Post Turkey Lethargy Recharge

Winter finally blew in hard with a crisp, 25 degree morning at the Outpost.

Pax: Poacher, Chitwood, Flying Tomato, Berry, Napalm, Mad Bum, Cap’n D, Meat Sweats, Aruba

BEAT DOWN & DOWN PAINMENT

Warm up:

Mucho Chesto

Good Mornings

Windmills

Side Straddle Hops

 

Round 1 (Core & Cardio Casserole)

• Low Runner step ups – 30 seconds
• Hand Step-up – 30 seconds
• Low runner lateral steps – 30 seconds
• Lateral Hand step-ups – 30 seconds
• Murder Bunnies – 30 seconds
• Rifle Carry – 30 seconds

• Rest 1 min

Round 2 (Sweet Shoulder Pie)

• Tall kneeling overhead press, 1 min
• Tall kneeling tricep curl, 1 min
• Curl to overhead press, 1 min

• Rest 1 min

Round 3 (Single-leg sizzler left)

• Single leg hip thrust, left, 1 min
• Single leg Bulgarian hip hinge left, 1 min
• Single-leg Bulgarian split squat, left, 1 min

• Rest 1 min


Round 4 (Single-leg sizzler, right)

• Single leg hip thrust, right, 1 min
• Single leg Bulgarian hip hinge right, 1 min
• Single-leg Bulgarian split squat, right, 1 min

• Rest 1 min

Round 5 (Tofurkey Terror/Man-Boobs Edition)

• Derkin/plank drop set, 1 min
• Merkin/plank drop set, 1 min
• Hand-elevated merkin/plank drop set, 1 min

• Rest 1 min

Round 6 (Meta-Mashed Potatoes)

• Blocks to ears, 1 min
• Skier, 1 min
• American Hammers, 1 min

• Rest 1 min

Round 7 (The Tryptophan Finisher)

• Burpee, 15 seconds
• Plank, 15 seconds
• Burpee, 15 seconds
• Squat hold, 15 seconds
• 4 cycles
• 50 m Murder Bunnies

Announcements: Mentorship Wednesday @ 0615 via Zoom. MoD on Thursday. Seeking clarification on the Pax Xmas party mid December from @FroYo.

Prayer: Cap’n D led us out in prayer.

Moleskine: Life is full of choices, but, sometimes, we need those closest to us to provide a little guidance to keep us straight.

      As was the case with many Americans, our family gathered over Thanksgiving to reunite, visit, and to give thanks for our many blessings. We traveled to Phoenix, Arizona, where one might wonder at God’s wonder in the sheer magnitude of the landscape. Chief among the blessings, for which we gave thanks included liberty and the ability to exercise free will. I noted this first hand on Thanksgiving morning, when much of our family attempted to pre-empt the Thanksgiving triptophan hangover by hiking Echo Canyon at Camelback Mountain.

      Though a relatively short hike, at 1.24 miles and only 1280 feet of elevation from the base to the top, the Arizona park service rates the hike as extremely difficult, where hikers must frequently use their hands to climb over rocks. In two places, there are railings, where the rocks are steep, slippery, and shoes would have little grip if one stands upright. A challenging movement, hikers are rewarded at the top with a phenomenal view of the entire Phoenix, Paradise Valley, and Mesa valley. On clear days, one might see ridgelines as far as 80-100 miles away with great visual acuity.

      Despite warnings and the clear difficulty of the hike, I noted the various pairs of shoes that hikers wore. People have nearly unlimited options for footwear. Yet, some hikers made some questionable choices, given free will and liberty. I saw hiking shoes, hiking boots, running shoes, tennis shoes, crocs, flip flops, Chuck Taylors, and boat shoes. As the reader might imagine, those people, who wore flip flops and boat shoes really struggled as the trail’s difficulty increased. In addition to fitness and several other variables, individuals’ choices of footwear directly correlated to their turn-around point and whether they achieved the summit. Those, who chose poor footwear, generally did not make it past the first location, where hikers had to use a railing along a relatively steep incline. As one might imagine, those families, whose parents likely guided their children, teenagers, and young adults toward selecting the right footwear, tended to make it much further than those, who had no such guidance. I noted other hiking teams, comprised of at least one individual with experience along the trail, that similiarly provided counsel on selecting the right footwear. These teams also made it much further or summitted appropriately.

      Upon reaching the summit, I noted that the hike was well worth the effort, with spectacular views. The hike provided a sense of accomplishment, having toiled, only to achieve the goal. Finally, the cardiovascular effort provided the necessary primer to the day’s thanksgiving feast.

      I am happy that I had some experience and knowledge about selecting the right footwear. My brother, who lives in Phoenix and traversed the course many times, provided some keen insight that allowed us to prepare. I and Jeb made it to the top and enjoyed the fruits of our labor. We had the right guidance, counsel, experience. More importantly, we listened to those close to us, who provided that counsel.

      Though we might think we know what is best, we should listen to those closest to us, especially when their experience or knowledge exceeds ours. When we not only listen, but pay attention, learn, and implement that knowledge, maybe we select the right footwear.