YHC was honored to wave the flag in Hillsborough for the first time when the AO launched May 5th, 2017. Since then it has become an annual tradition at the Duck and Weave to celebrate the expansion of F3 Churham’s Northern Province with a history lesson and themed Q on (or around) Cinco de Mayo.

Warm-up

The Pax ran down the bottom level of the parking deck and to the entrance of the River Walk. YHC communicated the theme of the morning while completing some standard warm-ups (before things got unique)

• SSHs (10)
• WMH (10)
• Front Lunge (10 count each leg)

The Thang

It was time to go back in time. Thanks to the Back to the Future theme song we had no problem getting into the act. We did a reverse Indian Run:

• Crabwalk (back to the front)
• Crawl bear
• Reverse lunge walk
• Backward jog

The Pax arrived at River Park. We circled up and YHC announced we had arrived in Mexico in 1810, naturally we completed the following:

• Overhead Claps- 18 in cadence (IC)
• Calf Raises- 10
• Air Presses-18
• Jump Squats-10
• Front Lat Raises-18
• Line Jumps-10

YHC instructed the Pax that not only was it 1810, it was 1810 in a small Mexican City and we were listening to a Pastor’s plea from the the stand. He was telling us to rise up and fight for our independence. Right on Q, “Rise Up” by Andra Day slowly started to fill the empty space. Tears swelled in the eyes of the Pax members as we placed ourselves in the shoes of the Mexican people as we considered what it meant to take on this challenge from the pastor. What this practically looked like was a 2-minute plank hold. This speech would later be called the Cry of Dolers and it was time to move on and heed the pastor’s calling. The Pax moseyed forward this time with an Indian Run with “Cry Me A River” pumping us up to the next location.

Now it was time for war! To honor the approximate 40 years of warfare the Mexicans endured after independence in 1810, the Pax partnered up with the song “War” foreshadowing some of the challenges we might face but we pressed on and completed the following:

• Jabs-40
• Boo Ya Merkins!-40
• Hand Held Squat Slides-40 (20 steps to the left/20 steps to the right)

The Pax caught their breath and celebrated that the wars were over, but bad news….it had left the country 80 million pesos in debt! It was going to be an uphill climb to accomplish this task so we tackled the big hill on S Cameron with some Bear Crawls to the top light.

Once we arrived to the top of the hill the Pax needed to repay the debt back with Monkey Humpers! “I need a dolla” by Aloe Blacc motivated us during the following:

• Monkey Humpers- 20 IC (bad idea)
• Monkey Humpers- 30 (single counts-better idea but still sucked)
• Monkey Humpers-30 (really sucked)

Unfortunately our debtors did not accept payment in the form of Monkey Humpers. The French, British, and Spanish sent over delegates and soldiers to demand payment. We traveled to the negotiation table at the DA office on Margaret St. To honor their voyage over we completed some modified Boat Canoes!

• Boat Canoes- 20

“We Can Work It Out” cheered us on as we successfully negotiated with the British and Spanish to repay the debt after a 2 yr grace period so we did a plank hold!

• Plank Hold-2 min

Unfortunately the French had other plans and demanded immediate payment so we retreated with some French Hip Hop tunes playing in the background.

• Sprint Run back to the flag

We moseyed over to bolas negras and YHC informed the Pax it was now May 5, 1862. We had retreated to Puebla, Mexico. Unfortunately, we were outnumbered 2:1 by the French so it was time for some Jack Webbs!

• 2 Air Presses/1 Merkin
• 4 Air Presses/2 Merkins….
• ….32 Air Presses/16 Merkins

The Pax were battling well but more was created at the Battle of Puebla. YHC instructed everyone to partner carry up to the flag and back to bolas negras.

Then there was finally some good news! We had defeated the French! The song Celebration blasted as we completed some “Muzungu Shuffles”

COT/Moleskin

Prayers for KC launch with Blistex. Prayers for the Pax traveling to support them in launch activities.

It has been an honor since the very first Cinco de Mayo Q to be part of the Hillsborough launch. With 3 sites through the week with dedicated attendance from the men of Hillsborough and beyond it has been a winderful experience planting the flag for the first time and then handing it over to the new Site Qs.

Keep up the great work and looking forward to anniversary number 3!

-Nickelback