Author: Tortuga

Backblast, 12/24/20, 5:30am

AO Mastodon

On a dark, chilly morning (4 degrees with wind chill), seven brave PAX posted for the twelfth day of beatdown. It was a beautiful thing.

WOR: Goof Balls, IC x25, Tappy Taps, IC x10, skip down the parking lot and back, arm circles OYO while I explained the Thang.

Thang:

Started on the grass between Hoffa and the closest bridge. All PAX completed the 110 American Hammers facing away from the bridge. As they completed their 110, they turned to face the bridge and continued with Hammers. Once the six finished his 110, we moseyed to the next bridge. We continued this pattern with 100 mountain climbers before the next bridge, 90 LBCs at the north west corner of the AO, and 80 shoulder taps before the final bridge.

Same locations for the 70 seal jacks, 60 lunges, 50 hand release merkins, and 40 Big Bois. Final four reps were along the longer loop (not longest): 30 squats, 20 flutter kicks (IC), 10 burpees, and finishing off with 120 seconds of corpse pose in a wind protected area (where Jazz Handz’ big puddle was).

NOR: Crack, T-bone, Panhandle, DaVinci, Beaker, Captain Crunch, Tortuga (Q).

COT: Prayers for extended family dynamics for T-bone and Crack over the next several days, Captain Crunch expressed thanks for this group and the blessing it continues to be for him, thanks for bodies that work, The Advent season, and a God who made us in His image (which includes being made to live in relationship to Him and others).

God is good, fellas. Merry Christmas!

Backblast

Ruck Club, 12/7/20, 5:30am, AO Mastodon

Submitted by Tortuga (Q).

Ten PAX posted for a pleasant ruck around the AO.  After a quick set of 50 jumping seal jacks, we split into two groups.  Each group had at least one GPS to track their travels.  The goal was to draw some pictures with their routes that would show up on their Strava mapping.

My group started with an attempt at a turtle.  From there we continued around the AO with four or five other attempts at drawings.  Different PAX led each attempt.  Banks led the big one on the back field.  None of us had a clue what he drew until the map was posted.

We did no extra work.  Walking only.  It was bliss.  Several PAX expressed their hope to knock out a jackedpot this week.

As we gathered by the flag I was pleasantly surprised to see my M and a 2.0 in attendance.  They came at 6:00AM with munchkins to kick off my 51st birthday!  Rock stars!

NOR: Shiplap, Cookies, Sparrow, TBTF, Wet Burrito, Olaf, Captain Crunch, DaVinci, Hot Box, Banks, Jolly, Archive, Katniss, T-bone, Panhandle, Jackie (my M), Tortuga (Q)

COT: Thanks for good friends to ruck with, bodies that work, and a God who loves us.

Backblast: 12/2/20 Tarpit

Five brave PAX ventured out of a chilly 22 Wednesday morning for the promised Burpee Bonanza Beatdown.  It could be the title scared off our less dedicated PAX, or perhaps it was the coronavirus.WOR: Abe Vigodas SLOW, IC 10, Tappy Taps IC 10, Slow merkins IC 5, Michael Phelps OYO, slow walk pas the track.

With the track and field being locked, we had to modify on the fly.  After a mosey around the perimeter of said locked field, we retrieved some cones from my trunk and headed to the field between the track and the lake.

Thang one:
Four different burpees, one at each of three stations, with the final involving some traveling.
Leonidas burpees – a burpee with two pushups,
Reverse burpees – also known as “get ups”,
Sit through burpees – (look it up),
Broad jump burpees

Started with five of each while staying together.  The broad jumps were completed heading toward the first station.  After completing first round of five, PAX continued with a round of 10, 15, then 20 of each.

Thang two:
Time was running short, so we finished together with six one arm burpees (without a merkin), six one leg burpees, and five hands up skip jack merkins (at @Archive’s request).  On the mosey back to the cars he asked, “Are we going to do one more set?”  I obliged.

NOR: Archive, Cookies, Saga, T-Bone, Tortuga (Q)

COT: Lifted up PAX impacted by COVID, orphan ministry, Cookie’s family has a stomach bug going around, Smokey and his job situation.

Several PAX posted to finish off their Jackedpot. Saga came to finish off two in a row!

Backblast:

Saturday, AO Mastodon, 7am, 11/14/20

We split into two groups per COVID guidelines.  PAX chose between “hills” or “distance”.  Seven chose hills, six chose distance, three late arrivals weren’t given a choice and got stuck with distance. 

DISTANCE CREW:

WOR IC 7 count motivators, 10 tappy taps, 10 goof balls, 6 merkins, arm circles on one leg OYO.

Thang 1: Go with it

All PAX start with SSH OYO.  First PAX calls a block exercise (in this case: derkins) and does one rep.  Once he finishes his first rep, PAX to his right switches to that exercise.  Continue until all are doing derkins.  Last PAX to start the derkins starts the wave with a new exercise. Rinse and repeat until all have called something new.  “Go With It” was first introduced by Sparrow several weeks ago.

Thang 2: Mosey and burpees.  

We moseyed a winding random pattern around the AO stopping at most open spaces to do at least ten burpees.  At the monkey bars PAX took turns going down and back while those waiting their turn completed 30 burpees.  More moseying, more burpees.  At the wide upright ladder just south of the northeast bridge, PAX took turns climbing up and over.  While waiting, get in 30 more burpees.  Two rounds of going over allowed us to get in the 30.  Sparrow and DBC attempted to climb over feet first on their second round.  DBC (hate) was relatively successful.  More moseying, more burpees.  

Mary: Finished with 40 flutter kicks IC.  Before moseying back to the parking lot, we did ten more burpees.  This elicited an, “Are you serious?” from Jäzz Händz.  Final burpee count: somewhere around 175.

NOR: DBC, Sparrow, Jäzz Händz, Nickerdoodle, Smokey, Archive, Noodles, Saga, Tortuga (Q).

COT: Prayers for Jäzz Händz and continued sleep issues as well as his M’s job search, COVID spikes, Smokey’s job situation (still waiting for a formal offer from new school district, might decide to stay in his current position), Archive and his M are still recovering from their disturbing experience in the hospital with their newest child.

Burpee challenge was dropped after COT: ten more!  A few PAX accepted said challenge.  Most ignored it and went to enjoy donuts generously supplied by Panhandle.  Thanks, Panhandle!

HILL CREW:

WOR

Thang 1: Go with it – two rounds

Thang 2: 30 minute time cap, AMRAP

10 blockees base of Hoffa

20 BBSU top of Hoffa

10 pull-ups at the pullup bars.

Rinse and repeat.

Big Mac slipped off the pull up bar while doing an aggressive kip and landed square on the back of his head.  T-Bone came close to calling 911.  Big Mac and Loafers took a slow walk around the AO.  Big Mac was feeling recovered by COT.

NOR- Saga, Big Mac, Loafers, Noodles, TBTF, Jolly, Tbone (Q2)

COT: Big Mac’s hard fall on his head, Orphans, School issues with remote learning and holidays in flux.

Veteran’s Day, Wednesday, 11/11/20

Eight PAX turned out on a significantly colder morning than Tuesday (32 degrees vs 66.) DaVinci bailed, but we may have seen him circling the track, none of us could confirm the identity of the friendly greeter who swung by mid beatdown.

WOR IC 4 count motivators, 11 tappy taps, 11 goof balls, 11 merkins, 11 mountain climbers, one lap around the track.

Verse of the workout: Galatians 6:2. “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”

We left no man behind today and helped them finish up any set of reps as needed.

Thang 1:

At goal line, 50 reps, when PAX finished their reps, they helped any neighbors finish theirs. Once all PAX finished the set: 100 yard dash, army crawl through the end zone, plank for the 6, mosey back to the starting goal line together.

Round 1: Seal jacks.  Round 2: Blockees.  Round 3: jump over blocks.  Round 4: Kettlebell swings.  Round 5: windshield wipers.

Thang 2:

Rifle carry to 15 yard line, 11 thrusters, carry back to goal, rifle to 30, 22 thrusters, carry back, rifle to 45, 33 thrusters, carry back.  A few PAX began a second round of 33 before we ran out of time.

NOR: Shiplap, Katniss, TBTF, DBC, Noodles, T-Bone, Saga, Tortuga (Q).

COT: Prayers for Cookies and Hot Box as they travel, for purity, and for their families back home.  Thanks for the freedoms won and protected for us by our veterans.

Fourteen PAX met on this fine fall morning for a KISS bootcamp.

WOR

Arm circles OYO while standing on one leg.  

During this warm up I shared some words from I Timothy: “Train yourself to be godly.  For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things.”  On that note, I made it a goal for us to memorize a Bible verse while we worked out.  I went with James 1:3, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you face trials of many kinds.”

10xDaisy pickers IC, Skip in place OYO, then 5x merkins OYO.

We then moseyed over to the pull up bars for the beatdown.

The Thang:

We split into four groups and did the following.

Pull up bars: 20 side pull ups.  

Top of Hoffa: recite verse (James 1:3) then 20x seal jacks. 

Base of Hoffa: 20 hand release tuck jump burpees.  These were the beast of the morning.  After finishing these, bear crawl or crab walk over to the SHOP.

SHOP: 20 mountain climbers.

Rinse and repeat for five rounds.  Four exercises, 100 total reps each.

Several PAX impressively finished all five rounds.  I finished four full rounds with the fifth sets of seal jacks and burpees.

NOR: Hot Box, Bloomer, Sparrow, Gummi Bear, Big Mac, T-Bone, Shiplap, Saga, DaVinci, Panhandle, Beaker (Welcome back!), Jolly, Wet Burrito, and Tortuga (Q).

COT: Lifting up Noodles and family as his dad has passed away and Archive’s family as they adjust to life with their new 2.0. Praise God for bodies that work and men to push us onward and upward.

Backblast 

Saturday, 10-17-20

14 PAX came out this morning for the 7:00 AM beatdown at MASTODON.  Temps in the low 40’s as the sun rose over picturesque Northside Park.

Theme was I Thessalonians 5:11.  “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”

Warm o Rama:

IC 20xGoofballs, 20x mountain climbers, 15x Tappy Taps, 20x Abe Vigodas, clock lunges – left leg stays put, lunge forward with right to 12 o’clock, sideways to 3, back to 6.  Switch legs, 12, 9, 6.  Two rounds IC.

OYO 10 burpees

Mosey together over to Dan Taylor Alley.

Today’s beatdown was a modified millennium.  We had ten different exercises over the course of the morning with varying lengths of moseying in between sets.  Each new exercise was completed with a new partner.

First up were 100 total Bonnie Blairs with a partner.  We partnered up and one person did the Bonnie Blairs while the other counted.  Two legs = one rep.  Switch as often as you like.  (I tweaked something in my right hip flexor at our #80.  Wet Burrito was kind enough to finish out the set for us.)  When the first pair finished 100 reps, we stopped and moseyed across the field.

#2: 200 total shoulder taps.  Partners both went at the same time.  When one reached 100, they checked in with their partner and helped reach the 200 total.  First pair to finish stood up and did Al Gores.  Once two pairs finished we all moseyed to one soccer goal.

#3: 100 burpos – burpee without the standing and jumping.  At the same time.  When one reached 50, they checked in with their partner and helped reach the 100 total.  Three pairs finished – mosey to the next soccer goal. 

#4: 200 American Hammers.  Four pairs finish – mosey.

#5 100 Bobby Hurleys.  Five pairs finish – mosey.

#6 100 Hinge Jumps.  Four pairs finish – No mosey!

#7 200 flutter kicks, two legs= one rep.  When one pair finished, they helped another pair reach their 200 until 200 reps completed for each pair. 2800 total for the whole group. Mosey to Hoffa.

#8 100 Elbow plank reach, one arm = one rep.  This started as two arms = one rep with 200 total, or something like that.  Modified halfway through once I realized these were harder than I thought they’d be.  Three (?) pairs finish – mosey up Hoffa.

#9 200 Seal Jacks.  One partner at a time, other counts, switch whenever. Four pairs finish, mosey back down Hoffa.

#10 100 Burpees.  OYO.  Every burpee must be finished.  14 PAX = 1400 total burpees.  When I got to 50, I announced that the 10 warm up burpees counted toward your total burpee count.  When you finished your own 100, you did some bonus burpees for a fellow PAX to get their total up to 100.

Walked back to flags.

Verse of the morning was repeated often throughout the beatdown as I pushed these men to continue to encourage each other, as they were already doing.  Thankfully, my hip flexor pain did not interfere with the rest of the workout.  (It’s good and sore now as I write this.)

CoR: Archive, T-Bone, Sparrow, Double Beef n’ Cheddar, Captain Crunch, Jolly, Smokey, Wet Burrito, Saga, Crack, Crash, K-Pop, Jäzz Hӓndz, and Tortuga (Q).

COT: Archive’s new 2.0 is due Thursday.  The baby is off to the side of the womb which is not the ideal position.  Prayers for movement between now and delivery.  Students are coming back to in-person learning at Smokey’s school.  Jӓzz Hӓndz is continuing to struggle to sleep.  T-Bone’s friend is going through late stages of cancer.  Thanks for bodies that work and good friends to push us.

Extras (Is this called moleskin?):  During one of the moseys, Sparrow commented on how nice Northside Park is for F3.  In Alabama, they were running through neighborhoods, stopping on blind curves to do burpees in the road, etc.  We also had a discussion about instituting the “Good Morning” rule on moseys: whenever the group encounters others during a mosey, we greet them with, “Good Morning.”  If we get a, “Good morning,” in return we immediately do a predetermined number of burpees (Q’s choice).  If the person does any with us, the number doubles.  Saga almost got a name change to “Manogram.”  You’ll have to ask him why.

Backblast 

Thursday, 10-8-20

19 PAX came out this morning for the 5:30 AM beatdown at MASTODON.  Weather was about perfect.  Tortuga was a little nervous for his first big Q.

Theme was James 1:2.  “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you face trials of many kinds.”

Warm o Rama:

IC 7xMotivators, 15x Tappy Taps, 20xGoofballs

OYO arm circles, Michael Phelps

Thang#1: Mosey to Dan Taylor Alley.  Teams of three PAX.  First PAX does 20xBonnie Blairs (each leg = 1).  Second PAX does Bobby Hurleys and third PAX does Nolan Ryans until Bonnie Blairs are finished.  Switch roles.  AMRAP

Thang#2: Mosey to Hoffa.  15xSlow dips IC, 20xslow squats IC, 10x slow lunges IC. (I got bored at this point and decided to move on.  Had planned on more and slower reps.)

Thang#3: Mosey to Dan Taylor Alley.  Broad jump burpees from sidewalk to lamps across the field.  Once first PAX made it all the way (Big Mac), everyone else moseyed over.  Plank for the six.

Thang#4: Mosey to Hoffa.  Teams of three PAX.  First PAX does 10xside pull ups on swing sets.  Side Pull up: torso is perpendicular to the bar.  Raise your head next to one side of the bar.  Dip below the bar and raise your head on the other side.  (each side = 1).  

Second PAX does shoulder taps and third PAX does flutter kicks until side pull ups are finished.  Switch roles.  AMRAP

Swing sets were higher than I remembered and wet.  (When asked for modification options, I suggested some for the flutter kicks and the shoulder taps.  Not helpful.)  Options for modifying the side pull ups – merkins or decline merkins.  AMRAP

CoR: Archive, Panhandle, T-Bone, Sparrow, Double Beef n’ Cheddar, Big Mac, Captain Crunch, Jolly, Gummi Bear, Shamu, Noodles, TBTF, Cookies, Smokey,Hot Box, DaVinci, Wet Burrito, Saga, and Tortuga (VQ – not counting really small EC’s).

COT: Praise for God’s faithfulness in Hot Box’s job search.  New position has been secured!  Prayers for Sparrow’s son who broke his arm falling out of a tree yesterday.  (It was the landing that caused the break, not the actual fall.)  Archive’s wife is due super soon.  DaVinci is going to jail. (He’s not, but that’s what @Gummi Bear heard.)  In all seriousness: prayers for some legal issues DaVinci is in the midst of.