Songbirds of a Generation

AO: iiipillars
Q: Grape
PAX: Go Fish, Sherlock, gov’t mule, t-cell, Shania, Black Lung, Pep, YumYum, Swiffer, Haggis
FNGs: None
COUNT: 11
CONDITIONS: good

WARMUP: normal

THE THANG: Tabata workout (1 minute on, 15 second rest), 2 rounds with a lap in between each group

SCOTT (staggered merkins, Caroline dry docks, OH press, twist merkins, tricep dips)
STAPP (squats, Turkish getups, Apollo ohnos, prisoner squats, pulse lunge)
CHAD (crunchy frogs, hollow body hold, APD’s, dead bugs)

:grapes:

Field Day

AO: greenmachine
Q: Firefox
PAX: Betty Ford, Shania, moneyshot, Sherlock, Pep, t-cell, Young and Restless, Esposa, Matador, LB, Steam, High Heels
FNGs: None
COUNT: 13
CONDITIONS: Perfectly fine

WARMUP: PAX split up into 2 groups and did a rice bag run twice around the track. We welcomed :downrange: posters from Knoxville Steam and High Heels during the run. t-cell was missing his LBAC.

THE THANG: With the school year coming to a close, in the grand tradition of I Have No Idea Why, we held our very own haphazard Field Day celebration. If you haven’t witnessed or been a part of one of these, everyone gathers and participates in random events. Sometimes there are winners, if you’re into that sort of thing.

Part 1: Partner Races – PAX partnered up, starting at the end zone and raced down to mid-field and back.
– Race 1 – Wheelbarrow (with partners swapping places at mid-field)
– Race 2 – Leap Frog
There were winners! Hurray!

Part 2: Rice Bag Relays – PAX split into 4 groups. 1 member of each team traveled 30 yards and back with the rice bag, handing off to the next member of the team. All others held a plank.
– Race 1 – Run
– Race 2 – Run
– Race 3 – Run
– Race 4 – Broad Jumps (which maybe were more like Bunny Hops)
There was a bit that I did not explain well at all in which a winning team’s cone was pushed back 5 yards as a “reward”… but yeah, we kinda abandoned that part. Also, Pep and t-cell turned this into a contact sport.

Also, some teams won! Some more than others.

Part 3: Rice Bag Relay – Even Ricier
The 4 teams consolidated to two teams and did a zipper relay with the ricebag. PAX got on their six, alternating position so that the person next to you was facing toward you (like teeth in a zipper). 1st team member did a WW1 with the rice bag overhead and passed to the next team member, then ran down to the end of the line. Teams passed the rice bag this way to the 30yd line and back.

Part 4: Wind Screws Everything Up
We attempted to play “Flip the Cone” but, in addition to having one less player, the wind was flipping over any upside-down cone. So, the first round was ended prematurely. We modified to scatter short cones in the middle of a 30x15yd play area. Teams lined up at opposite ends and had to travel to pick up a (single) cone and bring it (a single cone) back to their starting line. We did 2 or 3 rounds of this with bear crawls and another round with murder bunnies.

Part 5: Pick up all the crap I brought

Part 6: Back at Startex, 20 V-ups and 30s of a hollow body hold

MOLESKINE:
– Some poor explaining on my part and some unfortunately windy conditions. But we were flexible and everyone was a good sport. Except that t-cell guy.
– Loved getting to use the big field and track. Hopefully I’ll be invited back to Q again!
– I did not have blue ribbons. Instead we had donut holes. Thanks to Betty Ford for bringing the coffee.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: N/A

COT:
– Matador family health scare
– YHC dealing with workforce reductions on team

Welcome FNGs

AO: titan
Q: Chunks
PAX: preacherman, Salami, SalPal, Sherlock, Natural Ice, Young and Restless, Papa Bear, Freakonomics, Doublemint (F3 RVA), Hipster, CubCadet, Spinal Tap, Black Lung, DintyMoore, Crawlspace, Pep, Cowbell (DR), Fanny Pack (DR), OJ, Kincade, Carrot Top
FNGs: 3 OJ, Kincade, Carrot Top
COUNT: 22
CONDITIONS: Perfect

WARMUP:

42 SSH = my age!

THE THANG:

The PAX voted and Yacht Rock was the playlist choice.

Pass the speaker run towards Love Circle.

Took a hard right on 29th and headed back to the hill next to the Parthenon.

Count off 1s and 2s. Partner up. Each partner group picked an exercise for the rest of the PAX while they were the timer and ran up and down the hill. Once everyone had a turn as the timer, mosey to the lawn in front of the Parthenon.

Round 1 25% to the other side and 1 burpee and back
Round 2 25% to the other side and 2 burpees and back
Round 3 50% to the other side and 3 burpees and back
Round 4 50% to the other side and 4 burpees and back
Round 5 90% to the other side and 5 burpees and back

Mosey back to startex with a sprint to the finish.

4 Mins of mary left with some up and downs with burpees

Always an honor to lead.

3 FNGs were welcomed to the crew: Carrot Top, OJ, and Kincade

MOLESKINE: 95% of men over 35 will never sprint again. We will not be a part of that statistic.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Check Slack

COT: Prayed out!

No Shenanigans Means a Little Shenanigans

AO: bomber
Q: Freakonomics
PAX: CubCadet, Vector, Papa Bear, Crawlspace, Sherlock, Pep, Hedwig
FNGs: None
COUNT: 8
CONDITIONS: damp but not cold

WARMUP: the usual

THE THANG: Rounds of 5 exercises – Merkins, Squats, Carolina Dry Docks, Lunges, Rows (at the playground). Do 12 sets of each, run around the rec center and repeat with 11. Run around, do 10… I got down to reps of 5.

3 minute wall sit.

Superman Y.

6 minutes of mary

MOLESKINE: Can you show up at the end and still be counted. Just ask Crawlspace.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: none

COT: Pep’s Work, praise for Vector’s daughter honoring at graduation, those in Ukraine, and Natural Ice’s finding a new job.

Impossible/Manly/Murder Mile

AO: greenmachine
Q: Focker
PAX: Betty Ford, Toothless, SalPal, Pep, Cowboy, Pole Dancer, Works for a Guy, t-cell, Black Lung, moneyshot, Young and Restless, Esposa, Matador, Shania, Topanga
FNGs: None
COUNT: 16
CONDITIONS: Moist

WARMUP: Drive your car to the workout

THE THANG:
400 meter burpee broad jump :burpee:
400 meter lunge :leg:
400 meter bear crawl :teddy_bear:
400 meter “run” :man-running:

MOLESKINE: -the bear crawl makes the burpee broad jump feel like the lunges
-Works for a Guy unsurprisingly took the crown
-everyone was under one hour!
-coffee, Purity chocolate milk, and Donut Den treats provided (thanks Toothless!)
-one of my new favorite traditions is this horrible mile
ANNOUNCEMENTS: see ya next year!

COT: I think everyone wrestled with their respective higher power during the bear crawls

Chunks easy AI WO

AO: the-castle
Q: Chunks
PAX: (StepBrother), UTAH, Young and Restless, Strutter, Pep, Chunks, Splitter, hambone
FNGs: None
COUNT: 8
CONDITIONS:

WARMUP:

THE THANG:

MOLESKINE:

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

COT:

Holy Week 2025

AO: greenmachine
Q: sooner
PAX: t-cell, Grape, Pep, Matador, moneyshot, Black Lung, Esposa, Betty Ford, Cowboy, Focker
FNGs: None
COUNT: 11
CONDITIONS: Glorious and Maundy

WARMUP: dynamic

THE THANG:

“AI can’t make this up”

Palm Sunday – Palm Swap – split up into two groups, line up in plank on opposite sides of the field, last pax sprints to front of opposite line until both lines meet in the middle

Stations of the cross – 12s: star jumps and crunchy frogs; travel is beak crawl/crawl bear; 10 yards

Maundy Thursday – Washing of the feet; stairs

Good Friday – lunge walk and 2 x double plank burpees at 10 yards; 60 yards

Holy Saturday – ring of fire

Easter – up downs to “christ the lord is risen today”

MOLESKINE:
Easter

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Grape is singing in his church choir and he invites you to come see him sing. He’s a tenor.

COT: Matador’s international students event

Shakedown

AO: titan
Q: Spinal Tap
PAX: Firefox, Tim the Toolman, Old Maid, Pep, Papa Bear, CubCadet, Cocktail
FNGs: None
COUNT: 8
CONDITIONS: perfect

WARMUP: the usual side straddle hops baby arm circles Willie mays hats and good mornings

THE THANG:
Mosey to the bottom of the hill and did 11’s with deconstructed burpees of merkins and squats thanks to CubCadet suggestion alternating with fire hydrants (a Pep special) but suggested by Papa Bear.

Then DORA with 50 pull ups, 100 shoulder tap plank jacks (thx Firefox) and 150 American hammers.

Finished with 20 incline merkins, 20 dips, 20 each leg (j)Bulgarian split squats.

Heard some :boom: :boom: :boom: during the Dora and found out later it was this…
www.wsmv.com/2025/04/16/suspect-shot-killed-by-dea-agent-midtown-nashville/#

ANNOUNCEMENTS: None

COT: Pep with his consulting

Next on deck: Natural Ice – CBO. He has been self admittedly been slacking due to lack of accountability. Expect lots of HC to make sure he shows up next week!

Gametron

AO: bomber
Q: Wolfpack , Firefox
PAX: Crawlspace, Chunks, Right Said, CubCadet, Papa Bear, Pep, Hedwig, Puzzlah, Vector, Sherlock, DintyMoore
FNGs: None
COUNT: 13
CONDITIONS: Good enough

WARMUP: Wolfpack led with
– SSH
– Imperial walkers
– Low and slow Squats
– Low and slow Merkins

THE THANG: With YHC and Wolfpack on Q, the only sensible outcome was some sort of gamified beatdown.

Part 1: Castle (led by Wolfpack)
PAX split into two teams. Field split in half with each team having a castle (aka, a base) at opposite ends, with a line of short cones, tall cones, and a 25lb sandbag at midfield, plus 3 or 4 short cones on each side of the field along the midline.

PAX had to travel to a cone, do an exercise based on the object, and then return it to their castle (or deliver it to the opposing team’s castle, if they chose to do so). Objects could be stolen from the opposing team’s castle using the same exercise.

Teams had 60s (sometimes 90s) rounds to score as much as they could. Short cones were worth +1 pt, tall cones were worth +2pts, the sandbag (always requiring 5 burpees) was worth -2pts (later amended to -4pts).

1st set of three rounds:
Travel = running
Short cone = 5 squats
Tall cone = 5 merkins

2nd set of three rounds:
Travel = side shuffle
Short cone = 5 wide merkins
Tall cone = 5 diamond merkins

3rd set of three rounds:
Travel = broad jumps
Short cone = 2 iron Lt. Dan’s
Tall cone = 2 burpees

Team 1 (Vector Sherlock Puzzlah DintyMoore YHC) took an early lead against Team 2 (Wolfpack Papa Bear CubCadet Pep Hedwig), but gameplay evolved with PAX realizing that there was enough time for the sandbag to travel to both castles. That led to some interesting waiting games over sandbag delivery plus some blocking maneuvers. Ultimately, it came down to a final round to break a 4-4 tie, which Team 1 came away with. That was not without some impressive sandbagged broad-jump heroics from Wolfpack. Also, Vector and CubCadet may never speak to each other again.

Also? So. Freakin’. Exhausting.

Part 2: Flip the Cone
Keeping the same team and same general field structure, a couple dozen short cones were scattered on both sides of the field, with cones on Team 1’s side right side up and cones on Team 2’s side upside down. Team 1’s goal was to end a 90s round with as many cones as possible right side up, with Team 2 aiming to end the round with more cones upside down. Except only mode of travel was a bear crawl in rounds 1 and 2 and murder bunnies in round 3. Teams instinctively split up into offensive and defensive squads with YHC, Sherlock and DintyMoore facing off against the defensive line of Papa Bear and Pep while CubCadet Wolfpack and Hedwig crossed the field to battle with Vector and Puzzlah. By the end, Team 1 came away with a 3-0 sweep but all PAX’s shoulders and legs simultaneously won and lost.

Finally, a 50s Hollow Body Hold.

MOLESKINE:
– Big thanks to Wolfpack for venturing to our neck of the woods and delivering the fun and the “fun”.
– Yes, this is what we do at all Game Nights
– Loved watching strategies evolve
– If you want to do a Q-collaboration in June or July, let me know! Sneak preview for next month: the most sought-after immune-system-themed combination we didn’t know we wanted – Vector + t-cell!

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
– Spring Fling

COT:
– Everyone shared a word/phrase of gratitude

Back to High School

AO: greenmachine
Q: Pole Dancer
PAX: moneyshot, Pep, Black Lung, Betty Ford, Shania, Esposa, LB
FNGs: None
COUNT: 8
CONDITIONS: Drizzly

WARMUP: Mosey through the field house and onto the track for a lap, dynamic warmups and stretching on the field

THE THANG: reworked exercises back from my high school soccer and track days;

1. Corners!

Run diagonally across the field, corner to corner. Exercise on the corner, karaoke the width of the field to the next corner, exercise. Repeat ad nauseum.

Exercises x20:
– Merkins/Dry Docks
– Squats/Iron Mikes
– Supermans/Lateral Supermans
– WW1s/Diamond Sit-ups

2. Stair Jumpers (stadium steps)
– jump up one stair at a time, right leg
– one stair at a time, left leg
– one stair, both legs
– two stairs, both legs
– three stairs, both legs
– two stairs, both legs
– one stair, both legs

Mosey to the parking lot and 10 minutes of Mary.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: BBQ Sunday, Night Moves in East on Saturday

COT: Prayers for my wife and puppy as they recover from their respective surgeries, folks dealing with storm damage, those on the job hunt.

Appreciate the hospitality from the Green Machine crew!

Playlist: Passin’ Me By Radio
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1E8ENeNzGVJ3Q3?si=1108794c46db4ab3