A few weeks ago at Flood Zone, Wilson and I agreed that after 18 months, it was time to pass the baton.  The Crucible AO has been online since January 2014, initially started as another Monday workout to offload some PAX from the problematic North Hills AO where neighbors were getting upset.  At Williams Park, we have no such issue and have averaged 10-12 PAX never reaching the problematic stage.  This site was also strategically picked to provide our brothers in North Raleigh and Briar Creek a place to converge without having to travel so far inland to #StartTheirWeekOffRight.  With the summer upon us, I encourage you to come visit this site – it has lots to offer, especially if you like a good beatdown.

9 PAX answered the call this AM and with no FNG’s, we got right down to it

The Thang:

Warm-up jog through parking lot past the front of the school to the small playground, quick right – sprint to the base of the hill and bear crawl up.  PAX gathered up top and froggered across Lynn Road.  Mosey down Woodmere Drive with some Karoake for about 50-75 yards.  Resume jog and then backwards run up slight hill on Woodmere to the corner of Beechgrove Rd.  Plank hold for all PAX to arrive – 20 Merkins OYO.

Continue the fellowship run down Beechgrove, turn left on Fernhill Lane.  At bottom of Fernhill – mummy kicks up the hill for about 75 yards and then resume jog to Rangecrest Road.  Circle up on top of the hill.

At this point, YHC called for a countoff by 2’s which was confusing for the 9 PAX so we started over.  YHC then explained the #TeeterTotter.

Group 1 – runs down one side of Rangecrest and back to the top.  Group 2 remains up top performing called exercises until G1 returns.  Flapjack with G2 running down the opposite side of Rangecrest and back.  Flapjack with G1 running the side of Rangecrest that G2 just ran.  Flapjack with G2 running down the other side of Rangecrest.  Called exercises were:

  • 10 Alpine Climbers (like mountain climbers except you bring your foot up near your hand).  Left-Right = 1
  • 10 Groiners (plank position and then bring both feet up near your hands and back – this one courtesy of my 2.0 Boog)
  • 15 Merkins
  • 5 Burpees
  • Squat Hold when finished waiting for the running group to return

NOTE:  We could have stayed here another 10 min but YHC wanted to cover some more ground back at the park.  As Arnold said, #I’llBeBack

After each group ran both sides of the hill – 10 Burpees OYO and then Indian Run down Rangecrest, right on Valley Lake back up the hill to Lynn Road.  Frogger across Lynn, run through parking lot down the jogging trail to the very large set of rocks at the edge of the park near Lead Mine Road.

As I told the PAX, I’d been waiting 18 months to say “Grab a Rock”.  If you haven’t seen these rocks, come visit.  PAX performed 2 sets of Irkins and Derkins.  Set 1 = 20, Set 2 = 15

Mosey back to the jogging trail – partner up.  Wheelbarrow about 100 yards along the paved trail (flapjack as needed) then mosey to the picnic shelter.

As the PAX gathered around the tables, toilet paper was everywhere so a brief pause to pickup the TP and deposit it in the trash bins #LeaveItBetterThanYouFoundIt

2 sets of:  Alternating Left-Right step-ups (20), Dips(15) and Fazio Arm Circles (10 forward, 10 reverse)

At this point, YHC was looking for a place to setup for Mary when we noticed 2 large semi-trucks pull up with rolls of Turf on their trailer.  After 3 tries we finally picked a spot where the semi’s wouldn’t be going and wrapped up as follows:

Mary:  In & Outs x 20, WWII Situps x 20, American Hammers x 25

COT / Moleskin / Announcements

  • The Boat – YHC pulled up and saw this old boat on a trailer with no car attached.  After a closer look, it was not well kept and we have no idea why it was there.  Assume someone left it for dead.  Of course, being F3, one of the PAX asked if we would be hauling it around.  There’s always next time.
  • Rangecrest is still the same steep craziness we’ve come to love.  I’d like to thank Wilson for finding this gem.  Many a beatdown have occurred here and many more to come.
  • The Turf – Part Deux:  Williams Park has a large field that is often used for soccer games.  During the 18 months of this AO, the field was closed at one point for several months while new grass was planted.  After reopening for what seems only 6-8 months, the majority of the field is pretty much back to dirt but this AM we saw a large portion of the field cultivated and ready for something – that something was 2 large trucks full of Turf.  Considering Overdraft’s 2.0 is a professional soccer player for the Charleston Battery, what better way to start his QIC than with a new “pitch”!  Aye!
  • July 4th convergence:  2 options at 630am – Chavis Park and Carroll Middle School – Coffeeteria afterward
  • Prayers for families, summer vacation travel
  • Overdraft closed us out strong and along with Pink Slip, they are your new QICs.  As such, help them out and sign up to Q.  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1DCJiJvp48wXAZ1yKUrzjAXNeEPrTypmO-xWboJ2p674/edit#gid=0

Finally, I would be remiss to say that the events of last week’s Supreme Court ruling were not on my mind.  Especially as a Father of two and Husband of one wife.  If I’ve gained anything from F3, it is the encouragement to lead as God has called us to lead in our roles in life and as men.  Servant Leadership.  June 26th, 2015 will long be remembered as a sea change for our society and country.  President Obama was right – Change has come.  Pray for America because time is ticking.  Stand up for what’s right in the face of evil.  God is on our side – he will not be mocked.  His truth will ultimately reign.  I spent some time this weekend thinking about this and came across an old song from 20 + years ago that I used to listen to as a young man in my 20’s called “Socially Acceptable” – the band is DCTalk (Christian Rap/Rock/Soul).  The lyrics are prophetic – here’s a sample:

If you want to listen to the song – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRIehklY1sk

Whatcha thinking, doing the things you do
Whose opinion are ya listening to?
Justifying, you turn it all to gray
Synchronizing to society’s ways

Society has gotten to be all outta whack
And don’t bother with excuses whether white or black
To blame it on a color won’t get a result
Because history reveals to me how ethics were lost
In reality our decency has taken a plunge
“In God We Trust” is an American pun

Times are changing, with morals in decay
Human rights have made the wrongs okay
Something’s missing, and if you’re asking me
I think that something is the G-O-D

To label wrong or right by the people’s sight
Is like going to a loser to ask advice
And by basing your plans
On another man’s way of living life
Is creating a brand of ethics
Sure to be missing the punch
No count morals that are out to lunch
They’re sliding away cause everything is okay
It was taboo back then but today ya say, “What the hey”

We gotta get back to the principles found in the Word
A little G-O-D could be society’s cure
From the state that we’re in cause again we’re slipping
So pray for America cause time is ticking

ManRam – out