Tag: Mahatma

  • Its march, must be basketball time

    It’d been several months, but YHC was ready to get back to business. Unfortunately, in the meantime – apparently YHC had forgotten many aspects of how to Q, and the PAX was always ready and willing to point out his many mistakes and flaws. Oh well. You get what you pay for….

    Arriving at 6:20, YHC enjoyed some good F2 with the early arriving PAX. Slowly but surely a good size crew pulled in, and as 6:30 rolled around, the crew of 19 set off towards the east – enjoying the pink and orange hues from the sunrise as we moseyed towards the lawn in front of the museum.

    Warm up:

    • SSH x25 (Here comes Coxswain – he seems to think the workouts start at 6:35)
    • Smurf Jack x20 (Mumblechatter about “Smurf Jack” and “Cowbell” seemed rampant)
    • Hillbilly x25 (Bogey decided to point out some flaw in YHC’s form.  YHC thought his form was perfectly adequate.)
    • ISW x20

    Its March, leading up to the NCAA tournament.  So lets talk basketball…

    Thing 1: Notre Dame reference, of course.  Wednesday Night, YHC making dinner and turns on the TV to discover ND playing Va Tech.  Early in the second half, ND is down by 21 and looking terrible.  End of second half, ND is up by 5 and celebrating.

    • Peter Parker x21, 5 Merkins
    • Parker Peter x21, 5 Merkins
    • Shoulder Taps x21, 5 Merkins
    • Floyd Maywether x21, 5 Merkins

    Little did he know at the time, but our FNG is a Va Tech fan.  Sorry (but not really) about that.

    Thing 2: 2000s and the advent of the “1-and-done”- 1 year of college bball before moving on to the pros.  Anthony Davis wins national championship and Final Four MVP.  Then on to the Pelicans.

    PAX splits into 3 groups for the “1-and-done Indian Run”.  Each group runs from the front of the Museum out to Wisner, then back and on to the Refinery.  The “1-and-done” part: the last PAX drops for 1 Burpee before sprinting to the front of the line.  Each PAX seems to get about 5 burpees in during the run.

    Thing 3: Duke and the dreaded “Bobby Hurley”.  Dang them and their slap-the-floor approach to defensive intensity, epitomized by Bobby Hurley in the early 1990s.  PAX pair up – 10 groups.  YHC fumbles a bit trying to get the 10 exercises ordered to intermix legs, arms, and core.  YHC fails miserable.  Many PAX point out YHC failings.  YHC perseveres.

    • 15 Bobby Hurleys (the timer)
    • Box Jumps
    • Ski Jumps
    • Pull Ups
    • Step Ups
    • Dips
    • Mountain Climbers
    • Rows
    • Knee Ups
    • Merkins

    Repeat for 2 cycles.  Bobby Hurleys followed by Box Jumps followed by Ski Jumps: that’s a bad ordering of exercises.  Note to self to try and avoid that next time.

    Mosey to the great lawn

    Thing 3a: Quick Pitstop at the Tool Wall for 25 Calf Raises and 25 Monkey Humpers.  Just because.  Mosey on to the great lawn and plank in the center for the 6.

    Thing 4: Dean Smith and the 4 Corner offense.  OYO – 8 8-count-body builders at each of the 4 corners around the great lawn.  Start where ever, go in whichever direction.  YHC doesn’t care.  Just get to each corner and do 8.  Go.  El Guapo had to be reminded what a “corner” is.  its not the straight away.  Its the corner.

    Return to the center to plank for the 6.

    Thing 5: Fab 5 from Michigan – we’ll do the Ab 5

    • Ray Jackson (the lesser known member): LBC x25 (because YHC couldn’t think of a J ab exercise, though several astute PAX later pointed out the J-Lo….
    • Jimmy King: flutter Kick x25
    • Jalen Rose: dying cockRoach x25
    • Juwan Howard: american Hammer x20 (YHC feeling the pain…)
    • Chris Weber: that’s right, the dr. W x10

    Thing 6: Nolan Richardson and Arkansas “40 minutes of Hell”.  PAX finish with our version of “4 minutes of hell”.  Suicides across the great lawn OYO for 4 minutes.  Go.

    Mosey to the VSF (20 PAX and we have a VSF?  Where are the flags?!?!?!?)

    Count-off, Name-o-rama.  YHC told he is doing it wrong (which, apparently, he is).  Naming of our FNG – was “Papa Bear” (celebrating his brood of 3 married children and youngest 9 year old), until we realize that “Papa Bear” is already claimed.  So late pivot, naming him “Hokie Pokey” for his Va Tech connections.

    Announcements (Thursday Night Basin Run, next week’s Tough Mudder).  Intentions and Prayer to close.  Today’s scripture is the parable of the pharisee and tax collector praying in the temple.  Jesus instructs us to pray as the tax collector, humbly.  Lord, teach us to be humble.  Lead by our example, not by our words.

    Gentlemen, thank you for the opportunity to lead.

  • RED Friday – Captain Dan Whitten

    This RED Friday Workout was in honor of Captain Dan Whitten.

    Army Captain Dan Whitten, 28, of Grimes, Iowa, assigned to the 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, based out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina, died February 2, 2010, when enemy forces in Zabul, Afghanistan, attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device. Whitten is survived by his wife, Starr Whitten, his mother, Jill Whitten, his father, Dan Whitten, and his sister, U.S. Army Captain Sarah Whitten.

    Warm-up:’

    Imperial Walkers x 10

    Then YHC turned it over to Abacus to complete the warm-up:

    SSH x 20; Windmills x 20; Low Slow Squats x 20; Arm Circles x 15 forward x 15 back

    The Thang:

    22 Kettlebell swings; 22 box jumps; 400 meter run; 22 burpees; 22 Squat Thrusters.

    Do as many rounds of the above as possible in 30 minutes.

    Moleskin

    • Great work today.  Everyone finished at least 3 rounds.  Mahatma was a beast, completing four rounds in honor of a friend with very serious health issues.
    • Kobains for the box jumps on the wall.  Not the safest exercise.
    • Great job by Abacus leading the workout. Come support him next Friday for his VQ.

     

  • The leadership principle of Humility

    HUMILITY
    hu·mil·i·ty
    /(h)yo͞oˈmilədē/

    Definition –  Not thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less

     

    When I saw the slot still open for the Q at the foundry on Tuesday, I had to sign up.  Especially since I told Walleye that I would bring the flag.  It might surprise you that this was my VQ at the Foundry so I had to make it good.  I was looking for inspiration while causing some perspiration and Mathlete suggested that I check out www.pushjerk.com.  A quick perusal of the website brought the pain this midday morning.

     

    WARMUP

    30 SSH x IC, 20 Hillbilly x IC, 15 Windmills and 10 arm circles (front and back).

     

    THE THANG

    A) 3 rounds / 3 minutes each round / 45 second rest

    7 SSH, 7 Mountain Climbers and 7 Jump Squats – AMRAP in the 3 minutes

    The goal was to at least get 6 rounds in the 3-minute time limit.  Mahatma Ice and Cowbell left the Q and the PAX in the dust!  Well done!

    Cool down with a quick 400 mosey to catch our breath.

    B) Next up was the Genuflect / Lt. Dan.  Instead of a 1 squat to 2 lunge ratio, we got down on our knees and got back up and coupled it with the lunge sequence.  Genuflect up to 7 and bear crawl back.

    C) Jack Webb

     

    MARY

    30 x IC Flutter Kick, 20 x IC LBC and 15 x IC Dying Cockroach.

    3 minutes of ‘Get on Up’ and 2 minutes of the Dying Worm (my core is still sore).

     

    CIRCLE OF TRUST

    For my inspiration, I told the story of Booker T. Washington and his character of humility.  Being leaders we are called to leave any pretense at the door and look to serve others.  Check out the story below.

    http://www.midnightangel308.com/real_lesson_in_humility_a.htm

    Countoff, Namerama and Prayers for Fracsac’s aunt dealing with cancer, Tool’s son Brady and all the special needs families and my employee who was diagnosed with moderate to severe Emphysema and can no longer work.  Thank you for the honor of leading!

     

     

  • Double Dir-TAYY Mac Deuce

    Pre-Thang:  Weather was awesome 70-ish with the temp, a little humid but nothing crazy.  Ground was wet from Friday rains – perfect for something on your six.

    My first workout ever with OBT was a Dirty MacDeuce.  It makes me happy every time.  Happy in an I hate you but I love you kind of way.  So on past Saturdays I have often done a regular old Dirty MacDeuce.  I have done other things — Rounds with Tyson, 11’s, the Route 66, the baseball diamond, deck of death, etc but I have always loved the total body workout given by a MacDeuce.  So I wanted to one up it – and I Q’d a Double Dirty Mac.

    The Thang:  Mosey to the big Quad.  Here we did a SSH x 20, Merks x 20, Imperial Walker Squats x 20, Low SLow Squats x 20.

    LOOOONG Mosey to the track.  Through some puddles.  Tried to go around then at some point it was too much so we just went through the muck.

    Once at the track we did some LBCs just to rest from the long Mosey.  Then we went straight into the DMac.

    Lap with backwards run at the end — Circle we did:  Staggered Merks, Roaches, Reg Squats x 12

    Lap with kerioke at the end —  Circle we did:  Staggered Merks – Right, Freddie Merks, Lunge x 12

    Lap with butt kicks at the end — Circle we did:  Diamond Merks, Iron Cross, Lunges to the side x 12

    Lap with high skips at the end — Circle we did:  Plank Walk, Pickle Pounders, Lunge backwards x 12

    Started to worry about time so the 2nd mac deuce we had to double up all exercises.

    First lap Indian Run.  Second lap on your own.

    We did x 24 Mat Jumps (had to make up 4 at the end), Russian Twists, and Shoulder Taps

    2 full laps – at your own pace

    We did x 24 Hip Dips, x 24 Nolan Ryans, x 24 Low Country Crab

    We did it!  With 5 min to the buzzer and mumblechatter holding my feet to the fire about the “time email”  we walked to the street and ran to the flag.

    We arrived at exactly 730am.  Good job men.   We logged 3.6 miles.

    Rudy arrived from his LONG run just in time for the Circle

    Immediately after I couldn’t stay for coffee – I had to hustle to the 504k race.

    COT:  For Splash.  For friends who are sick.

    Thanks for letting me lead.

     

     

  • QuadraOkwata

    When it’s cold out, the wind from Okwata makes it colder. When it’s humid with no wind, it’s just really humid. The Pax was treated with a light breeze that kept the temperature quite remarkable, while keeping the fog at bay. YHC arrived a few minutes early to plant the shovel flags, one for our Country and one for our Nation! Before long, 3 other Pax arrived, so it was time to give the disclaimer…..and then….

    Mosey to the mardi gras fountain, take a quick lap around it, then circle up on the grass in front for:

    SSH IC x 31
    Imperial SW IC x 10
    Abe Vigodas IC x 10
    Mountain Climbers IC x 20
    Peter Parker IC x 20
    Parker Peter IC x 20

    Mosey to the fountain for an Okwata favorite, especially given the return of Surge!

    Double Shots with Jack Webb at the Barre!

    1 merkin with 2 air presses (aka double shot) in the peoples chair against the railing at the fointain.
    2 merkins with 4 air presses in peoples chair
    3 merkins with 6 air presses….
    You get the idea….
    10 merkins with 20 air presses…..

    Mosey to the House of Pain for Stations:

    Station 1: Squats AMRAP
    Station 2: Dips AMRAP
    Station 3: Pull Ups AMRAP
    Station 4: Bear crawl up levee, do 5 burpees and run back to HOP (Timer)

    Mosey to Canal for a modified Dora, so partner up:
    100 burpees
    100 LBT’s
    100 Jump Sqauts

    Pax 1: Does exercise
    Pax 2: Run lap
    Flap Jack until exercises complete

    This turned into 25 burpees for each pax twice (getting to 50 each) to make it the 100, and a few more laps to each get to the LBT’s and Jump Squats. Good thing we had the best of F3 nation present to keep it from going south! The laps took a bit longer than expected. YHC should have remembered how awful it was from the last indian run!

    Mosey back to flags for some Mary

    Flutter Kicks IC x 20
    Tin Snips IC x 20
    Dying Cockroach IC x 20
    Hello Dolly IC x 20

    0615, so time for the COT

    Countoff, name-o-rama, announcements, intentions and closed with a prayer.

    NMM
    YHC got lucky today with the Q on the fly. The modified Dora could have been bad, but lucky for YHC the pax kept it on track. Lesson Learned? Probably nothing…..
    T-Claps for all the prayers and thoughts in regard to Mahatma’s grandson, which is Disclaimers son. He’s out of the hospital and doing well!

    Thanks for posting with me today!

  • Perfect Weather at Okwata

    YHC arrived a few minutes early at the AO to proudly plant our newly built shovel flags, one of which is an F3 Flag! YHC would have attached it some lame way to a shovel and called it good, but why do that when we have the masterful Tool in our ranks! T-Claps to Tool for the solid design!
    As the clock struck 0530, we had 4 Pax committed to improving themselves ready to rock! A brief Disclaimer…..and then…

    The Thang

    Mosey around the mardi gras fountain, carioca left, then knee highs, then carioca right. Circle up on the grass in front of the fountain for the warmup:

    SSH IC x 31
    Imperial Squat Walkers IC x 10
    Sun Gods IC x 20 (10 fwd, 10 bwd)
    Abe Vigodas IC x 10

    Next Up, An Okwata favorite! We’re going to mosey up to the Barre for some double shots with Jack Webb! Where are you Surge? It just doesn’t feel right without you!

    1 Merkin, 2 air presses in peoples chair
    2 merkins, 4 air presses in peoples chair
    you get the idea…
    10 merkins, 20 air presses in peoples chair

    Mosey to the HOP (House Of Pain)

    4 Pax, 4 Stations!

    Station 1 – Squats AMRAP
    Station 2 – Step Ups AMRAP
    Station 3 – Pull Ups AMRAP
    Station 4 – Run across the levee, complete 5 burpees, and run back (Timer)
    Rinse and Repeat!

    YHC needs some more running, and some conditioning….the holidays and then mardi gras have set YHC back! We have just the thing:

    Dirty Mac Deuce…..Okwata Style!

    This is a routine of 4 sets of 3 x 12 four count exercises all IC (One chest, one leg and one core) with a lap between each set. Our lap was an Indian Run up and over and back on Canal between Lakeshore Drive and Amethyst Street.

    Set One
    Merkins x 12
    Copperhead Squats x 12
    WW2 Situps x 12

    Indian Run (That sucked…)

    Set Two
    Catalina Wine Mixers x 12 (Ok, so this is a 6 count, but had to work it in)
    Lunges x 12
    Tin Snips x 12

    Indian Run (Still sucked, probably even a little worse..)

    Set Three
    Shoulder Taps x 12
    Monkey Humpers x 12
    Flutter Kicks x 12

    Indian Run (Didn’t think it could get any worse…until YHC realized we still had another one to do)

    Set Four
    Copperhead Merkins x 12
    Squats x 12
    LBC’s x 12

    Indian Run – Why can’t it be 0615 yet????? Why the heck would we do an Indian Run between sets? Who came up with this idea anyway?!? YHC didn’t think there was enough gas left in the tank, but the Pax pushed me to finish it!

    Mosey back to the Shovel Flags (that’s right, plural) for the COT

    Count Off, Name-o-rama, Announcements, Intentions, and closed with a prayer.

    NMM

    YHC had Map My Run going this morning, and each Pax did 2.4 miles that can be added to RRR. The weather was perfect at the Lakefront, not too hot, not too cold. There was a certain mugginess hanging in the foggy air, but not the summer humidity we will all come to dread soon enough.

    Thanks for posting with me this morning, and for pushing me!

  • Endymion Mambo #3

    Despite a likely chance of rain in the forecast, 14 PAX made their way to The Mothership for the annual Endymion Mambo workout.  Skies were clear which allowed YHC to stick to the weinke and not resort to plan B.  The usual pleasantries exchanged, including a shout out to Fracsac for procuring a new shovel flag w/the official F3 flag…now we’re legit!  Here’s what we did:

    Carpi lap around The Great Lawn then mosey to The Peristyle for some Mardi Gras music and festive warmup with a theme to be figured out as we go:

    • Copperhead Squats x20
    • Arm Circle x20
    • Rosalitas x20
    • Nolan Ryans x10R x10L
    • Imperial Walkers x20
    • V-ups x20
    • Abe Vigodas x10
    • Low Country Crab x20
    • Tempo Merkins x15
    • Imperial Squat Walkers x15 (at this point JV and Yankee had the “Carnival Time” theme figured out)
    • Mountain Climbers x20
    • Elbow Plank x1min while jamming to Carnival Time

    Mosey towards City Park Ave. with a pit stop for a 40yd bear crawl.  From there, we embarked on a 1/2 mile run along the Orleans Ave parade route past Carrollton Ave, then plank on the neutral ground and wait for the six.  Here we circled up for a COP with some Mardi Gras favorites playing the whole time.

    • Tempo Merkin x20
    • American Hammer x20
    • Peter Parker x20
    • LBT x20
    • Tempo Merkin x15

    Time to head back down Orleans Ave and reconvene near City Park Ave where we started the run.  This stretch is always festive and typically involves a bunch on onlookers wondering why the hell we are out doing what we do.  T-claps to those who pushed hard at the front of the PAX.  Double T-claps to Garbrielle for sweeping the six.  From there, a short mosey over to the float staging area near Marconi Ave.  Here’s what went down there:

    Crowd Pleaser Ladder – starting with (1) Groiner and (1) Merkin at the first float, then run to second for 2:2, then third float 3:3, ….up to seventh float for 7:7.  Here we crossed paths with a another run group (Move Ya Brass?) out there starting the day off right too.

    Mosey over to the light pole for:  Lunge Walk to first pole, 5 Burpees, Lunge to second, 5 Burpees, Lunge to third, 5 Burpees, plank and wait.

    The home stretch included a mosey OYO to the Peristyle benches where we enjoyed the following:

    • Dips x15
    • RL Step Ups x20
    • LL Step Ups x20
    • Dips x20

    Then circling up under the Peristyle to bring it home:

    • Penguins x20
    • Wife Pleasers x20
    • Mardi Gras Mambo Plank-jack-a-thon (hold high plank for entire Mardi Gras Mambo song, with plank jack for every “Mambo” and merkin for every “down in New Orleans”).  This lasted 2:12 and was a doosey…in the past we did this early in the workout and it was a bit more palatable.
    • Hip Flexers x30sec ea side to help stretch it out.

    Capped off the morning with a COT.  The running, cadence counts, and planks had YHC was a bit woosey by this point so don’t recall much of the details other than praying for a safe Mardi Gras season and some special intentions.  A few PAX stuck around for more F2 at the usual coffee depot.

    Thanks to those who posted despite the threat of rainy weather.  Also, t-claps to those who still posted after late night parade festivities hours earlier.  Also, for those tracking RRR mileage, one report was that we covered 2.6 miles and another had it at 3.5.  I’m leaning more to the 2.6.

    Always great to lead.  Happy Mardi Gras to all!

    Tool

     

     

     

     

  • Shoulder Down-Pain-ment

    Nobody signed up to Q Rock City for this lovely winter morning, so I gladly took it.

    DISCLAIMER and let’s mosey….on the track opposite of the normal direction, at Mahatma-Ice’s request, to the gym set for our warm-up:

    -SSH x 30 IC

    -IW x 30 IC

    -Mt Climbers x 30 IC

    -Propellers (fka arm circles) x 30 IC (15 ea dir)

    -J-Lo’s x 20 IC

    Let’s continue the mosey around the track to the rock pile, grab a friend (a rock, boulder, etc..) and circle up. With your rock:

    -Shoulder Press x 20 IC

    -Curls x 20 IC

    -Squats x 20 IC

    -Chest Press x 20 IC

    -Squat Press x 15 IC

    -Curls x 15 IC

    -Chest Press x 15 IC

    -Imperial Squat Walker Press x 10 On Your Own (we tried the cadence and didn’t quite get it… ; -)

    -Curls x 10 IC

    -Chest Press x 10 IC

    As a reward for outstanding work, let’s take a break…on the fence for some People’s Chair with your rock:

    -seated shoulder press x 10 IC

    -quick break

    -seated curls x 10 IC

    Take your friend home and let’s get some Mary:

    -LBC x 20 IC

    -Flutter-kicks x 20 IC

    -Hello-Dolly’s x 20 IC

    -Penguins x 20 IC

    -3-minute plank, rotisserie style (normal, left are up, right arm up, low plank)

    Mosey back to the VSF where we met back up with Rudy who just got 6 miles in.

    Countoff, namerama, announcements, shoutouts, prayer.

    As always, it was truly a pleasure to lead!

  • Counter clockwise in the gloom

    A surprisingly chilly Monday morning greeted the PAX at Pontiff playground.  YHC had checked the weather and must have mistook the “4” in 40s for a “7” in 70s.  Marlin, of course, was ready for the weather – dressed in full winter gear.  Clock struck 5:30, and 8 PAX took off out of the gate.  YHC was slightly worried – as some Rock City regulars have a tendency to roll in late, and we were GOING THE WRONG WAY.

    But off we went.

    COP #1: Avoid the swamplands and instead find a patch of gloomy damp grass.  Circle up, now 9 PAX strong as Hawg caught us on the way.

    • SSH x30
    • IW x30
    • Plank-o-rama: Peter Parker x25, Floyd Mayweather x25, Parker Peter x25, Mountain Climber x25

    Mosey continues the wrong way around the park.

    COP #2: The Playground.  Now 10 PAX strong, as Tool finds us – he ran the wrong-right way around the park eventually catching us on the opposite side…  So 5 stations

    • 15 Burpees (counter)
    • Pull-ups
    • Derkins
    • Low Slow Squats
    • Low Row Pull-ups (OK, so these were TOO LOW.  But lots of modifications to get a workout out of this.  YHC felt bad watching Walleye attempting to fold his 8+ foot frame underneath that bar)

    Repeat 2 circuits

    Mosey continues the wrong way around the park.

    COP #3: The Spartacus Bandstand.  Quick stop off for

    • Right Leg Step Up x25
    • Dip x20
    • Left Leg Step Up x25

    Mosey continues the wrong way around the park – to finally get to the Rock Pile.

    COP #4: Rock Pile.  YHC encourages PAX to go bigger, as we aren’t moving anywhere.  Focus on Form.  Cadence count will be slower.  Triple Shift and Jingle Vader both chose to show the PAX what “bigger” meant.  Gentlemen, I applaud you and hope one day to be able to lift a rock like that.

    • Shoulder Press x12
    • Curl x12
    • Row x15
    • Down-Up Squat x15 (sorry for the cadence misfire the first time…)

    Repeat 2 circuits.  One extra round of Shoulder Press just because.  Smarmy mumble-chatter heard from Rev Sox.

    Mosey back to the flag.  Doing my best to keep up with Mahatma – I’m not sure he even broke a sweat as he went sailing by on that last run.

    COP #5: Finish up with Mary.

    • Flutter Kick x25
    • Dolly x25
    • Rosalita x25

    Disappointed that we had no Bogey sing-a-long today.

    Finish up with Count-off, Name-o-Rama and Prayers.  Send everyone on their way with St. Ignatius Prayer for Generosity.

    Thanks for letting me lead, gentlemen!

  • Super Blue Blood Moon – Foundry Edition

    The Super Blue Blood Moon was to occur this morning. So I polled the men of the Foundry: begin the beat down, or watch the lunar eclipse??? They voted for both! Disclaimer, and off we go.

    We moseyed to the racetrack for a warm-up lap.
    10 burpees, run 100 meters
    10 8-count body builders, run 100 meters
    10 burpees, run 100 meters
    10 8-count body builders, run 100 meters

    Now to the warm-up COP:
    SSH x 20 IC
    IW x 20 IC
    Windmills x 10 IC
    Arm circles IC, 10 forward, 10 backward
    Mountain climbers x 20 IC

    We did 11’s across the football field, as the lunar eclipse began above our heads.
    Merkins on one side, jump squats on the other side.

    Next, a mosey down the back street to the Foundry, with BLIMPS at each light post:
    Burpees x 5
    Lunges x 10
    Imperial Walkers x 15
    Merkins x 20
    Plank Jacks x 25
    Squats x 30

    At the Foundry, 4 stations for 7 men. 3 sets total.
    10 WWII sit-ups had the count
    Body Rows
    Step Ups
    Pull-ups (Hanging knee ups to modify)

    Running short on time, we moseyed back to the flag, with the lunar eclipse 50% completed. Count-off, name-o-rama, announcements, intentions, and a prayer. Great morning, great eclipse, better men!

    Thanks for allowing me to lead.
    Walleye