The list of F3 Churham workouts categorizes AMRAP as metal/gear. I don’t know if it is for this reason that I was reluctant to post at AMRAP the first time (I think it took me at least a week or two to muster the courage). I really had no idea what I was getting into. At my first post, Bright Idea signed on to Q at 9PM the previous evening and delivered a 45min cinder block beat down off the cuff. Ok, I think I get it, lift things a bunch of times. My next post at AMRAP was a Rambler Q that had me nursing sore shoulders (a good sore) for the better part of the weekend. Intense: involved kettle bells, barbells, sandbags, battle rope and finished with a corpse pose. Ok, I definitely get it, lift things a bunch of times.

The numbers were small at both of those workouts, 4 and 5, respectively. The other times I posted at AMRAP were for Iron PAX and for the Halloween convergence (Spooky Q). I didn’t really count those into what I thought AMRAP was. I started thinking “I have metal/gear. I can design a workout for 4-5 PAX.” Initially reluctant to even post at this AO, I quickly developed the notion that it would probably be my first Q. What do I have to lose? Last minute Huckleberries grabbing the Q, low numbers of PAX = low pressure: no brainer. As fate would have it, I VQ’d appropriately at The Rabbit, my first post and a workout I now co-site Q, and then Q’d The Big House – my first boot camp Q. This last took me way out of my comfort zone – big numbers of PAX, high expectations to put up a good workout (perceived, at least), but it was awesome, and I’m glad I did it – ultimately, you just have to key your name into the Q sheet. Belatedly, I leafed through the emptyish AMRAP Q sheet and keyed in “Jinx” in a crisp font next to November the 7th.

Summer turned to Fall, something that doesn’t always happen in NC, and the evening of November 6th found me loading my adjustable bench, barbell, assortment of shiny, new, Rogue color bumper plates, metal plates, and dumbbells into the SUV. I had a plan and a boatload of gear. Alarm set: 4:13AM, sleep, wake, coffee, door, crisp air, SUV, AO 5:05AM air, unload, set up, adjust, admire 5:28AM 7 PAX roll up. Alright, bigger numbers than expected (good thing), slight mental adjustments. Disclaimer as absolutely warranted, despite no FNGs. Circle up.

Warmup

• SSH x 30 IC
• Merkins x 30 OMD
• Windmills x 15 IC
  Mosey to upper end of parking lot – oohs and aahs at the Rogue color bumper plates stashed in the gloom. Count off (each person got a number – this was of dubious necessity/utility)

The Main Event

While one PAX does a long carry around the parking lot, the rest of the PAX rotate through the stations. When the carry returns, trade out with the next number PAX up. At the stations, rotate through each PAX 1x for round 1 and then move on to round 2. The carry station fell behind, so we only made it through 2 different carries 1x ea. NBD.

Round 1

• MOVER: Farmer Carry 90lbs 200m (rotate through each PAX 1,2,3, etc. )
• STATION 1 (Timer): Deadlift x 15
• STATION 2 (AMRAP): Russian twist with press w/ 25lb plate
• STATION 3 (AMRAP) : Reverse lunge with 35lb plate (or choose weight)
• STATION 4 (AMRAP) : Plate 8’s with 35lb plate
• STATION 5: Body weight squats/rest/spotter
• STATION 6: Body weight squats

Round 2

• MOVER: Finished up Farmer Carry then moved on to: Hug/hold-in-front carry 45lbs 200m
• STATION 1 (Timer 2): Bench Press x 15
• STATION 2 (AMRAP): Hammer curls 30lb dumbbells
• STATION 3 (AMRAP): Merkins
• STATION 4 (AMRAP): 35lb plate swing (like kettle bell swing)
• STATION 5: Rest/spotter
• STATION 6: Merkins

Round 3

• MOVER: Finished up hold-in-front carry
• STATION 1 (Timer 2): Push press x 10
• STATION 2 (AMRAP): Lat raises 30lb dumbells
• STATION 3 (AMRAP): Plate raises 35lb plate
• STATION 4 (AMRAP): Single arm plate raises 10lb plates
• STATION 5: Rest/spot
• STATION 6: Be creative

Mary

• Impossible plank – actually impossible (modified to knees) this would have been a plank with both hands up on a vertical plate, with plate and feet the only contact points with the ground.
• Back hypers x 15IC

COT

Announcements
BC Murph November 11th at 4:30AM – right here

Name-o-rama
Check

BOM
Thanks to the PAX for giving me the opportunity to lead and for taking a chance and showing up this morning. As for my well-intentioned mumble-session, I mentioned a Podcast shared by Stop Drop and Roll on Slack entitled “The Lonely American Man” from NPR’s Hidden Brain. There is evidently an epidemic of loneliness in adult American males, attributed to a complete lack of real social connections, or fading friendships from childhood mixed with the societal quashing of our emotional and social capacities due to “unmanly”. This podcast resonated with me, but, with me before I joined F3. Though quite happy, I knew something was missing in my life and I would complain to my wife that all my friends were back in New York, that I had trouble feeling that same type of friendship with her friends’ husbands. I don’t feel this way at all anymore. I can’t count the number of PAX that I proudly call friends now, though these are just the beginnings of friendships they are growing daily, and I look forward every night to the next morning’s post. Let’s get some more 2nd F opportunities together. I said some of these things out there in the gloom – meant to say all of it and more, but there it is.
Aye.