Ah, the Big Dance. Arguably up there among the greatest spectacles in sports. Definitely up there among the greatest times of year to be in Vegas. I know this is probably not even gonna register a blip on the screen for many of you all, but one of the biggest of the Big Dances for YHC occurred back in 1997. That was the year the Arizona Wildcats, after a bit of a lackluster 11-7 season in conference play, as a 4th seed in the Southeast Region, went on to take down three number 1 seeds, including North Carolina (final four round), the overall number 1 seed Kansas (regional semi round), and ultimately, defending champs Kentucky in a crazy OT final game, to become National Champs.
But that wasn’t even the biggest of Big Dances for YHC. No, the biggest occurred in 1984. That Fall, our church was putting on a fairly large tadoo at the Rose Bowl, some big dance convention thing. It was a production that involved several choreographed dances, including a line dance, a samba, some square dancing, a ballroom number, yada yada. It was costumes, lights, camera, fireworks, the whole dadgum nine. Yeah, YHC wanted absolutely nothing to do with that ridiculousness.
Except, unbeknownst to me, good ol’ Tami S, daughter of Bishop S, had her sweet little heart set on being out there in the limelight strutting her stuff. Well, it turns out her partner, Dana S, well, he came down with chicken pox or something or other and all…which meant Tami was sidelined unless she found a new partner…and boy, was she despondent! Of course, her older sis, Darlene S, was all set with Thad L, until Big Daddy Bish threw the hammer down and said big sis can’t go unless little sis finds new beau…and that threw big sis in a huge tizzy. Cue my buddy, Theron G, who got strong armed into this dance dealio by his mom, and he being the awesome buddy he was (we are no longer on speaking terms) and who hated the fact that YHC got off scott free…well, he went and told Bish S that YHC would be glad to escort Tami to the Big Dance. There really was no negotiating with da’Bish. Thus, YHC’s 6 was owned.
But, dear readers, the story does not end there, thankfully. Coz, YHC ever the seeker of “silver linings”, took a page from our Lord and Savior, and turned lemons into lemonade. See, our church needed local families to help provide overnight housing to hundreds of out of town guests who were also participating in this rosy, bowl-y, grand affair. Each of the local participants were given a sheet to fill out…boys would host a group of boys, girls would host a group of girls, etc. YHC, still seething from the unfairness of it all, checked off the “girls” box in “error” and turned that thing in knowing full well that a meeting and stern talking to would follow. Nope. Not a peep. YHC eventually just forgot about it, that is, until the morning when everyone reported to the church center to meet/greet our overnight out of town guests. And that is how YHC hosted a cozy little sleepover with nine bomb Betties from Vista, CA and became the envy of my buddies (suck it, Theron). So, in the end, brothers, moral of the story is nothing ventured, nothing gained, early bird, gets the worm, when things get tough, the tough get going, be water, my friend, DFQ, if at first you don’t succeed, then try, try….etc….Go Big Dance!
INTRO
I did a dumb thing the morning prior to Q’ing this workout. Ruck PT EC…40 ruck burpees. Safe to say, I am a bit of a risk taker, but throwing that down as a 48, soon to be 49, year old grungie dood with a long, stupid history of low back problems…odds not favorable. Slacked site Qs Soda and Toolio to give them a heads up that I may need reinforcements for today (best case, a bit of duct tape and WD-40; worst case, one of those old medieval traction stretcher type contraptions. Oh and mead, lots of mead…). Fortunately, I was able to stave off full spasms and was able to make the Q, but being the planner type, I came with a game plan, that if things went sideways (namely, YHC…), the workout could pretty much run itself.
Arrived to find a solid group of PAX circled up in the parking lot, raring to go, including one FNG. Nice.
Quick greetings…then quick recon (this was actually my first post @ Big Dance). Note: There is a ton of great stuff here. Need to make a return trip.
Ran back to the circle just as we were about to hit the 1 Minute Warning.
Fist bumps/Greetings.
0530. Go time!
No, actually, no. A couple cars rolled in just as YHC was about to hit the first exercise…so…
FNG time! Quick disclaimer. T-claps Driftwood for bringing him out.
Ok, now it’s Go Time!
WARM UP
Had the PAX count off in 1-2s.
- SSH, x21 IC
Soul Train
Form 2 Lines, approx. 15′ apart.
PAX will travel in pairs down the path in the middle, PAX in line will perform an exercise
- Train 1: Traveling PAX —> Traveling Burpee (Broad Jump + Burpee); PAX in line hit the Merkin along with the Traveling PAX
- Train 2: Traveling PAX —> Lt. Dans (Alt Lunge Walk + Air Squat); PAX in line hit the Air Squat along with Traveling PAX
- Train 3: Traveling PAX —> Traveling Crunchy Frog (Crunchy Frog + Traveling); PAX in line perform WWIIs AMRAP
Nice and warmed up now. Beauty!
Move it to the freshly asphalted black top (Thanks Knope!) by the Tennis Courts, coz, LAMP!
On to the…
MAIN EVENT
Introduced the workout for today. We will be doing the…
Usain Murph
Each PAX will take turns running to monkey bars, hit 5 Pull Ups, 10 Merkins, and 15 Squats, and sprint back. This will serve as our timer. Before taking off, each PAX will call out an exercise for the rest of the group to perform AMRAP until he returns. Lots of great exercises called out during this workout! Below is a breakdown of what each PAX called out (Thanks again to Knope for the idea to have each PAX state their exercise during Name-o-Rama), list below not in order:
- Soda Popinski: Plank Jack (Added a Merkin after every 5 PJs)
- Knope: Makhtar N’Diayes
- Low Tide: Standard Plank/Low Plank Holds (Decided to do alternating 10 counts)
- Roach: Am Hams (Freedom Twists…)
- Kia (Respect!): Overhead Claps (Added an Air Drama after every 5 OCs)
- Cake: People’s Chair
- OPEC: Flutter Kicks
- 2Ply: Burpees (“bee-yotches!”)
- Driftwood: Jump Lunges
- No Fun: Hello Dollies
- Soybean: Bear Crawl Abduls
- Mugsy: Dry Docks
- Crab Cake: Diamond Merkins
- FNG Söft J: Stationary Sprint (Added a Burpee after every 10 count)
- Grunge: Alternate 8 Count Body Builders & Burpee
Upon my return to the circle, I saw we had a couple minutes left…so decided to transition right into…
Mary
- 8 Count Body Builders, x15 as a group
And called it, 0615. Strong work by all!
COT/BOM
Announcements
- Grunge: Organizing a 1st/2nd/3rdF with Vandelay to run/ruck the entire ATT. Would like to set it up as a charity event, with folks donating $1 per mile. Proceeds to go to chosen charitable cause (which, right now, is likely to be Hurricane Relief efforts). Considering dates in Dec, Jan (a bit challenging due to all that goes on during that time of year). Be on the lookout. Details will be posted on Slack.
- Driftwood: He and his M celebrating 19 years of matrimonial bliss. Decided to hit 19 Merkins, + 1 more for good luck, SC as a group. Congrats, brother!
Took it back to StartEx
Name-o-Rama
- Our FNG Andrew is actually visiting from Virginia Beach. He enjoys cooking, jogging, has three 2.0s…PAX immediately jumped on the “jØg” (soft J) factor…and with a short and torrid love affair with “j∅gging” (soft J)…we dispensed with the silly formalities and cut straight to the chase. Welcome FNG Söft J.
BOM
YHC took us out in prayer. Gave thanks to Him that gives us life, health and the great beauty of the morning. Thankful for the brothers who came out this am in fellowship and to honor to our Father. Prayers for our brothers who are on injured reserve…that they may soon recover and rejoin us in the gloom. Prayers for guidance that we may reach out and be a beacon of light to those men out in the world who are currently going at it alone. I remember when I was one, and how I chose to gut it out, coz that’s what we men do…but to be able to come out and fellowship with the brotherhood, and give and receive strength, wisdom, guidance, it is life changing. I witness it every day, men stepping up and taking it to the next level, in fitness, in faith, in family, in community, in life. It is awesome to see and be a part of.
Thanks again, my brothers of the Big Dance. Very grateful to be a member of the fam and look forward to coming back. Until next time, aye!