Category: The Fort

The Right Kind of Sacrifice

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14 men awoke to not so bright/wet conditions and converged in the gloom of the hallowed ground at The Swamp for a Beyond message from YHC.  Here’s what went down

Warmup:      20 SSH IC, 20 Imperial Walkers, 15 windmills (wonderfully executed), 10 Mtn Climbers.    Let’s mosey

The Thang:      Mosey to the alley behind Home Depot for a perfect location to perform the BLIMPS workout and grab some wall for 1-min wall-sits in between each as their active rest, allowing YHC to convey the message for today.  At each 1-min sit, YHC shared what has been on his heart about sacrifice.   This is defined as something that is a loss or something  you give up for the sake of a better cause.    Approximately 1-year ago, my wife and I were celebrating her completion of treatment for Breast Cancer.  Surgery, radiation, DNA testing, doctors, etc…pronounced her as Cancer Free and we returned to our routine.  Our faith had been a anchor throughout and continued to grow thru prayer and my F3 brothers and Journey group, yet I had one main question.  How did this trial change us and by us I mean, me and my role as a husband, father and leader of my home.  I realized how consumed I was with my martial arts training, races, Goruck events, etc..that I was actually not IN my home very much.  That which I thought was making me healthier, stronger and better for my family had me gone for large amounts of time from them.

Time for a sacrifice! I am going on year of stepping away from all those things that took me away from her and the kids to activities to do together and that were important to her!  She never once asked for this and struggled with me giving it up after so long but it’s been the best decision of my life.  God has changed my path for the better by sacrificing what I thought was important to what is truly important.

Sacrifice will lead you to make significant choices. But being a husband and father is a significant experience!

B  5 Burpees OYO, followed by 10 SSH IC
1-min wall sit
L 10 Lunges each leg OYO, followed by 10 SSH IC
1-min wall sit
I 15 Imperial Walkers IC, followed by 10 SSH IC
1-min wall sit
M 20 Merkins OYO, followed by 10 SSH IC
1-min wall sit
P 25 Plank Jacks, followed by 10 SSH IC
1-min wall sit
S 30 Squats, followed by 10 SSH IC

Mosey to the large parking lot for some 4-corners of Blimps!  Total of 6 laps around the parking lot stopping at each corner to perform the exercise.  First (1) lap: 5 burpees @ ea corner (2) lunges (3) 15 IW (4) 20 merkins (5) 25 plank jacks (6) 30 squats (stop at end of each full lap to wait on the 6 with planks; modified the M, P, & S

Return for COT and some last words:  Identify that thing in your life that you may be placing your identity in that may be causing you to miss the mark of your Concentrica Bullseye!

Good work, men.  It was an honor to lead you this morning.

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Old School at the Original AO: The Fort

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Couldn’t believe- were my eyes fooling me?  Funhouse and YHC on Q on the same day at the same AO at the same time.  Say it aint so muchacho!  There was a lot of chatter leading into the epic debauchery of sweatin and gruntin (do not insert bombjacks here).  17 hardnose PAX and Funhouse showed up on crispy cool morning.  40’s and a little damp from rain the night before leaving a bit of a foggy haze- perfect for the reason we call it the #gloom.  I warned of gloves as standard equipment but Captain Leatherhands told me to grow a pair, that we don’t need no stinkin gloves (really the only reference you can make to Blazing Saddles today).

I think Funhouse disclaimed.  I know he has a “mustache”.  Into the Gloom once more-

The Thang

Center of the field, in the grass and no complaining.

Warm O Rama:   50 cadence count SSH, some Mountain Climbers, IWs, and eventually 6 count burpees in cadence.  Where do we put the emphasis when its more than a 4 count anyway.

To the hill for Jacob’s ladder (1-7)  Flying squirrels and Carolina Dry Docks.

Over to Soccer field but gate locked.  No matter.  10 minute Merkins- 10 merkins every minute for 10 minutes.  Challenging toward end except for push up/pull up king @trucker.  ‘shanks was on a table and we took a deep dive in to number of children and whether the red headed ones were truly ours- Aye: We are all God’s children men.

hand off to YHC- 5 burpees OYO then follow me.

A few PAX made believe they were William Wallace and Bravehearted their way down the hill and across the foggy field to the tree line.  Plank for #six.  YHC discussed WOM: Vulnerability.  More on that later.

Partner up (I preselected ‘Shanks because I am glutton for punishment).  Partner Carry across field.  P1 plank, P2 ski jump over legs.  Flapjack Partner Carry across field.  Flapjack Plank/Ski Jump.  Repeato twice more.  As CSPAN says- “Excellent choice”  Lot of honest woofing out there.  Old school and everybody was stronger and better.

Tunnell of love- 18 PAX plank, 1 army crawls through.  Several had rucks on durning this and throughout workout.  Good on ya, men.  Our line was an “S” at ENDEX but it got done.  never mind the kindness of the planking PAX that drop their hips when you pass through.  “love taps”?

Lt. Dan.: Evil twin brother of Jack Webb.  Squat and Jump lunges/Mary Catherine’s.  Ratio 1-4.  Finished at 10-40.  Lot of chatter through this one.  Still have difficulty moving today.   Sunshine, oh sunshine.  Kept his Welch’s Grape Juice down but it looked iffy rounds 7-10.  WWL with ruck and getting each knee dirty in perfect form.

Mosyed home with a few Pearls on a String stations to close out.

Naked man Moleskin

Heckuva beatdown today.  Knew it was going to be fun.  Maximus had a good summation tweet: This is type of morning that keeps PAX engaged and coming back.  It was hard, insightful, inspirational, and comical…all at the same time.”  AYE!

Couple of call outs- Longshanks is a beast.  I bonked 8/10 of way through last leg of partner carries.  He picked me up like he was going for gold at #spartan.  Aye, Captain Leatherhands.  Pusher had an interesting matchup with Quack attack for the carries, and DH took WWL AND his Ruck across the finish line.  Good work boys.  A few men saved their knees and modified the Lt. Dan’s.  Always smart to know your body- not trying to get hurt just better.  Well done.  ‘Shanks may have been the #king of Jacob’s ladder too.  Sale boys were great partners, toughed it out and yet somehow both kept smiling on their handsomely #triplehate faces.

A word on Vunerability (shared with the men):

Society pushes men away from being vulnerable and say that among many things -it shows weakness.  I can only think back to what a missing element of life our previous generations, perhaps and specifically our fathers had.  Is your father a sharer?  Grandfather?  Consider all the life they have lived and how much loneliness they could have endured.

F3 has provided many tools for the men who seek the truth every morning in the gloom.  At the top of the list is the opportunity to be vulnerable and learning to be vulnerable during our workouts, our COTs, our shield locks, and our whetstone relationships.  Its here you find out you’re not alone and there are other men who have or who are experiencing what you are.  There is strength in that.  There is confidence in that.  There are solutions in that.  There is trust in that.

Lastly, and arguably the most important: develop a vulnerable relationship with your creator.  Be a seeker.  Truthful, humble.  I have found the most freeing I can ever be is to be transparent and vulnerable, ready and willing to give myself over to understanding, empathy and learning.

Aye!

 

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Puketoberfest Week 3

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Some have asked me what Puketoberfest is really about. Obviously I jokingly say that if you can’t tell by the name you should think about it again. However my desire for it really is to pick a list of Qs that would push the paxs a little harder than usual. With being able to pair them together it should make for a really good workout. Plus typically during the month of October you get to enjoy nice cool temps so it makes it a little easier for pax to push harder than it does when it is 80 degrees at 7 am with 95% humidity. In setting this up I didn’t actually expect anyone to puke, but wanted pax to push hard enough that they might think they could.

The Thang:

YHC gave the disclaimer for the 3rd week of Puketoberfest.

Moseyed over to the parking lot across from the memorial.

Sasquatch lead the group in a few minutes of broga

As promised Geronimo lead the group in the Goofball and Wegmans did the Pumpkin Spice (not doing that again)

After all of that we quickly went into our first round of exercises

Start at the parking lot – jump over the wall and go toward the building

Do 5 donkey kicks

Come back down to the parking lot and do 1 burpee.

Rinse and repeat until you reach 1 donkey kick and 5 burpees. +-1 for each.

 

Then we moved over to the grass hill where we bear crawled up the hill to find cinderblocks waiting for us. Pax partnered up and we did the following:

 

Pax 1 – Overhead carry block to next row of parking spaces and run back to Pax 2

While waiting on Pax 1 – Pax 2 is doing Mike Tyson Merkins

 

Pax 2 will then run to block and pick it up and overhead carry to the next row. Then run back. Keep doing this until team has moved the block all the way across the parking lot and back to the beginning.

 

Next exercise thanks to Sasquatch for bringing it up as a “good idea” next time someone does a cinderblock workout.

Partners get in plank position with both having one hand on the block. Work together to move the plank 15ft while doing a merkin after each time the block is moved.

 

Next set of exercises:

Squats with block – partner did LBCs until finished

Thrusters with block – partner did American Hammers until finished

 

Handed over to Trucker for the next 30 mins:

 

Quadzilla 5s: run down road, 1 squat, run up backwards, 5 merkins, rinse repeat just like 7s

Line up end parking lot, suicides to each light.

First round 1,2,3 merkins.

Round 2: 5,10,15 squats,

round 3: 5,10,15 merkins.

Round 4: 3,6,9 SSH.

In between rounds were flutters.

Round 4 we ran backwards.  

 

Ran to springs building 2 rounds of people chairs and 10 merkins. COT

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Charter Band-aids for Little Warriors – PreBlast

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As most of the PAX in the Fort and Rock regions knows my 5 year old daughter (Emma) is a leukemia survivor. We still make a trip every 4 weeks to get blood drawn to check her counts at Levine Children’s Hospital. We also stepped up and raised money last year (Christmas time) for a fellow brother bout-time out of Area 51 son Jennings who has leukemia also.

It has come to my attention that the budgets have been cut in some of the pediatric departments and the first thing to go is usually the character band aids. You say how important is to have these band-aids? Well as far as the cancer kids go every time the have their PORT’s (Port is a small medical appliance that is installed beneath the skin. A catheter connects the port to a vein) which for some kids is traumatic they get a band-aid over it. For others that are done with treatment such as my daughter Emma has to go back for the next 21 years to get checked (mainly blood counts). This not always easy for instance this past Wednesday she was poked 3 times. Well at the end the band aid can put a smile on a child’s face. This also goes for those kiddos that have to constantly get blood work done not just cancer kids.

So what I am challenging you to do is every week you go grocery shopping buy at least one box or more of character band-aids girls or boys. Also Spread the word in every COT. I will tweet out what AO’s I will be at and if anyone wants to step up and help me collect that would be awesome.

I also challenge others in different regions to pull together and do the same thing. My goal is to gather as much as possible and split it between Levine Children’s Hospital and Novant Health Hemby Children’s Hospital (St. Jude Affiliate Clinic) before Christmas.

Let a simple act of kindness put a smile on a little fighters face.

AYE. Lets do this.

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Puketoberfest…Wk 2

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Bonsai and his terrible ideas brought together round 2 of The Fort’s Puketoberfest as 7 men joined Jedi & YHC (welcome FNG Hit n’ Run) this past Saturday. The bar was set, the chatter was chatted and as the sun rose this beautiful morning, Jedi stood in the middle of the PAX for a moment to disclaim the disclaimer.

So…we mosey’d down the path with some knees-to-chest, heels-to-butt and toy soldiers. One more short mosey then forward moving hillbilly squat walkers (these are straight-up awkward) to the red-light sign.

Quick shoulder warm-up with Moroccan Night Clubs and some other stuff.

Enough of that, let’s get this going:

5 cones spaced 10yds apart. PAX do 5 burpees or some variation thereof, crawl/move to the next cone, 5 more of those burpees, crawl/move, etc to the end. After the burpees at the 5th cone, immediately do an about face and run the full 5-tier suicide using the cones that just marked your burpees. Finish with a Mary exercise while waiting on the 6. Us slow folks (Maximus writing) thankfully only got through 3 of the planned 6 rounds.

The variations were:

  1. Normal burpees, bear crawl, flutter kicks.
  2. Walmart burpees (Maximus fav), duck walks (Geronimo fav), dying cockroaches (nobody’s fav)
  3. Jackass burpees, 2 CCD & 2 Crab Cakes, LBCs

Hand off to Maximus:

Circle up in Ft. Mill’s best grass…

Jack Webb’s consisting of the typical offenders: 1 Merkin : 4 Overhead Claps up to 10:40

8ct Burpees for a few

Partner up at the playground:

P1: Pull ups while P2 runs to the path near the base of the hill.

Flapjack and repeat

P1: Tuck Jumps while P2 runs to the base of the hill.

Flapjack and repeat

Lt Dans consisting of the typical offenders: 1 Squat : 4 Jumping Lunges up to 6:24.

A few more 8ct burpees.

Line up in 1 line, arms width apart and drop to your 6, facing West for a full 51 (in a 4ct cadence so that is 102 total) American Hammers (Personal favorite)

Mosey to the base of the hill to run the to the top and jog back down…4 times.

Take a breather for a quick chat then 1 more time up for good measure.

COT

Announcements: Paradise reading center opportunity, F3 Christmas Party

Prayers: Marriages, FNGs.

No man left behind and leave no man where you found him.

Jedi & Maximus

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Pre-blast – Custom Dark Side of the Moon GORUCK

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Pax,
We put out a feeler and the Nation responded, you are eager and hungry for a CUSTOM GORUCK event in 2019. Details have been set for a truly unique event and event registration is now open.
The next Fort region CUSTOM GORUCK event, “The Dark Side of the Moon” will occur on the weekend of May 4th, 2019. The event is being spearheaded by our respectable CSPAN and soon to be respectable Cobra Kia, both of whom will be 50 years young on the event, plus a few others. Like the Pink Floyd album, which claims to reflect various stages of life, begging and ending with a heartbeat, exploring the nature of human experience, this custom F3 event will not disappoint.

Here’s what you need to know on event details (available at this time):
–Target Date: 5/4/19
–Event Format: this will be a one of a kind GORUCK format including three (3) different event lengths into a single event, first a Heavy (24 hr event) group will launch, then 12 hrs later the Tough group will join in and then 6 hrs after that the Light group will join in. So, three launch times, one for each event but each group will join in the single event, such that all three groups finish the event as a single group of pax. The Heavy is 24 hrs in duration, the Tough group is 12 hrs and the Light group is 6 hrs.
–Cadres: this a single event with two GORUCK Cadre, hand selected.
–Patches: yes, there will be custom event patches! You will only each one (1) patch, you will a single patch for the event you sign up and complete, i.e. the Heavy, Tough or Light.
–Location: will be Fort Mill or the surrounding area.
–Event Cap: GORUCK has a cap of 60 total participants, the Heavy is capped at 30 participants.
–Pricing: registration pricing has been set at $200 for Heavy, $125 for Tough, $75 for Light. Please note that the event is a flat fee charge from GORUCK, we do run the risk of under collecting costs, but based on interest expressed, that shouldn’t be a problem. Any funds collected above the flat fee charge from GORUCK, will be used for the required community service event, F3 patches and can either be refunded or donated with input from the PAX. Event pricing is in-line to GORUCK non-custom events.
–Registration: there is a two-step registration process, you must complete both steps in order to register for this event,
–Step 1 – send payment of the full amount via PayPal to WorldWide Leader, URL = https://www.paypal.me/JustinLaRoche
–Step 2 – send an email to WordWide Leader at Justin.LaRoche@Duke-Energy.com that way I can confirm receive of payment and we will need your email address to provide communication and updates on the event.

Upon successful completion of registration, PAX will be added to the public list of event participants, all pax can see who is registered and who is not and apply EHing as necessary.

Hollar with any questions, concerns or ideas.

Aye, WWL
Twitter – @jclaroche2

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Pre-Blast: The Fort Region 2018 Christmas Party

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  • QIC: Anchorman, Cake Boss, Old Bay, Royale, Gecko
  • When: 12/01/2018
  • Posted In: Pre-Blast, The Fort

2ND F….. AKA FELLOWSHIP TO CELEBRATE THE YEAR AND BLESSINGS.
The Thang:

Meet up at Regal Manor Clubhouse for a diet beatdown at 6:30 pm

Warmup with some meetin’ and greetin’.

Mosey to the buffet line for catered fine foods (menu in works). Partner carry plate to table and fellowship.

3 hrs of Live Music  delivering the hits. Mumble chatter welcome.

Moleskin:

F3 is awesome and it makes us all better. We have such and awesome community of PAX and so many new men, that we need to come together and celebrate. 2nd ‘F’ is Fellowship. That means hanging together, enjoying conversation and having a good time. Make every effort to be part of events like this. Because #ISI.

Details:

Place: Regal Manor Clubhouse 549 Starlight Drive Fort Mill, SC 29715
Date: Saturday December 1st
Time: 6:30pm-10:30pm
Cost: $30/person——->$35 after 11/24
Includes: Facility, Tables/Chairs, Food, Music
Menu:
Smoked Beef Tenderloin
Mashed Potato Bar
Spring mix salad
Green Beans
Rolls
Sweet Tea
Fruit Infused Water

BYOB – No bar this year…responsible for own drinks

  • CONTEST FOR PRIZES!!!!
    1. Ugly Sweater Contest – voted by all in attendance awarded after dinner
    2. Dessert Contest – Voted by ballot and awarded after dinner (cookies, cakes, pies)

Dress: Nice Casual or crush velvet red suit

Instructions – RSVP is required, so please follow these steps:

  1. Sign up using this form.
  2. Pay ($60/couple or $30/person) via this PayPal page.
  3. Bring to the party the following school supplies as a donation to Foundation of Fort Mill Schools for local families in need. Program called “Classroom Ready”
    1. Graph paper
    2. Composition Notebooks
    3. Back Packs: Eastport at Walmart is $15-$18
    4. Plastic Folders with pockets and brads
    5. Binders: 2 inch or 1.5 inch
    6. Expo Dry-Erase Markers
    7. Other items like ear buds and calculators (graphic, scientific or basic) are always requested by students, too, but we do not have enough of these to include them in our backpacks.

Questions? Contact Cake Boss or Anchorman

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The Fort 6 year Anniversary – Making Getting Better a Priority!

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September 29, 2012 the landscape of Fort Mill changed dramatically. Some men from north of the border grabbed the attention of a few men south of the boarder and said we may have something for you. Double D, Santini, Senator Tressel, World Wide Leader, Red Banjo, Assassin, Peach and maybe others made the commitment to come to a “workout” on that Saturday morning. It was very skeptical, but I am sure each of them will say it changed their lives.

Here we are 6 years later, meeting in the same park with more than 200 regular participants (800+ over the years) at 37 workouts across The Fort/Lake Wylie area. Thank you to those that gave it away and thank you to those that said yes!! I think it is safe to say, IT’S MORE THAN A WORKOUT!!!

Today we recognize the 6 years with 6 Qs leading a beat down in 1st F style. On September 21st, Jekyll led us in our Invergence, which reminds us of the 3rdF and that there is something bigger than ourselves. Serving, Praying and Worshiping together happened then. On this day, we are getting better physically and having some fellowship with 70 of our PAX,

Format was a rapid fire approach where each Q has 10mins to lay it on the PAX. Old Bay would keep time and blow the air horn (maybe tweet the horn??), and then the next Q jumps in.

YHC asked for FNGS, (none) and explained the plan of attack, and then the Horn Sounded

The Thang:

  • Wegmans for COP
    • Mosey down path out to grass
    • Circle up and some traditional and not so traditional exercise moves.
    • We did notice another “Boot camp” group in the gloom. T-clapps to them, however also saw 2 holding clip boards…..not F3!!
    • Horm Blows
  • Funhouse on Q
    • Mosey to the hill for Jacobs ladder
      • Burpees
      • Squats
      • Some mary to fill time
      • Horn Blows
  • Jwow on Q
    • Mosey to top of hill for partner work
    • step ups/lunge walk up and down hill
    • squat jumps/lunge walk up and down hill
    • Plank hand slap with partner
    • Horn Blow
  • Twister on Q
    • Mosey to tree line
    • Army Crawl to tree /SSHs
    • Sprint to tree/Merkins
    • Army Crawl to Tree/SSHs
    • Sprint to tree/merkins
    • 2 rounds
    • Run Path until Horm
    • Horn Blows
  • FLUX on Q
    • Mosey back to hill
    • 6s – do following 6 times
      • bear crawl up hill
      • diamond merkins
      • bear crawl back down hill
      • Some filler in there of something aweful
      • Horn Blows
  • Assassin On Q
    • Mosey to play grownd
      • Dips
      • Derkins
      • Burpees
      • multiple rounds with running around the playground until…..
      • Horn Blows

The PAX was dripping wet from rolling in grass but also from the humid beat down that just occurred. Thanks to all the Qs for bringing it and having fun out there.

I brought up to the PAX “WHY”? Why F3 versus the many other options we have even outside of fitness and self help books. Why do we get up early and why do we do CSAUPS and why do we attend 3rdF and give away our time at various community organizations???

Pockets, Spud and Assassin all shared their Why. Thank you! I’m sure there were many more that would undoubtedly impactful.

I mentioned my why was straightforward for me. I want to continue to challenge myself physically, surround myself with like minded guys heading in the same direction and reach more guys for Sky Q and HIS purpose. I feel F3 has positively impacted my life in all 3 Fs and why would I not give it away??

See you in the GLOOM!

Cake Boss

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The Fort 6 year Anniversary Convergence –9/29/2018

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  • QIC: Wegmans, Funhouse, Jwow, Twister, Flux, Assassin
  • When: 09/29/2018
  • Posted In: Pre-Blast, The Fort

9/29/2012—-9/29/2018

On Saturday September 29th, The Fort celebrates 6 years of F3 in the Fort Mill, Lake Wylie and beyond. We are pulling together the PAX from across the region for a 1st F Convergence with Pre-Ruck Option and Pre-Run Option  at the mother-ship, Walter Elisha Park (The Fort) where it all started.

This event is a great opportunity to EH and bring new guys out. Continue to give it away.

Besides pre-ruck and run options, we will have 6 Qs for 6 years. This will be Rapid Fire and moving quick, but we have Qs that represent history, character, strength and future of The Fort.

Talk it up in all COTs and 2nd/3rd Fs!!

Here’s the Plan:

WHAT: Pre-Ruck

  • Q: Trucker
  • Time: 0615
  • Launch from Panera

WHAT: Pre-Run

  • Q: Cake Boss
  • Time: 0630
  • Launch from Panera
  • 2-3mi

WHAT: Boot Camp Convergence

  • Q:
    1. Wegmans
    2. Funhouse
    3. Jwow
    4. Twister
    5. Flux
    6. Assassin
  • Time: 0700

WHAT: Coffeteria

  • Q: Double D
  • Time: 0830
  • Panera

6 years of impacting men, families, and community! Its been life changing and worth recognizing.

 

 

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15

Stop the Sprints already. The Coop

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Disclaimer-
Mosey to football field 400 meters around track dynamic movements.
Mosey 400 meters around track at your pace (U vs. U)
Line up on the side lines count off by 2s
While P1 does exercise P2 sprints sideline to sideline.
E1- squats, merkins, American hammers
E2- bomb jacks, CDDs, flutter kicks
E3- jumping lunges, overhead presses, rosalitta
E4- squat to calf raise, hand release merkins, box cutters
Move to goal line- Lunge walk to five yard line do 1 burpee keep going to other end zone 1 burpee every 5 yards.
At other end 13 burpees OYO.
Bear crawl to the 50 yard line.
Mosey to benches 15 dips while partner planks, 10 dips, 5 dips.
Run 400 meters.
Mosey to pull up bars 5,4,3,2,1 while partner does Balls to wall.
COT.

Remember People willing to give all for you. Give you family and friends the best of you.

Prayers- Jobs, families, those in hurricanes path

Announcements- Invergence, reading in Paradise community

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