Author: backblasts

Date: 2026-08-01
AO: Mastodon
Q: Stock boy ,
PAX: Mr Roboto, Dumpster, Too Big To Fail (TBTF), The wet burrito, Stock boy, Cheap Shot FNGs: None
COUNT: 6
Conditions:
Rainy and cool

WOR:
SSH, Abe Vigodas, tappy-taps, toy soldiers, arm circles forward, arm circles backwards, Michael Phelps, seal claps.

The Thang:
At the south-west corner of the third floor of the parking garage, we did three rounds of exercises where PAX do a set number of reps, then run a lap going down the steps at the north-east corner to the ground floor, then up the steps at the north-west corner back to third floor, and back to the starting spot. When back at the south-east corner do half the number of reps as the previous set. Repeat until PAX do only one rep; then after the next lap, start the next exercise round. Rounds: 1. 128 squats (+ 64 + 32 + 16 + 8 + 4 + 2 + 1 = 255)
2. 64 merkins (+ 32 + 16 + 8 + 4 + 2 + 1 = 127)
3. 32 burpees (+ 16 + 8 + 4 + 2 + 1 = 63)

21 laps total for those who finished: approximately 2.75 miles.

Led Zeppelin playlist:
1. When the Levee Breaks
2. The Battle of Evermore
3. Dazed and Confused
4. Friends
5. What Is and What Should Never Be
6. Black Dog
7. Misty Mountain Hop
8. Ramble On
9. The Ocean
10. Gallows Pole
11. Over the Hills and Far Away

Moleskine:
Be flexible, don’t worry about things out of your control, and have good friends who will extend you grace.

Tags: Mastodon, Mr Roboto, Dumpster, Too Big To Fail (TBTF), The wet burrito, Stock boy, Cheap Shot

Date: 2026-08-01
AO: Flat Earth
Q: Panda Express ,
PAX: Krampus, Panda Express, Cookies, Boomerang, Swish, Knuckleball, Fogg, Splash, Scoop, Monkey FNGs: 1 Monkey
COUNT: 10
Conditions:
Pouring rain

WOR:
There and back?

The Thang:
50 minutes of ultimate

Moleskine:
Probably have fun—in the rain!

Tags: Flat Earth, Krampus, Panda Express, Cookies, Boomerang, Swish, Knuckleball, Fogg, Splash, Scoop, Monkey

Date: 2026-08-01
AO: Tar Pit
Q: T-bone ,
PAX: The wet burrito, LeMond, T-bone
FNGs: None
COUNT: 3

WOR: :heavy_check_mark:

The Thang: Dora with 200 thrusters, KBS, Derkins, OHP, Goblet Squats – two work while 1 laps the parking garage.

Mosey lap with two minute plank

Dan Taylor’s up the ramp 6×24

Wall sits, star jump burpees

5 minute EMOM with merkins and BBSU

Cool down stretching

Moleskine:

Comparison is the thief of Joy – Teddy Roosevelt

Tags: Tar Pit, The wet burrito, LeMond, T-bone

Date: 2026-07-31
AO: Ground Zero
Q: Dumpster ,
PAX: Beaker, Runs, Dumpster, Mr Roboto, Noodles, Cottontail, Hypotenuse, Phillip Deisch, Shamwow, Cheap Shot, LeMond, Stock boy, Falsetto FNGs: None
COUNT: 13
Conditions: Superb

WOR:
Follow the leader in a circle while listening to “The Avocado Song” by Alton Eugene

Squats – pass the Avocado
Arm circles – pass the Avocado
Shoulder taps Pass the avocado
Stretch OYO

I shared a few bad Avocado jokes:

Why did the avocado blush?
It saw the salad dressing.

Pit happens
Guac and roll

What do you call a happy avocado?
A guac-star

Stay ripe
Avo nice day

——————————-

The Thang:
We ran/ rucked East

Moleskine:
Shared a story about doing a duet with my friend Andy at Karaoke night (at a local bar in West Chicago). We both thought of singing the same song… so we agreed to do it as a duet. We sang I’m gonna be (500 miles) by The Proclaimers and it went well, was really fun, and was a hit with the crowd. :arrow_down:
Try to find ways to include others – sometimes it can just be more fun!

Tags: Ground Zero, Beaker, Runs, Dumpster, Mr Roboto, Noodles, Cottontail, Hypotenuse, Phillip Deisch, Shamwow, Cheap Shot, LeMond, Stock boy, Falsetto

Date: 2026-07-31
AO: Flat Earth
Q: LouGee ,
PAX: Krampus, Jolly, Gummi Bear, Oompa, Hershey, Panda Express, Has Been, Cookies, Boomerang, Swish, White Noise, Shiplap, Knuckleball, LouGee, Bloomer, Chopsticks FNGs: None
COUNT: 16
Conditions:
65 degrees, 93% humidity, 0 mph winds, fair skies
WOR:
20x SSH, OYOx Down & Back
The Thang:
Ultimate Frisbee
Moleskine:
Roles of a husband:
Protect, Provide, Procreate
What are we training ourselves to be..strong men in marriage or a wet noodle…set your expectations…don’t use your circumstances or convenience as a reason to not be good. **We added up all the Pax’ years of matrimony: 229 years of marriage in our COT

Tags: Flat Earth, Krampus, Jolly, Gummi Bear, Oompa, Hershey, Panda Express, Has Been, Cookies, Boomerang, Swish, White Noise, Shiplap, Knuckleball, LouGee, Bloomer, Chopsticks

Date: 2026-07-30
AO: Mastodon
Q: LouGee ,
PAX: Mr Roboto, Dumpster, Big Mac, Hypotenuse, Stock boy, White Noise, LouGee FNGs: None
COUNT: 7
Conditions:
58 degrees, 90% humidity, 0 mph winds, fair skies
WOR:
10x Arm Circles (f/b), 13x Tin Man, 21x SSH, 60 sec Plank
The Thang:
Mosey the “short” mile loop. Stopped at random spots for exercises: pull-ups, merkins, squats, more more merkins, Bulgarian split squats, bear crawls, flutter kicks, crab walk, duck walks (3 directions), dips, reverse lunges (utilized curbs, rocks, benches); finished with Mary (each Pax led an exercise of their choice) Moleskine:
John Maxwell:
“Everything rises and falls on leadership.
Leadership is not about titles, positions, or flowcharts.
It is about one life influencing another.
Change is inevitable.
Growth is optional.”

Tags: Mastodon, Mr Roboto, Dumpster, Big Mac, Hypotenuse, Stock boy, White Noise, LouGee

Date: 2026-07-30
AO: Dark Room
Q: Noodles ,
PAX: Noodles, Manhole, Tortuga, Lakers, perculator, Crack
FNGs: None
COUNT: 6
Conditions: Started off dark and in the gloom. Sunrise took place while doing our first routine at the Brogamat. By the end of the beatdown, you could see a full moon while at the skate park lot. Pretty awesome!

WOR:
SSH x30
Abe Vigodas x10
Batwings x15
Mosey over to the Brogamat area.

The Thangs:

Thang #1: 4 Corners beatdown – 1 exercise performed at each corner of the Brogamat loop with a mosey as the form of transportation:

Round 1:
50 Squats
Mosey
40 Lunges
Mosey
30 Gas Pumps
Mosey
20 Bonnie Hurleys

Round 2:
40 Squats
Mosey
30 Lunges
Mosey
20 Gas Pumps
Mosey
10 Bonnie Hurleys

Thang #2: Black Jack – Lined up at center field to perform the following:

1 Merkin
Mosey to other end
20 LBCs
Mosey back to center field
2 Merkins
19 LBCs
Rinse and repeat until it’s 20 Merkins and 1 LBC.

Moleskine: Last week I felt the need to start a discussion on a suspicious unmarked vehicle patrolling on the park trail. With families around, it stirred a sense of discomfort inside me. Specifically, I saw young girl making her way back to her family as this vehicle crept behind her. With a confused look on her face looking at the driver and the over to her family, I just thought about how she must have felt. It turned out to be a Park Ranger. No one would have known had I not started a discussion on the local group. The village responded and immediately made it a point to identify the vehicle. My message to the PAX today was to “Love thy neighbor”. For PAX to be kind, nice and mindful of others. For me it was more about the current climate with ICE and to try to do something to ease feelings of discomfort for others. OR, for others, it’s the recent damage, loss of power due to these recent storms. For us to think of others, do for others or even pray for others in these times.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17jtsErpot/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Tags: Dark Room, Noodles, Manhole, Tortuga, Lakers, perculator, Crack

Date: 2026-07-29
AO: Tar Pit
Q: LouGee ,
PAX: Too Big To Fail (TBTF), Panhandle, The wet burrito, Portage, Sparrow, T-bone, LouGee FNGs: None
COUNT: 7
Conditions:
58 degrees, 97% humidity, 7 mph winds from the North, fair skies WOR:
15x Arm Circles (f/b), 10x Tin Man, 21x SSH, 60 sec Plank
The Thang:
Cosey to the playground for 10 pull-up & Mary
Cosey to random spots around the lake. Pax picked 1 of 4 cards with 5 exercises (10 reps first round, 12 reps second round) Card 1: Blockees, Deadlift, American Hammer, V-ups, Curls
Card 2: Coupon Swings, Military press, Skull Crushers, Around the World, Bulgarian Split Squat
Card 3: Goblet Squats, Calf Raises (3 directions), Heavy flutters, BBSU, Front Raises Card 4: Back Rows, Chest Press, Frog Squats, Shrugs, Tucks
Moleskine:
Traits of a strong man: “A strong man is defined by character traits like integrity, emotional resilience, accountability, rather than physical size. He stands firm in his values, handles adversity with calm focus, and uplifts the people around him.” Also added by the COT, he cannot be afraid of strong women.

Tags: Tar Pit, Too Big To Fail (TBTF), Panhandle, The wet burrito, Portage, Sparrow, T-bone, LouGee

Date: 2026-07-29
AO: Ground Zero
Q: Mr. Bean ,
PAX: Mr. Bean, Dumpster, Stock boy, Cheap Shot, Audible, Tenderfoot FNGs:
COUNT: 6
Conditions: sun out, 60 degrees

WOR: 20 SSH picking daisies, Oyo

The Thang: ruck east to Washington North to franklin West making it under the prairie path bridge and back up to AO

Moleskine:Proverbs 22:1, 3, 13 ESV
[1] A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold.
[3] The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it.
[13] The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside! I shall be killed in the streets!”

1. The Excuses We Make (Proverbs 22:13)
“The lazy man says, ‘There is a lion outside! I shall be slain in the streets!’”
Solomon calls out the absurdity of human excuses. The lazy man invents a totally ridiculous scenario—a lion roaming the neighborhood—just to justify staying in his warm, comfortable bed.
Every morning at 0515 when the alarm goes off, that same “lion” roars in our heads: “It’s too cold out.”
“My knees hurt.”
“I worked late yesterday, I deserve to sleep in.”
F3 exists because we refuse to listen to the lion. Getting out to the gloom isn’t just about burpees and sweat—it’s about killing the habit of self-deception and excuses before the sun even comes up. 2. The Prudent Man Foresees Danger (Proverbs 22:3)
“A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself, but the simple pass on and are punished.”
A High-Impact Man doesn’t drift through life passive and oblivious. He looks down the road. He sees where isolation, bad health, neglected marriages, or unchecked anger lead—and he takes action before the crash.
The gloom is our proving ground to stay sharp, physically and spiritually, so when life’s real storms hit our families or communities, we aren’t caught flat-footed. 3. What We’re Actually Building (Proverbs 22:1)
“A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, loving favor rather than silver and gold.”
At the end of the day, no one remembers your paycheck or your 401k. What lasts is your character and your name—how you led your home, how you stood by your brothers, and how you showed up when things got hard.
Takeaway: Stop letting imaginary lions keep you on the couch. Be the prudent man who prepares today for tomorrow’s battles, and guard your character above all else. Aye!
— YHC

Tags: Ground Zero, Mr. Bean, Dumpster, Stock boy, Cheap Shot, Audible, Tenderfoot

Date: 2026-07-28
AO: Dark Room
Q: LouGee ,
PAX: Beaker, Framed, Manhole, Portage, Lakers, perculator, LouGee, Body Double FNGs: None
COUNT: 8
Conditions:
69 degrees, 90% humidity, 13 mph winds from the north, mostly cloudy WOR:
10x Arm Circles (f/b), 10x Tin Man, 21x SSH
The Thang:
One Pax transported a heavy object to a station and then took over the count of the exercise. 10 stations:
100x Mtn Climbers/200x Leg Lifts
100x Squats/100x Alt. Side Squats
100x Flutter Kicks/200x BBSU
100x Side lunges/100x Reverse lunge
100x Alt. Shoulder Taps/200x Pickle Pounders
100x Spider-Man Crawls/100x Inch Work Merkins
100x Zebra Butt Kicks/200x Back Widow
100x Hand Release Merkins/100x Burpees
200x Alt. Leg Lifts/100x Single Leg RDL
100x Superman’s/200x Good Mornings

Moleskine:
Introvert qualities vs. Extrovert qualities. We all some of these qualities at any given time in our life experiences.

Tags: Dark Room, Beaker, Framed, Manhole, Portage, Lakers, perculator, LouGee, Body Double