Great Ideas

First off, the Commons is hands down the best AO in ENC. There are so many different options that allow the Q to deliver a challenging, yet scenic and enjoyable run. It’s even a close second for the best workout in the region, just behind #BoydLeeBeatdown (YHC may be a little partial). I digress. For this workout YHC decided to mix it up and starting with a speed and hill routine and finish up with a distance run. Prior to the post, I promoted the workout by proclaiming I had two great ideas. Here’s how it went:

Indian run down Read St., turn right on 5^th and stop at the parking deck. Idea #1: At the parking deck, the Pax performed Suicides by touch the wall at the end of each ramp and running back to the ground level starting point. This routine covered about 2 miles. Idea #2: After suicides, the Pax ran up Evans street and cut through the new Greenway extension to Charles Blv. We took a left on Charles and gathered back at the parking deck. It was about halfway down Charles that YHC was asked what idea #2 was going to be. I knew then that my second idea may have been a little anti-climactic in comparison to the parking deck suicides. I didn’t really have time to implement my back up plan (the pax should be thankful), so we raced to the top of the parking deck and took the stairs to the bottom. From the exit of the parking deck, it’s a straight shot to the #Shovelflag. Abu decided to initiate a friendly site Q challenge between Cousin It and Tonka. The challenge was a half mile jailbreak to the shovelflag. After 6 miles and more elevation changes than usual, neither seemed very excited for the challenge but both were up for it. The two Q’s took off with the pax close behind and giving encouragement. Somewhere along the way Hot Pursuit found his second wind and kicked it into high gear (which by his own admission, nearly induced a Merlot splash). YHC then yelled ahead to Cousin IT (I think it was Cousin IT?), “hey, you’re getting passed by an old guy!”. In a moment of irony, Butter Worth then sprinted past YHC. I spent the next one hundred yards or so trying to find my own second wind in order to chase down Butterworth before reaching the flag. Once the pax had gathered at the flag YHC made the call to circle up. It was then that someone announced that we still had time (15 seconds to be exact) and an out and back to the river was called for. When all had returned we circled up for the close-out.

Prayer requests and Praise items:

Praise: The End’s younger sister and family just adopted a child. Pray for the family as they grow together.

Praise: Rafiki’s co-worker just had a baby after years of trying.

Praise: Abu’s wife stepped out of her comfort zone, attended a women’s church retreat and had a good time.

Praise: Tonka mentioned the success of and power behind the Whetstone project. Others voiced their own positive sentiments for this program.

Announcements:

Donate to NC Civil (consensus at the time was to donate to the Commons because Stokes deserves it for being so dat-gum nice).

Camporee- Sign up soon. $50 per person. Stringbean to provided fireside entertainment (worth the price of admission).

Moleskin:

Qing #TheCommons is both a privilege and an honor. For those who haven’t posted here or haven’t posted in a while let me just remind you that the conversations and fellowship at the Commons is second to none. The Commons AO is so unique to others sites in that while you are giving your all and getting a 60-minute workout, you can still fellowship with other pax. Just during this workout, in addition to the conversations I had with others, I enjoyed listening in on a few of “Strokes jokes”, good times from the BRR with Abu and Cousin IT and story time with Stringbean (FYI: this guys band “Old Man Wickutt”  has opened for American Idol Scotty McCreary). Join YHC and 15-25 other pax next week to see what you’ve been missing.

-EB