PAX (15): Tea Party, Biff, Yodel, Obi Wan, Escobar, El Toro (DR), Mufasa, Fish Oil, Lemu (Respect), Chippendale, Mr. Miyagi, Karen, FNG, FNG
FNGs: We had two (2) FNGs: Pumba and Simba. Both, unfortunately for them, were related to Mufasa
AO: Mission Forge
Q: Fine Print
Conditions: Rainy, 74 F, Feels like 76, Humidity 95%, Wind 8.7mi/h from SE
YHC welcomed the PAX to Mission Forge and recited the 5 core principles, credo and mission statement. Today we would attempt to incorporate two additional F’s: Fun and Fireworks. It was a very wet morning. We had only been at it about a minute but were already very wet. That’s what she said.
Warm-O-Rama: The PAX moseyed .5 miles on the Smurph route through the neighborhood and met in the park between the soccer fields for Warm-o-rama.A brief W-o-R consisted of 15 side straddle hops IC and 15 tappy taps.
Thang: YHC then explained what we’d be doing for the beatdown. It was a little convoluted so the explanation took a few minutes but everyone seemed to get it, even Mufasa. We split into two teams for a relay race. The teams would gather on opposing ends of the park and perform sets of exercises. Upon completion of each set the team would run and light a flower to signal their completion of that set. After completing the 4th set, the team would run their designated .5 mile route back to the flags and the first team back was the winner.
SET 1:
• Plank 30 count
• Merkins rancid style
• Chill cut 30 count
• Werkins rancid style
• Plank 30 count
• Diamond merkins rancid style
SET 2:
• Plank 30 count
• Mountain climbers 30 IC
• Chill cut 30 count
• Plank jacks 30 IC
• Plank 30 count
• Groiners 30 On up
SET 3:
• LBCs 30 IC
• Gas Pumpers 20 IC
• Big Boys 20
• Gas Pumpers 20 IC
• Flutter Kicks 20 IC
• Gas Pumpers 20 IC
• Low Dollies 20
• Gas Pumpers 20 IC
SET 4:
• Jump Squats 25
• Monkey Humpers 30 IC
• Jump Squats 25
• Bonnie Blairs 25 IC
• Jump Squats 25 IC
• Monkey Humpers 30 IC
• Jump Squats 25 IC
SET 5:
As a team, run back around your respective loop, cross the bridge and light your final flower. First team to complete wins.
• 1’s: run the murph route backwards from the park. Up the trail to the west and then back through the neighborhood and to the flags
• 2’s: run the trail to the north, loop around to the east then south to the flags
YHC decided to incorporate some of my least favorite exercises into this beatdown. We did many Jump Squats and Gas Pumpers. The sets were pretty tough and many of us were modifying including yours truly. Despite the rain, the teams were able to get several flowers lit and it added a fun element to the beatdown.
Team 2 was the decisive winner. Back at the flags everyone was soaked. The Thang took much longer than YHC expected to I scrapped the rest of the firework activities. We had some triple shot parachutes that we were going to shoot off and then try to catch the parachutes with different exercises depending upon whether all parachutes were caught or not. Will save this one for next year.
Prayers and Announcements
Murph challenge began July 1. Not too late to start.
COT
As I collected my thoughts on what to share with the PAX, I came across an interesting July 4th fact on history.com. During the Revolutionary War, George Washington commemorated the July 4 date by issuing double the usual rations of rum to each soldier in the Continental Army, according to History.com. This was in 1778, two years before any state would make the day an official holiday.
I felt like this was a good reminder for us in the gloom. While we certainly aren’t fighting literal war, all of us HIM are fighting certain battles or difficult and trying situations. It is important to remember to take time to celebrate and be cognizant of the victories no matter how small that we achieve along the way.
Slainte!
Fine Print