Th3 #1stThursdayChallenge began years ago. A couple variations of it have been introduced on occasion, but the pax always tend to revert back to the original challenge. Today in the gloom was a great example of why.
On the eve of The Wilderness gloom, Toxic sent a PB which confused YHC, as the well-documented and critically aclaimed F3LKN website stated THC had the Q today and Toxic is scheduled for next week. However, we both received emails reminding us we had the Q today. Ironically, they appear to come from Blackbeard, who is on a self-induced social media hiatus for Lent. This appears to be the perfect time to rant about Blackbeard (since he'll never read it), but what's the fun in that?
But despite the confusing PBs and YHC's responses, 14 men arrived in the 29 degree gloom likely b/c there were hints of "mixing things up" a bit today, and well, we did just that. So much so that we mixed up who would be the Q. Toxic and YHC debated, but when th clock struck 0511, Kumquat decided he didn't drive all the way from SkyWalker territory to listen to us babble. Kumquat was ready, so his leaderhship and impatience kicked in and we were off!
Warm-o-rama:
Kumquate led us a few paces over to the tree, we circled up, and he started us with The Squat. Pax was taken aback by this, as we ALWAYS start with the SSH. As previously mentioned, we mixed it up a bit today. In fear of what Kumquat might do next, while standng beside him YHC called the next exercise, which was 10 burpees OYO. BEP (standing next to me) picked up on a potential pattern here and called for the next exercise. And thus the warm-o-rama circle was on. 14 exercises and we were plenty warmed up. Amen even threw in the J-Lo less than 5 mins into the workout. And someone (Tantrum, perhaps?) stole the Shoulder Touch Merkin before the cirlce reached Snake Eyes.
Following the circle w-o-r, YHC led the pax over to the coupons. We had one 30lb kettle bell, two 25lb bells, and my big, long, thick, black rope to share and play with. So we did.
30lb KB = all 3 kindsa curls. 25lb KB = same. 25lb KB = Skull Crushers. 1 guy on the ground doing Dying Cockroaches (in honor of the original #1stThursdayChallenge) and 1 guy on the rope. That left the rest of us to be the timers. So we ran. Out of the parking lot, down the parkway, left on Prestwood through the arch, turn around, through the arch across the street, then back to the parking lot. Flapjack, sorta. Just more guys on the ground so we added merkins.
Next time we ran we added another arch – on the other parkway behind the park. Total 3.
Next time we ran we added another arch – across the street from the parking lot, then the other 3. Total 4 arches. Here we began thinking of the St Louis portion of the workout name. Someone said McDonald's.
For the final run, no arches. Just straight across the street and down to the cul-de-sac at the bottom. Then, unfortunately, back up.
For the final 4-6 mins, Mary. Strangely without the rope – guess the pax just couldn't swallow any more of it…
The spontaneous moleskine:
Well, the lack of a plan and the desire to mix it up just may have turned into a chaotic beatdown.
Toxic asked for the BB to detail everything he did today. Easy – YHC never saw him do a thing…
Ruffles tweaked his back a few paces into the first loop. Some guys woulda stiffly hobbled home. Not Ruffles. Way to stick it out, my salty friend.
Oh yeah – the rest of the title. During about the 3rd run, the pax back in the parking lot complained as Top Gun emerged from the darkness from the wrong side fo the park. Turns out he'd needed to stop to pick up after his pooch who happily joined us this morning. Someone offered up another name for the workout, "Picking up Poop" or something like that. So there ya go. St Louis (arches) Happy Meal (again, the arches) with a side of Dog Poop (TG's responsible dog ownership).
So there you have it. And then it was a long walk home carrying the rope and a KB…
"I love it when a plan comes together." – Colonel John "Hannibal" Smith of The A-Team