The Gladiator: Pool Edition

Preamble:

As we’ve been using Saturdays at the Gladiator to try new things, several PAX had brought up the idea of a pool beatdown inspired by the H0.0ch.  With so many PAX, including YHC, in Mayfair/St. Clair, we decided to take over the pool this Saturday AM.  If nothing else, I expected a solid showing from the neighborhood crew.

Shrinkage joined YHC as I returned from the pre-run, and we found Spandex and Tidy waiting in the mobile coffeteria. As 0700 approached, we wondered whether any non-neighborhood PAX would show.  No outsiders, but Wolverine came for the first time in months!  Right at 0700 we were ready to go.

Warm-O-Rama:

Warm-up mosey up the hill.  Turn around at the top and- hey, there’s Cheneral!  Take it back down to the basketball court.  Given the theme of today’s beatdown, it was a great time to bring back the SWIM warmup:

• SSH x 20
• Weedpicker x 10
• Imperial Walker x 15
• Mercan x 12

The Thang:

Thang 1 (Dry Land):

First stop was the stairs up to St. Clair for a round of 11s.  Burpees at the top, leg raises at the bottom.  Quick round of Mary for the 6, then a 10 count was needed

With 9 PAX, we had the perfect opportunity to break into groups of 3 for a Triple Check.  1 PAX holds a position, 1 PAX performs AMRAP of a stated exercise, 1 PAX bear crawls to the end of the parking lot and runs back.  Flapjack until each PAX has bear crawled.  Positions were plank, 6 inches, plank; exercises were squats, LBCs, Mountain Climbers.  Last round was a great shoulder burn!  With everyone dripping sweat, it was definitely time to hit the pool.

Thang 2 (Pool):

Give everyone a couple minutes to get properly situated and hydrate.  Once everyone’s in, swim to the end of the pool and back.  Then run to the end of the pool and back (a surprisingly tough exercise).  The main event would be another set of 11s.  Go the width of the pool, muscle-ups on one side and Bonnie Blairs on the other.

Still time on the clock.  Line up around the deep end for a round of PAX’s choice (a/k/a Foley: Pool Edition).  Each PAX calls an exercise, goes to the diving board and jumps off, then gets out.  Go around until all PAX have called one.  Particularly brutal calls were barefoot burpees and Bonnie Blairs.

To close out, tread water with hands overhead on Q’s call for 2-3 minutes.  This was hard but nonetheless provided ample opportunity for mumblechatter.  Swim back to the shallow end, and that’s all we have time for.

COT:

• Spandex looking for volunteers for yardwork to help a friend with MS.  Not sure if anyone else made it out, but let’s find a day where we can all support Spandex
• Praise for a clean doctor’s report for Laces’ dad

Naked-Man Moleskin:

TCLAPS to Tidy for crushing the workout.  Great to see Wolverine make an appearance. Guess we need to come to his neighborhood more often!

It was great to add something new to the beatdown!  Honored to lead and have these HIMs come out to support.  Looking forward to the next pool BD, maybe Black Box will lead the Martin’s Landing edition?