Backblasts

Date: 2025-11-11
AO: delphi
Q: Pop Fly
PAX: Ashe, Toolbox, Monk, NOAA, Gadget, Atlas, Roddick
FNGs: None
COUNT: 8
WARMUP: Motivators to start

THE THANG: 11s as a group
Rd 1: Merkins on Block / Lunge Walk / OH Press

Rd 2: WW3s / Bear crawl / Freddie Mercurys (IC)

MARY: Motivators to end

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
– Thanksgiving Turkey Trot
– 4 Dec – book club at Rambler’s
– 6 Dec – Cross-county football game at compound

COT: Ask a veteran about their service vice thanking them for their service. It’s a better conversation

Tags: delphi, Ashe, Toolbox, Monk, NOAA, Gadget, Atlas, Roddick

Date: 2025-11-11
AO: atlantis
Q: Hubble
PAX: Hammer, Gutterball, Smokee, Bougie, @Forceps (not sure why I can’t tag?) FNGs: None
COUNT: 6
Today’s Backward’s Day beatdown featured all reverse or inverted exercises for a change of pace. Bougie wished it was Opposite Day and by the end the rest of us did too.

WARMUP:
SSH, Arm Circles, Beet Pickers, Don Quixotes
Mosey to a spot with benches, handrails, and ‘soft grass’

THE THANG:

4-5 cycles (as time permits) of the following:
1 lap or out and back transit (rotating thru options):
-Crab walk
-Reverse lunges
-Backwards run (yves pol)
10 Inverted burpee (optionally to handstand if proficient)
10 Reverse crunches
10 Reverse leg raises
10 Inverted row

Long backwards run (Yves Pol) back to the meetup spot

MARY:
60s Superman hold
60s Reverse plank
Worlds greatest stretch
Cobra Kai
OYO stretching

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Vote for available times for a going away shindig for Hammerhead

COT:
Many of us are laser focused on the mission, objective, or problem right in front of us. But we need to remember to secure our flanks including vulnerable lines of supply, communications, and opportunities for rest and retreat behind us. This week, take time to look back, secure the ground you’ve gained, and assess your losses. Consider stepping back from the front to recharge, plan, create opportunities for others to rotate forward, and get back to your fight (whatever it may be) stronger.

Tags: atlantis, Hammer, Gutterball, Smokee, Bougie, @Forceps (not sure why I can’t tag?)

Date: 2025-11-05
AO: ao-the-bullpen
Q: Peanuts
PAX: Crystal, Peloton, Trolley, Rambler
FNGs: None
COUNT: 5
WARMUP: sure
THE THANG: cycled through exercises with each pax calling 10 while timer ran around baseball field MARY: no
ANNOUNCEMENTS: grunt; rambler is making dinner
COT: constructive not destructive

Tags: ao-the-bullpen, Crystal, Peloton, Trolley, Rambler

Date: 2025-11-10
AO: mondaynightruckers
Q: Jetstream
PAX: Chasqui, Stewie, Brian Valletta, Tron
FNGs: None
COUNT: 5
THE THANG: 4.5 miles around Gainesville
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Stay tuned for food donation ruck between Thanksgiving and Christmas
COT: “The grass withers and the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever”

Tags: mondaynightruckers, Chasqui, Stewie, Brian Valletta, Tron

Date: 2025-11-10
AO: thepatriot
Q: citrus
PAX: Piano Man, Bone, My Space, Wedding Singer, NASCAR, Lazlo, Hops, Rim Fire, Daaa Auditor, Smokey, Walker, Couch Potato, Shake ‘n’ Bake, Bob the Builder FNGs: None
COUNT: 15
THE WARM-UP: SSH, penalty burpees, WMH, Imperial Squat Walkers, Hillbillies, Michael Phelps, Mosey, arm circles; Downward Dog

THE THANG:

The PAX split into pairs to perform a modified version of the Chad WOD in honor and remembrance of Chad Wilkinson. Wilkinson, a retired Navy SEAL who had served for over 20 years, took his own life in 2018. At his funeral, his wife, Sarah, told the story of how Chad trained to climb Mt. Aconcaga: by performing 20” box step-ups, in sets of 1,000, for time while wearing a 45-lb ruck. The 1,000-step Chad workout is done to honor his memory and to highlight our country’s epidemic of Veteran suicides.

The PAX did both by performing 10x of 50 step-ups, and then alternating running around the arena and doing 18x merkins.

Total of 1,000 step-ups and 180 Merkins for each pair of PAX.

Social lap to the field for …

THE MARY: Flutter Kicks

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Patriot field will be closed Nov-Feb, but Patriot will be open; touch football game at Compound; Boneathon coming May 2026

THE COT:

Several years ago the 22-push-up challenge spread across social media as a way to highlight veteran suicide rates. At the time, an average of 22 former service members committed suicide each day. Through awareness and active intervention, that number has dropped to just under 18 veterans lost per day (https://news.va.gov/137221/va-2024-suicide-prevention-annual-report/). While 18 is headed in the right direction, it is still way too many.

Chad Wilkinson’s story is telling. A decorated veteran, with strong family and community ties, still chose to end his own life. As Sarah Wilkinson said “When Chad took his life, he had everything to live for … .”

We did this workout in pairs, as a reminder that we are never alone. As we enter the holiday season, reach out to those around you and see how they are faring. The holidays can be a lonely time, even in the best of times. With the COVIDs keeping many isolated and anxious, this year may not be the best of times. Support those around you, veteran or non-veteran.

Tags: thepatriot, Piano Man, Bone, My Space, Wedding Singer, NASCAR, Lazlo, Hops, Rim Fire, Daaa Auditor, Smokey, Walker, Couch Potato, Shake ‘n’ Bake, Bob the Builder