Tortoise & Hare #5

AO: thestronghold
Q: Red Skull
PAX: Decaf, Barney, Right Said, Crawlspace, Whoppi (Franklin), Big Rig, Toadstool, Wolverine, Mane ‘N Tail, Sax Man, Toots, Square Root, Airball, Yes Chef, D Pole, Jackie Moon, Danny (to be named when he returns to our Thursday workout)
FNGs: 1 Danny (to be named when he returns to our Thursday workout)
COUNT: 18
CONDITIONS: WET and COLD – a nice cold, constant rain for the entire run – 39 degrees

WARMUP: Standard warm-up – SSH, Squats, IWs, Stretches

THE THANG: RUN!! 3 soggy miles followed by some fun in the circle. Spent time on the ground to make sure that everyone enjoyed the moisture.

MOLESKINE: Despite the less than ideal conditions, we had one FNG and 4 PRs this morning. What a fantastic Week 5 showing.

COT: Prayers for strength, guidance and healing.

That-workout-from-Friday redux

AO: westeros
Q: CubCadet
PAX: DintyMoore, Vector, bluemule, Pep, SalPal, Spinal Tap, Michelin Man
FNGs: None
COUNT: 8
CONDITIONS: Brisk 32 but manageable

WARMUP: 25 SSH, WMH / GM OYO, mosey around the big field (on the pavement)

THE THANG: Yeah, I stole my own workout from Friday / Bomber. Modified it slightly to make it less confusing (based on anonymous feedback)

– Endzone: 5 SSH
– 10 yard line: 10 burpees
– 20 yard line: 20 WW1
– 30 yard line: 30 mountain climbers
– 40 yard line: 40 merkins
– 50 yard line: 50 squats
– 40 yard line: 40 ski jumpers
– 30 yard line: 30 American Hammers
– 20 yard line: 20 box jumps
– 10 yard line: 10 wide arm merkins
– Endzone: 5 SSH

Rinse / repeat in reverse order

Travel between yard lines as a group was half bear crawl / half lunge worms (lunge, lunge, inchworm forward, 2 merkins, inchworm back up)

Sprint length of the “field” – 1x

Mary – round robin, 25 reps each exercise for 8 minutes

Playlist as also a recycle: Super Bowl Halftime songs.

MOLESKINE: Things I learned today:

– DintyMoore is alive
– SalPal was 12 in 2011
– Prince was the greatest SB halftime act. Ever.
– Coffee at Dose is pretty cool (#lovingmysabbatical)

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Congrats to those who finished Leanpax. Check slack for details on Brewruck and Night Moves coming up.

COT: Prayers for:
– People and critical care / research institutions impacted by government budget cuts, and struggling with uncertainty.
– Vector and family over his Mother’s passing
– Michelin Man dealing with some back issues (and our gratitude that he came to hang with us)
– SalPal dealing with some leadership challenges / change at work
– Intentions in our hearts.

Grateful for the opportunity to lead.

Get That Heart Rate Up

AO: thebuffalo
Q: Hair Band
PAX: Ultratecht, Sandlapper (David Suggs), Hot Route
FNGs: None
COUNT: 4
CONDITIONS: a bit nipply with a side of can’t see the line can ya Russ?

WARMUP: led by Ultratecht because Hair Band was 6 minutes late

THE THANG:
Hair Band gave disclaimer and started up the 80s Music

Mosey 3 laps around parking lot

30 sec high knees + 10 perfect merkins
Repeat 10 times

15 Drop squats + Sprint curbs
Repeat 10 times

Lunge walk around parking lot once

4-5min of 10 burpees + 10 v ups alternating

MOLESKINE:
The goal today was to get our heart rates up and we accomplished that pretty well
Ultratecht is still the fittest person I know, he ran circles around me for much of this workout. This… is always a humbling experience.

Lots of 80s music musings

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
– AOQ Grow School in March, date TBD but being discussed on SLT
– Spring Fling led by Natural Ice – CBO in April at the Warner Parks
– Mid Tennessee CSAUP coming in May

COT:
– prayers for family members health, praise for work successes

Always a pleasure to come out and be humbled by the buffalo.

Rock on,

Hair Band

Go to church or the devil will getchya!

AO: pain-train
Q: Wolfpack
PAX: Stubs, Siri, G-string, Pitmaster, Wolfpack, FLO, Waffle, Cheeks
FNGs: None
COUNT: 8
CONDITIONS: Shorts are back on the menu!

WARMUP: The usual suspects.

THE THANG:
Run to Bellevue Church of Christ
10 rounds of:
10 second high plank hold
10 merkins
10 second rest

Run to Bellevue Baptist Church
10 rounds of:
10 second low squat hold
10 squats
10 second rest

Run to Cross Timbers Freewill Baptist Church
10 rounds of:
10 second hollow body hold
10 big boy sit-ups
10 second rest

Run to Bellevue Presbyterian Church
10 rounds of:
10 second low plank hold
5 burpees
10 second rest

Run back to red caboose

MOLESKINE:
Loved the counting rhythm we organically fell into. I think it really helped us lock into the workouts and push it together.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: biscuit run march 1st. Boardgame night Feb 28

COT: My mom sent me a book of daily devotions as she felt it may be good to bring into our COTs when I lead. The thoughtfulness of wanting to share something that was meaningful to her because she felt it would help me too really made an impact on me this week. It made me ask myself the question, am I actively listening to others and am I actively supporting and providing for them based on what I hear? Encouragement to PAX (including myself!) to listen more and take action to better the lives of those around us. Thanks Mom 😀

What Piqued My Interest in 2024

AO: greenmachine
Q: Cowboy
PAX: Focker, Michelin Man, Esposa, moneyshot, Grape, t-cell, Cowboy, Canned Heat, Betty Ford, Shania
FNGs: None
COUNT: 10
CONDITIONS: Balmy You Say? 60 something
PLAY LIST: music.apple.com/us/playlist/2024-cowboy-listen/pl.u-b3b889eHL5zqDp
WARMUP:
SSH
General Stretch OYO – WMH, Good Mornings
Sit Spread legs lean forward – oops the parking lot is wet, darn let’s go to the field

Grab Coupons, 3 total and mosey
Yog to encircle the Mustang at the 50yardline.
Stretch – Sit Spread legs lean forward
Left heel to nuts –
Right heel to nuts
Low WMH – Hands down 2x count IC

THE THANG:
Circle Up – Every 2 reps pass the coupon to the right (quickly modified to every 5). After passing the coupon run to sideline and back. Rounds as follows IC.
30 Squats. 40 Lunges, 50 Thrusters, 60 Kettle Swings (squats)
Elbow Dips at Benches on each sideline bench.
Go to Benches
Elbow dips both or 1 leg
Elbow dips run across when a guy gets there one man runs across the field. When the teams are flipped hold till the 6
Push Ups Bent Elbows

Run to the Stairs at Stands
The PAX holds a plank till their turn.
Crawl Bear up stairs and then run up stands, across, down and back to start
Hold Plank
Rinse and Repeat the stands run.
Back to Star Deck
Mary. Dealer’s Choice

ANNOUNCEMENTS: 25K Merkin Challenge, March mini challenge Merkin Ladders of 10 Per Day, Lean Pax in the last days.
PRAYERS:” for Cowboy’s Friend Richard,

Round Two: It’s about You

AO: the-knoll
Q: Ex-Pat
PAX: Ex-Pat, Pebbles, Stubs, Tebow, Sooie
FNGs: None
COUNT: 5
CONDITIONS: 65 and a nice breeze – no rain!

WARMUP:
◦            Little baby arm circles
◦            Back backs
◦            Don quixotes
◦            Lazy imperial walkers
◦            Mozy

THE THANG:

Quote: Richard Rohr – “Most of us were taught that God would love us if and when we change. In fact, God loves you so that you can change. What empowers change, what makes you desirous of change is the experience of love. It is that inherent experience of love that becomes the engine of change.”
? What do you need to love about yourself so that change can happen?
 
1 – 5 minutes of work, 5 minutes of running
◦            Merkins – 10
◦            Lunges – 10
◦            WWII – 10
◦            Run
 
Quote: John Philip Newell – we need to find ways of sharing our intimate experiences of the Mystery, for we are one. It is through one another that we will know more of the Life that flows within us all. It is through sharing our fragments of insight that we will come to a fuller picture of the One who is at the heart of each life.”
? Who do we need to have a good conversation with?
 
2
◦            Pull-ups or Swing Rows –
◦            London Bridges –
◦            Leg Lifts –
◦            Run 5 Min
 
Quote: Wendall Berry – “Healing is impossible in loneliness; it is the opposite of loneliness. Conviviality is healing. To be healed we must come with all the other creatures to the feast of Creation.
? Where do we need healing and who will it be with?
 
3
◦            Back Extensions  –
◦            Burpees
◦            American Hammers
◦            Run 5 Min
 
MOLESKINE:
Tell someone you trust your answers sometime this week. Do you need quiet or do you need music?

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

COT:
Celtic Prayer we used at the end:

May the blessing of light be on you – light without and light within.
May the blessed sunlight shine on you like a great peat fire,
so that stranger and friend may come and warm himself at it.
And may light shine out of the two eyes of you,
like a candle set in the window of a house,
bidding the wanderer come in out of the storm.
And may the blessing of the rain be on you,
may it beat upon your Spirit and wash it fair and clean,
and leave there a shining pool where the blue of Heaven shines,
and sometimes a star.
And may the blessing of the earth be on you,
soft under your feet as you pass along the roads,
soft under you as you lie out on it, tired at the end of day;
and may it rest easy over you when, at last, you lie out under it.
May it rest so lightly over you that your soul may be out from under it quickly; up and off and on its way to God.
And now may the Lord bless you, and bless you kindly. Amen.

The True Gimli

AO: devilsden
Q: McAfee
PAX: Flash, Skeet, Meat Sweats
FNGs: None
COUNT: 4
CONDITIONS: false spring

WARMUP: OYO stretching

THE THANG: GIMLI PROTOCOL!! BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE!

Gimli: 5 swings, 4 upright rows, 3 squats
PLUS > 10 pushups

Must complete in 90 seconds

90 seconds of “active rest” aka tossing a 20lb medicine ball back and forth amongst ourselves. Just like our stalwart hero.

REPEAT UNTIL EXHAUSTION OR 45 MINUTES IS UP, WHICH EVER COMES FIRST

MOLESKINE: Good lord what a burner. Hardest KB workout of the year? I say so.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Safe travels to Flash! Everyone continuing to prep for the 50miler!

COT: Prayers for our bodies, minds, health, families, and fellowship.

The Final Stretch of Leanpax

AO: titan
Q: Firefox
PAX: preacherman, Crawlspace, Right Said, Tim the Toolman, Spinal Tap, Papa Bear, CubCadet, Young and Restless, Sherlock, Pep, Good Morning America, Wolfpack, Swap, Zinfandel, Toucan
FNGs: None
COUNT: 16
CONDITIONS: Hungry

WARMUP: Barely a mosey to the Parthenon entrance and 20SSHs

THE THANG:
To push us toward the finish line of leanpax, YHC prepared a playlist of songs about all the foods I miss (although, most of them I do not currently crave).

Thang 1:
PAX partnered up. One PAX stayed at the benches and did an exercise while the other ran the loop (which reminded me of a donut…), then swap. 2 rounds for each exercise
– Dips
– Bench flutters (on your six facing the bench, hover one foot above the bench, one foot below, then alternate)
– Bulgarian split squats

Thang 2:
Mosey over to the walkway closer to the playground. Staying in pairs, 1 PAX did a travel exercise, the other did a stationary exercise, run back and then swap. 2 times through per pairing of exercises.
– Murder bunnies & Imperial Hoppers (aerobic imperial walkers with a hop as your knee comes up to your elbow).
– Bear crawl & shoulder tap plank jacks
– Broad jump burpees & WW1s
– Crawl bear & Buzzsaw planks

Mosey back to Startex, 10 WW1s and a Hollow Body Hold till time.

MOLESKINE: Awesome support from the PAX picking up the 6. Those murder bunnies were brutal. Leanpax is hard, but worth it. Kudos to all the PAX participating.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
– Game night!

COT:
– Vector and his family
– Gratitude for Papa Bear’s family gathering for 3.0’s baptism

Quiet Thinking While Working Out

AO: the-knoll
Q: Ex-Pat
PAX: Ex-Pat, Malibu, Half Lyfe, Sooie, El Capitan, Wolfpack, Stubs, Papa Bear, Pebbles, FLO, Samwise (2.0), Iowa (2.0)
FNGs: None
COUNT: 12
CONDITIONS: Misty – did I sweat or is that rain? Not so sure.

WARMUP:
– Little baby arm circles
– Back backs
– Don quixotes
– Lazy imperial walkers
– 3 min Mozy
THE THANG:

Quote: Alchemist- When we love, we always strive to become better than we are. When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too.
? What is one thing you want to make better?

1 – 5 minutes of work, 5 minutes of running
– Merkins – 10
– Squats – 10
– WWII – 20
– Run

Quote: Thomas Merton – You do not need to know precisely what is happening, or exactly where it is all going. What you need is to recognize the possibilities and challenges offered by the present moment, and to embrace them with courage, faith and hope.
? What is the challenge in your present and what is one tool you need to move into it?

2
– Dips – 20
– Calf raises – 20
– Mountain climbers – 20
– 5 min run

Quote: MLKjr – But the end is reconciliation; the end is redemption; the end is the creation of the beloved community. It is this type of spirit and this type of love that can transform opposers into friends
? Who do you need to be reconciled with – a person, a group? What is a step that you can move into relationship and community

3
– Shoulder taps – 30
– Step ups – 30
– Crunches – 30
– 5 min run

MOLESKINE:
We need accountability- tell your answers to at least one person you trust this week. Thinking about the quiet and sitting in the questions. Leave room for contemplation and see what happens.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
March 1 – Loveless Run, Game Night Soon (I forgot the date and time and place).

COT:

Tortoise & Hare – Run #4, See it Through

AO: thestronghold
Q: Red Skull
PAX: Chunks, hambone, Right Said, tampalibra, Crawlspace, Decaf, Barney, Whoopi (Franklin), D Pole, Yes Chef, Airball, Sax Man, Jackie Moon, Wolverine, Mane ‘N Tail, Big Rig, Toots, Toadstool
FNGs: None
COUNT: 19
CONDITIONS: 61 degrees with a light mist in the air

WARMUP: SSH, Squats, Tappy Taps, IWs, Stretches

THE THANG: Partner Up and RUN!!

MOLESKINE: We had several PRs today – Wolverine, Mane ’N Tail and hambone!

Today we put into practice the last line of the poem we have memorized…“eyes front, head high, to the finish, see it through”. Several PAX failed to see it through this morning, opting to take a break after the run rather than join the circle. To make sure that everyone finished together, a surprise 1/4 mile was added in before COT.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Only two more runs remain for this class. Signing Day is Friday 2/21

COT: Prayers for healing, family, strength and guidance.