02/25/2020 - Iron Lion - Uncle Rico’s Take on The Black Diamond
AO: Iron Lion
When: 02/25/2020
PAX:
Number of Pax: 7
Pax Names: Appletini, Baby Hands, Face Plant, FakeID, FIB, House Arrest,
DR Names:
Number of FNGS: 0
FNG Names:
QIC: Uncle Rico
Introduction
Where do I start?! Black Diamonds have arrived to F3 Naperville and I was offered the opportunity to Q one of the first ones. Lots of excitement partnered with a little bit of pressure. These Black Diamonds have been positioned as a chance for the PAX to test their 1stF prowess and take their King to the #NextLevel. There are many Beasts out there in F3 Naperville Land and I knew I had to put together a 60-minute beatdown that would not only test their strength and fortitude, but that would hopefully allow me back on the Q sheet haha.
I have been to Iron Lion a few times as a visitor but I ventured over to the AO last Friday with a Ruck to scout out the landscape and get a plan together. I knew I wanted to stretch the PAX’s legs and, if you will, “move about the AO.” Along my exploration I realized that the hill over north of the high school had a North Face that I had never been on nor witnessed. It’s big and it’s steep and I immediately fell in love with it. Knowing that the weather over the weekend was going to be perfect, and thus the conditions Monday morning would be ideal for some hill running (no mud, no ice, just some soggy grass), I got to planning and tested out a few Thangs.
I tinkered with the Thang up until Sunday evening. In the back of my head wondering if I’d be able to do the Black Diamond the justice it deserves. Finally just committed to the plan and will have some fun with it.
Monday morning, 0430. I take off for Iron Lion feeling ready for a BIGTIME start to #NeverMissAMonday.
Conditions: “Real Feel” of low 30’s was higher than the Actual Temp, which never happens. Zero precipitation. Perfect!
Warm-O-Rama
Nope. Not gonna Warm Up. I had done some stretching at home and then a little more in the parking lot before Go Time. We have 60 minutes and I was gonna use all of it. The PAX were welcomed and Disclaimer shared and we took off. We ran for a mile and a half, stopping halfway through for 50 Little Man in The Woods IC.
The Thang
B.L.A.C.K. @ The North Face (6 “Reps”)
1 Rep consisted of the following:
PAX run across the bridge and up the Hill to touch the pine tree and run back down over the bridge and to the little triangle path to complete 1 round of the following:
B: Big Boy Sit-Up Ups (x 10)
L: Little Mermaids (x 20 per leg) *lay on one side, one arm goes on the back of head and other on ground. Keep legs together and do a sideways sit-up where your elbow touches your knees.
A: Air Squats (x 30)
C: Chilcutt Plank Jax (x 40)
K: Kick Squats* (x 25 per leg) *from Downward Dog position, bend knees down towards the ground and then kick one leg/heel up to the sky for 1 rep, repeat for other leg, etc.
No one finished all 6 “Reps”
We worked until 0553. We knocked out 25 more LMITW IC just to smoke the legs a little further before we began the trek back towards the flags. As we took after the 25 reps YHC heard a little chatter about the PAX thinking we were going to 50 again. Aight!
We made it back to a side parking lot near the flags for CoT at 0557. We had done enough Abs work so YHC gave the Pax what they wanted – 50 more Little Man In The Woods IC!
0559 and 42 seconds – Recover Recover
Circle of Trust
YHC was more focused on the 60 minute Black Diamond beatdown that did little prep on the CoT message front. There were a few thoughts on the drive over to Iron Lion but when the men gathered around, YHC had forgotten it all.
As such, delivered a brief message re: Black Diamonds and how there has been some hesitancy amongst the PAX to come out for them out of a variety of anxieties and fears. YHC believes these shouldn’t be something to be overly scared about. F3 Naperville does NOT forget about the 6, and while there is not an overt covering of the 6 the entire time, no Pax will be left behind or lost in the shuffle. As has been said before by others, these BD’s should be viewed more as opportunities for PAX who are posting regularly and feel like they may have a little extra in their tank following others beatdowns, to come out and push themselves to their edge and past their limits. As a chance to push their King to the #NextLevel. Getting comfortable in your 5 or 6 packs throughout the week every week? Try a Black Diamond and SEE WHAT YOU’RE MADE OF!!
Naked Man Moleskin
Early on in Round 1 of B.L.A.C.K. it smelled as though someone “birthed a dead raccoon.” I’m here to tell you it was YHC and I am deeply apologetic. I stepped aside and really thought I sent it on a path away from you. It must have been some awful combo of the Sweet Potato Fries+Green Beans+glasses of Red Blend from dinner. Sorry bros.
BabyHands did NOT enjoy being told by FIB that his “plank” was really not all that parallel. Face Plant didn’t seem to mind AT ALL when YHC told him the same and came over and helped with a live adjustment.
Quick $0.02 on “Form Police.” It can get a bad rap. Ideally, this “feedback” comes from a place of respect and from a PAX that is “walking the walk.” If it doesn’t in either regard, it will probably fall on deaf ears. It’s okay to suck on form sometimes! We are literally not professionals, so sometimes we all need a little coaching. Poor form can lead to better form which leads to a stronger YOU. We only cheat ourselves when we don’t squat all the way down or keep our plank down near parallel. If you’re “modifying” because of injury or otherwise, PAX don’t always know that so take it with a grain of salt if so.
I think the Hill+B.L.A.C.K. fulfilled the Black Diamond desires and hope to be invited back one day soon. And I’d like to be joined by more PAX who are ready to take their King to the #NextLevel!! LFG, boyz.
#NeverMissAMonday #GetSome #91DaysTilPoolSeason
SYITG,
Uncle Rico