Walk Like an Egyptian

5 PAX joined YHC in the early morning for a bag of mixed eggs. Unsure of how the Q had prepared for, we got right to it at 0515.

The Warm-up: all IC

  • SSH
  • Al Gore Nightclub- Hold Air Squat like normal Al Gore, but do Moroccan Night Clubs during
  • Fly Sun Gods- forward bend at waist, one leg straight back, doing arm circles
  • Chinook – Overhead arm cirlces
  • Peter Parkers

I wanted to get the PAX to the loop in front of the Middle School but didn’t want to just plain mosey there. If anyone knows me, I like to torture the PAX with lunges. The last time at The Ranch, we did 300 yards of lunges. Now I’m not sure how far the distance was to get there but I heard about “Walk Like an Egyptian” It’s an Indian Run style way to get there but instead of running, you hold a lunge on the right leg while the last PAX jailbreaks to the front. Once he gets to the front, switch and hold a left lunge until the last PAX jail breaks to the front. According to my rudimentary post-it note method of measuring the distance off the computer screen, it was around 1400 feet, or just over one-quarter of a mile.

Once there, we partnered up, and the PAX were told to hold their partners accountable for the reps they were performing. All PAX completed 25 reps of the exercise while their partner completed the same number of reps and they ran a lap around the bus loop. The exercises were, and in no particular order, are as follows:

  • Dips
  • Squats
  • Calf Raises
  • CDD
  • Flutters

There may have been others but you get the general consensus of it.  We did a couple of other exercises together over there before heading back to COT for some Mary and one final egg up my sleeve, if you will.

MARY- the last exercise I wanted to treat the PAX to is called Hands of Time. I saw the men of F3 Chicago doing something that looked fun on a news cast and was fortunate enough to find out what is was by reading through the website.

Hands of Time- PAX lay on their 6 in a circle with heads towards the center. Legs are raised at 90 degrees and 1 PAX jumps up, and throws the feet down of all the PAX in a circle. The PAX have to prevent their legs from touching the ground and hold their legs just off the ground until all the PAX have their legs thrown down. We repeated this until everyone had the opportunity to run around the circle, throwing down the legs.

Jiff also taught us a different exercise, the Elbow Plank Knee Taps. That one is pretty self explanatory.

Thank you to Jiffy for the opportunity to lead the PAX.

Wegmans-

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2

Sweatin’ With an Oldie: DaVinci at Quagmire

https://youtu.be/0H6KtpAaCio

It was great Q-ing at Quagmire this morning. We had a dozen (12) post including an FNG. For his benefit, I reviewed F3’s mission as well as our 5 core principles. Add to that the disclaimer and we were off.

The Thang:

Mosey to parking lot in front of Old Navy

COP
SSH x 20
Windmills (Abe’s cos I’m old) x 10
Moroccan Nightclubs x 20
Low Slow Squats x 15 DC
Merkins x 10 DC
Downward Dog (stretch the calves) Honeymooners (the back)
Mountain Climbers x 20 DC
LBCs x 20 DC

Mosey to back of Valvoline to hill

Jacobs Ladder
10 Merkins at bottom/1 Squat at top

Mosey to stairs/raised patio near fountain

5 up and over laps with Bones setting the pace

Mosey to Fountain/Roundabout

Dirty McDeuces
All exercises in cadence
Do all 4 exercises, run lap around traffic circles at either end of parking area

20 Merkins
20 Lunges
20 LBCs

20 CDDs
20 Squats
20 Freddys

20 Ranger Merkins
20 Reverse Lunges
20 American Hammers

Walked over to fountain, found some bench

20 Dips OYO

2 min jog to COT for name-a-rama

Welcome FNG Regal.

Thanks to Jedi for the Q.

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5

Choose Wisely

I had the pleasure to cross the river and Q #FootLoose this morning. Conditions were okay considering its August in South Carolina – temps in the lower 70s and a light rain. All in, 28 #HIM made the choice to roll out of the fartsack and start their day off on the right foot. Here’s what we did…

The Thang
Short Mosey across the street to the circle in front of the church. Bird Cage reminded me that this area was just as congested as the previous spot, but that didn’t stop us from warming up, shoulder-to shoulder with our brothers.

  • 20 SSHs (IC)
  • 15 Hillbilly Walkers (IC)
  • 30 Moroccan Night Clubs (IC)
  • Mosey to the Church steps
  • Bear Crawl up
  • Crawl Bear down
  • Squats while you wait

Apparently, the steps get slippery when wet. Since I like to keep my teeth, we Omaha’d round two and moseyed to the lot to behind the church.
Circle Up for Choose Your Poison. We took turns rolling dice and choosing exercises. One die was the exercise (see below); the other was the rep count (x10). The roller had to choose which die was for the exercise and which was the rep.
1. Merkins
2. LBCs
3. Squats
4. Side Straddle Hops
5. Overhead Claps
6. Burpees
Luckily we didn’t have two sixes (60 Burpees) rolled, and if we did, the PAX calling the shots wisely modified. Even though this is a moderate workout, we did our share of Burpees (probably 50ish). Overhead Claps and SSHs were popular choices (maybe 200ish). Merkins and LBCs came up a few times (150ish). Squats were tossed a couple times (100ish).

  • Mosey to the wall
  • 15 People’s Chair (IC)
  • 15 One-legged Squats (flapjack)
  • 10 Merkins (IC)
  • Mosey back to COT

NMM
I was honored to be asked to Q this morning. TClaps to Anchorman for his dedication to growing #FootLoose and awesome leadership stepping up to take over, Beacon. This AO has tons of options, so reach out to Beacon to get on the Q schedule.
Today’s workout reminds us that every day brings choices. Post or not post? Boxers or briefs? Paper or Plastic? Gossip or Gospel? We have opportunities each day to choose wisely or poorly. Every choice brings consequences. Sometimes you will face a challenge where the choice is hard to make and the outcome is difficult to take, but when you make it through, you will garner something from the experience. When a choice needs to be made, you need to make it. You’re either in or you’re out. Own it.
It’s been said that opportunity knocks, but temptation leans on the doorbell. When there is a knock, open the door and dive in to the challenge at hand. When temptation leans, step back and evaluate the potential outcome. Is it worth it? Opportunity is often missed because it looks like work. Temptation is often chosen because it looks like fun. Realize that every action has a reaction and you have to deal with the consequences of bad choices.
Today, I encourage you to choose positivity. Whatever you want, make the decision and do what it takes to get it. There will be challenges, but the greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming it. Sometimes it takes time, but remember, patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet.

Aye!
Italian Job

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4

Block Party – Q School With Double D and Cake Boss

15 or so PAX came to the latest installment of Q school with YHC and Double D.

Double D gave the intros and we quickly realized some PAX might have come for a regular beat down, only to find out we were teaching how to give a beat down.

Double D took the 201 PAX and I took the 101 PAX and we instructed best we could. (See documents on website)

Again, it was hot a mofo out there and we were dripping even teaching the beat down, not just delivering it.

We regathered at about 0550 and answered some final questions from the PAX.

t-clap’s to all the PAX looking to lead. Its amazing what can happen from leading a group of guys in a boot camp. Things start to happen and confidence is grown…..no more sad clown!

Thanks to Ginsu for  the lead and we look forward to all these new Qs in the mix!

 

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2

Freedom to Choose

The Thang

Mosey to “big parking lot” of St. John’s United Methodist for stretching, focusing on back, hips and glutes.

Mosey to “front/side lot” of St. John’s United Methodist for warm-up

Windmills x 10
SSH x 10
Imperial Walkers x 10
Hillbilly Walkers x 10
Moroccan Nightclubs x 20

Back to FIrst Baptist Churches fort Mill lot for “The Serpentine”
3 stations laid out amongst the 4 islands in the lot. Jog, bear crawl, sprint, power skip or whatever to each cone, perform the exercise and move on to the next. We moved up one row and down the next. Hence, the “Serpentine”.

Mosey to front steps of FBCFM

Calf raises x 10 (maybe it was 20)

Mosey down Confederate St. to back entrance of Church of God
Used back wall for Dips / Derkins x 10 each (rinse & repeat)

Mosey into breezeway for People’s Chair
Mosey into Parking Lot for 4 corners x 2 rounds
Plank for the six

Serpentine & 4 corners consisted of:

Seal Jacks (4 count) x 10

LBC’s x 10 (4 count)

Hello Dolly’s x 10 (4 count)

Burpees x 5 (sorry, had to break Moderate code)

Mountain Climbers x 10 (4 count)

Merkins x 10 (single count)

Bombjacks x 10

Monkey Humpers x 10 (4 count)

Carolina Dry Docks x 10 (single count)

SSH x 20 (4 count)

Plank Jacks x 10 (4 count)

Box Cutters x 10 (4 count)

“Your Choice” x 10 (2 of those)

“Your Choice” x 20 (2 of those)

Mosey back toward COT for Mary
American Hammers x 10
Box Cutters x 10
Flutters (or “Aquaman thingy’s”) x 10
Travolta’s x 10
COT – Prayers for Smithers, Molder, Smithers’ M & family as her dad fights on. Prayers for Ponch, having wrist surgery. Prayers for Gopher and his M on biz decisions  I’m sure I’ve missed a few and I apologize for that.

Naked Moleskin

We have freedom to choose. We can’t control what “happens” to us. We CAN choose our response. We can choose how to live our lives. Every day is made of 100’s or 1000’s of choices. Which choices are you glad you made? I have a lot. Which choices would you change? I have a lot of those, too!

Achievement or accomplishment (personal, career, family, fitness, financial, faith, etc) is the culmination of our choices. We remember the magic moment that the achievement occurred. Too often, we dismiss the 100’s or 1000’s of choices we made to get us to that point. Choose your greatness. You are free to do so.

As always, I’m honored and humbled to be surrounded by such high impact men & grateful for the opportunity to lead.

See you in the gloom.

Beacon

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Week 1 of Q School at #F3BlockParty

 

23 strong for Q101

Disclaimer and official notes listed below:

See you next week

Q101 – First Time Q

PURPOSE

The purpose of this document is to assist the new Q in preparing for and leading his first workout,

 

PHILOSOPHY

Q – Pax Relationship:  The unspoken social contract between the Pax and a Q:  “We will follow until you give us a reason not to”.  The Pax are very forgiving toward a new Q.  Most have been through it and understand the anxiety.

 

PREPARATION

Considerations for the first few Qs:

 

  1. Launch a quick grenade over twitter, let local Pax know that this is your VQ, most F3 vets enjoy being part of a VQ Pax.  
  2. Simplicity/Complexity and Originality
    1. Keep the Weinke simple. The fewer moving parts the better.  Many first-time Q Weinke’s are too complicated.

Keep it familiar.  New exercises or sets that require more than the briefest of explanations usually lead to confusion.

    1. Don’t be shy about stealing a Weinke, or parts of a Weinke, from another more-experienced Q.

 

  1. Go with strengths: “Don’t Q it if you can’t do it.”

 

  1. Cadence Counting – PRACTICE THIS, OUT LOUD, BEFORE FIRST Q
      1. Next exercise is [brief pause], the merkin.  
  • The Pax then repeats the exercise called.
  • Speak loudly so all Pax can hear.  You are in charge.
      1. Start(ing) position [brief pause], Move.  
  • Not “exercise” position.  Start position.  
  • The “Move” is to get the Pax to the position required to begin exercise. The “Move” is not a command to begin exercising.
      1. In cadence [brief pause], Exercise.  
  • In cadence simply means the Q counts the movements (1-2-3) and the Pax calls out the repetitions in unison (“One!”).
  • The Q counts should correspond to a distinct movement in the exercise. It is in rhythm. For example, for a merkin: “1” is the movement to the down position, “2” is the movement to the plank position, “3” is the movement back to the down position, the Pax call of “One!” is the move back to plank position.
  • The Q indicates the completion of an exercise by a higher inflection on his last repetition.

See Dredd’s excellent tutorial on the how and why of cadence counting:  http://f3nation.com/2012/02/22/f3-tv-how-to-count/

NOTE: When a Q does not lead an exercise in cadence that would normally be done that way, he is giving away his authority to lead the Pax.  He is implicitly telling the Pax that he not able to count in cadence or is not willing to learn.

 

  1. Weinke review with Site Q or experienced Q. Not required, but a good idea for a vet to check for potential issues.

 

  1. Too long, too short: It takes a few times go get a good feel for how long your Weinke will take to execute.  Be flexible if running too long and have a couple of stand-by ideas in mind in case you run long. Think through transitions from one set to another. Minimize dead time, standing around.

 

  1. Tap a vet – if you need time to get unsmoked or burned through Weinke in 30 minutes, there’s no shame in asking a vet to lead Mary or the next section of the workout.

 

EXECUTION

  1. FNG inquiry and Disclaimer – every workout should start with an FNG Inquiry and Disclaimer
    1. Disclaimer:  
      1. Why: We want to disclaimer in front of Pax because having witnesses adds a layer of protection above asking if they’ve read it on the website.
      2. What: Main points in your own words:
        1. I am not a professional
        2. This is self-policing: Stop or modify the exercises as required

 

  1. Take control—be the leader.  Be assertive, don’t mumble. If something doesn’t work and you have to audible, acknowledge it and move on to the next exercise. Don’t apologize, just move on.

 

  1. Observation – Do your best to keep an eye on the pax during the workout to see if you are losing people, either from it being too easy, too confusing, or too hard.  During your first few Qs, it is hard enough just to make it through the workout.  Ask your Site Q or another experienced Q to keep an eye on things and whisper in your ear if needed.

 

FOLLOW UP

  1. Twitter counts – check with Site Q on whether he or the Q will tweet the count.  Remember to use workout tag (i.e., #TheArmoryF3 also include @F3TheFort ) and the #F3Counts tag.

 

  1. Backblast –
    1. Part of the workout Qs responsibility to post the Backblast, not the Site Q.  The Site Q may volunteer to post the Qs first workout on his behalf but that is at his discretion .
    2. Get backblast credentials BEFORE first Q so that you are prepared to write up BB when it’s done.  The website interface is not difficult and will take only a few minutes to learn.  Here again, your Site Q will be an invaluable aid in assisting you to post your first BB.
    3. Get login credentials from The Fort’s Comz Q wordpress@f3thefort.com

 

  1. Post Mortem – follow up with your Site Q about what went right, what could be improved, what was a disaster, etc.  Seek out honest feedback from other veteran Q and Pax.  The best way to improve is to address your weaknesses head on.
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Rock Region invades Block Party, Week 2

Twelve of The Fort and The Rock’s finest joined YHC for a little fun at Block Party this morning. It was YHC’s first posting at Block Party and I appreciated Double D giving me the invitation to Q.

The Thang:
Disclaimer was disclaimed–one FNG (Dollywood)

COP:
SSH x 20
Merkin x 10
Mountain Climber x 15
Carolina Dry Dock x 20

Grab a curb, perform the following: Derkin on the curb, then flip over perform a dip, then flip back over perform a Derkin, etc until all of our arms were appropriately burning.

Mosey over to the swingset for 10 pullups, followed by 10 burpees.

Mosey over to Founders parking lot for the following:
Parking lot shuffle (side shuffles back and forth on parking spaces)
Bear Crawl
Crab Walk

Mosey over to hill at WEP for 11’s with 1 jump squat at bottom, 10 merkins at top. Keep rolling until 10 jump squats at the bottom, 1 merkin at top.

Mosey to COT.

I want to thank Double D for the invitation to Q. When I got word that he was looking for guest Q’s from Rock Hill, I jumped at the opportunity. I can remember when I began posting at F3 almost two and half years ago–and men like Double D, CSPAN, Deacon, Pusher, Santini, Chaser, and others were constantly supporting our Pax in Rock Hill by posting with us. Today was a small opportunity to repay a bit of that investment in us south of the river as we’ve grown to over 500 Pax. Also appreciate my brothers from The Rock–Apache, Bill Nye, and Sapper posting with me.

Good work by all today–especially our FNG, Dollywood. Glad to have you out!

Prayers and praises:
Our young people as the prevalence of suicide and other similar negative behaviors continues to grow. Find a kid and invest in them.
Prayers for families dealing with Cancer.

Schrute out!

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