When posting at Tobacco Road on 6/27, during COT, Floyd mentioned that the Q sheet was open for the 4th of July and YHC casually agreed to take it – thinking perhaps it would be a solo Q (no one else would come due to the holiday, travel, etc.).  Someone suggested to do a convergence with OCL, and then Bullpen, The Moose, OCL and Paradise all jumped in.  

YHC had been wanting to get together with Soybean for some second F all spring, and it worked out that Soybean was up for Co-Qing this convergence with me.  We had a great chat after Misery’s grueling Goat Q (800 Meters Dice Game) and came up with some fun ideas.

Soybean being Soybean, he took a quick site visit to the Tobacco Road AO and did some concept testing. (Did you know the Tobacco Road loop is exactly .22 miles and takes 1:40 to complete if you hustle? Also, pro tip from Soybean: Don’t do a 5K run on the ATT in 95 degrees and 200% humidity).

To kick off the convergence, we threw in an Extra Credit 5K and had 12 PAX arrive early, ready to run. Dean Wormer threw out an Extra Credit Ruck and got about 9 takers, launching from Bean Traders and knocked out 3+ miles (with coupons) each way. Shake It ran solo to and from Bean Traders as well. T Claps to the all the early risers.

As we were cooling down from the 5K and preparing for the Main Event Warm up, we ended up counting off at 35! More TClaps!

In pre-gaming the co-Q, we obviously wanted to weave in some #s and workouts related to the Revolutionary War Era (13 Colonies, July 2, July 4, 1776, April 18 (Paul Revere’s Ride), April 19 (Concord & Lexington), March 23 (Patrick Henry’s “Give me liberty or give me death” speech), etc. But an important historical question arose: why do we celebrate July 4th as America’s birthday?

• The Continental Congress decided to declare independence on July 2, 1776
• The American Revolution started in April 1775
• Thomas Jefferson wrote the first draft of the Declaration of Independence in June of 1776
• The Declaration of Independence was signed completely on August 2, 1776
• The Declaration of Independence was delivered to Great Britain in November 1776

So what *did* happen on July 4, 1776?  Answer: the Continental Congress approved the final wording of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. They’d been working on it for a couple of days after the draft was submitted on July 2nd. All final edits and changes were agreed upon and the document was fully completed two days later.

After analyzing all available dates and data, the concept we came up with was to break up into 5 groups, symbolizing delegates from the different AOs/(Colonies). Each delegation would be able to advocate for their constituents’ interests and mumble chatter, but all with a unified goal to achieve the three pillars of F3 (Fitness, Fellowship & Faith)/bring forth a radically new idea of governance by the consented.

WARM-UP

• 17 IC Side Shuffle Hops
• 18 IC Imperial Walkers
• 19 IC Hill Billies
• 13 IC Willie Mays Hayes
• 13 Slow Merkins

After counting off, Sir Soybean from the Bullpen Delegation asked for recognition from Sir Boucher, and proceeded to orate a modified version of the Declaration that concluded with the opportunity for PAX to enjoy the fact they were created for the “pursuit of 13 burpees OYO!” He also wondered why we Americans had allowed a Frenchman (aka Sir Boucher) to join the convention. #NewWorldProblems

THE THANG

We counted off by 5s and ended up in 5 groups of seven. Each PAX received a scroll that directed them to “Go ye hither to…” one of several stations set up throughout the Tobacco Road AO. They were given some parameters (Federalism) while maintaining the freedom within that framework for each AO/Delegation to complete the exercises (or others) in a way that fit with their needs (state’s rights). The stations were:

• The Rock Pile – Exercises: Curls, Overhead Press, Tricep Extensions, Bent Over Rows
• The Playground – Exercises: Pullups, Burpees, True Amerkins, Swerkins
• The Baseballs – Exercises: Coyote Uglies, Step Ups, Johnny Dramas, Dips
• The Soccer Field – Exercises – Burpees, Bear Crawl, Broad Jumps
• The Parking Lot “Peanut” – AYG run from The Field to The Rock Pile, which served as the timer/pusher. (Side note: PAX learned that AYG becomes relative).

We got through 3 rotations and the PAX were feeling it by the end. We proceeded in a fellowship pace mosey as “recovery” to the field for…

MARY

Soybean lead us in the following for Mary:

• 19 IC American Hammers
• 19 IC American Hammers
• Plank o Rama: each of the Pax counted off by 5 as we went around the entire circle — a 3:00 plank, for the record (Riggs did Riggs to extend it a bit further)
• 19 IC American Hammers
• Super Man (each Pax counted off by two around the circle)
• 17 IC Peter Parkers (inspired by another great American Super Hero in Spiderman)
• 19 IC American Hammers (Total of 76).

The PAX were cooked, earning their celebratory BBQ and beverages later in the day. Announcements: Romper Room kids AO follows TBL official Launch on August 3 from 8a – 9a) and celebrating Blistex’s and Wayward Son’s great leadership in bringing F3 to the Kansas City Area (5 AO’s already! TClaps!).

Spartan took us out with a simple and beautiful message of gratitude and call to action to bring our best selves out into the community. 

It was a great morning for the Churham Pax with the personification of the F3 ideals as a solid coffeeteria followed afterward at Bean Traders. Shake It showed off and showed up a few minutes later, getting his 3+ more miles in running back, and the Ruckers finished strong by making it back to Bean Traders alive and well. Impressive work, impressive group, and so grateful to be a part.
Aye!
Boucher & Soybean