“We haven’t done much EC at Bullpen. Anyone want to join YHC for an EC out and back 5K at 5a?” Little did YHC know that those 21 words would lead to an unexpectedly humbling birthday Q just  14 hours later…

2 PAX took YHC up on the offer (props to @Justice and @Toolbox)…but the run went a wee bit longer and the pace was a tad more conversational than anticipated.  About 2.5 miles in and turning back from The Wall, Justice asks, “What time is it?” YHC glanced at the timepiece and realized it was 5:24 with about a mile to go. As a sense of urgency settled in, the PAX’s pace quickened. Soon YHC found himself in what felt like a full on sprint…one block, two blocks, three…pace at 6:18, clock at 5:28…5:29…5:30…”@$%^%, I’m late!”…turn the corner to ReCity at 5:33 to find Knope leading 13 PAX in SSH.

Out of breath, YHC took the reins for a 43rd birthday Q.

WARM-UP

• SSH x 43
• Windmills x 4
• Willie Mays Hayes x 4
• Imperial Walkers x 4
• Seal Jacks x 4
• Overhead Claps x 4
• LBACs x 4 (reverse)

#1 hit in 1975 “Get Down” by KC and the Sunshine Band accompanied the PAX in plank position as they shoulder tapped to the beat and performed Merkins every time they heard “Get Down.” Turns out that happens 40 times in the tune with 20 of them in the final 60 seconds.

THE THANG

YHC had gifts / party favors waiting for everyone in the shed (aka 2 bricks per PAX). The gift that all PAX would give the over-the-hill Q was choosing and leading an exercise. Inspired by Knope’s Q at Devil’s Ridge earlier in the week, leadership was split by experience – prior Qs would provide a traveling exercise and PAX that had never led a Q would call an exercise and lead us in a single or cadence count – all with bricks in hand and all to be completed 43 times. A few that YHC remembers in his old age:

• Lunges x 43
• Curls x 43
• Bunny Hops x 43
• Squat Jumps x 43
• Karaoke x 43
• Rows x 43
• Run Backwards, then Balls to the Wall x 43 count
• Crawl Bears x 43
• Front Lateral Raises x 43
• Inch Worms x 43
• Lunges with Bricks Held High x 43
• Overhead Presses x 43
• High Steps x 43
• Johnny Dramas (on the bricks) x 43
• …and at least 3-5 more x 43

MARY

• Flutter Kicks x 43
• Little Birthday Crunches to “Birthday” by the Beatles (song is 2:43, but we only made it about 1:43 before YHC had to call it).

NAME-O-RAMA / ANNOUNCEMENTS / PRAYER

• Welcome FNG Ferb (brought by Phineas!)
• 2nd F Lunch at Dos Perros on Monday, July 16
• Asked for prayers YHC’s sister — same birthday two years apart.

FINAL THOUGHT

YHC gained a fresh appreciation for the respect we give PAX over 50. It was humbling to realize that YHC never really caught his breath after the sprint back to ReCity and struggled more than normal during the exercises…fully feeling all of 43, you might say. Whether just starting out and not quite in top shape or getting older and finding it harder to keep up, stick with it. Pain is temporary and age is just a number.