DATE: 11/19/2018

WHERE: The Clinic

THE PAX: Nomad, FNG (Daddy Daycare), Gut Check, Uncorked, Spaceballs, Skynet, Absentee, Sgt. Slaughter, FNG (Homer, RESPECT), FNG (Flo), FNG (Java Mon), Harding, Band Camp, Mandals, Hooch

Total # of PAX: 15

Number of FNGs: 4

QIC: Hooch

INTRO:

The F3 DL is one man lighter.  Your Humble Correspondent has been itching to Q for a couple weeks now, since my knee has recently allowed me to run and jump like a kid again.  I’ve had a good case of Wanderlust for the great majority of my 34 years, so our time in the amphitheater would be brief.  Both my FNG’s emerged from the parking lot during Stretch-O-Rama, and two more eventually would as well.

WARM-O-RAMA:

Stash the hoodies and the keys (ehem, advice for next time, Uncorked), and time to mosey.  From the shovel flag, we scaled the stairs and circled up atop the amphitheater around the newly quieted fountain.  Seems the city officials are as afraid of the cold weather’s effects as the southside men of the last couple weeks, but by the time we finished the disclaimer, 15 men encircled the empty fountain.  A new institution was proposed at the get-to – number off, then hold plank position and each PAX sequentially performs one merkin and announces his number, 1-15 in this morning’s case.  This is to be dubbed “The Clinic Count” and served as our way of waiting for the six, staying together, and keeping the heart rate up, rather than fully recovering between exercises.   Then we got right to it.

THE THANG:

40 SSH in cadence

Mosey to the bottom of the amphitheater.  Clinic Count.

Bear Crawl +/- 40 yards, sidewalk to sidewalk.  Clinic Count.

Crab Walk +/- 40 yards back, sidewalk to sidewalk.  Clinic Count. Recover.

Mosey across Arnold Mill Road on Hubbard Road, Right on Wheeler, stop at the intersection of East Main Street, but we’re not here for Freight, Pure, or Dress-Up Boutique.  4 Corners of Fun were to be the fixation and three laps around the block would take all our time.  At each corner, we’d plank and await the six, Clinic Count, then get to our exercises.  Block was appx. 150 yards long, from Freight to J. Christophers, surrounding the buildings in the middle of the parking lot.  Run the long stretches from corners 1-2 and 3-4.  Crab walk downhill short side from corners 2-3.  Bear Crawl uphill short side from corners 4-1.

Corner 1 = Squats

Corner 2 = Plank Jacks

Corner 3 = Lunges

Corner 4 = Crab Jacks

Laps 1 and 2 – 40 reps OYO at each corner

Lap 3 – 20 reps OYO at each corner for the sake of time, and mosey back to the flag just one minute over time.

The Clinic Count made it possible to stay together as a Pack of PAX all morning, without standing around recovering like a bunch of lightweights.  These men put in some good work, whether pushing the front or pulling up the rear.

Several times in my life I have taken a step back and realized how I’ve been living a step ahead and not fully engaged enough in the present. True to form, apparently having learned nothing, YHC’s feeble mind skipped one step ahead and commanded the PAX to get moving, only to be corrected by those with less brain fog, that we still needed to do our 40 reps before hitting up the crab walk or bear crawl (this happened three times).  Thank you for your firm redirection, brothers.  You kept us in good order.

CIRCLE OF TRUST:

In keeping with the theme of exercise-induced brain fog, I launched one step ahead immediately after Name-O-Rama with some words of encouragement about being adopted by the Father and remembering the presence of God with us, who loves us more than any earthly father ever could.  I was again abruptly corrected in the error of my order afterwards, and we continued with the naming of our FNG’s in proper decorum!  Great to see 4 new faces in the gloom sharing about who they are and how they want to get better.  I hope we get to be a part of that story in the days ahead, men.  Get back out and join us again soon.

We’re praying for Skynet’s grandfather, who has had sudden and severe health concerns, as well as several other situations PAX shared.

Chitwood waited until we said amen, popped out of his car with a bowl of brisket, and put a smile on my face real quick-like.  What a fella! Good to have your company if only briefly.  Lotta heart, brother. Thank you for the Starsky appearance!

Naked-Man Moleskin:

– I have a doctor-inflicted wound on my back, so Mary didn’t come to the party today.  We got down and worked the core (and mostly our triceps) with plenty of planking, plank jacks, crab jacks, bear crawls, crab walks, and a few merkins.  And men who haven’t run a mile in a long time covered a mile and a half.  Good work, brothers.

– Pleasure to meet Skynet this morning, who could aptly be called a Kotter.  I bet he’s gonna catch the bug soon and become a regular.  Same for Absentee, who is being nudged not-so-subtly toward committing to one or more posts every week.  We all need this, men.  Don’t miss out.

– To no one’s surprise, Uncorked could not contain the contents of his stomach and took a brief hiatus after our first long run to pour a glass of merlot in the bushes.  Way to keep pushing yourself, bro.

– Gut Check and Band Camp are two true HIM’s.  Just joined us in June and already quarter-Q’ing, bringing heaps of FNG’s, demonstrating impressive physical agility, and best of all, looking out for their fellow PAX inside and outside the gloom.