Burpees are like life

When: 6/15/2018

QIC: Bono

The PAX: Prenup; Horse Punch; Dr Dandelion; Deflator; Bone (FNG); Speedo; NAFTA; Gavel; Subprime; Hightower

Jocko Willink says this is not a big philosophical statement, but it resonated with me “Burpees are like life.” In fact it resonated to the point that todays workout is based on the fact that, like a burpee, in life you “fall down and get back up.” Check out this video to listen to Jocko say it – https://mobile.twitter.com/jockowillink/status/890221220678868994/video/1 11 men, including 1 FNG (Bone) realized what Jocko meant by the end of the morning.

Warmup:

We took a quick “Follow me” mosey around Yorktown High to the Arena followed by the disclaimer. We started with a little warmup of Shock n’ Awe – a reverse Burpee ladder starting at 10 (with a surprise at the end) for NAFTA. That was followed by Wimpie Legs > Jump Squats; Jump Lunges; Donkey Kicks x3. YHC took a moment to explain Jacko’s little philosophical statement to the pax during the Ladder.

The Thang:

We moseyed to the track with a partner – sharing a time in life when you “fell down”. When we got to the track, my brain was as spent as my legs. Glad you all are a smart pax. We completed Remedial BLIMPS. Normally BLIMPS are done in a straight line and not repeated. Figured that we needed to do a lot of burpees and repeating the prior exercised made sense. Here’s how the BLIMPS went down. We started at the end zone and completed Burpees x 5. At the 20 yrd line we complete burpees x 5, then the Lunges x 10. Keep repeating every 20 yrds until all the BLIMPS exercises are complete at the other end zone. That was 6 sets of burpees.

On the way to the next evolution, partners had a follow-up conversation about a time when you “got back up” as we moseyed to the basketball court. Horse Punch and his band of studs went to retrieve Samara. The rest completed Mary. The first four flipped Samara across the basketball court & back. Then we switched to get each group of 4 (and a trio of studs). Not original, but with a hole that big, you don’t have to be original. Just strong. Samara has a big hole. Really this was just a scheme to use Samara for the photo. It was kick ass. We completed the following in the Circle of Pain:

– TWAs (Bonni’s suitcase situps)
– J-Lo (Plank position – hip drop)
– X & Os (on 6; extend/contract)
– Grave Diggers (side plank arm scoops under body)
– The Edge (on 6, rt leg extended x 10; left leg extended x10; both legs extended x 10)
– Flutter Kicks
– Slinkies (laying down; raise head; crunch legs; extend legs; lower head)
– Dr. D led the pax in a few more.

We ended with about 96 burpees depending on the number completed/modified. That’s a lot of burpees. That’s a lot of life…

BOM/COT – Prayers for Hightower and getting his family moved safely. Deflater talked about the same thing Wednesday. Prayers for our strength as men to be the fathers, husbands, and employees we need to be. Prayers to be vulnerable with our brothers in the Circle of Trust because that one of the safe outlets we have to act like men the rest of the day.

Moleskin – This workout is one I modified from a Q in ENC. It’s a favorite because it’s a way to bring the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd F into a workout. I love the repetition of exercises. Only by doing Wimpie Legs three times in a row, do you really feel it. Only by including surprises do we keep it real – like “No, bitches, 10 burpees. Life is full of surprises…”.
It was an honor to Q the workout today. I got to meet guys that I trust – you learn to trust other weirdos who get up to workout at 0530. Getting to meet guys, asking about their F3 names, and learning their story is how this huge nation becomes a brotherhood. Who knew that Hightower worked with two of my F3ENC brothers – one of who I sit with every Sunday at church. What’s the likelihood that I would be here the same time that Coco and his Churham crew is up to Q. My brothers – I am glad to join you in the gloom – every day – whether we are at the same AO or separated by hundreds of miles.