YHC had a bit of an eventful weekend. Last Friday night, I had the opportunity to participate in a GrowRuck Challenge. So, what exactly is this? Well, dear reader, I am glad you asked. GoRuck, the company that sponsors these events, describes a Challenge as a “12-13 hour adventure…inspired by the most elite training offered to Special Forces soldiers…led by cadre that seek to build each class of individuals into a team through collective conditions of mental and physical exhaustion.” The GrowRuck program is designed to introduce this brand of “good livin'” into the lives of those who have not had the pleasure of becoming acquainted with this rather unique form of exercise and team building.
Last Friday’s crop of inductees were this year’s pledge class from the Beta Theta Pi fraternity at UNC Chapel Hill. F3 founder OBT (Tim Whitmire) actually spearheaded this “frat ruck” program last year and good friend and B.C. brother Rambler was chosen to lead the eight week training program that culminates in the actual Challenge event itself. This year, there were several slots available for F3 Churham brothers who were interested in coming along for the ride. I, being one who never turns down an opportunity to take in a bit of hearty mental and physical exhaustion, along with several F3 brothers, eagerly signed on. I mean, how bad could it really be? After all, this was a “Grow”Ruck…it is designed as an introduction. You know, like rucking 101. And this was for a freshmen pledge class no less. LOL. Even brother Rambler, the leader of the training himself, candidly explained to us that the cadre for the event was the same as last year’s, and that event was “pretty low key.” Right on. Game plan is to engage in some light Friday overnight rucking hijinx with the boys, then chill for the rest of the weekend with the fam, get up bright and early Monday morning, refreshed and ready to get after it with the Northern Province crew. H*ll yeah.
Uh, yeah, nope. This was not a GoRuck with training wheels. This was an exercise in brutality. Cadre Danny was not playin’. What transpired from 1900 Friday to 0700 Saturday was a full blown *ss kicker, along with a couple good spikes to the taint for good measure. Pouring rain. 80, 70, 60 # sandbags. Jerry cans. A full military litter. Traversing post storm trails piled high with dirt. Ruck drags flat on your back up a hill using only your *ss and feet. Lake PT drills. Sandbag Pain Train in full effect. Surprise PT Test at 2AM which included an AYG 1 1/2 mile run and 45 burpees with ruck jumps and ruck thrusters for time. Multiple casualty carries. A false finish. No breaks. Yeah, it was the whole dadgum 9. Brutal.
In fact, my M told me that I came home Saturday morning, in a zombie like daze, I mumbled some greetings to her and the kids, then went up to shower and put on some clean clothes. I then came down to silently take in a bit of breakfast, then immediately went up to retire to our bedroom for the next few hours. When I eventually came down, she told me that she was growing increasingly concerned as during the course of those few hours, she would hear me periodically let out these strange primal shrieks and guttural moans that reminded her of the infamous Col. Kurtz “The Horror” scene in Apocalypse Now.
Which brings us to this morning’s The Rock. I had signed up to Q several weeks ago…actually, it predated my decision to sign on to the GrowRuck event. When I eventually learned that the event was going to fall on the Friday prior, like I said earlier, I wasn’t really expecting it to be all that…so I figured no need to make any changes. Regardless, the thought of putting off spending time with my Hillsborough brethren never even entered my mind. I committed and I was going to stand by that commitment. I had prepared a game plan for today last week…but decided to put together a Plan B in case my body was not in a cooperative state when I woke up. Buffay was kind enough to post an awesome pre-blast last night about my Q, promising an invigorating workout…which I totally missed as I was pretty much unconscious. I saw it when I woke up at 0430 with a bit of a start after a fitful night of “rest” full of visual and aural hallucinations. Yeah, brothers…I think we are gonna go with Plan B this morning. We are gonna go with a bit of Grunge recovery.
INTRO
Slammed a couple cups of coffee, grabbed a banana and hit the road. Google Maps states 32 minutes to Waterstone Park. Nice.
0526 Arrived at the AO. In true Hillsborough fashion, guys were already circled up, waiting and eager to get going.
Greetings/Fist Bumps. Feeling the effects of coffee and a long drive. Asked where I could perhaps bleed the lizard…was directed to a discreet location. Ok, all good…no, wait…I began to feel the coffee motivating some more serious movement. Hmm.
Rejoined the circle…much to my “relief” I was informed that there was a legit restroom down at the Park. Ok, time for an audible…we will warm up at the Park. Two more brothers join. 8 PAX strong.
0530. Let’s ride.
WARM UP
Spirited mosey to the Park. Upon arrival, had the PAX circle up and then quickly excused myself to go make an offering at the porcelain shrine.
Feeling lighter and brighter, I rejoined the group and introduced our warm up for the morning.
The Fork (Salad)
Had a tine inspired vision during one of my hallucinatory dreams last night. And as Yogi Berra sagely advised: “When you come to a fork in the road, take it!” So, that we did.
- PAX line up.
- Hit 5 Burpees.
- Run forward approximately 30 yards. Hit 5 Merkins.
- Side Shuffle to your right approx 5 yards. Hit 5 Merkins.
- Bernie (Backwards) Run 30 yards. Hit 5 Burpees.
- Run forward 30 yards. Hit 5 Merkins.
- Side Shuffle to your right 5 yards. Hit 5 Merkins.
- Bernie Run 30 yards. Hit 5 Burpees.
- Now, retrace the entire path and sequence, except this time, all side shuffles go to left. Finish up with 5 Burpees back at our starting point.
So, I called this The Fork because in executing the exercise, we trace a downward pointed 3 prong fork, hitting 5 Burpees at the bottom of each tine, and 5 Merkins at each intersection at the top. Was it silly? Definitely. Was it effective? Pretty likely. Will I use it again? Definitely pretty likely (Except next time, it will be on a football or soccer field).
MAIN EVENT
Mosey to the Cates Creek Traffic Circle. Circled up. Informed the PAX that we will be engaging in a bit of recovery this morning. Recovery = Run + PT, naturally.
PT Stop #1
- 10 Burpees
- 20 Merkins
- 30 WWIIs
- 40 BW Squats
- 50 SSH
- 40 Mountain Climbers
- 30 Alt Reverse Lunges
- 20 Plank Jacks
- 10 Dry Docks
All exercises executed SC, OYO, except for SSH which we performed SC as a group.
- Ricky Bobby Run – From Cates Creek Traffic Circle to Little School of Hillsborough
PT Stop #2
- 10 Burpees
- 20 Merkins
- 30 WWIIs
- 40 BW Squats
- 50 SSH
- 40 Mountain Climbers
- 30 Alt Reverse Lunges
- 20 Plank Jacks
- 10 Dry Docks
All exercises executed SC, OYO, except for SSH which we performed SC as a group.
- Ricky Bobby Run – From Little School of Hillsborough back to AO (small parking area behind building)
PT Stop #3
- 10 Burpees
- 20 Merkins
- 30 WWIIs
- 40 BW Squats
- 50 SSH
- 40 Mountain Climbers
- 30 Alt Reverse Lunges
- 20 Plank Jacks
- 10 Dry Docks
All exercises executed SC, OYO, except for SSH which we performed SC as a group.
- Mosey out to entrance on College Park
The Fork (Dessert)
- PAX line up, facing up the hill
- Hit 5 Burpees
- Sprint up the hill to 2nd tree, approx. 40 yards
- Hit 5 Merkins
- Side Shuffle to your right, approx 5 yards
- Side Shuffle back to your left, approx 5 yards
- Hit 5 Merkins
- Bernie (Backwards) Run down the hill to start line, approx. 40 yards
- Hit 5 Burpees
- Repeato the entire sequence above 3 times
Nicely done! Feeling the recovery wash over. Time to mosey back to our StartEx for…
Mary
- Single Leg to Double Leg V-Ups, x20 IC
- LBCs, x30 IC
0615. Time called. Fin. Awesome morning!
COT/BOM
Announcements
- Nickelback: Kudos to Buffay for crushing his 5K this weekend. Awesome job, brother!
- Toast McQueen: Inaugural Northern Province CSAUP The Wolf scheduled for Jan 5, 2019. Start your New Years off right! Meet up Duck & Weave (Weaver Street Market) Parking Deck, 0700-0900.
- Buffay: Hillsborough’s own brewery, Mystery Brewing, is sadly closing. Last day, this Wed (Halloween). Join up for a final 2ndF before the evening festivities. There was a motion to establish an F3 group collection in order to buy out the brewery and own it for permanent 2ndF.
- Grunge: Want to once again reiterate how awesome it is to be up in Hillsborough. This group has a very special thing going…great culture, great fellowship, great bonds and support among the PAX. Leadership has done an outstanding job, managing the sites, growing the region, great 2ndF and 3rdF initiatives…and now the CSAUP. I always draw on the energy of the group when I Q or post, and I feel like I am plugged into a giant Everready battery when I am in the Northern Province. Keep up the good work! I am really excited to see the growth of this area going forward.
Name-o-Rama
BOM
Nickelback took us out in prayer. Thankful for the fellowship and brotherhood, and for the opportunities to strengthen and support one another. Ask for guidance to bring others who are in need into the group and fold. Prayers for those impacted by the tragic events of this weekend in Pittsburgh. Ask for peace and healing for family, friends of those impacted, and for the community and nation as a whole.
Thanks again brother for the warm welcome and the awesome time out in the gloom. Always enjoy making the trek north…it takes 30-40 minutes from Briar Chapel to get up to the Northern Province AOs, but it is always worth the drive. Looking forward to coming out and getting that Trip Nip! That plaque is as good as mine, you all!
Until next time, aye!