Fall 03 -ENGAGE

Marine Corps Infantryman and Vietnam War Veteran George, with Give Team Members Rome, Smith and Adam Taylor

I walk my dogs every day. At least three times a day. Every now and then I see George. Sometimes we talk, sometimes we don't. Then last Wednesday happened.

Nothing magic about last Wednesday except I asked him one question. "Can you tell me about your tattoos?" The one on top of his right forearm appeared to be of military ribbons. We talked for about a half hour in the hot Florida summer sun, and agreed to meet on Saturday morning for The Give Team workout. 

George showed up and watched us do The Give Team 15 as our warm up, then saw us do three laps around Lake Eola with Cindy the Cinder Block, stopping every 1/4 mile to alternate doing 20 Burpees, 20 Push Ups, 20 Sit Ups. Then we discussed the topic of the week, Best Practices for Creating an Unfair Advantage. Then George had the floor to tell his story of overcoming challenges.

George grew up in poverty, in an abusive environment. George joined the Marine Corps and fought in Vietnam. George fought in the Battle of Khe Sanh, the longest and deadliest battle of a brutal war. George was injured in battle and awarded a Purple Heart. George fought other battles associated with anxiety and PTSD when he came home from Vietnam. George is a badass.

The workout started at 9:00am and wrapped up at 11. I had a few things I wanted to address with Rome and Smith, so I offered to discuss over breakfast. George asked, "Mind if I join?" When we agreed where to meet, I passed George running to his car. Running pretty hard.

At 1:30pm, we went our separate ways. That's four and a half hours. The guys on the team are stronger as a result of yesterday. George didn't tell me this, but I guaranty you he'd agree he is too. I know I am. George is now a member of The Give Team. Give Team Motto 02: Life is a team sport. DRAFT ACCORDINGLY!

Two points to all this: (1) TALK TO YOUR NEIGHBORS, to those around you. ENGAGE! I'm guilty of going out to just "walk the dogs" every day. (2) if you or anyone you know might be interested in joining The Give Team as a GUEST COACH for one of our workouts, SEND US A MESSAGE. The ONLY requirement is sharing a story overcoming a challenge .You can participate in the workout if you'd like. If you're qualified you can even LEAD the workout. But we really just want to ENGAGE. It'll be a chance to change the lives of those on the team, and I guaranty it'll change yours.

Put another way, we can all sit back and complain or be concerned over what's happening in the world, how the kids are this or that, or how certain things need to be done by certain people to fix certain problems. Whatever. It's time we all stop "outsourcing" the solutions to other people who "have more" (time, money, etc.) or god forbid outsource to the government. Here's your opportunity. 

Our team motto, quoting New Image Youth Center founder and Executive Director Shanta Barton-Stubbs, "No matter how little you have, you always have something to give." My variation: "No matter how little you THINK you have, you always have MORE to give. BE STRONG! GIVE MORE!" It helps our community, our country, and ourselves.

The workout for the next two weeks training for The Spartan Beast in December are as follows:

Week 3 / Day 15: Monday, August 13

1. Warm Up: The Give Team 15
2. Walk 3 Miles
3. Finisher: 100 yards of lunges

Week 3 / Day 16: Tuesday, August 14

1. Warm Up: The Give Team 15
2. Sprints / Crawlbacks: 5 x 60 Yards - Sprint 60 yards, return with crawl (alternate bear crawl, crab walk, inchworm, lizard walk, lunge)

Week 3 / Day 17: Wednesday, August 15

1. Warm Up: The Give Team 15
2. Ruck 4 Miles - 25 Pounds
3. Finisher: 100 yards of lunges

Week 3 / Day 18: Thursday, August 16​

1. Strength Routine x2 - Two sets of the following exercises, :40 on, :20 rest: push ups, dips, pull ups (or dead hang ENGAGING SHOULDERS AND CORE), pistol squats (5 each leg, then switch legs), lateral lunges, step ups, squat / overhead press with sand bag (comfortable weight), hollow man hold, butterfly sit ups, L-sit
2. Finisher: The Give Team 15

Week 3 / Day 19: Friday, August 17

1. Warm Up: The Give Team 15
2. Walk 3 Miles

Week 3 / Day 20: Saturday, August 18

1. NINJAFIT BRING THE RUCKUS!
2. 7 Mile Long Run: Every 1/2 mile stop for alternating 20 lunges, 20 bear crawls (ea. leg), 20 inchworms, 20 burpees
3. Finisher: The Give Team 15
4. Finisher: 100 Table Pull Ups (10 Table Pull Ups every 1:00)
   

​*Table Pull Ups: lay under table holding body in a tight plank and pull so chest touches table edge and squeeze, then lower body by straightening arms.

Week 3 / Day 21: Sunday, August 19

1. Warm Up: The Give Team 15
2. 4 Mile Team Cindy Carry: Every 1/2 mile stop for 20 lunges, 20 bear crawls (ea. leg), 20 inchworms, 20 burpees, and next teammate carries Cindy

Week 4 / Day 22: Monday, August 20

1. Warm Up: The Give Team 15
2. Walk 3 Miles
3. Finisher: 100 yards of lunges

Week 4 / Day 23: Tuesday, August 21

1. Warm Up: The Give Team 15
2. Sprints / Crawlbacks: 10 x 60 Yards - Sprint 60 yards, return with crawl (alternate bear crawl, crab walk, inchworm, lizard walk, lunge)

Week 4 / Day 24: Wednesday, August 22

1. Warm Up: The Give Team 15
2. Ruck 4 Miles - 25 Pounds
3. Finisher: 100 yards of lunges

Week 4 / Day 25: Thursday, August 23

1. Strength Routine x2 - Two sets of the following exercises, :40 on, :20 rest: push ups, dips, pull ups (or dead hang ENGAGING SHOULDERS AND CORE), pistol squats (5 each leg, then switch legs), lateral lunges, step ups, squat / overhead press with sand bag (comfortable weight), hollow man hold, butterfly sit ups, L-sit
2. Finisher: The Give Team 15

Week 4 / Day 26: Friday, August 24

1. Warm Up: The Give Team 15
2. Walk 3 Miles

Week 4 / Day 27: Saturday, August 25

1. 8 Mile Long Run: Every 1/2 mile stop for alternating 20 lunges, 20 bear crawls (ea. leg), 20 inchworms, 20 burpees
2. Finisher: The Give Team 15
3. Finisher: 100 Table Pull Ups (10 Table Pull Ups every 1:00)
4. *Table Pull Ups: lay under table holding body in a tight plank and pull so chest touches table edge and squeeze, then lower body by straightening arms.
   

Week 4 / Day 28: Sunday, August 26

1. Warm Up: The Give Team 15
2. 3 Mile Team Cindy Carry: Every 1/2 mile stop for 20 lunges, 20 bear crawls (ea. leg), 20 inchworms, 20 burpees, and next teammate carries Cindy

**If you want to know what comprises The Give Team 15, hit the link and it'll take you to the blog post that lists the exercises. 

ANY QUESTIONS, leave them in the comments below, or you can e-mail me at brad.mason@justkeeppouring.com