The Alcatraz Run Club

  • QIC: Smuggler & Hasselhoff
  • When: 02/27/16
  • Pax: Senator Tressel, Gecko, Change Order, Atticus, Spitz, Fish Sticks, Cerrano, Bing, Pusher, FNG - M*A*S*H
  • Posted In: Alcatraz

Twelve faithful brothers (including 1 FNG) gathered in the 28 degree gloom of Alcatraz at 0630 to get their work done before the sun could melt the frost.  Some called this a running workout, but my arms are still reminding me that it was more than that.

YHC delivered a brief disclaimer and the PAX were off to Mosey about 2/3 of the loop at Runde and then circle up for

  • 40 SSH
  • 20 Mountain Climbers
  • 10 Windmill
  • 20 LBC

Mosey to the fence and line up

Cross the ball field

  • 1/4 field – bear crawl
  • 1/2 field – lunge walk
  • 1/4 field – bear crawl
  • 5 merkins at each change

Rinse and Repeat back to starting line before setting out again with a switch to

  • 1/4 field – jog
  • 1/2 field – sprint
  • 1/4 field – jog

Rinse and Repeat.  The sprints brought some mumblechatter about F3 being a running group, and other such commentary. So I was surprised the PAX eagerly said they wanted to do another set of sprints across the field (thanks Pusher!).

After the third set of sprints, the Q had enough and decided not to ask if anyone wanted to do it again.  So, we ambled up to the retaining wall for

  • 10 step ups right leg
  • 10 dips
  • 10 step ups left leg
  • 10 derkins
  • 10 dips

Some more mumblechatter here; it would seem the PAX thought we had done enough leg work at this point.

Mosey to the small ball field the hard way, with a trip over the outfield fence and gather into two groups for

  • Round 1: People’s Chair while others jogged to the fence and back. Flip flop.
  • Round 2: BTTW while others crab walk to 2nd base and jog back. Flip flop.

The PAX was then entrusted to Hasselhoff for the second half of this morning’s fun!

After a quick mosey to the playground, the groups were assigned a series of exercises to be performed while the other group ran to the opposite end of the parking lot and back, then flip-flopping before moving to the next exercise;

  • Merkins
  • Dips
  • LBC’s

This was a popular series, with several PAX expressing concern about their brothers’ pace while performing Merkins and Dips, so everyone was pleased to hear the Rinse and Repeat with

  • Incline Merkins
  • Pull-ups
  • Freddy Mercurys

The PAX was then led to the bottom of the hill below the Fire Station where they hear the words Jacob’s Ladder!  This particular version would start with a run up the hill and do 10 Merkins at the top then run back down the hill and do 1 Squat at the bottom, this cycle incremented by one with each trip until reaching 1 Merkin and 10 Squats.  Any remaining question about this being LEG DAY and a running workout, had now been answered and the PAX were excited to share some more mumblechatter about running and the hill repeat & squat combination!

Unfortunately some of the PAX ran out of time a cycle or two short of completion, but NONE complained when the Q called time and initiated the return to COT.

 

Welcome FNG  Randall Long; now known as M*A*S*H.

Announcements – See the newsletter.

Prayers shared for those battling medical and other personal issues.

I was reminded in a COT earlier this week that we all struggle and we all need support.  Every week is a Kotter week – check on those you haven’t heard from or seen in a while, and get them to an AO.  We all do this because we need it; your text/tweet/call may be all it takes to keep a brother moving forward instead of sliding backward.  No one that you’ve shared the gloom with, is going to mind a check in.

As always, I am thankful for, and honored by the opportunity to lead this group of men.

Respectfully,

Smuggler

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The Foundation: Video resources for Regions leading Third F

  • QIC: Santini, Blackjack, Dredd, Jedi, & Dark Helmet
  • Pax: Men who dare to go deep on topics that might scare the average sad clown
  • Posted In: The Fort

Pax:

Over the last several months, several Pax across the Charlotte Regions (and some in SC too) have come together to build out a series called The Foundation.  This series was intended to help prompt discussion and topics that would help in developing High Impact Men as they seek to go deep into the Third F.

There have been 3 in the series at this point.  The first was on Accountability, the second on finding a life of significance in a world of success, and the third was developing high impact goals, D2X, and One Word to capture the essence of this work for the year.  We have plans to continue these on Topics (March 15) on Fatherhood, and another on Finances (April).  Basically, any topic that we can speak truth, honesty, and no BS into the lives of other men.

We chose to record these 2 and share them with you as a resource for you and your region.  If you are reading this you probably care about this already and wondering what you can do to get this rolling in your region.  Simple.  Do it.  We are just taking steps one session at a time.  Find the biggest, messy, scary topic about life, faith, and family and then go after it.  If you want more information on it, we are here to help.

Below are two links.  (A big special thanks to Dark Helmet and his video/recording prowess)  The first is recorded out of The Fort on a sleeting morning in February.  The Fort tackled the idea of Accountability with a group of nearly 50 men.  Stinger, Chicken Hawk, Rebel, Repeat, and Santini talked about Whetstone, accountability and how it looks in a Man’s life.

 

The second was recorded on January 26th at Christ Church.  Jedi, Santini, & Dredd walked men through HIM, D2X, and One Word.

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Running with a Kettle Bell Thomahawk

  • QIC: CSPAN
  • When: 02/22/16
  • Pax: Geronimo, Skate or Die, Rocky Top, Bird Cage, & SoCrates
  • Posted In: The Snake Pit

Perfect morning clear and 42 degrees

6 strong men assembled

Disclaimer

Warmup

Today was all about kettle bells and running, running had 2 forms, 40 yard sprints down and back or the ¼ mile loop the school buses use.

We would circle up, each man would call an exercise x 10 and we would do one of the two running options, this was post Yeti so running was a little extra challenging.

We made it through 8 cycles

ABLAB

COT

Prayer & Praise

BOM

NMM

Great fellowship this morning and appreciate the invite to Q

Be a better man today than you were yesterday,

AYE!

CSPAN

 

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Mor “Ruck” an Night Club at the Swamp

  • QIC: Fishsticks
  • When: 02/26/16
  • Pax: Mainframe, Cornhole, Gekko, Cobra Kai, Stockade, Zima, Cerrano, Crash, Puddles, Gears, Wrecker, Sasquatch, Trucker, Vinnie, Lugnut, Family Guy, Bart, Fishsticks
  • Posted In: The Swamp

The Swamp has become a popular place lately.  There are two workout options (Bootcamp, Rucking)  available. It is always interesting watching the PAX prepare for the ruck workout. Not sure what is in the pack: Books, snacks, toys, etc.

18 men showed up this morning, half ruck, half bootcamp. After the disclaimer, we went our separate ways (Journey 1983).  Mosey to the parking lot behind Just Fresh where the music was playing some old hits, another benefit of this AO.

COP (in cadence):

SSH

Moroccan Night Club – Puddles has an interesting (strange) modification to this exercise.  It seems to be catching on with other PAX, or maybe just Vinnie.

Imperial Walker

Windmill

Merkins (6″ hold for 10 seconds x 2)

LBCs

Line up for sprints, jog first, sprint to the light pole in back.  In the distance, we saw the Ruck PAX circled on the ground.  It appeared to be sharing time, remember back in school when you went around the circle and discussed your day.  Just kidding…all in fun.

Next, mosey to the Home Depot wall for people chair, then bear crawl to the Target wall.  Another set of LBCs followed by a mobile balls to the wall (walking on hand with feet against the wall).  Again, another set of LBCs.

Mosey to the infamous red balls.  On a side note, I used to let my 2.0s climb on them before I joined F3.  Now I have them avoid them at all costs.

Exercise at each ball, run back to the starting line.  Alternate between CCDs (x10) and LBCs (x20).  We almost forgot about the bonus ball around the corner of the building…extra credit 50 LBCs.

Mosey to the back of Target for another round of mobile balls to the wall and a set of LBCs.

Short jog to the fountain for a set of dips (x20) and derkins (x20).  More running to the front of Petsmart for a sprint back to COT and one last set of LBCs.  Sasquatch showed his impressive speed.

Lots of AB work and running at different speeds today.  Rough calculations of 300 LBCs and 2.7 miles covered this morning.  Great work everyone!  It is always an honor.

Announcements:

Next week at the Swamp – Armed Forces PT test

F3 Dads – The Patriot, Saturday, Feb 27th @10 am

Fuel challenge – Gathering at Gear’s home for some real food, Ms and 2.0s invited next Friday..more details to come.

Prayer Requests:

Cornhole’s coworker who recently had a stroke.

Patience with 2.0s and other life challenges

 

 

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Still NOT a Runner…

  • QIC: CSPAN (still a non-runner)
  • When: 02/25/16
  • Pax: Sir Topham, MacGyver, Chicken Hawk, Twister, Deacon, Beacon, Chaser, & may have missed one...?
  • Posted In: Laces Out

Perfect morning clear and 38 degrees

8 strong men assembled

Disclaimer

NO Warmup #yourwelcome

Fast mosey to Harris Street and increase speed to FMHS Track

Fast guys run track until the 6 is in (Menthol’s track group provided good options #Cats&Dogs)

Mosey back to WEP via Bi-LO  way and 160

Finish off on time at just under 5 miles

Join COT with Aqua Man and Laces IN

Prayer & Praise

BOM

NMM

I wrote this backblast so I will remember that I actually Q’d a running workout, lots of quality fellowship and pacing from the group,

My Notes:

Great to see my Beacon back after and he is enjoying the running.

STH has his insane marathon Saturday morning 13.1 up & 13.1 down

Twister I am still “here” – just assume that I am working out daily even if you do not see me

Deacon was running strong

Chaser still prefers trail running

MacGyver is still really fast

Great to see Chicken Hawk and stadium stair running

Be a better man today than you were yesterday,

AYE!

CSPAN

 

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I thought this was a Kettle Bell workout?

  • QIC: CSPAN
  • When: 02/26/2016
  • Pax: Cake Boss, Mr Clean, & Longshanks
  • Posted In: The Hive

Perfect morning clear and 34 degrees

4 strong men assembled

Moved cars and men to JROTC area

Disclaimer

Warmup all in cadence x 10 reps (SSH, IW, WM, IW, Merkins, and MC)

Conducted a test run of “Maltz Challenge”

Results = exhausting

ABS to get us to 0600

COT

Prayer & Praise

BOM

Read your newsletter ladies

NMM

Yes, I know this is supposed to be a kettlebell workout, yes we never really used the kettlebells, and yes you missed a good workout…we will do it again 3/11/16 at #Varsity

Quality #chatter and 2ndF today, these men understand why we do F3

Be a better man today than you were yesterday,

AYE!

CSPAN

 

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Petra: Kindergarten Cop Slowburn

  • QIC: The Riddler
  • When: 02/26/16
  • Pax: Catfish, Trent Faris, Italian Job, Waterboy, Apache, Fusion, Bill Nye, The Riddler
  • Posted In: Uncategorized

It’s always good to lead a slow burn. Not only does it give us a chance to work on form, but also to quote random movie quotes.

Today Italian Job was on fire with the Kindergarten Cop. As well as Blazing Saddles and a few other movies. That guy has every song lyric and movie quote stuck in his brain. Everyone else was doing the same thing, really great stuff for Petra.

Warm-Up
Mosey to Center of Parking Lot
10 Count WindMill
20 Count Moroccan Night Clubs

The Thang
I really enjoyed placing cups around this AO before we started this morning.
Each Cup had Two workouts on it. We covered the whole parking lot, Two Cups in the center and six around different points of the parking lot.

We did Three Rounds of the parking lot, running between to the next cup, exercises included:

Monkey Humpers
Low Slow Squats
Dive Bombers
Burpees
Merkins
Parker Peters
Peter Parkers
Mountain Climbers
Carolina Dry Docks
Flying Squirrels
Bobby Hurley’s
American Hammers
Wide Arm Merkins
Alternating Shoulder Taps
Plank Jacks
Diamond Merkins

Since it was a Slow Burn we completed these exercises in a slow pace to feel the burn. Doing Merkins at a slow pace really starts to get the arms burning!

Number depended on Speed of completing a rep, we did anywhere between 5 – 20 reps per exercise.

We finished up with a “Cup Pickup” Caterpillar(Indian) Run. Person in back would run to the front pickup the next cup, rinse and repeat till we ran the whole parking lot.

Total logged was around 2.2 miles, and plenty of burning action during the process.

Apache, PopEye and Catfish completed some P200 Training during today’s bootcamp. It’s great to see the dedication of the Rock Hill Crew leading up to this big race!

Prayers
Scrute’s mother had a successful heart stint put in on thursday.
Waterboy’s mother is about to go into surgery for the same thing.
A member of my Small Groups Best Friend Jeremy has Terminal Brain Cancer,
he is 27 and has been married for only three years. He is expected to meet the lord in the next day or so. Prayer for his wife Caitlin and family as they go through this hard time.

I left off with a word about Labels. We Spent a significant amount of time introducing ourselves based on our Job title. I was confronted by a person last night that Labeled F3 as nothing more than a “fitness group”. His thought was our group is made up of a bunch of fit guys that do nothing more than talk about workouts.

This was a hard hit to the gut for me. I believe that we have a real opportunity to continue to grow in the leadership that the lord has called us to. I know that we are based on three things Fitness, Fellowship and Faith. Sometimes it can be easy to focus on the level of fitness we have achieved. However I want you to go and remember the other two F’s as well.

We are hear to cultivate mentor and be led by each other and the lord.

Let’s be better leaders today, and show how the Lord is using us as individuals and F3 to change the world.

Get in the Chopper! Enjoy the video

The Riddler

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Circle of Change

  • QIC: Tinker To
  • When: 02/25/16
  • Pax: Catfish, Burgundy, Italian Job, Reborn, Blueprint, Apache, Bogey, Gage, Solid State, Sgt. York, Bull, Turbine, Water Boy, Van Wilder, Popeye, Tinker Toy (Q)
  • Posted In: Uncategorized

Disclaimer

“When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not evil? Present that to your governor; will he accept you or show you favor? says the Lord of hosts.”
‭‭Malachi‬ ‭1:8‬ ‭ESV‬‬ http://bible.com/59/mal.1.8.esv

The priests of Malachi’s day we’re offering lame, sick, and blind animals for sacrifices to God, when God had been very clear that the animals for sacrifice were to be spotless, blameless, the best of the flock. Do we do the same as the priests?

Are we giving our God our leftovers instead of our best? With the busyness of life, are we giving the leftovers of our time, our talents, our money, our service, our hearts? Do we make time for God AFTER everything and everyone else or do we put Him first? Do we serve only because there is a need or do we serve out of an overflow of our love for our Lord? As we challenge each other in workouts, YHC challenged the PAX in our walk with Christ. Just as in workouts where we should give it all we have, we should give our all, to the point of exhaustion (arms shaking type exhaustion) in our commitment to Christ and “the Great Commission.”

Mozy to fountain
Warm up (In cadence)
SSH X20
IW x 15
WM x 10
Dipsx20
Merkinx20
MNCx20

Mozy to park

Round 1
10 prison cell push ups
20 Pull ups
30 Squat Jacks
20 Chin Ups
15/leg Piston Squats

LOOP AROUND POND

Round 2
15/side Fly Merkins
20/side Apollo Ono’s
15 Corn Cob Push Ups
15/leg swing balance lunges

2 LOOPS AROUND POND

Round 3
20 Blast Off Merkins
30 Swing Derkins
30 Jump Squats
Burpees broad jump length of swings

3 LOOPS AROUND POND

COT
Challenge continued from start of workout about giving our Holy God our leftovers instead of our all. A further challenge was issued as YHC drew a circle around himself and stated that if revival was to start for the Gospel of Jesus Christ, let it begin within this circle. The PAX was then challenged to move from the traditional COT to a larger circle drawn on the ground a few feet away, IF they would commit to serve our God their best, to the best of their ability they would not give Him leftovers. All the PAX joined YHC in the circle, Circle of Change (COC).
Prayer requests and announcements were shared and we lifted our hearts and our requests to our Great God.
What an honor to Q today for a workout, but more importantly to speak of the truth and the love our Lord.

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Simple Men- Keeping it Simple

  • QIC: Geronimo
  • When: 2/24/16
  • Pax: Backdraft, Cheddah, Geronimo, MacGyver, Sasquatch, Skate or Die, Stang
  • Posted In: Ring of Fire

Chances of rain at the Coop: 40%. Actual rain at the Coop: 0%. Be that as it may, 7 men with a desire to be better, or at least keep me company in the “rain”, were ready for a challenge at 5:15am. No FNG’s so onto the super abbreviated Disclaimer.

Warm up

Slow lap around the lot. Followed by MC, Merkins, CDD, Moroccan Nightclubs, Fast Peter Parkers
Mosey to the Pull-up bar. What morning at the Coop would be complete without it?

The Thang

KISS Part 1: Pull-up Bars of Paradise
10 Regular Pull-ups
20 Regular Push-ups
10 Wide arm Pull-ups
20 Wide arm Push-ups
10 Close hands Pull-ups
20 Diamond Push-ups
People’s chair for a break
5 Regular Pull-ups
20 Regular Push-ups

Intermission:
A wise man once said that we should “feast upon the word of Christ”. In our busy lives, we can get preoccupied with the nuts and bolts, the administering part of things. That wise man did not say to nibble on the word of Christ but to feast. When we have the opportunity to take part in services, or study the word out privately, we should “feast” on all there is available.

Now for the semi-sacrilegious part as I encouraged the PAX to “feast” on the book of Geronimo, this morning.

8 Wide arm Pull-ups because we had a nice intermission!
20 Wide arm Push-ups
5 Close hands Pull-ups
15 Diamond Push-ups

KISS Part 2: 8 Light Poles of Bliss
Round 1
10 Bomb Jacks
Run to the next pole
10 Jump Lunges (each leg)
Run to the Next Pole
Repeat until pole number 8
Round 2
10 Monkey Humpers
Run to the next pole
10 Sumo Squats
Run to the Next Pole
Repeat until pole number 8
Round 3
5 Burpees
Lunge walk half-way then Jog to the Next Pole :Crowd pleaser
Repeat Until Pole number 8

Run 100% of what’s left in the tank, Back to the other end of the lot, Slow Jog, then 100% Back for COT

NMM

I’ll be honest, it was tough this morning. Simply lots of activities moving large groups of muscles. The light poles of bliss was a simple concept, but not simple to execute. I think there’s a chance that many of the PAX were rethinking their decision to post at the Coop this morning, or ever again. The powerful thing was that everyone was pushing near their limit. That’s how we get stronger, or faster, or better. I think these highly-motivated men got a bit of each. TClaps for MacGyver and Backdraft who always push me to go faster and try harder. TClaps also for Cheddah. I haven’t seen him out here in a while, but he was looking strong.

Every time that I Q, I am surprised and honored by these men who roll out, and hold me accountable to be there as a leader and to do my best.

Geronimo! Out

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Here Comes The Rain Again

  • QIC: Gauge
  • When: 2/23/16
  • Pax: Fusion, Apache, Sgt York, Catfish, Shrute, The Apollo Creed, Blue Print, Water boy, The Riddler, Bogey, Turbine, FNG(Reborn)
  • Posted In: Uncategorized

Gauge led 14 brave and courageous pax through a soggy beat down.

Warmup
20 seal jacks
20 Moroccan night clubs
15 wind mills

The Thang

1/2 mile mosey to campus main entrance followed by 10 merkins. Another 1/2 mile mosey with 5 burpees thrown in for good measure. Some quick stretching and then the real beat down commenced

The pax then worked their way down the brick sidewalk switching between high knees and butt kicks at each light pole with 5 merkins at each pole. Then we worked back down the sidewalk alternating between bear crawls and walking lunges with 5 squats at each light pole. Legs were burning at this point. One more go at high knees and butt kicks then a quick mosey to set up for 4 corners. The four corners consisted of 5 burpees, 5 merkins , 5 squats, and 5 dips with a stair run in between. We did two rounds of the four corners and then another short mosey. Next we went into a descending ladder starting with 5 box jumps and 5 merkins and working our down to one of each. Indian Run back to the AO and finished with 15 LBC’s and 45 seconds of Iron Cross.

Announcements:
Krispy Kreme Run 2/27/16
Dads workout 2/27/16 10:00 am at The Patriot

Prayer Request:
Shrute’s mother
High Pocket and family
Riddler’s mother
Waterboy’s mother in law

Welcome FNG Reborn!

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