WARMUP: We did that
THE THANG: Prime Time BOP
MARY: None needed
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Read your NL
COT: STK!
WARMUP: Lap around the Skillet, SSH, Windmills, Moroccan Nightclubs, Imperial Walkers
THE THANG: Since my shoulder is busted, it was time for some ab work. Line up on the goal line. Run to the 10 yard line, do 10 big boys. Run to the 20 yard line, add one more for 11 big boys. Do this all the way to the other end. 145 total big boys.
Come back the other way, we started on the goal line with 4 count flutters and then did the same thing, add an additional 4 count every 10 yards. By this time, most of us were toast, so starting at the 50 yrd line, we went down to 2-count flutters. 450 flutters total. Run around the parking. Then run suicides for the last 2:30.
Discussion was on Communication with our 2.0's and our M's. Lots of things that we need to do better, but it has to start with us. Be intentional with our communications with our 2.0's and M's. Remember that communication is a tool. Will we use that tool for good or evil?
MARY: Did you see that it was all abs this morning?
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Bethel!!!!! Get out and help!
COT: Mostly happened during our communication discussion.
THE THANG:
Zipper route starting at Elliott St. 10 merkins and 10 jump squats at the end of every street. 5 burpees each time the pax cross Springs St. Pax logged 3.5-4.5 miles.
WARMUP: 14 Burpees
THE THANG: Mosey to center of WEP
Pax rotated into center based on year of 1st post (ie Class of 2026, 2025, 2024, etc). Varied exercises were performed by all including Burpees, Partner Derkins, Squats, Sumo Squats, SSH, Mtn Climbers, Mahktar N'Dyiae, Flutters, Freddys, Monkey Humpers, etc
Pax sprinted home for the finish.
MARY: She participated during the Thang
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Bethel Shelters service
COT: Yes, of course, 5th Core Principle
The pax came early and stayed late to celebrate this Community of Brothers we call The Fort. For 14 years, men have posted in the Gloom of WEP and other wonderful sites throughout FM/TC (and in Rock Hill, Clover/LKW and now Chester) to sharpen each other, to hone leadership skills, and to prepare themselves and each other to tackle the ups and downs Life will regularly throw their way.
The number of men who've stood at COT in The Fort over these years exceeds 2,000. And roughly 200 pax keep the flame burning in 2026. Their continued participation is an individual choice, one they can't not keep making because, as they shared, they've found brotherhood, community, belonging and accountability in The Fort.
Who will be standing in COT in 2036 or 2046? Anybody? Nobody? You? Your son or son-in-law or grandson?
As Band Camp shared, we Get To make this choice. Each man stands apart from the general crowd in our culture in making this choice. And yet, each man of The Fort is no better than any other man who lives among us. All men are made of the same fiber in the same image of our Creator. As Dark Helmet said, every man is needed in the leadership mission required to bring to fruition the world our Creator intended. So stay in the game. Find the next man and bring him into the fold. Because 14 years of history only matters if we continue to bring Impact to men and our broader community today, tomorrow, next week and next year. #KeepPosting
WARMUP: Yes, we did some warm uppy things
THE THANG: Moseyed over to the church pavillion for most of the workout
3 rounds of Step-ups — good form, 10 R/10L interspersed with varied Merkins in cadence (Irkins, Derkins, Merkins)
Partner up with partner 1 doing an exercise while partner 2 completes a loop around the circular landscape bed in front of the church using various modes of transport. We bear crawled, crawl beared, lunged, sprinted, karaoked, and more.
Mosey back to SF
Some Mary followed by 15 Burpees to recognize the kickoff of Year 15 of The Fort starting the following week.
MARY: yes
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Convergence, Bethel shelter service, La Grama
COT: Solid crew of veterans who shared some comments on why they keep posting after many many years (or months in the case of SBR).
One of my reasons for continuing to post is that I know I will start the day with a W every time I post. When so much of life is filled with uncertainty and surprises, there are few surprises when I roll out the door heading for an AO. I don't know who will post and I don't know the weinke. But I know there will be a Q who has come prepared to lead and to share his gifts with me. I know I'll be surrounded by men who share my values and who will wake me up or challenge me or inspire me or all of these and more. I know I won't regret spending 45mins + COT with my brothers. This Consistency challenges me to match it with my own Consistency. And Consistency is a mark of a leader.
Thanks for the Q invite SBR! And thanks to these pax for their Consistency and Commitment to keeping the flame of The Fort burning and their own along with it.
#KeepPosting
WARMUP: Run around the parking lot and end up at the bottom of the hill by the elementary school.
Jump Squats, SSH, Wind Mills
THE THANG: Ok, here's the deal. We're going to do things we've all done before however, we're going to do them in a sequence that is going to test our cardiovascular ability and muscular strength.
Sprint up to the entrance to the pull-up bars:
10 Merkins, 10 Squats, 10 Pull-Ups, Jog Down & plank for the six.
Sprint up again and this time, 8 of everything then jog down and plank.
Sprint up again and this time, 6 of everything then jog down and plank.
Spring up again and this time, 10 again of everything then stay at the top.
Now…the CINDY portion:
20 Thrusters & 20 American Hammers (no cindy)
Jog down to the stop sign and back
20 Tricep Extensions & 10 Man Makers
Jog down to the stop sign and back
20 Bent-Over Rows & 20 Simbas
Hold a squat and 20 Overhead Press (Crowd Pleaser)
Jog down to the stop sign and back
10 Core Wood Chops (Left & Right) & 10 V-Ups
20 Curls & 20 Calf Raises
Jog down to the stop sign and back
Return the cinderblocks and get back to a pull-up bar
5 Pull-Ups & 10 Knee Ups
Short Rest
5 Pull-Ups & 10 Knee Ups
Short Rest
1min Dead Hang
Back to COT for a little more Mary
MARY: Absolutely
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Right now, it's about Bethel signups.
COT: 5th Core Principle
WARMUP: Review the previous quadrants
THE THANG: Solid discussion around Legacy
MARY: had a little lamb
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Shady needs help moving in-laws
COT:
WARMUP: nah
THE THANG: Runners were told to go old Kingsley to new Kingsley for big loops.
Ruckers did old Kingsley and small loop at new Kingsley.
MARY: nope
ANNOUNCEMENTS: men’s shelter!!
COT: we did it! Prayers for family health, family dynamics, families with financial needs
WARMUP:
THE THANG:
MARY:
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
COT:
WARMUP: SSH, Cherry Pickers, Windmill, down dog, honey mooners, the lizard stretch.
Mosey to ROTC building and everyone grabbed a Cindy then mosey back to the flag.
THE THANG: Hero WOD for my father in law Steve. He is the reason I got into CrossFit years ago and once I quit doing that I got really out of shape. Found out about F3 and when I told him about it he was so excited for me. Pushed me to go all in and no quit, even brought me a workout rack from PA so I could do stuff at home as well. He pushed me to be better in all three F’s as well as to be a better husband and father.
He loved “grunt work” as he called it and he taught me more about construction in 12 years than most people get to know in a life time so only fitting everything was done with a colder block. He passed away at 55 so we did 5 sets of 5 exercises while listening to his favorite 80s hair metal bands.
5 rounds of 5 exercises all done with cinder blocks
Reps were 25,20,15,10,5
After each set of reps we ran about .1 mile
We started each exercise together so those who finished early held plank or Al Gore until 6 was in.
Exercises
Bent over rows
Push press
Power cleans
Squats
Thrusters
After we walked our Cindy’s back and moseyed to the flag for COT
MARY: had a little lamb to take care of so was not present today.
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Convergence tomorrow, bethel this week, read your letter of news
COT: was had and discussed
