Author: Rudy

  • Relay Thursday – from Shooter

    Arriving early at the Scramble with no one in sight, YHC wondered what the mild less humid gloom would bring in terms of attendance.. I admittedly had taken the wrong pill a few times this week but the accountability of leading a beatdown would not win on this day.. After a few minutes Zoolander rolls in then Pelican and Waterpik emerge from the darkness. With Cowbell turning the corner at 0513 Q then knew his planned beatdown would hopefully be welcomed by at least 1 PAX. As the warmup began phat Johnson joined in taking a lesson from Waterpik running to the AO..
    Warmup 10IC Grass grabbers, Scorpion kicks, wife pleasers, windmills, mummy kicks, Butt kicks and self love… Journeyed our normal course corralling at Messina and Monroe. Partnered up for relay sprints P1 50-75% roughly a hundred yards then returning at 100% while P2 held plank. F/F 5 rounds then journeyed back through the Hermitage at back to the shovel flag. ISI was on tap with 7 mins remaining. 50 squats, 50 wife pleasers, 50 leg lunges, 50 calf raises, 10 pistol squats and 10 Modified Bulgarians using our beautiful pine trees by the park..

    PAX wrapped up with announcements, intentions for Cowbells friend and Q closed the COT..

    Appreciate you men posting and till the next Gloom 👍🏼👊🏼✌🏼!!!

  • Cinco de Mayo – from Hokie

    Sandy, Sweetness and Rosie greeted 7 Pax and Weee Little Sand Bag for a Cinco de Mayo celebration today.

    Hope you enjoyed the Cinco Celebration after some loosening up lead by Left Coast

    @Triple Shift
    @Scott Landry
    @Fracsac
    @Vagabond
    @Vince Kenner bruh

    The Thang

    Seven stations with the first station being the timer

    1. station one – cinco de Mayo – 5 segments 1.1agility ladder
    1.2 bear crawl
    1.3 Sprint
    1.4 Burpees (Cinco de Mayo – 5 of course)
    1.5 Sprint back

    2. Bear crawl pulling 80# sand bag

    3. Lunges with 60# sand bag

    4. Curls with 45# sand bag

    5. Motivators (cinco de Mayo… start with 5!)

    6. Shoulder taps

    7. Squat, clean & jerk, shoulder press with 60# sand bag

    Rotate … 5 rounds

    1. High knees through agility ladder
    2. SSH
    3. High knees going left
    4. High knees going right

    Ran out of time

  • Acronyms, Blockees and Bears Oh My! – from Fracsac

    10 Pax made a choice to take the DRP on their journey to get right and posted to Swolefest wondering what awesomeness YHC had in store. With each Pax possessing a coupon, a shovel flag planted, disclaimer was given, then:

    Warmup

    SSH IC x 31
    GG IC x 10
    Hillbillies IC x 15
    Bat wings with AC, SC, OHC, MNC all IC x 15 (dancing during Moroccan NC)
    Self Love to shake it all off

    Mosey to the parking lot with a little extra room for a real #CrowdPleaser

    COP 1 – Block Webbs!
    1 Merkin on Coupon, followed by 2 block presses
    2 merkins, 4 block presses, so forth and so on until 10 merkins and 20 block presses.

    COP 2: BOMBS (OYO)
    Blockees x 10 (Manmaker, aka burpee with a block)
    Run across the street to the cones and bear crawl the 20 yard course, run back.
    Overhead presses x 20
    Bear Crawl course
    Merkins on the coupon x 30
    Bear Crawl course
    Bicep Curls x 40
    Bear Crawl course
    Squats x 50
    Bear Crawl course

    COP 3 – BLIMPS
    Blockees x 5 (Manmaker, aka burpee with a block)
    Bear Crawl course
    Lunges x 10 w/o coupon
    Bear Crawl course
    Imperial Walkers x 15 w/o coupon
    Bear Crawl course
    Merkins x 20 w/o coupon
    Bear Crawl course
    Plank Jacks x 25 on Coupon
    Bear Crawl course
    Squats x 30 with Coupon
    Bear Crawl course

    All finished and then completed a 1 minute plank

    COT

    NMM

    -YHC saw an opening at Swolefest and took the Q! What a great group of Pax! Sign up and bring some heat! YHC brought some simple stuff, yet none of it was easy!
    -It’s great to travel to various AO’s and see other Pax! We even had a surprise visit from Pop Tart while out moseying with the dog. He stopped for some merkins and then disappeared into the gloom….
    -Coffeteria at the newly reopened PJ’s on Metry Road with Pax from the View.

    Thanks for the opportunity to be a part of this awesome brotherhood!

  • Leg-Free Bad Boy Day – from Rudy

    Looking for ideas, YHC was stunned to realize that April 30th was the 60th birthday of the original Bad Boy: Isaiah Thomas of the Detroit Pistons. This definitely made me feel old. How can he be 60 already? Surely I cannot really be that old? But alas, things are what they are. But to remember the 60 year old “Bad Boys”, YHC decided on a 6-6-6 workout.

    5:30: Disclaimer, then mosey to the rock pile to find a friend. YHC has been dealing with hip pain, so this was going to very very heavy on upper body. Choose wisely. Head to the field.

    Warm Up: SSH, Plank-o-rama, some stretching.

    The Thang: 6 Exercises. 6 Sets. 6 Reps. Starting at Tree 0 – Rifle carry your rock to Tree 1 for the first set. Then on to Tree 2. Tree 3. Back to Tree 2. Tree 1. Finish up at Tree 0 with your 6th set. Plank. No really, none of this lolly-gagging and catching your breath when you finish. Plank. Active recovery. There will be time for real recovery when the 6 arrives.

    The exercises. All are Compound Movements (Thinking of you Milkman…)

    * Rock Burpees.
    * Curls: Up, Down, Straight arm Up, Down
    * Bench Press: lie down. Over your head. Straight up, down to chest, back up, back to overhead.
    * Elf on a Shelf
    * Row to Deadlift
    * Big Boy Situps

    That took much longer than anticipated, so we had time to return the rocks (rifle carry back to the pit) and head back to the flag.

    Thank you all for the opportunity to lead. Thanks to Boo Boo for the reminder the night before that I had the Q! And Happy Birthday to Bad Boy Thomas (# 11), as well as Happy Birthday to the great state of Louisiana.

  • Burp or Merk – ND Trivia Day

    As most of the PAX may be aware, YHC is a wee bit of an ND fan. And today’s a big day – #1 Clemson coming to town. As most of the PAX are also aware, and happy to remind YHC, Notre Dame does not exactly have a stellar record in these kinds of games. But perhaps the PAX don’t know just how abysmal the record is. They will soon learn.

    Good crowd of 16 at the Mothership. Weather is delightful – summer heat is definitely gone. Just a few orange shirts in the group (looking at you Sogo and Pop Tart). Not sure if they did that just to spite me, but I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt. No other green to be seen among the PAX. I will not forget that.

    The Thang

    Mosey to the lawn in front of NOMA. Start with SSH x27. Why x27? Because 27 years ago was the last Irish victory against a #1 ranked team (ND 31 – FSU 24 in 1993).

    A few other warm ups, then lets introduce the game of “Burps or Merks”. YHC will call on a PAX to answer a question. Answer it correctly? 5 Merks for the PAX. Answer it wrong? 5 Burpees for the PAX.

    And the theme? Notre Dame’s record in the last 20 games against Top 5 competition.

    • How many wins does ND have? Lots of burpees (including doubling up b/c Side Effects repeated a previous incorrect answer) before YHC had to provide the answer: 1 win. Yes, we are 1-19 in our last 20 games. Sigh.
    • Who beat us the most in that span? More burpees until Catfish saved the day – USC has beat us 5 times.
    • Who is the 1 win against? More burpees – until Snooze tossses out the correct answer of Michigan.
    • YHC now tries to end the game to move on, but PAX keep throwing out more teams that beat us. More Merks for right answers, and more Burpees for wrong answers (no, Oklahoma has not had their way against us in this particular streak)

    Finally – enough of those burpees.

    So lets do some more burpees.

    The Current 11 Game Losing Streak

    Yes, ND is currently on an 11 game losing streak against top 5 teams. What else goes with 11? That’s right – the Route 66. 11 Lightposts with burpees. 1 at the first, 2 at the second, etc… (SOGO seemed unclear on the concept so YHC took the time to help by explaining all the way up to 11).

    The Overall Deficit in those 11 Games

    Partner up, for some modified Dora. The total score in that 11 game losing streak? YHC now forgets the actual number but its roughly Bad Guys 380, ND 160. Yes, we are more than doubled up over those 11 games. So lets Dora. 160 Monkey Humpers, 380 LBCs. The other PAX bear crawl 3 trees and run back.

    Then back to the Great Lawn.

    Something Else

    Change of Pace. This week, Sean Connery – the original 007 – passed away. A quick round of Burp or Merk to guess how many James Bond films he was in. 5 Burpees for a wrong guess, then the right answer of “7”.

    • Home Base – Dr. No, the first flick. After each other exercise, return home for 7 Dr. Ws. Thanks Side Effects for the demonstration.
    • The Exercises – around the great lawn, 6 stations for his other six JB flicks. Multiples of 7 for Diamond Merks (Diamonds are Forever), Russian Twists (From Russia with Love) and others.
    • Another quick Burp or Merk for guessing who was 2nd and 3rd in most JB appearances.

    Finally – one of YHC’s favorite time-wasting flicks: The Rock. Sean Connery crawling around under Alcatraz with Nicholas Cage. Lets bear crawl across the lawn.

    Mosey back to the flag. Its 7:30.

    NMM

    Thanks, everyone, for putting up with my never-ending ND drivel. Just hope that ND doesn’t actually win one of these games, as I may become insufferable if that were to happen.

    Its quite humbling, and inspiring to watch this group. You guys are STRONG. Thank you for pushing. SOGO: I heard the “Way To Go Rudy” as you ran back to the center after the Diamond Merks. Those little encouraging words and pushes are what keep me going. I’d encourage all of the PAX to remember that – push, and ENCOURAGE. Remember – leave no man behind, but LEAVE NO MAN WHERE YOU FOUND HIM.

    Prayers especially for Hokie’s Mom. May God be with her, with the whole family, as they start this next journey.

  • Virtual Workout – 4/10/202: Stations of the Cross

    Good Friday. Lets walk the Stations of the Cross together.

    Zoom: https://rasa.zoom.us/j/7570546234

    The Warmup

    Windmills, Grass Grabbers x10. SSH, IW x25.

    The Thing

    Walking the 14 Stations of the Cross. 3:00 for each station: 90 seconds of exercise – push for the full time, but keep your form. Then walk the path – lunge walk for 60 seconds (Form! Knee to the grass). Remaining 00:30 recovery until the next station.

    If you don’t need the 00:30 recovery – please modify by extending the exercise time, or by extending the lunge walk. 3:00 per station is the target.

    Station #1: Jesus condemned by Pontius Pilate. Peter-Parker-Peters

    Station #2: Jesus picks up his cross. Merkins

    Station #3: Jesus Falls the first time. Burpees

    Station #4: Jesus meets his mother, Mary. Big Boy situps

    Station #5: Simon helps Jesus shoulder the cross. Slow Squats

    Station #6: Veronica wipes the face of Jesus. V-Ups

    Station #7: Jesus falls the second time. Burpees

    Station #8: Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem. Hello Dolly

    Station #9: Jesus falls the third time. Burpees

    Station #10: Jesus is stripped of his garments. Jump Squats

    Station #11: Jesus is nailed to the cross. T-Merkins (reach for the sky, and as you are stretched in that position recall the agony of Jesus)

    Station #12: Jesus dies on the cross. Genuflects (hands behind head. Down to one knee, down to both knees, back up to one knee, back to standing up. Over and over again).

    Station #13: Jesus is taken down from the cross. Dips

    Station #14: Jesus is laid in the tomb. Low Plank. Hold as long as you can before going on final round of lunge walks.

    The End

    Thank you all for the opportunity to lead. I look forward to when we can do this in person again together.

  • Its 40, not 400

    A few weeks ago, YHC saw a backblast referencing a “traditional Okwata workout” that involved the levee and some exercises. As the children’s game of telephone illustrates, as word gets passed from one PAX to another, sometimes the message gets tweaked as it gets passed along. And looking at the calendar, YHC realized it had been exactly 1 full year since some brave okwata souls (looking at you JV, FracSac, mmmBop and Surge) survived a freezing cold day for the last (and 6th) running of the 40. A whole new troupe of PAX has arrived since then and had never had the pleasure of listening to me babble aimlessly while running back and forth and back and forth over the levee. So – lets do it!

    Quick disclaimer (actually, upon reflection – I think I forgot the disclaimer), then off. Breadsticks, speaking on behalf of all of Lakeview, pleaded to steer clear of the grass and the ants. YHC, speaking on behalf of YHC, thought for a minute and led the PAX to the grass, ants and levee. (Fortunately – I think the ants were sleeping).

    Circle up for SSH, IW, and some stretching to get warmed up. Then explain the background and premise. Background – inspired by U2 “40” which YHC still claims is the best closing song for a concert ever. The PAX, led by Kuch, wondered who this “U2” was, and claim never to have heard such a song. Kids today. But – we’re going over the levee 40 times. 10 exercises, each in 4 sets – going over the levee between each set. 40 trips over the levee, 40 exercise sets.

    And the best part – YHC gets to throw in 40 Facts and Figures. And to clarify for Ya Mom’n’Dem: YHC does not vouch for the accuracy of any said facts and figures. All have been googled, and located on at least one website. So there’s that.

    Today’s 10 exercises:

    Irish Jackasses: Thanks, Screw Top, for a nice new addition! These really suck when combined with running over a levee. Maybe next time, ST ought to show up.

    Cross Fit Merkins: Or Clap merkins, for those (Shuffles) who thing Cross Fit is for sissies.

    Big Boy Situps: Jingle Vader notices that YHC was doing these in the downhill direction on the first set. Noted, and corrected.

    Bobby Hurleys (Or Squat Jumps for those who don’t know who Bobby Hurley is, which apparently is most of the LVCC)

    Low Country Crabs: If only Yankee ever made it to Okwata

    Shuffles, a 20 count por favor

    Box Cutters: YHC kept plenty of distance from Triple Shift. That’s a longer story for yet another day. Jingle Vader plays the role of Triple Shift (again) in critiquing the shape of YHC’s boxes.

    Imperial Squat Walker: PAX stage a revolt, so YHC caves and lowers the count from 10 IC to 5 IC (10 Squats) out of fear. Still plenty of squats to burn the calves

    Catalina Wine Mixers: Way out in front, YHC saw Holy Grove and Triple Shift absolutely killing it. YHC was happy to be able to stay in front of Shorty, though. Maybe if Shorty showed up a little more regularly.

    American Hammer: Shorty and Surge thankful to get one useful fact for the day, as we talked about Hulk Hogan vs Iron Sheik (HH was Bacchus 40)

    8 Count Body Builders: JV chooses this exercise to round out the day.

    Finish at 6:14. Sheetrock does his best SOGO impression and finds a pothole on the run back to the flag – but keeps his balance and lives to fight another day. 5 Burpees OYO

    Circle up at the end. RRR coming soon, find a team and get signed up. Run. Run. Run. Prayers offered – we remember all of those intentions then finish with Psalm 40 (the inspiration behind the inspiration)

    Thanks for letting me lead, and until the next 40!

  • The Day After

    LSU 45 – Clemson 28. And it seemed like it could have been much much worse than that.

    Tuesday morning, YHC expected a lighter-than-normal crowd at the Stomp, as many PAX would undoubtedly still be sleeping off the after-effects of The Stomping. And YHC wasn’t disappointed. OK, maybe a bit disappointed but not surprised.

    In the pea-soup, 8 hardy PAX arrived for their morning workout. 7 Regulars and 1 out of towner (welcome, 49er from Kentucky – and Thanks Hokie Pokey for shuttling another Hokie around!)

    30 Minute run down the typical route. 15 mins out and 15 mins back. Then lets get to the track. Holygrove bravely takes off with Shuffles and Catfish – I suspect he quickly regretted that decision. Eventually YHC caught up to him, and enjoyed the rest of the run – thanks for the F2 along the way! And thanks to Woz for pacing and pushing us!

    At the track for some speed work. But first – a brief recollection of this remarkable season

    • First 15-0 Season
    • Second Heisman Trophy Winner
    • Fourth National Championship

    Yup, 1-2-4. Sounds like a Ladder. So – lets finish up with the Sprint Ladder. 100, 200, 400, 200, 100 yard sprints. In between each, 100yd mosey/walk to recover.

    Back to the track for COT – prayers for discipline for all of us in facing our challenges, and for Mr. Holygrove (Alvin) in particular during his recovery.

  • Poker Run

    Its the game all the new cool kids are playing.

    “A poker run is an organized event in which participants, usually using motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, boats, snowmobiles, horses, on foot or other means of transportation, must visit five to seven checkpoints, drawing a playing card at each one. “

    YHC has previously over-estimated the PAX’s ability to listen to and understand directions. And YHC was afraid that this particular set of instructions was going to be beyond the attention span of the PAX. The PAX were warned that this was going to require attention. And all but Angie’s List seemed willing to give it a shot.

    Quick warmup with some SSH (x31 – to celebrate 31 years since ND’s last National Championship. YHC promised this would be the only ND reference during the workout) and Windmills.

    Then – PAX assume plank position while YHC explains the game. The more backtalk and sass, the longer we stay in plank position. Except Jingle Vader. JV apparently has some objection to Plank, so he stood in the Vertical Plank with arms crossed.

    The Rules: there are 5 stations around the park. See the map. At each station there are some cards (playing cards) and a card (workout card). Each group picks a playing card, and the workout card tells you what to do (which exercise, how many reps).

    Each team visits each of the stations, getting 5 cards. OK, there were other rules too. But I don’t need to go through them all here. The 3 teams (Hawg, King Kong and Bongo; Douille, Angie’s List, Jingle Vader; Catfish, Rudy, iHeart, Da Parish) each took off.

    5 Stations with Legs, Planks, Merks, Abs, Burpees. Side note: drawing the Ace of Hearts and its 30 8 Count Body Builder reward kind of sucked. Thanks Catfish.

    OK, its about 7:20 and everyone is back in the Great Lawn with 5 cards. Circle up for opportunities to replace cards.

    Monkey Humpers: Do Monkey Humbers for longer than YHC, and your team can exchange a card. Rudy got to x40. Hawg, King Kong and Bongo tapped out after 2, and assumed the Al Gore position of shame.

    Plank: Plank longer than Rudy and your team can exchange a card. Rudy got to about 90 seconds. Hawg, King Kong and Bongo tapped out after about 10 seconds.

    Burpees: Everyone on your team get 10 burpees in less than a minute? Exchange 1 card. Hawg, King Kong and Bogo tapped out at exactly 9 burpees each.

    NOTE: Everyone should have realized something by this point.

    The Wager: Each team automatically antes 10 burpee. Winner does no burpee, losing teams pay the bet. Douille, Angie’s List and Jingle Vader call the lazy triplets at 25 Burpees. While Catfish et. al. ponder their move, Hawg announces the natural full house they pulled. Fortunately, that allowed Catfish et. al. to Fold and only pay a 15 burpee penalty.

    Congrats to the winners who SWEAR they drew 3 7s and 2 10s blind.

    Thanks all for giving this a shot!