Ring of Fire: Carrying Burdens

WARMUP: 5 pull-ups 5knee ups 5 flying squirrels 2 rounds
THE THANG: pick a block walk the campus 4 exercises 4 times
MARY: n/a
ANNOUNCEMENTS: newsletter
COT: share your burden as we can do it alone!!!

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Remembering Columbine

WARMUP:
Mosey down to lower parking lot. toy soldiers and high knees around parking lot then mosey back to ROTC building for CoP.

CoP (IC)
20 SSH, 12 IW, 12 Cherry Pickers, 12 MNCs

THE THANG:
This workout was developed as a remembrance of the Columbine High School shooting victims from 23 years ago (4/20/1999). I was a freshman in high school about 40 minutes from Columbine and had friends there that day that were thankfully not physically injured.

Everyone grabbed a cindy…

Buy-in: 21 merkins. One for each wounded victim that survived that day.

Main Event:
To honor the 13 victims that died that day (12 students and 1 teacher) we did 13s.

13s – bent over rows with the cindy at the ROTC building, 8 count body builders at lower stop sign (start with 1 row and 12 body builders, increment one row and decrease one body builder each round, end with 12 rows and 1 body builder)

Before each round the name and age of one of the killed victims was announced.

SSH were completed at the end of each round until the 6 was in.

this brought us to 05:56

Finished off the workout with 25 chest presses with cindy (IC) and then 10 OH press with cindy (IC)

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Although tragedies continue to happen seemingly endlessly – raising kind, caring kids and being leaders in our community can make an impact on those around us. This impact can reduce or mitigate the impacts of the mental health issues that lead to some of these tradgedies. Keep up the great work and hopefully we never have to deal with anything close to what happened this day 23 years ago.

AKA continues tomorrow at Minnow Pond, Blood Drive May 12

COT: prayers for mental health, our kids, Ukraine

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Ring of Block-Fire

Seven pax posted at Ring of Fire.
Warm up
Began with a run around NaFo.
SSH
Windmills
Imperial Walkers
Moroccan N/C
Low slow squats
Big Arm Circles
Peter Parkers
Plank Stretches (honeymooners/down dogs)

Main Event
Alternated between pull-bars work and a ring of fire routine with cindys (pax hold cinder block, all side shuffle in a circle, Q calls out the exercise, back to side shuffle, then another exercise is called). Wears you down quickly.
Pull Up Bars: Pull ups (10x); Merkins (10x)
Run to bottom of hill and back
Cinder blocks: Curls and squats
Run to bottom of hill and back
Pull Up Bars: Chin ups (10x); Merkins (10x)
Run to bottom of hill and back
Cinder blocks: KB swings and OH presses
Run to bottom of hill and back
Pull Up Bars: switch-grip pull ups (10x); Merkins (10x)
Run to bottom of hill and back
Cinder blocks: Man-Makers and uneven merkins
Run to bottom of hill and back
Pull Up Bars: burpee pull ups (5x); knees-to-chest (10x)

Run to Benches and do:
Step ups (10 ea leg)
Butt touch squats (15x)
Dips (15x)
Derkins (15x)

Run to COT
Short round of Mary: LBC, Protractors

Fini
Announcements, prayers/praises.

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Full body workout

We had 6 at the Ring of Fire this morning for a full body beardown.

We started with a mosey around the NaFo parking lot and did several exercises to warm up.  WINDMILLS, MORROCAN NIGHTCLUBS, IMPERIAL WALKERS , HILLBILLY WALKERS AND SSH

The WOD consisted of

1.MERKINS, FLUTTERS, SQUATS

2. WIDE ARM MERKINS, LBC, MOUNTAIN CLIMBERS

3. DIAMOND MERKINS, BB SITUPS, CALF RAISES

4. CAROLINA DD, AMERICAN HAMMERS, BOX CUTTERS

We would do a card then run from the awning at NaFo to the stadium stop sign and back. We started at 20 reps per exercise then 15 then 10 . We were able to complete 2and 1/2 rounds before time ran out.

We ended with COT

Thank you Kaiser for the opportunity to lead

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3/16 at ROF

There were 8 boot campers and 2 runners at ROF on this cool morning.  Started off with a disclaimer then got in some stretching with upward & downward dog and SSH.

Went into my version of 21s with 21 merkins (single count) and 21 Big Boys.  The next round was 18 & 18 going down by 3’s until we got to 3 and 3.  Little bit of mumble chatter, but the Q kept count so no extra reps were done.

From there we moseyed over to the pull up bars and each grabbed a Cindy.  We walked those to the bottom of the hill and the PAX awaited instructions.

Here we would do 11’s with 2 exercises at the bottom and top.  At the bottom of the hill we did curls with the Cindy and squats (holding the cindy overhead), then run to the top/pull up bars and do pull ups and knees to chest.

On the last rep I instructed the PAX to grab their Cindy (most got through the full set) and we headed back to COT.  I realized we still had a little time so we got in some Mary and the runners joined us for COT.

Thanks @kaiser for the opportunity to lead!

 

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3 Stations on Repeat

Ring of Fire welcomed 10 PAX with one having to modify due to injury.
It’s Groundhog Day for anyone attending to those matters so rather than just going through the motions, be focused and intentional with your actions, starting with today’s workout.

Head over to the band parking lot for a few warmup exercises.
Run to the 50, 2 burpees, run to the other end, 2 burpees
Nur to the 50, 2 burpees, nur back to the start, 2 burpees

Explanation of our 3 stations to be executed with a partner

Station 1 at the band lot
10 Jump Squats and 20 Calf Raises

Run to station 2 at the pull up bars
10 Pull Ups and 20 Diamond Merkins

Run to station 3 at the elementary school parking lot at the bottom of the hill
10 X’s & O’s and 20 American Hammers

When you finish with station 3, nur up the hill back to station 2, to complete station 2 then run back to station 1. Repeat until time expires.

Hey Kaiser, we missed you.
SYITG
Maximus

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Multitasking is not a thing……

As we all know we live in an overstimulated world…We are constantly bombarded with demands, tasks, responsibilities, fake news :), and distractions. There is more information and access available at our fingertips than ever before yet we are more drained and burned out as a society. We struggle to live in the present moment and to stay focused on things that matter. We get sucked into playing whack a mole on a daily basis. Work, chores, errands, kids, wife, family, etc. etc. Our phones beep and buzz about every 30 seconds and the email inbox is constantly filling up.  There is no more margin…

We discussed at COT how multitasking is somewhat glorified in our culture today.  I heard someone speak the other day about a term called “monotasking” and it captured my attention.  Actually learning to focus on doing one thing at a time.  Why the hell is that so hard?  What would actually happen if we were to focus on one task at a time, one conversation at a time, one project at a time.  Like actually eating your lunch at work without reading email or working, actually paying attention to the person speaking on your zoom call, shutting down your inbox and silencing your phone to work on a project.  I think that is where we can learn to actually find life in the present.  Reading the Gospels this is exactly what Jesus did.  He was never in a hurry, took time for prayer when the world was screaming for his attention (including his posse), was extremely present in the moment, and focused on doing one thing at a time.  Food for thought.   

Oh yeah…we did a workout.  Here it is.

Warm up – Side straddle hops, quad stretches, imperial walkers, overhead claps

The Thang – 

Suicides on the football field 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, and then run 100 yards.  Nurr back to goal line.

Ring of Fire (or Rectangle of Fire). Start center field with 5 burpees.  Run diagonal to each 20 yard line and do 20 reps of an exercise.  Run back to center and do 5 burpees at each transition.  Exercises include Merkins, Bobby Hurleys, V ups, CDDs.  Round 2 included wide arm merkins, squats, flutters, and overhead claps.

We then went back to the goal line and repeated suicides.

There was time remaining so we ran to the pull up bars for some fun.  20 dips, 20 curls with cindy, 5 pull ups, some wall sits, 25 dips, 25 curls with cindy, wall sits, finish with 5 more pull ups

Closed at COT

Prayers for Aquaman and his family, Prayers for Sawdust and his support of his fellow soldiers, Prayers for my wife Elizabeth’s Deviated Septum surgery and recovery.

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F3 The Fort – Adopt a Highway (#2)

****March 5th 2022- 7:45am – 8:00am****

Men,

We have officially signed up for the Adopt-A-Highway Litter pick-up program.  Our adopted Highway is US21 from Peachstand south to Sutton Rd. (2 miles). We will have a sign installed to promote this section of the highway.  We are encouraged to complete 4 pick-ups a year (once a quarter).  All supplies will be provided.  All we need to do is show up.  The SC DOT will come out and pick up our bags along the route after completion.

**Our NEXT Clean-up date is tentatively scheduled for March 5th. (start time )  7:45 am – 8:00am**. There is no time expectation for participation.  Stay as long as needed or head out early.  Modify as needed. Plan for 2 hours if you complete the 1-mile loop.  We split up into two groups last time and met at the halfway point.

We will begin at the Peachstand (rear of the building) and coordinate.  I have 30 vests and all supplies.

Fogerty will be the main contact for this event over the next two years.

Here are some of the logistics:

• Make sure your group knows that in case of bad weather the cleanup will be postponed. Litter collection should never be done in the dark or in bad weather.
• Notify local news media who may have an interest in publicizing your group’s activities. • Remind your group of the appropriate clothing. Long pants and long-sleeved shirts and sturdy shoes help avoid scratches and irritation from poisonous plants. Light or brightly colored clothing will make them easily visible to passing traffic.
• Be sure you have all the materials and supplies you’ll need beforehand, including first aid kits.
• Check with members of your group to be aware of any allergies that might be important (such as bee-stings, etc).
• Work out a plan for what you will do in the event of an emergency. Find out what the quickest route to the hospital is.
• Park vehicles at both ends of the adopted section.

• Volunteers must be at least 13 years old to participate in Adopt-A-Highway cleanups. Children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult on all Adopt-A-Highway cleanups.

The state does provide adopt-a-highway orange and blue bags.  Orange bags are for trash and blue bags are for recyclables if you want to recycle.  Your group is also provided with orange safety vests.   We do require four pickups every year, usually once every quarter.  All that is needed to be done after trash is picked up is to call or email me and I will send one of our crews to pick up the bags.

It is volunteers like you who are going to make a difference by speaking up and doing what they can to help their community.  Please let me know If you have any questions, I will be glad to assist you.

Thank you,

Sherry J. Johnson
Administrative Specialist/
Adopt-A-Highway Coordinator
SC Department of Transportation
803-327-6186 O I 803-327-6184 F
JohnsonSJ@scdot.org

District Four Maintenance
338 Robertson Road West
Rock Hill, SC 29730

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1st Annual The Fort Weight Loss Challenge

The weight-loss challenge for 2022 has been established to create some focus on the Queen.  The goal is fellowship, accountability, support, discipline, and a little motivation.  Pax will depart on a 90-day journey beginning January 3rd, 2022, and ending on approximately April 2nd or 3rd.

There will be a buy-in and payouts to the top 3 places – determined by “percentage of weight loss”.   Uhaul has agreed to be the holder of the buy-in with a tracking spreadsheet created for each pax to help monitor their progress.  Good Luck Pax!

T-Claps to Uhaul for assisting with this endeavor!

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Rain and Malachi

The heavens burst forth this morning.

5 PAX gathered in truly gloom 41 degree weather. At about 0520, the rain really poured for about 10 minutes and then let off to only a solid shower.

YHC modified my plan with the rain. I really just tried to warm us up (literally and figuratively) under some cover. Then we braved out into the rain. We stopped occasionally for exercises. I was flying a bit of the cuff among the exercises I called in cadence in various locations:

  • SSH
  • Merkins
  • Bulgarian Split Squats
  • Mountain Climbers
  • Imperial Walkers and Hillbilly Walkers
  • Squats
  • Inverted Merkins (from BTTW position)
  • Derkins
  • More Derkins in a different spot
  • More Bulgarian Split Squats
  • Pull-ups – called up and down
  • Toes to bar – called up and down
  • Burpee Pull-ups (8 count)
    • that was “fun”
  • Pistol Squat with a poll for support
    • we only did 3 each leg, relax
  • A few wall sits in different places
  • Tibialis Raises (thanks River Rat)
    • these don’t look hard, but DANG

OYO we did deconstructed burpees towards the end. I think we hit about 15-20 before 0600

Kaiser asks for the Q to bring a scripture. Since I’ve been working on a Bible-In-One-Year plan, I recently read the beginning of Malachi. Chapter 2, Verse 3 really hit me. “Because of you I will rebuke your descendants; I will smear on your faces the dung from your festival sacrifices, and you will be carried off with it.”

How do we setup our children for failure with God?
How were we set up by our forefathers for failure?

How is the $!.^ from our celebrations rubbed back into our faces? Or are the very things we try to offer up to God as a showcase of our faithfulness sent back to us as markers of our inadequacies?

I was also really glad for the rain this morning. To think that even though we may have dung smeared on our face, God send a rain like we had this morning to wash it away. We just have to be brave enough to go outside and tolerate it.

An honor to lead. And an honor to have 4 other PAX there in the inclement gloom to share the morning with. I know for a FACT, I would not have done very much without the other men around me this morning. Instead my heart rate monitor said we torched about 700 calories.

Also wanted to share that on the pull-up bars my phone randomly began playing Juliet’s Death from Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet. It’s a trombone choir arrangement. Here it is for your listening pleasure: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkDK2L9mpBY Listen especially to the chord circa 30 seconds in and then the resolution around 57 seconds in. Try hanging from a pull-up bar at that moment and contemplating Malachi…..maybe it wasn’t random that my phone started playing that.

Band Camp dismissed

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