The Thang

The Layout for the Workout:
In a field or large parking lot, create a box with five markers where the center marker is fifty meters from each of the four markers used to make the corners. Each of the four corners will be a specific station.

Starting in the middle, run to Station 1, do the exercise, then run back to middle, do burpees, then run to Station 2, do that exercise, then run back to middle, burpees, and so on. Once you’ve gone to all 4 stations with burpees in between, that round is over and you’ll progress to the next round. Add an exercise at each station each round.

First Round – PAX complete the stations OYO, no talking to represent a lonely man

2nd Round – PAX complete as a group but still no talking & Q reads one of the “mental battle” stats to represent being with other men but not willing to share their hearts

3rd Round – PAX complete as a group with encouragement & lots of talking; Q reads 2nd bullet “mental battle” stat & leads group through exercises in cadence representing no man left behind

4th Round – PAX pick a partner “battle buddy” to complete the workout together encouraging each other throughout representing being not afraid to share you heart with another man

Middle Station (COT)

Round 1 = 2 Burpees (for a total of 8)
Round 2 = 4 Burpees (for a total of 16)
Round 3 = 8 Burpees (for a total of 32)
Round 4 = 16 Burpees (for a total of 64)

Station 1 (Free)

Round 1 – Hand Release Merkins x10
Round 2 – Add T Merkins x10
Round 3 – Add Toe Touch Merkins x10
Round 4 – Add Mike Tysons x10

Station 2 (All Men)

Round 1 – Shoulder Tap x15 (½ each touch)
Round 2 – Add Mountain Climbers x15 (½ each climb)
Round 3 – Add Parker Peter x15 (½ each side)
Round 4 – Add Donkey Kicks x15 (½ each kick)

Station 3 (Held Outside)

Round 1 – Monkey Humpers x20
Round 2 – Add Bonny Blairs x20 (Single Count)
Round 3 – Add Side Lunges x20 (Single Count)
Round 4 – Add Jump Squats x20

Station 4 (Peer Led)

Round 1 – LBCs x25
Round 2 – Add Freddy Mercuries x25 (½ each side)
Round 3 – Add Heels to Heaven x25
Round 4 – Add Superman 25X

Repeat Round 4 until you’ve filled the time. Add a few minutes of Mary at the end..

Here are some statistics regarding mental health and its effects on our community, especially for men. During the First Round, the Q will read two statistics at the middle station each time the PAX comes back to do burpees.

1. Although men are less likely than women to develop a significant mental illness during their lifetime, about 1 in 2 men will have a diagnosable disorder at some point.
2. Men are about 2x less likely than women to seek help if problems do occur.
3. Almost 50% of men feel that they are struggling more than they admit to people.
4. Depression looks significantly different in men than in women… Women tend to present as sad and withdrawn, while men tend to present as irritable and angry.
5. Men are 2-3x more likely to abuse substances in an attempt to manage their mental health, which often leads to other health problems.
6. Suicide rates in men have been steadily increasing over the past 20 years, at present, men are 4x more likely than women to die by suicide, & this risk increases with age.
7. Therapists that specialize in men often use different strategies to make therapy feel more approachable… therapy doesn’t have to be sitting in an office and crying about your feelings!
8. Therapists have historically done a pretty crappy job of helping men, though things are slowly changing. Men often go to therapy at the urging of a loved one, but men tend to drop out of therapy sooner than women because they find it unhelpful. If you’re thinking about reaching out to a therapist, consider finding one that has specific expertise in working with men.

MARY – Burpee Ring of Fire