Sampling The Bull

November 13, 2019

WHEN: 11/13/2019
QIC: Jinx
PAX: Stinky Pete, Mothman, Splashback, Hightower, Bright Idea, Chum, Stubb’s, Bump Draft

This year’s CSAUP in Durham, The Bull, was a novel experience for YHC. I’ve learned that having absolutely no idea what one is getting into is a big part of F3 and one of the reasons I love it. Today I wanted to give the PAX a little taste of The Bull by basing the main event off of several of the boot camp stops we made on what was ultimately (for the “runners” at least) a half marathon tour of the Bull City. I knew that unless Grunge made an appearance in the gloom, or some out-of-Briar-Town PAX made the trip, the PAX today would be none the wiser about what went down. This was good because 1- I get to bring some of the experience home to them and 2- I get to take considerable liberties.

It’s cold AF. So we burned a little more than usual today on the warm up.

WARM up (nothing to do with The Bull)
Between each round, jog one slow lap around parking lot and circle up again.

  • SSH x 5 IC (round 1), x 10 IC (round 2), x 20 IC (round 3)
  • Windmills x 5 IC (round 1 only)
  • Hillbillies x 5 IC (round 2 only)
  • Prisoner squats x 5 IC (round 3 only)
  • Merkins x 5 IC (round 1), x 15 IC (round 2), x 20 IC (round 3)

The Thing (or Thang; ME)
Mosey (after the warm up at The Bull, we ran about 3 miles) to the frosty green at the bottom of the stairs near the pool. PAX array themselves in three lines with YHC facing the lines as band leader (a la Sweats at The Bull, where we did 1 minute AMRAP).

  • Merkins x 30 sec
  • Jump Squats x 30 sec
  • Mountain Climber x 30 sec
  • Flutter Kick x 30 sec
  • High/Low Plank x 30 sec
  • Bonnie Blairs x 30 sec
  • Dry Docks x 30 sec
  • Burpees x 30 sec

Next at The Bull, we moseyed another 3 miles or so to our 2nd F project (spreading soil in a dog park). Here at The Big House, we took a lap around that parking lot and back to the green, circled up and lay down in the frosty grass for the following (performed in the newly spread dog-park dirt back in Bull City).

  • Hands-free T-Merkins x 10 IC
  • Freddie Mercuries x 10 IC
  • Hands-free T-Merkins x 10 IC
  • Freddie Mercuries x 10 IC
  • Fire Hydrants x 10 IC

Note: considerable chunks of The Bull are here omitted due to lack of props and lack of 4.5 hours of available workout time. The following two workouts are an homage to what took place on Duke campus that fateful day.

We arranged ourselves in a large circle around the concrete and paver-stone walkway around the quad area. PAX were then told to bear crawl counter clockwise around the quad until such a time as the Q said stop.

In order to get to a good place for the next bit, we moseyed down the sidewalk toward the bottom of the parking lot and then back up to Startex for next exercise:

  • Burpees x 10 OYO – run to the bottom of the parking lot loop
  • Bonnie Blairs x 10 OYO – run back to top of parking lot loop (continuing the loop)
  • WWIIs x 25 OYO – run one full lap non-stop

Here YHC was an earlier finisher which gave him time to check the remaining exercises in the plan and check the clock. It was determined we had enough time for something additional. In an exuberant fit of creativity, I opted to run back the exact same exercise (in my defense, we did perform this 2x at The Bull). Chum was vocally not impressed.

Note: Here another large chunk is omitted for good and obvious reasons, including some wicked around-the-world lunges led by Grunge and Elf, as well as about 4-6 miles of running.

Mary

The Bull Mary was led by our Grunge. We did a toned down version today that looked something like this:

  • LBCs x 20 IC
  • Flutter Kick x 20 IC
  • American Hammer x 10 IC
  • 8-point Plank – some PAX modified to a 9 point plank (use your imagination)

COT

Announcements
1 – BC Christmas party December 22nd at the clubhouse
2 – Stinky Pete will be unavailable this weekend and is looking for a Q for Sunnyside (this can be a great way for someone to complete their Chatham 6 Pack
3 – Tomorrow Cricket will be running a bonus Rabbit for any PAX that would rather pound pavement than pump iron at Amrap

Name-o-rama

BOM
I was tasked by Mothman to say something inspiring and encouraged that there was no pressure. Instead I turned it around a little bit and after thanking everyone for coming out and giving me the opportunity to lead, talked about how F3 has improved my leadership and communication skills. Putting myself out there as Q is never comfortable, but I feel the trust that the other PAX put in me, and know that everyone has the same feelings or fears at times. I have become a better communicator and a better improviser in the short time I have been in F3. All the PAX out there today sign up to lead on a regular basis, otherwise I would have said something inspiring and strongly encouraged the PAX to put their name on the Q sheets, several times, even (or maybe especially) on far out dates. Signing up to Q weeks from now postpones the pressure, but ultimately forces you to do it. It works for me and I appreciate everything F3 has done and is doing for me.
Aye!