Praise: it rained last night and the gloom awaited

PAX rolled in and it was quickly 5:30.  YHC included in the disclaimer a confession of fatigue from yesterday’s Keith LeClair Golf Tournament (thanks again Abu).  Not only b/c hackers like YHC wear themselves out trying too hard to play the game, but directly correlated to the heat and humidity endured.  When the rain began last night, YHC was so excited it’d likely cool things down a bit that YHC went outside to get rained on and it was invigorating!  I went to bed excited for the gloom and yet exhausted and without a weinke.  Of course, that didn’t prevent delays to a good warm-up and beat down to follow.  Here’s what happened:

Warm-Ups:  Punch Jacks x 23 (# in honor of Keith LeClair), Good mornings x 11, Windmills x 12 (these two added up to 23), then we did some windshield wipers in slow mo for the stretch benefits on each side, while on our six we did the Alphabet; thereafter YHC guesses is when The Thang got started:

Moseyed to the concrete benches around the flag poles for: Dips, Irkins and Derkins (what is the actual spelling of Urkins and Durkins, lol) after a set of reps in cadence by YHC, we rinsed in repeated.  This time however, the PAX were asked to volunteer to lead cadence and Cold-Cut answered.  For doing so, YHC gave it away and shared he decided the reps: Dips (he crushed us), Irkins and Derkins (he and we managed well).  From there, we moseyed across the stadium parking lot to the emergency blue light near the railroad tracks for a round of Abs/core exercises:  LBCs, WW1s, WW2s, and Freddie Mercuries.  Again, YHC requested PAX volunteer to lead one and if YHC recollects correctly, we had Minnesota Fats step up to lead LBCs, Farmer Fran step up to lead WW1s, Underdog step up to lead WW2s, and Cold-Cut volun-told Slim Jim to lead Freddie Mercuries (Slim Jim rose to the occasion though w/out hesitation).  Again, PAX choice on # of reps.  When we got to Slim Jim’s turn I suggested an audible (recognizing he was volun-told as well as knowing he prefers, are they called: leg risers? (= chin, sock, shoe)) and he accepted, so Leg Risers rather than Freddie Mercuries.  Once completed, we rinsed and repeated but this time, whatever the reps were each PAX called in cadence originally was to be to be cut in half.  After that, we moseyed over the the railroad tracks and road to the bus parking lot on the back side of Eppes and next to college hill dorms.  There we did several rounds of sprints.  To help push each other in sprinting, YHC suggested the first three fastest in the 1st sprint give the rest a head start on the 2nd sprint (a parking lot sign was used as a marker and after the PAX got that far then they went in an effort to catch us and “win” the sprint again – it was really just intended to push each PAX though), for sprint round 3 same thing, first three fastest from sprint 1 as well as sprint 2 were to give the rest a similar head start and sprint “race” again.  After 3 rounds of sprints we circled up and did Mtn Climbers and Plank Jacks and rinsed and repeated on both.  Following that, and given which end of the parking lot we were on, we sprinted another time to work our way back to the sidewalk side.  From there we moseyed to the dorm atop college hill and circled up in the breeze way.  Here we did a round Scissor Kicks (Farmer Fran’s choice, in asking if students were moving in he said some were and shared he’s moving out and back to Raleigh area, thus offered him favorite exercise of choice and he led us in cadence).  Then we did some Carolina Dry Docks to work the shoulders a little.  After that, you are correct, we rinsed and repeated each.  YHC was moseying our way to bottom of college hill for the pull-up bars, but recognized time was set to work against us.  So rather than moseying that much farther away from the shovel flag, we stayed and did Step-up w/high knees (10 each leg, OYO) with the brick walls there landscaping the dorm.  Merkins in between in cadence with a rinse and repeat of each of course.  On our way out, we did another round of Carolina Dry Docks and moseyed back to the blue light where the previous Ab workout location had been.  We stopped for a round of American Hammers.  Then moseyed back to the stadium at Gate 7.  There we did 7 reps (OYO) of 8-count body builders.  By now, just enough time remained to mosey back to shovel flag for countarama, namearama, & COT.  PAX met there and started countarama while YHC grabbed his phone & glasses from the car.

Count was 12 HIM.  Names were present and accounted for.  COT: Prayers – Glow Worm’s co-worker’s son was killed in a car accident (Goldsboro); Minnesota Fats business partner (battling melanoma) went in for chemo treatments and learned his heart isn’t right and needs/will see a cardiologist prior to chemo treatment plan; Farmer Fran’s move back home and job search; Praise – Classified’s son surviving ICW rescue by Sea Tow Captain on his boat (was not breathing and w/out pulse – CPR and ventilator later and recovery by next day); Those unspoken  – BOM.

Moleskin – Was great to see Salt Lick back in the gloom following his FNG gloom on Wednesday at #theschoolyard.  As we gain this brother, Farmer Fran, the young HIM that he is, is transitioning back to his home area (Raleigh) as well as life post getting his college degree (the job search is on).  Have you ever reflected on what F3 means to you?  In Salt Lick’s case, what made you return after getting the F3 nickname and keep coming?  If you check out the Directory on the F3ENC website, you’ll find so many who came out and shortly thereafter stopped returning.  Curious as I often am, I wonder why and recognize the reasons are many and each their own?  It was perfect timing for YHC, overdue in fact.  I was out of shape and aware of that, but also a ‘sad clown’ and unaware of it.  Thus, the ride thus far has been organic and exactly what was needed in my life.  I wish Farmer Fran the very best on this next stage in his life.  At the moment, he’s set to be near an existing region of F3Nation.  Our loss, is their gain, but the good news is, it isn’t that far and return visits are expected.  After all, the kid bleeds Purple and Gold, ARGH!

For now, Slalom out!