P.S.A attendance is highly recommended. March 27th mark your calendars. F3 St. Louis very own Miyagi and Aerobie has brought light to a sensitive subject that’s right Suicide-mental health awareness. A subject we try and avoid talking about at all or till it’s to late. YHC will be on Q at the Panethon if you can’t make it to the west side of town Stang is on Q at Tomahawk and will also discussing the subject.
I am encouraging you to step up and share your experience. Whether it be about yourself or family member or even a friend. YHC will testify how this subject has effected my life. Please remember what we talk about in COT stays in COT it’s okay to be vulnerable. We are stronger together rather than alone.
Quotes
Don’t be ashamed of your story it will inspire others. Author Unknown
“You don’t have to control your thoughts. You just have to stop letting them control you.”
”I hide all my scars with an I’m fine.”
The bravest thing I ever did was continuing my life when I wanted to die. – Juliette Lewis
The world is a better place with you in it.
Suicide doesn’t end the chances of life getting worse, it eliminates the possibility of it ever getting any better. – unknown
Are you prepared to challenge your self for 2019? I am challenging all Pax’s to join me for 2019 we will take on one exercise for January (merkins single count) 100 reps every day. Then in February we will add another exercise which will be done every day on top of the 100 merkins and so on and so on. We will increase by adding one exercise each month. These exercises will be above and beyond when you post. So by the end of the year there will be 12 exercises that need to be done everyday at the reps set.
Do you accept the challenge? Do you want to get better?
I will set the next month exercise and reps the week before to keep you on your toes
It was a great morning of mumble chatter especially Rebel and Fogerty jabbing about wearing tights in 50 degree weather and using the M’s yoga mats.
Sasquatch led us in Broga and we don’t know our Right and Left but we know where the Waffle House is and where the Bank is so we were able to follow instructions.
YHC gave a simple tapper run for the crew down Regent Parkway to apartments and up Pikeview to back gate through Keswick neighborhood back to Regent Parkway straight back to COT for a 3mi fellowship run
Good coffeteria chat and quality time with the PAX
Thanks for the Q and Sasquatch and Bassomatic’s leadership at this AO……strong!!
Today was my 50th Birthday and Maximus allowed me to lead a Beyond so that I could take some extra time to discuss somethings that I have been pondering as I approached this milestone birthday. To go along with our monthly theme of Vulnerable I took the opportunity to share some struggles as well. With that we moseyed.
Warm up of SSH, Imperial walkers, Squats, Mountain Climbers, Merkins, and Plank Jacks
Moseyed to Rite Aid parking lot(some chatter about too much running, but I ignored it).
Sharing time #1 – Shared with the Pax that I feel like 30 year old me would have thought that 50 year old me would be “further along”. Further along Professionally and Financially, Further along Spiritually and in Family. In 2001 I was recruited to Charlotte for a position with a new company, for a salary that I thought would be my ticket ahead. I had great plans that I could do this for a bunch of years, make a bunch of money and then I could check out and go do something that I wanted to do , maybe full time ministry or teaching. Within 1 year it all blew up, I was demoted for not doing a good job, salary was slashed plans were gone. 17 years later we’re still feeling the affects.
First circuit – Partner up – Partner 1 does People’s Chair Partner 2 does a lap, then flip it. Next Partner 1 does Plank, Partner 2 does a lap, flip it. Next Partners do 100 Merkins as a team, 1 runs I does Merkins, flip it.
Sharing time 2 – Felt like I would be further along spiritually. 30 year old me would have thought I would have gotten past my need for man’s approval. I would have thought that the sins that tripped me up back then would be conquered and pride & lust would no longer be an issue foe me, but they are still there. Felt like I would be further along in family & parenting. My plan was to be an empty nester at this point, but here I am with a 7th and 9th grader still at home, and t top it off I’m not particularly better at parenting then I was when I 30.
Circuit #2 Partner again – Lap #1 Partner 1 does Al Gore Partner #2 does a lap. Lap #2 Partner 1 does Flutters Partner 2 does a lap. Lap #2 Team does 100 Big Boy Sit ups total while 1 partner runs.
Sharing time 3 – The truth is that when I look at my life with clear eyes I can see that my life has been Blessed beyond measure! I have a job that I mostly enjoy, and work with great people(shout out to Royale) and I am well compensated. I have a beautiful wife of 26 years and we have a great marriage that keeps getting better. I have 5 awesome kids who are healthy and bring me great joy, and sometimes frustration. To add to it I have found this thing called F3 and a group of friends and Brothers that I never even knew I needed! To see my 50 year old life s anything but blessed is ridiculous.
Off to COT for 2 minutes of Mary
Final share – What I have found is that the only times that I get down about where I am at 50 is when I look around me at others and I compare myself to what my perception of them is. This can lead to pride but for me it mostly leads to despair. What I am trying to learn is contentment as Paul describes it in Phil. 4, whether he had much or little Paul was content. The source of this contentment is found in Phil. 3 where Paul shares that all of his achievements, any possession he may have or any legacy he may be able to boast about , all of is it is worthless, or as he calls is a big pile of manure, compared to knowing Christ. Paul says he has 1 aim, and that is to Know Christ!! The secret Paul learned is that all he need was Jesus and if he had Jesus he had all he needed, and if he had Jesus, he could never lose him so therefore he could always be content. In whatever amount of years I have left let this be my aim; that I may know Christ!!
Maximus offered me the opportunity to lead a BEYOND workout, and it only felt right to do it at The Badger… He told me to pick the topic and I got to work. I wanted to take it a step further since it was a BEYOND Badger… so instead of one long grueling workout, I chose a few. Makes sense, right?
My topic was Passive Leadership. Something I struggle with constantly. No matter how “great” I feel I am doing as a leader, I tend to slow down and mentally rest. I let my life lead itself and when I’m not behind the steering wheel, the wheels fall off.
Apathy/Indifference – feeling indifferent or lacking emotion Passivity – accepting what happens without active response or resistance
Poor leadership has many faces… but passivity in my opinion is a main root of the issue.
COP (All Workouts Derived from the Exicon!)
11 of each for (Observed) Veteran’s Day
SSH
Sun Gods (Arm Circles)
Moroccan Night Clubs
Windmill
Hairy Rockettes (Reverse Windmill, Toes reach up to hands)
Tappy Taps
Carolina Dry Docks
Merkins
Peter Parkers
Calf Raises
Low Slow Squat
Al Gore’s in a circle while I talked.
Ephesians 5:25 – Husbands love your wives as Christ loves the church.
I made a vow at the time I proposed to my wife that I wouldn’t be the typical American male who is distant from his family and doesn’t love or support them if their needs aren’t being met. I was on fire at that point in my life, leading and loving like God designed me to do. I felt unstoppable at accomplishing a love that no man had ever felt. Then I started to get in the way…
The great part about the Honey Badger is we get to honor men who didn’t lead passively.
We finished the warm up and moseyed over to the badger den’s infamous pull up bars.
Ryan – Firefighter Hero WOD
5 Rds
7 Muscle UPS or Pull UPS/DIPS
21 Burpees
LBC’s while we waited for the group to finish. Gotta keep adding to the November count!
Drop down to Al Gore to keep the conversation going.
Somewhere along the way… I lost sight of my vow and decided that I wanted to pursue my own fulfillment over my wife’s. It ended up as you’d imagine. We fell away from each other while trying to conceive. I couldn’t think about her pain during the two years we tried, all I could think about was myself and how ready or not ready I was. We reached a point of pursuing fertility treatment – and by we I mean she decided and I didn’t really give any input. We were at the decision point to take hormone shots. Without consulting her or even thinking of her feelings, I backed out and decided for us to let it happen naturally. Needless to say I broke a lot of trust and I reaped the fruit of passive leadership. It was a hard fought battle to regain the trust I broke, but we made it back. All because I led apathetically.
Can you imagine how giving our all, all the time could have an impact? Would you rather be consistently good or inconsistently great?
Mosey to the track to take part in hero workout number two.
Griff
2 Rds
800 m run forward
400 m run backward
Pick up the six and run with him to the end. The guys planked while we did so.
We ran short so couldn’t do our third hero WOD, but I’m pretty sure everybody was okay with that. We moseyed back to COT for my message to come to a close.
Drop into Al Gore once more to finish the conversation.
I took the difficult time and raw relationship to heart, and was really helped by God and a few good men at my Church in MD. We conceived our daughter and that really helped bring us out of the pit. I vowed not to let our family growth become a wedge and would do my best to lead my wife through whatever comes next. That doesn’t mean I’ve been without issue. Things are constantly changing, and I have to remain in the lead for my wife and children’s sake. If I fail, their chances of failing increase exponentially. I need to keep my head up and lead in a way that will bear the right fruit for all.
Ephesians 5:33a – However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself
A few thoughts…
My life and how fast things change… my daughter will be four in five days. How did that happen? How did I blink and she get this old? Where did I fail? Where did I succeed? How does apathy/passivity cause you to miss things?
A lot of the things that take my focus away have nothing to do with my family. Work, friends, social media, keeping up with sports, golf, hobbies, drinking beer, music, news and politics. Some things take my family time away that are very productive. Church, volunteering at church, F3, working out. Some may have a positive impact on my family life but most of the time take away from my time with my family.
What’s more important?
End with LBCs x 16 IC until the clock struck 6:00.
14 men awoke to not so bright/wet conditions and converged in the gloom of the hallowed ground at The Swamp for a Beyond message from YHC. Here’s what went down
The Thang: Mosey to the alley behind Home Depot for a perfect location to perform the BLIMPS workout and grab some wall for 1-min wall-sits in between each as their active rest, allowing YHC to convey the message for today. At each 1-min sit, YHC shared what has been on his heart about sacrifice. This is defined as something that is a loss or something you give up for the sake of a better cause. Approximately 1-year ago, my wife and I were celebrating her completion of treatment for Breast Cancer. Surgery, radiation, DNA testing, doctors, etc…pronounced her as Cancer Free and we returned to our routine. Our faith had been a anchor throughout and continued to grow thru prayer and my F3 brothers and Journey group, yet I had one main question. How did this trial change us and by us I mean, me and my role as a husband, father and leader of my home. I realized how consumed I was with my martial arts training, races, Goruck events, etc..that I was actually not IN my home very much. That which I thought was making me healthier, stronger and better for my family had me gone for large amounts of time from them.
Time for a sacrifice! I am going on year of stepping away from all those things that took me away from her and the kids to activities to do together and that were important to her! She never once asked for this and struggled with me giving it up after so long but it’s been the best decision of my life. God has changed my path for the better by sacrificing what I thought was important to what is truly important.
Sacrifice will lead you to make significant choices. But being a husband and father is a significant experience!
B 5 Burpees OYO, followed by 10 SSH IC
1-min wall sit L 10 Lunges each leg OYO, followed by 10 SSH IC
1-min wall sit I 15 Imperial Walkers IC, followed by 10 SSH IC
1-min wall sit M 20 Merkins OYO, followed by 10 SSH IC
1-min wall sit P 25 Plank Jacks, followed by 10 SSH IC
1-min wall sit S 30 Squats, followed by 10 SSH IC
Mosey to the large parking lot for some 4-corners of Blimps! Total of 6 laps around the parking lot stopping at each corner to perform the exercise. First (1) lap: 5 burpees @ ea corner (2) lunges (3) 15 IW (4) 20 merkins (5) 25 plank jacks (6) 30 squats (stop at end of each full lap to wait on the 6 with planks; modified the M, P, & S
Return for COT and some last words: Identify that thing in your life that you may be placing your identity in that may be causing you to miss the mark of your Concentrica Bullseye!
Good work, men. It was an honor to lead you this morning.
As most of the PAX in the Fort and Rock regions knows my 5 year old daughter (Emma) is a leukemia survivor. We still make a trip every 4 weeks to get blood drawn to check her counts at Levine Children’s Hospital. We also stepped up and raised money last year (Christmas time) for a fellow brother bout-time out of Area 51 son Jennings who has leukemia also.
It has come to my attention that the budgets have been cut in some of the pediatric departments and the first thing to go is usually the character band aids. You say how important is to have these band-aids? Well as far as the cancer kids go every time the have their PORT’s (Port is a small medical appliance that is installed beneath the skin. A catheter connects the port to a vein) which for some kids is traumatic they get a band-aid over it. For others that are done with treatment such as my daughter Emma has to go back for the next 21 years to get checked (mainly blood counts). This not always easy for instance this past Wednesday she was poked 3 times. Well at the end the band aid can put a smile on a child’s face. This also goes for those kiddos that have to constantly get blood work done not just cancer kids.
So what I am challenging you to do is every week you go grocery shopping buy at least one box or more of character band-aids girls or boys. Also Spread the word in every COT. I will tweet out what AO’s I will be at and if anyone wants to step up and help me collect that would be awesome.
I also challenge others in different regions to pull together and do the same thing. My goal is to gather as much as possible and split it between Levine Children’s Hospital and Novant Health Hemby Children’s Hospital (St. Jude Affiliate Clinic) before Christmas.
Let a simple act of kindness put a smile on a little fighters face.
12 pax took to the gloom for a Beyond workout. Beyond workouts are a normal workout, the Q is challenged with share something meaningful, something they are struggling with. For me, its addiction to work.
Disclaimer was given and we moseyed.
Dynamic warmup, side shuffle, karaoke, toy soldiers, walk on tip toes, lung walk, high knees/butt kicks, and of course power skips!
Mosey
COP – SSH, squat, merkin, morracon night club, IW, flutter kick, american hammer
20 burpees OYO
Switzer:
Work addiction, often called workaholism, is a real mental health condition. Like any other addictions, work addiction is the inability to stop the behavior. It often stems from a compulsive need to achieve status and success, or to escape emotional stress. Work addiction is often driven by job success. More common among perfectionists.
My wife has told me I have a problem… jokingly or not… she’s said it.
I NEVER leave my work laptop at work, haven’t done in 10 years I’ve been with the company. I’m always connected, phone, email, in my head. When I go on vacation. When i come home. I wake up early and send an email to myself to remind of to do xyz…
Last week alone I stayed up until past midnight working three nights in a row… my wife texted me to come to bed…
Mosey to Target
Suicide, 5 burpees at the start line and 10 merkins at each ball, plank when done
Bearcrawl to ball, 10 squats, lung walk to next ball, 10 squats, alternating until reach the end.
Mosey to COT.
We live in a culture where hard work is praised and putting in overtime is often expected, it can be difficult to recognize work addiction. People with a work addiction will often justify their behavior by explaining why it is a good thing and can help them achieve success. Want to appear committed to their job or the success of their projects.
However, ambition and addiction are quite different.
Symptoms of a work addiction include:
-putting in long hours at the office, even when not needed
-losing sleep to engage in work projects or finish tasks
-being obsessed with work-related success
-having intense fear of failure at work
-being paranoid about work-related performance
-having a defensive attitude toward others about their work
-using work as a way to avoid relationships
-working to cope with feelings of guilt or depression
-working to avoid dealing with crises like death, divorce, or financial trouble
I’ve never spent as much time/effort/focus that I do on my work projects/priorities as do for my family or personal goals. Have I ever planned a vacation like I plan a $100M project.
I was putting my 1 yr son to bed the other night, I was in a hurry, so I could fire up the laptop to work.
Be conscious of what we idol and prioritize, hold each other accountable, listen to your spouse or kids, when they say something, something is wrong.
It was an honor to be asked by Maximus to Q a Beyond Workout and after many days of juggling other commitments on the calendar, we ended up at Laces In. Thank you Lil’ E for allowing us to move in on your territory on this date. This Q was not that difficult to build as I have had plenty of time to work on it. Also, this BackBlast is a little different with the NMM at the beginning. The rest is below.
I had previously asked the PAX to warmup before the start time. However, just in case there were some who showed up cold, we did a quick warmup with 5 Burpees & 20 SSH’s in Cadence.
Let’s Go Beyond!
NMM
I Cor. 15:58 ‘Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.’
In the age of trains and cars, but before automatic crossing gates, the incidence of trains and cars intersecting at the railroad crossing often delivered disastrous results. Drivers of cars never seemed to see the train coming. The continued disruption with trains and cars brought forth the creation of the crossing guard position. The crossing guard was in a shack by the railroad crossing 24/7, with the train schedule, a lantern and the task of being on the road, at the crossing, waving a lantern to warn cars that a train was coming through.
One dark and stormy night, even with a crossing guard on duty, another tragic crash occurred. A lawsuit was filed by the aggrieved party (car). Who was at fault in this tragedy? Was it the car? Train? Crossing guard?
As the lawsuit proceeded in court, the judge begins his line of questioning to the crossing guard, “Were you there that night?”
Under oath the crossing guard replies, “Yes.”
Continuing with his line of questioning, the judge continues, “Did you have your train schedule?”
To which the crossing guard replies, “Yes.”
“Were you standing in the road at the appropriate time waving your lantern?” asks the judge.
“Yes,” replies the crossing guard.
The judge rules and finds in favor of the railroad, no damages and they were not liable for the tragedy. Upon leaving the courtroom, a spectator hears the crossing guard say, “Whew, sure am glad they didn’t ask whether the lamp was lit.” Moral to the story, don’t forget to ask if the lamp was lit. The judge asked the crossing guard all kinds of questions, but he did not ask the obvious, “Was the lamp lit?”
As we go through life, we are given many opportunities to ‘wave our lanterns’. Opportunities at home, at church, at work, in the community, etc. As a Christian, I can carry my Bible, act morally, share with my F3 brothers, those at work and in my home. I can attend church and participate in all sorts of ministries through the it and outside of it. However, if I do all of these things without my lamp being consistently lit, I do them in vain.
The verse from I Corinthians says we should always abound in the work of the Lord. It does not say, when you are at work, abound; or when you are at a workout, abound; at church, abound. It says ALWAYS.
This is something I think about regularly. It is easy for me to be joyful with my F3 brothers, those at my church, and even those at work. It is also easy to discuss salvation and what it means to me.
However, I am not as consistent when it comes to my own home. We get on a good roll, but it always seems that busyness and life takes over, and the first thing that is affected is my joyfulness at home and good discussions on our faith. So, as I start each day, I ask God to grant me a day where I can be a light for him no matter where I am at or who I face, especially at home. I have to request this because I know I need his help.
Are you waving a lantern that is not lit today? Is your lamp lit in most places, but not in some? Where do you need to ask for help from God and your F3 brothers to help you keep your lamp lit consistently?
Always abound in the work of the Lord, and your work will not be in vain. Make sure you are not just waving your lantern. Make sure your lamp is consistently lit.
WARMUP
See above.
THE THANG
After the warmup YHC requested that the PAX perform 5 burpees. From that point to the end of the WO we performed 5 burpees at the beginning of each round of exercises and at the end, with the exception of a few.
We quickly moseyed over the the large parking lot where I requested that the PAX circle up and perform the following in cadence: Merkins, CDD’s, Alternating Lunges, and V-Ups.
We took another quick mosey another parking lot where we performed Wide Arm Merkins, Pike Presses, Low Slow Squats, and American Hammers.
We took another quick mosey another parking lot where we performed Diamond Merkins, Dips, Low Slow Jump Squats, and LBC’s.
We took another quick mosey another to the front of the stadium we performed Hand Release Merkins, CDD’s, Alternating Jump Lunges, & Big Boy SitUps.
Then we took a mosey over to the Stadium and a small wall where we performed: Irkins, Dips, Step-Ups, & Derkins.
Then we took a mosey back to the COT for some blast off merkins, squats, and big boy sit-ups while I discussed the NMM.
The burpees were the constant in everything and if I forgot them, the PAX reminded me we didn’t perform them. As we went through the workout and I had some time, which was limited, I spoke about the NMM while doing planks or Al Gore’s. The completion came at the end.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
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Hurricane Florence Relief Efforts-Watch Twitter.
Sept. 29-6-Yr. Birthday Convergence at The Fort-0600.
Oct. 13-Poverty Simulation-0900-1200/First Baptist Church Fort Mill.
On Friday, September 21st, we will celebrate 6 years of Fitness, Fellowship, and Faith in the Fort Mill area with our annual F3 Invergence party. Bring a beverage, some food to share, and enjoy a relaxing evening with your brothers. We’ll have presentations from your local leadership, take a look back at the previous year, and look ahead to what’s in store for 2019 F3 The Fort and F3 Nation. This is the premier 2nd F event of the year so mark your calendars now, and plan on being at Rush Pavilion on Friday night, September 21st.
This is a great FNG opportunity!
This is a Pax only event. Make it up to your M and 2.0’s next weekend.
What: Fort Mill Invergence (6th anniversary party)
When: Friday, September 21, 5:30pm – 10:00pm
Where: Bruce T. Rush Pavillion at the Anne Springs Greenway
Bring: Food, drink, chair, cash (to cover the pavillion rental/donations to the F3 Foundation)
Please use the link below to RSVP and list what food you will bring:
6th year F3 The Fort Invergence Food Sign Up: