YHC and Duff met a little early to run to the Arena for a little prep time with Torch, not only would this be his VQ but also the first time a THP pax would have the Q of the Arena. The weather could not have been better with low humidity, moderate temps, and the sun shining bright, we arrived to find the Q ready and waiting in the front lot. As we planted the SF the Q like many including YHC spoke of elevated nerves in anticipation of leading the work to come. Duff and I reminded him that there was no need to worry, speak loud, call cadence, work at a pace you’re comfortable with, for Torch that would be fast, and that he would do great, and he did!
As always Fridays in the Arena require a little lobbying, men are doing many things in the afternoons at THP, but stepping into a ring with 20+ men to run and sweat for 30 minutes is not usually their first choice. Torch Duff and YHC made it to the courtyard to begin the work, all going in separate directions to see who would answer the call. With 15 minutes to spare and a few nods of interest, the Raleigh pax running in from Pullen found their way into THP to help with recruitment, as to did those who drove in. The gathering of men both Raleigh pax and THP residents awaiting Torch’s beat down was quite large at this point, there were several new faces and many who had been before. As the minute hand struck the witching hour, Torch made the call and a pax of 28 moved to the grass beside the courtyard, it was on!
The Thang
No disclaimer needed and none was given. Torch announced himself form the center of the first COP, warm- ups went like this; SSH x 15, Imperial Walkers x 15, & Good Afternoons x 15.
Find your way back to the concrete bleacher steps and divide in to 2 groups, group 1 10 double jumps, group 2 amrap Mericans, flip flop, and do it all again, one of those things that ended up a lot worse than it sounded. R&R to the big field hill on Lake Wheeler.
To the top and back, Bear Crawl to the first pole, run to the 2nd, 7 Burpees OYO, run to the top for 15 Mericans. Reverse the order and head back to the start. R&R to the rocks across Goode.
Grab a rock, squat hold with your rock for a 15 count, 15 x curls, 15 x curl presses, pass your rock to the right and do it all again, pass one more time for another round, send your rock home, R&R to the grass where we started for a little Mary.
Mary: American Hammer x 20, around the horn leg work, 6 inches to 45 degrees, apart, back together, and about 1 minute of the Q alternating through these, this was tough. Low slow flutter, and that’s a wrap!
Name-o-rama, with 3 fng’s and 5 shirts to present, several prayer requests, and a few sobriety milestones to give thanks for. Friar Tuck circled the pax shoulder to shoulder made a call to pray silently for the man on your right then took us out with a call to the Big Man upstairs.
The Skin:
YHC is humbled to be a part of what God is doing with F3 Raleigh and the men of THP, this is why we started The Arena, to see men who have in many cases been written off by society begin to take the reigns if this AO and their lives, to claim this as their own. Torch has been with us since the lonely Saturday mornings when few to none from THP were posting. A Cary native and a natural runner fit right in from the beginning, striding in front of both Raleigh regulars and THP pax. From the bottom to the top, Torch has almost completed his time in THP, probably only a month or 2 left before he too will battle work and life to post in the gloom with the Raleigh faithful of F3. And to see the work and enthusiasm of others in THP, Toy Story was ready and wearing his F3 colors with pride soon after we arrived. Gator, Macho Man, Dynomite, Crazy Horse, and Front Porch all seemed brimming with pride as they received their shirts, earned not given! Butane, Brand New, and Insanity all pushed through the work as the days class of fng’s. As always thanks for letting me be a part of this, I’m honored to run along side and in many cases behind you all. Aye.
With the every other week schedule, we have run into a snag and will be doubling down and having an Arena next week to coincide with their deep clean / fun day that we usually post on. If you have been to the Arena and have not Q’d yet, please consider doing so, we will have the sign up sheet up early next week.
CW Out.
