Conditions: 59°F, feels like 54°F with the lake breeze
The H8! returns 10/30, so YHC figured we’d better shake the rust off before the main event. Six brave PAX showed up for the test. Even @GlitterBalls joined us, apparently marathon training doesn’t resume until next week. He claims he’s trying to match @Smooth’s Chicago Marathon time. Ambitious. Some call him committed. Others… just call him ballsy.
WOR
Mosey across the street
WM, GG, short mosey, IW, HB, SSH, short mosey, PP, and ST.
Then YHC took a brief pause to explain to @Coxswain what a burp-merk ladder is. The look on his face said, “This is a bad idea.” So, 1 burpee with 8 hand release merkins later, we all remembered why this is called H8! practice.
What is H8! Practice?
It’s a simple concept: take something miserable and do it repeatedly.
Each lap (figure 8):
• Run south to the top of the levee
• Cross Canal (bear crawl the neutral ground)
• Run south to the bottom of the levee
• Cross Canal again
• Run north to the top of the levee
• Cross Canal again (yes, bear crawl the neutral ground… again)
• Run north back down the levee and across to the start
At the start, perform a descending burp-merk ladder beginning at 5 (burpee with 5 HRM → down to 1 HRM).
Lap 2 starts at 4.
Lap 3 at 3.
You get the idea. The math is simple.
Goal: 5 laps in 25 minutes, because this is only practice.
To “enjoy” this session you’ll need to complete:
• Almost 2 miles of hill running
• 345 yards of bear crawls
• 15 burpees
• 35 merkins
The Launch Pad (H8! Course Start):
After YHC’s detailed explanation of the course, @Rudy decided it was the perfect time to scout the levee, 30 seconds before the start, off he went.
Then the rest of us were off! Everything went smoothly until @Coxswain pulled a NASCAR move and took a right instead of a left after the first bear crawl across Latoya’s sidewalk. A brief reroute later, the World of H8! was restored to order.
Post-H8! Therapy:
A recovery mosey along the lake followed, enjoyed the waves crashing, it was “active recovery.”
We found a dry spot for plank-o-rama, building up to the legendary MAYHEM MERKIN. @Coxswain, having heard the legends, was eager for the firsthand experience. YHC delivered, because YHC doesn’t let a brother down.
6:15 – COT / COR / NOR
Announcements:
10/30 H8! — The Main Event
1/18 LA Marathon
Intentions:
For life’s transitions — especially for our children navigating new chapters.
Naked Moleskin:
Everyone was a winner today.
You vs. You. Just show up. Push yourself. And try not to hate yourself too much in the process.
@Rudy asked the question on everyone’s mind: “Where is @CheeseSteak?” Still pending.
Let’s push for 20 PAX next week at H8!, because suffering is better when shared.
SYITG
