Category: Block Party

Clown Cars from the Fort for 1/1

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Gentlemen (and the rest of you):

I can’t speak for everyone, but I can speak for me, so I will. On 1/1/16, all PAX of F3 Nation have been invited to celebrate the 5th anniversary of this crazy thing that has inspired so many of us to burn the ships (and our fat pants), to reach in out in service and love to our community (and to our F3 brothers), and to straighten our walk with the SkyQ (which for me = My Heavenly Father). For me, this experience has touched and helped to shape nearly every aspect of my character over the last year that I have been involved, and I look forward to the next 5 years to see what changes will come from my association with all of you.

That said, we are going to support this “ultra-convergence”, if you will, and clown car up to the celebratory workout on New Year’s.

Here are the details as I know them:
1. We will meet at 0600 with wheels up at 0610 at the Baxter Starbucks
2. The workout location is Alexander Graham (AG) Middle School in Charlotte.
3. The workout start time is 0700. End is 0800.
4. There won’t be a much better time to bring an FNG, than to this. SO EH SOMEBODY.
5. I am not personally aware of any formal coffeeteria plans immediately following the workout, but I am certain that there will be at least one or two happening, so I’d plan on spending that time there as well.
6. The link to the Pre-Blast is here: http://f3nation.com/2015/12/16/the-fifth-anniversary-convergence-1116/

Several of you have committed to driving a car of clowns up, but if there are more, please let me know @darkhelmetF3, or let me know if you’d like to go, but not drive (which is the camp I fall into… Ask Spiderman (@F3_Spiderman) or Whitesnake (@Raindawg), nobody wants me to drive).

AYE!

Helmet, out.

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Half a Ladder & a Block Party

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  • QIC: Catfish
  • When: 12/01/15
  • Pax: Repeat, Duke Nukem (Welcome Brother!!), Cross Check, Mission Impossible, Socrates, Patton, Montelongo, MP, MacGyver, Old Bay, Dark Helmet, Stang
  • Posted In: Block Party, The Fort

Old (and by old I mean really young and fit) Repeat must have felt sorry for YHC, so he invited me across the river to Q at the heart of Fort Mill’s AOs. There’s no way I was going to miss the chance either!

I arrived fairly early (blaming it on the Qdrenaline and some set up) with Repeat coming in not long after I arrived. Soon Dark Helmet joined the party. So there we stood at 0510 and chatter started about PAX count for the morning. But in true F3 fashion the gates opened and we ended up with 13 PAX for a cool, damp Tuesday morning Block Party.

A disclaimer was given (although I’m pretty sure it wouldn’t have been approved by legal council – seriously not a professional) and away we went.

Took a brisk jog over to the lot in front of springs for a short COP of SSH’s, some of C-Spans favs – windmills, some low slow squats and some merkins. Wrapped up a brief warm up only to head to the gun store hill for Jacobs ladder with 10 Bobby Hurley’s at the top and merkins at the bottom. YHC called an audible half way thru, wanted to make sure we had plenty of time for our block party!

There was a line of cinder blocks lined out in the parking lot. The exercises were:

  • SSH
  • Monkey Humpers
  • Burpees
  • Right Side Row
  • Curls with 20 lb Kettle Bell
  • Left Side Row
  • Tri extension w/cinder block
  • Floor press w/ cinder block
  • Overhead press w/ cinder block
  • Squats with cinder block
  • Dips
  • Clean and Press with 30lb Kettle Bell
  • Run across parking lot, carrying 30lb sand bag

The PAX running with the sand bag was the timer, everyone cycled down an exercise as the runner returned and passed off the sand bag.

After two complete cycles we moseyed back to the virtual shovel flag (hey Repeat, where was the flag brother?!?!) for 9 mins of Mary. If you haven’t done an extended ab workout in a while, give it a try … it’s a real crowd pleaser!

Appreciate the oppurtunity to lead the very fit men of Fort Mill! Even the FNG (welcome Duke Nukem!!) wasn’t slowed down by the workout! Thanks again for letting this Rock Hill boy cross the river!!

 

Catfish … Out!!

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Just a walk in the park and a game of cards

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  • QIC: Maximus
  • When: 11/24/15
  • Pax: Esso, Birdcage, MacGuyver, Trucker
  • Posted In: Block Party, The Fort

I was excited at the opportunity to again Q the original AO in The Fort. So excited that I followed my tradition and threw out a few tweets the day before. Well, this may be the last time I do that because, short of a cold and rainy post with CSPAN and CSPAN only (yes, 2 for those keeping score), this was the fewest PAX for a Q of mine in almost 3yrs. The 4 other PAX that posted showed up and showed up strong. It didn’t matter what I offered up, they knocked it down every time…with hardly any mumble chatter.

So with that, we took a jog around the park to circle up next to the playground:
Warm Up: SSH, Squats, Wind Mill, Mountain Climbers, Diamond Merkins

Mosey to the Playground:
It’s hard to partner up with 5 of us so we did the following as a group.
10 Pull Ups / 20 Dips / 10 Pull Ups / 20 Dips / 10 Pull Ups / Run a lap

Mosey to one of my favorite spots at this AO, the 5′ wall by the Springs bldg:
3 of us on the wall for muscle ups while the other 2 run a lap around the parking lot. Flapjack and repeat.

In the cold, dark gloom, nobody noticed the deck of cards that was placed at the base of the light pole. Once I brought that to attention, some groans could be heard. Don’t worry, it’s customary and so is the pain. Considering the escaping time, it was time for another OMAHA so we only went through about 1/2 the deck but it looked like this:
Hearts = Merkins
Spades = Burpees (missed the Ace)
Clubs = Carolina Dry Docks
Diamonds = Jumping Lunges

I had so much more on the Wienke but again, another OMAHA so we could honor DD with a nice set of Monkey Humpers followed by
Super Man and the rip cord for a few 10 counts
American Hammers
X & O’s for Decibel
V-Up Toe Touches
LBC’s

I’ve been involved in mind-testing and brutal beatdowns over the years but I’m learning that in many cases, it’s not about the quantity, but rather the quality. And on this 28 degree morning, the quality of these 5 was top shelf. I’ll take these guys any day.

Announcements: Read the what? Oh yeah, the email…READ IT. Thanksgiving convergence and a little sampling of fried turkey. Joe Davis…DO IT. Christmas Party…PAY AND SHOW UP (if you’re able).

Prayer Requests: Time of Thanksgiving this week and safe travels for all. Stay safe and return to the gloom. Our service men & women, those gone, retired, active and their families. Thank God for them and their protection/service. Fresh starts on a new day with our kids/families. Trucker’s appt on his foot and hopefully a quick and full recovery. Our own CABLE GUY. Rest up, don’t push it and get back out there. We’ll keep a spot for you in the COT, albeit, downwind from the PAX!!

As You Were.
AYE!!

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F3 Dads 2nd F Star Wars

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Gents

Make it a full on 2nd F weekend: December 20th, the day after the great F3 Christmas Party- (Thanks Funhouse!), we have another opportunity for 2nd F.  This is an F3 DADS event.  Bring your 2.0(s) boys and girls for the 3:50pm showing of Star Wars, The Force Awakens.

Here’s the deal:

  • What: Star Wars Movie
  • Who: All Pax and 2.0(s) (boys and girls) are invited.
  • When: Sunday December 20th
  • Where: Manchester Cinemas, Rock Hill, SC
    • Time: 3:50 show time.
  • Why: F3 Dads.  Spend time with our 2.0s and give them the same experience we had as kids.  And transport back to when we were kids ourselves.  Wearing your Han Solo jacket or Yoda ears is purely optional.

This is opening weekend and the screen cannot be reserved.  The 3:50 time slot will sell out.  Call the theater or book on line for this show time.  Currently there are 230 seats open.  I anticipate our group to be atleast 100-150 ppl.  25-50 Pax each with kids.  Book ASAP…that is, after you finish booking your tickets for the Christmas Party.

Q’s- talk up in your COTs

Thanks

 

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Get better not bitter!

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  • QIC: Flat Tire
  • When: 11/09/15
  • Pax: Rocky Top, Repeat, Old Bay, MacGyver, Pebbles, Mission Impossible, Cross Check, Chainsaw
  • Posted In: Block Party

9 men descended upon the hallowed, waterlogged grounds of Walter Elisha Park on this fine (no rain!) Tuesday morning for a Block Party. A few faces were new to YHC so after some introduction and a brief disclaimer, we were off. Here’s what we did:

THE THANG

Mosey down 160 towards downtown, through the light, and circle up in the parking lot in front of UC Synergetic. Exercises all IC.

SSH x 25

Cherry pickers x 15

MNC x 50

Merkins x 15

Plank-o-rama

Mountain climber x 20

Mosey to Springs Global side parking lot

Bear Crawl half the lot

Crab Walk the rest

Mosey to the back parking lot. 4 corners around the perimeter.  All x 20 OYO

Dips

Derkins

Squats

LBC

Repeat with new and improved exercises

Incline merkins

Bombjacks

Jumping lunges

Freddy Mercury

While we all caught our breath, YHC shared that this has been a hard year for my family. In this life, we are promised there will be hard seasons.  Trials will come.  Sickness and disease will strike.  But just as Cake Boss talked about recently at Chicken N Wisdom, I shared that God can make all things work together for our good – Romans 8:28.  But we have to let him.  As David Chadwick said last Sunday, when the rains and floods come in our lives, we can either get better or get bitter.  Through Paige’s cancer journey, she and I have gotten closer than ever.  We appreciate each other more.  This hard year has brought this out and has ended up bringing good things in our lives.  Make the choice to get better though life’s tough seasons.  AYE!

Mosey to the infamous brick wall in the side parking lot. This was a crowd pleaser from Saturdays WEP workout so, with a nod to Decibel, it was:

BTTW for a 2 10-count provided by the PAX

10 pull ups

Lunge walk across the lot, backwards lunge walk to return

Rinse and repeat for another round of BTTW and pull ups

Quick check of the watch revealed less than 15 minutes left. Enough time for Jacobs ladder down the big hill to 160?  Sure…  Bad idea

8 bombjacks at the top

1 burpee at the bottom

Continue until the ladder is reversed

We almost made it through but time and our strength was quickly expiring. We ended at the top and moseyed back to WEP for COT.

Announcements:

F3 leap efforts

Nov 16 – 21 – Welcome back Kotter week.

Dec 12 – Gladiator Games

Dec 19 – F3 the Fort Christmas Party

Jan 9 – Joe Davis Run

Prayer Requests:

Repeat’s 2.0

Various health needs of family members and M’s

 

Thanks Repeat for the opportunity to lead!

Flat Tire

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Election Day Beat Down

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  • QIC: Senator Tressel
  • When: 11/03/15
  • Pax: McGuyver, Rock Thrill, Repeat, Ginsu, Car Bomb, Wheels
  • Posted In: Block Party

7 men met on a warm, but wet morning to get stronger at the Block Party.  Here is what they did:

The Thang:

Mosey out of Walter Elisha Park and make the short jog to the Springs parking lot for COP:

All in Cadence:  SSH x 50, Merkin x 10, Windmill x20, Squat x 25, IW x 25, Rosalita x 25, Widearm Merkin x 20,

Form two lines facing each other for the start of the ST400

Round 1:  Merkin x 20, Squat x 20, LBC x 20, Burpee x 20, run one lap around lot

Round 2:  Diamond Merk x 20, MH x 20, Hello Dolly x 20, Burpee x 20, run lap

Round 3:  Widearm Merk x 20, Lunge L/R x 10ea, Crunchy Frog x 20, Burpee x 20, run lap

Round 4:  Staggered Merk L/R x 20ea, Lunge L/R x 10 ea, Flutter x 20, Burpee x 20, run lap

Round 5:  Military Merk x 20, Squat Jump x 20, Freddie Merc x 20, Burpee x 20, run together back to COT

I don’t make it to Walter Elisha much anymore so it’s always fun to get back and Q.  WEP gets pretty swampy after it rains so I opted to stick to the asphalt today. I like this work out because you get a lot done in a short amout of time and it doesn’t take up much space.   We had a good group out there today and everyone put out a strong effort.   Whenever McGuyver is in the group, I always run faster. It’s a privilege to lead the group, and great to see the Fort Pax who I don’t see very often.   Thanks for the invite, Repeat and I look forward to coming back soon (like Saturday

Announcments/Prayers/Praises

Prayers/praises:  Wheels back from injury – good to have you back, brother!  Rock Thrill’s house is sold after a long time.

Baxter 5k this Saturday benefitting the school at CAH,  Oyster Roast Sat, Nov 7, Thanksgiving convergence at the Ranch (someone may cook a Turkey), F3 The Fort Xmas part Dec 19, Joe Davis Resolution Run on Jan 9 to benefit Keystone.  A HUGE F3 event – support Rock Thrill and Keystone.

 

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2015 Children’s Attention Home Angle Tree

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THE THANG:

We are partnering with CAH to give the PAX an opportunity to give back to the community in a small way. We are participating in an Angel tree for the Children’s Attention Home.

This Angel tree works a little differently than other tree’s you may have participated in the past. You are taking an Angel to purchase a gift for a general need rather than a specific child. These needs may be satisfied specifically during the Christmas season or throughout the year as new Children arrive or leave CAH.

We have volunteered to provide for the needs in three areas for the kids:

  1. Scooters, Skateboards, Ripsticks, Rollerblades, Helmets, Knee Pads  – All Sizes
  2. Card Games –  Go Fish, Old Maid, Uno, Phase 10, Skip Bo, Flash Cards, Playing cards
  3. Art Kits & Acrylic Paint – Jewelry Making, Beading, Scrapbooking, Origami Kits, etc.

** Note: CAH houses children from ages 18 months to 18+ years so you don’t necessarily need to just buy for the younger children.

Please bring your unwrapped gifts to any AO site Q (see weekly e-mail for Site Q list) through December 19th or to the Christmas Party on December 19th and they will funnel them back to me, Chicken Hawk.

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Is it Saturday?

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  • QIC: Rooney
  • When: 10/27/15
  • Pax: Airborne, Birdcage, So-Crates, Crosscheck, Anchorman, Mission Impossible, Repeat
  • Posted In: Block Party

8 Pax (including the Q) showed up for a wet pavement (NO GRASS) workout! Anchorman kept saying, “Is it Saturday?” Or something like that…..and took it as a compliment!

The Thing:
-Mosey to Springs semi-circular loop
-Wind Mill – 15
-Low Slow Squat – 15
-Merkin – 10
-Imperial Walker – 15
-Windmill – 15

Grab some wall – Peoples’ Chair
– 3 x 10 counts

Mosey

-50 Dips OYO

Mosey to back springs parking lot for some pavement work.

Progressive Partner Workout
-200 Merkins
-300 Squats
-400 LBCs

Mary
-Russian Twist – 15
-Low Flutter – 15
-High Flutter – 15
-Russian Twist – 15

Mosey
Plank O’ Rama (5 min)

COT

It is difficult to get out of the fartsack when the weather turns miserable and the sun doesn’t appear until post gloom. Encourage your F3 Brothers to keep their First F First during this time of year. I wouldn’t be out there without them! As always….an honor!

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#Abundance amid the daily drone

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  • QIC: Double D
  • When: 10/20/15
  • Pax: Ginsu, Crab Cakes, Rocky Top, MacGyver, Esso, Repeat, Montelongo, Bird Cage, Longshanks, Old Bay
  • Posted In: Block Party

11 Pax posted to Block Party in a frosty gloom to search for meaning/purpose/life in the midst of their daily humdrum routine.

The Thang

Extended warm up via modified drill bit routine — run park loop with stops at each marker for brief COP of three exercises, including mix of Mtn climber, SSH, IW, Merkin, CDD, Peter Parker, Sumo squat, Monkey humper, Parker Peter & the Makhtar N’Dyae

Mosey to parking lot circle as launch spot for remaining 25 minutes of workout

Freddy Mercury x20
Run Stairway to Heaven with 10 Merkins at each lamp post
Run down hill and across parking lot
Sprint to stop sign
Run back to circle
Rinse & repeat with Flutter kicks in circle and squats at lamp posts
AMRAP

COT

Naked man moleskin

With the calendar showing mid-October, YHC’s thoughts at work and on personal front are drifting toward 2016 — budgeting, planning, etc.  Yet, 10 full weeks remain in 2015, 20% of the year.  My word for 2015 is #Abundance. And, yes, the year has been filled with many blessings, some of which I’ve celebrated fully and most of which I’ve failed to truly savor.  In fact, much of 2015 has been marked by feelings of drudgery…just plodding through another day, week, month without recognition and appreciation of the gifts that life brings my way regularly.

As an antidote to my prevailing emotions for the year, today’s workout was framed around the challenge of finding life and its blessings/meaning/purpose in the middle of its monotony.  LSD (long slow distance) they call it in marathon training…just building those miles over the course of many months in preparation for 26.2 on race day.  Don’t know the mileage for the day, but there was plenty of suck and drudgery to be had.  The Pax did a terrific job slogging through, mostly without complaint.

All pax reminded themselves of their word for 2015.  Don’t let 2015 pass without a final push on those themes at the same time you consider possible themes for 2016.  And, keep an eye out for the #Abundance that lives in the little moments/tasks/activities of daily life.

Thanks to Repeat for the honor to lead and for his leadership at Block Party!

PS…YHC’s debt to Crab Cakes for ND loss to Clemson was paid post-workout with 46 burpees. Hoping for possible revenge in CFP — Go Irish!

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Block Party – Making a difference in all areas

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  • QIC: Cake Boss
  • When: 10/13/15
  • Pax: Repeat, Esso, MacGyver, Long Shanks, Airborne, Birdcage, Montelongo, Chainsaw, Sharknado, Opie, Cake Boss
  • Posted In: Block Party

The PAX came in from all directions (not really, pulled into the lot) and were ready for a piece of Cake from The Boss….aka Cake Boss. The Clock struck 5:15 and there were no newbies, so the PAX know the deal and away we went.

Run up through Springs parking lot and down street to front of Springs office to small parking lot

COP:

20 Mtn climbers

20 IW squats

15 Peter Parker

15 Parker peter

20 Squats

Run to Park downtown across from Caboose

Taking in some boxing action and 3 min pain stations. So for each of the following sets, we will do the 2 exercises for 3 mins. straight and then do a 30 sec activity as recovery

Round #1

10-SSHs

10-Merkins

Run Hill

Round #2

15-Squat

10-Burpees

Run Hill

Round #3

10-Dips

20-moracan night club

Run Hill

Round #4

20-squat jabs

10-inch worm push-up

Run Hill

Round #5

10-maktarji

10-broad jumps

Run Parking Lot

Round #6

10-leg raises

10-ski hops

Run Parking Lot

COT:

PAX worked hard and pushed themselves. The point of this workout is to see how much you can push yourself in 3mins. We are talking about you versus you and not comparing to the guy next to you, not seeing who is coming in last, but how much can you challenge and push yourself to be the best you can be. The PAX did well!

Lots of Prayers and Praises! Sky Q is working in the hearts and minds of the men of F3. Continue to look for ways to push yourself to be better in your relationship with God, the M, the 2.0s and the world we live.

Thanks for the Q Repeat!

Cake Boss

 

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