. Since the auto parts store opened at 7am, he was shuttled there for a new battery. His car did start and he was able to get it to a shop, but his power steering wasn’t working. It was hilarious watching him try to wrestle his car through a three point turn to get out of the parking lot.

Great day to Everyone. TYA OUT