Category: Pre-Blast

March Madness Bracket Challenge 4 Autism

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The March 4 Autism bracket challenge is back for year 4! Works like a 50/50 raffle where winner gets half and the Autism Strong Foundation gets half. $25 per bracket. Max 10. Last year the pot was $1,975 – let’s break that record this year!

Join HERE

Pay HERE

DM Divac once paid.

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Jaeger – Sprint

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The Fort will celebrate the culmination of it’s 2025-2026 Fundraising Efforts for the Fort Mill Care Center and F3 Scholarship with the Foundation for Fort Mill Schools at 11:30am on March 14th at Model A. Prior to that (9am) we’re running a shorter Jaeger–a Jaeger Sprint. Why? Because it’s completely stupid and utterly pointless: CSAUP.

Just show up and you’ll be placed with a team for completing the event. Some will ruck, if you bring a ruck. Some will run, if you don’t have a ruck. All will get better!

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> 2026

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Anchorman here.
I feel like it’s a cliche at this point to talk about F3 and the bonds built through tough workouts.
If you’ve done it, you get it.
If you haven’t…you might be wondering how guys seem so committed to this thing.
Speaking for me, the glue started in sharing the suck at 0515.  But it got real sticky-like after my first mud run.
In a world full of social media where people love to tear down, you find a group of guys who lift you up.  Cheer you on.  Run (slowly in my case) alongside you.
Which brings us to our latest idea.
>
(>? What the…?)
It’s an event that will need more than you’ve ever given, and will leave you greater than you started.
What’s > exactly? 
A 12 hour overnight ruck and endurance event.
This is not something to take lightly.  Training is highly encouraged.  (We will even provide you with a training schedule to make sure you get the most of this event.)
May 16.  Anne Springs Greenway.  Fort Mill, SC.
**Please note, if you’ve not done something like this before, THIS IS THE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY.  Train and challenge yourself with brothers.
TRAINING BEGINS FEBRUARY 16.  We will be sending out the guide along with recommended gear options.
This event is limited to 50 men.
Cost is $50 and includes a shirt, a patch and breakfast.
Register here
Payable to @chip-hill-4 on Venmo
No refunds, but you can send another in your place if something changes in your schedule.

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2026 Mental Battle WOD!

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Welcome to the F3 Mental Battle WOD of 2026!
This year our guest QIC (Q In Charge) is none other than HIM Bartman from F3 Junction (north of Sacramento, CA).
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The  Workout of the Day (WOD) is designed to remember a fallen friend of F3 Lexington, KY’s F3 Miyagi.  While March 25 is the date we commemorate, you are free to lead this workout any time in the month of March or even beyond.
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If you have any question about the F3 Mental Battle or the WOD, reach out to Drop Thrill on the Nation’s Slack channel or on Instagram/Facebook/X at @f3mentalbattle.
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Without further ado, let’s get to the WOD!
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No Oyo!
_

SEMICOLON

Welcome

Disclaimer
Mission
Credo

Five Core Principles

Warm-o-rama: (can vary based on the Q)

The Thang, Part 1 – SEMI (can be done as a Seven of Diamonds or Four Corners)
–Squirrel Splats (Merkin w/ Plank Jack as a 4-count) – 7
–Earl Fondas (A combination of the Sleeping Hillbilly and a Jane Fonda. You perform the exercise on a 4 count. First count is the upward motion of the Jane Fonda, second count is the downward motion, but you suspend your leg without touching the ground. The third count is bringing your leg up towards your chest and fourth count is extending the leg. Your leg will not touch the ground until the desired amount of reps are completed) – 14
–Mexican Jumping Bean Squats (Perform a full squat, then a hop or jump.) – 21
–Imperial Walkers – 28 (we did 2:1 to 14 for these)

The Thang, Part 2 – COLON (done Dora-style)
–Carolina Dry Docks x125
–Outlaws x 100 (Sitting in the position for flutter kicks, keep your feet together and make a big “O” with them.)
–Low Country Crabs x75 (From the crab position (hands and feet, face up, back and bum off the ground), in cadence right hand up to touch left foot up, left hand up to touch right foot up.)
-One-Legged Burpees x50
–No Surrenders x25(Begin the no-surrender in the standing position with your hands locked behind your head and elbows pointing outward.4 count: 1.Go down on left knee, then 2. down on the right knee so now you’re on both knees. 3.Then stand back up on left leg then 4. up with the right leg. After half the desired reps, switch the starting leg so that you don’t favor one side.)

Mary: (can vary based on the Q)

COT: In writing, a semicolon is used when an author could have ended a sentence but chose to continue it instead. The mental health movement adopted this as a powerful metaphor.  The semicolon represents a moment when someone could have ended their story but chose to keep going.

Thus the semicolon can be used as a message of affirmation & solidarity w/ those who have dealt w/ suicide, depression, addiction, & other mental health issues.

If you are struggling, know that you are not alone; help is available. Reach out to someone. To reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, call or text 988.

 

  • We encourage you to leave some time at the end of the workout or during COT to open up the group to discussions about mental health, suicide or any struggles the men or someone they know might have or are going through.
  • Thanks again to Bartman for this year’s WOD!
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Christmas Eve 2025

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Christmas Eve Convergence

Santa has to stay fit enough to travel the world tonight. Let’s GO!!

Details
Location: “Ring of Fire”
Timeline:
0600 – Pre-run 5k (trail and road options)
0630 – Bootcamp
0715 – Message and Coffeteria
0745 – Close

Dark Helmet F3 Nation Nant’an on Q

Deez DOAH Notes:
I don’t get serious very often—pretty much ever—but this convergence has been heavy on my heart as Nant’an of F3 Nation. You usually just see me as the jackwagon you work out with, but this one’s different.

It would mean a lot if you showed up. Bring a guy—FNG or Kotter. We’re going to talk honestly about the state of manliness in our world and what we need to do to accelerate our impact.

Coffeeteria afterward provided by Poppins

A note from Santa traveling in his Time Machine:
Click Here to See the Hype

 

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The Grandaddy of all CSAUPs – BRR 2026

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Over the course of 13 years in the Fort there have been many Completely Stupid and Utterly Pointless (CSAUP) activities including the Tortoise and Hare, the Sweati Barry, D2D, Hog and Coyote, Palmetto 200 and the Jaeger just to name a few. All of which serve to challenge your pain threshold while also building trust and teamwork amongst men. As stated in Q Source, “completing it together tells the participants something about themselves and each other–that they are men upon whom others may safely rely.”

But the Grandaddy of all CSAUPs that the Fort has participated in is the Blue Ridge Relay. BRR is a 208 mile relay of 36 legs that begins at Grayson Highlands State, VA and finishes in Asheville, NC. Ask anyone who has participated in the past and they will almost always list this as one of the best and most challenging events that have completed. Below are a few additional details:

* Race starts on a Friday morning, September 11th (starting times are staggered and vary from 7am-11am) and ends on Saturday afternoon, September 12th.
* Race is split into 36 predetermined legs of varying distances (2 to 10 miles) and difficulty levels (Easy to Mountain Goat Hard).
* Teams can be a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 12 people. Price for teams of 7-12 runners is $1498.60 and for teams of 4-6 runners is $757
* For a 12-person team, the average total distance is 16.6 miles spread over 3 legs (it’s like running three 10Ks in a day). You can do the math for the average mileage for the other teams sizes. Average is just average though – some legs are longer and some are shorter.
* Teams travel along the race course in vans, picking up and dropping off runners at the beginning and end of each leg. You get to know, and smell, your van-mates very well.

How I participate?

To enhance the fellowship, bring along some newer guys and bond through the training, this year we will be doing a “blind draw” for teams to participate. You are asked to HC and submit your information using this form BRR the Fort. We will accept submissions through 2/1/26. Below are the additional timelines:

* February – Captains are chosen based on the number of HCs received; Payment will be expected based on # of runners and price
* March – training begins
* March – August – training continues with special events including Trout to Trout, mountain runs and trips to Crowders Mountain (more details to follow)
* July 11th – Blind Draw for teams; location TBD
* July 27th – Estimated pace submitted to BRR
* September 11-12 – race occurs

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me via Slack.

This will be one of the best and most challenging events you will do in 2026 so I challenge to you sign up. Lets go!

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Thanksgiving Food Drive

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Local food banks are facing increased demand in our community. The women of FiA have thrown out a challenge to the men of The Fort. Who can collect the most (by weight) from the Fort Mill Care Center’s list of November Wish List.

FM Care Center Nov Wish LIst

We are a big region and are also collecting turkeys for Operation Love the week of 11/16. The Fort is confident its men can rally and serve those in need.

All other items can be brought to any AO 11/10-11/24. The Site Qs will take items at ALL our AOs!! Encourage your neighborhoods to participate as well. The final weigh-in for competition will be 11/24. Let’s support those in need and enjoy a little competitive spirit with FiA.

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Operation Love Returns

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This Thanksgiving Operation Love Returns to the Fort! Y’all might remember from a few years ago. He moved back to Wisconsin but his legacy lives on through Operation Love.

WHAT: The plan is to provide Thanksgiving dinner to under resourced families in and around the Fort Mill and surrounding areas. We are partnering with members of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and Lifepointe Church to provide boxes on November 23rd.
These boxes will be filled with all the ingredients to make a thanksgiving dinner. It will be a mobile pickup on the 23rd at St. Paul’s Church 501 Pine St., Fort mill
What WE will be doing as the PAX of the Fort is collecting TURKEYS 8-10lb birds, goal will be 30! Suplex and YHC will be collecting them the week of 11/16 at various AOs throughout the week – Stay tuned for those details.

We will also ask for a couple volunteers in the afternoon of 11/23 from 2-5pm at St. Paul’s to assist with packing and distributing the boxes to the families. Signup genius for volunteering TBD

This will work in conjunction with a fundraiser through the Fort Mill Care Center and a friendly competition with FIA. Those details are being shared by Band Camp.

WHY: because thanksgiving is a meal no one should go without! And because we are HIM’s and this is what we do. WE GET TO
Contact or YHC (Poppins) for questions.

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13 year Convergence

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  • QIC: Backdraft, Assassian, Boogie Nights
  • When: 09/29/2025
  • Posted In: Pre-Blast

The Fort turning 13. Come celebrate as our Region becomes a teenager!!!

NaFo – 9/29/2025
0515
Run/Ruck: Assassin on Q
Bootcamp: Backdraft on Q
Kettlebell: Boogie Nights on Q

Let’s be the accelerating men our community needs.

Slightly different parking location from the usual AOs that meet there. NaFo has some construction happening and the football team has been arriving at 0555. We’ll keep COT out of their way.

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AI Workshop – Beyond the Basics

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It’s time to build on your basic AI skills with this Zoom workshop. AI is quickly becoming a disruptive technology in our schools, work, and even our homes. Whether it’s with this workshop, or by some other means, do not miss opportunities to learn and leverage this technology. Once again, we are asking pax to please register to attend.

If you missed the intro workshop for “Everyday AI”, just let Old Bay know and he’ll send you a link to the recorded video.

Date and Time: 9/9/25 @ 8pm via Zoom

In this “Beyond the Basic” workshop, we’ll learn how to use  AI to:

  • analyze documents (medical, legal, photos)
  • help with spreadsheets (analysis and cell formulas)
  • build resumes and cover letters
  • help think through big decisions
  • automate tasks
  • create highly customized “custom instructions” for the best responses

We will focus mainly on the new ChatGPT 5, but will talk a bit about a few other AI models and tools.

Hope to see you there!

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