The Man in the Arena

There is this great excerpt from a speech given by one of my historical idols, TR, that gives me chills everytime I read it.  The excerpt, known as The Man in the Arena, was part of His Citizenship in a Republic speech that he gave in France in 1910.  It really summarizes many of my personal values and always brings to mind the men that I Post with in the Gloom.  Today, we fought like the man in the arena.

The Thang

Everyone was waiting for Wimpy this morning, but I let them all know 1 minute before departure that we were pulling the old switcharoo.

• 10 Good Mornings
• 15 SloCo Merkins
• 20 Plank Jacks
• 20 Squats

Mosey to the the nearest intersection for a few slices of pie.

• Partner up with someone of a differing speed.  Partners run different directions.  When they meet, each partner does the following exercises.
  • First Encounter: 20 Merkins
  • Second Encounter: 20 Star Jumps
  • Third Encounter:  20 LBCs
• Rinse and Repeat x 3 for a total of 9 encounters and 60 reps of each

Mary while we waited for the Six

• Flutter Kicks – Tonka
• Dolly – Hokie
• WW2 – Grammar
• Another Ab exercise – Dewey

Mosey to the Front Wet Grass Field

• 11s with about a 50 M run in between exercises
  • Carolina Dry Docks/Squats

Mosey to the Front Circle for 5 Minutes Left Hail Mary

• Partner up
  • Partner A runs down the dirt path and back
  • Partner B Performs Mule Kicks
  • Flapjack for a total of 50 reps
  • Partner A runs down the dirt path and back
  • Partner B Performs Merkins
  • Flapjack for a total of 50 reps

Mosey back to the flag

I’d like to include some funny antecdotes about the workout but the pace quieted the mumble chatter this morning.  All fought hard and everyone loved the Star Jumps (thanks for keeping me accountable on form Bookworm).

COT/BOM

Moleskin

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.

-Teddy Roosevelt