Run Strong day at Elm Street. The workout was themed “The Suicide at Elm Street.” Most expect a suicide to the length of a basketball court, but this suicide covered a half mile stretch of Elm Street.

Warmup:

Side Straddle Hops

Burpees

Workout:

Mosey to corner of Elm and 10th.

Using the light poles in the median of Elm Street, perform a suicide from 10th to 14th Street.

1. Start at 14th street, run to the 2nd light pole in the median, do 10 squats, run back to 14th, do 10 merkins
2. Run to 4th light pole in the median, do 10 squats, run back to 14th, do 10 merkins
3. Run to 6th light pole in the median, do 10 squats, run back to 14th, do 10 merkins
4. Run to 8th light pole in the median, do 10 squats, run back to 14th, do 10 merkins
5. Run to corner of Elm and 14th, when finished, one group did partner exercises while some ran and finished with the 6

After this, a 4 station ab square was set up. Groups were roughly 5 in each. In a cadence count of 10, the stations were Chill Cuts, Planks, Freddie Mercury’s and LBC’s. Once the 10 count was reached, groups switched.

Roughly on average, 3 miles were covered, while some may have pulled 4-5 miles

BOM

Rains family, Death of Caroll, Quick Lube’s Butt

Moleskin

So, this morning was the infamous day of the VQ. Luckily, I had late notice on hearing the news I would be Q’ing for the first time, so I didn’t have days upon days thinking about it. Everyone said I wouldn’t sleep the night before (I maybe pulled 30 minutes), and woke up nervous. But this nervousness wasn’t truly a nerve of the possibility of failing, it was a nerve of knowing today was going to be a day of growth.

My whole life, I have always thrived on being a great follower. Playing sports my whole life, and playing baseball in college, I learned how to just duck my head, dig in and give all I had to the job at hand. Now, most of these jobs and tasks I had were orders given to me, or something that eventually rewarded ME at the end. Not that it was a bad thing, but my whole life I had developed in a great follower, but I never developed truly as a leader.

I teach high school, so over the past two years after college I have developed some as a leader. But you truly want to be a leader, try leading men that are twice your age. Men that have a sense of sarcasm, men that have an inner set of rules and procedures that I am still trying to figure out after 3 weeks. Heck, I have never even led a prayer out loud before, I have only done them in my head. You want to lead, lead this group of men to run 3+ miles with some squats and merkins thrown in. While today may have just seemed to most like I was a personal trainer for 45 minutes, it meant so much more than that. I took a huge step spiritually and mentally.

It wasn’t the prettiest of VQ’s (I could barely speak from nervousness and sleeplessness), but it was a huge step for me personally. To see this group of men embrace me, support me and make me relax gave me so much more confidence. This group has meant so much to me, as I’m sure it has for everyone else. I have never been part of a group that is this altruistic, always looking next to them to help instead of at themselves for self-betterment. I am blessed to have this group, and I was glad to have this VQ opportunity. Thank you to all who came out.

G String