Author: millinerd

Date: 12/06/2021
AO: #ao_mastodon
PAX: @Jolly @Sparrow @Spokes @Cheese @Tortuga @Beaker @Panhandle @Shiplap @SAGA @Zoro @Archive @Da Vinci
FNGs: 0
Q: @Da Vinci
Total: 12WOR

After the Saint Nick EC we ran and we rucked.

From William Bennett’s The True St. Nicholas

Yes, Santa Claus is sometimes overexposed and exploited. But anything good is open to being exploited. In fact, anything good is likely to be exploited. Such is human nature. Saint Nicholas, in his heyday, was arguably just as overused and overexposed as Santa Claus is today. People called upon him to fulfill every conceivable desire, from finding a husband to conquering an enemy. The citizens of Bari went so far as to steal his bones to give their city a boost. For that matter, Saint Nicholas was well connected with commerce and materialism long before Santa Claus came along. Many a ship captain prayed to Nicholas for a profitable voyage, many a merchant invoked his name in sealing a lucrative deal. Trade guilds appropriated him in hopes of selling more buttons, barrels, and boots.

Even so… “Santa Claus is, in a very real sense, the result of a Christ-inspired goodness that has rippled down seventeen centuries, from Nicholas’ time to our own. Despite secularization and commercialization, Santa Claus is a manifestation of Nicholas’s decision to give to others. The history of Saint Nicholas is a kind of miracle in itself. It is a legacy that resonates with God’s love.”

Takeaway: Behind Santa Claus is Saint Nicholas, and behind Saint Nicholas is the Christ whom he defended, suffered for, and in whose name he gave gifts.

That is, the Northwest Passage Workout.

Date: Tuesday, 11/9/2021

AO: #ao_mastodon

PAX: @SAGA @Spoke @Hotbox @PandaExpress @Tortuga @Zoro @Wetburrito @Bloomer @Hancock @TBTF @Katniss @BigMac @T-Bone @Aloha @Pink Drink @Bumble @Sparrow @Calvin Klein @8Track @Banks @Gummibear @CapnCrunch @Jolly @Panhandle @Da Vinci

FNG: 2

Q: @Da Vinci

Total: 25

Warmorama to Stan Rogers’s Northwest Passage. Omens: Lady Jane drapes her husband’s sleeping body with the flag she sowed for him; they name the ships “Terror” and “Erebus” (goddess of chaos and darkness)

Depart May 1845, Mozy to evoke the smooth sailing.

Last seen by whalers July 1845: Kraken burpees to The Wellerman.

Two lights forward one light back (with Kraken burpee at back light)

THE MISTAKE: Peel sound: Hands only on bridge.

Marooned 25 miles off King William Island, 60 miles from success (60 BBSU)

Sledge attempt: Burpee death marh (Bear crawl scout run with 5 burpees at back)

AMRAP (7 ways to die, 7 abyss merkens, 7 dips, 7 bench squats) during the rock remix of Northwest Passage

Cannibalism: Plank contest, losers run to top of hoffa for fence derkens

Moleskin: Was the 1845 expedition just a “failure”? Was Sir John Franklin, a devout Christian, just seeking glory? Was it marked by hubris (outrageous arrogance)? Can both be true? We should beware false grails and the horrible disease that afflicts we older men, “stillgotitis” Though I must say that it didn’t make sense to me until our discussion afterwards. Hotbox pointed out that Franklin’s Bible or journal had the passage marked “if I dwell inn the uttermost parts of the sea, you are there.” Sparrow pointed out the inevitability of death. Later journeys (Roald Amundsen) learned the need to humbly learn from the Inuit (many of whom are themselves Christian! ). Saga pointed out that “success is the formation of a soul.”

On those terms, perhaps the mission was a success.

July 4th would be meaningless without October 19th, when (240 years ago today), the siege of Yorktown concluded in 1781. This was the end of the Revolutionary War, leading ten years later to the Bill of Rights. It is beyond the power of your local free men’s workout group to determine if this was a just war (Canada achieved independence without one), but leadership within this war did keep others from dying. We will reenact thee war, premised on the Bill of Rights that it led to, ten years later in 1791.

Warmorama to Neil Diamond’s “They’re Coming to America” (follow the Q body scan).

Zip line cannon balls while PAX do burpees to commemorate the Battle of the Chesapeake where the English Navy was defeaated by the French, making the siege of Yorktown possible.

THE SIEGE: First person done is Alexander Hamilton who storms Redoubt 10 and we all follow. Numbers are either 49 (age of Washington), 26 (age of Hamilton) or 81 (year of battle)The First Amendment provides several rights protections: to express ideas through speech and the press, to assemble or gather with a group to protest or for other reasons, and to ask the government to fix problems. It also protects the right to religious beliefs and practices. It prevents the government from creating or favoring a religion.  THRUSTERS. The Second Amendment protects the right to keep and bear arms.  CURLS. The Third Amendment prevents government from forcing homeowners to allow soldiers to use their homes. Before the Revolutionary War, laws gave British soldiers the right to take over private homes. FLUTTERKICKS. The Fourth Amendment bars the government from unreasonable search and seizure of an individual or their private property.  BURPEES. The Fifth Amendment provides several protections for people accused of crimes. It states that serious criminal charges must be started by a grand jury.  A person cannot be tried twice for the same offense (double jeopardy) or have property taken away without just compensation. People have the right against self-incrimination and cannot be imprisoned without due process of law (fair procedures and trials.)   AMERICAN HAMMERS. The Sixth Amendment provides additional protections to people accused of crimes, such as the right to a speedy and public trial, trial by an impartial jury in criminal cases, and to be informed of criminal charges. Witnesses must face the accused, and the accused is allowed his or her own witnesses and to be represented by a lawyer.  MERKENSThe Seventh Amendment extends the right to a jury trial in Federal civil cases. MUCHO LEGGOThe Eighth Amendment bars excessive bail and fines and cruel and unusual punishment. HAND RELEASE BURPEESThe Ninth Amendment states that listing specific rights in the Constitution does not mean that people do not have other rights that have not been spelled out.  Skull crushers or BBSU. The Tenth Amendment says that the Federal Government only has those powers delegated in the Constitution. If it isn’t listed, it belongs to the states or to the people. COUPON WORKOUT OF YOUR CHOICE.

Moleskin: “If we forget about this spiritual revolution growing out of the Great Awakening and concentrate only on the nation’s political origins, we have no way to explain one of the most striking features of contemporary America… it is remarkably religious. Jonathan Edwards is a towering figure among the founding fathers of the first American revolution, the spiritual revolution of the awakening. He was the Thomas Jefferson of that revolution, not only its leading philosopher but also a sometimes controversial practical leader. George Whitefield was the George Washington of the awakening, the widely admired general in the field.” -George Marsden. Yes, it’s true that Washington, Jefferson, Edwards and Whitfield owned slaves. We need to sit with that. And we also need to sit with the fact that Jonathan Edwards Junior (Edwards’ son) was an abolitionist. That is where the energy of the Great Awakening was leading.

COT: Prayers for many things articulated by many PAX. Gratitude for a country whose ideals can include more and more people – the “We” keeps getting bigger, but which requires more than the limiting ideals of the Bill of Rights to endure. PAX: @MajorCrunch, @8Traack, @Panhandle, @BoPeep, @Zoro, @Jolly, @Bloomer, @Hotbox, @Tortuga, @T-Bone, @Beaker, @PandaExpress, @Banks, @Shiplap, @BigMac, @Sparrow, @Saga, @DaVinci (Q)

Warmorama: Follow the leader body scan to Meet me in the Morning

The Thang: With partner, keep doing single exercise while your partner summits Hoffa, runs to the path and back. Try to match your reps the next round.

Music is a combination of Blood on the Tracks (1974) with Slow Train Comin’ (1979)

When you Gonna Wake Up: Merkens

Shelter from the Storm: Culrs

Precious Angel: Curls

I Believe in Your: Rows

Buckets of Rain: Overhead Press

Slow Train Comin’: Dips

Change My Way of Thinkin’: Lunges

Tangled Up in Blue: LBCs

Moleskin: The last minute of When He Returns:

Surrender your crown on this blood stained ground, take off your mask
He sees your deeds, he knows your needs even before you ask
How long can you falsify and deny what is real
How long can you hate yourself for the weakness you conceal
Of every earthly plan that be known to man, he is unconcerned
He’s got plans of his own to set up his throne
When he returns

PAX present: @panhandle, @hotbox, @pandaexpress, @ralphy, @tortuga, @bloomer, @8track, @yankee, @bigmac, @saga, @aloha, @gummibear, @jolly, @banks, @crack, @katniss, @cookies, @davinci (Q)

On August 10th the reverse timeline began as we move through the decades.

After a warm up to Eminem’s Lose Yourself (full body scan following the Q, neck rolls, arm circles, tappy taps, goofballs) we gathered at the base of Hoffa for a millennium.

The Thang: First Pax to 100 runs to the hill and ends the exercise for all. On return Pax can resume said exercise or switch to Mary of his choice. Winner gets a 5 burpee penalty for next round but also gets to choose the next exercise. The set list:

Moleskin: Many refugees see our suburban world, jaded to the teenager, as paradise itself. What in your life could you stand to look at like a refugee?

COT: DaVinci (Q) Panhandle, BigMac, Hotbox, Jolly, Baker, Aloha, Drumline, TBTF, Cookies, Dottie, Blues Clues, Sparrow, Capn Crunch.

November Rain Warmorama (Abe Vagodas, Tappy Taps, calfs & quads, arm circles, Michael Phelps)

Alternate exercise at your own discretion during each song. Mandatory AYG up hill when you choose once during each song

If you hear a bad word: 5 Blockees

Push yourself: “The Goldilocks Rule state that humans experience peak motivation when working on tasks that are right on the edge of their current abilities.” Atomic Habits, 237.s

Song: Welcome to the Jungle

Dollys & Derkins

Song: Nightrain

BBSU & Burpees

Song: Out Ta Get Me

Curls & LBCs

Song: Mr. Brownstone

Overhead Press & Outlaws

Song: Paradise City

Skullcrushers & Scissor kicks

Song: Think About You

Merkens & Mary of your choice

Song: Sweet Child O’ Mine

Burpees & Bonnie Blairs

Moleskin (timed to coincide with end of Welcome to the Jungle)

“Despite his severe misgivings about the faith in which he was raised, crosses dominate not only the UYI-era videos, but his image since then as well. These days he seldom appears on stage without an enormous cross necklace, an accessory which could be dismissed as a fashion statement, were it not accompanied by his outspoken affection for and collection of antique crucifixes. One can only presume that something about the central symbol of Christianity must have stuck with him. Fortune and shame may have eaten Axl alive, judgment and criticism may have dogged him inside and out, but apparently Calvary never lost its attraction. Not even the most toxic of religious upbringings, decadent of worldly indulgences, or protracted of psychological quagmires could strip it of its power.” -David Zahl (The Secret History of William Axl Rose)

Pax present: Jolly, Bloomer, Saga, Beaker, Tortuga, BOGO, Drumline, Ranger Rick, 8 Track, Capn Crunch, Panda Express, Panhandle, T-Bone, Katniss, Da Vincei (Q)

Katniss, Shiplap, Milkduds, Jolly, Panhandle, Noodles, Whittler, Banks, Archive, Sparrow, Tortuga, Da Vinci (Q) showed up for the Frisbee Curlfest.

Warmorama: Motivators, Arm Circles, Windmills

The Thang: Skills were tested with rewards/punishments based on completion.

Moleskin (from James Clear’s Atomic Habits, but could just as well be from Romans 12:6)

Prayers of gratitude and intercession were offered. Good discussion about finding your strenghts at coffeeteria.

Present: Jolly, Tortuga, Aloha, Archive, Sparrow, Panda Express, Noodles, Bogo, Speedo, Drumline (FNG), Crack, Achtung, Beaker, Shiplap, Ranger Rick (FNG), Bloomer, Banks, Whittler, TBone, Babysitter.

Warmorama: Motivators, Abe Vigodas, Arm Circles (all in cadence)

The Thang: AMRAPs with 4 stations, equalling 45 reps at each station:

20 merkens, 5 pullups, 20 BBSU

15 swerkens, 20 dips, 10 Bonnie Hurleys

10 picnic press, 35 LBCs (in retrospect, 2 should have been one)

Hillruns

COT: As we have passed the summer solstice, we contemplated that as the days get shorter, this converges with John the Baptist’s signature saying, “I must decrease, He must increase.” In the second half of life it is less about us and more about others and God.

Prayers for Chicago, Haiti, Noodle’s M, Traveling PAX, and others.

We have drone coverage today courtesy of Sauron/Big Brother.

The PAX: @bloomer, @banks, @tortuga, @wetburrito, @binford, @TBTF, @Jolly, @bigmac @milkduds, @whittler, @aloha, @shiplap, @panhandle, @katniss, @davinci (Q)

Warmorama: Side straddle hops during Kook and the Gang’s Celebration with Burpee at the word “Celebrate.” Arm circles, Tappy taps, quad and calf stretch.

The Thang:

Run 100 yards, 10 merkens, 90 yards, 10 merkens, 80 yards, 10 merkens and so on.

Ultimate Frisbee with an added FutFall-inspired dimension (penalty burpees on interceptions).

Destroy your core (ab exercise of choice for 2 minutes)

Moleskin: “The wonderful Danish writer Isak Dinesen once suggested that there are three occasions for happiness in human life: when there is an excess of energy; during the cessation of pain; and when we possess absolute certainty that we are doing the will of God. The first of these belongs mostly to youth, and the second is, by definition, brief. The third, however, is open to anyone at any and all times.” (Robert Johnson, Balancing Heaven and Earth, p. 276)

COT: Prayers extemporaneous style, especially for the safe delivery of baby Babe.

Six PAX (@Binford @Beaker @TBTF @Banks @Davinci @Jolly) showed up for the first Black Ops event of the summer, which involved a lollipop/sucker shaped ten mile run from Two Brothers brewery around McKee Marsh and back. The slow group’s lollipop was somewhat consumed as we only made it a third of the way around the marsh. Still, we all went basically ten miles.

Two of us may have suffered hotflashes after the workout. This may not have been wise, but it was clearly CSAUP (completely stupid and utterly pointless). Perhaps the next Black Ops should not be as grueling. Still, six of these (including any Black Diamond workouts) qualifies for a coveted end of summer prize. @Shiplap appeared at the brewery to show support, and somehow @Beaker managed to lead a Q the next morning at 5:30AM.