Author: backblasts

Backblast: "Do Hard Things"
Date: Wednesday, 10/27/21
AO: #ao_tar_pit
PAX: @Jolly @Banks @Tortuga @Panhandle @SAGA @Archive @Cookies @Hotbox @T-bone @Milk Duds @Katniss @Shiplap @8-Track @Da Vinci @Bloomer @Crack @wet burrito @Heist
FNGs: 0
Q: @Banks
Total: 18
Warm-Up:
25x SSH IC
15x Windmills IC
10x Slow Squats
5x Slow Burpees (aka @T-bone burpees)We broke into 2 columns and moseyed south to the prairie path to begin the dayThang 1: 5 Alive!
We started at the first light pole and did 1 burpee, then added 1 rep at each light pole after. Once an exercise gets to 5, at the next light pole you add on the next exercise until at the end you do 5x burpees, 5x Merkins, 5x Star Jumps, 5x Dive Bombers, and 5x Squats for a total of 115 burpees, 90 Merkins, 65 Star Jumps, 40 Dive Bombers and 15 Squats.We then moseyed back to the flag to pick up the late groupThang 2: 3 MOM
20x BBS OYO
60x Flutter Kicks ICFrom there we moseyed to the park for thang 3!Thang 3: Flat Tire
Partner up with someone of equal size and shape. One partner would hold the others legs while they completed 4 steps on their hands and then 1 Derkin. The reps increased and partners traded off until each had completed 40 steps on their hands and 10 Derkins.Thang 4: Bearpees
After the flat tire was complete, we all did bearpees(4 Bear Crawls then 1 Burpee) to the circle.Thang 5: Dan Taylor
We spread out past the circle and did Dan Taylors to 8, then we met up at the sign at the end of Lake Ellyn.Thang 6: Fireman Carry
Grab your partner from before and alternate carrying each other back to the track on the other side of the LakeThang 7: Jack Webbs
We all circled up and completed Jack Webbs to 10. (1x Merkin, 4 overhead claps progressing to 10x Merkins and 40x Overhead claps)3 MOM
We then moseyed to the flags and circled up for some Mary
25x Oblique Crunches IC (Each Side)
25x Double Crunch ICCOT: Prayers for bodies that work, healing PAX, the joy of meeting together in the morning. Praise for @Panhandle getting his program approved. Prayers for @Crack & @K-pop as he is working through challenges at schoole.Moleskin: Do hard things. Let go of comfort and challenge yourself to get out of your comfort zone. It is only through facing hard things that we put the rest of our lives into perspective and allows us to do anything. Thank you all for indulging me and getting up early for an extended beatdown. You all challenged yourselves today and are better for it!

Date: Monday, 10/25/21
AO: #ao_mastodon
PAX: @Banks @8-Track @Panhandle @Katniss @Maj Crunch @Tortuga @Sparrow @Jolly @Big Mac @Archive @T-bone @Ranger Rick @Da Vinci @SAGA
FNGs: 0
Q: @SAGA
Total: 14

Conditions: rain with a strike of lightening

Warm-Up: Exercise 1: Halloween arm circles / Exercise 2: The Thriller (complete with burpees, side straddle hops, goofballs, squats, slow merkins)

The Thang: in a fitting Heck Week omen, a strike of lightening lit up the sky as we came to the end of our Thriller WOR. Not to be deterred, we gathered our rucks and two sandbags and moseyed over to the S.H.O.P. On the way we acquired four gravestones (in the shape of coupons) left at the base of Hoffa. Also found an extra-large sandbag to take with us. The following ensued: broke the PAX into twos with a coupon or sandbags for each pair. Completed the following: 1) 300 reps of curls between the pair – while one curled the other did dips, 2) 200 reps of big boy situps – the other PAX did box jumps, 3) 200 reps of skull crushers – the other PAX did squats, 4) All PAX together: 150 reps of blockees on the 4 coupons while everyone else did burpees, 5) ended with 20 burpees each – also completed 20 more burpees during the beatdown due to a downed flag 2x.

Announcements:
Announcement 1: help @Sparrow move on Saturday at 10am!
Announcement 2: find an accountability partner

COT: prayers for @Da Vinci’s aunt, @T-bone’s friends and the loss of their sister, @SAGA’s student who had a sister who attempted suicide

Moleskin: A challenge is an opportunity to get stronger.

Date: Saturday, 10/23/21 @ 7am
AO: #ao_mastodon
PAX: @Heist @Double Beef ‘n Cheddar @TBTF @Bad Debt @Jäzz Händz @cheetah @Bloomer Q: @Bloomer

Conditions: getting frosty

Warm-Up: Motivators/ Imperial Walkers/
Sumo squat walk/ Abe Vigodas/
Leg swings/ Stretch on own

The Thang: Mosey around the AO and every 1/4 mile we stopped for a song exercise challenge. We stopped and busted out the following song challenges.
1. Will Smith – “Switch” – hold squat for choruses. Lunge walk 1st verse, stepback lunges 2nd verse, side lunges 3rd verse, in out 3:30 2. I got up – Push Up song: complete push ups to words and hold plank in between 3. Bring sally up – squat down and up
4. “I get knocked down” song – burpee on the get down part and run in place in between
5. Cupid shuffle – plank during song and follow the instructions as the song plays. – to the left, to the right, now kick and so on

We moseyed to the park for two 4 minute tabata rounds of dips and pick your own ab workout

Finished up with 4 minutes of stretching

COT: prayers for @Jolly & @Tortuga & @SAGA for physical recovery and healing.

Moleskin: Love your enemies.

Date: Saturday, 10/23/21
AO: #ao_tar_pit
PAX: @Jolly @Banks @Tortuga @Toto @Big Mac @Noodles @Panhandle @Spokes @SAGA @Archive @Sparrow @Beaker
FNGs: 0
Q: @Beaker
Total: 12
Warm-Up:
SSH as QIC explains the chemical quantity of a mole.
Calf Raises as QIC reads an excerpt from XKCD’s “mole of moles” explainer article.
10 Moon gods ic (5 each side) to honor the boiling moon of molten moles

Thang 1: God promised Abraham that he would give him a mole of descendants. He sealed his covenant with Abraham by passing between halves of dead animals. The PAX lined up in two lines in plank position facing each other. the first PAX passed between the lines in bear crawl. When a bear passed, the planking PAX went to a down Merkin position. As each PAX reached the end, the next PAX passed through the line and the assembled PAX pushed up to high plank. Repeato for ~25-50 yds.

Thang 2: In partners, grab a picnic bench a complete 120 derkins, 240 table presses, 360 squats (but to bench). One partner works while the other runs to the memorial flag, then the bathrooms, and back to the picnic table. Switcheroo, repeato.

Thang 3: 11s (or a Beaker’s dozen). burpins and merkees in any order you choose. You do you.

Thang 4: Scout run around the backside of the lake, around the school by the road and back to the parking lot. where we finished with 2 minutes of boat/canoe.

COT: Prayers for bodies that work, healing PAX, the joy of meeting together in the morning, and @Noodles and his M as they decide what to do for &Company.

Moleskine: The mole shows us the power of large numbers of small things. On my F3 birthday, I can attest to the power of consistent and repeated things in my life. The power of fellowship and encouragement of the PAX is something that we should not take for granted.

Backblast: The Voluntold Beat Down
Date: Monday, 10/21/21
AO: #ao_mastodon
PAX: @Archive @Panda Express @Jolly @Tortuga @Hotbox @Bloomer @TackleBox @Big Mac @SAGA @Spokes
FNGs: 0
Q: @8-Track
Total: 11Conditions: Easy Breezy for a easy beat down at the AO.Warm-Up: SSH -20 | Mountain Man Poopers | Arm Circles | Merkins (regular/wide/diamond) | Mike Phelps | Quad stretch | Little Man in the Forest| Curls The Thang: Fearless PAX moseyed over to Hoffa for a
partner Beat downIteration #1- 1) Squat Thrust & 2) Rifle Carry & 5x Blockees
Iteration #2- 1) Kettlebell swing & 2) Sprint Hoffa and 25 BB sit-ups
Iteration #3- 1) 1 arm Rows & 2) Sprint Hoffa x2
Iteration #4- 1) Over-head Press & 2) murder bunnyExtra- 20 x Little Man in the Forest | 20ish BlockeesAnnouncements: #2nd-f event at @Banks‘ house tonightCOT: prayers for @Jolly & @Tortuga for physical recovery and healing, Lift up minds and spirts and growth as Men, Husbands, Fathers, Brothers, and SonsMoleskin: BE IMPECCABLE WITH YOUR WORDSpeak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love

Backblast: The Answers to All Your Burning Questions
Date: Wednesday, 10/20/21
AO: #ao_tar_pit)
PAX: @Panhandle, @Zoro, @Sparrow, @8-Track, @wet burrito, @Da Vinci, @SAGA, @TBTF, @Aloha, @Spokes, @Tortuga
FNGs: 0
Q: @Tortuga
Total: 11

Date: Monday, 10/18/21
AO: #ao_mastodon
PAX: @Maj Crunch @8-Track @Jolly @Sparrow @Babe @Crack @TBTF @Big Mac @TackleBox @Jailbreak @Archive @Da Vinci @Tortuga @Panhandle @Banks @SAGA
FNGs: 0

Q: @SAGA
Total: 16

Conditions: Bringing a bit of warmth to a cool morning at the AO. A bit of ruck/run in the name of love.

Warm-Up: 15 tappy taps, 15 mountain man poopers, OYO leg stretches, 15 mountain climbers

The Thang: Heartless runners moseyed into the gloom while the ruckers rucked. Past fires were fanned as our stories of love were shared.

Announcements: #2nd-f event at @Banks’ house on Thursday evening

COT: prayers for @Crack’s friend with a swollen lymph node, @Da Vinci’s cousin who was taken off of life support and his pregnant wife and family, @Captain Crunch (AJ) 2.0s and family in quarantine

Moleskin: Choose gratitude. We can choose to not be discontent. Give away your “mine” in the name of love and serve those near you.

Backblast: Thursday October 14th, 2021 – Super Dora
Date: Thursday, 10/14/2021
AO: #ao_mastodon
PAX: @Sparrow, @Jolly, @Beaker, @T-bone, @Tortuga, @SAGA, @TBTF, @Banks, @Aloha, @Archive, @Big Mac, @Shiplap
FNGs: 0
Q: @Banks
Total: 12Conditions: Warm and Rainy October Morning!Warm-o-Rama: 7x Motivators, 15x Tin Soldier IC, Leg Stretch, 5 Slow Burpees (aka "The @T-bone)The Thang: Super Dora
We teamed up in groups of 3 and completed the following Dora Style:1 PAX would run to the top of Hoffa, then head to the pullup station, the PAX at the pullup station would move to the S.H.O.P, and the PAX at the S.H.O.P. would run.

• 100 Pullups
• 200 Overhead Table Presses
• 300 Merkins
• 400 Dips
• 500 4 Count Flutter Kicks
• 600 Squats touching your butt to the bench each time

3 MOM:
We circled up and completed a round of GeronimoCOR/NOR/COT:
Thankful for a beautiful October morning and being able to be outside enjoying each other’s company. Prayers for @SAGA as he prepares and travels to a conference, Thankful to have @Shiplap back with us and continued prayers for his family to settle in with the new addition, and prayers for @Big Mac’s friend who is struggling after a rough divorce.Moleskin:
Be thankful for what you have and there is no better place than home. @SAGA shared a great metaphor about how our walk through life can be painful at times, but each step that causes pain is followed by another to give thanks for

Backblast: A Wednesday the 13th Not-So-Frightful-Fest
Date: Wednesday, 10/13/21
AO: #ao_tar_pit
PAX: @Tortuga, @Panhandle, @SAGA, @Da Vinci, @Big Mac, @T-bone @TBTF @Milk Duds @Hotbox @Banks
FNGs:
Q: @Panhandle
Total: 10

Date: Thursday, 10/7/2021

17 PAX started out on a humid morning with a short WAR of motivators (7, ic) and merkins (11, ic). We divided up into 4 teams to hear the rules for the beatdown. After chiding YHC for threatening to take away fun and games if there were not enough HCs, the game was explained according to the rules below. In the end teams 3 and 4 were victorious with 4 points each (though team 3 took poetic license in their definition of a redrum). While teams 1 and 2 scored 3 points each. A good time was had by most and coffeteria discussion focused on possible rules changes in the game to close loopholes (ahem, @Banks), optimize the workout, and prevent @Captain Crunch (AJ) and @Archive from cheating.

Rules:

1. You get a point by:

1. bringing a coupon to a bridge, and completing the assigned exercises.

2. completing sets of redrums as a team (no modifications or picking up the six.)

1. You can only advance your coupon to a site (bridge or Hoffa) via rifle carry.

2. You must return to the flag between sites; (your whole team must be present at the flag before advancing to the next site–forgot to mention)

3. You may do as many redrums as you would like. For your first point, your whole team must complete 1 redrum each. Your second point costs your two redrums each. Your third costs you four redrums each. Your fourth costs your eight redrums each. (2^(n-1) redrums gets you your nth point.)

4. If you are the first team to complete the exercises at a bridge, leave your coupon in a horizontal position near the listed exercise.

5. If you arrive at a bridge and there is a horizontal coupon, you must complete 2x the stated reps to earn your point. After completing these reps, carry both coupons back to the flag.

6. As you remove coupons from a bridge, cross out the exercise (not reps) and replace it with an exercise of your choice.

7. Your team does not need to travel together. However, you must all be at the bridge together before a point is awarded. All reps must be completed within 10 feet of the bridge.

8. Only one team may bring their coupon to a bridge at a time. If two teams have men doing reps at a bridge, the team that brings their coupon first gets to continue. The other team loses all their reps and must go to another bridge. Keep your coupon vertical as you are doing your reps so that approaching teams know that the coupon that is there is yours.

9. You may not complete the same bridge 2x in a row.–forgot to mention

10. Any team that is not at the flag by 6:15:00 by my watch surrenders all of their points. Anyone who arrives at the flag early holds plank or canoe under penalty of losing points (some or all) for your team.

11. Carry all coupons at your final station back to the flag, and pick up any at any station you pass on the way.

AO: #ao_mastodon
PAX: @Jolly @Archive @Banks @Sparrow @Ralphy @SAGA @Hotbox @Cookies @8-Track @Katniss @Big Mac @Yankee @Bloomer@T-bone @Captain Crunch (AJ) @FN3 @Beaker
FNGs:1, FN3
Q: @Beaker
Total: 17