I was working on putting together a quick game plan for my Q @ Cougar this week, when Toad Horny texted me late last night, said he had a bit of an issue pop up and needed me to cover his Q this morning. No problemo, mi amigo. #siteQresponsibilities.

As I drifted off to sleep, I thought back to the overnight ruck Wreckless and I did with 7 other Churham brothers this past Friday night. Eventually, three of us would finish the entire 20 mile challenge. As we sat, completely exhausted, drinking our celebratory beers, our bodies feeling like they had been in a train wreck, I joked about getting together the next day for a ruck workout. The mind is a funny thing. During the lows of a long endurance event, it will be the mind that wants, begs even, to take you down and out, often long before your body has been pushed to its limit. However, once you are done, and your body is completely wrecked and in disarray, your mind will often soon completely forget all the pain and suffering you went through and it will start going down that road of wanting to sign up to do it all over again. Silly mind!

I then recalled a memory from back in my high school days. After a night out, we would typically end up at one of many taco trucks to grab some eats before heading home. My usuals were the standards: carne asada, barbacoa, al pastor. I was always a bit curious of the more exotic offerings, though. On nights I was feeling a bit more adventurous or, more accurately, when I was tying to “impress” the girl I was with, I’d give one a go. Chorizo, cabeza, lengua, etc. Inevitably, I would pause before that first bite…my date would freak out, my buddies would start taunting, same old, same old. See, the mind plays tricks. It toys with your emotions. It distorts and plays games. It is all mental. But, once I got over that initial fear and took the bite, the result was usually the same. It tasted fine…a lot of it tasted good, shoot, great even. Freaky mind!

One, though, genuinely freaked me out. Sesos...brains. This was years before the whole Mad Cow scare. Every taco truck, if it was legit, would offer it. It was in that metal bin, off to the side, back behind the other more popular offerings. Waiting, patiently, like a shy wallflower, dressed to the nines, but often very much neglected. My buddies and I always dared each other to try it…for years no one ever did. They were just too, well, too real. They looked too much like brains. Well, you all, I did finally muster up the courage to try it. I remember it pretty vividly. Squishy, very soft, kinda grainy, somewhat creamy, like tofu or soft cheese. Not a whole lot of flavor, kinda tangy, but it was most likely due to the seasonings. Not entirely offensive, but not something that I needed, or wanted, to try again. I really wanted to like it. I was hoping it would be this awesome culinary awakening, but it was not meant to be. I felt sad as I thought about all the taco trucks that prepared this night after night after night and wondered if all those brains got thrown out. See, brothers, I tell you, the mind is a terrible thing to waste, but as I found out, it is an even worse thing to taste.

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Arrived at the AO to an empty parking lot and a slight drizzle. Just as I got comfortable with the idea that I would be running solo this morning, several brothers arrived. Right at 0530, we had a group of 5. Awesome.

Time to get to work.

Circle Stretches, Good Mornings, Knee Ups, Big A** Sun Gods (Forward & Reverse)

Line Up. High Knees (25 Yds), Bounds (Man Skippies? 25 Yds), Toe Walks (25 Yds), Heel Walks (25 Yds)

SSH, x20 IC

Time to run!

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This is what we did:

https://www.strava.com/activities/1633421971

5 Miles, 8:47 Avg Pace, 402 Feet of Gain, 727 Calories Burned.

But this doesn’t tell the whole story. It doesn’t tell you about the awesome fellowship, conversation, and joking around. It doesn’t tell you about the stories we shared, the advice we gave each other, and the encouragement and support that was provided. It doesn’t tell you how Mothman just wasn’t feeling it and considered peeling off, but we all rallied around him and he chose to stick it out and powered through it. By the end, he was ready to go out and do it again. To get the whole story, well, you had to be there. Perhaps next time, you will be.

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Mary

• Squats (Grunge)
• LBCs (Slayer)
• Flutter Kicks (Doobie)
• American Hammers (Kosher)
• Hammie Stretch, Lateral Stretch (Mothman)

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Announcements

• Pittsboro 2ndF – Maybe this Wed or Thu night? Check Slack
• BC/Chatham 2ndF for Golden Pinky – Wed, June 20 @ 2000, The Wall.

Name – o – Rama

BOM

Kudos to Mothman for sticking it out. He not only survived, but thrived through it. Funny how it is the mind that will often take you out of the game when you are going through a low point in an event, long before you body hits its limit, but then once it is over, your mind will quickly forget the pain and you find yourself wanting to go out and do it all again. Please remember our brothers who you haven’t seen in a while. Perhaps they are injured, or ill, or struggling. Keep them in your thoughts and prayers, or better yet, reach out to them. Invite them out to a workout, a 2ndF, and event. Let them know that we are thinking of them. Venture out to different AOs in our region, or in other regions. It is a great way to meet other F3 brothers. Until next time. Aye!