August 1st, 2020 By Chum

[three_fifth_last][/three_fifth_last]”Ladies and gentlemen, the story you are about to see is true. The names have been changed to protect the innocent.”

Every now and then a leader faces moments that he knows beforehand will bring him to his limits, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Some part of him will be tempted to demand the front. But, to demand this would only hold others back if they are stronger and faster than he. If he holds true to his principles he will not be humiliated when others in his team run to the front when they are faster and stronger than he. He will, instead, be glad to see his friends doing so well and pushing each other along the way. Today, this day’s appointed leader, was glad to be smoked by the field of pax around him.

Slightly shocked by the unusual multitude of guys around the shovel flag this morning, I began to doubt if we could pull it all off in Covid fashion. I had the big picture worked out in my head but, per my usual MO, let the finer details settle themselves in the field. But before it all, we had to give a disclaimer, especially for the new guys.

“If you get hurt, it’s not our fault. If you follow us around, that is your fault. I’m not the fastest or the strongest our here today, but that’s my excuse, not yours. Modify as needed and stop if required.”

We started off in a short mosey to the grassy knoll behind the memorial for a bit of standard warm-up material; SSH x 20 IC, Imperial Walkers x 20 IC, Mountain Climbers x 20 IC. In this time we had one last pax come in hot and join us. We then moseyed over to the sideline on the pitch for a Walking Jack Webb; 1 lunge each leg, then 4 merkins followed by 2 lunges each leg, then 8 merkins. Continue the increasing rep count 1:4 till everyone crosses the field. At the second pitch everyone circled up for a more traditional Jack Webb; 1 merkin to 4 air presses, together, and in increasing counts till the group reached 10 merkins and 40 air presses.

After 2 rounds of Jack Webb it was time to utilize the track. The assignment was to run a full lap (4 corners) in one direction, do 40 LBC oYo, then run 3/4 lap in the other direction followed by 30 air squats. Rinse and repeat the 4 times, one for each corner of the track. In the end everyone should have run at least 1.75miles, and done 160 LBC and 120 Air squats. The try-hards were told to do 100 flutter kicks, then pick up a member of the six till they finish.

Once everyone was finished with the track work, there was a jailbreak run to the memorial for some people’s chair and Mary. As each pax entered the circle, each took up a spot along the interior wall and sat in the people’s chair till the last pax joined in. Then we did Hi-Lo claps for 20 IC, walked half-way around the memorial for more people’s chair + rocking chair x 20 IC. Walk 1/4 around the memorial for more people’s chair + knees to toe taps IC x 20. Walk 1/4 around the memorial for 1 legged people’s chair x 60sec, then 1/4 lap and people’s chair x 60sec.

We finished up with a shortened MARY to allow time to meet and interview the FNGs in our midst. We did KTE crunches x 20 IC followed with Freddie Mercury x 20 IC.

In the COT everyone stood to be counted and respected. As per the Mint Hill usual, there were a lot of respects among us but some newer and younger bloods as well. Also, per the new normal, the FNGs were not named, in order to save their names for better efforts not deprived by oxygen. The FNGs are Mike, Luke, and Adam.

Mike works as a district judge for Mecklenburg County and a member of the JAG corps. He lives in the area and heard about F3 from his friend Scrappy (LKN pax) who is also a judge. Name drops for Mike include but are not limited to Shaggy, OutofOrder, Gavel, Judge Judy, and Stenopad.

Luke works as an accountant with Duke Energy, lives in the area, has 2 kids and was due to play basketball at 9am this morning. When we finished, he wasn’t so sure that was going to happen. Possible names for Mike include, but are not limited to: Coal-Fire, Ashpit, Ash Hole, and E Audit.

Adam works as a fire-fighter in Winston-Salem, is the son of our very own Hornet, and the one responsible for the hoses that Hornet likes to bring to pain academy. Adam is also a new father to a 6mo baby. Congratulations! Possible names for Adam also include, but are not limited to: Haligan, LB3, Steamblanket, Ronald, Hose Drag, and Hose Job.

Altogether, the effort today went according to plan. I love it when a plan comes together, but I must confess to making one audible on the fly when I adjusted the walking Jack Webbs from two field widths to one field width.

Thanks for the opportunity to practice leadership, and in true Bellichik fashion, who’s up next?

The Vet

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