I put out the call on the twitter machine that this edition of Pantheon would be tough.  It did not dissapoint.  Six Thoroughbreds answered and got better.

Mosey to Memorial Park, circling the flag and beginning with a moment of silence.

COP:

• SSH
• 9 Burpees OYO
• IW
• 8 Burpees OYO
• Merkins
• 7 Burpees OYO
• More warm up and decending burpee OYO.  Closing out with 10 burpees OYO

Mosey to trail head park for modified Dora.  P1 exercise, P2 lunge walk

• Pull up X50
• Merkins X100
• Flutter X 150

Indian Run to Stairway to Heaven (down hunters run to rear school entrance steps)

• run steps, 5 merkins at each landing (6).  Rinse/Repeat x3

Indian run to flag and finish with Mary

NMM

Straight up straight brings it everytime.  Strong, fit and driven lifts this PAX.  YHC benefited twice from form correction by Straight Up.  apparently I dont jump very high during the burpee… Keep at it brother and keep getting on Q lists.  Fishsticks was the king of Stairway to Heaven while Pusher and Atticus dominated the warm up Burpee section while keeping it light with jokes/Mumblechatter.  Dont sleep on Cakeboss’s Native American Run apptitude or more importantly, his commitment.

“Your value does not decrease based on someone’s inability to see your worth.”  Ive been dealing with a pretty dysfunctional relationship at work.  It was really getting in my head and I was spending an unproportional amount of time on the negative impact and not on the majority of the good relationships that are flourishing.  You can choose not to own someone else’s baggage.  All of this is to say, I was struggling here and got great perspective and things to try from sitting with my Whetstone Partner.  If you have a partner and use them, you know the value.  A mentor- mentee relationship is a powerful bond.  If you dont have one, prayerfully consider.  Its a game changer.

Aye!

What an amazing morning it was, especially for a mid-summer gloom (weather-wise – “amazing” wouldn’t be the word to describe the workout). Temps in the lower 60’s, and modest humidity compared to normal/recent soupiness levels. YHC was pleasantly surprised at the turn-out, given that The Abyss was celebrating it’s 1 year anniversary, with Dark Helmet on Q. We also had a couple 2.0s join us, though Sharkbait can hardly be considered a typical “2.0” since he is faster than most other pax. FNG “Yoshi” was the other 2.0, and belonged to Straight-Up. Great to see youths up early to put in some hard work!

Mosey to west side of school.

Warm-up COP

• SSH – namo-o-rama style where instead of counting, each pax said their name, working our way round the circle
• 1 burpee
• Windmill x 10 IC – Jekyll and Zima mocked the name-o-rama by trying to repeat with this exercise – thanks guys
• 2 burpees
• Imperial Walkers x 15 IC
• 3 burpees
• cherry pickers x 10 IC
• 4 burpees
• Mountain Climbers
• Peter Parkers

The Thang
Mosey to back of school for ascending curb crawls (1-10)

• bear crawl to opposite side then do 1 merkin
• crab walk back and do 2 dips
• bear crawl back then do 3 merkin
• crab walk back and do 4 dips
• repeat going back and forth until you reach 10 dips

Mosey to the Amphitheater – Partner up for some Dora 1, 2, 3

* 100 Bombjacks (partner bear crawls to first sidewalk – then runs back following sidewalk around
* 200 American Hammers (L+R = 1) – Partner bunny hops up to 2nd sidewalk – then runs back following sidewalk around
* 300 Sumo Squats – Partner runs to 3rd sidewalk – then runs back following sidewalk around
* Concluded the amphitheater work with a charge up to the 4th sidewalk, 5 burpees, and return to the stage

Mosey to the field:
* Tunnel of love (crowd favorite, especially those allergic to grass)
* Seal-team sit-ups to 20 (single count)
* Partner push-ups to 100 – both partners in plank position, but each partner takes a turn cracking out 10 merkins, until 100 is reached. Done in cadence (single count).

Ab Work

• Flutters x20 IC
• Chop sticks x20 IC
• LBCs x20 IC

Thanks to Fishsticks for allowing me to Q Pantheon, and for great support and hard work of the pax. Also a quick shoutout to those taking F3 out to the community (like Paradise and CAH). They set the bar for being #HIMs and are helping define what F3 is all about.

The shovel flag was planted at Pantheon a little over two years ago (06/10/2015) by YHC. It’s had it’s share of horribles over these two years, but other than a Black Diamond by Jekyll prior to becoming an AO, the PAINtheon Games takes the prize. YHC even referenced that the Games pretty much resembles a Black Diamond and has #CSAUP written all over it. Tclaps to those who had the stones to come out and get after it. Even more so to those who used this as an appetizer for this weekends main event, the Hog & Coyote! Another day, another CSAUP, that’s life in The Fort!

So a couple of comments before I post the scores. It was great to see so many fresh faces come out who hadn’t experienced the games yet. Also to those who’ve grinded out the Games before and still posted (Atlas, Dark Helmet and a few others). I designed the PAINtheon Games to be a physical test where each of the exercises builds on the next and the body begins to fatigue as the Games progress. Each exercise is specifically placed in an order to cause pain and confusion (that’s why your legs feel like jello transitioning from 100 Yard Bear Crawl to a 1 Mile race). Again, everyone got after it and I am always humbled by the Pax willingness to A) let me lead them and B) do some of the crazy stuff I dream up. Here are my notes/highlights:

-Shout out to Anchorman who has faithfully helped me with every single CSAUP. Thanks brother!
-Tclaps to each of the winners (we all are) in each category
-Witch Hunt may bear crawl faster than he actually runs
-1st F leader Ginsu with his abs of steel
-Dark Helmet eats burpees for breakfast
-Senator Tressel proves once again that you get faster as you get older (Respect!)
-Olaf almost died/melted
-Truly Impressed with Trucker’s performance. If we had a pull up division he would be the standout winner.
-Was fun watching Crawdaddy and ChaChing 6″ it out (that sounds wrong)
-You’ll notice YHC didn’t participate much. I have a doctor’s note.
-Mark your calendars, we’ll do this in 6 months at The Coop. Consider it your BI-Annual Fitness Test (Thanks Atlas)

And now…drumroll please! The RESULTS

Leaderboard

Previous results for PAINtheon 1 and 1.5 can be found HERE and HERE

Announcements

-Hog & Coyote this Saturday Morning
-CAH River Float this Saturday Afternoon

Praise and Prayers
-Praise for Colombia Mission Trip Raising Funds at Bowling Tournament
-Prayers for Dark Helmet’s friend who is in hospice for prostate cancer
-Prayers for Families and the transition from School to Summer

Thanks again fellas! Always an honor!
Zima

15 of The Fort’s finest gathered for a Hump day beatdown at one of my favorite AO’s, the mighty Pantheon. #Cobains to the pax member that has been left off the list. #technology issues.

Q-drenaline got me there early enough to see Fish Sticks finishing a nice pre-run with Cornhole rolling in shortly thereafter. As the cars kept rolling in, YHC was thinking that the Weinke may be a tad long. Changes would be made on the fly.

Warm-up lap around the small loop included Toy Soldiers, Power Skips (my form was way off), Karaoke and Butt Kickers.

COP near the flag included:

• SSH- 25
• IW – 20
• Merkin Clock – 5 (done at 12, 3, 5 and 9 o’clock positions)
• Squats – 15
• Moroccan Night Clubs * 25
• Abe Vigodas (sloow Windmills) * 15

The Thang:

Mosey to basketball court in back. First note on Faith: FAITH MEANS TRUSTING IN ADVANCE WHAT WILL ONLY MAKE SENSE IN REVERSE- ALSO- FAITH DOESN’T MAKE THINGS EASY, IT ONLY MAKES THEM POSSIBLE.

Partner Up- size will matter later on. Partners go to opposite side of courts, suicides on foul lines and meet in the middle for parter hand slap merkins.  10 reps, 3 rounds, Suicides, meet middle for leg throws. 20 reps, 3 rounds, suicides, meet middle for partner squats. 20 reps, 3 rounds

bear crawl to center, meet middle for Partner Derkins (real crowd pleaser), 15 reps each bear crawl back.  This is where partner size came into play. Had planned for 3 rounds, but the Q was gassed. Omaha!

Mosey To the Kindergarten Playground – 20 step ups each leg, 30 dips

Mosey to Flag- Second note on Faith. :Related my favorite Metaphor from CS Lewis on Faith. He explained that having strong faith means that you are like a clean mirror reflecting God’s love for you to everyone you meet. The weaker your faith, the dirtier the mirror. The deeper your faith, the cleaner is your mirror.  Then, over to the flag pole for TOTE THE BRICK- 10 separate exercises. . Pax do each exercise while 1 member carries the cinder block to the last column and back. This portion provided some nice encouragement amongst the Pax as well as some quality mumblechatter about Carolina Dry Docks or “CDDs” sounding like a communicable disease.Good stuff.

Ended with 2 minutes of Mary- Fluttahs & Protractor. .

Various announcements- read the Newsletter, there is a LOT going on.

COT- A prayer AND praise for our Mustard Seeds in Lakewood Ranch, Cincinnati and Twin Cities. YHC relayed how amazing it is that fellow pax from The Fort (Bing, Senator Tressel and Solid State) have been so integral in launching these new Regions. Reminded all that we have a region full of HIMs and to be thankful for that.

Prayers for a friend of Half Shell going to rehab and prayers for parents of pre-teens and teens as we seek to guide our kids before they reach adulthood.

NMM:, #cobains to Cornhole and Jekyll as I forgot to mention your work helping to launch Houston and Seattle regions, respectively. Truly humbled by the honor to lead a hard working and big group of the Fort’s finest.

Thanks Fish Sticks for the opportunity..

Short Sale signing off.

What a lovely cool morning. We had 8 tough men at The Pantheon this morning. Everyone gave it their best effort! A special shout out of thanks to Crawdaddy to drive over to us and support me in my VQ!

1. Disclosure mentioned, no FNGs, advise of multiple partners today; focus on encouraging one another throughout our exercise get to know your partner

II. Running – 1.5 X around shorter loop discussing while running: then to field

Discussed:

-What do you do?

-If you were not working, how would you prefer to spend your time?

2 Indian run lines:

1. 1. High knees
   2. Side shuffles – L and R
   3. Butt kickers
   4. Toy Soldiers
   5. Front to Back but fast and quick

III. Warm-up continued (Circled up on grass)

1. 1. Quote: When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.
      1. Are you still doing childish things?
   2. Side straddle hop – 13X
   3. The SLOW Windmill – 11X
   4. The Wakeup stretch – 5X
   5. Rockin’ Moroccan nightclub – 14X
   6. Shoulder stretch – 2X
   7. Quote: “The seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity.
   8. Encouragement to bring fruit in your life to demonstrate your maturation.

IV. Upper Body Workout – 45 second workout/15 seconds of rest

1. 1. Walking Merkins – 3 left, 3 right
   2. PRs or also know as Pulse Rows or sometimes know as the 1/2 Superman
   3. LBLCs (Lying Bicep Leg Curls)
   4. Plank Ups (everybody liked these – j/k!)
   5. SGs (Shoulder Guns, also known as reverse snow angels)
   6. Maximum Clap Merkins moving into Circle Merkins; stop at 360 degrees and reverse direction
   7. Wrist Curls (finally something easy)
   8. Carolina Dry Docs
   9. Full Superman holds (20 secs, rest 5 secs, 20 secs);
   10. Skull Crushers (Wow! These were difficult!)
   11. Maturity comes when you stop making excuses and start making changes.

V. Partner Up – 2 lines – Run to back of school basketball court

Discussed:

-Who have you always admired and would call mature? (someone you really know)

-What are some qualities that you would call mature?

A. Quote: Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete.

1. Group #1: Pull-ups – 3 max sets on swing set, challenge your new partner, then for the difference between the two partner numbers multiply by 3 and do that number of Burpees each time after each pull-up set; if there is a tie, then automatic 5 Burpees each

1. Group 2: On basketball court:
   1. Sprint 1: backward run, then sprint forward full court, 10 sec rest; repeat
   2. Sprint 2: Side shuffles both ways, 10 sec rest
   3. Sprint 3: 1 sprint forward full court and back again
   4. 1/2 court bear crawl until other group is done
2. Switch locations
3. Run in 2 lines to baseball field grass

VI. Lower Body Workout – 45 seconds workout/15 seconds rest

1. Maturity is learning to walk away from people and situations that threaten your peace of mind, self-respect, values, morals or self worth.
2. Jump Squats
3. Richard Simmons Kicks (Alternating Side Lunge+ Kicks)
4. X Squats or X Squat jumps
5. Alternating Stepping Lunge
6. Hamstring Heel Curl
7. Standard Calf Raises
8. Out of time to do more + the legs hurt!

VII. Walk back most of the way to COT doing Imperial Walkers, then sprint final 50

We had some tired men heading into . . .

VIII: COT

1. Maturity is a journey rather than a destination.
2. Announcements
   1. Crawdaddy’s VQ is 6/14
   2. Whetstone – consider getting involved; see Chris “Rebel” Williams for info in link in weekly email
   3. Pantheon Games – 6/14
   4. Hog & Coyote
3. Praises – we are blessed!
4. Prayers – Router’s neighbor-major life event and change, several others that were also important
5. Closing Prayer: Adapted from Peter Marshall:

God, forgive us that when life’s circumstances lift us to the crest of the wave, we tend to forget You yet, like an errant child, we have blamed You with our every failures, even as we credit ourselves with every success.

When our fears evaporate like the morning mist, then vainly we imagine that we are sufficient unto ourselves, that material resources and human resources are enough.

We need You when the sun shines, lest we forget the story and the dark. We need You when we are popular, when our friends and those who work beside us approve and compliment us. We need You more than, lest our heads begin to swell.

O God, forgive us for our stupidity, our blindness in success, our lack of trust in You. Be our Savior in success. Save us from conceit. Save me from pettiness. Save me from my immaturity and save me from ourselves. As we grow in maturity, help our attributes mimic Your Son’s. Finally, take our successes, whether due to our maturation process or not, and allow them to be used for Your glory. In your strength, I earnestly pray these things. Amen.

Thank you for the opportunity, Fish Sticks!!