Backblasts

DATE: 2022-12-09
AO: Horizon-Ao
Q: Disco
PAX: Magoo, citrus, Median, Patchouli, Poe, sticks, 3 mile
FNGs: None
COUNT: 8
Today’s workout was generated by ChatGPT and QIC filling in the blanks. (Soon more jobs will be like that…)
WARMUP: “Light Cardio” per ChatGPT: SSH, Rockettes, MPs, Imp Walkers, CP/WMH, Merkins,D Dog/Cobra/Child’s Pose THE THANG: “Strength Training” – 4×12
Coupon curls, Bear crawl (12 yds), overhead press, lunge walk, merkins, bent over rows, coupon squats “HIIT” 4x – Suicide, burpees, Mtn Climbers
MARY: Line of Fire – Flutters, Zelinski Hammer, Railroad Planks ANNOUNCEMENTS: Skiing in Feb – see #powderchasers
COT: Take a minute to focus yourself and enjoy a beautiful am.

DATE: 2022-12-07
AO: Patriot
Q: Lucius
PAX: Boiler, bogey, Big Short, Ice Tea, Jenner, Rousey (GrandStrand – Myrtle Beach SC), Maguire, My Space, Passport, CableGuy, Crown vic, Legacy, Roadkill, Wedding Singer FNGs: None
COUNT: 15
At 05:30 on December 16, 1944, an 1.5-hour artillery barrage announced the beginning of the Battle of the Bulge. German forces swept through the Ardennes forest, attempting to split Allied forces in two and to retake the deep-water port of Amsterdam. They were met by unexpectedly strong American resistance from small units scattered across the sparsely defended region. The fighting took place in horrible conditions, marked by snow, mud, and misery.

At 05:30 on Dec. 07, 2022, 15 PAX gathered in the gloom to commemorate these events by performing the following exercises:

WARM UP:
SSH; Cherry Pickers; LBAC (fore and aft); Michael Phelps; Downward dog; Cobra Kai; Child’s Pose; Moroccan Night Clubs.

THA-THANG:
(1) Siegfried Line – PAX scouted the Seigfried line, performing 20x Thrusters, Bent-Over Rows, and Atlas Shrugs.

(2) Kampfgroup Peiper – PAX Bear-crawled the path taken by Kampfgroup Peiper from the Loishem gap toward its objective on the Meuse River. PAX Bear-Crawled 60 yards, stopping at the following strategic points:

Loseheim – Because Germain Engineers did not repair bridge, Peiper had to turn South. 20x Bridge-Ups.

Lanzerath – A small group of Americans (18 members of reconnaissance platoon and 4 forward artillery observers, hold up Peiper’s advance for over 12 hours). 500 German paratroopers attempt to overrun the US position, but are held back. In their honor, PAX completed 22 Tempo Merkins.

Honsfeld – Piper’s column captures 50,000 gallons of US fuel, allowing the column to continue advancing. PAX performed 20x Gas Pumpers IC and 20x Plank Jacks.

Malady – Captured US soldiers are told to stand in a field beside a cross-road, then shot by Peiper’s SS troops. 84 US POWs die. Peiper’s 10-mile column of tanks continues to periodically fire into the field as it pass. Some US soldiers survive by hiding beneath the bodies on their comrades. Word of the massacre quickly spreads through US lines, strengthening American resolve.

In remembrance of the Malady Massacre, PAX perform 84 exercise counts: Body Weight Squats (20); Single-Count Lunge Steps (20); Squat Jumps (24); Easy-Way Bonnie Blairs (20).

Trois-Ponts / Stoumont – Piper’s column stalls, then is attacked by Allied planes. Because US engineers have blown all bridges between the Germans and the Muese, Piper’s task group cannot reach its objective. US warplanes destroy German armor and men as they retreat. PAX perform 20x Dive-Bomb Merkins, Bridge-Ups, and Merkins.

To celebrate Piper’s retreat, PAX Bear-Crawled all the way back to the Siegfried line (conveniently located in the end zone).

(3) Shoulders Hold Strong – To celebrate the strength of the defenders on the “shoulders” of the bulge–the remnants of the 99th Division defending Elsenborn Ridge in the north and the 28th Infantry division holding its flank in the South–the PAX performed Thrusters, Magellans, and Atlas Shrugs.

(4) St. Vith – To Commemorate the 7,000+ men lost (captured or killed) from the 106th Infantry Division, the defense of St. Vith, the strategic retreat from the town, and the Allied counter-attack, PAX perform 106 counts of exercises: 20x American hammers; 20x BWS; 20x Air Press; 20x Merkins; 20x Air Press; 6x Burpees. Running retreat between exercises.

(5) Shoulders Hold Strong – To further celebrate the strength of the defenders on the “shoulders” of the bulge the again PAX performed Thrusters, Magellans, and Atlas Shrugs.

(6) Bastogne – PAX formed a defensive perimeter around the critical intersection in Bastogne, forming an out-ward-facing ring in forward-leaning rest position. They collectively performed 101 Merkins IC, holding plank as the Merkins went around the circle.

THE MARY:
U-S-A! U-S-A!; U-S-A!

CIRCLE OF TRUST/BOM:
The Battle of the Bulge always reminds us of the power of perseverance. When faced with unexpected challenges, ordinary soldiers soldiered on, focusing on doing their jobs. Doing the job before them allowed them to withstand, then turn, the German offensive. As we face December’s month of waiting for holidays and celebrations, it is important for us to do our jobs. Don’t let the promise of vacation distract you from your vocation. And don’t allow the holiday rush brush aside your call of kindness to all.

DATE: 2022-12-08
AO: Freestate
Q: citrus
PAX: Horshack, Cannoli, Butter, Winston
FNGs: Brony, FIFA
COUNT: 7
WARMUP: 1x burpee, SSH, Michael Phelps, arm circles, 2x burpees, WMH, cherry pickers, 3x burpees, down dog, world’s greatest stretch, Motivators

THE THANG
PART 1: The Adjudicator! One PAX chooses an exercise. The Adjudicator decides if the exercise is easier or harder than 5 burpees. If it’s harder, you do the exercise. If it’s easier, you do 10 burpees. That PAX then becomes the Adjudicator and picks the next PAX to choose. After doing 5 burpees to baseline the pain, we went through a complete round, which included the following winning choices: * 20 tempo squats
* 3 suicides
* 30 flutter kicks
* 15 in cadence merkins
* Bear crawl
* 30 mountain climbers

The Adjudicator only rejected one choice. And YHC can’t for the life of him remember what that was. But it was definitely a questionable call. Luckily, the Adjudicator’s decisions are unreviewable, so the PAX submitted to 10 burpees instead.

PART 2: Relay races (because it’s new to you!). PAX counted off by 2s (which resulted in literally counting by 2…) to form two teams. The teams shuffled after each relay race to increase fellowship.

RELAY #1
• Teams wait in plank position
• First PAX completes 10 merkins, then crab walks to cone and back • Repeat for all PAX
• 1st place: 2 burpees / 2nd place: 4 burpees

RELAY #2
• Teams wait in Al Gore
• First PAX completes 10 monkey humpers (IC) and then bear crawls to cone and back • Repeat for all PAX
• 1st place: 2 burpees / 2nd place: 4 burpees

RELAY #3
• Teams wait in low plank position
• First PAX completes 10 Bonnie Blairs, then 30 SSH
• Repeat for all PAX 2x
• 1st place: 2 burpees / 2nd place: 4 burpees

MARY: LBC, Boxcutters, Nolan Ryans

ANNOUNCEMENTS: street cleanup and 5k on Saturday (unrelated events), Thirsty Third Thursday next week

COT: From “Growth Mindset” by Carol Dweck: “Growth mindset describes a way of viewing challenges and setbacks. People who have a growth mindset believe that even if they struggle with certain skills, their abilities aren’t set in stone. They think that with work, their skills can improve over time.” We encounter this ourselves, and, if you have them, with our kids as well. Approach the day with a growth mindset instead of a fixed one, and see what’s possible.

DATE: 2022-12-07
AO: Compound
Q: Lazlo
PAX: citrus, Peanuts, Yardbird, Simba, Poe, Zeus, NAFTA, Doodles, Obadiah, Hightower FNGs: None
COUNT: 11
Hat tip to Puget Sound for coming up with this workout. It’s special for the toughness it builds both physically and mentally. I’m still trying to get these songs out of my head and am sure it will only be a few more days.

WARMUP: SSH, Imperial Walkers, hillbillies, mountain man poopers, Michael Phelps, willie Mayes Hayes, Moroccan night clubs, downward dog

THE THANG: A three part Jacob’s Ladder, to the greatest hits from Huey Lewis and the News

1) A 4/1 ladder (4 and 1, 3 and 2, etc) doing Bonnie Blair’s and globe jump burpees as the exercises, with a 20 yard lunge walk back and forth. Music: The Power of Love (Lunge)

2) mosey to the tennis courts. 2 pax on each side of a court, one on left half, one in right half
4/1 ladder with Freddy mercuries and WWI’s. The movement was to bear crawl to the net, sideways bear to the middle, do the Freddy meecuries, crawl bear to the baseline, side bear to where you started, do the WWIs, repeato, making a… square-ish shape Music: Hip to be Square

3) mosey to the parking garage
10/1 ladder with burpees and “no cheat merkins” (hand release at bottom and a shoulder tap at the top), running ~30 yds down ramp in between

MARY: the key search (not yet in the exicon)

ANNOUNCEMENTS: bowling and grow ruck

COT: thoughts and prayers for Rambler and his family. The Q had the chance to catch up with an old friend, and encouraged the pax to think of someone they haven’t been in touch with in a while and reach out. They’ll appreciate it more than you think.

DATE: 2022-12-05
AO: Highlands
Q: Roddick
PAX: citrus, Hightower, Jag
FNGs: L’Enfant @sloth
COUNT: 6
WARMUP: Dynamic warmup
THE THANG: wind sprints with two teams 3vs 3. Volley and ground stroke practice. L’Enfant showed off his king of the court skills MARY: none
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Weds Bowling
COT:Be thankful