14 pax posted to Alcatraz to get an early start to the weekend…well, 13 plus Pusher who posted as Bullwinkle was taking the crew out of the parking lot.  All veteran pax today, so limited Disclaimer and Bullwinkle (working his 2nd Q in 3 days) launched.

The Thang

Warm-up run to the cul de sac and back to the parking lot

COP — SSH, Prisoner Squat, Hillbilly Walker, Moroccan Night Club, Windmill

Mosey to the cones on the ball field

Bear crawl to first cone, Karaoke to the 2nd cone, Crabwalk to the 3rd cone, run to the 4th cone
(rinse & repeat for 4 total cycles)

Mosey back to parking lot and grab  coupon

Lunge walk across parking lot with coupon over head
LBCs x20 with coupon
(rinse & repeat back to other side of parking lot)

Squat x15 with coupon
Rows x25 with coupon
(rinse & repeat)

Return coupons

Handoff to Double D

Mtn Climber x20

Plank sequence

Mosey to home plate on ball field

Run to 1B 5 Merkins
Run to 2B 10 Merkins
Run to 3B 15 Merkins
Run home 20 Merkins
(Rinse & repeat 3 more cycles with Monkey humpers, CDDs & Freddie Mercurys)

Mosey to cones & partner up

Burpee cycle (split the aggregate number in whatever work for each pair)
Cone 1 = 5 burpees each (10 total)
Cone 2 = 10 burpees each (20 total)
Cone 3 = 15 burpees each (30 total)
Cone 4 = 20 burpees each (40 total)

Superman

Hello dollies x10

Flutter x 10

Penguin walk x10

Mosey home

COT

Naked man moleskin

ST ran into some scheduling challenges midweek and reached out for some help.  Since I’ve missed out on 1 (and maybe 2) Qs at Alcatraz over the winter/spring, I was happy to have the chance to be back in TC.  Inclusion of what was possibly  VQ with Bullwinkle was an extra teat.  Turns out Bullwinkle crushed his VQ at Footloose on Thursday, so he was more than ready to put some pain on the pax today.  Well done, brother!

Lots of mumble chatter among this group, led of course by Pusher and Change Order.  It certainly kept things lively throughout.

#Freedom is the theme for July.  We spent some time reflecting on the notions of Freedom FROM and Freedom TO.  The idea was to consider what obstacles are standing in the way of us seeing the beauty and abundance of the life that is around us everyday, but that we often miss among the busyness of our days and the negative messages from our culture/media.  Perhaps I need freedom from social media (Twitter, Facebook), TV/media, friends/colleagues who are bad influences, etc.  What might it be for  you that stands in the way of seeing the gift of a new day and the life associated with it?  What parts of your life do you want to be freed to choose to see or to live into as you move ahead?

Thanks to ST for the invite to Q.  Always an honor to be with the pax of Alcatraz!

 

TClap |
7

100 Degrees of Suck

It was Wednesday and it was hot!  Perfect time for my annual(?) Q at Run & Gun.  Following  a grueling itinerary of coast-to-coast travel over the prior 5 days, I was in deep need of a strong dose of 1st and 2nd F interaction.  This AO is the ideal spot for recharging following a morning in the Smartsack.  Two adventurous R&G regulars posted for the festivities.  With an abbreviated Disclaimer, the sweatfest began.

The Thang

COP — Mtn climbers x10, Parker Peters x10, Merkins x10, Peter Parkers x10, Bombjacks x10 OYO, Karaoke

Meandering run through Baxter neighborhood to the two-story office building at Market/Sutton intersection, run up stairs on one end, across second level, back down stairs and muster on ground level in the shade in the circular center section.

Time for the fun to begin.

10 Bombjacks OYO run center stairway & back down other center stairway
20 Bombjacks OYO run center stairway & back down other center stairway 2x
30 Bombjacks OYO run center stairway & back down other center stairway 3x
40 Bombjacks OYO run center stairway & back down other center stairway 4x

Mainframe spied a water fountain on 2nd level so we moseyed upstairs as part of recovery only to find it dry….was it a mirage?

40 Merkins OYO run center stairway & back down other center stairway 4x
30 Merkins OYO run center stairway & back down other center stairway 3x
20 Merkins OYO run center stairway & back down other center stairway 2x
10 Merkins OYO run center stairway & back down other center stairway

Mosey to Allison Park near Community House, suck down some warm water, splash some warm water from fountain on head, then mosey to playground in the shade

Surprise sighting of Geppetto in the woods!

30 Dips OYO
20 Dips OYO
10 Dips OYO

Run back home

COT

Naked Man Moleskin

Well, it was not 100 degrees officially, but I have to think the heat index was pushing that level.  The sweat came flowing quickly…and didn’t even let up during 2nd F.

It was great to be out at R&G again.  My mind and body scream at the thought of after-work workouts.  Almost 30 yrs of working out in the early AM gloom have conditioned me to think that is the only time to exercise.  Each time I post at R&G (which is admittedly rare), I am reminded of the value of breaking routine.  Corruption, please call me out periodically going forward!

We missed Bolt who was at the Beach.  We also missed Cable Guy for the 1st F portion…he continues to reside on the IR.  It was good to see him (and especially good to see him in good spirits) at Grapevine for Brewteria afterward.

Thanks to Corruption for his continued leadership and the regulars that keep R&G alive!  And thanks for the invite to Q.

TClap |
3

Time to find my Sea Legs

Good showing for an early Tuesday morning run. Quick disclaimer was given and route was explained. Runners took off from the Bowl n Bounce parking lot to run the Montgomery Loop. Quick stop to pick up Brickhouse who was coming in hot and a couple minutes late.

Great run, about 4.25 for most, with Witch Hunt and Royale hitting the bridge for some extra credit and finishing a little over 5.

Prayers for:
Andretti’s brother as he battles the return of his cancer.
NASA’s M as she deals with some challenges at work
Royale’s 2.0’s as they deal with summer illnesses

TClap |
0

Find Joy in the Pain

So YHC had spent the previous Saturday experiencing Base Camp in Asheville as a Nomad and wanted to bring some lessons, and some pain, back to the PAX of Lake Wylie. The original plan was changed as YHC learned just before launch of the passing of Flux’s grandmother at the age of 102.

The Thang

With the small group assembled and a quick disclaimer given we moseyed of towards the football field at Oak Ridge Elementary. PAX circled up and first exercise is…102 Burpees. This was met with some disbelief and a some unhappy comments. Original plan was 100, but 102 was the number to honor Flux’s grandmother. YHC must admit that I had the same response when I showed up to Base Camp and missed the disclaimer and launch.

As we pushed through the evolution YHC discussed a podcast the was on my mind from earlier in the week. It featured Joost Jansen, former Navy Seal and now military consultant in Hollywood. To sum up the message of his podcast, he talked about finding the joy in the pain that you are feeling. Without having been through anything remotely similar I tried to convey that message to the PAX. What is the reason you are here? Why did you show up today? What goal are you trying to accomplish? Find that reason, find that joy and you can accomplish anything.

With maximum effort the PAX completed their assigned Burpees and a few others pitched in to help and add motivation. With the Burpees complete and the PAX sufficiently warmed up, we moseyed over to the playground area for our second evolution.

The next evolution consisted of a circuit of 3 exercises and a lap around the grassy perimeter of the playground. Completion would be 7 rounds. The circuit is below.

5 x Pullups
10 x Lunges (double count)
15 x Squats

With the little time we had left YHC wanted to introduce an exercise that was learned at Base Camp, the Donkey Farmer. This little number is a partner exercise that starts in a standard wheelbarrow position. 1 rep consists of the PAX in plank position completing a Peter Parker followed by the standing partner completing a squat. PAX took turns completing 5 reps each before moseying back to COT.

Great push today by all the PAX. This was one tough hour.

TClap |
2

Golden Corral , buffet of choices

It was a humid July morning at 18 HIM met for a assortment of pain.  12 choose YHC for BC and 4 WhatDid ruck beat down.  Zima and MacGivor went for a sweat fest run.  The 12 boot campers went off with me.

20 SSH

  1. 20IW

20 Moroccan Nightclubs

run 100% across parking lot, 10 bombjacks

Set up for a Rock Hill Wakkers Starfish (Change Order new what was coming):

100 merkins

100 LBC

100  Squats

50 Pike Presses, between each stations 10 burpies

Next up a Merkin Wave for 7 rounds . Crowd pleaser.

Jack Webb

Sprint back across parking lot for 10 more bombjacks.

series of Wall Sits including each PAx doing Bear Crawls.

finish up with another set of merkin wave.

.Annoucements, praises and prayers.

read your newsletter.

Always an honor to lead.

 

 

 

 

 

TClap |
2

7-12-17 – BackBlast – Feeling Hateful at #TheCoop

Great crowd this morning. Sasquatch, Goose, Kielbasa, Huckleberry, Peabody, Casey Jones, Spitz, Sugarbug, Harry Carey, Wegmans, Chicken Wing, Dixie Chicken, Snap Hook, Crawdaddy, Router, What did, Training Wheels.

Here goes:

Mosey to the black top for warmup.

WARMUP

  • 30 Side straddle hops
  • 10 double count Merkins
  • 20 Mountain Climbers
  • 20 Peter Parkers
  • 20 Low Slow Squats
  • 30 Moroccan Night Clubs
  • 10 Windmills

Mosey past the pull up bars to the bottom of the hill by the Elementary school.

THE THANG

  • Partner up.
  • Partner 1 runs up the hill and does 10 pull ups. P2 stays at the bottom of the hill and does 10 Merkins then elbow planks until P1 gets back.
  • Flip flop
  • Rinse & repeat x2
  • Partner 1 runs up the hill and does 10 burpees. P2 stays at the bottom of the hill bear crawls up the hill to the first tree and then back down the hill (backwards) then elbow planks until P1 gets back.
  • Flip flop
  • Rinse & repeat x2

Mosey to the wall.

  • Wall sits
  • 10 4 count arm raises
  • 5 burpees
  • Wall sits
  • 10 4 count arm raises
  • 10 Merkins

Mosey back to the pull up bars

  • Back to partners
  • P1 does pullups to exhaustion
  • P2 does wall sits
  • flip flop
  • P1 does 10 toes to bar
  • P2 does wall sits
  • flip flop

Mosey to COT for…….Captain Thors all the way to 5 x 20.

Done.

 

 

TClap |
2

Squat’in on the dock of the lake…

Fifteen souls on deck this warm humid morning including the FNG who would later become… Nutshell.  I enjoy the look of confusion in peoples’ eyes when they show up to a workout and I’m already there- a flash of panic followed by a furtive glance at their watch.  Yes… I’ve crafted my reputation well- but unfortunately, being  Q is no last minute affair.  After some brief pleasantries and a firm word of caution we explode into a frenzy of motion on this finely moonlit morn.

The Workout

Open with a .7 warm up jog through the dark & gloomy residential loop behind the Y exiting and circling up at the Buster Boyd boat ramp.

  • SSH x 30
  • Imperial Walker x 20
  • Merkins x 15
  • LBC x 20
  • Russian twist x 15
  • Windmill x 20
  • Plank Jack x 15
  • Hello Dolly x 20

Split into 5 groups of 3 for a half-baked concept we’ll call the U-Turn.  Partner 1 is at  the Buster Boyd boat ramp doing Kraken burpees, Partner 2 is at the end of the T-Bones dock for squats, Partner 3 hauls ass between the two to take over the station and keep the cycle moving.  Awkward start, awkward finish, solid effort in-between.  Perhaps call it “euphemism” instead?

  • Moroccan night club x 30
  • Merikan x 10
  • Freddy Mercury x 20

Fast pace back to Bowl & Bounce for 2 circuits of Human Chair / Merkins on the wall / Ballz 2 the wall.

Finish with a mosey down to the front door of the Y and a strong gallop home to COT

Moleskin

  • Welcome FNG Nutshell, this guy kept a solid pace and was barely winded at the end.
  • Austin Powers is FAST- I hear the Benny Hill theme song each time he blasts past.
  • Thanks to the PAX for letting me know I was signed up for this Q- with friends like these, who needs twitter?

 

TClap |
10

Only you can define Moderate and reflection from my 30’s

After a 2 1/2 year Slowburn Q ban, YHC was honored to lead 24 #HIMS on a “Create you own Adventure” workout in the 80 degree 150% humidity gloom. After a brief discussion on the moderate and an even shorter disclaimer, we left the CFA parking lot destined for glory.

The Thang

Mosey down to the Parking lot in front of empire pizza. Circle up for:
SSH x 10
Windmills x 10
IW x 10
Peter Parkers x 10

Mosey to the lot in front of Charandas and circle up again
Slow Squats x 10
Slow Merkins x 10
Slow Sumo Squats x 10
Slow WideArm Merkins x 10

Mosey to the Parking lot next to what used to have the bouncy stuff and grab a piece of chalk. Talk the chalk and write an exercise in a parking spot and then write x 40 after it. Partner up and go to a parking spot to start. Do the exercise in the parking spot then run a lap around the bushes (about .08 per lap) and then go to a different spot. You and your partner decide which spots to go to and whether you want to do 40 each or 40 total (20 each).

Spots (exercises included)
LBC’s
Merkins
Burpees
Flutter
Dips
Plank Roes
Scorpion Dry Docks
WideArm Merkins
Freddy Mercury
Box Cutters
and more ab exercise

with about 8 minutes left to go YHC called time

Mosey over to strip in front of the stores as I gave a short testimony about reflecting on my 30’s (don’t worry the longer version is in my moleskin at the bottom). As promised, since its my Birthday everyone got a cupcake (its what we called a suicide growing up, but with youth taking their lives at a younger age due to the pressures put on them, we decided at Basketball to call them cupcakes no instead of suicides).

After the cupcake we moseyed back to CFA for COT and BOM

Announcements – CAH workout next Friday still looking for a Q (contact NASA if interested), F3 Dads this Saturday

Prayers – Smithers in-law close to passing from Cancer, Dark Helmets friend also close to passing from Cancer, Marriages, Qbert’sDar 64 year old father who lost his job yesterday

Moleskin
1. Would like to thank Barry Manilow for allowing be back to Q at this wonderful AO and to all the PAX who came out (or posted elsewhere) that have wished me a happy birthday.

2. Moderate – what does it mean. Well it all means something different to all of us, what it doesn’t mean is easy. Think about moderate this way. If i’m someone who doesn’t drink alcohol very often, 1-2 drinks may be a moderate amount. If I drink a little more frequently 3-4 or a six pack might be moderate. Whereas an alcoholic may think moderate is 7-8 drinks. The point is this applies to your fitness level as well. What I think is moderate may be different than what someone else thinks is moderate. The key is to keep posting and keep getting better.

3. Life in my 30’s – Short Version -turned 30 in 2007, seperated from wife and started going to church again in 2011, divorced finalized in 2012, started going to F3 in October 2013, lost my father to cancer in June 2014, got remarried in August 2015, turn 40 today. Now you see, its more complicated than that. Long Version – In 2007 i thought I had it all was married had a couple of dogs, had a job teaching and coaching, everything was good (just not great). But something in me wanted more. I wanted a family. At this point in my life I was working a lot and my wife at the time worked a lot too. We weren’t going to church, had no relationship with God/Jesus, and really had no time for each other. Was even told my wife at the time that she didn’t want me and that we didn’t have time to be intimate. I turned to Porn. When that wasn’t enough I cheated on my wife. That lead down the path to separation and divorce. It also lead me back to going to church and listening to God’s word. My divorce went final in October 2012. In December 2012 I started dating Elizabeth. In September 2013 we broke up. While broken up I decided to give this F3 thing a try. Santini Q’ed and I already knew half the guys as I was teaching/or had taught many of their kids. On that first Saturday in October in 2013 I struggled through the workout and was given the name Longshanks (evil king in Braveheart). I would post sometimes, just not often. In March 2014 I asked Elizabeth to marry me before heading off to a Spartan Race in Charlotte. She said yes. 3 days later my dad called to tell me he had Pancreatic Cancer, 3 months later he was gone. Married my M in August 2015, and turned 40 today.

4. Back when I was in my early 30’s I thought I had a good amount of guy friends, which may be kind of hard when you teach elementary school PE and there’s only 3-5 guys in the entire school. When I went through my separation and divorce I realized that the almost all the guys I considered my friends were actually just husbands of my ex-wifes friends. I had almost nobody to turn to. Luckily a few guys pointed me back to the church. I got involved in volunteering and being part of a mens a group. Shortly after that I started coming to F3, although at first I didn’t make it a workout priority, I would go on Saturdays if I woke up on time (not always easy when coaching and getting home late Friday nights). If I didn’t wake up to go to F3, I would just go to the gym and do a fern workout. I realized something was still missing so I made it a point to start going to F3 more often. About the same time I started going more often I engaged and that was celebrated by the PAX and my dad learned he had cancer and eventually passed and the PAX where there for me during that too. The thing I’ve realized over the last almost 4 years of coming to F3 is that as long as you are willing to be part of the PAX by posting regularly, the PAX will be there for you when you need it. I know that from being a part of F3, my faith is stronger, my relationship with my M is better, and I feel like a better leader in my house and my community.

5. Keep Posting. Keep mentioning your prayers and praises. Keep getting better!! We are all in this together.

Shanks out (mic drop)

TClap |
34

Squad Goals

20 Men (1 FNG) posted at the Swamp.  11 Ruckers went off to do Rucker things while 9 stayed with YHC for a little AMRAP.

 

We previewed the course and had a little COP including Windmills, Imperial Walkers, and Moroccan Night Clubs.

 

The Thang:

30 Minutes Partner AMRAP, Half a Mile Circuit with 7 stations:

  • 20 Merkins
  • 20 Big Boy Sit Ups
  • 20 Peter Parkers
  • 20 Parker Peters
  • 20 Carolina Dry Docks
  • 20 Side Straddle Hops
  • 1 Burpee x Lap Count

Moseyed to COT for 5 MOM:

  • Too many Flutters
  • Just enough American Hammers
  • A touch of Freddy Mercury

 

Naked Man Moleskin:

I had a Cake Boss worthy Homily to share this morning, but maintaining order is more important than imparting wisdom during the 1st F Q.  So, you get the abbreviated (and likely better thought out) version here.

At the beginning of the AMRAP, I asked the guys to partner up with a guy who was comparable fitness-wise.  I asked them to share how many laps they thought they could get around the course.  I have no idea what each guy said, but the intent was to push each other to meet that goal.  I stayed with the FNG and visiting Java from Raleigh.

The purpose of this, and what I wanted to close out with, is that if we aren’t setting goals, we are just going through the motions.  There was some chatter on the twitter machine about moderate workouts being #problematic.  Someone put it best when they said “as long as the guys are working to get better, that’s not an issue”.  So my question to all PAX, regardless of fitness level, is “what are your goals”.  My 1stF goals this year are to a.) run 1500 miles and b.) finish my second marathon in 3:30 or better for a PR.  The reason I put it here is because goals only matter if someone keeps you accountable for them (thus the partner AMRAP).

Every PAX should have a goal for all three F’s, because all 3 F’s are important.  Beyond the F’s, this branches out into your personal and professional life.

Set Goals, Don’t just Coast.   You’ll be amazed at what you can do.

 

Honor to Serve.

 

TClap |
30

Mid-Year Update on CAH Guidance

PAX:

As you all know, for the past few years F3 has been working with the Children’s Attention Home (CAH), AO “Guidance” in Rock Hill. For those not familiar with CAH, it is a place of healing, nurturing, love, and care for abused, neglected, and abandoned children of all ages. Originally named “Justice League”, this year the youth renamed it “Guidance”. The name fits perfectly. The PAX of F3 has had a growing presence there, with the mission being the same as F3 Nation:

The mission of F3 is to plant, grow and serve small workout groups for the invigoration of male community leadership.

It runs deeper than those words. Every other week older PAX meet up with the younger PAX residents (ages 11-18) there and workout, reinforce the 5 core principles, discuss what the three F’s mean and how they apply in everyday life, and also discuss the theme of the month. Plus, another impactful thing we do for them is spend time with the youth and let them know we care, they matter, and they are leaders waiting to blossom. More importantly, we reinforce that they are a vital part of something larger than themselves, they are all His Children, and He will always be there for them. For anyone in F3 for some time, we all know the immensely positive impact all of this can have on one’s life.

Myself, Chicken Hawk, and Reborn are in regular communications with the staff at CAH, and if anyone needs any proof of the positive impact F3’s presence is having on the youth there, here is some input offered by the Volunteer Programs Coordinator there as to what she has noticed this year:

  • She has seen Tristen (F3 Travolta) go from being a bully to a mentor to the younger children
  • She has seen Daniel (F3 Curry) work through differences with other children that he would previously fight with
  • She has seen Samaj (F3 Chihuahua) genuinely excited when he knows F3 is coming to the home
  • Plus. she has noticed that the boys bunk house has become the ‘choice assignment’ for the staff because of the transformation of the boys. Not long ago staff did not want to be assigned to it for their various duties. Now they ask for it because the boys have ‘settled down’, fight less, and are much more respectful towards them
  • In her words – This group of men are providing a model, giving hope and helping to influence a new outcome that likely wasn’t in these boys future

Glory be to God!! It is much more than exercises, funny names, unique lingo, and sweat that is making this happen. We are providing them a sense of community and belonging, discipline, mentorship, guidance, intentionality, love, care……all in a little of one’s own time. Combine that with His word, His mercy, His grace, and His love, it is clearly evident the positive impact we are making down there. It has been a blessing to have these youth in our lives, and watching them transform week to week.

None of this could have happened without the support of the F3 PAX who have taken their time to be there at CAH and make this difference happen. That impact has been made stronger by the PAX who have supported in whatever way they can – burpee challenge fund drive, snack drives, drink drives, Catawba river float, whatever. It takes effort to make a difference, and the greater the forces the greater the impact.

Keep up the great work, but by no means are we done. We will continue to need PAX support to continue to make this happen…..to plant, grow, and serve in order to invigorate.

Thank you for your efforts, and for being the HIMs you all are. God bless.
– NASA, Chicken Hawk, and Reborn

TClap |
10