Prayer Ruck for Wheaton 02/15/2021 @ AO Mastodon

Ruck day does not always have to be hard, but it will always be work!

Another Shackleton, eight PAX accepted the challenge to lift up our community in prayer: @Archive, @Banks, @Crack, @Cookies, @Da Vinci, @Katniss, @Shiplap, @Sparrow.

Warmorama inspired by @Jolly’s VR boxing video, we worked the (imaginary) small bag, took down our virtual opponents on both sides.

The Q hoped in vain for clear sidewalks, instead we made our way the best we could in and out around the perimeter of the AO, praying for the community as we traveled. We prayed for:
– Our neighbors, and the PAX
– Our local churches
– Our local government
– Disadvantaged, refugees, and the poor among our community
– First responders
– Healthcare workers
– Veterans and active military
– Schools and educators
– Our families

Arriving back at the #AO-Mastodon-flag and #OG-Wheaton-flag, we had some extra time so we knocked out some quick warm-down of Mary and Merkins.

Moleskin: It can be easy to get distracted when we pray, wanting to reach out to someone that comes to mind or check up on something. There is nothing wrong with that, but we can’t let that keep us from returning to prayer, for that is where the difference is made.

COT: We have many folks among the PAX that need prayer, keep lifting them up.

Dueling Doomsday Clocks

Backblast, Tuesday, 2/9/21, 5:30 AM, AO Mastodon

It was definitely a Shackleton today. As I arrived at 5:21, the parking lots had not yet been plowed, but a plow was hard at work. By 5:26, I was able to pull into a plowed spot by the tennis courts. The plow was still clearing the rest of the lot as other PAX pulled in. The driver commented, “I thought you were a gang or something.”

WOR: motivators, tappy taps, goof balls, jog to cooties.

Thang one:

Two stations, teams of three. Station One: pull ups and jump squats. Station Two: Bulgarian Split Squats and SSH. The team member at each station stayed in motion doing the first exercise switching exercises as needed. Third team member ran around the obelisk circle to station one. Members rotated through the stations. (Continued this until QIC finished his 50 strict pull ups.)

PAX were encouraged to recite James while at stations. I think we got through verse eight a few times.

Thang two: Dueling Doomsday Clocks, part one

Moseyed back to the tennis court lot. Two groups for Dueling Doomsday Clocks. Each group formed a circle. At the start signal, each PAX got into the plank position. One PAX did one merkin and returned to the plank, then the PAX on his right did one merkin and returned to the plank, after all PAX in the clock did one merkin, the starting PAX did two merkins, etc. Once a PAX was unable to hold the plank or complete the merkins, he was out of the clock and began doing squats. As soon as one group was down to two remaining PAX, the round ended. One group got up to 10 merkins.

Thang three: Dueling Doomsday Clocks, part two

Moseyed to the pool lot. Repeated clocks with new groups and flipped the script. Clocks started in the squat position. First PAX did one squat, then returned to the squat hold with arms above the head. Eliminated PAX planked. (I was the first out on my team.) We had to call it a tie as time ran out.

NOR: Saga, Banks, Davinci, Whittler, Shiplap, Sparrow, Katniss, Beaker, Big Mac, Jolly, Cookies, Crack, and Tortuga (Q)

COT: Lifted up Hot Box’s M, TBTF with a rough work schedule this week, and Bloomer and Captain Crunch’s 2.0s.

Sparrow sang the praises of hand warmers and made an altar call (forgiveness and salvation being even better news than hand warmers).

“Stairway to Mary” aka “Mary’s Ladder” 01/30/2021 @ AO TARPIT

 

This workout was advertised as having stairs and having Mary, several brave HIMs accepted the challenge.

Quick Warmorama with Motivators gave way to a trek around the football field carrying sandbags on the extended ladder. 4 PAX at a time, cycling through so everyone gets warm.

Landing at the base of the stairs for the Thang, the less literal ladder on the board was revealed. PAX were given choices of Mary with a quantity that needed to be populated onto the board in multiplier slots from 1 to 10 then back down to 1. As the rules were explained there was significant chatter requesting clarifications, and whether we would be able to complete the entire ladder.

Here is how it worked.

 

  1. PAX would note the exercise posted on the board, including the multiplier, running up the stairs and completing all reps at the top of the hill, then running back down the paved slope (driveway).

  2. Back at the board, for each PAX if there was already another exercise posted that they have not completed then they would repeat step 1 with that exercise.

  3. If a PAX returns to the board and they have completed all posted exercises then they choose a new exercise to post in the next available slot and perform a “posting fee” of 30 burpees or 30 sandbag exercises (squats, curls, rows, overhead presses, etc.) then proceed with step 1 based on the exercise they just posted.

Here is what the PAX chose:

1 x 100 100s

2 x 5 Plank Up-Downs (High low plank)

3 x 10 BBSUs

4 x 20 LBCs

5 x 15 Dollys

6 x 30 Leg Raises (thanks @Saga)

7 x 5 Flutter Kicks (4ct=1)

8 x 5 American Hammers

9 x 5 Crunchy Frogs

10 x 20 LBFC (thanks @Captain Crunch)

9 x 1 Plank Up-Downs (High low plank)

8 x 10 Leg Raises

7 x 40 LBCs

6 x 10 Manatees

Incomplete exercises left hanging that would have filled 5-1

20 Flutter Kicks (4ct=1)

20 BBSUs

25 Dollys

20 American Hammers

15 Crunchy Frogs

Warning to all, this workout will be brought again, probably sometime late spring and summer with more choices thrown in, including more of the much needed back exercises to balance them out.

Monday Ruck Club – January 25, 2021

Backblast: Monday Ruck Club – January 25, 2021

15 PAX in attendance including an FNG!

WOR:
10 Abe Vigodas
10 Tappy Taps
OYO Quad Stretches
10 Burpees

Q decided to ease into this week’s beatdowns with an easy Ruck around Mastodon. The PAX took turns leading the way and stopping to call out an exercise of their choice. The only caveat was that it couldn’t be more than 10 reps. Not surprisingly, a couple of PAX (I’m looking at you @Banks and @SAGA!) got around the 10 rep max by calling exercises with several steps built into each rep.

@Jolly – 10 air squats
@Big Mac – 10 burpees
@Panhandle – 10 Merkins
@Katniss – 10 Ruck Pulls
@Banks – 10 Dan Taylors!
@Shiplap – cross bridge without feet touching the ground
@Da Vinci – 10 burpees
@SAGA – 10 Birthbees!
@Sparrow – trek up Hoffa
@Jolly – 10 burpees

Prayers for several job openings as they seek the right candidates. Welcome @Rainbow Bright! (edited)

******************************************************************
This communication is intended solely for the addressee and is confidential. If you
are not the intended recipient, any disclosure, copying, distribution or any action taken
or omitted to be taken in reliance on it, is prohibited and may be unlawful. Unless
indicated to the contrary: it does not constitute professional advice or opinions upon
which reliance may be made by the addressee or any other party, and it should be
considered to be a work in progress.
******************************************************************

1/20/21 – Jäzz Händz VQ F2 Bonfire

Wednesday, Jan 20th, 2021—9 PAX “braved” the evening winter chill for a right ol’ F2 event at AO “Jäzz Händz”. All the important “B’s” where present: bonfire, bourbon, beer, burpees, and boys—large boys (men?), gathering and posting flags for a fun childhood clubhouse vibe. Chilly winds and smoke in our faces didn’t stop us from laughing, sharing, and yes, doing Saga’s EC preblast which was primarily “bourpees” (bourbon burpees) in the snow. It was a jolly time, and @Tortuga @SAGA @Shiplap @Sparrow @Captain Crunch (AJ) @Noodles @Beaker @Crack @Jäzz Händz would all agree, we need to do this more regularly. Glad for all you PAX chipping in to bring firewood, sharable spirits and snacks. Let the nominations for next time begin!

Kevin Lipp

Backblast: 1/21/2021 – Year in Review

Warm-o-rama (Snapshot 1)

5 Motivators: Chuck Norris breaths air – 5 times a day

Tappy-taps: Chuck Norris got Coronavirus. Now the Coronavirus is in isolation.

Arm Circles: Chuck Norris was once run over by a tank. He refused to pay for it.

5 mountain climbers w/a merkin: Chuck Norris doesn’t do push-ups, he pushes the earth down.

We circled the crib to hear the tale of the newborn among us: The Birthbee. A demonstration of its beautiful cry was beheld by all in the shape of 2 Dollys + 2 Big Boy Sit-ups (here’s to cramping) + 2 “nursing” nipple scrappers (cause you need to give attention to both sides) + 1 burpee jump + 1 squat = 1. Thus a salute to our mothers who went into double-time pain that we might have breath. (SAGA)

(Saga)

Snapshot 2

Everyone look at the sky, what don’t you see? The Great Conjunction…Still (Crack)

Snapshot 3

In honor of the 3 years we were in Augusta, GA, we each did three trips up Hoffa while the other did LBCs and BBSs (Panhandle)

Snapshot 4

· Do 5 curls, 5 overhead press, 5 rows, 5 grave diggers, 5 skull cruchers, 5 goblet squats, 5 monkey humpers, 5 bernie sanders, 5 BBSU (Jolly’s Santa Delivery)

Snapshot 5

Da Vinci brought us the arts, visual, musical and written but perhaps most memorable are quotes of the Desert Fathers, (Da Vinci) Would you motivate us with one of your favorites? Or perhaps just anything you want?

Snapshot 6

What’s you’re favorite exercise shiplap? Do 40 if you don’t beat shiplap you have to run the hill, for every person who beats Shiplap he has to run the hill. If you win, you can do burpees or whatever for the six. (Shiplap)

Snapshot 7

1. What is the most expensive home in the world? Buckingham Palace (Mose got it correct!) 50 overhead presses (Bigmac)

Snapshot 8

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

(Everyone does 20 Bonnie Blairs) (Tortuga)

Snapshot 9

Howling Monkeys/Gorillas (Cap’n Crunch)

Snapshot 10

Everyone partner off, we’ll run to the baseball field and tell your partner your favorite memory of 2020 and your favorite F3 memory of 2020 (Sparrow)

Snapshot 11

“Make each day a masterpiece”

Have Archive demonstrate perfect IC exercise call of exercise and reps of choice (Archive)

Snapshot 12

The second law of thermodynamics say that during any process, the entropy of the universe increases. In plain language, chemical reactions happen because they increase the randomness and disorder in the universe. You can also say that entropy is the tendency for things to mix. I cannot think of a more random, disordered mix of exercises than the birthbee.

In between sets 2 and 3 (above) we explored the second law by doing and Indian run around the AO, stopping to perform 5 birthbees in the ice at 3 bridges, for a total of 15 birthbees. (Beaker)

Snapshot 13

As many situps as you can in 2 minutes, timed. (You would have a partner counting) (Banks)

Snapshot 14

“Remain in plank position the whole time. Bear crawl forward 4 steps, do 1 merkin, 1 plank jack, and tap the BACK of each shoulder 1 time. Repeat adding 1 rep to each exercise each time – bear crawl forward 4 steps, do 2 merkins, 2 plank jacks, 2 sets of back of shoulder taps… etc. Go until you get to 4 reps each, you’ve covered 30-50 feet, or until your arms fall off – whichever comes first.” (Jazz Hands)

Snapshot 15

Nolan Ryan and One Arm Coupon Rows. (Cookies)

Snapshot 16

Load Eroica Symphony (Beethoven) and do a whole bunch of burpees then shout I FEEL OUTSTANDING!x (Hotbox)

Circle of Trust, Moleskin & Prayer

Reviewing the year, it’s quite clear, F3 was the best part. Thanks to everyone for contributing towards that. We’re better together.

In attendance: (Going from memory…late, sorry if I forgot anyone)

Tortuga True or False, 1/23/21

Backblast, 1/23/21, Tarpit, 5:30AM

WOR: slow jog around the parking lot, mtn climbers, Abe Vigodas, slow merkins, slow colt 45 (just 15)

Getting inspiration from @panhandle’s anniversary Q, I thought it would be fun to tie in some Tortuga life trivia with the morning’s beatdown.

Tortuga True or False

A three count after each statement was made, all PAX signaled their True with a thumbs up or their false with a thumbs down. Their answers determined the number of reps for each exercise.

All correct – 25 reps, Most correct – 50, Most wrong – 75, All wrong – 100

3 blockee buy in, winner adds 3 more. They accumulate. First to finish yells, “I feel outstanding!” Everyone stops and goes up and down the ramp. 25 or 50 reps: carry coupon, 75, 100: no coupon.

  1. Tortuga has never been skydiving. False, most wrong, 75 reps

Overhead press

  1. Tortuga has run a marathon in under 3 hours 40 minutes. False, most wrong, 75 reps

One handed rows

  1. Tortuga has been fired from a paying job twice. True, most right, 50 reps

Kb swings

  1. Tortuga’s sister used to work at the Pentagon. False, 50

Goblet squats

  1. Tortuga still has one baby tooth. True, 75

Jump overs

  1. Tortuga doesn’t have his own cell phone. True, 50

derkins

  1. Tortuga did 1000 burpees in a day. True, 25

thrusters

  1. Tortuga repeated first grade. True, 75

Bent over rows

  1. Tortuga has a nephew named after him. True, 50

Weighted lunges

  1. Tortuga has shaved his eyebrows. False, 75

Burpees, or side pulls. We split these between partners, 75 total for two PAX.

Mary: 41 flutter kicks with coupon held straight up, IC.

We finished with a slow cool down jog around the parking lot.

NOR: Panhandle, Noodles, Katniss, Saga, Davinci, Cookies, Banks, Beaker, Shiplap, Tortuga (Q), and Wet Burrito for the NOR/COT/ Coffeteria (with a fractured shoulder)

COT: Beaker has a friend whose dad passed away recently. They had a hard relationship and his friend is settling things in Nevada now. Wet Burrito has had a shoulder fracture since early January. It was just correctly diagnosed yesterday. Panhandle’s father-in-law is in rehab at MarianJoy. Continued prayers for Bloomer and his family as his son undergoes testing.

Flags present: Tarpit, Mastodon

1.20.21 — The Slippery Slope of the TAR PIT

A light dusting of overnight snow added a little sparkle to an already snowy Gloom. As the snow plows worked the parking lot, six hearty PAX (Shiplap, Banks, Cookies, Noodles, Tortuga, Captain Crunch(QIC)) (Flag count: 2; Tar Pit and Mastodon) found a spot to warm up before venturing to the location of their mystery beatdown.

SLIPPERY SLOPE Q

  • Motivators IC x 7
  • Mountain Man Poopers IC x 15
  • Goofballs IC x 25
  • Jog to the slope on the peninsula (East end of the AO)
  • Dan Taylors down (up to 8+32)
Who lives here? Looks a lot like Dan Taylor’s house

A Bicycle Built for Three?

Arriving at the slope, the PAX found a pre-staged sled, dropped off at Crunch’s house in July by an anonymous PAX (thanks Gummi Bear!). The PAX added Banks’ sandbag to the current load of Bertha plus two rucks (pushing somewhere around 200 lbs). The TAR PIT flag stood about half-way down the peninsula, beckoning.

The groups divided up in teams of three, (Banks, Tortuga, Cookies) (Shiplap, Noodles, Crunch). Shiplap’s team took the first leg, and were “timed” by the number of reps the other team could complete before they returned. Lowest score wins that heat. The AMRAP team did Overhead Claps, Merkins, and Star Jumps.

Round 1: Sled Team with sand-bag, go down the hill around the flag and back up the hill.

Round 2: One PAX rides the sled until the final return slope.

Round 3: Stop the sled at the base of the hill, run the sandbags and rucks out around the flag and back, then re-load the sled and get up the hill.

The return trip

Banks’ team was decidedly victorious on each round, but graciously suggested that they owed it to some cleverness on their part in getting to rest before doing their reps and not letting us have the same break. YHC noted that they had two PAX with Yaktrax™ while we only had one, but couldn’t fault anyone but himself for being under-prepared for his own Q.

With time once again being the friend of the PAX, we called it and avoided a Tar Pit ABPOCALYPSE for the second time. Flags were collected and the gear sled dragged back to the parking lot.

COR/NOR/COT: Prayers for the good conclusion of Noodles’ internship — For Tortuga’s family travelling for the next month away from home and his responsiblity and virtue on the home front — for our country to be peaceful and responsible on this day as we inaugurate a new president and for our mutual respect and good will to grow from this low place — for the brothers across the nation to lead and serve well.

Cookies VQ: 12/30/2020 @ AO TARPIT

After an overnight snow turning to rain creating extremely wet and “crunchy” conditions, this morning the rain tapered off at TARPIT for 45 minutes allowing 9 HIMS to emerge for a beatdown treating their cores with special honor. @Shiplap @T-bone @Hotbox @Da Vinci @Archive @Big Mac @Gummi Bear @Tortuga (Respect), and @Cookies marked their workouts in the temporary trappings of the ground, the snow will melt and wash away but their gains will remain. The only angels in the snow this morning were the PAX!WOR: Arms out the whole time, core tight
“Baseball” Bat wings and lunges – like bat wings, eagle wings, or dragon wings, but holding two baseballs in each hand. Forward circles with palms down, backward circles with palms up.
· 20x small forward, 20x small backward (fast)
· 20x medium forward, 20x medium backward (fast)
· 10x large forward, 10x large backward (slow)
· 20x bringing arms together in front and crossing over then as far back as possible (like Michael Phelps but slow)
· 20x bringing arms together overhead then all the way down at sides (medium pace)
· (Q forgot the last one) 20x standing lunges with arms straight out to the sides or at right angles then twist at the torso as far as you can without bending in the direction of the forward knee
10x SLOW Abe Vagodas (keep holding baseballs if you want)
15x GoofballsThe stairs/hill running activities were shelved for a future beatdown due to the wet/slippery conditionsTHANG: Paired up and each pair carried a coupon and a baseball bat to the grass on the far side of the field for a paired up AMRAP in 5 minute segments. One PAX in the pair performed the A exercise, the other the B exercise until one of them called switch then they would switch, alternating thusly for 4 minutes then a new A/B exercise was assigned during the 1 minute rest period. While this was an AMRAP workout, PAX were reminded that form is more important than sheer number or reps, focusing on correct shape of the spine and protecting their lower backA1 – Plank up/down with an Annie
B1 – American HammerA2 – Nolan Ryan
B2 – Lunge position but leaning forward (straight back), one arm coupon rowA3 – Coupon pull through
B3 – LBBBCs (LBCs w/ or w/o a baseball bat behind neck, only lift one side of the body with each crunch)A4 – Sit Through
B4 – Marching bridgeA5 – Dancing Bear
B5 – BBSU, twisting alternate elbow to kneeFinisher:
5 sets: Sprint to the fence and back then 5 flutter kicks (two kicks with each foot counts as 1) followed by a clockwise and counterclockwise Outlaw
Hold Al Gores for the 6
Laying down in the snow some of us took a couple of back stretches while @Gummi Bear tried hitting snowballs with the baseball bat
Mosey back to the parking lot for COTMoleskin:
1 Corinthians 12:12-23

12 The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body–whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free–and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Now the body is not made up of one part but of many.15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
21 The eye cannot say to the [oblique], “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the [lower back], “I don’t need you!”22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor.

We lift up all of this PAX, our Ms and 2.0s. We lift up all that cannot join us in the gloom because their bodies don’t work the same as ours or their schedules make it impossible. We remember that in the body of Christ we are all together and interdependent but also all dependent on Christ.

11/4 at AO Tar Pit: The Bearmuda Triangle

14 weary-eyed PAX rolled in to AO Tar Pit at 5:30 for a post-election day beatdown. Shiplap, Tortuga, SAGA, Panhandle, Katniss, Banks, Captain Crunch, Big Mac, Sparrow, Cookies, Da Vinci, T-bone, Noodles and Gummi Bear. Many reported turning in late the night before as they anxiously awaited the election results that are still outstanding. After planting some flags, we rolled into the warm-o-rama:

7X Motivators
10 burpees
10 slow merkins IC
*Head to field w/ coupon*

The Thang

PAX partnered up into teams of two

Partner 1:
Runs a suicide line (3 stops with a graduated 1, 2 and 3 merkins owed at each)
At the third line, PAX runs straight to the “Bearmuda Triangle.” (Bear crawl to each of three stakes arranged in a triangle, graduated 1, 2 and 3 merkins owed at each)
When complete with this cycle, runs back to switch/relieve partner

Partner 2:
Partner who was not performing suicides/crawls does AMRAP of exercises below until partner returns to relieve/switch.

Burpees100
Overhead press w/ coupon200
Big Boy Sit Ups200
Bent Over Rows w/ coupon300
Totals above are team total (DORA fashion)

COT:
Prayers for our country as we adjust and accept the results of a close election. Thank the Lord for this fall season with beautiful weather, colors and the morning bootcamp fellowship.