11 men got stronger this morning taking in 2.6 miles and 120 Merkins.

The Thang

0.6 mile Mosey around downtown followed by 25 SSHs and 15 Windmills.

Mosey again

At the parking deck, we did a series of Merkins and Ab exercises. At each level, we did different sets of including:

• 10 Standard Merkins
• 15 LBCs
• 10 Wide Arm Merkins
• 15 Squats
• 10 Single Leg Merkins
• 15 Hello Dollies
• 10 Clap Merkins
• 15 LBCs
• 10 Staggered Arm Merkins (Each Arm)
• 15 Freddies
• 10 Diamond Merkins
• 15 Rosalitas
• 10 Plyo Merkins
• 1 Minute Peoples Chair
• 10 Shoulder Tap Merkins
• 15 Squats
• 10 Carolina Dry Docks
• 15 WWII Situps
• 10 Single Arm Merkins
• 10 Dive Bombers Merkins
• 1 Minute Super Man
• 1 Minute Paratrooper
• 30 Seconds Super Man

Long Mosey back with 10 Burpees courtesy of Norfolk Southern.

Naked Moleskin

Great work men. Today was not easy, but everyone pushed through. Shoutouts to each man that came out today:

• Popeye – great job not giving up
• Geppetto – another day at the front of the pack
• Mayhem – caught up after a late start and pushed hard towards the front
• Tinker Toy – another day at the office for Rock Hill’s fittest
• Mailman – never complains, always delivers
• Posh – the Kenyan – another strong showing today
• Pusher – thanks for crossing the river to join us – your presence is always appreciated
• York – the guy just keeps getting better
• The Riddler – after 2 miles of extra credit, he kept it going for another 2.6 miles
• Schrute – if you’re not 100% yet, I’d hate to see you fully healthy (sneaky fast)

As a reminder, a life centered on Christ will not only help to free us from the uncertainty of our tomorrows and worries about success and achievements – what Solomon called “chasing after the wind.” It will redirect our focus toward what really matters. It will put finances, health, relationships, and our goals for the future in the right perspective. When we “chase after God” rather than chasing after the wind, we find that our relationship with Him rearranges our priorities.

Let’s remember to focus on what we have – to be thankful for the blessings in our lives.

Prayer Requests:

The Riddler’s bossman and his patience working with him.

Tinker Toy’s co-worker after his car accident.

Padre’s move to a new church.

Announcements:

Sep 23 (Wednesday) @0515 – PHOP – Our beloved Padre has answered a call to ministry in Easley. Let’s send him off in style this Wednesday at his last PHOP (North Rock Hill Church).

10/23 @ 0600 Sign up for team Turkey Puncher’s here

Sign up for the World’s Fastest 5K here

16 pax posted to The Fort following the Fri night Invergence for a follow up dose of inspiration.  Pebbles was scheduled to Q but sick 2.0 kept him at home.  YHC and Cake Boss brought Indian Land-style pain that is still coursing through my glutes on Sunday evening as I draft this BB.

The Thang

DD in lead

COP at WEP launch point

Mtn climbers x20

SSH x20

IW x15

Merkins x10

Monkey humpers x15

Run around path and around playground then line up along playground

Karaoke to path and back

Backward run to path and back

Partner up

Wheel barrow to path and back

Partner 1 = pull ups x10 while Partner 2 = dips (flap jack)
Rinse + Repeat

Line up along tree next to path

Merkins x10 + sprint to next tree and back

Merkins x10 + Wide arm merkin x10 + sprint to next tree and back

Merkins x10 + Wide arm merkin x10 + Diamond merkin x 10 + sprint to next tree and back

Sumo squat x10 + sprint to next tree and back

Sumo squat x10 + Calf raise x10 + sprint to next tree and back

Sumo squat x10 + calf Raise x10 + Jumping lunge x10 + sprint to tree and back

Circle up for some Mary

Dollies x10 + Rosalita x10 + Flutter x20

Slow Freddy Mercurys x10

LBCs x20

Hand off to Cake Boss

Mosey to hill

Bear crawl to top + 1 bombjack + run to bottom + 2 bomb jacks
Rinse and repeat adding 1 bombjack on both ends OYO until 10 at the bottom

Mosey to Stairway to Heaven and rejoin partner

Partner 1 = broad jump to first light post + 1 merkin all the way to top adding 1 merkin at each post
Partner 2 = LBCs x25 + Freddy x25 + Peter parker x25 + Parker peter x25 (rinse + repeat)

Mosey to bottom of camelback hill along trail out of parking lot

Donkey kicks x5 OYO + run to road at top of grassy hill + donkey kicks x5 + run down

Run home

COT

Naked man moleskin

YHC + CB were standing in for Pebbles.  Thanks to MacGyvery for the invite to substitute.  Both of us agreed that the potluck food from Friday night Invergence did not provide adequate fuel for Sat AM workout.  YHC was gassed all day Saturday (and I did not even stay for the last hill session due to morning family commitment).  Then, the lower body pain getting out of bed Sunday AM that has lasted all day confirmed the Pebbles-level rating for the second half of the workout.  Nice job, CB!

Good to have Tesh out among The Fort pax this morning.  Tesh is a recent relo from Greenville to Fort Mill.  Wish we had F3 in FM when I moved into area in 2006…hopefully the pax help to speed your transition to a stable place in the Fort Mill community.

At the end of Sept we officially cross the three-year mark of bringing life to Fort Mill’s gloom.  God has done amazing things through each of you during your engagement with F3.  And the most inspiring part is that we/he are still only in the beginning.

Thanks for the honor of leading you yesterday!

BRR is said to be the highlight of an F3ers racing season…. I can understand why.

211 miles (thanks for those extra 2 on the second leg 2!), 28+ hours, 36 Fort pax, plus some 50 other F3 teams from across the lands!

There is nothing like the comradery, encouragement, laughter, sweat, hills, volunteers, red necks, short shorts and cattards (did you see that?) that is Blue Ridge Relay.

This year had a little something special as well, the race stated on Friday, September 11th, exactly 14 years after the coordinated terrorist attacks by the Islamic group on targeted U.S. landmarks. In total, some 3,000 people died and was the deadlist incident for firefighters and law enforcement offices in the history of the U.S, killing 343 and 72 respectively.

It is a gift to wake up each morning, be free and to have the health and support to live a healthy life.

Make the most of each day, challenge yourself, challenge those around you. You do not have to run 211 miles to find a challenge.

Below are the race results along with some highlights from each team (captured by team captains):

• F3 Undertrained and Overconfident – 30th place overall, 5th best 6 man team, 27hrs 57 mins, 7:59 pace (extremely impressive!)
• F3 Your Pace or Mine – 67th place overall, 38th best 9 man team, 29hrs 47 mins, 8:30 pace
• F3 Premature Acceleration – 88th place overall, 52nd best 9 man team, 30hrs 25 mins, 8:41 pace
• F3 The Fort – Did you miss us? – 126th place overall, 78th best 12 man team, 31hrs 37 mins, 9:01 pace

Highlights from team Undertrained and Overconfident (6 man)

1. Carnival was uber prepared with 2 watches, rain shoes, rain coat, laminated cue sheets
2. think Condor just woke up and said let go run, dude didn’t even bring a towel or deodorant, thankfully WWL uses a spray can
3. Sir Topham Hat planned his entire nutrition plan around getting burritos at EZ 18, he walked the entire premise and asked 10 different people where the burritos were, he looked like a kid who had just opened up a Christmas present and found a hand-knitted sweater from Grandma….
4. WWL crushed leg 31 with a 1hr 2 min, non-stop run up 3k ft climb
5. Leg 5 – Banjo and WWL hopped out of the van to take the annual picture with the Jefferson Cows and “Cheese made here” sign
6. Condor was a big hit with the ladies, spotted leg 9 jogging beside a nice eye candy, until she said her ” o  my boyfriend like that…”
7. R Kelly – Bump N Grind
8. Sir Topham Hat’s quote of the race – “well, I think I may have blow my race on that leg” 6:15 – 2.5 miler (before he ran a total of 37 miles and a MG)
9. Banjo beasted 40 miles! enough said

Highlights from team Premature Acceleration:

1. Waldo made quite an impression and was clearly the fastest on the team. It was great to see him catch and pass Funhouse on a couple of the legs to bring our team back up with them.
2. I shed my shirt on leg #10 after getting dehydrated. Fortunately, Flat Tire was there to take a picture and make some Twitter magic
3. Ran a 8:41 pace and finished in the top half of all teams
4. Waldo, Smuggler and I got our picture made with the Ghostbusters car in Boone
5. Zima and Gears were the most well prepared for the BRR and it showed in a stellar performance by both
6. Package did not lose a rib!
7. Burgandy was actually not nice for once during his Mountain Goat #31. He tried his best to put a smile on his face but clearly it stunk!

Highlights from team Your Pace or Mine:

1. WWL throwing out a friend bet to the captains of the two 9 man teams half way through the first leg (all 3 teams started at the same time) to see who’s team finishes first
2. Pusher was too scared to accept
3. Menthol says “$20” and shakes on it
4. The three captains stay together until the last 50 yards
5. WWL edges out front for the lead after leg 1 and the team never let go
6. WWL still waiting for his $20

Highlights from team Did you miss us?:

1. Van 1 drinks in basements on Thursday night. #WesternNC
2. Photobomb is flexible and likes Buddy Runs. #MoreYogaMiles
3.  Gekko gets screwed with additional miles due to down tree and then gets lost. #BRRFail
4.  Twister loves public showers, relay races, stink clothes, and needs Photobomb’s “help” with a little something. #Gross
5.  General’s sleeves were optional. #SunsOutGunsOut
6.  Mayhem’s runs were “explosive”. #Pepto
7.  If you are over 6’7 and 300lbs you’re not a Mountain Goat – you’re  a Mountain Buffalo.  If you’re in a quiet Van you can hear his mating call around 4 am. #MountainBuffalo
8. Don’t go by Cornholes spreadsheet.  Airborne may get surprised with 2 more miles – but it’s a beautiful night out for a run.  #Van2MVP
9. If we don’t get moving Sasquatch will beat us there. I know it’s 9 miles but still – he’s wearing his speed sweater. #TrimJob
10.  Boehiem programmed all EZ’s into GPS – none of them worked. Less than a year from a heart attack to BRR strong. #RunningSelfie
11.  Cable Guy ran 12 miles….total. But they were really flat miles though. #WalkingMG
12.  In order to get out of running 2 additional miles Cornhole traded to get the hardest MG segment. #OldManLogic
13.  Everything went swimmingly. #Vocab

Talks have already begun about 2016 planning, start your hill training!

Info on Palmetto coming out soon.

Job well done men!!

WWL