7 true Block Party faithful posted for pain with a mystery Q.  The tweets went out Mon eve seeking insights and previews, and the pax were repaid with silence.  Two reasons — YHC has dropped Twitter off the phone for Lent AND YHC had failed to score a Q for this rodeo.  So, it was YHC on tap with a little help from the pax on the message for the day.  One FNG along for the ride, so full Disclaimer was announced and then the puck was dropped.

The Thang

Extended warm-up session using Drill Bit format with a mosey to each post around WEP and 3-5 exercises at each stop.

Mosey to the playground at whatever pace you want and plank up.

Partner up for next series, which included Partner 1 doing exercise while Partner 2 runs lap around playground.  #Flapjack.  Rest break after each sequence was filled with one of the pax sharing his personal views on who/where/how he seeks WISDOM.

Finish off w/Fellini leading final two exercises as test run for his VQ at Patriot 3/25/17.

Run home

COT

Naked man moleskin

Thank you to the Block Party regulars for posting despite the unannounced Q.  We now know who the diehards are.  Appreciate your loyalty!

Welcome to FNG/Nemo!  With pressure from WWL to post at WWL’s Thursday Q at The Ranch, Nemo decided he need a preview…perhaps he could get the Merlot Splash out of the way without his Duke Energy colleague as a witness.  Wise beyond his years!  He had no problem digesting this workout.  He even shared from the heart during the Wisdom session at the playground.  Great to have you on board for the ride at Block Party!

Shout out to Fellini who is tackling (by now he has tackled given the late posting of this BB) his VQ at Patriot.  He always offers great words in COT…thrilled to see him stepping into the center of the circle to share his brand of leadership.

Workout today was P200 friendly.  YHC turned out to be only pax running P200, so it ended up being a bit self-serving.

Quote of the day:
YHC to Nemo: What do you do for fitness?  Do you run?
Nemo: No, I am not a runner.
YHC: So I guess you are not doing P200 then.
Nemo: I did Hood to Coast

Message today was focused on the monthly theme of WISDOM.  For me, wisdom never comes unless I stop talking, shut out the ceaseless chatter in my head and truly LISTEN.  So the pax listened to each other share their perspective on the topic.  To sum it up, what I heard was that to gain wisdom you have to humble yourself to listen to other people, especially people different than yourself, and including people of all stripes from 6-year olds to criminals.  Glad I shut up for this one.

Thanks for joining, gents.  Always an honor.  Until next time…

23 pax saw the marketing campaign put on by YHC.  They were either a victim of pressing the flesh at a recent COT, checked out the media notifications on Twitter, or got text shamed.  And all of them showed up anyway!!!  Most probably thought – ‘Hey, Crab Cakes is always at the six.  How bad can it be?’.  Others thought – ‘Hey, it’s #BlockParty we never touch the grass anymore.’  All left rethinking what’s possible at #Block Party.

YHC wanted the pax to understand what we have here.  #BlockParty has been around a while.  We’ve been there a million times.  Every possible workout.  Every field.  Every parking lot in the 3 mile radius.  Every hill.  Every sidewalk.  Can seem a little stale.  But remember!  If it was all taken away – bet you would want it back.  It’s time to APPRECIATE what we have here at #TheFort.  Appreciate your pax to the left and to the right of you.  Appreciate your M, your 2.0s, your job, your health, your home, this community!  Ask our brother Solid State who had to move away and is trying to get it going in the Great White North.  Bet he’d love to run, and sweat, and get better around Walter Elisa Park and Downtown Fort Mill.  We must APPRECIATE, men.  It will add to your joy.

With that we set forth together for a #Six led workout.

The Thang:

Little baby job to the 160 lot for dynamic warmup.

High Knees

Butt Kickers

Shuffle right/Shuffle left

World Wide Leaders (trademark)

Toy Soldiers

Dying Soldiers (apparently too “dynamic” for some)

Long Strides/75% Sprint

There – you’re warmed up.  Little baby job to the Veterans Lot.

Socrates has a good memory (“Last time we were here he made us do burpee broad jump across the field.” Sounds like a great idea!)

Burpee Broad Jump across the field (Crowd Pleaser!)

Get into four groups, spread out and face the road for OVER/UNDERS

(Official Record: Package touched grass and cheated)

Partner up (Size kinda matters) for Partner Push/Sprint/Push

Flap Jack

Stick with your Partner for Perfect Push-Up/Partner Run

Flap Jack

Do it again

Do the same thing a third time (Crowd Pleaser!)

Little Baby Jog to the 160 lot for Mary – Flutters, LBCs, Flutters, Rosalita’s, Dollys, LBCs, Flutters

Jail Break to COT

Well done, gentlemen!  That was a good one.  Thanks to DD for inviting me to Q.  Truly an honor to lead such a great group of men.  Thanks to everyone for showing up and pushing through.  Great mumble chatter.  I appreciate each and every one of you and F3 Nation for what it’s done for me and my family.

Aye!

12 Pax took the DRP and posted in chilly conditions at Block Party this Valentines Day!

Karaoke
Toy Soldiers
Side Shuffle

-Low Slow Squat (15)
-Windmill (15)
-Imperial Walker (15)
-Merkin (15)
-Cherry Picker (15)
-Hillbilly Walker (15)
-Merkin (10)
-Drop Hips – Stretch
-Monkey Humpers (15)

Aggregate Combined Partner Work*:
-100 Merkins
-200 Squats
-300 LBCs

*One partner ran while the other partner did aggregate work (swap out)

Sequence of Three:
-LBC (15)
-Low Flutter (15)
-Shoulder Clap (20)

-Dolly (15)
-Low Flutter (15)
-Shoulder Clap (20)

-Russian Twist (15)
-Low Flutter (15)
-Shoulder Clap (20)

Jack Web (1 to 4): Merkin to Over Shoulder Claps – up to 6 Merkins

Jack Web (1 to 4): Big boy sit-ups to Russian Twist – up to 4 BBS

COT

When Double D asked me to take the Q, I noticed my palms began to sweat.  I know you’re thinking, Cornhole sweating that’s not surprising.  Anyway, I started thinking, when’s the last time I’ve Q’d or even been to WEP outside of Convergent type activities.  Question’s started forming like: Do they still work out in the grass?  Do they use the hill?  Where is the closet parking lot?  Where is this Stairway to Heaven they mentioning in the back blasts?  Is that near the gun shop?  Deep Breath! You’ve Q’d lots of workouts.  Relax.  Think. Think.

After revisiting the purpose of this AO is to relearn things forgotten and helping others I knew exactly what I would focus on.  As Q’s “YHC included here” we are always thinking of ways to push each other and usually focus our attention on challenging the fittest PAX that show up and secretly hoping that those less able chose another AO.  As a result, the six is left chasing the group, sometimes catching the group just in time for them to take off again.  Having spent and still spending a great deal of my beat downs as the six I know this doesn’t need to be the case.

The Thang,
Dynamic Warm up using paved path around park (Light Jogs, High Knees, Butt Kickers, Side Shuffles)  Stopping at Corners to perform 10 ea in cadence: SSH, Slow Squat, Mt Climbers, Lounger, Merkin.  Mosey to next corner with dynamic exercises.  By doing this Run, Stop, Exercise, Run again allows PAX to stay together, lots of mumble chatter and modification by those that need it.

After the first round had PAX perform the cadence counts.  Started with those that have never Q’d a workout.  Everyone did great.  There were some adjustments/heckling needed but that’s why we practice.  Look forward to attending one of your Q’s in the near future.

Mosey to Playground (Partner Up – Size does not matter)
P1 makes a lap around playground (When did they add on that other section?)
P2 Performs Exercise,
Flapjack 2x Pull-ups, LBC’s until all finished – Yes this includes you Dark Helmet
Then CDD, LBC’s until all finished
Russian Dips LBC’s until all finished
For some reason YHC kept forgetting to take the second lap appreciate Cha-Ching holding me accountable.

Discussed story from The Swamp a couple weeks ago and how our intentionality of posting to workouts, 2nd F’s and 3rd F’s is bringing awareness to others.  Shows that we are a group that takes action.  Disciplined to not let the elements, others judgments sway our actions.  Committed to holding ourselves and others accountable.

Mosey to COT.
Thanks Double D for reaching out and holding me accountable.  Was great to get back to Block Party.

Honored to lead and follow this morning.  This is a very lively group and will definitely be back to take part in one of your Q’s.

Cornhole

12 Pax posted to Block Party to  put the finishing touches on Month 1 of 2017 and get a preview of Month 2’s theme of “Intentional.”

As we stood there in the gloom on the last day of January 2017, 1/12 of the year was almost in rear view mirror — are you happy with where you stand for the year so far?   Time goes by quickly, and goals and One Words don’t take care of themselves without intentional focus and effort.  After the Disclaimer, the pax were presented with two questions:

1. What are you committed to in 2017 (ie, goal, one word, resolution, purpose or person)?
2. What is the one exercise that you dread the most at any workout?

Pax were then instructed to pick a partner and share their answer to #1 with the partner so that today’s workout could be dedicated to that intention and their answer to #2.

The Thang

Warm up in the parking lot — Mtn climbers, Peter Parkers, merkins, SSHs, Squats

Warm up run along path w/Karaokes, butt kicks, high knees & toy soldiers

COP for some first time leadership by Fellini (Merkins x10, CDDs x10) and Fat Boy (SSHs x20, Bear Crawl).

Muster at the first post for Drillbit Session #1 — One lap around path with stops at each post where pax will do exercise they hate the most x10.  Wait for group to finish before moving to next stop.

COP for more first timers — Sauerkraut (Windmills x15, Merkins x10) and Kooter (IWs x15, Pull-ups x10).

Muster at post for Drillbit Session #2 — One lap around path this time doing your partner’s exercise at each post.

Monkey humpers x15

Makhtar N’Dyae x10

Run home

COT

The message today related to being Intentional.  The first step is to set your mind on a direction.  It is best if you state it or put it to paper.  And highlighting your weakness or an obstacle to getting there is also important.  Sharing these with a partner who will hold you accountable can be a big help in keeping yo on track.  Encouraging another man with his intention can also help inspire you to hold true to yours.  The pax experienced a taste of all of this today.  There is still time to pick a word, goal, intention, purpose to 2017.  Eleven months remain.  This is also time to consider the Whetstone program as a structure to help you grow.

Solid work today by all the pax.  Cha-ching and MP were partners and both picked  burpees as their exercise — which meant 100 burpees!  Great effort by everyone.

Speaking of getting a taste, 4 pax had not yet experienced a VQ, so they responded to the ad hoc challenge to step up and lead from the center for two exercises each — nice work!

Great to see Sauerkraut posting for the 3rd time in 4 days!

Outstanding teamwork and perseverance by the #Respect tandem of Hee Haw & Fellini!

Always an honor to lead gents.  Thanks for posting and pushing each other.  Keep it up for the next 11 months!

A cool 13, bakers dozen if you will, slowly emerged from their vehicles to conquer the gloom at Block Party.  It was an honor to lead the Pax physically and spiritually with the purpose of getting better.

THE MESSAGE:

In my 4 years of being a Q the message has always been the most challenging part of being a Q.  The first F workout plan is put together based on where I’ll be but the message requires much though and refinement to tailor to the Pax.  It is nothing more than what is on my heart but it requires some introspection to understand how to apply.

The reality is that your message of what is on your heart will benefit others.  Your experience or trial can help others going through similar trials. We have three bible studies but we have something like 50 AOs where a message can be shared each week that will help sharpen a man in your midst.

Marriage: three keys that you can control.  1 understand what your wife needs from you 2. Serve her the way she needs to be served 3. Bring the lord into your marriage. Read the Bible and pray together

THE THANG:

Start with some running stretch of high knees, butt kickers, karaoke, side shuffle etc.

Mosey to the top of the parking lot for COP

Cop shared with Mccracken, thank you for stepping up and out of your comfort zone brother!  Included in COP was SSH, Windmills, Merkins, mountain climbers, imperial walkers and some other fun to stretch and prepare for the main event.

Mosey to the Hill – ladder increase by 2s (i.e. from 2 – 10 at the top of the hill)

  Burpees

  Rinse and repeat with Bomb Jacks

Courtyard (20, 10, 5)

  Wall jumps or step ups

  Dips

  Derkins

Wall 

  Muscle ups

  Handstands

  Wall sit with air press

End with Some Mary on the nice not-so-smooth pavement at COT

It was an Honor, thank you to Double D and to F3 for the opportunity to lead and to make myself better.

CH

Six pax took their chances with the weather and posted to a soggy (yet not too cold) WEP. YHC was humbled by the opportunity to Q at AO. The theme of this workout would be my word for 2016, “attentional”, which is quickly described as a combination of “intensional” and “mindful”.

Warm-up-o-rama

Run to small parking lot (between WEP and the Springs building) for warm-up part 1
* SSH x25
* Mountain Climbers x15
* Regular Squats (not low-slow) x10

Run to brick garden area near Springs building entrance for warm-up part 2
* Windmills x10
* Crab Cakes x10
* Morning Wood x10 OYO

Quick discussion about personal “Word of 2017”. Choose, Committed, Discernment were words picked by pax for the new year. YHC’s word for 2016 was “attentional”, which is not just paying attention to detail, but also being aware in the moment – NOT doing things in automatic mode. One area I still need to work on being attentional is in prayer. What are areas other packs feel they need to be attentional? Having a partner can help you be attentional by holding you accountable and paying attention to things you miss.

Pax asked to partner up before moseying to driveway beside Hobo’s

Two “attentionality” considerations when leading a workout:
* 1. Planning –
* Taking time to plan and prepare shows you take the Q responsibility seriously.
* Don’t do it for self glory. Do it for the F3 mission.
* 2. Execution –
* Be thoughtful and mindful as you lead
* Be observant of the pax how attentional they are. Help them be more mindful, when you can and where appropriate.
* Note places where attentionality tends to drift, and use that info for helping plan your next workout.
* An attentional workout is much more engaging, and much more likely to bring someone back

The Thang

Partner 1 runs lap
Partner 2 hits the circuit
* 5+n Burpees
* 10+n Crab Cakes
* 10+n LBCs
* 7+n Morning Woods
* 15+n Dips
n = number of combined laps by team

Most teams got about 7 rotations in before we ran out of time.

Back at COT, YHC mentioned that the litmus test for planning and leading an F3 workout is to ask yourself “Will this help the mission? Will this help to plant, serve, or grow small workouts for the purpose of invigorating male leadership in the community?”

I tried to keep us out of the swampy grass, but Cooter still was wishing for his dry yoga mat for the most of the workout. All the pax seemed to have choice words for the Morning Wood station of the circuit. No one could figure out which muscle groups it actually was helping to strengthen.

It was a pleasure serving the pax this morning. Thanks, DoubleD for the opportunity!

Block Party was a sellout this morning with 22 pax punching their ticket for the unveiling of Figaro as Q.  The man did not disappoint, and the critics will be raving.

The Thang

Run to Founders parking lot

COP

SSH x30

Windmill x20

IW x20

Moroccan nightclubs x50 (so much for warm up!)

Merkins x15

LBCs x20

Flutters x20

Run to top of road by gun shop and partner up
Partner 1: Run to bottom of hill and AYG back up
Partner 2: Continuous LBCs
Flapjack
Rinse & repeat 2x w/Merkins on 2nd round and Flutters on 3rd round

Mosey to wall at Springs building

People’s chair
Lunge walk across parking lot
Wall pull-ups OYO x10
Rinse & repeat sequence

Mosey back to WEP circle

Run to top of Stairway to Heaven and back down
Freddie Mercury OYO x10
Rinse & repeat sequence

COT

Naked Man Moleskin

Stellar VQ by Figaro!  Stepping out of his comfort zone in the back of the pax, our brother nailed a 45-minute first-time effort with no assistance, including a solid message on #Hope (no matter what your struggles are — we all have them — hold on in your current days so you can enjoy better life in your latter days).  T-claps!  Thanks for leading and challenging the pax!

Speaking of struggles, Rock Thrill delivered a heart-felt challenge to the pax to support York County residents seeking to overcome addiction by registering for the Joe Davis Run.  Just do it!

S/O to our brothers from The Rock, who posted to support Figaro.  Great to have you up in The Fort for the Block Party adventure.  No shortage of barristers on hand to keep everyone in line.

Thanks for the energy and spirit everyone brought today.  You’d think it was Christmas week or something…

Have a merry one!