Waaaay back on 06/09/2014, Zima led a group of 24 @F3Raleigh studs and 2 FNGs through a painful post of 6 brutal sets. One of those FNGs was YHC — my very first post as part of the F3 Nation. I had no idea what to expect, or what truly awaited me. I’m happy to say that posting that day changed YHC’s life.
YHC will never forget that first 10 seconds of the workout. A semi-grouchy Zima let the PAX know that he had a terrible weekend and he was ready to bust it. Smirking while pointing to his 2.0’s purple Barney timepiece, he took off sprinting out of the park. YHC said to himself, “holy ____, what have I gone and gotten myself into, exactly?!”
The workout that day was pretty tough by F3 standards. I mean, no warmup, a healthy amount of running, and naturally plenty ‘o burpees thrown in for good measure. And it was muggy and hot. I distinctly recall thinking to myself, “There’s no way I can make it through this. I’m too fat, too old, too out of shape, its too early…” and so on. But I did make it through the post, even though I was DFL by the time we made it back to Mary and COT.
Fast forwarding to this morning, YHC was pumped about this workout. There’s no better yardstick against which to measure oneself than repeating the exact same workout and comparing the results. I knew it was going to be tough today; so did Zima and Ron Burgundy (who were there 13 months ago). I’m not sure the other PAX had a good feeling for what was to ensue… Nothing to it but to do it…
Warmup
Ha! No way dude. No time for that junk.
Thang
Mosey out of the park and up Davidson Street to Hyde Hill. Backwards run up Hyde Hill, bear crawl down, plank at the bottom. From there, mosey over to Brooks Magnet Museum Elementary School to get it on!
- Station 1: 6 Wall jumps followed by 6 Burpees, rinse and repeat x3 OYO. Plankorama while PAX finished.
- Mosey to Track for Station 2: Sprint half lap Merkins x 6, sprint half lap Merkins x 6. Rinse and repeat x 3 OYO. Plakorama while PAX finished.
- Mosey to basketball court for Station 3: Suicide on bball court then run to railings for plank walk rinse and repeat x3 OYO. Squat Hold while PAX finished.
- Mosey to back of school for Station 4: Run up steps for Starjumps x 6, back down steps, bearcrawal up hill, run down starjumps x 6. Rinse and repeat x 3 OYO. Squat hold while PAX finished.
- Mosey to Hill for Station 5: Run up steep hill, touch school, run back down for Burpees x6. Repeato x 6. Peoples chair on fence while PAX finished.
- Mosey to parking lot for Station 6: Run up steps to playground for Derkins x 6, back down steps for BTW Carolina Dry Docks x 6. Rinse and repeat x 3 OYO. Plank hold till PAX finished.
Jog back to Hyde Hill, LBC x 30. YHC had to dodge a car coming by, but that’s OK… Sprint up Hyde Hill and turn the corner right… Jog to corner of Currituck for American Hammers x30.
Sprint down Hill to park entrance for Ski Abs x 20.
Mission Accomplished. Again.
COT
- Announcement – The Forum today at noon, Panera 2nd floor, Six Forks Rd/Strickland Rd
- Announcement – This Friday, 7/10 2:30 PM is The Arena. Vector Victor is the Q; we’d love to have a great turnout in absence of our regular leaders Duff and Country Wide
- Prayer Request – Thanks given to all those who fought to establish our country, who currently and will wear the uniform of our military.
Moleskin
Today’s post was a really big deal for YHC. In the last 13 months I made it past FNG status, I battled through a hernia injury, I lost 40 lbs. of blubber and put on 20 lbs. of hard muscle – WORD! I started being a morning person. I’m proud to show my sons what I’ve been able to accomplish. I’m feeling better than I ever have before, even from 20 years ago in my career as an NCAA/ACC Wolfpack Swimmer.
I’m so grateful to all the PAX who provided me with encouragement. I think about Zima, who named me and is always gracious enough to not beat my a__ on the tennis court. I think about Fazio who partnered with me for another North Hills workout in the pouring rain. He could’ve left me behind easily, but he didn’t. He stuck with me, he helped and encouraged me, he pushed me to get better. I think about Kiper, who got stuck with me at a Whiplash workout (poor guy). I really got pummeled that day, but Kiper encouraged me and made me feel like I was doing a great job that morning. I think about Shaggy, who is always there as a friend both at various AOs, and places I see him out in the world. I think about Orwell, who loaned me gloves at my second ever workout; heck, I didn’t know I needed ’em! And he carried me up that ridiculous Lassiter Mill Road hill. I think about Dice, Cornholio, and Tin Cup, who continue to keep the Recovery Road workouts going. Without those guys, I might not have made it past my hernia injury – I might’ve quit F3 altogether, but those dudes have always been supportive of me. I think about my Mud Run team YO! F3Raleigh R.A.P.S. – that’s me, Swirly, Pergo, and Ron Mexico. Those guys didn’t have to race with me, but they did and we had a blast!
The truth is, I could say something about every one of you reading this post. Everyone I have met through F3 has encouraged me, helped me push, joked with me, and become my friends. I guess you might say that it is a cliche to say “F3 changed my life”, but the truth is, it did. And I couldn’t be happier about it.
Blessings and peace be upon all of you!
-Azul out…
