The StrutBrigade pays homage to The Silver Fox and Celebrates Box Day

Conditions: 31 degrees; 51% humidity, dark, did feel as cold as it was

6 members of the StrutBrigade gather on this morning, looking to get better and shake off the cheer from yesterday. The first step in that process, which is the most difficult, is done, that being parting oneself from the warm fartsack.  Now, it rests on the shoulders of YHC to aid the lads in their efforts.  So, let us get this party started with a disclaimer, opening prayer and off we go.

But first, YHC, feeling the spirit of this special day (Boxing Day), would like to share a family holiday classic (abridged version), a story we all know well, that being the timeless classic, A Boxing Day Carol.

The hero of our story, Eddie Luge, a Canadian of moderate wealth, struggled with the Boxing Day tradition. When greeted in the streets by merry townspeople and their wretched, “Happy Boxing Day,” Eddie would always respond, “I don’t know what that means!”

After an eventful Christmas Day, Eddie, whom had that day given his assistant, Tom Hatchett, the day off, went to bed muttering about his disdain for Boxing Day. However, later that night, Eddie was visited by his deceased partner, Jerry Barley, who foretold of the coming of three spirits who would visit Eddie that night, starting at the clock strike of 1:00. Eddie, attributing the ghost of Barley to a bit of undigested moose, laughed and drifted off to sleep.

Then, at the strike of 1, the Ghost of Boxing Days Past appeared, he took Eddie back through his life, noting the Boxing Days of his past and Eddie’s frustration with his not knowing what the day meant, returning Eddie to his bed as confused as ever. Two more spirits visited that might, at 2:00 the Ghost of Boxing Day Present, and at 3:00 the Ghost of Boxing Days Future. The Ghost of Boxing Day Present showed Eddie the family of his assistant, Tom Hatchett, and Eddie learned they truly had no clue what the day meant, nor did Eddie’s nephew.  The Ghost of Boxing Days Future foretold the story that no one will ever figure out the meaning of the holiday, then returned Eddie to his bed.

Eddie awoke with the rising sun, jumped from his bed, and flew to his window! Spotting a young boy he shouted, “What day is it, boy?!”

The boy replied, “Monday.”

Eddie shouted with glee, “You mean its Boxing Day?! The spirits did it in one night?!”

The young boy replied, “What the hell is Boxing Day, you idiot?!”

Realizing he was not the only one who had the vaguest idea what Boxing Day is, doing like all Canadians did that day and every day, he went and played hockey.

Anyway, back to the Backblast…… with a stop box the Socractic jukebox. For today’s music, I choose my hometown favorite, The Marshall Tucker Band, ( I mean how many bands can include a flute and still kick ass?):

Mosey to the upper parking lot of the rec center via the stairs and circle up for COT – in the dry parking lot.

• 12 windmills (IC)
• 22 SSHs (IC)
• 19 squats (IC)
• 34 plank jacks (IC)
• 12 windmills (IC)
• 22 SSHs (IC)
• 19 plank jacks (IC)
• 34 squats (IC)

Mosey to the football field for the start of The Thang:

• Starting at the point of beginning, mosey at your pace to the first corner, here do 25 merkins;
• Mosey at your pace to the second corner, here do more 25 merkins;
• Mosey at your pace to the third corner, here do more 25 merkins;
• Mosey at your pace to point of beginning and do more 30 merkins.

Plank and wait for the 6.

Mosey to the base of Mount Seven Oaks and line up.

• Bear crawl to the top; do 3 burpees;
• Crawl Bear down to the bottom; do 3 burpees.

Rinse and repeat for a total of 3 trips.

Mosey to the rock pile and grab a rock, circle up.

• 28 Curls for Jeff Gordan (IC)

• 28 Tricep Extensions (IC)
• 28 Bent-over Rows (IC)

Finish up with 83 overhead claps.

Replace rocks and mosey to the concession stand for Mary:

• 30 LCBCs (IC)
• 30 Ray Charles (IC)
• 20 Hello Dollys (IC)
• 20 Freddie Mercurys (IC)

Mosey back towards the SF, jail break once you reach the parking lot.

Rally round the flag for COT, BOM and closing prayer.

Naked Moleskin:  Great work by the StrutBrigade again today.  Today’s Q is dedicated to one of my childhood and hometown heroes, David Pearson aka “The Silver Fox,” who celebrated his 83^rd birthday on the 22nd.  Pearson is arguably the best driver in the history of NASCAR.

COT numbers were the date of his birth (12/22/1934), we did 105 Merkins round the school celebrating his 105 Winston Cup victories (nka Sprint Cup due to NASCAR’s pansie-ing of the sport), we had 3 trips up Mt. Seven Oaks for Pearson’s 3 Winston Cup Championships; 28 reps with the rocks represented Pearson’s 28 years in the Winston Cup series; and closed with 82 overhead claps in honor of his 83^rd birthday.  For most of us, our childhood heroes always hold a special place in our hearts, and to this day I am and will always be a Pearson fan.  For more info, see this:

http://www.experiencenascar.com/flashback/David_Pearson.html

For further interest, here is a video showing the final laps of Pearson’s victory in the 1976 Daytona 500, one of the most exciting finishes in the history of the 500 (quality of the video stinks, but you get the idea):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AibV8_0USBA

Praises and Prayer Requests:

• Traveling PAX
• Unspoken prayer requests

Announcements:

• 12/30 Cottonmouth, preblast: https://www.f3midlands.com/lake-murray-sc/preblast-the-cottonmouth-little-mountain-edition-december-30-2017
• 1/1/18 Lexington New Year’s Day Convergence, see: https://www.f3midlands.com/lexington-sc/preblast-new-years-day-convergence
• 1/6/18 Saluda launch., preblast: https://www.f3midlands.com/other/preblast-f3-saluda-launch
• 1/6/18 Harbison 50K
• 1/27/18 GrowRuck Weekend. Details: http://f3nation.com/2017/10/25/growruck-08-sc-midlands-preblast/
• New Year/New Qs: Sign-up to Q, many, many openings throughout F3 Lake Murray Region, then rinse and repeat. Lake Murray Q list
• F3 (2nd and 3rd Fs) Lunches are a-plenty. Check Twitter and the website for details. In fact, there is a whole lot going on, so check the website and Twitter often for updates. Another good place to look for updates/info is in the announcements of the posted Back Blasts.
• Anchor meets at 0530 on Wednesdays on the Irmo side of dam, with a slow mosey cross the dam post KB. Now get the bell there and party with your bell out!
• Swagger meets Monday at 5:30 at Little Caesar’s (the building formerly known as Blockbuster) on St Andrews Road; at 5:30 on Wednesdays at America’s Best on Harbison, then on Friday they join for the Donut Run, 0515 (NEW TIME) behind the Dunkin Doughnuts on Lake Murray Blvd. So lace up and get there!
• An unofficial running group for those that don’t run, affectionately known as “Struggle” meets Mondays at 0500 on the Irmo side of dam for out and back of 15-22 minutes at your pace. See YHC and/or this: http://f3nation.com/2016/01/11/another-alternative-for-your-monday-morning/
• F3 Wander – Ruckish workout meets Sunday mornings at 0530 and MWF at 0500 at Ice House Arena on Main Street in Lexington. This is a great place to get your Ruck on and/or give the whole backpack thingee a try (which is what I have done). It is also a great 2d F opportunity. Come for the workout, stay for the Fritters at Krispy Kreme. https://twitter.com/F3Wander

Devotional: (from Our Daily Bread)

What on Earth