AO: Lightening Rod
QIC: Steamy Nix
PAX: Rip, Goon, Sketch, Unicorn, Husky, Red Curry
Conditions: high low 60#’s when we started. Dry
Warm up:
Side Straddle Hops X 20
Slow high Knees X 12
Arm circles (each way) X 10
Daisy Pickers X 10 (then next leg) X 10
Quad Stretch X 20 seconds each leg
Don Quixotes (Windmills) X12
Jane Fondas x 10 each leg (then forward and backward JF’s, 10 each as well)
Monkey humpers X10
Mosey to the side of the school with coupons
“You know me”
Then throw them on to some planks rather than wall-sits. HA!
Inverted planks (feet on ledge) for 60 seconds.
Wall sits for 60 seconds
Halos x 12
Hold for 30 seconds
Inverted Plank for 45 seconds
Recover from that biz
Now we’re gonna play a game called check on the flag: since our flags were nearly stolen by some community members a few weeks ago, we need to be better about making sure they are there! One HIM runs to make sure the flag is still in front of the school while the rest complete an exercise. He has to run and touch the flag and run back. If he’s not back within 45 seconds we all have to do 20 Hard Count monkey humpers on the ledge. Each man runs 2 times
(I quickly realized that 40 seconds wasn’t nearly enough time and had to move the time up to 90 seconds)
I’m the meantime, the rest of the Pax completes:
1. Step ups
2. Alternating elevated (right and left side) coupon mercans’.
3. Goblit squats
4. Coupon rows
5. Big boys
6. Drunken mountain climbers
If all the guys do it without needing monkey humpers, then congrats, do 12 in-cadence man makers!
Then do 30 monkey humpers on the ledge!
Then do a plank for a minute!
Then another wall sit!
Recover
CoT
The purpose of this Q was to make us think of two things. One, we can’t let kids steal our flag… And second, sometimes it seems like there isn’t an end in sight and the challenges just keep changing and coming your way without a break.
I completed my first ever Hood to Coast this last weekend and it is the most fun I’ve had in 5 years, I kid you not. My first leg was 7.4 miles in 90 degree direct sunlight and it was the hardest thing I’ve done in a long, long time. But I kept waddling along and with the support of my team I have eventually made it to my finish line. I’ve never even ran more than 5 miles, I didn’t train enough which is my bad But I also underestimated how long it would take me to work up to that goal. The failure to train well and the test itself were both meaningful challenges that shaped the way I think about what I’m capable of and the value of good people around me (especially my team).
At some point the anxiety of feeling like I wouldn’t make it to the end dissipated as I decided to just enjoy the experience, let go of others’ expectations of me, and do my best. It helps to be a part of something fun like the environment of H2C because you just get lost in the fun of it all.
My encouragement to you all is that if there is something in your life that you suspect would be healthy, fun, and purposeful, and that you have an inkling to try to tackle but for some reason just can’t get over the hump try, just go for it. Not all situations and life seasons allow for this, but seriously, try something new and healthy. It’ll invigorate your passion and playfulness, which is healthy for you and those around you. I actually think I might enjoy running now. I went on a run yesterday just because I look forward to it.
End in a prayer. So grateful to God for healthy bodies and fun times. Help us to use our strength to carry the weak rather than to just serve ourselves. Christ himself came not to be served, but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many.
