Arriving early I couldn’t help but notice a touch of fall in the air as a light mist occasionally dampened my face. A perfect day to be a part of the gloom. The pax began to arrive and I was quickly reminded that the sport of all sports, aka football, was in full swing. Mumble chatter revolved around a Gamecock victory over Vandy to Schrute’s delight, and Stang’s strain as he kept clenched cheeks during the entire game…which ended with a Vol’s overtime win against perennial powerhouse App State. I checked in with Stang making sure he had not pulled a hamstring, gave him a little fist bump as a fellow longtime fan of Big Orange football, and savored the ugly victory.

COP

10 Abe Vigoda Windmill, 10 count stretch-right ankle, left ankle, and middle stretch. Kung Fu stretch left leg back then right leg back for a 10 count. Lot’s of mumble chatter here as the pax did not realize their legs would contort to this degree. 10 Imperial Walkers, 10 Hillbilly Walkers, and 10 MNC.

Sticking to the the slow burn theme I quickly had the pax give a 1,2 count and formed two lines for a slow burn shuffle going behind the Big Lot’s property around the front of Big Lots, stopping at the side of the building for what the pax thought would be a little People’s Chair action. But No!…I pulled the old switch-a-roo, and I had them mosey up to the dock rail where we performed the following in single count cadence, 25 Clave Raises, 10 Irkins (forehead touch bottom rail without drawing blood), followed by 10 Derkins.

Of course we could not pass the wall so I sent the pax back to the wall where we performed the People’s Chair in conjunction with 25 single count cadence air shoulder presses. The single count cadence lingo stirred up a lot of mumble chatter from a few pax (Apache) who felt I might have been too liberal with the term cadence and my failure to follow the traditional 1,2,3 ONE cadence. To honor my brother I threw in one traditional in cadence count for an extra air press…followed by 10 single count cadence Merkins and 10 single Carolina Dry Docks. Rinse and repeat the rail and the wall to emphasize slow burn, single count, all form, you against you theme.

I took a little time to read the first 8 lines from Amazing Grace and shared a little of my testimony. I continue to be amazed that His grace was provided to a “wretch like me”. As I shared some of my story I am still in awe of Sky Q’s ability to use our vulnerability to reach others. With no shame I share who I used to be and bask in His ability to make all things new!

Form pax back into their 1 and 2 slow burn shuffle lines and head back to the front of the Tawba Bingo lot, passing Wendy’s and Bojangles when I heard a little mumble chatter regarding Wendy’s from The Riddler. Assuming the pax was getting hungry I pulled into Popeye’s for a little take out order action. Line 1 and 2 faced each other. The man across from you is now your partner and each partnership was tasked with running around the take out window to pick up an order to go for the pax. While partners ran the pax performed LBC’s until the first set of partners arrived with the new take out pain order. 11 different partners called out 11 different pain events from Prison Cell Burpee to Box Cutters. Rinse and repeat, and I don’t think a duplicate pain event was called out for a total of 22. Again the theme was you against you…do as many as you can using the correct form.

Form the pax back into their 1 and 2 slow burn shuffle lines and head to the wall near Popeye’s where I had the pax assume the Balls to the Wall position while one bear crawled down the line. To say that the devil “Qdrenaline” had a hold of me was an understatement as many of the pax, including YHC modified to People’s Chair. For those of you that stayed committed to the Balls to the Wall…kudo’s to your strength and your character!

With time wrapping up the slow burn shuffle headed to the AO and the COT. (Note to self…always set up sweepers to check on the 6) Announcements were made, prayer request made, and prayers lifted up to all. Always an honor to lead and be led by this group of men.

A cool(er), clear, and beautiful morning greeter 18 veteran Fort Mill PAX and 2 FNG’s this fine Saturday Morning. YHC was eager to lead and Quack Attack joined for his VQ outing.

A more thorough disclaimer was presented since FNG’s were present. One would think the PAX would be respectful while this important message was delivered but, alas, one would be wrong. In the midst of said disclaimer, one of the most veteran Fort Mill PAX who will remain nameless (rhymes with Mangini) attempted to “pants” YHC. Luckily the drawstring mostly held allowing for the completion of the disclaimer. With that we were off following Quack.

Here’s what we did:

THE THANG

Clockwise mosey along the jogging path over to the hill. Down the hill to the flat and circle up around Quackie.  All exercises in cadence:

SSH (20)

Windmill (10)

Moroccan Night Club (20)

Imperial Squat (20)

Low Country Crab (20)

Mosey to the front of the park by the WEP sign and circle up in plank position. This is where things got a bit interesting.   Sir Quack planned to play Roxanne by the Police with the instruction to do 1 merkin when we heard “Roxanne”, and 1 plank jack at “put on the red light”.  Great idea!  Forgetting to bring the wireless speaker so anyone but him could hear his phone?  Not so good.  To his credit, Quacker didn’t give up and simply called the commands.   That was not easy and should be revisited with better audio components.

Turn over to Flat Tire

Switzer for a quick word. It had been a tough week.  A coworker of mine that I work closely with unexpectedly lost her 27 year old daughter.  Dilbert’s father, who just saw a Doctor a few months ago and got a clean bill of health, died in his sleep Wednesday morning.  Life is tough!  Kids get sick.  Loved ones die.  Tomorrow is not guaranteed.  The PAX were encouraged to remember what’s important.  Be present.  Have your priorities arranged correctly and try your best to live accordingly.  The things of this world will fade away.  Invest in people and love others.

James 4:14: Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.

Mosey back toward the back of the park and line up even with the 1^st of 6 trees to embark on a mission to slay the beast.  Tip of the hat to Wild Turkey from A51.  He introduced us to The Beast at The Coop back in June.  The Beast = 6 stations, 6 exercises at each station, 6 rounds.  After each round, plank up and wait for the 6.

1^st round – Scorpion CDD

2 – Bombjacks

3 – American Hammers

4 – Hand release merkins

5 – Boat / Canoe

6 – Burpees (crowd pleaser)

Mosey to the playground and partner up. 1 ran a lap while the other did dips.  Round 2, derkins.  Round 3, incline merkins.

Mosey back to the field for PAX led 7 minutes of Mary. Details hazy but something like this:  flutter kicks, American hammer, Freddie Mercury, LBC, gravedigger left / right, low county crab

COT

Prayers for Bailey Greene, Dilbert, injured PAX, sick relatives and friends, kids going back to school, teachers and admins

MOLESKIN

Great workout and effort by everyone. The FNG’s worked their tail off and kept right up, welcome Old Navy and Cooter.  Gents, this is EH season.  The weather is great and we’ve got plenty of AO’s to fill.  Give it away!  T Claps to Quack Attack on his VQ.  Great cadence calling with a good mix of exercises, get this guy on the Q schedule.

Thanks Ginsu, always and honor to serve,

Flat Tire

Warmup:

• Lap around soccer field with walking lunges, buttkickers, and high knees.
• Circle of Power – ‘FRONT STRADDLE HOPS,’ moroccan midnighters, egosque grip flys

The Thang

• Partnered up with equal size partner
• Moseyed to Pandoras Box for partner superset exercises.  TRX with Body Squats, Incline/Decline Merkins with Dynamic Lunges, Battle Ropes with Box Cutters, Slam balls with planks,
• Partner exercises – donkey kicks on bench, squat jump slam balls, Max Dips/Chin Ups, Squat Press with 100 pound barbell.
• Moseyed to soccer field for Circle of Power for Jump to body roll to Merkin for 5 count – the pax loved getting all wet from recently irrigated field
• Partnered back up for wheelbarrow Indian lunge race for 2 laps
• Moseyed to baseball field dirt infield for Circle of Power high knee to football flip drills with lbc’s and merkins alternating.  We all looked like wet dirt powdered doughnuts by now.

Prayers for many including teachers, law enforcement and the Pax.

YHC has been looking forward to this Recon for months, Lancaster is a great city with a lot of heritage and hard working citizens that have been through a lot over the years with industries coming and going, like a lot of textile communities they have had to adapt to the changing times. And take themselves out of the  comfort zones.

Which is one of the reason I love F3 nation so much. When tough times arise you have your brothers of the gloom to depend on and not being hoarders of F3 and sharing this thing we call The Brothership of the Gloom lets like minded men gather together and sharpen themselves, “As iron sharpens Iron, so does one Man Sharpen each other” to prepare us for that next hurdle we may have to cross..

We gathered at the Lancaster High School and the shovel flag was planted.

18 of the finest gents unpartook the far sack including 4 FNG’s welcome brothers to your new family of HIMS‘ (High Impact Males)

FNG’s Thanks for leaving your comfort zones and unfartsaking yourselves to partake in the brotherhood of the gloom “The workouts don’t get easier we get stronger”

• Bono: Great to see your always chipper mood and smiling face and strong performance
• Lattimore: Awesome Job this moring brother, and glad you decided to take the plunge in this F3 nation Thang
• Power plant : Awesome message this morning and great drive thru the workout
• Buccy: Awesome job brother and prayers for what you are going thru on a personal level

Can’t wait to sharpen the iron and push the rock with the brothership in Lancaster next Saturday

Warm up (Popeye)

20 SSH in cadence

20 Mercian Night Clubs

20 Merkins

20 mountain Climbers

There were no 10 counts this fine morning the 10 counts were replaced with each pax that was called upon told his story of how he came upon this great F3 Thang an awesome way to get to know your PAX and their story and not being just a PAX of the gloom

After warm up Popeye handed back off to YHC and we moseyed around the Lancaster High complex and passed the Q stick from everyone to enjoy in the Q fun.

We covered everything including just under 2 miles of moseying

• bear crawl Indian merkins run
• burbees
• balls to the walls
• monkey hump
• monkey humpers
• Al Gores
• derkins
• erkins
• dips
• SSH
• seal jacks
• plank jacks
• mountain climbers

I am truly honored and blessed to be able to lead the leaders of F3 and foresee nothing but great things happening in Lancaster

And cant wait for the official launch Aug 27. Next weekend with Pusher and Italian Job on Q. So save the date and don’t miss the great occasion of our F3 nation growth…

Thanks again for honoring YHC and Popeye in letting us lead  in the recon efforts and really enjoying this F3 thang and the lives it is changing daily in the gloom.

Aye!!!! Apache!!!!

https://youtu.be/0ACaQkBJAEE