BACKBLASTS

Life is a series of steps. For the first 25 years or so, you are basically pushed down a series of steps. Elementary school, little league baseball, driver’s license, first job, then usually college or in my case, the military. In the Army, every step of your life is controlled almost 24 x 7. My three years in the 82nd Airborne Division were challenging and fun but when I got out, the day I got out, the minute I signed my last form, I was lost. [Read More]

So a few weeks ago I was complaining giving constructive criticism about an Indian Run we were in the middle of when Term Paper said, “Guess what, VQ week is right around the corner and you can plan an even better workout.” Dazed and confused, YHC finds himself in the gloom, in front of FUMC, Q’ing the Bradford’s Ordinary. A huge THANK YOU for the yoga mats that appeared! At long last, my wail of anguish has been answered and I have a place to lay my weary countenance! [Read More]

YHC and Parker managed to lock down the premier Carpex AO BH Q for VQ week. With that tremendous responsibility upon us we devised a Co-Q plan to bring the pain and bring the pain we did. YHC sought a return to Hinton Hill, the scene of YHC’s first BH post and beat down. At 5:45 20 men, no FNGs, were off with a brisk mosey to the Baucum Elementary school bus lot for warmup after being questioned by a few skater dudes. [Read More]

FOD VQ spot still wasn’t filled mid last week so I was beginning to panic. I called out Sour Mash at the COT and he stepped up to VQ FOD but I could see the hesitation. He would be going in cold and I was going to be out of town. So I snagged this last minute Q from Petsounds to Co-Q with Sour Mash so we could practice some cadence counting. [Read More]

On August 2, 2017 Shakin’ not Stirred became Friday (Wednesday) Night Lights with the Carpex Fighting Fish. 29 PAX arrived for practice. Also, the Carpex cross-country team headed out with 5 in toe (sorry Ma Bell) for a Vesper’s conditioning run. First a tip of the coaching visor to Burt for the modify as needed t-shirt and the love for YHC, Hello Kitty. With fire in their bellies Coach Kitty gave a rousing pre-game speech (some got emotional), telling the team that by giving all they had on this day we would be ready to take on Bingville on Friday night. [Read More]

It’s hard to write the backblast for my VQ without getting somewhat reflective and sentimental, but I’ll save that for the NMS at the bottom of the post. First, here’s what went down in the Peak City gloom this morning at Tortoises. Earhart and Freebird came cruising in from their usual EC run. Various mumble chatter until go time. No FNG’s, so off we go on a little jog around the front pickle (see what I did there? [Read More]

YHC was super pumped up with Q-Drenaline for his VQ. So pumped up that he initially got into the car this AM without his running shoes. So pumped up that he drew up a 2-sided weinke in 4-point font that was entirely unreadable in the early gloom. So pumped up that he was nearly made late for his own VQ while waiting for “Gonna Fly Now” from the Rocky Soundtrack to download, so that YHC could get into the proper mental/emotional state on the drive to FWD. [Read More]

In the gloom, 35 intrepid PAX (3 FNGs) gathered to discover what would happen in this week’s first VQ. YHC was celebrating completing 12 months of F3 goodness. The group took off doing the Smokey Shuffle up the hill to warm-ups. Warm-ups (12 count each) – SSH, Good Morning, Calf Stretch, Merkins, Mt. Climbers Thing 1 – The Dirty Dozen – LBCs at the bottom of the hill and Carolina Dry Docks at the top totaling 12 reps for each lap. [Read More]

Glorious morning at Kryptonite this morning. 11 warriors show up. Stare at each other. Ask who the Q is for the morning and YHC takes the bait. Let’s see what went down: Run around the tiny parking lot and pick up Khakis; COP - SSH, Mountain Climbers, Merkins, Good Mornings, Imperial Walkers; Indian Run over the the parking lot we haven’t been kicked out of yet (#meanstreetsofCary); Partner up - Partner #1 runs to the road/Partner #2 does exercises (Star Jumps, Squats and LBCs) x2; Run to new location - Burpee broad Jump sandwich - Bear Crawl to the first light pole, Burpee Broad Jump to the next light pole and Bear Crawl to the final pole; Suicides - Three light posts. [Read More]