I’m your huckleberry…

A little background for any historian looking for minutia about May of 2019…  A couple weeks ago, our very own Nasa sent out a call to all the PAX in the Twittersphere to participate with him in the “30 day ab challenge”. Something about wanting to look good for summer.  YHC decided that having having abs (yes, just the word in its plural form) would be a nice change.  Each day HURTS.  They hurt a lot more whenever the Q pulls a favorite bit of pain out of the app to share in the mornings.

When YHC noticed on the Twitty thing that there was a call to Q footloose, I very quickly volunteered (“I’m your huckleberry”), knowing that I could stack the deck in my favor for one day, and one day only… No overlap. But that doesn’t mean easy.

Warmup
Mosey up the road over to the SE lot of 1st Baptist for
15x SSH

During the set an angry and loud dog appeared. To be good neighbors we moseyed down to the other end of the lot to finish the warm up.

15x Moroccan Night Club
15x Low Slow Squat
15x Calf Raises

Mosey down to the stairs and into the little lot next to Fort Mill Church of God. There’s a very nice retaining wall there that’s great for some moderate step ups.

Everyone paired up for some fun

Partner one does the exercise, person two does the motion for about 20m up and down the lot. Switch and wait for the six before moving on. Everyone kept together very well.
Stationary, motion

  1. Step ups, Bear crawls
  2. Merkins, Toy Soldiers
  3. Lunges, High knees
  4. Pistols R, Butt kickers
  5. Pistols L, butt kickers
  6. Supermans, Bear Crawls
  7. One leg deadlift R (toe touch), Toy Soldiers
  8. One leg deadlift L (toe touch), Toy Soldiers
  9. L elbow, left knee, and right hand on the ground, right leg straight and high, hold until the other PAX gets back from -> high knees
  10. Squats, Butt kickers

We took a rest lap after the supermans and when the circuit was complete.  There looked to be enough time to try for another full circuit, but around # 8, on of the PAX noticed my nice watch, causing YHC to LOOK at said watch, realize how bright it was getting, and we ran back to COT for announcements, prayers, and praises.

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Did Not Learn from Quagmire’s Terrible Idea

A complete disclaimer was verbalized this time

Moseyed to somewhere in the massive school parking lot – High knees, butt-kickers, Toy Soldiers and Hip stretch thing a ma bobs.

Circled up for IW, HW, Morrocan NC, Plank/Down dog/Honeymooner, low slow squats, various stretches and slow/old-man/windmills.

Moseyed to the back toward the school where the bad ideas were repeated from yesterday – probably as a result of being a slug for sometime. We did several rounds of 7’s between the curbs,  interrupted by planks  Rd 1 – Mode: Bearcrawl, Peter Parkers and Parker Peters. Rd 2 – Mode: Lungewalk, Calf-raises and Squats. Rd 3 – Mode: Hop, Monkey-humpers and Bomb Jacks.
Moseyed to the back of the school for People’s chair and Donkey Webbs. After the previous bad ideas Donkey Webbs were still a bad idea. We stopped early.

Moseyed to benches on the side of the school – with several rounds of step – ups, dips, werkins and derkins. Slow-moseyed 10 ft. for a good round of Mary. We closed with somemore stretching before slow-moseyed the final 10 ft. to the COT.

COT: Prayers for families, and health issues. Praises for safe travels and M’s.  Praises for work and wedding anniversaries.
The word for May is mentorship. We saw examples this morning – young men, mentored by fathers and friends holding friends accountable. Pastor Tony Evans has a quote – “We are born male, but we choose to be men”. Maxim #3 in “Mansfield’s Book of Manly Men”: is “Manly Men, build Manly men.”
Thank you Short Sale  for getting me out of bed with the opportunity to Q. It is always an honor. Tater.

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Fishing with Bass-oh-Matic

Celebrating Bass-o-Matic Birthday! 10 HIM came to the Ballroom for a cool 45 degree morning workout and a chance to get better.  No FNG’s, Disclaimer, and a question to all the Pax, Are you accelerating ???

Time to Mosey!  

Circle up for the most important 10 mins of the morning :  The Warm-up! (avoid injury)

SSH x 15, Moroccan NightClubs X 10, Imperial Walkers X 15, Merkins, X 10, LBC’s X 10,  Windmills X 10, Cherry Pickers X 10,  Hamstring Stretch (Right over Left)  – (Left over Right) Touch your Toes, HillBilly Walkers X 10, 2 Flying Squirrels  – Warm up Complete – Time to Mosey!

Start with some DORA  – Partner up! :  100 Bobby Hurley’s  ( Partner Plank ) X 20 :  200 Dips ( Partner takes a lap ) : 300 Step ups (Partner take a lap)  – modified to 200 Step ups.

Time to Mosey around the school to the Wall !  Pax immediately took their spots on the wall without hesitating, but the Q had to explain the Red Chair sitting empty.   Circled up the PAX for a quick Happy Birthday Bass-O-Matic salute, and explanation of the Red Chair that was RESERVED for the Birthday Guest!    Bass-O-Matic took his spot on the throne, Pax took their spot on the Wall for the standard Wall Sit with one Pax jumping out of line to complete an exercise that was instructed by Bass-O-Matic.  That’s right, the Q had been turned over to Bass who had full discretion for the reps and the exercise to be completed by the PAX jumping out of line.  We worked our way down the line with a big grin worn by Bass-o-Matic,  as he relaxed in the chair.  Recover!  Rinse and Repeat with Bass in full control of the Pax, but this round he completed the exercise he called out,  side by side with each Pax!  (Impressive!! – HIM)

Recover: Time to take a minute to Revisit the “Theme of the Month – “Being Still”  :  Time to Organize Personal Priorities,  What are your Strengths and Weaknesses, What Can YOU contribute, How can you become an Encouragement and Helper rather then a drag or disappointment. Being Still is an opportunity to see who “we” really are!  “Being Still” gives you the time and privilege of knowing who GOD really is……..YOU can lean on him, He can take away your  burdens, He can provide STABILITY in your life!  Offer God the gift of Stillness in times of Quietness!  Aye!

Time to Mosey!  We made our way up to the front of the school where 4 of the Light poles had cardboard signs beneath them…..words of encouragement!  We circled up at the first light pole and completed the words of encouragement with each Pax taking the lead for an IN-CADENCE workout.  We completed the set of 3 exercises at each of the 4 Light Poles before heading back to COT with 1 minute to spare:

1st Lightpole : Flutters x 15, LBC’s x 15, Shoulder Taps x 15

2nd Lightpole : Merkins x 15, Man Climbers x 15, Wide Arm Merkins x 15

3rd Lightpole  Low Slow Squats x 15, Sumo Squats x 15, Lunges x 15

4th Lightpole : SSH x 15, PlankJack x 15, and finally BombJacks (OYO X 15)

COT:  Reminder about Mental Health conversations and awareness!  Q Source, Prayers and Praises: Closed out.

Blessed for the Opportunity to “Q”  – Blessed for F3 and association with HIM!

 

 

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Cheating and Slow Webs

Dreed’s post about “HYPOCRISY OF THE DISHONEST CHEATER” really resonated with me so it became my topic
How much dishonest cheating are you doing in your life?
Why are you here today vs ?
Because it’s moderate?
Mosey to other side of the field
COP
The normal round of warm up exercises
Discussed honest cheating
4 corners
Why cheating – being the six?
How much dishonest cheating are you doing in your life?
Is there any area of my life that I’m in full compliance? #fullcomp
4 Corner Accumulator
  • 5 Merkins  – Lunge Walk to next corner
  • Add 10 Bomb jacks
  • Add 15 Squats
  • Add 20 SSH
  • Add 25 LBC’s
Mosey to field
Slow Jack Web – performed at half the speed as normal Jack Web.  To increase the intensity at number 7 held arms out for 28 count.  – a real crowd pleaser.
Is there any area of my life that I’m in #fullcomp
Always an honor lead such inspiring men!
Appreciate the opportunity!
Cornhole, Out.
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Tour Around the Ballroom

Advised we are taking the Tour of the Ballroom AO #2 and AO #3

Warm up

We moseyed to the front of the School and circled up

In cadence

Imperial walkers 20

Wind Mills 15

Moroccan Night clubs 30

Imperial Walkers 20

Moroccan Night Clubs 30

LBC’S 40

 

Mosey to the front Elementary School

Found a hill and Stairs

3 times we bear crawled up the hill and ran down the steps

3 times we ran up the steps and crawl bear down

The significance some times it feels like we are doing everything we can to get ahead in life even crawling forward then things get better and it easy to move forward in life like going down the steps.

Some times we move forward with ease like climbing the steps then we hit a bump in the road and we find ourselves going 3-4-5 steps backwards hence the crawl bear down the hill.

 

YHC discussed April Theme – Be Still

This day and age it a go-go life style we do not take time to just be still and enjoy the small things in life the woods around us, the breeze, the rain or just spending time with God.

 

We moved across from the hill to driveway and to the grassy area

Done in cadence

Plank shoulder taps 15 count

Plank Jack’s 15 count

Mahktar N’ Diayes, 10 count

Plank 20 count

We did find out cars come flying through the parking lot so make sure you are always aware of your surroundings.

 

Moseyed to the back of the school where the basketball court is.

Done in cadence

Lt. Get ups 10

Squats 30

Calf Raises 20 regular, then toes out and finally toes in

Monkey Humpers 25

 

Mosey to the side of the middle school

Imperial walker

 

Mosey to the middle school football field under the covered shelter

 

Done in cadence

Merkins 20

Carolina dry Docks 15

Had Release Merkins 15

 

Mosey to the side parking lot next to the football field

Done in cadence

Lbc 50

Dying coach 20

Captain thor’s 10

big boy sit-ups 15

had to cut it short due to the time. Mosey to COT

 

Great Push from the PAX. As always I appreciate the opportunity.

 

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Stairway to Heaven.

Drove the site to make sure I located all the stair that I saw on google earth. We are fortunate to have several churches near the AO. There are 5 set of steps.

Showed up to find at least 7 Pax waiting in the parking lot. Soon as 5:15 hit gave disclaimer and we started to mosey to high Knees, to regular, to butt kickers, to regular. Circle up to warm up with
Imperial Walkers, Moroccan nightclubs, slow Moroccan Nightclubs, Windmills slow and fast.

Mosey near First Baptist to utilize that beautiful stair case leading to there

All exercise are done in cadence
Squats
Run to steps bear crawl up steps and crawl bear down
Over head claps
Run to steps bear crawl up steps and crawl bear down
LBC’s
Run to steps bear crawl up steps and crawl bear down

Mosey to another set of steps

Lunges
Run up one side of the steps and back down
Plank step up on curb
Run up one side of the steps and back down
Big boy sit ups
Run up one side of the steps and back down

Took a min to rest and talk about Growth. We are constantly growing in our spiritual life, home life, work life

Run to Fort Mill church of GOD

Calf raises
Cross the street to lunge walk the steps up and reverse lunge walk down
Plank shoulder taps
Cross the street to lunge walk the steps up and reverse lunge walk down
Freddy mercury’s
Cross the street to lunge walk the steps up and reverse lunge walk down

We had to watch the last rail it was not attached well

Same parking lot

Foot taps on the curb
Run up another set of steps and back down.
Carolina dry docks
Run up another set of steps and back down.
American Hammers
Run up another set of steps and back down.

Took a min to rest and ask about Growth in the lives, where they need growth.

As we ran up and down the steps I noticed some nice new picnic tables that where perfect for dips so we did a round of dips

With time still looking good and thanks to a Barry Manilow- Anchor man Q that I attend at this AO in the past, we did a snake run up and down steps on Fort Mill church of GOD.  10 times.

Time to mosey back to COT up another set of steps with a pit stop at First Baptist as asked              Barry Manilow to lead us in makhtar n’diayes.

Circled up for announcement and prayers.
What a great way to start your morning with 20 other Pax. Always grateful to be able to lead.

 

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Building blocks which start with grains of sand

As I drove to the Yard for what was looking to be a beautiful morning, I started to think about what my message for the day would be since I didn’t plan for that portion of the workout…which is very normal.  I quickly became distracted, as I typically do as well, only to find I had showed up at the AO with no message plan…to be continued.

Standing and waiting for the PAX, up strolls Magnum – fearless leader of the AO. Soon to be followed by MASH and then Weezer (although YHC had noticed Twister’s car but no Twister). YHC commented that although the Yard is a moderate workout site, the plan was to step out of the comfort zone today and push yourself just a bit which the workout would accommodate of course. Quick disclaimer and off we mosey’d with some butt kickers and high knees. We circled up and did the following:

  • SSH x25, 2 burpees
  • Low slow squat x10, 2 burpees
  • CDD x20, 2 burpees
  • Plank jacks x10, 2 burpees
  • Cherry pickers x9, 2 burpees
  • Overhead claps x25, 2 burpees
  • Extra shoulder stretching, downward dog and honeymooner to wrap up

The Thang!

Didn’t go far as YHC explained the progression workout getting ready to be unleashed.  Here’s how that went down…  After each of the below items, we were going to run down the hill that exits from the school from the main front doors, then backwards run up the hill (quadzilla style), then run the rest of the way back to where the exercises would be performed.

Once the original 4 finished the first 10 bombjacks, we were joined by Twister and Spartacus who had returned from their 3.2 mile pre-ruck – perfect timing!

  • 10 bomb jacks, then run, then come back and wait for the 6 before the next exercise
  • 20 step ups (10 each leg), then the 10 bomb jacks, then the running and waiting for 6
  • 30 dips, then 20 above, then 10 above, run…you get the point
  • 45 (because 40 didn’t make sense) calf raises – 15 out, regular, in; then 30, 20, 10…
  • 50 SSH, then 45, 30….

Now that the PAX had a nice base sweat going, YHC decided it was time for a short “10 count” via the message portion of the program.  As YHC was running up and down the hill, I noticed all the ant hills and how those little guys were working together to build their homes.  Similar to how we as PAX and HIM structure our lives and communities – grain by grain, brick by brick.  We have to start somewhere and if that’s a grain vs. a brick, it’s still momentum and growth.  We need to rely on whetstones for growth (spoiler alert for soon to follow QSource) as well as shieldlocks.  We can’t do this alone and shouldn’t have to do it alone – just like the little ants, they have their own PAX for support and foundational building.  Last I checked, none of us have this figured out so who better to lean on than your fellow brothers!  One step at a time, one grain at a time….sometimes one “close your eyes” leap!

Next station stop was over by the basketball hoops where we got to sharpen our merkin skills.  After each set of merkins, we ran down to the last basketball hoop and back.

  • 15 regular merkins
  • 15 wide arm
  • 15 diamond
  • 15 decline
  • 15 ranger
  • 15 incline

That’s 90 total these PAX crushed in a matter of minutes.  This left us about 4-5 minutes of MARY where we went around the horn for each PAX to call and count their own exercise.  Off to COT after MARY where we counted off, name-o-rama, and announcements.  Prayers for the PAX parents, friends and 2.0s.  5 of the 6 of us were able to make it over for QSource for further discussion on Whetstone!  Great work and always a pleasure to lead and be part of the early morning gloom (even though it was nice and sunny!).

Shady

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Light Pole Circuits & POW POW @ The Ballroom

***Cobains now for the 2 PAX that I missed.   You weren’t in the video and my memory “ain’t what is used to be”.

Weather was near perfect for a “Pearls on a String”- inspired workout.  Dropped the disclaimer, checked for FNGs and we were off.

Circle Up for 10 of each :

SSH

Squats

Windmill

Stretches:

Downward Dog  to Honeymooner  x 3

Runner’s Pose

Warrior Pose

Grass Grabber/Cherry Picker (neither of which are in the F3 exercises, so I am sure this is officially called something else)

Imperial Walker

Mosey to side of the school.

Rotate 20 dips / Wall Sit  – Rinse & Repeat

Run out to end of bridge and back

Stretching with :

Cat Pose (which cracked Spitz up, Big Time! Nice of him and Lug Nut to join us ! )

Hip Stretches

Mosey to light pole closest to Pleasant Rd. , Start exercises there and run to next light. As a PAX, 20 reps each, various PAX leading the count

Merkins

Slow Squat (although I think it was led at a fast pace)

American Hammer

Shoulder Tap

Lunge

Grave Diggers

Wide Arm Merkins

Calf Raises (Kenyan nearly counted us to 50 on this one!)

Flutters

Monkey Humpers

Overhead Claps

Moroccan Night Clubs

Turn around and head back down the string of lights

OH Claps

Monkey Humpers

Flutters

Calf Raises (Seriously, we had to call off Kenyan on this one. I think he was going to 100!!!   Pretty cool that we had a semi-BOM group on this one)

Wide Arm Merkins

Grave Diggers

Several exercises for 5 minutes of Mary and we ended with Airborne’s brutal hip circuit, led and strongly advocated for by Change Order!

 

I asked the PAX to take a look at themselves and determine where they could GROW (theme of the month), relative to one of the three F’s.  Also cautioned them (& myself) against tending to one of the F’s too much, this neglecting the other 2.

Ended in COT, with multiple praise & prayers. Thank you, Short Sale for the opportunity. Always humbled to lead such a group of strong leaders. Keep doing what you’re doing and don’t forget, GIVE IT AWAY. Someone else needs it as much – or WORSE – than you did!

 

SYITG –

Beacon

 

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Barney Fife’s Burpee Ball Beatdown at The Ballroom

I’m having serious football withdrawals and wanted to try something new, so on a very cold morning, I decided we would toss the pigskin around……in the dark. I’m very grateful for the patience of all 12 PAX that came out, I’m sure they thought I was nuts for wanting to play ball in the dark.

COP

After a quick disclaimer, we moseyed over to the other parking lot and circled up for a little stretching. (toe touches, elbow lifts, leg stretches) and then:

  • 15 Hillbillies
  • 15 Cherry Pickers
  • 20 Windmills
  • 25 Side Straddle Hops
  • 30 Moroccan Night Clubs

Moseyed around the school to the bridge where we circled up again for:

  • 15 Merkins
  • 30 Flutters
  • 15 Diamond Merkins
  • 30 Dying Cockroaches
  • 15 Box Cutters

Moseyed our way onto the football field and formed two lines of PAX on the goal line. We all took turns running out to the 10-yard line and trying to catch the ball….in the total, pitch black darkness. If the ball was dropped, for any reason, everyone dropped and did 5 burpees. (It was amazing to see how quickly everyone’s passing and catching skills improved….DRAMATICALLY.) After throwing and catching the ball each PAX ran to the back of the line and began jogging in place while waiting for their next turn. After approximately 40 burpees we switched over to monkey humpers when a pass was dropped. After another 40 monkey humpers, we moseyed back up the hill to the main parking lot and circled up for a round of mary.

COT

We finished up with announcements, prayer requests, praises and thanking God for allowing us to enjoy another beautiful morning with our F3 brothers.

Thank you Short Sale for the opportunity to lead!!!

Barney Fife

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Footloose: Fancy Free and Moderate

23 PAX gathered in the foggy gloom (24 at COT with Polaroid joining in after he hit his miles)

Started out with a VERY clear and complete disclaimer. See the full version at: Disclaimer

Mosey towards the Church of God parking lot. Sugar Bug fell about 30 yards in…..good thing the disclaimer was so thorough. Also good thing he popped right up and continued on. Went serpentine on the COG stairs to get the PAX all back in one place after the mosey spread us out.

Warm up:
SSH x10
Merkin x10
Held Plank
forced Bomb Jacks (TWSS – Kielbasa)
Mountain Climber (slow count) x10
Held Plank
more forced Bomb Jacks (TWSS – Kielbasa)
SSH x10
IW x10
HW x10
Spiderman Merkins x10
Hip Flexer stretch (Lizard Pose)
Al Gore
Al Gore + Moroccan Night Club x10
Hooneymooner–>Downdog combination

Thang:
Partner up: Dora
100 merkins
200 squats
300 flutters

Mosey to giant wall
Wall Sit while PAX performed 5 burpees down the line

Message synopsis:
What is Moderate? What do you moderate?

Mosey back to FBC
Line up on a parking lot island:
Mike Tyson x10 –> bear crawl across to adjacent island
Rinse and Repeat

Lined up for called Lunges and Squats
Right Leg Lunge x5
Left Leg Lunge x5
Squats x5
Hold Squat w/ calf raise x5
Finished with Pigeon Lunge

NMM:

It’s an honor to lead. Lots of respectable PAX out there today. These men working on getting better in their 50s and beyond are an inspiration. They push YHC to want to be better.

Announcements:
Welcome FNG: Hardwood
Convergence: Baxter Harris Teeter 3/8
Joe Davis Run 3/9
Operation Sweet Tooth 3/30

Band Camp Dismissed

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