Author: backblasts

Date: Thursday, 11/11/21
AO: #ao_mastodon
PAX: @Jolly @Archive @Sparrow @Beaker @Bloomer @wet burrito @Ralphy @Tortuga @8-Track @CHiPs @TBTF @Panhandle @Pink Drink @T-bone @Jailbreak @Hancock @Shiplap @Da Vinci @Captain Crunch (AJ) @SAGA
FNGs: 0
Q: @SAGA
Total: 20

Conditions: perfect beatdown gloom with a bit of music to color the atmosphere

Warm-Up: “Reveille” & the “A-Team theme” started us off while we engaged in: arm circles / tappy taps / merkins / mountain climber

THANG 1: moved with our coupons to the sounds of “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” and gathered as brothers in arms to work our abs in 1min battle between PAX of big boy sit-ups while Johnny Cash gave us a replay of “The Gettysburg Address”.

THANG 2: To the tune of the “Warrior Song” and then “Drunken Sailor” we grouped up by 5s and while one group of five did a stretcher carry with a PAX complete with two wing-men doing a farmer’s carry with coupons all of the rest enjoyed grave diggers. Burpees were incorporated at various points along the stretcher journey between flags.

THANG 3: A bit of Queen (“We Will Rock You”) and Rage Against The Machine (“Freedom”) encouraged us on as we completed a redrum on Hoffa.

THANG 4: Johnny Cash again serenaded us about the sad story of “Ira Hayes” while we rotated through overhead presses, rows, and curls while not putting the coupons down.

THANG 5: With the drill sergeant upon us we moseyed on a short loop to the cooties.

THANG 6: Guns N Roses welcomed us to the jungle and we rotated through pull-ups, squats, and LBCs.

THANG 7: The drill sergeant returned again and we moseyed back to our coupons at the base of Hoffa.

THANG 8: With a tribute to “America” and “Born in the USA” Neil Diamond and The Boss gave us a sound track as we counted in cadence to 11 through each of the following: American Hammers, Chest Press, Scull Crushers, Coupon Dips, Coupon Merkins, Kettle Swings, Thrusters.

MARY: Louis Armstrong reminded us “What A Wonderful World” we have as we closed out the morning with @Sparrow getting carried away with flutter kicks and then some boat/canoe from @Archive to bring us home.

COT: Recognized the veterans among us: @8-Track & @Panhandle. We stood for 1 minute of reflection on those who have fought for our freedom while Taps played through the gloom.

Moleskin: Success is not about ambition or accomplishment or achievement. True success is the formation of a soul.

Backblast: "Have Fun"
Date: Saturday, 11/13/21
AO: #ao_tar_pit
PAX: @Jolly @Banks @Tortuga @Panhandle @Archive @T-bone @Katniss @Da Vinci @wet burrito @TBTF @Cheese @Beaker
FNGs: 0
Q: @Banks
Total: 12
Warm-Up:
Stretch OYO
Mosey to Ackerman ParkThang 1: Kickball!
We played kickball where the kicker played all 3 outs and we utilized ghost runners to keep track of the score. For every run scored, everyone in the field owed 2 burpees. After @Archive came out of the gates hot and had us doing a ton of burpees, everyone figured out what they were doing and we settled in to the game. After we were done, we moseyed back to the flags.COT: Prayers for @Tortuga’s daughter as she travels back from PeruMoleskin: Don’t take yourself too seriously, find different ways to laugh and have fun in your life!

PT Test
Date: Wednesday, November 10, 2021
AO: #ao_tar_pit
PAX: @Katniss @Panhandle (respect)@T-bone (respect) @Tortuga (respect)@8-Track @Spokes @TBTF @Hotbox @Big Mac
FNGs: 0
Q: @Tortuga
Total: 9Conditions: mid-30sWarm-Up: Tappy Taps, Copperhead Merkins, Abe Vigodas (slow)

Thang 1: Merkins
2 minutes – AYG
Thang 2: BBSUs
2 minutes – AYG
Thang 3: Two-mile run
AYG@Big Mac once again blew us away with 101 bbsus. @Katniss kept pace with 94 merkins to Big mac’s 95. The only drama came during the run. @Tortuga was working the mental game, trying to psyche out the competition, and set a blistering pace our of the gate. After finishing the first lap at 1:15, he almost broke @Hotbox and @Katniss. But it was not to be. Hotbox got his mojo cooking halfway through lap two, passed Tortuga, and just kept flying. His 12:37 might be an AO Wheaton two mile record. Katniss kept trucking too, eventually passing Tortuga in the last half mile on the way to an impressive 13:09. Even though he was pressing for a sub 13 minute time, Tortuga was satisfied with his 13:27. (He is pushing 52 after all.)COT: Prayers for the people of Afghanistan. Some projections have a huge percentage of the population facing deep hunger this winter. Lifting up Wiseman from Hope for the Orphan today.Moleskin: As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. We see the benefits of pushing each other to greater heights physically. It helps to have someone encourage you on your form, too. While physical training is of some value, spiritual training is for eternity. If you aren’t getting the benefits of an accountability partner yet, you are missing out. They will push and encourage you to reach greater heights in your marriage, as a dad, and in other areas of your life. Find a brother to lock shields with and begin some accountability with them.

Date: Saturday, November 6, 2021
AO: #ao_tar_pit
PAX: @Katniss @Banks @Panhandle @SAGA @T-bone @Archive @Tortuga @Cheese @Bloomer @Jolly
FNGs: 0
Q: @Bloomer
Total: 10

Conditions: mid-30s

Warm-Up: Side Straddle hops, Tappy Taps, Mt climbers, Merkins, Sumo Squat walks,
Leg swings

Thang 1: Grab coupons and run to bottom of ramp. Mosey up to school and we did The “Bring sally up” – squat challenge

We completed 5 loops up the hill and down the far stairs on west side of school. Pax had to Complete two smaller loops (ramps snd stairs) while doing the farmers carry.

Recover

I got up – Push Up song challenge

Partner up: One partner runs up the stairs and completes 5 squats at each landing and runs and down the ramp.

Other Partner works out until their return: Jump up on ledge, CRUNCHY FROGS, Durbin’s coupon swings, curls.

Recover

Mary: Cupid shuffle – plank challenge and finished with some big boy sit-ups. We stretched and called it a day.

COT: orphans, unity amongst covid realities

Moleskin: He must become greater. I must become less.

Date: Monday, 11/1/21
AO: #ao_mastodon
PAX: @Banks @Jolly @Panhandle @Gummi Bear @8-Track @TackleBox @Zoro @CHiPs @Da Vinci @Crack @SAGA
FNGs: 0
Q: @SAGA
Total: 11

Conditions: mid 30s

Warm-Up: tappy taps / squats / mountain man pooper / OYO leg stretch

The Thang: the runners ran while the ruckers rucked

COT: prayers for @Da Vinci’s aunt Trisha who is back in the hospital & @Jolly’s family friend who passed do to COVID complications

Moleskin: We are not called to be successful, but to be fruitful.

“God’s view differs radically from the world’s. The emphasis in the Bible is not on doing a lot, but on being more holy; it is not on productivity, but on stewardship; it does not look at the outward appearance, but at the heart. Identity does not come from activity, but from belonging (being in Christ). For God, the core of success lies in attitudes and inner-values; it is not a matter of getting many results but of working with the right principles, or building with the right materials (gold, silver, costly stones), as Paul so richly describes in I Corinthians 3:10-13. The warning is, “Let each man take care how he builds” (v. 10, RSV). In accordance with this advice, the essential question in evaluating our work is ‘How am I building?’ not ‘What am I achieving?’”

Date: Saturday, 10/30/21
AO: #ao_mastodon
PAX: @Archive, @Bloomer, @Crack, @Crash, @Jailbreak, @Jäzz Händz, @Jolly, @SAGA, @TBTF, @Banks, @Hotbox, @Cookies, @Pedro, @Sparrow, @Noodles FNGs: 1
Q: @Noodles
Total: 15

Warm-Up: Romanian deadlifts, Batwings, Frankensteins, Gut busters

The Thang: When Monsters Attack

Round 1 – SHOP

– Prayer Squats – x50
– Creature merkins – x50
– Columbian Neckties – x50
– Grave Diggers – x50

Round 2 – Dora/Greta

100 Kettle bell swings
200 Thrusters
300 Blockees

PAX alternated between bear crawl, crawl bear, mosey and, Zombie Crawl

MoM: LBCs

COT: Prayers for Sparrow and his move. Prayers for K-Pop and guidance on his college experience.

Moleskin: Being unpredictable is not a negative thing. Don’t settle for what’s comfortable. Step out of your usual routine to perform something unexpected that benefits your children, M and everyone else around you.

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.