A Pyramid Scheme

  • QIC: Catfish
  • When: 08/02/16
  • Pax: Repeat, Lil E, Java, MacGyver, Bonsai, Kielbasa, Birdcage, Clark Kent
  • Posted In: Block Party

YHC was privileged to Q for the 2nd time in 2 days in The Fort and the greeting from Birdcage made me think yesterday was a decent workout, so I hope this one didn’t disappoint!

We circled up for COP in the parking lot and went through the old standards to get loosened up before grabbing a couple of cinder blocks from the truck.

We lined up for an indian run, with the front two PAX carrying the blocks. When the last guy made it to the front he took the block from the gent he took the lead from with the former 2nd guy passing up, keeping the blocks in the capable hands of the front to pax for the entire run.

We wrapped around the park, stopping at every drill bit (mile marker) for a pyramid of exercises. They were:

  • 5 burpees
  • 5 burpees, 10 monkey humpers
  • 5 burpees, 10 monkey humpers, 15 merkins
  • 5 burpees, 10 monkey humpers, 15 merkins, 20 calf raises
  • 5 burpees, 10 monkey humpers, 15 merkins, 20 calf raises, 25 squats
  • 5 burpees, 10 monkey humpers, 15 merkins, 20 calf raises, 25 squats, 30 overhead claps
  • 5 burpees, 10 monkey humpers, 15 merkins, 20 calf raises, 25 squats, 30 overhead claps, 25 squats
  • 5 burpees, 10 monkey humpers, 15 merkins, 20 calf raises, 25 squats, 30 overhead claps, 25 squats, 20 calf raises, 15 merkins
  • 5 burpees, 10 monkey humpers, 15 merkins, 20 calf raises, 25 squats, 30 overhead claps, 25 squats, 20 calf raises, 15 merkins, 10 monkey humpers, 5 burpees

For a total of:

  • 55 burpees, 100 merkins, 150 calf raises, 200 squats, & 250 overhead claps

With the few minutes left we circled back up for 20 IC Moroccan, then as I was debating on what to call next Birdcage threw out the request for more Moroccan night clubs. After 10 more IC we counted off and ended this workout.

Again, appreciate the chance to meet new PAX – see some old friends & have others suffer from #exercisemouth and fartsack!

-Catfish, out!

 

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Block Party Beast Mode – ChaChing VQ (better late than never)

  • QIC: ChaChing
  • When: 07/12/16
  • Pax: Java, Deacon, MacGyver, Hotline, Repeat, Double D, Man o' War, one other who left before COT
  • Posted In: Block Party

Repeat hooked it up and ran us through a quick stretch.  From there we rolled through 3 circuits:

#1 – First stop, the playground in the center of Walter Elisha.  Partnered up & ran through 4 rounds of the following:

  • Partner pull-up resist – 10 pull-ups where you hold at the top and your partner pulls you down.  He’s your best friend one minute as the assisted pull-up comes into play after about 3 reps, but then your worst enemy as you hold at the top and he tears you down.
  • Explosive merkin w/ clap at the top as your partner runs the perimeter then switch

#2 – Every minute on the minute (EMOM) across the street in the parking lot:  8 burps, 10 single leg mtn climbers each leg, 8 burps, 30 LBCs, 10 burps, 30 squats, 8 burps, 30 LBCs, 8 burps, 10 single leg mtn climbers each leg

#3 – Next parking lot over:  merkin/diamond tri pyramid set (10 merkin, 9 diamond tri, 8 merk, 7 diamond, you get the point, down to 1), broad jump down the parking lot, Freddie Mercury slow 10/fast 10/slow 10/fast 10, bear crawl back and end w/ the same pyramid set.

CTO, Java then nailed an awesome prayer to close us out (requests included my buddy’s fight w/ stage 4 colon cancer and Deacon’s friend fighting alcoholism).  Appreciate you Repeat for giving me a shot at leading the group.  Until next time.

– ChaChing

 

 

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4 Square Up For Loops and Circuits

  • QIC: Old Bay
  • When: 07/05/16
  • Pax: Figaro, High-Hat, CakeBoss, OldBay
  • Posted In: Block Party

Four pax overcame late evenings of fireworks and festivities to post to what must be the warmest morning this year – 81 degrees and 150% humidity. Quite oppressive, but we pushed through.

Disclaimer was issued and pax set off on a 4 man indian run, which turned to a 3 man indian run and moseyer, then just a 4 man mosey. We circled WEP clockwise, then headed for the credit union parking lot. 7 minutes and the sweat was already pouring.

Warmup-O-Rama

  • SSH x20 (IC)
  • Mountain Climbers x20 (IC)
  • Plack Jacks x15 (IC)
  • Crab Jacks x15 (IC)
  • Low Slow Squats x15 (IC)
  • SSH x20 (IC)

The last warm-up exercises was almost a Side Saddle Cellphone Smash, as High-Hat seemed to come precariously close to stomping his grounded cell phone on the 1 and 3 counts. He assured us he was in full control.

Mosey to parking lot entrance below Hobo’s and partner up.

The Thang
Partner 1 runs lap around building/shops to which Hobo’s is attached (behind shops up to 160, 2 rights, then down main street to parking lot entrance).

Partner 2 hits the 5-stop circuit, which was:

– 5+n Burpees
– 10+n Crab Jacks
– 10+n Morning Woods
– 15+n LBCs
– 15+n Dips

“n” is the total number of laps completed by the pair

Flapjack. If running partner finished early, he joined his partner in completing the circuits.

For this workout, 4 laps were completed by each team.

Mosey to bottom of Main Street for work on steps near grist mill stone. Partner wheelbarrows up the steps (both sets of stairs). Flapjack.

Nearly at time, so mosey back COT. Pax were disappointed we didn’t have time for the last exercise of backwards bear crawls up the stairs before heading back to COT. Next time, my friends.

Naked Moleskin
Always great sweating it out with F3 brothers in this great country that provides freedoms few of us will ever fully appreciate.
Prayers requested for High-Hat’s M and family as she learns more about possible medical procedures she’ll need to have done. T-claps to Figaro and his M for 13 years of marriage today.

Honored to serve,
-old bay

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Post #Murph #F3BlockParty

  • QIC: CSPAN
  • When: 05/31/16
  • Pax: Long Shanks, Cha-Ching, Java, Mainframe, MacGyver, Man-o-War, & Repeat
  • Posted In: Block Party

Disclaimer

Long discussion on why the day after a #Murph is #SORE…more disclaimer…more discussion…you get the idea.

Quick mosey to Harris Street Church parking lot

Long dynamic warm-up series to include all of my favorites…toy soldiers and walking lunges felt the worst

Ran some “11” across the parking lot with Seal Jacks, LBC, Carolina Dry-Docks, and Flying Squirrels #crowdpleaser #sorrynotsorry 1+2+3+4+5+6+7+8+9+10+11=66reps

Quick mosey to COT

Broga cool down and military stretches #yourwelcome #happyending

Prayer and praise and BOM

Naked Man Moleskine:

#therapy = I unpacked my issues on a recent Bible study with @CakeBoss and so this morning we had several sermons on: Are you a thermostat or a thermometer?

I have been struggling with this question since and realize that when I am “the man” and should be settling the tone of the room, I sometimes fail and turn back into a thermometer and reflect the feeling of the room rather then setting the tone. We as #HIM need to hold our self to the higher standard and be the thermostat in our family, our church, our employment, and at F3…here is a clip of part of the sermon 
http://www.christianpost.com/news/be-a-thermostat-50297/

Be a better man today than you were yesterday, find me at a workout as I would love to discuss this topic with you,

AYE!

CSPAN

 

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Recon our Region – Spitz’s Army

Disclaimer: YHC did not come up with this idea. Spitz has led the charge on this for the last 2 years and deserves full credit hence the name.

As many of you know, F3 the Fort has seen tremendous growth over the past 3.5 years. In 2016 alone, we have welcomed 180 FNGs, expanded our numbers to ~700 PAX and added several AOs.

What has been consistent and a hallmark of F3 the Fort has been several key characteristics:

  1. Living the mission and core principles of F3
  2. A commitment to accountability and brotherhood amongst the PAX
  3. A strong desire to give back to the community where we serve
  4. A constant helping hand to members of the PAX who are struggling or in need

With all of this growth, the one thing that has been stretched is who you post regularly with. Even if you post 5+ times a week (CSPAN, Dark Helmet, etc.) you just don’t get to see all of the guys. This is particularly true of those PAX who started and built F3 the Fort back in 2012. In addition, the Fort boasts a tremendous amount of #HIMs throughout the region. These PAX continue to inspire me and quite frankly have some really tough workouts too! This is an opportunity to connect with these men and I guarantee all 3 Fs across the region.

So I asked myself, “what’s the best way to fix this? How about a challenge to all members of F3 the Fort? The Fort loves challenges!” My good friend Spitz had the idea to post at all of the workouts in our region and away we went.

So here is the challenge:

Your goal, should you choose to accept it, is to post at all 45 over the summer. YHC will create a list of those who HC and document the process each week. Here is the link for tracking your attendance:  Spitz Army Tracking

Except thats not all! Any man can do that! A real Fort Pax would also post at all of the 3rd F sites this summer too. So add (5) more AOs to the list for an even 50!

One of the lessons learned at the Fort is there is strength in numbers. HC to join Spitz’s Army via Twitter or the F3 Nation website. I look forward to seeing you in the Gloom!

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Memorial Day Murph at The Fort

Step 1: Finish your regular Monday Post
Step 2: Show up at The Coop (Nation Ford High School, Ft. Mill) and do The Murph.
Step 3: Remember that Memorial Day isn’t just cookouts and pool time…

The Thang:
We began with a warm-up led by each of the Veterans who were in attendance (CSPAN, Blackhawk, Howitzer, and Apache – my apologies if I missed anyone, but that’s all I could remember). There were a number of Seal Jacks, SSHs, Imperial Walkers, and some Bro-ga…

We then brought it in to be reminded of why were really there. The workout is good, but Freedom isn’t free, and we were there to honor men and women who gave their lives for our freedom. So, after a lesson from CSPAN on how to count to 4, we moseyed to the track to begin.

47 Pax completed the following for time (some with 20lb weight vests, and some with our built in weight vests who competed in the “modified” category):
1 Mile Run
100 Pull Ups
200 Merkins
300 Squats
Another 1 Mile Run

And there you have it… Workout complete. Then we circled up and each man present read the name (either one that they brought or one that CSPAN provided) of a fallen serviceman/woman so we could memorialize them.

NMM:
It’s always humbling to do The Murph for me. Not just because it is very physically demanding and I get to see how many times guys like Mary Lou can lap me on a mile track, but also because I am reminded of the men and women that gave all so that regular folks like me can live free. It is a gift that is unmatchable, unrepayable, and undeserved, and for it, I am grateful.

I can’t speak for everyone’s faith tradition, but in my personal belief system, Jesus Christ gave His life willingly to pay for my sins, my stupidity, and my weakness that I may live again in the presence of my Heavenly Father with my wife and family for eternity. Through His sacrifice, He has made me free from the tyranny of the Devil, free from pain, from death, and from Hell. He did something for me (and all of us) that we could not do for ourselves. It is my feeling that in keeping with that pattern, anyone who performs a service for another that they could not perform for themselves is acting in a Christlike way. The fallen soldiers that we honored today (and the many, many more that went unnamed this morning) did much that same thing. They willingly gave their lives and sacrificed that I may live on Earth in this country with my wife and family. They have provided me freedom from the tyranny of evil men, and they have done for me things that I could not do for myself. Reading their names after a workout is small in comparison, but I like to think that they are looking down and that maybe they appreciate the fact that we are trying, in our feeble ways, to honor them. To acknowledge that we rise and sleep in a country that their sacrifice made possible…

Helmet, out…

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1 is Too Many but 22 is a Problem!

  • QIC: Cornhole
  • When: 05/24/16
  • Pax: Java, Jiffy, Deacon, Figaro
  • Posted In: Block Party

5 men brought it for the #22Kill awareness campaign
All exercises consisted of 22 reps.

Warm Up
22 Merkins
Mosey – Mtn Climbers
Hi Knees – Peter Parkers
Butt Kickers – Parker Peters
Toy Soldiers – Plank Jacks

COP
SSH – Merkins – LBC
IW – Diamonds – Hello Dolly
Windmills – Wide Arm – Rosa Lita
Lunges – Release Merkins – Flutter Kicks
Slow Squat – CDD – Fred mercury

The Hill – 22’s
Monkey Humpers – at bottome
Lunge Walk up
Bombjacks – top
Reverse Bear crawl down

Mosey to COT
Several prayers and praises for a small group.
Always an honor to lead and see everyone’s commitment. Not shortcuts taken today.

Cornhole, Out

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Pre-Blast for Memorial Day MURPH “FunHouse FunRun”

If you don’t know by now, The Fort will be conducting the Annual Memorial Day Murph at NAFO high school (The Coop and Varsity AO).  This is a great opportunity to work out with The PAX to honor our service men and women. Post to your regular AO, then head over to NAFO for the double-down.  In addition to the workout, there will be awards handed out to those who perform at the top of the group.

However, there is one award that perked my ears, the Funhouse Pull Up award.  I assumed this award was for the PAX who increased their pull up count exponentially from the last go around (go search the last Fitness Test).  This was not the case.  ‘Casa de diversion’ (modified pull-up version aka the FUNHOUSE award)…..  “Don’t fall short, if you cannot or do not have a vest at least strive to perform your pull-ups without variation or as we stated above – try not to perform a #Funhouse so start working on those pull-ups today – you have time!”  So yes, YHC likes to modify.  Especially a freaking pull up. So why not “modify” the MURPH with a typical “FunHouse FunRun”?  Call it a triple-down.

So if you’re not afraid of modifying (CSPAN I see your “burpees” so I KNOW you love to modify) join me for this THANG:

Memorial Day – Monday, May 30th 0430

Start (Leg #1): 0430 at Trailhead Park in Tega Cay for a run to Flight Plan (Baxter Startbucks) ~ 4.2 miles

Leg #2: Flight Plan 0515 (YHC the Q) – I will find a suitable 4.5 mile loop that will get everyone ready to go do the MURPH- Total so far ~ 8.7 miles

Leg #3: Run to NAFO 0600 – There will be little time for COT at Flight Plan for those on the #FunRun, so I may hand this off to someone staying behind.  We must get on our horses and head out to make the 5.5 miles to NAFO in 50 minutes before the MURPH starts. The route is down 160 and take a left on 21 and then a right on 460 to NAFO. – Total so far ~ 14.2 miles

Leg #4: The MURPH – 1 mile run, 100 pull ups, 200 push ups, 300 squats and a final 1 mile run. Ugh. So final total mileage ~ 16.2 miles

So join YHC to “modify” your typical day.

 

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Suicide Circuits

  • QIC: Old Bay
  • When: 05/17/16
  • Pax: Solid Stage, Figaro, Jiffy, Cha-Ching, Java, Speaker, Deadbolt (Raleigh), MacGyver, LongShanks, Old Bay
  • Posted In: Block Party

Block Party definitely feels like home to YHC. I don’t care what it smells like there sometimes, it’s a great AO with lots of options. On this Tuesday morning, 10 pax gathered to tease out some pain to break us down and make us stronger.

= Warm-up =
Mosey to the chained-off parking lot next to the Springs building for COP:

  • SSH – x30
  • Cherry Pickers – x10
  • Imperial Walkers – x15
  • Mountain Climbers – x20
  • Plank Jacks – x20
  • Squats – x15

Mosey to wooded courtyard area near other Springs building for some work with a knee-high wall.

  • Box Jumps – x15
  • Step-up // Knee-up – x15 each leg
  • Dips – x15
  • Derkins – x15

Repeato but only 5 reps for the second round.

Mosey to the steep hill on the west side of WEP. Before starting the next exercise, YHC talked about one aspect of the theme of the month: marriage. The “message” was a rerun from Alcatraz this past Saturday, and Jiffy was gracious to hear it again. Check out that backblast’s nake moleskin for the meat of it.

= Suicide Circuits =
Pax asked to partner up, size doesn’t matter.
The overall movements of this exercise is similar to a suicide where pax start at cone #1, go to cone #2, then back to #1, then to #3 and back to #1, etc. Total of 5 cones, but there are a few modifications to up the pain level.

  • Each time the pax depart from cone #1, they must do 5 burpees
  • Each time the pax reach (or pass) a cone as they travel away from cone #1, they must do the exercise on the cone. For example, if they are on their way to Cone 3, they must stop at Cone 2 and do that exercise (again).
  • Traveling away from Cone 1, they pax should run. Traveling back toward Cone 1, pax must do the moving exercise written on the cone (like bear crawls) instead of running.
  • Each team of pax must stay together. Some of the moving exercises involved partners.

For this exercise, there were 5 cones, where cone #1 was at the bottom of the steep hill. Remember, 5 burpees to start, and for each return back to Cone #1. The rest of the cones were labeled as follows:

Cone 2 – Mountain Climbers x20 w/ Crab Walks as return exercise
Cone 3 – Russian Twists x20 w/ Bear Crawls as return exercise
Cone 4 – Merkins x20 w/ Partner 1 Wheelbarrow as return exercise
Cone 5 – Plank Jacks x20 w/ Partner 2 Wheelbarrow as return exercise

For this workout, another set of cones were set up as follows, but we didn’t have time to do them in normal suicide fashion. So, we just hit them each once.

Cone 2 – Slow Sumo Squats x20 w/ Crab Walks as return exercise
Cone 3 – Plank Punches x20 w/ Bear Crawls as return exercise
Cone 4 – Hello Dollies x20 w/ Partner 2 Wheelbarrow as return exercise
Cone 5 – Dry Docks x20 w/ Partner 1 Wheelbarrow as return exercise

Times up! Back to COT

Thanks to Repeat for allowing me the opportunity to Q, and to the Pax for their hard work and encouragement. Special shout-out to Deadbolt from Raleigh for posting on the road.

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Block Party – I’ll bring the Cake and the Coupons!!

  • QIC: Cake Boss
  • When: 05/10/2016
  • Pax: Double D, White Lightning, Freebird, Repeat, Rebel, Jiffy, Cha Ching, Java, Old Bay, Corn Hole, Clark Kent, Longshanks, Mcgaver, Bird Cage
  • Posted In: Block Party

15 of my finest brothers arrived at Home Base for The Fort, Block Party. Back in October 2012 I showed up here alone at 0510 and met some men that I can say are some of my best friends today. They even posted this very morning. Amazing to see where we have come in The Fort and all the men, AOs and expansion over the last 4 years. So humbling to be part of it and honored to participate and know many of you.

Block Party is a traditional workout and some of the best exercise moves we do today started at Block Party. So I wanted to stick to tradition and make the pain come alive!!

The Thang:

Mosey up the path to find a piece of grass that did not have too much funk on it from the strawberry festival. Red Banjo approved area was found (Banjo was not even there) and COP began

SSHs, Squats, Imperial Walkers, Windmills

22 Merkins in effort to get awareness out about the veteran suicide rate. Look it up and help with this cause.

Mosey to Corner, Karaoke, jog, Karaoke, jog, Buttkickers, high knees, Sprint to top of parking lot at WEP. Find a Partner mosey to back of YHC’s truck and pick up Coupon

So being at Block Party you got to have blocks…..and its been so long since I been to Block Party I missed doing Drill Bits. So Six stations, carrying Coupon with Partner two times around

  1. 10 Inch Worm Merkins & 10 Apollo Ono’s
  2. 15 Ski Hops
  3. 10 Carolina Dry Docks
  4. 15 Lunge Hops
  5. 10 Peter Parkers
  6. 15 Mountain Climbers

YHC continuing on the theme of the month of marriage. I mentioned to the PAX that we all fall into the trap of what Disney sells us that marriage is Happily Ever After. However the truth is marriage is Happily EVEN after!! After all the hard work and serving each other and dying to self and putting the other first, then Happily EVEN after occurs. In asking the PAX if anyone has had not so good days in their marriage, all hands went up. This is not by Sky Q design, however he sent his son on a rescue mission. His son carried a coupon and even hung and died on it for all of us……regardless of where you are on your faith walk….he did this for you. Marriage is like carrying that coupon….uphill sometimes. We are called to do it, but we also have Sky Q to help us to the finish line. Carry that coupon my brothers and go to Sky Q when it gets heavy and he will help carry it with you.

One last time up Stairway to Heaven with a stop at each light pole carrying our coupon.

  1. 10 Inch Worm Merkins & 10 Apollo Ono’s
  2. 15 Ski Hops
  3. 10 Carolina Dry Docks
  4. 15 Lunge Hops
  5. 10 Peter Parkers
  6. 15 Mountain Climbers

 

Great PAX out there! Thank you Repeat for the opportunity to lead and I love Block Party!!

Encourage each other as this life is not easy and without the PAX and my savior I don’t know how I would do it.

Cake Boss Out!!

 

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