STAR WARS: RETURN OF THE PAX

AO: middle-tooth
Q: Toothless
PAX: Firefox, Cowboy, sooner, Focker, Pole Dancer, Puzzlah, Betty Ford, Esposa, DrRupp
FNGs: None
COUNT: 10
CONDITIONS: A balmy 30º, truly tropical compared to previous days. Puzzlah showed up in a t-shirt.

PLAYLIST: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6Tck0cNTHNrevvoRZHrYZ1?si=265835e6546148f1

WARMUP:
– X-Wings aka SSH x 20
– Imperial Walkers x 20
– Dagobah Lifts aka Air Presses x 20
– Stormtrooper Lunges aka Prisoner Lunges x 20

THE THANG – Rebels vs Imperials :darth-vader:

Count off 1s & 2s. 3 rounds of competition to decide the fate of the galaxy.

Round 1 – Blockade Runners
Imperials line up across the parking lot while Rebels begin a lap. Each Imperial must complete 30 merkins and be holding a squat by the time the first Rebels return. Only 1 Imperial may be disabled each lap, and Rebels start each lap collected. Rebels have 8 rounds to break the entire blockade. Switch roles and repeato if time.

Round 2 – Hoth Escape
Rebels are behind the top speed bump, Imperials are behind the bottom speed bump. Rebels must complete a group total of 100 WWI’s per person before the Imperials make it past the speed bump.

Only crab walking is allowed between the speed bumps. Rebels can pay 5 burpees to venture beyond the speed bump and tag an Imperial, who then must then perform 10 burpees. Rebels must return and perform 5 more burpees to tag again. Switch roles and repeato if time.

Round 3 – Hero Battle
Rebels and Imperials face off from opposing parking spaces. Heroes from each side go into the middle and battles the other side’s hero. First to complete the assigned set of exercises wins that battle. Keep track of your wins, plank for the six, and Rebels rotate down the line to face a new opponent after each round.
– Merkins x 50
– Prisoner Squats x 30
– Tuck jumps x 30
– Mountain climbers (2ct) x 50
– Supermans x 50

Burpee Awards

MARY:
Obey the Droid Control Ship (aka Dealer’s Choice) to time

MOLESKINE:
Appreciate the enthusiasm for the theme and hitting the workout with gusto! Personally, I was pleased with the workout given its untested nature!

The blockade runner round was a fan fav, with Cowboy saying “I’m not sure which is worse” between the running and the merkins. Good thing we switched so he got to experience both! Notably, the two 25k Merkin challenge participants on the Imperials’ side were the last blockades standing (Focker & YHC). Defectors were key, as those blockaders who failed joined the blockade runners and were fresh on the laps.

Hoth Escape was equally un-delightful, crab-walking being a less emphasized skill. Strategy was key, but ultimately 100 WWI’s each was too high a goal and the defenders were outmatched both times, only getting about 2/3rds of the sit-ups in. Puzzlah had a sick crab-sprint that left our team scrambling to respond.

Hero Battle fittingly ended with the celebration track from Phantom Menace and Esposa winning his last battle triumphantly. The vibes were good.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
– brewsday next Tuesday 2/4, “juiceday” alternative for leanpax taking place at the Turnip Truck in the Gulch
– leanpax has 2 weeks left! Stay strong!
– 25k Merkin challenge (see 1stf) also in full swing. 70 merkins/day for 2025! Ends Dec. 31st 😉

COT:
– Focker and family adjustments with new 3mo
– sooner with wife’s birthday yesterday but sickness and bad kiddo attitudes dampening the spirit
– Pole Dancer with his friends who had a baby successfully after pre-eclampsia and a very early delivery @ 3lbs, prayers for the next month in the NICU and getting home after that

Men, that was fun. Thanks for letting me bring a little gamification even in winter. Hope you all got a good workout through the competition element. As always, it was an honor to lead!

— Toothless :tooth:

Cluster

AO: thestronghold
Q: tampalibra
PAX: Chunks, sooner, Oatmeal, Ginger, Red Skull, Skeet, Decaf, Shocker (Mark Holmes), toga, Ponzi, Pole Dancer, Young and Restless, Dan Tanna, Pearl (Jonathan Halter), DintyMoore, Crawlspace, Right Said, Hair Band, Mullet, Wedding Singer, Minnie Pearl, Catfish, Chyna, Whoopi, Escort, jackie moon, Toadstool (aka Princess Peach aka formerly PlayStation), Tail and Mane, Barney, Dpole?, Yes Chef, SaxMan, BigRig, Air Ball, Toots, Square Root, Wolverine
FNGs: None
COUNT: 38
CONDITIONS: Perf

WARMUP:
50 SSH, 10 Merkins, 25 Flutters, 10 WMH, 10 GM’s

THE THANG:
First, YHC quickly realized there was not enough blocks for what was planned. I don’t feel like I pivoted very well tbh, that’s on me for not having a backup plan in place.

Here is what was rx’d:
– 15 Burpee Block jump overs, 50 Hand-release Merkins, 200m run
– 14 Burpee Block jump overs, 50 Goblet Squats, 200m run
– 13 Burpee Block jump overs, 50 We’re not worthy’s, 200m run
– 12 Burpee Block jump overs, 50 Hand-release Merkins, 200m run
– 11 Burpee Block jump overs, 50 Goblet Squats, 200m run
– 10 Burpee Block jump overs, 50 We’re not worthy’s, 200m run
– 9 Burpee Block jump overs, 50 Hand-release Merkins, 200m run
– 8 Burpee Block jump overs, 50 Goblet Squats, 200m run
– 7 Burpee Block jump overs, 50 We’re not worthy’s, 200m run
– 6 Burpee Block jump overs, 50 Hand-release Merkins, 200m run
– 5 Burpee Block jump overs, 50 Goblet Squats, 200m run
– 4 Burpee Block jump overs, 50 We’re not worthy’s, 200m run
– 3 Burpee Block jump overs, 50 Hand-release Merkins, 200m run
– 2 Burpee Block jump overs, 50 Goblet Squats, 200m run
– 1 Burpee Block jump overs, 50 We’re not worthy’s, 200m run

In reality here is what happened:
Partner up – 1 block per partner group
– 15 burpees together
– P1 does 50 HR-Merks while P2 runs, flipflop
– P1 does 50 WNW’s while P2 runs, flipflop
– 14 burpees together..etc

2-3 rounds in YHC called an audible, rallied the troops, apologized for poor planning, constructively criticized poor listening, stupid questions, and bitching from PAX, and then prescribed finishing out the burpees (apocalypse+) starting at 13. Funny enough the MC and smart-mouths stopped :man-shrugging:

MOLESKINE: Lessons learned on leadership, planning contingencies, listening, using the time someone gives you to ask questions, etc

Earning the Apres

AO: middle-tooth
Q: Pole Dancer
PAX: Young and Restless, DrRupp, sooner, Toothless, bluemule
FNGs: None
COUNT: 6
CONDITIONS: Cold and Windy! I thought it was supposed to be warm in the south…

WARMUP: Mosey around the school, active warmups, dynamic stretching

THE THANG: Cross Country Skiing

Lunge the length of the field
20 Burpees
Mosey back
Lunge the length of the field
20 Star Jumps
Mosey to the Parking Lot

Inchworm from standing position into plank, perform merkin, walk feet up to hands, put hands straight up. Inchworm the length of the parking lot

Ring of Fire!
All start in high plank, transition to low plank, and back to high plank throughout the song.

DORA: 200 WW1’s as your partner travels the length of the lot and back

5 Burpee buy in for ending one minute early

ANNOUNCEMENTS: LeanPax started yesterday, juiceday kicking off, new 4:13 class at Stronghold next Thursday

COT: Prayers for health in the new year

Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1kzub06eTl0GbLr2BLL6AU?si=afdafc675dcf4923

Start leanpax

AO: westeros
Q: Pep
PAX: Vector, CubCadet, Hair Band, Grape, Young and Restless, Puzzlah, Salami, Black Lung, SalPal, Michelin Man, The Merchant, Tim the Toolman, DintyMoore, Blueprint, sooner, bluemule, Sherlock, Boomerang
FNGs: None
COUNT: 19
CONDITIONS:
Cold.
Did I already say cold?

WARMUP:
– imperial walkers
– Hillbillies
– Good mornings

THE THANG:
-trivia pep guardiola theme
– hold plank till right answer is called
– pax with right answer tells us how many burpees to do

– Dora:
– Timer : run the circle at the school drop off
– 100: pull ups
– 200: windshield wipers
– 300: fire hydrants

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
– JUICE day (?in place of brews day)
– Leanpax (bagels are processed food)
– Aoq bootcamp (coming quarterly)

New Year, New You

AO: titan
Q: Grape
PAX: bluemule, Natural Ice – CBO, Right Said, Pep, Vector, The Merchant, hambone, Canned Heat, sooner, Spinal Tap, Shingles (F3 Wichita), Esposa, Tim the Toolman, Papa Bear, DintyMoore
FNGs: None
COUNT: 16
CONDITIONS: perfect for new beginnings

WARMUP: 25 SSH
25 LBAC F
25 LBAC R
20 L&S Merkins
20 L&S Squats

THE THANG: slow mosey around the park, stopping every so often to do merkins until we had completed 2025 (ish) as a group

Partner up, one partner runs the walking trail as a timer as the other partner completes one set of:

Navy seal burpees
Elevated merkins (incline)
WW1
iYt
Elevated merkins (decline)
Ab thrusters
Regular squats

Mosey to the ellipse

Change partners, timer is running lap around the ellipse

Navy seal burpees
Elevated merkins (incline)
WW1
iYt
Original burpees
Ulgarian split squats

Back to startex to do like 3 more merkins each to make sure we hit our number

MOLESKINE: Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Leanpax 1/6

COT: sooner’s dog
Vector’s brother
Natural Ice – CBO’s courage
Pep’s project
Spinal Tap in his new role as AOQ of titan

:grapes:

Dew & Dora

AO: middle-tooth
Q: Hanes
PAX: DrRupp, Focker, Oatmeal, SalPal, sooner, Toothless
FNGs: None
COUNT: 7
CONDITIONS: Tropical Winter + Puddles

WARMUP: SSH, LBAC, OHP, FF, WMH
Jog around the track, sprint to front

THE THANG: Dora
Burpees
Squats
WWI
MTN Climbers
Lunges
American Hammers
Merkins
Bobby Hurleys (jump squats)
Freddie Mercury’s
Lunges

Control – run down the long straight on track and back, keep working out till All In. Change exercise.

Mosey to flag, 1 round of toe taps

MOLESKINE:

ANNOUNCEMENTS: NYD Convergence led by Grape. Lean Pax.

COT: Prayers for those who have lost loved ones during the Holiday Season. Prayers for healthy families and travel. Prayers for individuals who may have some trauma during this season.

“If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.” -Maya Angelou

You can’t always control your environment or the things that happen to you, but you can always try to change your outlook or the way you choose to see something or someone.
The Challenge: Be the positive change wherever you are and encourage others with your effort to shape the things that you can change.

Shout out to Oatmeal and sooner for delicious coffee and encouraging and supporting another great AM in the gloom.

-Hanes

The basics

AO: middle-tooth
Q: Focker
PAX: Toothless, sooner, Oatmeal, Hanes, DrRupp, Betty Ford, Young and Restless, Pole Dancer, Wolfpack
FNGs: None
COUNT: 10
CONDITIONS: wet, but only from below

WARMUP: Toothlesswas kind enough to lead warmups while I slept through my alarms

THE THANG:
15 decline merkins, lunges to 10 swing rows
20 decline merkins, lunges to 11 swing rows
25 decline merkins, lunges to 12 swing rows
Failure incline merkins, lunges to 13 swing rows
20 decline merkins, lunges to 14 swing rows
15 decline merkins, lunges to 15 swing rows

11s in the parking lots
Sit throughs and prisoner squats

Finished with sprints and high skips

MOLESKINE: great work by all, this one challenged me for sure as was my first time leading since the new addition.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: come on out Sunday 12/15 for LOTR movie!

COT: prayers for those with illness and death in their family, praises for healing,

My Fellow Americans…

AO: middle-tooth
Q: Goose
PAX: Betty Ford, Toothless, DrRupp, Topanga, Pole Dancer, sooner, Oatmeal, Snouzer
FNGs: None
COUNT: 9
CONDITIONS: perfect

WARMUP: Willie mays hays, forward fold, good mornings, cherry pickers

THE THANG:
-2 laps Indians runs with 10 burpee penalty for dropping the light
-100 squats/ merkins/ burpees in 25 rep increments. Run to light and back between sets.
-Dora: 300 SSH while partner runs
-Lunges down and back, 2 trips
-Circle Of Mary

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
-Tuesday Brewsday tonight!
-AOQ school next weekend, contact Toothless for details.

COT: On this Election Day remember we are all Americans, social media purge also suggested.

A Spooky Q: Journey to the Upside Down for the Deck of Horrors!!!

AO: middle-tooth
Q: Toothless
PAX: Pole Dancer, Schnauzer, Topanga, DrRupp, sooner, Hanes
FNGs: None
COUNT: 7
CONDITIONS: Crispy, but just right for fall :pinched_fingers:

WARMUP:

– Side straddle hops x 31
– Zombie walk out & back
– Werewolfs (aka Downward Dog into Cobra and back) x 10
– Scorpions x 10

THE THANG:

First, obligatory Burpee Thriller!! Listen to Thriller and do a burpee every time you hear the signature “thriller” in the chorus or something scary in the verses. Such a scary song…

Deck of Horrors!!!

To the lower lot, circle up and get ready to pull cards.
– Add 10 to digits (2-10)
– Royals trigger 10 reps of a harder exercise
– Aces have their own deviltry

Spades :spades:
– Digits = Squats
– Royals = Squat Jumps
– Ace = Squat Jump to parking lot and back
Clubs :clubs:
– Digits = LBC’s
– Royals = WW1’s
– Ace = 200 American Hammers (single count)
Hearts :heart:
– Digits = High Knees
– Royals = Hopping Hillbillies
– Ace = Cotton Eye Joe (High Knees with lyrics, Hillbillies with instrumentals)
Diamonds :diamonds:
– Digits = Carolina Dry Docks
– Royals = Diamond Merkins
– Ace = Bear Crawl to parking lot and back

Back to post at 5 mins out for Howler Monkeys, I.e. monkey humper ring of fire. 2 rounds at a time with a 10 count in between.

MOLESKINE:

Didn’t tweak much from the debut at atlantis, and it still slapped. Once again the Burpee Thriller was a crowd favorite that helped jump start the mumblechatter. Pole Dancer had the distinct pleasure of pulling 3 of 4 Aces from what may or may not have been a stacked deck :face_with_peeking_eye:, the last of his being the Ace of Hearts which led to a new fan fav: the Cotton Eye Joe!! Frankly this group impressed with their Hopping Hillbilly skills, and they were rewarded with several high digit high knees to follow :smiling_imp: Coffeeteeria was a delight after this sneaky burner.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
– As always, brewsday on the first Tuesday of the month (2 Tuesdays from today)
– Half marathon coming soon
– TN Tussle in early November, sign up and figure out teams!
– AOQ Grow school to follow

COT:
– Prayers for sooner’s milestone event at work with his work on display, that it would move forward as hoped
– Prayers for Topanga’s mom who is working through vision loss, for healing or for figuring out what the future holds
– Prayers for Schnauzer’s mom as she continues to sort through re-construction efforts in the aftermath of Helene

MEN! WHAT A MORNING! Truly it was an honor to lead and to be with you this AM. To those not with us, you were missed, and thank you to those present for your effort to push yourselves and each other. Until next time!! AAOOOOOOOOO!!!! :full_moon: :wolf:

— Toothless :tooth:

Better Late Than Never?

AO: middle-tooth
Q: Young Pawn
PAX: Go Fish, Oatmeal, sooner, Hanes, Pole Dancer, Black Lung, Zelenskyy, Two Face, Haggis, Harbaugh, Foot Drop, Pep, Grape, Toothless, Betty Ford, Formica
FNGs: None
COUNT: 17
Figure I’ll squeeze this in before the end of the month so we all get our PAXminer stats.

Ran several laps of the field and then did a “you vs. you” round where each lap must be faster or face a penalty. Closed with some Sally Up and Sally Down squats (and merkins!) and 5 minutes of mary. Credit to Bad Boy Pole Dancer for inspiration.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6f