10 HIMs arrived ready to put in some work in beautiful City Park. 69 degrees, a nice breeze, and perfect conditions for a beatdown. One PAX headed out for a mosey while nine made their way to the Peristyle. We welcomed DR Show Me from South Carolina.

After arriving at the Peristyle, I began noticing the relative age of 9 of our group of 10. More on that later.

WOR
The usual suspects, plus some Crab Cakes. After demonstrating the exercise, I heard exactly what I was hoping for. “Mayhem, that’s not right. You touch your foot with your hand, not your knee.” BINGO. Triple took the bait.

Before he could finish, I fired back, “Triple, we’ve already discussed this. You’re wrong. I’ve researched it in the Exicon. Hand to knee.” My day was made. I had officially corrected Triple on proper exercise form. A moment I will cherish forever.

Finished WOR with Motivators, 10 down to 1. Note to future Qs: grass is preferable. Feet appreciate it.

THANG
Then, each PAX was instructed to grab a column. Or, according to Frac, bear-hug one.

A little 1:2:3 ladder:
1x Donkey Kick IC
2x Inchworm Merkins OYO
3x Air Presses OYO, holding People’s Chair for the Six
Worked up through 5x/10x/15x.

Mahatma called me out for failing to call cadence on the final round. Fair enough. His reward for keeping me honest? 10x burpees OYO for everyone. You’re welcome.

THANG
Great Lawn: Four Corners of Regret
Found a conveniently coned-off 25 × 50-yard rectangle. Twelve-minute AMRAP:

-10x BBSUs, then bear crawl to next cone
-15x HR Merkins, then mosey
-30x Bonnie Blairs, then crawl bear
-30x Squats, then run backward

Rinse and repeat until the clock showed mercy.

THANG
Castle of the Eye: Calf Work
-50x Rocky Balboas IC
-30x Calf Raises IC
-40x Rocky Balboas IC
-25x Calf Raises IC

THANG
Bench Pressing Our Luck
Grabbed some benches for a ridiculous amount of irkins and derkins, all IC.
First ladder: 1 irkin / 4 derkins, increasing to 4 / 16.
Reverse ladder: 1 derkin / 4 irkins, increasing to 4 / 16.
At one point, I said “Let’s take a few seconds and shake the arms out.” Mahatma’s reply: “No. No seconds. Let’s finish this.”

THANG
Great Lawn: Three-Man BOMBS

Groups of three for modified BOMBS.
PAX A performed the exercise. PAX B moseyed 50 yards to tag PAX C, who had been holding plank. PAX C then ran back to relieve PAX A. Rotate until every PAX completed each exercise.
Running, planking, reps, repeat. Nobody got comfortable.

THANG
An International Phenomenon. We all knew it would happen eventually.

Circled up in the middle of the Great Lawn, preparing for Mary, when our DR Show Me interrupted with a question:

“Can someone please tell me about this new exercise that’s been taking over F3 Nation? I think it’s called a Mayhem Merkin.”

Music. To. My. Ears.
Forget correcting Triple. This was now the highlight of my morning!

Apparently the Mayhem Merkin has crossed many state lines. The movement is growing. Next stop, the world.

Naturally, we obliged with Mayhem Merkins IC, followed by some Mary.

Returned to the flag for COT.

NOR revealed an interesting fact… Q of the day (45 years old) was the only PAX not to receive “RESPECT”! All of the RESPECTS were certainly well deserved.

NMM
-Shoutout to Chips for his recent consistency. Keep showing up!
-Great hearing Show Me encourage everyone to visit other AOs when traveling. One of the best things about F3 is finding brothers wherever you go.
-Beautiful weather, strong effort from 10 HIMs, a visitor from South Carolina, a rare victory over Triple, and confirmation that the Mayhem Merkin is sweeping the nation.

Hard to ask for a better morning.
Great to lead. Great to be led.

SYITG!