Prologue
YHC had not Q’d an in-person workout for almost 3 months! The longest stretch of time over a six year period. The alarm was set but not needed. The adrenaline, nerves, and excitement kicked in…as I write this I’m on my second coffee of the day and I don’t even drink coffee that much. There is certainly some growing pains getting back into “gloom shape” as we re-enter with in-person AOs again. What a season and what a day to lead the men of F3 Churham in the northern province of Hillsborough.
Warm-up
The Pax circled up in the back of the parking lot. With the new 6ft/social distancing rules YHC had to ensure the suck of the hill could be accomplished, just one at a time rather than all together. Therefore each Pax had a turn running down to the bridge and then back up while the rest completed a warm-up exercise. 6 Pax members meant 6 warm-up exercises:
- SSH
- WMH
- Shoulder Taps
- Imperial Walkers
- Arm Circles
- Johnny Dramas
The Thang
Station 1: The Bernie Hill
For some reason YHC has always enjoyed hills at the Rock AO. The pax moseyed from the warm-up hill to the hill leading up to the apartments. It was time to feel the bern!
Bernie Sanders
- backward run up
- Diamond Merkins (20)
- run down the hill
- T-Bones (10 IC)
- repeato until YHC was exhausted
It was time for trivia question #1: “What was Memorial Day originally called? Answer: Decoration Day. The Pax made a valiant effort but was incorrect. So we did one more round of Bernie Sanders.
Station 2: Traffic Circle Runs
One pax member completed 1 lap around the outer traffic circle while the rest of the pax completed an exercise in perfect form. Reps didn’t matter, just perfection. 6 Pax = 6 Exercises at this station:
- Squats
- Wide Grip Merkins
- Monkey Humpers
- Merkins (standard)
- Lunges
- Diamond Merkins
It was time for trivia question #2: “What decade did Memorial Day become an official federal holiday? Answer: The 1970s (1971). The Pax once again made a valiant effort guessing 1950s so we did 20 penalty burpees.
Station 3: Rock Pile
Mosey down to the park to collect a rock to complete the next station. We were “All About the Benjamins”:
- curls (25)
- lunges with coupon of course (25 steps)
- squats (25)
- lunges with coupon of course (25 steps)
- over head press (25)
- lunges with coupon of course (25 steps)
- mtn climbers (25 IC)
- lunges with coupon of course (25 steps)
It was time for trivia question #3: “Each year on Memorial Day a national moment of remembrance takes place at what time? Answer: 3pm local time. Again, the Pax once made a valiant effort guessing 0530 so we did 25 curls.
Station 4: Parking Lot/Gate
After returning the coupon to its home the Pax gathered at the far end away from the gate. It was time for trivia question #4: “Some people wear this flower in remembrance on Memorial Day. What is that flower? Answer: Red poppy. Red rose was uttered in desperation, alas the answer was close but no cigar.
The Pax lined up for some Crawl Bears all the way to the gate.
Mary
Time flies when you are having a good time. The Pax moseyed back to the flag area to crush some core:
- American Hammers (25 IC)
- Scissors (10 IC)
COT
YHC shared an excerpt from the poem “We Shall Keep The Faith” written in 1918 by an American Professor honoring the fallen and helping to popularize the tradition of the red poppy:
Oh! You who sleep in Flander’s Fields, sleep sweet to rise anew!
We cherish too the poppy red that grows on fields where valor led
Moina Michael, “The Poppy Lady”
YHC ended with prayers blessing and protecting over the pax.