No Running? Let’s Head to the Track!


I wasn’t sure what to expect for attendance today. I assume many were up late to enjoy the various sky shows around town. I had told several guys with various IR issues to post and I would adjust as needed, but then realized possible attendees included those who couldn’t run much as well as some who could pretty much only run. What’s a gracious host to do? Head for the track of course.

We had to postpone the start for a couple guys to find their way to the extreme southeastern AO of Varsity. It’s a trip for some (being on the edge of MECA territory) but well worth it as I keep finding more landscape for a plethora of activities. Nonetheless, by 0533 we were ready to begin with a half dozen guys doing SSH.

Right off the bat the incognating started. Snake Eyes tried to keep count for me, but he was a little soft-spoken. Meanwhile Etch and Cedar are calling out all sorts of numbers while I am trying to think of the next exercise that Jimmy O can do with his injured shoulder. I think we stopped at 20 IC, but honestly I have no idea.

Next we moseyed to the parking lot entrance for some squats. I accepted the rebukes on the amount of running and tried to convince the non-runners that it would ease up once we got to the track. Needless to say, they were skeptical. At the entrance to the track we stopped for some WWIIs, then moseyed to the entrance in the fence and on to the track.

The plan was to run your preferred pace to one end of the track and stand in line in the order you finish. This would allow us to partner up in terms of ability with the fastest/slowest guys together. This way, when partners run in opposite directions around track, the faster man can run a further distance and each gets a workkout at their ideal pace.

So what happens? Red Cedar sprints out of the gate with a slight head start to boost. He places second behind Tweetsie and is followed by JimmyO, Snake Eyes, YHC and Etch. So much for that idea. Partners wind up Tweetsie/Etch, Jimmy/Snake Eyes, YHC/Cedar.

Partner A runs CW around track, partner B runs CCW. When you meet, do 5 deep squats (hands to ground). Repeato, decreasing squats by 1 at each meet up. When done, mosey back to field entrance and MARY until last team finishes.

I was going to do another set with a different exercise, but I could sense a mutiny mounting. Etch was already talking about how he had to depart early to quit his job or something. So instead, we did some pole work. Find a pole and lean against it PC-like. Jimmy shared my pole, which led to some SkEtChY mumblechatter. While in people’s chair, we did 20 reps of Wonderbra (push up and out). Then it was over to the bleachers for Step-ups, 15 each leg. We finished a trifecta with some stretching. YHC finally learned how the Pigeon pose got its name (because once settled in, a guy “coos” in contentment).

From there we wandered over to the grassy hill for a ladder. Quadrophelia up the hill. 20 low flutters IC. Mosey down the hill. 10 LBCs single count. Go down by a deuce on the LFs and up by a pair on the LBCs each time. About halfway in, Jimmy O asked if we should be on 4 LBCs. No Jimmy — LBCs are going up (like a ladder). Apparently the Q was losing control as evidenced by Etch leaving.

With the ladder done (and down a man) we headed for the benches by the school. We did some dips while Jimmy O did some form of a reverse plank (holding the dip starting position). Watching him led to an idea to do some sort of leg lift IC while holding the edge of the bench. If you raise your pelvis as you lift each leg, it seems to stretch the opposite quad. All I know is the others stopped before I did. Either it was too easy, too hard or too stupid. I’ll let the pax that joined me clarify in the comments.

This is when I discover 5 lovely tires sitting beside the school building. One was an 80 pounder while the other 4 looked a bit lighter; maybe 50 pounds? We were almost out of time and had to head back, but Snake Eyes expressed his desire to Q Varsity in the near future to get in some tire work. The revival for Varisty has begun!

We moseyed back to the parking entrance where we held an elbow plank while the six pulled in. Then we did homage to Jane Fonda with 25 side leg lifts. Truth be told, the pax stopped at various points talking about the intense pain Jane was causing, but undeterred, the Q completed 25 sets with each leg. I care about my fitness.

It was now 0618 and while I made the argument that we did start late, we were heading towards a 46 minute workout which is a mortal sin in F3. So we moseyed (albeit a little wobbly following the Fondas) back the parking lot for the CoT. 

AFTERTHOUGHTS

  • Congrats to Red Cedar for sticking with keto 4 days in a row including a holiday. He’s already 12 pounds down (fat, water, who cares? that’s 12 pounds you’re not hauling around anymore). And his resting glucose in below 100 (that’s a good thing).
  • Prayers for Etch’s M who is dealing with some pain and is in the process of diagnosing the cause.
  • Kudos to Snake Eyes for offering to Q at Varsity — great AO with lots of options
  • Mighty Jungle pool workout this Saturday. Meet at Cauldron AO by 0655; depart for pool 0700. Bathing suit and sneakers recommended.
  • Thanks to Tweetsie for the personal invite to Q. Varisty deserves more attention.